High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 124: Chapter 48 Flying Centipede_1

Perhaps it was the surge of the dead rat demon’s essence in the cage that unsettled the fireflies;

Or perhaps it was the hunting of the flying centipede inside the box that threatened the fireflies;

The light shed by the Dragonblood Vine started to flicker unpredictably, resembling the light of an unstable voltage bulb.

This caused some issues for Xin Fat Man, who was observing the dead rat demon.

Of course, these light fluctuations didn’t prevent him from determining the cause of the rat demon’s death.

”The brain matter is gone,” he said, wearing deer-skin gloves, one hand gripping a long-handled knife, the other holding a pair of tweezers, flipping through the limp scalp of the rat demon, and looked up at his companions.

Xiao Xiao nodded silently: ”Indeed, it’s as the rumors stated.”

Zheng Qing tried to get a closer look and saw the empty skull of the rat.

The back of the rat’s head in the cage had been split open by Xin’s scalpel, revealing that the rat demon’s brain had been completely drained.

”As you can see, the flying centipede will quickly strike when the demon approaches, sucking the brain matter of the demon,” the Wandering Wizard explained on the side: ”With it, it’s like wearing a purple ribbon fairy robe, which can help you avoid most of the risks within the campus.”

”What if it’s a big demon?” Zheng Qing asked curiously.

Before the Wandering Wizard could answer, Xin Fat Man disdainfully said, ”Meeting a big demon here? Only if all the old men at the grand wizard meeting have died! This is the first university! The core area of the wizard world! Even the sea demon king and the witch demon king couldn’t extend their claws here.”

”Even if they did, we’d chop them off,” Zhang Ji Xin nodded, deeply agreeing.

”If there is an accident in the Black Prison, it might let a big demon break in,” Xiao Xiao suddenly interjected.

Xin and Zhang Ji Xin both inhaled sharply, as if Xiao Xiao had said something blasphemous.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop considerably all of a sudden.

The fireflies on the Dragonblood Vine above even temporarily dimmed their glow, plunging the room into darkness.

”Absolutely impossible!” Xin Fat Man waved his hands repeatedly.

”Nonsense!” Zhang Ji Xin blushed, looking somewhat purple.

”A kid’s innocent babble, just innocent babble!” The Wandering Wizard also spoke up, playing peacemaker in this fraught situation.

Zheng Qing was a bit perplexed.

He knew nothing about this ”Black Prison”, so he was not clear why the others reacted so strongly.

But he knew another fact:

”Although Xiao Xiao is short, he’s definitely no longer a child... at least a teenager.” He chuckled in the dark.

No one responded to his playful remark.

When the light in the room came on again, he cast his questioning gaze towards Xiao Xiao.

But Watermelon Head was burying his head in his notebook, pretending not to see.

”Of course, this little bug is powerless against a big demon,” the Wandering Wizard laughed lightly, breaking the somewhat silent atmosphere in the room: ”But its potential is quite astonishing.”

”From what I know, the abilities of these ancient abnormal insects grow stronger with age... it’s like vampires, the older the vampire, the stronger they become.”

”It’s said that the Zhou Family of Shaoxing possesses an ancestral flying centipede, lived for over a thousand years, incredibly powerful. Ordinary demons become weak and helpless under its aura, even the larger demons can’t avoid it. Rumour has it that the ancestral centipede is revered in the family’s temple, safeguarding the Zhou family’s foundation.”

”Of course, a typical flying centipede could only manage common wild demons. To train it to be outperforming, the cost would be quite astonishing.”

”How does it find its prey?” Xin Fat Man, who was re-examining the remains of the rat demon with tweezers and a scalpel, curiously asked, ”What do they look like?”

”Flying centipedes have no touch or smell, and they determine their prey through aura; they only attack demons with weaker auras. Like this flying centipede, it could only handle ordinary wandering wild demons.”

”As for its form,” the Wandering Wizard shook his head, ”it’s hard to describe... I can only say it’s not like the ordinary insects you’re imagining. In the first major college, there is an optional course on ’Metamorphic Life’ that might cover these aspects.”

”If it’s full, will it still attack demons?” Xiao Xiao opened her notebook, furiously sketching while asking without looking up.

Watching his colleagues’ focused attitude, Zheng Qing felt a peculiar sensation.

The private room seemed to transform into a classroom, the Wandering Wizard taking on the role of the teacher and everyone studying diligently around him.

The Wandering Wizard seemed to enjoy this atmosphere, answering their questions exhaustively:

”Flying centipedes don’t have a concept of fullness.”

”For these little creatures, the black box not only provides a place to stay but also serves as their pantry. The flying centipede turns the uneaten food into a type of high-energy crystal for days when food is scarce. This crystal is called ’Wuling Glue’, a costly raw material used in various potions and experiments.”

”I think its defensive range is a bit small.” Peering at the black box thoughtfully, Zheng Qing said, stroking his chin.

”This flying centipede hasn’t been refined, so it can only sense demon auras within ten steps.” The Wandering Wizard explained with a grin, ”A refined centipede could guarantee the Feed Master’s safety within a hundred meters.”

”Refined? How to refine?” Zheng Qing recalled the crude old man in the Shangyuan bookstore.

”It’s straightforward. Drip the warm blood from your fingertips into this small airhole atop the box, nine times a day, blood-feeding for forty-nine days, you would establish preliminary telepathy with the flying centipede.”

The Wandering Wizard held up the little lacquer box as he demonstrated to Zheng Qing, ”If you could make this little box into a pendant and keep it with you day and night, the communication would be even better. This would also save you a lot of work while feeding it daily.”

”So, I have to feed it too?” Zheng Qing could not help asking, ”Is there any risk? Could it go out of control? For example, if I accidentally got some demon blood on me, would it pounce and suck out my brain?”

”To be precise, a refined flying centipede doesn’t require special feeding on normal days.” the Wandering Wizard emphasized, ”Like the demon-possessed mouse earlier, it could suffice for ten days... If you need it, my shop can always provide a dozen minor demons.”

”As for the risk of losing control, to my knowledge, there are no relevant reports.” The Wandering Wizard finally concluded prudently.

”In other words, this is an ancient bug that needs my blood sacrifice, to be kept close to me, unknown form, and loves brains.” A series of horrific images flashed through Zheng Qing’s mind. He couldn’t help but shake his head and politely decline the small black box in front of him, ”I think I should opt for a gentler amulet.”

”Don’t refuse! This little thing looks rather good, don’t miss out on it.” Xin Fat Man chimes in, trying to convince Zheng Qing.

”Certainly an unusual creature.” Zhang Ji Xin took out his own Black Donkey’s Hoof, rubbed it fondly a few times before reluctantly stuffing it into Zheng Qing’s arms, ”Here, I’ll take the flying centipede!”

With that, he grabbed the small box containing the flying centipede and crammed it into his own pocket.

”Really, how old are you...” Zheng Qing, holding the shriveled Black Donkey’s Hoof, looked at the red-faced boy speechlessly, ”you look rather mature, yet you act like a child.”

”He looks mature?” Xin Fat Man had an incredulous look on his face, ”Then am I a dieting champion!”

Thus, the two burly boys began glaring at each other again.