The Hu family's "Chu Ma Xian" had a solemn expression. He also understood the severity of the current situation.
Just as the five "Chu Ma Xian" were communicating, Daoist Ling Hanguang was not idle; he flicked his horsetail whisk and slung it over his arm, saying, "Waiting for the five northeastern families' patriarchs to arrive will take too long. With the ancient great demon on the verge of emerging, I, this old Daoist, will take the lead."
As he spoke, Daoist Ling Hanguang lifted his foot and gently stepped forward. In an instant, before his foot even touched the ground, golden talismanic light illuminated beneath him.
Daoist Ling Hanguang stepped upon the golden talisman patterns and ascended into the air, his figure ethereal, like an immortal descending into the mortal world from the Nine Heavens.
"Old Ancestor, I'll go with you!"
Elder Zhang and the two Maoshan Daoists followed closely behind. As they stepped forward, golden talisman patterns also appeared beneath their feet, allowing them to walk through the air.
One after another, they followed Daoist Ling Hanguang. Seeing this, the five "Chu Ma Xian" continued their magical communication with the northeastern families while also displaying their own abilities, heading together toward the depths of Changbai Mountain.
Soon, the entire courtyard was left with only Old Man Liu. He, too, was not idle; he quickly picked up the phone and reported the situation to Bureau 749.
———
As soon as the call connected, he immediately said, "The ancient great demon of Changbai Mountain has emerged ahead of schedule—at least five of them. Among them are some with the bloodline of the great tiger that once contended with the five northeastern 'immortal' families… Elder Zhang has already set out with his people."
"Understood. I'll report this to Director Lin De and the others. Any other news?"
"Yes. Besides Elder Zhang, the Maoshan Sect's Old Ancestor, Daoist Ling Hanguang, has also come. However, according to reports, he wasn't invited by Elder Zhang—he was entrusted to come by someone called the 'King of the Night.'"
Since this involved ancient great demons and the intervention of a Grandmaster like Elder Zhang, the matter was reported immediately.
———
Beijing, Bureau 749, Conference Room
Lin De was in discussion with other senior officials of the bureau when the meeting room door was knocked upon.
An intelligence officer hurried in. When the situation at Changbai Mountain was revealed, Lin De and the others' expressions changed.
"The situation is worse than expected—five ancient great demons. Thankfully, the Maoshan Sect's Old Ancestor, Daoist Ling Hanguang, is here. Otherwise, even if Elder Zhang were stronger, he wouldn't be able to handle this alone."
The logistics department head let out a sigh of relief and said, "A two-thousand-year-old ancient tiger demon… that alone is enough to rival Elder Zhang."
His words were affirmed by Professor Chen, a woman from the research department.
She said, "As long as the northeastern five families' patriarchs arrive quickly, combined with Daoist Ling Hanguang, they should be able to resolve the Changbai Mountain incident. Looking at it this way, we probably won't need to deploy any other Grandmasters there."
"Judging by the situation at Changbai Mountain now, it should be…" Lin De, hands clasped under his chin, was about to respond when, another intelligence officer rushed in.
Before even catching his breath, he anxiously shouted, "Director Lin, bad news! In the Hengduan Mountains, another ancient great demon has emerged! The guardian, Situ Lao, has urgently requested reinforcements!"
Lin De's body tensed instantly. "An ancient great demon in the Hengduan Mountains as well? Are you talking about the Gu King Centipede?"
"Yes! Guardian Situ Lao says the Gu King Centipede has suddenly awakened! It was originally estimated to awaken in two days, but it woke up early! Situ Lao suspects this may be related to the recent incident at Ailao Mountain!"
Lin De frowned. The Hengduan Mountains and Ailao Mountain were close to each other, both located in Yunnan Province.
"It's likely that the tribulation lightning from that thousand-year-old ancient human's breakthrough in Ailao Mountain startled the Gu King Centipede awake."
Professor Chen sighed helplessly and added, "Gu insects, like ghosts and spirits, fear tribulation lightning—the ultimate manifestation of pure yang energy in nature."
Lin De grunted in agreement. At the same time, Lin De gave orders, "Notify Yunnan's guardian, Situ Lao—he must do everything possible to delay the Gu King Centipede from reaching human-populated areas. Also, inform the nearest Grandmaster to the Hengduan Mountains."
His assistant quickly checked the tablet and immediately reported, "It's Madam Miao Gu. She is currently in Xishuangbanna."
Lin De nodded upon hearing this. "Inform Grandmaster Miao Gu that she has permission to unleash her full strength. She must reach the Hengduan Mountains as quickly as possible. As for any disturbances caused along the way, tell her not to worry—the bureau will cover it up."
A series of commands were issued. After the intelligence officers hurried off to relay the orders, Lin De finally relaxed his tense posture—but his face remained grim as he exhaled deeply.
"I don't know if we'll make it in time."
With a Grandmaster's speed, reaching the Hengduan Mountains wouldn't take long—perhaps half an hour, or even less.
But that was assuming Guardian Situ Lao could hold out. Just thinking about it, Lin De and all the high-ranking officials present doubted it.
"The Gu King Centipede… that thing is nearly at the level of a 'Mortal Dust Immortal,' isn't it?"
Professor Chen muttered as she accessed Bureau 749's archives through her tablet. When she checked, her delicate brows furrowed.
According to the records, the Gu King Centipede had already reached near-Mortal Dust Immortal strength a hundred years ago, during the Qing Dynasty.
Now, after a century, for a strange creature like a Gu insect, reaching the Mortal Dust Immortal level was not impossible.
"Let's hope we make it in time."
The finance department head interjected, "Otherwise, if the Gu King Centipede emerges… the consequences…"
He trailed off, and the conference room fell into silence.
After a long moment, Lin De finally broke the quiet with a heavy sigh.
"At least Changbai Mountain has Daoist Ling Hanguang's help—so we don't have to worry about a manpower shortage there. As for the Hengduan Mountains… there's nothing we can do. We simply don't have the personnel to spare. We've done everything we can. The rest… we can only hope."
———
Hengduan Mountains.
Deep in the mountain range, a remote, uninhabited forest.
At this moment, a situation similar to that in the depths of Changbai Mountain was unfolding.
Birds and beasts fled in terror. Roars and cries echoed. The earth trembled, as if an earthquake was occurring, shaking the forests and sending leaves fluttering.
The next second, with a thunderous rumble, a massive black shape slithered through the forest. Wherever it passed, trees—whether small saplings or ancient giants requiring multiple people to encircle—were all toppled and broken.
The path it left behind was an S-shaped trail of devastation.
The sight was utterly overwhelming.
"ROAR!!"
A beast-like roar echoed. With a loud crash, the collapsed forest halted, and a monstrous creature, three to four hundred meters long, rose from the trees.
It was a centipede. Its entire exoskeleton was pitch-black, glistening like steel under the sunlight.
Its sheer size was terrifying—its head alone larger than a heavy-duty truck. Half of its body reared up, bellowing skyward. The sound was deafening.
The scene was terrifying.
If there are people with a phobia of giant creatures who see this, just looking at the centipede's head alone would be enough to scare them into fainting.
However, since this place is located deep in the remote mountains and forests, the 749 Bureau had long ago implemented temporary road closures and forest control measures for the sake of the great demon of the Hengduan Mountains, so no outsiders could witness this scene.
The only ones who could see it were eight people.
That was the guardian, Situ Lao, along with eight other Gu Masters.
The northeastern region produces many practitioners of the "Chuma Xian" (Spirit Horse Immortal) tradition, while in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, many practitioners of the Gu Master tradition are produced.
The nine of them made their move together.
The mountains and forests surged, creaking and rustling continuously. One could see, under their command, tens of thousands of countless Gu insects swarming in from all directions, entangling toward the Gu King Centipede.
It was simply a nightmare for those with trypophobia.
The number of Gu insects was vast. The variety was also vast.
Centipedes, moths, silkworms, scorpions, snakes, ants, and so on.
They surged forward like the tide, swarming toward the Gu King Centipede, crawling up its body to bite and releasing toxic mists.
In an instant, this entire area became filled with miasma and poisonous gas.
Large patches of lush green forest withered and turned yellow, creating a scene like the apocalypse.
However, even though Situ Lao and the others gave it their all, even unleashing the most treasured Gu insects they had cultivated—ones that could easily poison even a guardian—they could not inflict the slightest harm upon the Gu King Centipede.
The Gu King Centipede's hundred-legged body trembled, opening its mouth to spit out a mass of green miasma.
Instantly, like dumplings being dropped into boiling water, tens of thousands of Gu insects tumbled down from the Gu King Centipede's body.
Situ Lao and the other nine felt a jolt in their hearts upon witnessing this.
"Overestimating yourselves. Mere half-immortals, not even at the level of the 'Mortal Dust Immortal,' yet you dare to attempt to challenge this sovereign?"
The Gu King Centipede slightly lowered its enormous head. Sunlight struck its body, and its massive head cast a shadow so vast that it blocked out the sky and sun, completely covering the nine people standing on the treetops.
Even without sensing the aura exuded by the Gu King Centipede, just its enormous centipede head moving close to them, already subjected all nine of them to an overwhelming pressure.
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