At this moment.
Facing the Gu King Centipede approaching.
Although its eyes were not human eyes, from its centipede eyes, Situ Lao and the others could see its gaze of contempt, looking down on the weak from a superior position.
However, no one frowned in displeasure or dissatisfaction; what they felt was heart palpitations.
Just because the Gu King Centipede had the qualifications to look down on them—its strength was too powerful, practically reaching the level of a Human Red Dust Immortal.
Even though Situ Lao was a Guardian, when facing a Human Red Dust Immortal, he could only look up.
Yet even so, Situ Lao and the other nine did not back down.
"Lord Centipede Immortal, you have overstepped. This is no longer the Qing Dynasty; it is not a time where you can come out of seclusion just because you say so."
Situ Lao's tone was neither servile nor overbearing, carrying a calm and serious demeanor.
"Oh? You actually know this one's name."
The Gu King Centipede's massive head trembled, letting out a laughter so loud it caused the mountains and forests to shake as if an earthquake was occurring.
"Never expected that after hundreds of years, this one's prestige has not diminished. However…"
Its tone suddenly changed, and its eyes, which were larger than car headlights, reflected Situ Lao's figure. Its voice instantly echoed through the mountains and forests.
"Since you know this one's name, yet still dare to obstruct this one, do you think that after a hundred years, this one's temper has become mild?"
As the Gu King Centipede spoke, wisps of miasma seeped from its mouth.
This was a Gu insect, known for its poison. Especially a Gu King that had reached the level of a Human Red Dust Immortal—wherever it passed, the land would become a wasteland of disaster.
It ignored Situ Lao's warning.
"You all should be the current overseers of the transcendental world, right? So what!"
"Where this one wishes to go, who dares to stop me? Even the emperor of the Qing Dynasty back then did not dare to give the order to stop me. Just you little brats, do you think you can stop me? Seeing as this one has just awakened and does not wish to feast on flesh, scram as far as you can."
Just as the Gu King Centipede was saying this, it suddenly glanced at Situ Lao and said, "You little brat have decent strength, possessing the power of a Half-Immortal."
"I'll give you a choice—follow this one, become this one's attendant. Rather than being a Guardian who will remain a Half-Immortal for life, wouldn't it be better to serve this one?"
"As long as you follow this one, if this one is pleased, I may bestow you a few techniques to help you ascend to a Human Red Dust Immortal."
A Human Red Dust Immortal—placed in the mortal world, that was akin to a land deity. Who wouldn't dream of achieving that?
Even in the transcendental world, it was the ultimate goal of cultivators, something they would strive for all their lives, dreaming of reaching.
Yet, Situ Lao's response was a firm and resolute rejection.
"Lord Centipede Immortal, I appreciate your goodwill, but I still prefer being a Guardian of Bureau 749, protecting the safety of the people and land of Great Xia. That is enough for me."
The Gu King Centipede was momentarily stunned. It seemed to not have expected this. That such a tempting offer, which countless Half-Immortals had once yearned for in the past, would now be rejected.
It was unclear whether it felt humiliated by the rejection or if it recognized Situ Lao's unwavering resolve, seeing him as a talent that could one day become a threat.
The Gu King Centipede stared at him and changed its tone, speaking in a deep voice.
"You truly wish to refuse this one's goodwill? Since you know this one's name, you should know that this one always follows through with their words. Do you understand…the consequences of rejecting this one?"
"I appreciate Lord Centipede Immortal's kind offer, but compared to becoming a Human Red Dust Immortal, I prefer protecting this land of Great Xia." Situ Lao's words echoed.
The Gu King Centipede burst into laughter, laughing so hard that countless leaves and petals were shaken loose from the trees, even the birds in the sky were startled and fell.
The next moment, the Gu King Centipede spoke.
"Since this one attained the Dao, no one has ever refused this one's goodwill. Do you know why? Because those who refused… are all dead. And you, who have rejected this one's kindness, deserve to die as well."
A terrifying, deadly green miasma erupted in an instant, like a volcanic eruption, surging outward.
At the same time, the Gu King Centipede, despite its massive body, was incredibly agile, completely unaffected by its size, and lunged at Situ Lao with its mouth open.
Situ Lao's expression changed. Although he had already made preparations, the moment the Gu King Centipede spewed its miasma, he immediately retreated with his companions. However, he had still miscalculated.
He had expected the Gu King Centipede to strike.
But he hadn't expected it to be so direct—completely lacking the demeanor of an immortal, opting to simply bite down itself.
Ultimately, Situ Lao had not yet reached the level of a Human Red Dust Immortal, unable to comprehend that realm.
Human Red Dust Immortals, as the mortals believed, were beings with immortal grace and Daoist composure.
That was undeniable. But for wicked immortals, they did not care for nobility or virtue; they only knew that all below the Immortal realm were ants—those who followed them prospered, those who opposed them perished!
The Gu King Centipede clearly belonged to the latter.
At this moment, Situ Lao's pupils shrank, intending to retreat and create distance. Yet the gap in power between them was simply too vast.
A Half-Immortal and an Immortal—though both carried the word "Immortal," the difference was like heaven and earth.
In an instant, Situ Lao and the other nine felt despair.
They did not fear death—for those in this line of work, death was normal. What they feared, what made them despair, was their failure to stall the Gu King Centipede, allowing it to enter the human world.
Just as they were in the depths of despair.
"The current overseers of the transcendental world have raised quite a fine young man."
A voice rang out.
Situ Lao and the others froze.
Before them, at some unknown point, had appeared a Meituan deliveryman.
Yes. That yellow uniform, the yellow helmet, and the 'Meituan' logo on the back—no matter how they looked, he was a Meituan deliveryman.
He had just appeared before Situ Lao and his team, with his back facing them.
Even though they could not see his face, and even though he was just a Meituan deliveryman, his aura could not be concealed. Situ Lao and the others could feel his strength.
And then… there was no 'then.'
As they stared in shock, this Meituan deliveryman, holding a takeout bag in one hand, raised the other. His hand clenched into a fist and he swung it straight at the lunging Gu King Centipede.
Boom—!!
A deafening explosion, as if two mountains had collided. The entire forest quaked, a terrifying shockwave rippled outward, uprooting trees and shattering the land.
Yet Situ Lao and his team, shielded by the Meituan deliveryman, remained completely unharmed. Compared to the devastation around them, they seemed out of place, as if in a different scene.
Even the Gu King Centipede was not spared. Under the terrifying power of that punch, the Gu King Centipede was sent flying.
Its three to four-hundred-meter-long body crashed backward, collapsing the forest beneath it, shaking the earth, leaving behind massive cracks.
Even Situ Lao, as a Guardian, who had seen countless battles, felt his heart tremble.
"That doesn't seem like Lady Miao Gu." One of Situ Lao's companions was the first to speak, staring in shock at the Meituan deliveryman.
From his masculine appearance, they could confirm that their savior was not Lady Miao Gu from Bureau 749.
"Senior, who are you?" Situ Lao couldn't help but ask.
Although they didn't know his identity, one thing was certain—he had saved them, and he was no wicked immortal like the Gu King Centipede.
Then, they saw the Meituan deliveryman turn around, casually handing the takeout bag to Situ Lao.
"Hold this for me. It's soup. Don't spill it."
Situ Lao and the others saw his face. Handsome yet rugged, exuding the charm of a mature man of China, with sharp and defined features—even men would have to admit, he was one handsome uncle.
As Situ Lao instinctively took the takeout bag, the Meituan deliveryman turned back to face the Gu King Centipede and, at the same time, threw out a statement.
"Step aside. This is beyond your ability to handle. Leave it to me."
"Senior, we trouble you with this matter."
"It's no trouble. I was ordered by my master to come and handle this, to stop the ancient demon of the Hengduan Mountains from emerging."
His words entered their ears. Situ Lao froze. Originally, he had been planning to politely request the man's assistance since he didn't know his identity. But now, he realized—the man had come precisely for the ancient demon.
Situ Lao exchanged glances with his companions. Their eyes were filled with shock and uncertainty.
"Ordered by his master?!"
Though the Meituan deliveryman had spoken just one sentence, it had left a tremendous impact on them, stirring countless questions in their hearts.
But there was no time to ask.
Rumble~
The ground shook. Dust filled the air.
They saw the Gu King Centipede's three to four-hundred-meter body stirring, its gaze locked onto the Meituan deliveryman—or rather, the black mist-shrouded man sent by Qin Ye.
"Which fellow Daoist is obstructing this one's affairs?"
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