Ling Tian summoned another python in the open space of the spiritual realm. This was a reticulated python, measuring 12 meters in length and nearly 80 centimeters in diameter. It was more than capable of swallowing a person whole.
However, this python showed no significant difference in size compared to its pre-evolution state. What had drastically changed was its appearance.
Generally, pythons have fine, smooth scales, which is why many pythons were captured to be made into bags, belts, and musical instruments.
The most typical example in China is the erhu, whose skin is made from python hide.
Of course, most erhus available today, while appearing to be made of python skin, are actually made of plastic or synthetic leather.
The sound quality of erhus made with these imitation snake skins is vastly inferior to those crafted from genuine python hide.
But this giant python before him had undergone a transformation. Ling Tian discovered that an additional layer of scales had appeared on top of the python's original skin.
This new layer of scales was larger and rougher than the original python skin. Most importantly, this layer of scales possessed astonishing defensive capabilities, capable of withstanding rifle bullet attacks.
One would need to continuously shoot at a specific spot to dislodge these scales. Beneath these scales lay the tough python hide, making the python's defense incredibly robust.
Looking at the python's head, it had become wider and flatter, allowing the snake to open its mouth much wider than before.
However, the most significant change was undoubtedly its teeth.
Pythons have terrifying teeth, possessing three rows of hundreds of very small, sharp teeth. These teeth are angled backward, like barbs.
Once bitten by a python, these hundreds of teeth would firmly lock onto the prey, which would then be constricted and killed before being swallowed.
Of course, if the prey struggled violently, some of these fine teeth might break, but they would quickly regrow.
This time, Ling Tian observed that the python before him was truly extraordinary. In addition to its original teeth, its upper jaw now sported two thick, triangular fangs, each over ten centimeters long!
Upon biting, these venomous fangs could inject a large amount of venom into the prey's body in a thousandth of a second.
Ling Tian was also greatly surprised because pythons, like crocodiles, had not evolved venom for millennia. Although pythons and venomous snakes are both snakes, they had diverged on different evolutionary paths millions of years ago.
Venomous snakes, despite their danger and potent venom, had lost other combat capabilities.
The vast majority of venomous snakes hunt by ambushing their prey, striking suddenly, injecting venom, and then waiting nearby for the prey to succumb to the poison before consuming it.
Therefore, many venomous snakes lack the ability to constrict or crush their opponents.
In the Amazon rainforest, there are centipedes that specialize in preying on venomous snakes, particularly small ones.
Once a venomous snake is bitten by a centipede's pincers, it can only be poisoned to death by the centipede, with no ability to constrict or counter-attack.
The python before him, already possessing formidable combat abilities, was now exponentially more dangerous with the addition of venom and fangs.
Ling Tian commanded the giant python to open its mouth, then used a long, thin glass container to cover the python's fangs. Soon, the python injected a full tube of venom into the container.
Ling Tian took the venom to a room within the spiritual realm, which housed several different types of detection equipment.
In the adjacent room were large diesel generator sets, industrial power supplies, air compressors, and other equipment to provide power to these detection devices.
Ling Tian divided the venom into several portions, distributed them to different equipment, and began the analysis.
The remaining venom was carefully capped and stored by Ling Tian.
Within the spiritual realm, time had almost no effect on these inanimate objects, so Ling Tian did not have to worry about the venom spoiling.
Ling Tian's detection equipment was highly advanced and intelligent. All detection processes were automated. After several hours, the venom analysis was complete, and the relevant components of the venom appeared on the inspection report in Ling Tian's hand.
Ling Tian reviewed the reports and nodded. Indeed, the composition of the venom was typical of rattlesnake venom.
Rattlesnake venom primarily contains two types of toxins: anticoagulants and tissue-destroying toxins, commonly known as flesh-rotting toxins.
The first type of toxin targets the body's anticoagulant factors, such as platelets.
Once bitten by rattlesnake venom, as the toxin spreads, the body's anticoagulant factors are severely damaged.
At this point, even the slightest wound, internal or external, will lead to profuse bleeding. The blood will become very diluted, and the body will experience severe internal bleeding. Large amounts of blood will seep from capillaries and internal organs, leading to death.
Of course, not all rattlesnakes are like this. Some rattlesnakes possess coagulant toxins.
A drop of this toxin added to a bowl of fresh blood will cause the blood to solidify like jelly within seconds. Once the blood coagulates, the entire body will form blood clots, leading to death.
As for the tissue-destroying toxins in the venom, as the name suggests, they damage cells upon entering the body's tissues, causing widespread cell death and what appears as rotting flesh.
In fact, many snakes possess these tissue-destroying toxins, with pit vipers and vipers being the most common. Even with timely treatment, bites from these snakes can cause severe bodily damage, even amputation.
The venom of snakes like the Russell's viper can even damage human kidney cells, leading to infertility, which is why these snakes are also called "kidney-damaging snakes."
The mutated python before Ling Tian's eyes had tissue-destroying toxins in its venom.
Through the analysis of these instruments, Ling Tian discovered that the content of specific proteins in the venom was several times higher than that of ordinary rattlesnakes, meaning the potency of this snake venom was also many times greater than that of rattlesnakes.
Furthermore, this giant python injected a much larger quantity of venom into its prey compared to ordinary rattlesnakes. It could be said that once bitten by this python, there was essentially no hope for rescue; one could only lie down and await death.