Chapter 1200
Deep within Vishuta Valley, at the edge of a gorge encircled by thousand-zhang cliffs like folding screens.
Pushing through the dense forest, one would find a massive rock face towering as if blotting out the sky.
The blackened surface of the weathered stone was tangled with moss and vines, and at its center gaped a cave entrance like an open maw—a dark void piercing through.
The entrance alone was tall enough to stack three or four grown men standing on each other's shoulders, and wide enough for five or six carriages to pass side by side.
The ground around the cave was strewn haphazardly with bones large and small—bleached white remains that appeared to belong to deer or wild boars.
The broad clearing before the entrance was so thoroughly trampled that not a single blade of grass could grow properly.
Deep claw marks were gouged into the rock.
From within the cave wafted a rotten, metallic stench, and at times, a low, rumbling growl echoed through the gorge.
The surroundings were wrapped in an eerie silence—not a single bird chirped.
—Aaaaagh!
—Someone, help!
Then, from the cave entrance, a bloodcurdling scream erupted.
Bu Eun-seol, concealed outside the cave with Wind & Cloud Divine Qi shrouding him, widened his eyes at the desperate cries.
'Something's gone wrong.'
He had been tailing Pa Hon, scrutinizing his every move.
But when a large-scale mercenary alliance formed to hunt the Blood Vulture and countless mercenaries poured into the cave,
he had no choice but to wait outside.
After all, Pa Hon and his companions were merely playing the role of rear-guard porters.
And more importantly, no matter how well he hid,
lingering during a battle inside the cave risked disrupting the formation the mercenaries had prepared.
Yet now, as screams continued to echo from within and mercenaries came flooding out in panic,
he instantly knew something had gone awry.
'Pa Hon hasn't come out.'
Wrapped in Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, Bu Eun-seol stealthily slipped into the cave.
'Damn.'
From the entrance, it was already a mess—scattered everywhere were the mangled corpses of mercenaries.
Venturing deeper, he scoured the interior, but only fleeing mercenaries and Blood Vultures brushed past him.
Nowhere could he see any sign of Pa Hon.
'He's in danger.'
Sensing the peril, Bu Eun-seol dispersed Wind & Cloud Divine Qi in all directions.
Then, from the cave's depths, a strange energy began to stir.
Sssssss.
Moving swiftly while rendered invisible by the divine energy, Bu Eun-seol
found a narrow crevice barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through.
And when he slipped inside—
"......!"
A gaunt man, his head wrapped in tattered cloth, sat cross-legged in perfect stillness.
In this hellish space filled with corpses and blood, his tranquil posture
resembled that of a Buddha deep in ascetic practice.
And there was Pa Hon—crumpled on the ground in a wretched state—
[Do you seek vengeance?]
An unexpected exchange was unfolding.
[Then I shall grant you power... In return, you must become the King of Spirit Beasts.]
The man extended a bony hand toward Pa Hon.
'King of Spirit Beasts...'
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol's eyes flew open.
He realized exactly who this emaciated, serene figure—resembling a Buddha—was.
The True Demon.
This man was exploiting the deep-seated hatred festering in Pa Hon's heart, seeking to make him his thrall.
Clench.
Fists tightening as he watched, Bu Eun-seol was suddenly torn by conflict.
'Should I intervene?'
He didn't belong to this era. Even his body was that of a complete stranger.
If this was real history—
was it right to interfere with its course?
"Uuuuugh..."
Just then, with a low groan, the prostrate Pa Hon slowly reached out his hand.
As if fate itself were mocking him, this man who had lost everything and sunk into the swamp of despair...
was about to step onto a path of corruption that even a thousand years could not undo.
'If I do nothing...'
Pa Hon would spend endless years
as one with the King of Spirit Beasts, the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede... hating humans, hunting humans,
and living a wretched life of being hunted by humans in turn.
Was he supposed to just stand by and watch as that endless cycle of suffering and rage was set in motion?
'I can't.'
But the situation was already spiraling toward catastrophe.
Amid a silence so profound it felt as though time had stopped,
the cross-legged man
slowly stretched his withered hand toward Pa Hon's sobbing head.
Fwoooosh!
A blinding radiance burst from the man's fingertips, swallowing the entire cave.
"STOP——!"
Bu Eun-seol shouted as he lunged forward with all his might, but—
FLASH!
In an instant, the cave interior transformed into a pure white void devoid of all color and sound.
KWA—AAAAH!
The light, searing enough to blind, stretched on like eternity itself.
It pierced through his eyelids, and a deafening roar tore through his ears, ravaging his entire body.
Everything vanished in an instant.
Sound, light, even sensation—all gone.
Bu Eun-seol felt as though he were sinking into deep water. No matter how desperately he tried to move, his body refused to obey.
Twitch.
Finally, sensation slowly returned to his limbs.
"Damn it!"
When he opened his eyes, the two figures were nowhere to be seen.
Only swirling dust remained, drifting emptily through the air—proof that someone had once stood there.
The man who had seemed like a Buddha, the screaming Pa Hon... They had vanished without a trace, as if evaporated.
Whoosh!
Bu Eun-seol immediately expanded his Wind & Cloud Divine Qi in all directions, searching for any trace of them.
But it was as if they had never been there at all—no sign, no lingering presence.
"They'll reappear soon."
—Do you desire vengeance?
When Pa Hon, grievously wounded, had let out that anguished scream, the True Demon had clearly asked if he wanted revenge.
Meaning Pa Hon, having lost his comrades, was consumed by a desperate thirst for retribution.
And since he had accepted the offer...
He would undoubtedly return for that vengeance.
And that premonition soon became a horrifying reality.
—The King of the Spirit Beasts has appeared in Nashmi Forest!
A forest shrouded in a sinister mist.
Rumors spread that the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede, the King of the Spirit Beasts, had emerged in Nashmi Forest.
Rogues blinded by greed flocked to the location.
But what awaited them was not a legendary spirit beast—but an incarnation of vengeance risen from hell itself.
Every time twin crimson lights flashed in the darkness, screams erupted.
Every time a colossal shadow swept through the trees, fountains of blood sprayed like geysers.
—Spare me!
The rogues swung their weapons in terror, driven to madness.
But the Black Centipede's armor-like hide repelled their strikes, and they died in vain.
—Retreat!
In the end, the rogues fled like madmen.
But the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede pursued relentlessly.
One by one, it tore their limbs apart like paper, crushed bones and flesh between its jaws...
And delivered a slow, brutal death.
Most of the dead rogues...
Were the very ones who had once driven Pa Hon's comrades to their deaths.
The same vile men who had exploited simple, honest rogues—men who relied on each other to survive—like beasts of burden,
And in the end, callously fed them to the spirit beasts to save themselves.
Pa Hon made them die the same way his comrades had.
No—he made them die even more horribly.
—Heh heh heh... HAHAHAHA!
After slaughtering every last rogue, Pa Hon let out a wretched, maddened laugh.
Though he had torn apart every last one of the bastards who had driven his family-like comrades to their deaths...
All that filled his chest was endless emptiness and sorrow.
—Humans are not worth keeping alive.
The only things that could fill that void were hatred and slaughter.
And so, having become the King of the Spirit Beasts, he transformed into a Great Demon, tearing apart and devouring every rogue who entered the forest.
—We must slay the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede!
Nashmi Forest became a death trap where none dared tread, and as word of the Spirit Beast King's emergence spread across India,
Martial artists and rogues from all over gathered at Nashmi Forest.
Rogues crying for vengeance for their fallen comrades, martial artists chasing glory, factions seeking to restore order...
A massive extermination force was assembled—comprising the finest warriors India had to offer.
—We must kill the Black Centipede and restore peace!
Not just renowned rogues, but numerous masters from various sects joined the ranks.
This was no longer a ragtag mob.
They encircled Nashmi Forest in layers,
Formulating an intricate battle formation, advancing in strict formation with flawless strategy.
Skreeeeech!
Pa Hon, now the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede, used the forest's terrain to disrupt the extermination force, attempting to pick them off one by one.
Emerging from the darkness to slit throats with razor claws before vanishing, spreading poison to herd them like cattle.
The extermination force suffered heavy losses—but only because they were still unfamiliar with the Black Centipede's nature and abilities.
As time passed, they adapted to Pa Hon's tactics and began counterattacking.
Pa Hon, on the other hand, lacked combat experience.
He couldn't fully control the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede's power, leaving him unable to command other spirit beasts.
Worse, he hadn't yet mastered the ability to separate his human form from the Black Centipede's,
Forcing him to fight alone in his monstrous guise.
—The Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede is using human-like strategy and tactics.
The extermination force meticulously analyzed the Black Centipede's movements, sacrificing lives to gather intelligence.
As the battle dragged on,
They began to see through Pa Hon's strategies with perfect clarity, and finally, they succeeded in driving him to the edge of a sheer cliff.
ROOOOAR!
Amid the storm of flashing Blade Light Sword Shadows raining down from all sides, Pa Hon let out a furious roar.
But there was no ground left to burrow into—the battle had turned into an all-out war.
Crunch! Krrrrk!
With every movement of its massive body, dozens of outlaws sprayed blood and collapsed—
Yet Pa Hon's own body was gradually accumulating wounds as well.
—Victory is in sight!
At last, the subjugation force began seizing the upper hand.
Giant spears and razor-sharp blades pierced through his hardened hide, and into the gaping wounds flew hundreds of hidden weapons.
Pa Hon recalled the brutal deaths of his comrades. He remembered the treachery and cruelty of humans—
And made the seething hatred his driving force.
But in the end, the many overpowered the few.
All that awaited him was a gruesome end at the hands of the subjugation force.
—I can't die like this!
Krrrrk! KWA-BOOM!
Clutching the last remnants of his strength, Pa Hon unleashed a shockwave of energy and a cloud of poisonous mist in all directions—
Then hurled himself off the cliff and into the raging river below.
SPLASH!
As the violent waters erupted in a massive spray, Pa Hon released his transformation and reverted to human form.
The subjugation force, watching from the cliff's edge, roared:
—The Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede has shapeshifted into a human!
—Capture that bastard!
The sight of him in human form only enraged them further.
But Pa Hon's figure vanished instantly, swallowed by the furious current.
SWOOSH—!
Narrowly escaping pursuit, Pa Hon fled deep into the mountains and hid.
His blood-soaked lower abdomen bore—
The very source of his vitality, the crimson bead that enabled his fusion with the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede—
His Internal Core, now half-torn from his body, dangling precariously.
Every breath sent excruciating pain lancing through him. In this state, he could no longer move.
"I have to endure... somehow."
He found a small cave and curled up inside.
"I must recover... and slaughter every last one of them."
Clutching onto his fading consciousness, Pa Hon channeled his bitter hatred for humanity—
And focused every shred of his will on healing his broken body.
How much time had passed?
"Huh...?"
Beyond his dimming awareness, a clear voice reached him.
Forcing his eyes open with great effort—
He saw a small silhouette standing at the cave's entrance, backlit by sunlight.
A plump-cheeked girl with unusually large eyes, carrying a small basket—likely out gathering herbs.
Her gaze swept over his bloodied form before settling on the crimson bead dangling from his abdomen.
"Ah..."
Having grown up in a village of herb gatherers who had foraged these mountains for generations—
She could recognize rare Spiritual Herbs and faintly sense the aura of Spirit Beasts.
In an instant, she realized—
What clung to Pa Hon's body was no ordinary bead.
It was an Internal Core, a vessel of condensed life force from a powerful Spirit Beast.
'Why is it... that humans always lose their minds the moment they see treasure?'
As the girl's eyes remained fixed on his Core, fury surged within Pa Hon.
Once, he too had been human—
But now, as a monster, his hatred for them only grew.
Step. Step.
When the girl cautiously approached, reaching out a hand, Pa Hon bit his lip.
He wanted to tear her apart right then—but his body was so drained, he couldn't even twitch a finger.
'Is this how I die?'
To think he, who once made India tremble in fear, would have his Core ripped out by some brat?
Grit.
Resigned, he closed his eyes.
But the expected pain never came.
Instead—the scent of fragrant herbs filled his nose.
The girl hadn't reached for his Core.
She had taken a poultice from her basket and was carefully applying it to his wounds.
Swish. Swish.
Her hands were clumsy, but there was no hesitation—no malice in her touch.
"What are you doing?"
At his question, the girl met his gaze with clear eyes—
Pointed at his wounds, and made a soft "Ahh" sound.
Looking closer, Pa Hon saw a deep, violet scar across her throat.
A severe injury to her vocal cords—she couldn't speak.
"Pathetic pity."
Pa Hon glared at her with utter contempt.
"Humans always... pretend to be kind for their own satisfaction, then betray you the moment things go wrong."
"Ahh."
"Get lost!"
At his shout, the girl flinched and scrambled back.
"If you don't leave, I'll devour you whole!"
Terrified, she grabbed her basket and bolted.
"...Tch."
Watching her flee, Pa Hon exhaled a belated sigh of frustration.
"I should've lured her in quietly... then killed her."
In his agitation, he'd forgotten—
He couldn't move a muscle, and his Core was still exposed.
If that girl returned to the village and told them—
Greedy humans would swarm here to rip it from him.
"I'm far too inexperienced."
The battle with the extermination squad had been the same.
Though his strength was immense, he had almost no combat experience. He had failed because he hadn't planned his strategy carefully.
Just as Pa Hon was lost in regret, a small shadow appeared again outside the cave.
It was the same girl.
Shiver, shiver.
Trembling with fear, she held out a bamboo water flask.
Judging by the sweat dripping from her, she must have run all the way to fetch this water.
"Why?"
At Pa Hon's question, the girl pointed to his cracked lips.
As if to say, You looked thirsty.
"Why are you helping me?"
The girl then pointed to his deep wounds. As if to say, Because you're hurt.
Her pure expression made Pa Hon's chest tighten.
It felt as if long-extinguished human emotions were flickering back to life inside him.
"I am the king of the Spirit Beasts—the ones who hunt humans."
At Pa Hon's shout, the girl stared into his eyes for a moment before shaking her head.
Her expression said she didn't believe him.
"Whether you believe me or not doesn't matter."
Pa Hon bared his sharp teeth as he spoke.
"Now get lost—"
But suddenly, the world spun violently.
He had fought the extermination squad relentlessly for days, then plunged into the riverbed to barely escape with his life.
With deep wounds and all his strength exhausted, he had no energy left to endure.
"Ugh..."
He tried to steady himself, but with a thud, he collapsed into unconsciousness.
—Why are you sleeping so deeply?
When he opened his eyes, he saw the faces of the comrades he had longed to see.
—You should wake up now.
Bathed in bright sunlight, they smiled warmly and reached out their hands.
With a relieved expression, Pa Hon gripped their hands tightly.
And in that moment, he awoke from the deep dream.
"Hahk!"
When he opened his eyes, he saw the inside of a shabby thatched cottage.
The scent of burning medicinal herbs filled the air, and bloodied clothes and bowls of brewed medicine lay scattered around.
Looking down at himself, he saw the long gash across his abdomen tightly bound with clean cloth.
They must have taken my Internal Core.
Of course. Human greed never changed.
"Figures."
The faint warmth that had barely blossomed in his chest vanished in an instant, as if it had never been there.
And in its place surged a contempt so fierce it could burn his very soul.
"Humans really aren't worth keeping alive."
A storm of dark crimson energy erupted from Pa Hon's body.
Without his Internal Core, he could no longer transform into the Black Centipede—and soon, he would die.
So before his last breath left him, he had to kill at least one more person.
Crack, crack.
His skin began to darken with black bristles, and his eyes burned with hatred redder than blood.
Though he had no Internal Core and was still wounded, enough power had returned to slaughter humans.
No more pity. No more lingering attachment.
Pa Hon was becoming a true demon.
A perfect destroyer who would crush and hunt every human before him like insects.
Creak.
Just as he slowly rose to unleash his fury—
Wait.
He had thought it stolen—
But as his rage surged, the dormant power of his Internal Core stirred awake.
"...Right."
Pa Hon let out a hollow laugh and pressed a hand to his forehead.
"If they wanted to take my Core, they could've just killed me... There was no need to carefully tend to my wounds like this."
In the end, they hadn't taken the priceless Internal Core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede.
Instead, they had meticulously treated his wounds.
"Why...?"
Whoosh.
As his anger faded, Pa Hon's monstrous form reverted to human.
Staggering, he stepped outside—and saw the peaceful scenery of a quiet village.
So they brought me to the village after all.
When he collapsed, the girl must have immediately called for help, and they had carried him here to tend to him.
If they're herb gatherers, they should know the value of an Internal Core...
Just then, the villagers noticed he was awake and approached with warm smiles.
But they kept a careful distance, as if afraid of startling him.
"What?"
Pa Hon shouted.
"What the hell are you people?!"
The moment he roared, fresh blood gushed from his barely healed wound.
"Why did you save me?!"
His head burned, and the world spun violently again.
"WHY?!"
Each shout sent searing pain through his abdomen, and his vision darkened.
His fingers trembled, his face paled—
Thud.
And once again, he lost consciousness.
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
The sound of birdsong roused Pa Hon once more.
Sitting up, he saw his wounds had been freshly bandaged again.
For a long time, he stared blankly into the air like a man who had lost his soul.
The villagers had come to tend to his wounds every hour.
Herb gatherers often fell from high places or slipped on mountain paths, so they always carried good medicine.
They were simple, honest folk who lived without greed.
Pa Hon remained silent as a mute.
Yet the villagers asked nothing—only treating his wounds quietly with the herbs they had.
With every touch of their hands,
the ice-hard hatred and rage inside him melted—
just a little,
just a little more.
In the dark, cold cave,
it had started with the warmth the girl showed him.
Now, the villagers' kindness and sincerity
were slowly,
ever so slowly,
purifying Pa Hon's twisted heart.