In the passage directly in the middle, the giant Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede had already turned into a charred hundred-legged worm.
Shangguan Yulin felt dizzy and sick from the stench of burnt flesh, and he cursed incessantly.
"You multi-legged, multi-handed centipede, a caterpillar in armor, something even a dog wouldn't eat when roasted, you're really a tough one!"
"Young master here today, if I don't burn off your limbs, if I don't burn through your iron back, you won't know why the flowers are so red!"
"Vermilion Bird's Flame! Burn for me!"
As Shangguan Yulin's curses fell, another Vermilion Bird phantom flew out from the Vermilion Bird Feather Fan, directly pouncing towards the Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."
The Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede's pained shrieks echoed in the passage in the middle, making one's scalp tingle.
In an instant, another third of the centipede's remaining hundred black legs were burnt off.
Shangguan Yulin wasn't faring much better; after releasing the Vermilion Bird's Flame dozens of times, his spiritual energy was less than half of a half.
However, he wouldn't lose face.
How could someone like Shangguan Yulin, who cared so much about appearances, admit that he was severely depleted?
He continued to curse, "I don't know how your mother gave birth to you; you stink from the inside out. If I could take you out to battle, your stench alone would be enough to fumigate a large area of enemies!"
The Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede felt incredibly wronged!
It had intended to display its might, but unexpectedly encountered Shangguan Yulin, its nemesis. Not only did it fail to show its might, but it was likely to lose its life here.
What was even more infuriating was that after the Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede jumped out, it was burned alive by Shangguan Yulin without even launching a single attack.
Even more infuriating was that Shangguan Yulin repeatedly used the same move, leaving the Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede completely demoralized.
This was probably the most tragic battle the Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede had ever encountered since its birth.
It wanted to escape, but Shangguan Yulin unleashed one Vermilion Bird's Flame after another, without even giving it a moment to breathe.
The Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede was overwhelmed and had no chance to escape.
Surrender was even less of an option.
Because Shangguan Yulin, like Rong Guang, hadn't bothered to carefully decipher the Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede's intentions, he just kept burning! Burning! Burning!
Thus, a perfectly fine Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede was burned into a dark, black caterpillar.
The Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede felt like cursing its ancestors, but its squeaks, which didn't sound much different, were perceived as provocation by Shangguan Yulin.
"Damn it, you dare to squeak again? If I don't burn you into a legless caterpillar today, I won't be called Shangguan Yulin!"
"Vermilion Bird's Flame! Burn!" Shangguan Yulin said, releasing another Vermilion Bird's Flame and standing there, panting heavily.
"Damn it! I'm exhausted! Fortunately, with one more Vermilion Bird's Flame, all of your hundreds of legs will be mine!"
The already suffering Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede, while resisting the previous Vermilion Bird's Flame, looked with wide-eyed terror at the Vermilion Bird phantom rushing towards it again. Its heart was filled with bitterness that could no longer be contained.
If Shangguan Yulin could have understood the Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede's expression at that moment, he would have seen that not only was its face twisted into a bitter gourd, but its entire body had also contorted into one.
Alas, Shangguan Yulin ultimately did not understand.
He took a moment to catch his breath, swallowed a pill, and released another Vermilion Bird's Flame.
The pitiful Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede, with its heart full of unwillingness, its soul departed to the underworld, and its life filled with sorrow.
Watching the Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede slowly burn into a pile of ashes, Shangguan Yulin finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He plopped down on the ground, grabbed a handful of pills, and frantically stuffed them into his mouth.
At this moment, his spiritual energy, mystic energy, and physical strength were all depleted.
Therefore, Shangguan Yulin had to resort to desperate measures with the pills.
An hour later, his strength finally recovered to sixty percent.
He stood up and walked towards the depths of the passage.
However, soon Shangguan Yulin was as dumbfounded as Xuanyuan Xun.
Nine junctions! Another nine junctions!
Shangguan Yulin casually chose one and was about to charge forward when he suddenly stopped.
"This is not right. I was already exhausted fighting just one Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede. If I encounter another one, won't my life be forfeit?"
"No! I'll go back and see if Ninth Uncle and Brother Rong have come out yet, so we can discuss what to do next!"
With this thought, Shangguan Yulin quickly retraced his steps.
But when he returned to the original entrance, he saw a huge serpent's head blocking the way.
"No way? Am I this unlucky? I just burned to death an Iron-backed Thousand-legged Centipede, and before I could even catch my breath, I've encountered a giant python?"
"Bad luck! Such terrible luck! What should I do? How can I get out without disturbing this giant python?"
Shangguan Yulin wore a bitter expression and hid in the shadows of the exit, his worried demeanor best described by the image of a river of spring water flowing east.
Just then, he heard voices from outside.
"Ninth Uncle, are you sure the Nine Poisons Yin Phosphorus Python is no longer restricted by the passage's ban?"
Is this... Brother Rong's voice?
"I wasn't sure before, but now I am! Look, the Nine Poisons Yin Phosphorus Python's head has already entered; isn't there no danger at all?"
This voice made Shangguan Yulin overjoyed.
Because he could now be certain that the two people talking outside were Xuanyuan Xun and Rong Guang.
Moreover, judging by their conversation, this giant python seemed to be under their control.
Before Shangguan Yulin could even finish his thoughts, Rong Guang's surprised voice came again, "It really seems so! Ninth Uncle, you are truly meticulous!"
Xuanyuan Xun nodded and said, "Brother Rong, quickly have the Nine Poisons Yin Phosphorus Python sense the presence of demonic beasts in the passage and then recall it!"
"In case Brother Shangguan returns and mistakes the Nine Poisons Yin Phosphorus Python for an enemy, it would be bad if they fought."
Rong Guang quickly replied, "Good, good, good! I'll give the Nine Poisons Yin Phosphorus Python the order now!"
He finished speaking and communicated with the Nine Poisons Yin Phosphorus Python using his mind.
Soon, he received a response from the Nine Poisons Yin Phosphorus Python.
"Master, there is no longer any trace of a guarding demonic beast in this passage, and it seems a great battle has just occurred within."
"A great battle?" Rong Guang asked in surprise.
The Nine Poisons Yin Phosphorus Python quickly replied, "Yes, Master, a great battle has indeed taken place within, because I sensed the aura of the Fire God Vermilion Bird!"
"Then that's it! Return to your contract space!"
Rong Guang said, and then recalled the Nine Poisons Yin Phosphorus Python.