Chapter Two: The Millipede

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Night fell over the bamboo forest, where the wind howled through the leaves, distorting their shadows. A young man holding a compass walked among the stalks. The compass in his hand, its needle inscribed with runes, spun erratically, searching for a target. Suddenly, as if drawn by an unseen force, the needle fixed itself in one direction.

He looked ahead, where a dense thicket of bamboo pressed tightly together. A shadow seemed to writhe within.

“No need to search further. I am right here!” A shrill voice echoed from the darkness.

Bursting from the bamboo, a giant centipede with a thousand legs appeared. Its body stretched hundreds of feet, jet-black and gleaming as if varnished. But it was the human face formed upon its chest that revealed this creature was no ordinary beast—it had achieved a dreadful sentience.

“I am Zhang Zhiheng, first disciple of Mount Mao. Since you know a disciple of Mao Mountain has come, why not submit at once?” the young man declared, standing firm and upright before the monstrous centipede, betraying no fear.

“Submit? To a mere child who smells of milk? My age surpasses your grandfather’s grandfather by several lifetimes. Shouldn’t you be calling me ancestor?” the centipede demon sneered.

“Fire Talisman. Fire Incantation!”

Zhang Zhiheng flung out several talismans, each transforming into a fiery tongue that lashed toward the demon.

“My Thousand-Legged Demon has cultivated for a century—these sparks are barely enough for cupping therapy!” the beast boasted, sweeping its thousand legs to scatter the flames with ease.

“So, the head of Mao Mountain has sent me a child for a light snack!” the centipede cackled, opening its vast jaws to swallow Zhang Zhiheng whole.

“Danger!” Zhang Zhiheng narrowly dodged, his clothes ripped to shreds as he tumbled past the monster’s maw.

“Hahaha! So this is the best Mao Mountain can offer? Pathetic!” the demon jeered.

But Zhang Zhiheng remained unruffled. He pinched his fingers, calculated, and stood up. “The time has come.”

He brushed the dust from his clothes and produced another talisman.

The centipede demon scoffed again. “Trying cupping therapy once more?”

Zhang Zhiheng only smiled. A breeze began to stir around them. He lifted the fire talisman and intoned, “Southeast Wind, Fire Incantation—let the wind feed the fire, and extinction follow!”

As he released the talisman, a sudden gale swept through the bamboo. The flames, fanned by the wind, roared into a mighty dragon of fire, scorching the ground as it surged toward the centipede.

“Damn it, where did this power come from?” The demon, unwilling to lose face, braced itself and took the brunt of the inferno.

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When the wind passed, dark clouds gathered overhead.

“North Position. Thunder Incantation—one talisman to summon thunder across the heavens!”

Taking advantage of the gathering storm, Zhang Zhiheng hurled a thunder talisman skyward. Instantly, a bolt of lightning crashed down and struck the centipede demon.

“Aaah! Again?” The demon, still smoking from the flames, was thrown to the ground by the thunderbolt.

“If you refuse to submit, then I must enact heaven’s justice.” Zhang Zhiheng drew yet another talisman.

Thunder faded above, replaced by a torrential downpour.

“I am a demon of a hundred years!” the centipede struggled to rise.

“So what? A mere century-old bug dares call itself a demon!” Zhang Zhiheng shouted, sending forth another talisman. “Ice Talisman—let rain turn to ice, and strike down my foe!”

At once, the rain solidified into icy spikes, pelting the centipede’s body. In moments, thousands of icicles pinned the beast to the earth, and its breath ceased.

“A mere century-old centipede, nothing more.” Zhang Zhiheng approached the fallen demon. “Its legs, though, will make a fine medicinal ingredient.”

He reached out to collect a few of the legs for use as medicine. Suddenly, several limbs whipped around his right arm. The upper body of the centipede burst free of the ice, lunging to bite him.

“Don’t underestimate my vitality!” the demon hissed.

In that split second, Zhang Zhiheng’s right arm was trapped, the monstrous jaws about to close on him.

Then, with a flash, an old copper coin sword sliced through the air, severing the demon’s head, which thudded to the ground.

“Fire Law! Pardon!” Red flames surged along the copper sword, burning the centipede’s remains.

Zhang Zhiheng took the opportunity to free himself and retreated, recognizing the newcomer—it was his third junior brother, Fang You.

“Senior brother, this demon is tenacious; we must burn it to ash,” Fang You said, wiping his copper coin sword clean.

“Fang You!”

Seeing his junior brother, Zhang Zhiheng glanced at his own disheveled state and quickly turned away.

“I—I saw it coming… ahem,” he coughed, trying to cover his embarrassment.

Fang You sidled closer, grinning mischievously. “Oh, a slip of the hand is nothing—your little junior brother’s always here to help, isn’t he?”

“Ahem, let’s go find the others. Master sent us down the mountain for a trial. They should be nearly done as well.”

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Zhang Zhiheng hurried to change the subject.

“Alright, I’m not worried about Second Sister, but Fourth Junior Sister concerns me. She’s trained the least—her abilities may be lacking.”

Meanwhile, deep within another part of the forest, a woman in flowing white robes, ethereal as a celestial being, had conjured a shield of spiritual energy. Before her stood an ancient vine demon, its cultivation evident.

Countless tendrils whipped against her barrier as the vine demon laughed maniacally. “Today you’ve entered my domain. You’ll never leave—soon you’ll be my meal!”

“Your power is indeed formidable,” the woman murmured.

“Regretting it now, are you? Too late. Soon you’ll be nothing but nourishment for my roots!” the demon gloated.

“Oh? Is that so?” A disdainful smile flickered on her lips.

“What are you laughing at?” demanded the vine demon.

“I am Zhou Ling’er, second disciple of Mount Mao. I laugh because, had you not encountered one of Mao Mountain’s secluded disciples today, you might have escaped. But today, your fate is sealed.”

Her expression turned resolute, and her spiritual power surged.

“Still so stubborn at death’s door? I’ll make you fertilizer!” the demon shrieked, intensifying its assault.

“Hmph. I only announced myself out of courtesy. Now, let me show you the power of a celestial immortal!”

Moving as swiftly as thought, Zhou Ling’er formed the Lotus Seal with her hands and chanted, “Celestial Immortal Art—Sword of the Immortal!”

With her incantation, the air filled with a dozen spirit swords, each radiating incredible power.

“Celestial Immortal Art? You’re a descendant of the spirit immortals!” the vine demon gasped.

But before it could finish, the spirit swords pierced through it in a flash.

“No! Spare me!” The demon’s cry was abruptly silenced as it exploded into a heap of severed vines.

“Hmph. Overestimating yourself.”