Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Transformation of the Golden Centipede [Double Chapter—Seeking First Subscription]

August 15th, the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts, the day when the gates of the underworld swing wide open.

At dawn, atop the altar on the mountain behind the manor, Li Yang sat cross-legged, his entire body’s vital energy surging like roaring tides. Golden-red flames faintly shimmered beneath his skin, warping the very air around him.

Thump, thump, thump...

With each powerful pulse, Li Yang’s form seemed to expand and contract, sending out waves of scorching heat.

“Oh my—this is simply incredible! I never imagined the flow of human blood could sound like crashing waves. That powerful heartbeat surpasses anything I’ve ever known in any species. Is this truly a physique a human can possess?”

Below the altar, Dr. Pus gazed at the phenomena surrounding Li Yang, utterly enraptured, as if beholding the world’s most perfect creation.

“Enough. ‘Li’ is regulating his breath now. We mustn’t disturb him,” Dr. Rick quietly reminded, tugging at Dr. Pus’ sleeve.

With a long exhale, Li Yang opened his eyes and nodded slightly to Madam He and the three doctors standing below the altar.

“‘Li’, here is the serum you needed. We’ve finally finished it,” Dr. Rick exclaimed in awe as he watched the strange light around Li Yang, handing over a prepared vial of orange serum.

“Thank you for your efforts, Doctors. Now, you should leave. What comes next will be tumultuous. If you remain, I fear you may be injured.”

Li Yang nodded to the three doctors, then turned to Madam He. “Madam, you should return to the manor as well. Don’t worry about me.”

“No! Jinling is looking after the manor. You needn’t worry. I only wish to stay here by your side.” This time, Madam He’s tone was unusually resolute as she refused Li Yang’s suggestion without hesitation.

“Why didn’t you inform me in advance, young friend? Do you think my cultivation too shallow to serve as your protector during this breakthrough?”

Just as Li Yang was about to persuade her again, Ninth Uncle suddenly ascended the altar, dressed in a traditional bright yellow Taoist robe, an enormous innate Eight Trigrams diagram on his back, and a horsetail whisk at his waist. He looked at Li Yang, his tone half-accusatory.

“Ninth Uncle, I wouldn’t dare trouble you. With the gates of the underworld open today, you have your responsibilities. How could I bother you?” Li Yang replied with a wry smile.

“Hmph! If Madam hadn’t informed me ahead of time, I’d never have known you planned to risk your breakthrough today, using the clash of yin and yang energies. Such courage! Seeing you so fearless, I can’t help but feel inferior.”

Ninth Uncle snorted, expressing his displeasure as he surveyed the ritual altar.

“Please don’t take offense, Ninth Uncle. I have no other choice. My family’s technique is flawed. The power of the Six-Winged Golden Centipede has already exceeded what my body can bear. I can only attempt to integrate it into myself by relying on the suppression of heaven and earth today.”

Li Yang glanced at the rising sun and sighed.

“What you’re doing is truly unprecedented. I’ve never even heard of such a method. But relying on external forces is never the right path. Please, consider this carefully, young friend.”

Though he didn’t fully understand the intricacies of Li Yang’s family technique, Madam He had already warned him of its dangers. Ninth Uncle couldn’t help but slip into his old habit of admonition.

“The Way of Heaven is a contest. I am no Taoist and can’t fathom the Daoist ideal of non-action. I only know that Heaven’s will is in my hands, and man can triumph over fate.”

Li Yang’s voice was filled with boldness and conviction, decisive and unwavering.

“Success or failure—all comes down to this moment.”

Raising the vial of orange-red serum, Li Yang gazed at the shimmering liquid, grit his teeth, and plunged the needle into the artery at his neck.

As the icy serum entered his body, his blood, like molten lava, erupted in turmoil. An orange glow shone through his veins, radiating intense heat.

Li Yang’s face turned crimson, and when he opened his mouth, a blast of scorching white mist escaped, steam rising from his brow.

“No! Madam, get back!”

Seeing the blazing heat wave erupting from Li Yang like a miniature sun atop the altar, Ninth Uncle’s expression changed instantly. Grabbing Madam He, he leaped dozens of meters away.

Thunder rumbled as the searing air swept outward. Ninth Uncle looked up to see a thick golden pillar of energy and smoke shooting from Li Yang’s head, scattering the clouds and standing like a luminous, burning column between heaven and earth.

At that moment, Li Yang’s mouth opened and closed, and ancient shamanic chants resounded across the land, exuding a wild, primordial aura.

With the chants, a strange screech echoed from above. A centipede, dozens of meters long and shrouded in golden mist, flickered in and out of sight, its roars rising to a fever pitch.

A massive, blood-red sigil appeared atop the centipede’s head. As the symbol flashed, the centipede’s body crumbled, dissolving into a golden stream that poured into the crown of Li Yang’s head.

The instant the centipede entered, Li Yang felt as if every cell in his body was being torn apart. A soul-searing heat erupted from the depths of his spirit, and darkness overtook him as he lost consciousness.

Once inside, the centipede’s golden light scattered, transforming into countless tiny, invisible runes that clung to Li Yang’s bones. Gradually, his jade-like skeleton turned to gold.

With a triumphant screech, the spirit of the Six-Winged Golden Centipede burst from his bones, pierced the void, and dove into Li Yang’s sea of consciousness, fusing with the divine runes. It became a colossal golden centipede with six wings, looming in his mind, endlessly devouring and exhaling energy.

Though his family’s technique was only a rough framework, its early stages were complete, and some had succeeded before. The reason for Li Yang’s predicament was simple: the Six-Winged Golden Centipede’s power was simply too overwhelming. Ever since this technique was developed, it was said that as long as the body could endure, there was no limit. But for someone’s first beast to be an otherworldly creature that had survived heavenly tribulation—like the Six-Winged Golden Centipede—such a thing had never happened before.

Even with all his preparations, Li Yang had underestimated its power.

“What... Ninth Uncle, what’s happening? Please, help him...”

Watching Li Yang’s agonized screams upon the altar, Madam He wept in desperation, clutching Ninth Uncle’s sleeve, all dignity and composure gone, reduced to a helpless girl.

“Alas, Madam, there’s nothing I can do. Whether he survives this ordeal is up to fate alone. If I intervene now, I might only distract him and cause his failure.”

Ninth Uncle could only sigh helplessly as he helped steady the distraught Madam He.

...

Meanwhile, in a small courtyard of the manor, space suddenly tore open and two figures stepped out—it was Shi Jian and his son.

“What a treasure! I never imagined such a powerful divine beast still exists in this world!”

Shi Jian’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the giant egg in the center of the courtyard, pulsating with solar essence, and he rushed forward.

But as he neared the stone platform, an immense force flung him back. A massive yin-yang fish formation descended from above, pressing down on father and son.

“Hmph—so it’s a Spirit Gathering Formation. What defense can such a paltry thing offer against me?”

Shi Jian sneered, lightning crackling around him as he launched his fists at the formation.

Thunder crashed as the yin-yang fish flickered, but still held strong against the assault.

“Who are you? How dare you cause trouble at the Li residence!”

Hearing the commotion, Jinling, who was guarding the manor, rushed out from her room, face flushed with anger.

“Tell me—is Lin Fengjiao here? Bring him out at once!”

Shi Jian’s expression was dark as he flicked his sleeve, ignoring Jinling’s reprimand.

“I don’t know any Lin Fengjiao. Who are you people? If you have no business here, leave at once!”

Though she didn’t know who this strange old Daoist was, Jinling could tell at a glance that he was up to no good.

“Master, leave this little girl to me. I have my ways with girls like her, heh...”

Shi Shaojian, who had been standing behind his father, grinned wickedly at Jinling and stepped forward, rubbing his hands together.

“Let me introduce myself. My master is the senior brother of the Maoshan Sect and a candidate for sect leader. We’ve come to your home only to inquire about someone’s whereabouts. His disciple said he came here. Could you tell us where he is?”

“Oh, so you’re from Maoshan as well? I see—you’re looking for Ninth Uncle. But now’s not a good time to reveal their whereabouts. Come back tomorrow.”

Hearing they were from Maoshan, Jinling relaxed a little. But today was Li Yang’s day for his breakthrough—she wasn’t about to give anything away.

“Hmph! If you won’t drink the wine of courtesy, you’ll drink the wine of punishment! Wood Stake Technique!”

Shi Jian had no patience to wait. Tonight was the time for Lin Fengjiao’s investiture by the underworld, and if missed, he would regret it forever.

Suddenly, thick wooden stakes shot up from the ground, smashing the courtyard to pieces.

Just as one stake threatened to strike Jinling, a frog’s croak rang out, accompanied by a violent inhaling sound.

A massive toad, mottled with coin-like markings, leapt in front of Jinling.

“Ha! I knew you weren’t good people, pretending to be from Maoshan. Golden Toad, teach them a lesson!”

Seeing her courtyard in ruins, Jinling shouted furiously at the toad.

“Hahaha! How incredible—searching far and wide only to find it by chance!”

Shi Jian immediately recognized the toad as Li Yang’s own and burst out laughing.

“Boy! So this is your nest. Today, I’ll deal with both you and Lin Fengjiao together. Spirits of Heaven and Earth: Rolling Thunder!”

Standing atop a trigram, lightning sparking around him, Shi Jian charged the Golden Toad.

Bam! Bam!

The toad took two punches head-on, then opened its mouth. Its tongue shot out in a blur, sweeping across the courtyard.

“What tough skin!”

Knocked back a few steps, Shi Jian’s face darkened as he saw the toad unscathed.

Suddenly, a scream came from behind—Shi Shaojian had been impaled through the belly by the toad’s tongue, which was now dragging him toward its gaping mouth.

“Shaojian! Wretch—do you seek death?!”

Shi Jian leapt up, grabbed his son by the shoulders, and with a powerful yank, pulled him free, blood raining through the air.

“Grandmaster, take care of Shaojian for me!”

Seeing his son’s wound, Shi Jian narrowed his eyes and called to the sky, tossing Shi Shaojian upward.

“Hurry, Shaojian. If the underworld completes the investiture, not even I can help you.”

At that moment, a rift opened in the sky, a blaze of colored light swept up Shi Shaojian, and an aged voice echoed from the void.

“As for this divine beast’s egg, I’ll keep it safe for you.”

With that, a streak of crimson light pierced the yin-yang fish, snatching up the enormous egg of the Furious Rooster and whisking it into the void.

“Thank you, Grandmaster!”

Shi Jian had little choice but to express gratitude, even knowing the divine beast was likely lost to him.

“Croak...”

Seeing the egg taken, the Golden Toad panicked and shot out its tongue.

“Wretch! Enough!”

Now unencumbered, Shi Jian caught the toad’s tongue midair and hurled it against the wall in a flash of lightning.

Boom!

“Golden Toad!!”

Jinling rushed to the rubble, her face full of worry.

At that moment, a column of golden energy erupted from the rear mountain, waves of scorching heat sweeping out, drawing Shi Jian’s attention.

“So, hiding on the back mountain...”

Shi Jian’s eyelid twitched as he gazed at the pillar of blood and energy soaring skyward, his heart heavy.

He hadn’t expected Li Yang’s cultivation to have advanced so quickly in just a few months. If before he had confidence in subduing Li Yang, now he was uncertain.

But then he remembered—he wasn’t alone this time. With Grandmaster He’s support, no matter how much Li Yang had advanced, his doom was certain.

With this thought, Shi Jian ignored the Golden Toad and, with a leap, hurried toward the rear mountain.