Interlude: The Centipede Princess

Interlude: The Centipede Princess

The Liquid Meridian Realm. In days of yore, before a great power shifted their hand and tied the tongues of the world together, there were many names for the Second Realm. Each of them a unique expression shaped by a cultivators experiences on the dark and endless road they traveled and the world around them. According to oral tales passed down in Zumulu through ages golden and cataclysmic and regaled onto a young Bao Si sitting at the knee of Grandpa Xie, their peoples name for it was the River Realm. It was a poetic name. One that attached their home and identity to a Realm that was doubtlessly only discovered after much hardship and loss. Calling it Liquid Meridian Realm was practically stale by comparison.

That is all it was, though, in the endliquid qi in meridians. Even as she felt power course through her body, improving every single thing about her in every single way. Bao Si was only impressed, not awestruck. She had long set her sights on higher places than a mere Liquid Meridian Realm.

The Rattan Armor Soldier stood respectfully to the side while Bao Si inspected the changes her advancement had brought. Two Liquid Meridian Centipede Gu curled around her shoulders and snapped their mandible menacingly at the soldier. One was clearly older and larger than the other, who still spilled miasma occasionally as it adjusted to its new realm. Around them was the aftermath of her battle with the Gu Department Shaman. The ground was poisoned black, and several trees were slowly dissolving from the intense miasma theyd been infected with. The shaman and his Gu had long been devoured and transformed into energy. It was a benefit that was afforded to all Black Bone Shamans, born from the risk they took personally ingesting the poison used to create their Gu. Few other shamanic traditions in Zumulu could boast the same, and none could do so as easily as the Black Bones could.

Two Gu, the Rattan Armor Soldier said. Bao Si could hear the respect in his voice. You are no ordinary shaman. The vines making up his helmet splayed open like a booming flower and revealed a young mans face.

He was fine-featured and delicate of complexion. A frivolous thought arose in Bao Si to ask for his skincare routine before she banished it. The mans appearance was quite a shocking departure from his earlier actions. He did not look like the type who would brutally murder someone. Bao Si wouldnt let herself be fooled however, after all, many had thought the same about her before being taught an unfortunate lesson.

The Rattan Armor Solider pressed a fist against his chest and bowed. I am Qiong Qi. May I have the honor of knowing your name?

Bao Si briefly considered hiding her real identity but decided against it. It was pointless, given how tied she was to Xi Wangmus rebellion now. It wouldnt take long for Qiong Qi to discover who she was and reveal the lie. At that point, she would have offended a Ninth-Layer Liquid Meridian for no reason.

A talented Ninth-Layer Liquid Meridian, she mentally added.

A youthful face was no real indicator of age amongst cultivators. Advance quickly enough, and any cultivator could retain their youth for decades. From Qiong Qi, however, her Gu could taste vitality that only the young could have. That he reached this level of cultivation at such a young age spoke to his talent and his future prospects.

As counterintuitive as it sounded, cultivators increased lifespans only added to the importance of youth. So long as one advanced as quickly as possible, then they would have plenty of time to cultivate for when they reached true bottlenecks. There were some older cultivators who would say that compared to their total lifespan, they were teenagers. Those sorts of people were delusional. Old was old. There was a world of difference between a twenty-year-old Liquid Meridian and a 100-year-old one.

Not to mention those lotus flowers.

If she was not wrong in her assessment, then the pant wrapped around Qiong Qis shoulders was the Bewitching Lotus of Ice and Fire. Among spirit plants, it was particularly rare and highly ranked. Even better than the Rattan Vine Armor he was wearing. Possessing it was proof of ability. The Bewitching Lotus of Ice and Fire had a strong spirituality that was difficult for the average cultivator to suppress. It was also a mark of status. To be able to keep and openly use a plant that even Crystal Transformation Realms would covet meant this Qiong Qi had a significant background. One of the Exiled nobility? Or perhaps a power hidden deeper still in the jungles?

Bao Si raised a hand to calm her Gu. They settled down reluctantly, one invigorated by its advancement, the other for its release from its seal. She brought her hands together in a bow. Bao Si.

Qiong Qis face morphed into surprise. Bao? Of the royal house?

Bao Si nodded. The same.

Ive been disrespectful then, Princess Bao. Qiong Qi took on a look of consideration. So the Queen Mother has also gotten her hooks into the Black Bones.

Thats quite the thing to say about Xi Wangmu. She is your leader, no? No matter how dissatisfied Bao Si was with her master selling their people to Xi Wangmu, one did not reveal the workings of ones home to strangers.

Qiong Qi shrugged. Its not as if were here with her permission.

That was. concerning, both for her and the others current safety and for her people as a whole in this rebellion. The irony was not lost on her that Xi Wangmu had just recently complained to her about the fractious relations between Zumulus various tribes.

Thats quite the thing to admit to someone you just met, Bao Si said.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Seeing that were standing on the same line now, who can call you a stranger? Qiong Qi retorted.

And yet I am tied to Xi Wangmu, and you are not. It was a dangerous topic to bring up. Sleeping dogs were left to lie for a reason, but the dangerous questions often revealed the most answers.

Who says Im not? Qiong Qi asked.

You sound far too casual for someone ambushing the Garrison, Bao Si said.

Qiong Qi waved her off. We have our own means. The Garrison has all been separated, and we collected half of them in the killing zones we set up.

I repeat. That sounds far too casual for someone ambushing the Garrison.

Qiong Qi shrugged. There was only so much we could do. In the first place, we dont have complete control over the Trials formations. If we altered too many things, then the Garrison would have been spooked. Tricking them into thinking the Trial was a single entrance and not a random teleport was already our limit.

Just how did you get access to the formations? I doubt you could have gotten it from Xi Wangmu.

Qiong Qi smiled mysteriously. That, Princess Bao, is a question better left to those above us to deal with.

Right. One of these assholes. Unfortunately, Bao Si was in no position to force an answer from him.

Qiong Qi, the smug ass, continued speaking. I assure you, Princess Bao, no matter how frivolous we might appear, we are taking this seriously. Our plan is foolproof, at the very least.

Almost as soon as the words left Qiong Qis mouth, his Communication Jade crackled with qi.

Requesting reinforcements to Barrier A! Garrison Resistance higher than anticipated. Captain Aing has fallen, and weve suffered significant casualties.

Qiong Qi frowned and fed qi into the jade. This is Captain Qiong. Report.

Captain! A Second-Layer Liquid Meridian suddenly revealed a wide-scale Metal Element Technique and broke our battle formation. Captain Aing and our skirmishers were lost in the retreat.

Qiong Qi remained calm as he spoke. Confirmed. Im sending the Jungle Team over to you now

His words were lost as a pillar of white light lit up the Secret Realm. They whirled around to find a barrier revealed in its entirety, shining with white light and rumbling like a choppy sea. Then it broke into pieces, shards of light falling apart like the barrier was made of sand.

Bao Si turned to Qiong Qi. Foolproof?

I did not say we were dealing with fools, Qiong Qi retorted. Despite the large upset to their plans, his expression did not change, and he raised the Communication Jade. Jungle Team, proceed to Barrier A and

The jade crackled with qi, and a whisper interrupted him.

Reporting. Lu Aotian has been discovered. Location Central The message immediately cut before it could finish. Qiong Qi fruitlessly tried to re-establish contact and gave up after a few attempts. Before he could say anything else, another message came in.

Reporting to Captain Qiong! The Formation specialist was just a decoy!

Qiong Qi frowned. So we dont know where he is?

Were searching for him now, sir

Dont bother, Qiong Qi said, his face now carefully blank. It seems he also took etiquette classes. He was staring at the barrier next to them that was now slowly fading away. When it was gone entirely, he turned to Bao Si.

Shall we make our way to the Central Circle?