Encounter!

Anything the system produced was bound to be top-notch.

The one-use Demon Detection Function had not only detected every demon within a hundred li, it had also formed a map in Li Yao's mind marking each one's location.

Looking at the map, Li Yao recalled what he had noticed earlier: the Fifth Rank Deep-Sea Snake Demon and the Demon Venerable Realm Flying Centipede were very close to each other.

There was a good chance the Deep-Sea Snake Demon had appeared because of the Flying Centipede.

Li Yao took a deep breath, his expression turning grave.

"System, can you pinpoint the Flying Centipede's location right now?"

"Ding! Host, the Demon Detection Function can only detect demons' locations and cultivation levels. It cannot track them in real time. According to the map, though, the Flying Centipede is deep in the hills behind Heyu Village, roughly three li from here."

Three li.

Li Yao gauged the distance. At full speed, he could get there in about a minute.

But should he really go?

The Flying Centipede was in the Demon Venerable Realm, equivalent to a human Martial Venerable. Demons were also born with powerful bodies, and Human Race martial artists generally could not beat them at the same level.

His combat strength might rival a Martial Venerable's, but he was still only a Ninth Rank Martial Master.

Even if he exchanged for a lightning Superpower, his odds of taking on a Demon Venerable Realm Flying Centipede head-on were, frankly, less than ten percent.

Meanwhile, in the hills behind Heyu Village.

"Captain, I don't think I'm making it back. The Snake Demon was just bait. The real monster is the Flying Centipede. He's terrifying. He could have killed us all at once, but he chose to let us scatter, then hunt us down one by one."

A blood-soaked public security officer leaned against a tree, sending one last message through the communicator in his hand.

"He can take human form. He's at least in the Demon Venerable Realm. I don't know whether the earlier distress signal came from those officers or from him. But listen, Captain: report this to the Special Operations Bureau. Don't send anyone else here to die for nothing."

"This is beyond the Public Security Bureau. Captain, after I die, give my death benefits to my mom."

After sending the message, his face relaxed, resignation settling over it.

His taut nerves finally eased.

So tired. I just want to sleep... If I'm asleep when he eats me, maybe it won't hurt... He closed his eyes.

"Heh heh heh." A sinister, chilling voice sounded beside his ear.

"Why did you stop running? It's no fun if you don't run."

His eyes snapped open.

Before him stood a "person" in a long, ink-black dress of ancient style, with dark hair falling over her shoulders.

His pupils widened.

The Flying Centipede!

The "person" in front of him spoke again.

"Why won't you run? Why won't you let me enjoy the hunt? Run! I'll give you ten minutes, so hurry up and run."

"You're already a Seventh Rank Martial Master. You can definitely run faster than the others. Get moving! In ten minutes, you might even make it out. Then you'd survive."

Pain filled the officer's eyes. So that was it. No one had escaped her grasp. And now I'm going to die here too.

I thought I was ready, but I still can't help being afraid of death...

Then anger flared in his eyes.

"You monster! You killed so many of my brothers! I'll blow myself up and take you with me! Even if I die, I'll leave a mark on you to prove I was here!"

"Tiger Fist!"

He forced himself to his feet and threw a punch. All the Spiritual Power in his body burned as he put everything he had into it.

That punch carried all his anger and unwillingness to die, all his fallen brothers' hatred and thirst for vengeance, straight toward the Flying Centipede.

Smack!

Li Yao followed the map, drawing ever closer to the Flying Centipede.

Just then, he heard a sharp, resounding smack!

Right up ahead!

His eyes lit up. Had people from the Special Operations Bureau already started fighting the Flying Centipede?

But I reported it less than an hour ago.

Could they have gotten here that fast?

The light in his eyes quickly faded.

The sound had stopped as abruptly as it came. There had only been that one smack.

That meant the fight was already over.

He could only creep toward the place the sound had come from.

Li Yao suppressed his unease and edged toward it, step by step.

He moved with extreme care, not daring to make a sound.

The surroundings were frighteningly quiet. Not even insects or birds made a noise. There was only the rustle of wind through the leaves.

After creeping forward for about a minute, he reached a gap in the trees and saw a clearing ahead.

A person in a public security officer's uniform lay there, lifeless.

Beside him stood a woman in a long, ink-black dress of ancient style.

Her back was to Li Yao, dark hair spilling over her shoulders as she gnawed at the corpse like a beast.

"Ding! Demon Venerable Realm demon detected: Flying Centipede. An ancient creature with wings on its back and deadly venom in its mouth. Weakness: lightning. A vulnerable spot three inches below its navel houses its demon core and can be breached."

The woman feeding on the corpse stopped.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. A Seventh Rank Martial Master, and that's all you had? I thought you might give me a pleasant surprise."

As she spoke, the woman licked her lips. Bits of flesh and bright red blood still clung to her mouth.

Li Yao's heart jolted at the sight.

That woman is the Flying Centipede!

She's taken human form!

And she just killed a public security officer!

Li Yao held his breath and stayed perfectly still, terrified she would discover him.

But just then, the Flying Centipede turned her head toward his hiding place.

"Well, well. Another one come to die? A Ninth Rank Martial Master, too. Looks like I'm in luck today."