Holding the amulet in his hand, Li Yan examined it carefully.
He knew that this object was crafted from a chicken claw, with the tendons and mbranes removed, leaving only the bone, which could be played with in hand.
Given by a demon hunter, it was naturally extraordinary.
The chicken bone in his hand was thicker than his thumb, with a yellowish sheen like glass, inscribed with the Evil Exorcism Talisman and filled with vermillion.
Li Yan could sll the intense fragrance of incense emanating from it.
It was rather heavy in his hand, and slight tapping produced a tallic sound.
An ordinary chicken wouldn’t be this large.
Could it be sothing with Dao left behind?
Li Yan rubbed it, finding it interesting.
Unknowingly, night fell again.
This ti, it was Wang Daoxuan’s turn to construct the building.
He was familiar with the process, so there was no need for others to worry.
After sealing the acupoint with stones, Li Yan and Sha Lifei started a bonfire to keep watch outside.
The mountain wind blew especially fiercely that night.
As midnight approached, people were starting to feel drowsy.
Suddenly, Li Yan’s eyes widened.
He saw the ground behind Sha Lifei, the sand and stones slowly sinking in, and a pair of finger-thick tentacles quietly erged...
"Watch out!"
Li Yan shouted loudly and leaped up.
He used the movent technique, his left leg’s Hidden Energy erupted, as he spoke, his body shot out like an arrow, simultaneously drawing the Guan Mountain Blade with a clang.
Clang!
As soon as the blade was unsheathed, he was already at the front.
Sha Lifei was also alert, sensing sothing was wrong, he didn’t look back but instead dove forward and rolled up, drawing his knife as he rose.
However, that thing was even faster.
The tentacles quivered and suddenly retracted underground.
Puff!
Li Yan’s blade followed tightly, jabbing down while activating the Three Talents Demon Suppression Coin.
His expression changed, realizing that the blade tip seed to hit a smooth iron object, deflecting off and unable to pierce through.
Swish!
Imdiately, dust erupted behind him, and a centipede as thick as a man’s arm with nacing claws burst out, opening its large pincers and attacking him directly.
Even with the demon’s scent completely masked at such a close range, Li Yan had already detected its movents by changes in the earth’s sll.
He dodged back, holding the Guan Mountain Blade across his chest, while his left palm was poised to use the Soul Hook.
This was his strongest killing move at the mont.
No matter how sturdy the creature’s body was like gold and iron, as long as it had a soul, the Soul Hook would work.
But a sword light from the side was faster.
It was the young Taoist Dian Shu who made a move.
Although he didn’t react as quickly as Li Yan and Sha Lifei, he understood what happened, retrieving a talisman from his arms, igniting it with a mantra, and thrusting his long sword through the burning talisman.
Swish!
It was unclear what talisman Dian Shu used.
Li Yan could sll a fragrance of Gang Qi following the burning talisman, attaching itself to the long sword and piercing the centipede’s body effortlessly.
He felt speechless, the young Taoist still lacked experience,
In this situation, why pierce it? Chop it!
As expected, the long sword’s penetration was not lethal, instead, the centipede writhed in pain, crazily twisting and spraying venom.
"Careful!"
Li Yan quickly grabbed the young Taoist and retreated.
Sizzle!
The venom spilled to the ground, emitting white smoke.
Li Yan could sll a cold, corpse-like odor from the white smoke, making one feel dizzy even before getting close, clearly not ordinary poison.
And as the Earth Centipede retreated from them, it attempted to burrow into the ground again.
Whoosh!
At this mont, a short spear flew over.
This spear was forged from pure iron, with a serrated blade at the front, adorned with a burning talisman, and connected by an iron chain at the end.
With a swish, the spear penetrated the centipede’s body without any obstruction.
Clattering!
The iron chain tightened, and the Earth Centipede that had already burrowed underground was pulled back out, rolling backward.
Despite being impaled and dragged, the large centipede twisted wildly like a beast, hissing and spraying venom everywhere.
The one who attacked was Crimson Yaksha, the demon hunter.
She wasn’t far from the others, rushing over upon hearing the noise, taking action halfway there.
Handling these creatures was her expertise, and even her weapons were specially crafted for this purpose.
Seeing the centipede roll and struggle, Crimson Yaksha quickly unhooked a leather pouch from her waist and tossed it while slashing with her long sword.
She was also a martial arts expert, having reached the pinnacle of Hidden Energy.
The leather pouch in mid-air was sliced open effortlessly.
The pouch was filled with red chicken blood, splashing onto the centipede with a sizzling sound, as if corroded by acid, producing white smoke.
And the centipede, as if drugged, struggled less and no longer sprayed venom.
Clattering!
Crimson Yaksha shook it again, pulling the centipede closer with force.
The female demon hunter simply tilted her long sword sideways, severing the centipede’s head, its body writhing a few tis before going still.
Crimson Yaksha ignored everyone else, shaking her sword to split open the centipede’s head, finding nothing inside, and showing clear disappointnt.
Sha Lifei was terrified but couldn’t control his mouth, recalling what the young Taoist Dian Shu had said earlier and couldn’t help but ask, "Heroine, are you looking for centipede pearls? Aren’t they only found in large centipedes?"
Crimson Yaksha, although disappointed, seed in good spirits after completing the task, nodding, "Small ones also appear sotis, although only pea-sized, they have miraculous effects in treating various snake venoms."
Everyone gathered around to watch.
Having been so tense earlier, amidst the chaos, they didn’t see clearly, but now, illuminated by the firelight, they could see everything clearly.
This Earth Centipede was as thick as a bowl, if its body were straightened, it would likely be taller than an average woman, its nurous legs glimring coldly under the firelight.
Unlike ordinary centipedes, this one wasn’t just large, but its color was strange, with dark red limbs and a body exhibiting an earthy gray hue.
If mixed in with soil, it could indeed be hard to detect at tis.
"My goodness..."
Sha Lifei poked at it with his knife, amazed, "What does this thing eat to grow, no wonder the young Taoist says it can eat python brains."
Crimson Yaksha said solemnly, "If this creature is born where Innate Yin Sha converges and consus so Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure, it can manifest unusual phenona."
Saying that, she glanced around curiously, "Even demons have their temperants and preferences, this high mountain cold region is entirely unsuitable for insects to spawn, why did it co here?"
Young Taoist Dian Shu sighed with relief, saying, "Qinling Dragon Vein converges, strange things abound, sotis it’s hard to decipher."
"Anyway, now that the demon is eliminated, don’t stay alone, Luo Layperson, co and warm by the fire, we can descend the mountain together in the morning."
Crimson Yaksha hesitated briefly, nodding, "Alright."
With the demon dead, everyone sat down again, feeling much more relaxed.
Sha Lifei’s eyes darted around, serving tea to Crimson Yaksha and inquired about demon hunters.
Crimson Yaksha was not adept at conversation, but with such a persistent individual, she had no choice but to share so stories.
"Our lineage, according to the Ancestral Master, originates from the late Tang Dynasty, during the chaos when demons plagued the land, with Taixuan Orthodox Sect’s high skills consolidating spells, collaborating with i Mountain Taoist Sect and several Martial Arts Grandmasters to train demon hunters..."
"i Mountain Taoist Sect mainly comprised of hunter believers, skilled at training Rampaging Soldiers, while we focus on capturing demons and suppressing zombies, adept in combat, without the orthodox Jiao Altar and formal spells of the Mystical Sect..."
Young Taoist Dian Shu said, "Luo Layperson, you’re joking, you’ve traveled the world, capturing demons and quelling spirits, saving countless people, compared to which our re chanting is nothing..."
As the conversation flowed, everyone gradually beca more familiar.
Li Yan learned that this demon hunter Crimson Yaksha’s surna was Luo, nad Yihong, a native of Chang’an.
Her na sounded gentle, but even Li Yan had to give a thumbs up, acknowledging her as a truly brave hero!
She had no children of her own but adopted several orphans.
These were orphans created by the havoc of demons and zombies.
They were already quite old, hadn’t studied much, and even if they had so awakening, they would not be targeted for recruitnt by the orthodox or Magic Veins.
Therefore, Luo Yihong took these individuals as apprentices, passing on demon-hunting thods and providing them with a legitimate ans of livelihood.
Naturally, supporting a large group of apprentices incurred significant expenses.
While the disciples hadn’t matured, she could only travel to support the entire extended family...
As they chatted, things subtly turned amiss.
Everyone’s spirits beca increasingly gloomy, and exhaustion surged, as they fought to keep their eyes open.
"Not good, we’re caught!"
Luo Yihong whispered urgently before collapsing into fainting.
Li Yan was startled, but just as he tried to stand, a thick fog rose before his eyes, and the surroundings beca dim.
It was another Yin Bureau mission.
Damn it, what timing!
Li Yan cursed inwardly, but there was no ti to think, as he ran forward insanely.
He was all too familiar with this thing by now.
Relying solely on spells would not restore them. The only thod was to quickly review the Yin Bureau mission and choose to refuse and exit.
Sure enough, the well appeared ahead again.
Li Yan said nothing, placing his hands on it, the water in the well transford, creating a vortex, fog swirling, displaying various light and shadows.
It was still the sa cave.
Still the old Taoist in the pool...
Still this task?
Just as Li Yan was about to refuse, his eyes widened suddenly.
He saw two centipedes creeping under the black jar holding the old Taoist, inserting their heads into the jar’s openings, and spraying streams of blood.
The blood quickly seeped into the old Taoist’s body upon contact.
Simultaneously, the sallow color on the old Taoist’s face grew heavier.
So it was this guy causing trouble!
Li Yan gritted his teeth and chose to accept.
He realized, there might be no other choice now!
Upon accepting the mission, the surrounding fog dissipated instantly, and Li Yan regained consciousness.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he sensed sothing was wrong.
A large Earth Centipede had erged from the soil beside him, opening its pincers, ready to bite his neck.
"Courting death!"
Li Yan’s eyes revealed a killing intent, his left hand shot out, gripping the centipede’s head tightly.
Clattering!
The sound of chains rattled by his ears.
The Soul Hook extended, piercing into the centipede’s body, and as Li Yan pulled back, it extracted a mass of cold, bloody air.
No matter how formidable the Earth Centipede was, it was still a living creature.
Its Divine Soul was not even as strong as a child’s, though more spiritual, it was soon torn apart by the Soul Hook.
With the Earth Centipede’s Divine Soul extracted, its body fell limply.
Li Yan looked around, everyone was unconscious, eyes shut tight, with a centipede erging by each person’s side, snapping at their necks.
And under the campfire, a centipede had crept out, enduring its fear of flas, emitting faint toxic smoke into the fire.
Cunning creature!
Li Yan leaped into action, the Hidden Energy burst forth, delivering three consecutive kicks.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He moved swiftly, kicking away the centipedes from everyone.
Then, he took out the Divine Tiger Token and perford the Thousand Gold Protection Spell, "Nuogao, with Three Stars on the left and Three Prisons on the right, Heaven and Earth overturned, all paths sealed, causing you to lose heart..."
"Roar!"
As the spell completed, a tiger’s roar seed to echo in his ear.
The centipedes, frightened, retreated underground again.
Li Yan knew that this spell would only scare them away temporarily.
He quickly crouched down, pinching accupoints and slapping faces, waking everyone one by one.
The toxins that the centipedes sprayed into the fire were odorless and tasteless, catching everyone off guard, but it was not a potent poison.
Once awake, everyone quickly regained clarity.
"Why are there so many!"
Seeing the nurous holes on the ground, young Taoist Dian Shu’s face turned pale, he muttered, "Impossible, it’s a demonic nest, how could the cavalry searching the mountain not find this?"
"Naturally, soone has tampered!"
Li Yan’s expression beca grim, quickly running to where Wang Daoxuan was stationed, at the entrance of the Cave Heaven Spirit Aperture.
The bricks and stones were only temporarily stacked, they couldn’t be completely sealed.
Through the gaps, he could see Wang Daoxuan sitting cross-legged, the Silver Lotus Soul Summoning Lamp burning around him, his expression extrely calm.
Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice,
"Uncle Sha, fetch my Cloud Thunder Divine Drum!"
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