Chapter Seventeen: The Six-Winged Golden Centipede

Within the sea of consciousness, it was as if a battlefield stretched into the void. A shadowy black centipede lunged and bit at the dim silhouette at the very center. That faint figure was shrouded in a veil-like red glow—a flickering vitality that, under the centipede’s savage assault, trembled perilously, like a candle guttering in the wind, its light threatening to fade at any moment.

Hissing shrieks and thunderous crashes echoed through Li Yang’s mind, each one more deafening than the last, driving his awareness to the brink of collapse. Just then, from the chaotic void, tendrils of black and white qi surged forth, coalescing into a colossal yin-yang millstone that hovered above Li Yang’s head.

With a metallic clang, the centipede’s shadow slammed into the millstone. It wailed in torment; the piercing sound of metal upon stone jolted Li Yang from his stupor, clearing the fog from his mind. Gazing up, he saw strands of primordial light streaming down from the yin-yang millstone, shielding him. Though he could not fathom the reason, there was an inexplicable sense of intimacy emanating from the millstone, stirring a deep sense of familiarity within him.

Driven by an arcane impulse, Li Yang’s mind reached out. Instantly, the yin-yang millstone transformed into a stream of light and stamped down upon the centipede’s spectral form.

As the millstone spun, the entire void seemed to tremble. The suppressed centipede let out agonized screeches as the demonic aura enshrouding its soul began to dissipate at a speed visible to the naked eye. With the demonic miasma swept aside, the blood rune branded on its forehead erupted into a surge of crimson light, merging into the centipede’s now-translucent soul.

Meanwhile, in the world outside, without the calming presence of the Furious Dawn Rooster, the six-winged centipede’s struggles grew ever more violent. Just as everyone felt their strength failing, the centipede suddenly convulsed, then fell still, collapsing in a heap upon the ground.

“What just happened…?” The group exchanged bewildered glances. None dared to release their grip from the iron chains binding the beast, fearing some trickery from the centipede in its apparent defeat.

A weak cough broke the uneasy silence. “Is everyone alright?” The frail voice rang out, drawing startled attention.

“Brother Li, you’re awake! Old Luo was scared to death!” Old Luo stumbled over in relief. “What happened in there? Is the centipede dead or alive?”

“Have some water first.” The Red Maiden, seeing Li Yang’s repeated coughing, steadied him and handed over a waterskin.

“Thank you.” After moistening his throat, Li Yang looked around with a pained smile. “This was my mistake. I nearly brought disaster upon us all. Fortunately, we managed to subdue the six-winged centipede in the end.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group. The memory of nearly losing control of the monstrous insect still sent chills down their spines.

“No need to blame yourself, Brother Li,” Chen Yulou reassured him, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Our line of work is fraught with danger. What matters is that we made it through unharmed.”

“Though the centipede is under control, everyone should remain cautious while we search the area. We can’t afford surprises.” With these words, Li Yang, supported by the Red Maiden, rose to his feet. His gaze fell on the Furious Dawn Rooster, now weak and huddled on the ground—a look of pain crossing his face.

The rooster sensed Li Yang’s approach and let out a feeble cluck, tottering as it tried to stand, but soon collapsed again. Its once-bright comb had turned ashen, all trace of red glow vanished. Li Yang’s heart ached at the sight. He crouched, produced some restorative pills, and fed them to the bird. Only then did he shrink its form and tuck it carefully into his pocket.

The yin-yang essence was the root of the rooster’s bloodline, not yet fully formed. In forcibly invoking its power, it had damaged its very foundation, burning away most of its lifeblood. Thankfully, it had survived—an unfortunate stroke of luck, but luck nevertheless. Had it died, Li Yang’s loss would have been immeasurable.

“Brother Li, there’s no need for such sorrow. We’re lucky to have survived this ordeal. No matter how rare the divine bird, it’s not worth losing your life over…” Old Luo, seeing Li Yang’s troubled expression, clapped him on the shoulder—so hard that Li Yang nearly toppled.

“Be careful! Can’t you see he’s injured?” The Red Maiden darted forward, steadying Li Yang and glaring at Old Luo.

“Come on, Old Luo. Let Brother Li rest and heal, don’t make things worse.” From a distance, Chen Yulou called out.

“Thank you, Red Maiden,” Li Yang said gratefully once Old Luo had wandered off. He settled cross-legged with her help, took a few restorative pills, and soon lapsed into silence.

Time slipped by quickly. When Li Yang next awoke, it was already noon the following day. The stabbing pain in his mind had lessened significantly, bringing a sigh of relief. The real injury was to his soul; the depletion of his vital energy was a lesser concern.

Forcing himself to rally, he glanced at the six-winged centipede lying nearby, as if dead. Excitement flickered in his eyes. After a thousand years of cultivation, the creature’s bloodline was nearly mature. With a little nurturing, he could absorb its power and make it his own.

Sitting cross-legged beside the centipede, Li Yang summoned his vitality, letting it spread and engulf the creature. In his mind’s eye, a magnificent six-winged golden centipede, ten thousand feet long and shining with crimson-gold light, appeared amidst wild mountains. Its sinuous form darted through the void, leaving afterimages in its wake. When it opened its jaws, black clouds billowed forth, poisoning the heavens—mountains below turned to charred wasteland, corroded to nothing in an instant.

“Shadow in the void, venom clouds shroud the sky!” Eight ancient glyphs crystallized in his mind, condensing at last into two runes: “Swiftness” and “Venomcraft,” each brimming with power.

Excellent—truly worthy of a bloodline on the brink of maturity! Li Yang beamed as he beheld the runes within his mind. This was a windfall beyond measure.

Unlike the Furious Dawn Rooster or the Golden Toad, the six-winged centipede’s bloodline had already awakened. Through refinement, Li Yang could not match the might of a fully mature golden centipede, but he could preserve most of its powers.

Opening his eyes, Li Yang gazed at the golden spots now scattered across the centipede’s body, satisfaction deepening. Once its entire form turned gold, the bloodline would be perfected—its body as strong as steel, impervious, able to soar through the void, spewing venom and miasma. Such a beast would possess boundless abilities, a terror to rival the ancient monsters.

After a while, Li Yang gathered his wits, took the Furious Dawn Rooster from his pocket, and placed it on the ground. At his command, the golden centipede lifted its head, spat out a grape-sized, dark-red inner core.

Li Yang called forth the Golden Toad. Man and beast sat in a circle, their breathing gradually synchronizing. The core spun between them, releasing a crimson mist rich with a medicinal fragrance.

This inner core had absorbed countless medicinal essences from the mountain’s depths, causing its power to accumulate and stagnate, thus its dark-red hue. With the help of the two spirit beasts, Li Yang could not only use the medicinal energy to heal himself, but also help the centipede purify its core—a double benefit.