Gu Fusheng flew close behind the black insects, heading deep into the woods.
After passing ancient tree after ancient tree, he came upon a pitch-black cave entrance.
Dark-red moss covered the entrance, and a pungent, bloody stench continuously wafted out.
The black insects all burrowed inside, and Gu Fusheng did the same.
A moment later, he arrived in a vast underground space.
At its center stood, surprisingly, a shrine.
It was not large, but it looked quite proper.
Three words were carved above it: "Insect Mother Hall."
Through Gu Fusheng's perspective, Xu Changqing raised an eyebrow at the sight. "Is someone worshipping the Lifeless Insect Mother here?"
White mist swirled around the shrine. Upon the elevated platform at its center stood an eerie idol.
Its features could not be seen clearly, but it had a hundred legs.
Its entire body was dark red and covered in fine scale-like patterns.
A layer of red cloth covered its head, leaving visible only the corners of its mouth, split all the way to its ears, and its densely packed fangs.
This was none other than the figure commonly known among the people as the "Centipede Empress."
It was also the "Shed-Shell Immortal" Fifth Senior Sister had spoken of, an ancient shell brought back to life.
Countless insects crawled all over the idol's body, and the black insects merged into it one after another.
At once, the idol glowed with a dark-red luster, while the shadows around it squirmed.
Gu Fusheng's insect body trembled slightly, like a servant who had encountered his master.
It was so humble, so fearful.
Xu Changqing was startled to discover that his control over him had weakened.
It was not that Gu Fusheng was resisting, but that some force had forcibly suppressed him.
Buzz!
An invisible pressure spread outward