Golden Centipede's Cave

When he opens the door, a dark straight tunnel stretches ahead. A wounded deerling driven inside is swarmed by centipedes until its heartbeat stops. Fang Yuan then hears a buzzing like a chainsaw and identifies the Chainsaw Golden Centipede, a rank three wild Gu and worm king of the centipede cave. He judges that even White Jade Gu defense cannot endure its attack, and that the Flower Wine Monk layout means a seeker to use Earth Communication Ear Grass and avoid the nest rather than force it early. ^{ch. 129}

The main cave is about three metres high and two metres broad, with many narrow side paths. Centipedes gather from walls and ground; Fang Yuan’s concern is the insect king, which he draws out, subdues, and refines. Deeper on, the main path splits into three branches. Using Earth Communication Ear Grass and the refined centipede’s aura to push other centipedes aside, he finds human-dug signs on the left path that he ties to Flower Wine Monk’s earlier work with Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider. After a long descending walk he reaches a crystal wall with swirling spring water behind it and a blue and white flower bud floating there, the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus. ^{ch. 162}