To humans venturing into the jungle, these venomous insects were terrifying.
But to the Golden Silkworm Gu, they were nothing more than rich nourishment.
Even if they didn't provide energy, they could still enhance its toxicity and strengthen its power.
Xu Lang glanced at Hu Ba Yi and Wang Pangzi ahead—struggling to clear the path while being relentlessly bitten by insects—and felt a bit sympathetic.
"Alright, go on… just don't stray too far."
He spoke silently within his mind.
At once, the semi-transparent Golden Silkworm Gu emerged from his arm, fluttering its tiny wings as it excitedly began hunting insects all around the group.
In an instant—
The jungle seemed to erupt.
Anything that could fly, crawl, or leap scattered in panic.
Up front, Hu Ba Yi and Wang Pangzi were stunned to realize—
The annoying swarms of insects had vanished almost completely.
Even the more dangerous venomous bugs were nowhere to be seen.
By nightfall, the Golden Silkworm Gu finally returned.
And it brought a "gift."
A small black sphere.
It looked like liquid, yet extremely viscous—somewhere between thick nectar and condensed resin.
Xu Lang took it into his hand.
Immediately, a system notification sounded in his mind:
[System Notification]
[You have obtained: Toxin Essence]
[Gu Poison Skill Power +100%]
[Range +100%]
[Area of Effect +100%]
Xu Lang's eyes lit up.
There was something like this?!
He glanced at the Golden Silkworm Gu on his arm.
The tiny creature stared back at him with its bead-like eyes—almost as if asking for praise.
So it could even bring back rewards now?
Good.
Bring more.
From the looks of it, this poisonous, miasma-filled Worm Valley…
Was an enormous treasure trove for him.
If he could gather enough Toxin Essence—
His Gu Poison would reach a truly terrifying level.
As night fell, the group decided to make camp.
They had been moving nonstop since morning—building the raft, crossing the underground river, and trekking through the jungle.
Both physically and mentally exhausted.
Hu Ba Yi chose a campsite atop two large flat boulders.
In this kind of subtropical jungle, finding a proper campsite was extremely difficult.
By lighting a fire on the stone surface and drying it out, they at least secured a dry and ventilated resting place.
Xu Lang, however, was focused on the surroundings.
Soon, he spotted something.
Two massive banyan trees not far away.
They were enormous—
Thick, ancient trunks rising skyward.
What made them even more unusual was that their trunks intertwined about a meter above the ground—
Twisted together like braided rope.
Xu Lang immediately recognized them.
"Couple Banyan Trees."
Their canopies spread wide like a giant umbrella.
Various parasitic plants grew wildly along their trunks—
Blooming with vivid, colorful flowers.
From a distance, the two trees resembled a massive hanging flower basket.
Xu Lang nodded in satisfaction.
The couple banyan trees were here.
That meant the storyline hadn't deviated.
And more importantly—
This place held secrets.
Secrets that could bring him considerable benefits.
With that, Xu Lang relaxed.
Everything else could proceed naturally.
The group lit a fire beneath the trees, boiled noodles, and ate quietly.
Afterward, they arranged the night watch rotation.
Xu Lang was assigned the latter half of the night.
Once the shifts were decided, Xu Lang lay down on the warmed stone, using dried grass and branches as bedding.
The lingering heat from the fire made it surprisingly comfortable.
He soon fell asleep.
When Xu Lang woke up, it was already deep into the night.
Shirley Yang was on watch.
She sat by the fire, occasionally tossing in small branches while keeping an eye on the dark jungle beyond.
Nearby, thunderous snores echoed—
Hu Ba Yi and Wang Pangzi were sleeping soundly, utterly carefree.
Xu Lang sat up slowly.
"Xu Lang, you can sleep a bit longer. It's not your turn yet," Shirley Yang said softly.
Xu Lang smiled.
"I'm fine. I'm not sleepy."
The two chatted casually.
Gradually, the clouds parted.
Moonlight spilled through the forest canopy.
A faint glow illuminated the surroundings.
And then—
Xu Lang finally heard it.
The sound he had been waiting for.
A faint knocking noise…
Coming from the banyan trees.
Shirley Yang, already drowsy, froze.
Xu Lang quietly drew his machete.
She looked at him, surprised.
Xu Lang pointed at the tree.
Then tapped his ear.
Shirley Yang immediately focused.
Though she didn't possess her grandfather Partridge Whistle's legendary hearing—
Her senses were still sharper than most.
And in the stillness of the jungle at midnight—
The sound became unmistakably clear.
Knock… knock… knock…
It was coming from inside the tree.
Her face turned pale.
This was no woodpecker.
It sounded more like—
Something inside the hollow trunk…
Relentlessly striking from within.
Shirley Yang instinctively moved closer to Xu Lang.
"These banyan trees must be hollow inside," she whispered.
"When trees like this grow old, the core rots away from parasitic plants…"
She hesitated.
"Could there be… something inside?"
After everything they had witnessed—
The human-skin puppets, the underground remains—
Even Shirley Yang couldn't stay completely calm anymore.
Without realizing it—
She leaned closer to Xu Lang.
And the knocking sound…
Continued.