The Phoenix Pearl was actually mid-level equipment for Daoists, offering a modest boost to spiritual power. However, the Phoenix Pearl had another function: illumination in the dark. Crafted from a mix of special luminescent crystal stones and Phoenix Stone, the pearl could emit a bright light simply by channeling a certain amount of magical or battle qi energy. Its effectiveness rivaled a searchlight, making it an indispensable tool for Rangers during wilderness survival. Regrettably, Long Xin and his group were too destitute to even afford a Phoenix Pearl. This was understandable, as the You Long Gang was only a Rank One Ranger guild, recently established, and naturally lacked the financial and material resources of the Six-Rank Shuang Yue Palace.

Jin Sha rummaged through the spatial satchel and produced six Phoenix Pearls. Unlike standard versions, these had been specially processed, each encased in a cylindrical crystal covering, much like the focusing shroud of a flashlight. This design concentrated the pearl's light into a single beam directed forward, preventing glare in the user's eyes and maintaining their sight—the principle was identical to a torch.

Following this, Jin Sha treated each of us with a special scent-masking potion. After all, we were venturing into the lair of the Evil Centipede, and caution was paramount; we dared not risk our human scent attracting the creature.

“Shouldn’t be anything missing now!” Jin Niu and the others confirmed their preparations, nodding in relief once everything vital was accounted for.

It was clear that these Rangers from Shuang Yue Palace were seasoned adventurers. Fully equipped, clearly defined roles, and led by the well-organized Jin Niu—this bolstered my confidence in our chances of escaping safely.

“Everyone, maintain distance from each other. If anything happens, Xing Chen and I will take the lead; you all retreat immediately the way you came,” Jin Niu laid down contingency measures for emergencies beforehand. This was crucial. I understood that these instructions were primarily for my benefit, as this was the first time I was cooperating with them; their established rapport meant they wouldn't need verbal communication to know what to do.

As Jin Niu spoke, he instinctively glanced at me. Since I wasn't a member of Shuang Yue Palace, and in terms of strength, I was a Red Moon-level expert far surpassing him, he seemed hesitant about ordering me around, perhaps worried I might take offense.

“Tell me whatever you need me to do. After all, we are in the same boat now,” I recognized his apprehension and clarified my stance: “You are the captain, your word is final.” This served to acknowledge Jin Niu's leadership position.

“En,” Jin Niu nodded slightly, seeming to exhale in relief. In situations like this, the greatest fear is poor command and mismatched coordination. It was no wonder Jin Niu was so concerned about my attitude toward him.

“Then you will take the lead in scouting the path!” Jin Niu’s arrangement was sound. He had witnessed my speed and reaction time; if I scouted ahead, I could react instantly should anything untoward occur, preventing the entire team from plunging into simultaneous danger. After all, my individual chance of escape was far greater than the entire squad’s.

“Alright, let’s move out!” Jin Niu commanded.

Several bright beams of light pierced the darkness ahead. The rest of us finally advanced into the unknown subterranean world.

I was positioned at the very front, responsible for scouting and vigilance, as I was the strongest Red Moon Warrior in the squad. The tall mage and Jin Bo covered the rear, while Jin Niu, Jin Sha, and Jin Hu—carrying the unconscious Jin Lan—were positioned in the middle.

Thus, the six of us, with the unconscious Jin Lan secured, began our perilous venture into the Evil Centipede’s tunnel.

“The strongest indication for Water Element magic is to the northwest!” As an advanced mage, Jin Bo’s elemental sensing ability was razor-sharp. Her perception of water elements meant we wouldn’t have to blindly stumble through the tunnels. The light from the Phoenix Pearls illuminated the path ahead; the ground appeared smooth, and the entire passage formed a regular arc, making us feel as if we were inside a colossal pipe. The surrounding stone walls were rougher than the floor. If one looked closely, one could spot patches of brownish, viscous material emitting a foul, corrosive odor that was deeply unsettling.

We traversed the tunnel at a full, rapid sprint. Though inwardly terrified of encountering that colossal behemoth, the longer we stayed in the tunnels, the greater the danger. Furthermore, Jin Lan’s poison required urgent treatment back in Earth City. Additionally, if the Evil Centipede’s enormous body were active nearby, we should easily detect its presence—at least we wouldn't be blindsided by a sudden attack. To our surprise, however, after running only a short distance, we reached the first junction. There were three paths branching off, resembling a crossroads. To prevent getting lost later, I marked the path we had taken on the return journey. If we chose incorrectly, we could backtrack using these markers. This was a standard precaution Rangers employed when trapped in mazes or similar complex environments.

We chose the path leading northwest, guided by the direction of the Water Element sensed by Jin Bo. We hoped this choice was correct.

Boom! Roar! Boom!

However, we hadn't gone far when a violent tremor, accompanied by deep, muffled breathing sounds, approached us rapidly from the distance.

“Ah!”

...

“It is!”

“It’s the Evil Centipede!” In these tunnels, what else could produce such immense noise and vibration other than that terrifying giant, the Evil Centipede?

Every face paled with horror. Indeed, what they feared most had materialized. We had only been underground for less than two hours, yet we had already detected traces of the Evil Centipede. Although we hadn't seen it yet, we could distinctly feel the massive sounds rapidly closing in on our position.

“Ah, has it discovered us?” Jin Bo whispered, trembling.

“Probably not!” Jin Niu quickly regained his composure. “If it had discovered us, its speed would be much faster. This movement suggests a regular pace, not a full charge!”

“Let’s hide first!” Without hesitation, I struck the stone wall with the full force of my Hundred-Battle Long Saber.

Crash! The violent sound caused the ground to tremble slightly, but compared to the Evil Centipede’s thunderous noise, my disturbance was negligible.

Jin Niu and the others first paused, then swiftly grasped my intention. Indeed, with the creature’s terrifying speed, trying to retreat the way we came would quickly result in us being overtaken. Moreover, I was certain the Evil Centipede hadn't detected us; it was merely moving in our direction for some unknown reason, its approach resembling an express train at full throttle, instilling a sense of inescapable panic. My idea was simple: carve a large cavity right there for the six of us to hide inside, thus avoiding a head-on collision with the ‘train.’

With my full effort, the solid wall was quickly breached, forming a cavity about three cubic meters in size. Jin Niu and the others didn't hesitate, following suit and vigorously hammering away at the stone. In mere seconds, we carved out a hole nearly four meters deep and three meters wide, and we scrambled inside quickly.

Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble! The deafening noise grew closer and closer.

Heaven help us, please don't let it find us! We could only pray fervently. Hidden within the niche in the wall, everyone's face was ghostly pale. No one knew if we would survive this ordeal.

RUMBLE! The colossal sound reverberated directly outside our hiding spot, and our hearts leaped into our throats. Jin Bo and Jin Sha desperately clamped their hands over their mouths, terrified they might scream from sheer fright.

Whoosh! Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

Like a speeding train, the Evil Centipede’s massive body shot past the opening at astonishing speed. We clearly saw its huge, segmented, ring-like body and thick legs churning with terrifying frequency.

Imagine it! A giant centipede with a girth equivalent to two trains combined passing right before your eyes—what a sight that must have been. Moreover, the creature was covered in a thick, yellowish-brown, viscous slime that immediately induced nausea. Even wearing my Daoist helmet, I had to grit my teeth tightly, fearing I would vomit uncontrollably.

Rumble, rumble! The giant centipede’s body swept past us. We waited for a full five seconds before its entire bulk had cleared our hiding place, gradually moving away.

Hoo!

Ah!

Hah!

Everyone slumped to the ground, their faces etched with lingering terror. I felt completely weak, a sensation of limp exhaustion and numbness washing over me.

“We were so lucky to have dodged it!” Jin Bo murmured.

“I thought we were done for that time!” Jin Bi gasped, clearly deeply shaken.

“Heh heh! If we make it out alive, we’ll be the only people in history to have survived close-quarters contact with the Evil Centipede!” Jin Hu exclaimed sentimentally.

“Only if we survive first!” Jin Niu replied, still shaken. “Let’s get moving now.”

“En,” I agreed, slowly pushing myself up.

Honestly, I hadn't seen the Evil Centipede's exact appearance—only its massive body sweeping past my vision—but even that was enough to shock me profoundly. This creature was undoubtedly the largest biological entity I had ever witnessed.

Even more terrifying was its incredible speed. If we moved with its direction of travel, we could never outrun it, and this was merely its normal speed when undiscovered. It was terrifying to imagine how fast the behemoth could move at full sprint. I suspected even the fastest modern maglev bullet train couldn't match it. No wonder the Ranger Handbook used the term ‘elusive’ to describe the Evil Centipede’s unpredictable movements. Fortunately, such a massive creature confined itself to the depths of the Coffin of Death; if it appeared elsewhere on the continent, the consequences would be catastrophic.

However, I couldn't fathom why such a terrifying creature as the Evil Centipede remained holed up in the Coffin of Death, a place devoid of life. Since life was extinct there—excluding later intruders—what did it feed on? I refused to believe that something of its magnitude required no sustenance. Yet, the reality was that absolutely no life existed in the Coffin of Death.

But now was hardly the time to ponder such mysteries. After a brief rest, we set off again.

“If the Evil Centipede reappears, we’ll use the same method to evade it!” Jin Niu looked at me with an expression of admiration.

Truthfully, I hadn't expected my impromptu maneuver to work so effectively. It was no wonder Jin Niu and Jin Bo, among others, were so impressed by my quick thinking. At the time, I didn't consciously decide on the action; it was a pure instinct that this was the only viable option.

“I can’t believe we’ve encountered the Earth Dragon God twice now and are still alive!” After the crisis passed, Jin Bo was in high spirits and actually had the leisure to wax nostalgic.

“Heh heh! When I’m old, I’ll write this experience into my Ranger Memoirs!” Jin Bi was similarly moved.

“How many people will believe that?” Jin Sha remarked.

“Heh heh, well, if I hadn't experienced it myself, I wouldn't believe it either,” Jin Bi grinned slyly.

“That settles it then!” Jin Niu said gruffly. “You need to be alive to write a memoir first. Let’s focus now.”

“Heh heh!”

...

Only I felt deeply frustrated. Damn it, I finally encountered the Evil Centipede once, yet I didn't even get a clear look at it—only that it was a ridiculously huge creature, like a super-sized centipede magnified infinitely. I only saw its segmented, carriage-like body sections. If anyone asked me about it later, I wouldn't know what to say.

However, on second thought, regardless of the details, I had achieved my objective for this trip to the Coffin of Death: I had seen the super-boss. Of course, the biggest gain was the set of Zuma equipment I was wearing and the few sets hidden in my spatial satchel. If I could sell them, I'd likely make a fortune. Thinking of this helped balance my disappointment.

After narrowly missing the Evil Centipede, we continued heading northwest. If we hadn't seen it ourselves, it would have been hard to imagine that this creature had excavated such a complex, maze-like network of tunnels beneath the earth. It was like a colossal spiderweb; the centipede’s tunneling prowess was extraordinarily formidable.

Thanks to Jin Bo’s superior magical sensing ability, we always chose the path with the strongest Water Element signature among the numerous forks. After walking for two full days following this path, we finally heard good news.

“The Water Element is growing much denser!” Jin Bo exclaimed happily. “It seems we aren’t far from a water source.”

“Ah!” Everyone became extremely excited. “I wonder if this source leads to some underground river, or perhaps the little stream in the Centipede’s Tomb?”

“En,” Jin Hu said. “We’ll know once we get there.”

“Alright, everyone, focus now!” Jin Niu rallied them. “We’ve reached the critical juncture.”

We proceeded quickly along the tunnel leading northwest.

But! Not long after!

Clash! Hah! Roar! Clang!

A cacophony of indistinct shouts and the ringing impact of metal striking metal drifted toward us.

“Ah! There’s activity!” Jin Bo’s expression shifted dramatically.

It wasn't just Jin Bo; everyone sensed that something was amiss.

“It sounds like it’s coming from ahead in the tunnel!” Jin Sha analyzed.

“Could there be people fighting in the tunnels?” Jin Hu exclaimed in horror.

If that were the case, it meant the Kuang Long Gang had also infiltrated the tunnels, implying the entire passage was sealed off by them. Upon this realization, everyone’s face fell.

Jin Hu grew particularly anxious, subconsciously glancing at Jin Lan, whose face was ashen and pale on his back.

“Let’s go take a look!” Jin Niu gritted his teeth. Having come this far, he was unwilling to give up easily, especially since Jin Lan’s time was running short.

We cautiously crept forward along the tunnel, dimming our Phoenix Pearl lights to the lowest setting, barely enough to make out the ground.

After about two hundred meters, we saw a patch of light ahead where dozens of people were engaged in combat. Judging by their attire and insignia, they were members of the Shen Yue Palace, the Grand Alliance, and the Kuang Long Gang. The numbers on both sides seemed roughly equal, and the fighting was fierce.

“It’s the Shen Yue Palace and Leader Lan’s group!” Jin Bo exclaimed excitedly. “I didn’t expect them to have entered the tunnels too.”

“And the Kuang Long Gang pursued them all the way into the tunnels!” Jin Niu muttered through clenched teeth.

“It looks like they only have about the same number of people as Leader Lan’s group,” Jin Bi observed grimly. “It must just be a search squad from the Kuang Long Gang.” The number of Red Moon-level experts seemed nearly balanced between the pursuers and the pursued.

“It’s Chi Jiao!” Jin Sha exclaimed in horror. “And Yan Luo too! Those two are locked in a desperate battle.”

The scene was chaotic; it seemed this melee had been raging for quite some time. Red Moon-level masters were engaging in one-on-one duels, while advanced Rangers fought in formation. A quick count showed the Alliance and Shen Yue Palace only had about five or six Red Moon masters between them, suggesting their ambush in the Coffin of Death had inflicted heavy casualties.

However, the pursuing force, just as Jin Niu suspected, appeared to be only a small squad from the Kuang Long Gang. The number of Red Moon experts was roughly equal. It was quite a coincidence.

We observed the situation while contemplating our strategy.

Blinding magical lights flared everywhere, accompanied by the violent shockwaves of unleashed battle qi. But the fight seemed deadlocked; neither side appeared capable of securing a quick victory. The most intense confrontation involved Chi Jiao and Yan Luo, two top-tier Red Moon masters.

The battle between them was almost identical to the last time we witnessed it—thrilling and dangerous, yet neither could gain a decisive advantage over the other.

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