Moments later, he entered into the rock crack's hidden cave.
The entrance had been deliberately covered with grey ash, and not a single footprint marked its surface, proving no one had discovered this place yet.
This simple detection method wasn't exactly sophisticated, but with Fang Yuan's experience, it worked effectively.
Naturally, this wasn't his only precaution. After performing several layers of checks, he finally confirmed the cave remained secure for now.
He stepped into the tunnel and made his way to the second secret room. Pushing open the stone door, he entered the rock forest.
The path he'd once cleared was again filled with jade eye stone monkeys.
But now, as a Rank three Gu Master, Fang Yuan had the Blood Moon Gu. Though not the strongest attack Gu at this rank, it was far more powerful than Moonglow Gu.
He spent six hours clearing nearly ten groups of monkeys, opening a path to the center.
Descending rough stairs into the third secret room, he faced a rock door inscribed with: "Golden Centipede's cave is precarious, Earth Communication avoids disaster is the way to avoid the disaster."
Torch in hand, he opened the door and stepped into the darkness. The wide tunnel was three meters high and two meters across, with narrow branches extending everywhere.
As he walked, flames pushed back the shadows. At first only his footsteps echoed, but soon came the rustle and clicks of centipedes.
They massed at the edges of the light, held back only by the fire. He knew this wouldn't last—the crowding would soon push them to attack. But he didn't care.
At Rank two, with only the White Jade Gu for defense, he'd have avoided provoking them. But with the Sky Canopy Gu's protection, he could ignore most bites. Only the Chainsaw Golden Centipede concerned him.
It soon appeared, drawn by a thread of Rank three aura Fang Yuan deliberately released.
Feeling threatened, the creature slithered to the edge of the light, coiling like a python preparing to strike.
When Fang Yuan stopped leaking his aura, the centipede lunged in a golden flash, winding around his waist and striking at his face.
He caught its head with both hands, just barely restricting it. Its bladed segments spun, grinding against his Sky Canopy Gu armor. Sparks flew as his primeval essence rapidly depleted.
Still, Fang Yuan remained calm. He had a trump card—the Spring Autumn Cicada.
He summoned its shadow, and even partially recovered, its Rank six aura was overwhelming.
The Chainsaw Golden Centipede went limp in submission, its struggle vanishing.
Fang Yuan poured his will into it, swiftly refining it without resistance.
He released his grip, and it obediently coiled around his arm.
The surrounding centipedes scattered, no longer compelled.
Fang Yuan didn't bother killing them. In a dozen years, another Chainsaw Golden Centipede might arise, but it would no longer matter to him.
He let the newly subdued centipede rest on his shoulder and sprinted deeper into the cave.
At the end of the tunnel, he spotted a wall of crystal.
Behind it was water.
Within that water, an ash-gray current twisted in a slow spiral, forming a self-contained vortex.
Looking more closely, he noticed something else drifting in the spring—
A flower bud, its petals patterned in alternating blue and white, calmly floated along in the swirling water.
It was the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus
As Fang Yuan looked at the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus, he knew this was not the right time to take it, and even if it were, he didn't have enough primeval stones to fully refine it.
Looking at the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus, it only had eight and a half leaves. To pluck it, the Gu must have nine fully grown leaves.
Primeval stones were the crystallization of the spirit spring, able to nourish the treasure lotus and help it regrow.
However, even this single half-formed leaf would demand an enormous quantity of primeval stones to fully recover—at least fifty thousand primeval stones.
"I can leave the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus alone for now, but first let me start digging." Fang Yuan activated the Chainsaw Golden Centipede resting on his shoulder. He thrust his palm into the centipede's mouth and swung it like a whip.
The Chainsaw Golden Centipede was originally an underground creature, adept at digging holes, so at this time it had a great use.
Fang Yuan also had the strength of more than three boars, and he dug through the soil and continued forward.
The digging process took three days, but to Fang Yuan, the tunnels he created were worth the time and effort, even if it meant raising suspicion for being away from the village so long.
"I should return to the village now." Fang Yuan wiped off his sweat and brushed the dirt from his face.
When he had just exited the rock crack, a loud and clear wolf howl continuously resounded.
"This sound… it should be time for the myriad beast king to arrive." Fang Yuan quickly moved.
When he reached the riverbank outside the rock crevice, a strong stench of blood filled the air.
Even from this distance, he could hear cries, shouts, wolf howls, and explosions coming from the village.
Fang Yuan hid his presence and climbed a hill.
It was early morning, and the first light of dawn was just spreading across the sky.
Countless packs of wolves surged toward Gu Yue village like a flood.
Fang Yuan's eyes calmly scanned the scene.
At the very back of the wolf horde, he spotted a lightning wolf as massive as a small hill.
It was the myriad beast king: the Thunder Crown Wolf.
Its body was tall and lean, with powerful limbs, and eerie blue scales covered it from head to tail.
Golden tufts of fur marked its claws and tail, while the hair on its head stood upright, forming a high, regal crown.
The creature crouched motionless like a statue. Around it, frenzy lightning wolves and bold lightning wolves kept howling, highlighting its dominance and majesty.
Even just sitting there, it cast an oppressive pressure over the entire Gu Yue clan.
"The myriad beast king has finally arrived, it is the decisive moment for the survival of the Gu Yue village!" Fang Yuan gazed towards the village; innumerable Gu Masters were in fierce battles, using all of their strength to block the frantic charge of the wolf tide.
Suddenly, about ten figures soared out from the village, pushing through the wave of wolves as they charged straight at the Thunder Crown Wolf.
They were all clan elders, led at the front by the clan leader, Gu Yue Bo.
To fight the Thunder Crown Wolf, one had to strike first. Its power was overwhelming, and if it entered the village, the damage and casualties would be catastrophic.
This team was formidable. With the Rank four clan leader Gu Yue Bo at the lead and the elders supporting him, they formed a powerful offensive force.
The wolf tide surged fiercely, but the group advanced with tight coordination, like a warship splitting through the waves without pause.
Wherever they passed, nothing could stop them.
As they neared the Thunder Crown Wolf, the pressure from the surrounding wolves grew heavier.
Gu Yue Bo remained steady. Suddenly, he extended his right palm and slashed forward.
Swoosh!
A golden moonblade, as large as an adult, formed in an instant and shot ahead.
Swooosh swoosh swoooosh!
A few meters out, the single blade split into three.
The three moonblades cut forward together, wind howling around them as they carved three bloody paths through the wolf packs.
Wolves fell instantly, limbs flew, and miserable cries echoed in every direction.
A frenzy lightning wolf roared and started rushing over fiercely towards the Gu Masters from the right side. "Let me!" A clan elder suddenly went from a thin and dry appearance, turning into a huge fat man in one breath.
With a heavy bang, he smashed his round belly against a frenzy lightning wolf, sending it flying.
The wolf had charged in with full force, and the impact bounced it high into the air. It arced across the sky before crashing down hundreds of meters away.
The other elders unleashed various abilities.
One elder's long hair turned into sharp needles, shooting out repeatedly and clearing waves of lightning wolves.
Another was clad in a light armor, enduring the wolves' bites and claws head-on.
The Thunder Crown Wolf slowly rose from its half-sitting position. Its cold, dark eyes locked onto the approaching Gu Masters, flashing a warning.
It opened its mouth and let out a deep, rumbling roar, baring rows of jagged fangs.
At once, all the frenzy lightning wolves and bold lightning wolves that heard it jumped up and charged the Gu Masters together.
The group's advance slowed at once, forced to fend off the oncoming tide.