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Ancient Fragment #17
Legends say that Fire Centipedes that survive for centuries may evolve into Blazing Tunnel Lords, creatures said to swim through molten lava as if it were water.
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Long Tianyu looked down at the stone pathway that was smooth under their feet. His black boots brushed against some red grass that pushed itself through a crack of the stone.
Bai Qing slowed, raising a hand.
“We’re here.”
Long Tianyu’s gaze swept across the valley. He could see to the side that the grass had been walked on recently. Most likely Bai Qing and her sect members.
The valley was quiet. Except for the wind, there was no other sound.
"Do you see the slight openings over there? Inside are Fire Centipedes, and next to their caves are what I think you are looking for, the Crimson Gold Flower."
Small patches of crimson-gold glimmered among the rocks.
“The Crimson Gold Flowers…” Hua Qingqing murmured.
They were beautiful and unsettling at once. Petals like molten metal, stems thin but unyielding, and at their center it was crimson with a faint pulse of spiritual energy.
“The flowers absorb the qi of heaven and earth. That is why demonic beasts gather around them, to consume them once they are fully grown.”
As if summoned by Hua Qingqing's words, a low sound of insect legs pattering rapidly against rocks echoed from within the dark caves.
Out came three Fire Centipedes that inspected the newly arrived group. They were far weaker than the Twin Red Vipers, only reaching the first stage of the Elementary Qi Realm. The Fire Centipedes were black, with sharp legs that looked to be on fire below their chitinous bodies.
Their mandibles clacked together, sharp and hollow like bone striking bone. In resonance, they threatened the group, daring anyone to touch the Crimson Gold Flowers they protected.
“Three,” Long Tianyu said calmly.
“One for each of us,” Hua Qingqing replied, already drawing her sword as her hair fluttered heroically in the air.
The first centipede rushed straight for Bai Qing. Its spiky legs clacked loudly against the rocks as it climbed down, mandibles snapping. Her blade, Celestial Moon flashed and slashed toward its head, but the mandibles snapped shut, blocking the strike. It hissed loudly, realizing in that moment that Bai Qing was strong.
Bai Qing stepped forward, her foot landing lightly on a rock as she pivoted. With a swift motion, she drove her palm into the centipede's flank. Spiritual energy burst outward, sending it tumbling across the ground with a pained screech.
The second and third Fire Centipedes reached Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing. The two stood silently, relaxed, as if this were nothing.
“You shouldn't use that slash again unless you want to lay on the ground like before,” Hua Qingqing warned.
Long Tianyu raised an eyebrow and smirked.
“Hehe, wife, you know me too well. Do not worry, I will be careful!” he said, beating his chest, completely ignoring the demonic beasts rushing at them. He blocked a bite from the mandibles and pushed the centipede backward.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The centipede leapt toward Long Tianyu again, its mandibles aimed at his throat.
He didn’t retreat.
His body twisted slightly, just enough for the bite to miss by a hair’s breadth. In the same motion, his hand shot forward, fingers striking the beast’s side. A sharp crack echoed as its momentum collapsed, the creature crashing to the dirt.
“But, my dear wife, do you have a technique as awesome as mine? Aiya, maybe I need to teach you later. I will teach you many things,” Long Tianyu laughed evilly, dodging another attack from the centipede.
BOOOOOM
Hua Qingqing exploded into a storm of qi as her Qi Infusion Realm was fully exposed.
Bai Qing's eyes widened as her chest was kicked in a frenzy when she could feel Hua Qingqing's aura for the first time.
Qi Infusion Realm!
Long Tianyu had finally made her angry with his teasing. They had kissed once before and knew that they liked each other, but they were also in front of a complete stranger. Being called wife over and over again finally made her embarrassed enough to lose her control.
She tightened the grip on her sword and infusing the qi inside and slashed out with her sword in frustration completely unrestrained, using all of her power. The centipede fighting her instantly exploded into blood and gore under the strike. Blood flowed like a small river across the already crimson ground.
The two other Fire Centipedes slowed down their movements as they understood this was a demonic beast far more dangerous than them, they screeched loudly and ran back, trying to escape deeper into the valley.
Hua Qingqing would have most likely hunted their family tree down if she knew that they saw her as a demonic beast.
Bai Qing and Long Tianyu looked stunned towards the scene of Hua Qingqing standing silently infront of the corpse of the Fire Centipede while the two other scattered away deeper into the valley.
Hua Qingqing ignored the bloody scene and walked towards the caves with the Crimson Gold Flowers.
So scary.
Bai Qing trembled slightly from seeing how nonchalantly Hua Qingqing walked passed the corpse of the Fire Centipede.
Hua Qingqing jumped slightly, reaching the cave of the centipede she had just slain and carefully grabbed a patch of Crimson Gold Flowers that hung on the ledge.
''What are you waiting for?'' Long Tianyu said and ran ahead of Bai Qing, also taking a few Crimson Gold Flowers.
A small smile formed on her lips. She understood what they were doing. Even though she had contributed basically nothing to the battle, they still made sure to leave some for her.
Long Tianyu stood at the cave entrance. The moment he stepped inside, the air changed. A wave of heat pressed against his skin, thick and suffocating, as if the mountain itself were breathing fire, or something metallic. The ground beneath his feet felt warm, almost hot, and the rocky walls glowed with a faint reddish hue. Thin streams of steam curled upward from cracks in the stone.
“Aha, so that’s why they are called Fire Centipedes. They live close to warm areas,” Long Tianyu whispered to himself. After all, not one of them had spewed fire like the demonic beasts of legends. As he moved deeper inside, there was nothing except a few old bones scattered across the ground.
“Hey, come here!” Long Tianyu suddenly heard Hua Qingqing shout from the other cave. A loud rumble followed.
He hurried back outside and entered the other cave together with Bai Qing. The two frowned once they entered. It was hot there as well, but far more humid and damp, the smell of metal was also much stronger here. It reminded them of the smell of blood from before. Hua Qingqing stood at the end of the cave, and the rumbling sounds kept coming.
“What is it, Qingqing? Did you find something?” Long Tianyu asked. Inside, though, he could not help but wonder if he had made her angry enough to lose her mind. Is she going to end up like Third Brother Chen Jie, a miner?
Hua Qingqing had her sword raised, pointing it at a wall that seemed different from the rest. “This wall… it is hollow.”
She tapped the rock with her sword hilt. A dull, echoing thud replied.
Hua Qingqing took a deep breath, gathering the qi in her core. The air around her grew dense. She placed her hands on the wall, palms flat. A low hum began, vibrating up through her arms.
Then she pushed.
Not with brute force, but with a focused surge of qi, drilling into the stone's weakest points. Cracks splintered outward from her palms, racing across the surface. Dust and pebbles rained down. With a final, grinding roar, a section of the wall collapsed inward, revealing a thin dark passage beyond.
A hot, metallic and stale breath of air rushed out from the opening.
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End of chapter 17 -
-- Fire Centipede --
Average length: 5 meters.
Habitat: Narrow caverns.
Appearance: A massive black centipede with layered chitin with legs that glows like embers. Many legs leave faint scorch marks on stone.
Temperament: Highly aggressive and territorial. It attacks anything that enters its tunnel system or the treasures it protects.
Diet: Feeds on underground fire essence, molten minerals, blood qi, flame- or blood attribute spirit herbs, and occasionally living prey that wanders into its domain.
