The comments said I was deeply affectionate, I just added points by using an alternate account.

For the rest of their journey, they encountered several more small groups of rock beetles, which were easily dealt with by the three of them working together seamlessly.

Chen Guan gradually adapted to this combat rhythm, becoming more adept at using the coffin, and even tried some simple counter-attack combos. Although still crude, their efficiency was significantly improved.

Old Ji still suffered, but Chen Guan believed that Old Ji would not blame him.

As you go deeper, the mine becomes increasingly winding and secluded, with even more branching paths.

The air became even more polluted and sultry. Strange fungi that emitted a faint glow began to appear on the rock walls, providing some illumination but also adding to the eeriness of the place.

"The spiritual energy concentration here is increasing, and... there's a sense of chaos." Su Yuehe frowned and played her flute again to investigate: "The life reactions ahead are very dense, and there's also... a very large, somewhat different reaction."

"It might be the hive and the leader." An Changqing's expression became more serious. "Prepare for a tough battle, Chen Guan. Your coffin has extremely strong defenses. You may need to bear the main frontal pressure later. Yue He, prioritize interfering with the leader and limiting the number of swarms."

"Understood." Chen Guan nodded, gripping the coffin handle tightly. Su Yuehe also took a deep breath and gripped her flute tightly.

The three of them carefully proceeded in the direction indicated by Su Yuehe. After turning a sharp bend, the view suddenly opened up before them.

This is a huge, naturally formed cave space, with countless stalactites hanging from the ceiling and the ground covered with pits and mineral waste of all sizes.

In the center of the cave, there was a huge insect nest, four or five meters high, made of rocks, soil, insect shells and various kinds of garbage.

The nest was teeming with hundreds of rock beetles, which seemed to be worshipping something.

At the top of the insect nest, a giant rock beetle, far larger than its kind, with a dark red carapace, several sharp bone spikes growing on its back, and compound eyes flashing with a ferocious red light, lay crouching.

It was slowly chewing something, and the aura it emitted was significantly stronger than that of ordinary rock beetles; it was the leader of the swarm.

Seemingly sensing the intruder, the swarm leader suddenly raised its head and let out a sharp, piercing screech.

In an instant, all the rock beetles in the cave turned their heads in unison, hundreds of pairs of compound eyes locking onto the three people at the cave entrance, their hissing sounds merging into a chilling wave of noise.

[Wow, that's ugly.]

I'm having trypophobia.

"Mom, save me!"

[To the person upstairs: It's good enough that the parents didn't report it.]

The dense barrage of bullets was far less than half the size of the swarm of insects before them. An Changqing shouted sharply, "We've been discovered! Prepare for battle!"

His longsword was drawn again, and in an instant, a brilliant golden light shone forth.

The swarm of insects surged forward like a black tide, and the leader of the swarm slowly rose from the top of the nest. His dark red carapace reflected an ominous luster under the glow of the luminous fungi, and his huge mouthparts opened and closed, dripping a dark green acid that was even more corrosive.

The swarm of insects surged, their cries deafening.

Hundreds of rock beetles surged towards the cave entrance where the three stood, like a flood bursting its banks. The narrow entrance instantly became the most dangerous bottleneck, but also a natural defensive pass.

"Chen Guan, block the cave entrance. Yue He, disrupt the insect swarm and create an opportunity for me." An Changqing spoke rapidly, yet clearly and calmly.

Instead of retreating, he advanced, facing the swarm of insects head-on. With his sword tip pointing to the ground, he chanted incantations, and golden light gathered and rose around him as if it were a tangible substance, temporarily suppressing the stench that was rushing towards him.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Guan took two large steps forward, braced his shoulder against the side of the black iron coffin, let out a low roar, and unleashed his full power, forcefully turning the coffin sideways like a siege engine, slamming it heavily against the rock walls on both sides of the cave entrance.

Boom!

The gravel fell down in a flurry, and the heavy black iron coffin was tightly wedged into the not-so-wide opening, leaving only a gap less than half a meter high above and a hand-width gap between the bottom of the coffin and the ground.

The size of the coffin itself was just enough to block about 70-80% of the opening.

The surging swarm of insects was suddenly blocked by this iron wall. The rock beetles at the front were caught off guard and crashed hard into the cold coffin wall, making a dull impact sound. Their shells shattered and juices flowed out.

The swarm of insects behind them was blocked and began to rush frantically towards the gaps above and below the coffin, trying to squeeze in.

"Good job blocking it!" An Changqing praised, his longsword gleaming even brighter. "Yuehe, it's up to you now."

Although Su Yuehe's face was pale, she was not going to hold anyone back. She took a deep breath, brought the flute to her lips, and this time, she played a long, soothing melody instead of sharp sound waves.

Invisible sound waves spread out like ripples, precisely enveloping the swarm of insects trying to squeeze through the gaps at the top and bottom of the coffin.

The rock beetles' movements suddenly became sluggish and chaotic. They collided with each other, bit each other, and even spun around in place. Their attack momentum slowed down, and they began to kill each other.

At the same time, An Changqing had completed his power-gathering. He raised his longsword high above his head, the golden light on the blade solidifying as if a small sun were rising in his hand.

"The mighty power of heaven, the sword slays demons and monsters, break!"

A clear shout echoed through the cave. An Changqing took a step forward, his figure merging with the sword light, transforming into a dazzling golden meteor, and crashed into the gap in the insect swarm that was temporarily restrained by the coffin and Su Yuehe.

boom!

The dazzling golden light instantly engulfed the swarm of insects within a few meters in front of it. The incomparably sharp sword energy slashed across the area, and wherever it passed, the hard shells of the rock beetles were easily torn apart like paper, with limbs and broken bodies mixed with viscous fluids flying everywhere.

With a single strike, a large number of dozens of rock beetles that were blocking the gap were cleared out, and the aftershocks of the sword energy even forced the swarming insects behind them back several meters.

Holy crap, An Changqing went all out.

[I'm terrified! And this is without even activating mystical abilities.]

[You're right, but this requires building up energy, it's very energy-consuming... Never mind, let's stop acting, please enter text.]

[Coffin Guy did a great job; blocking the door was just in time.]

The screen was flooded with comments.

The swarm leader was clearly enraged by An Changqing's attack, letting out a deafening roar.

It no longer crouched in its nest. With a sudden leap, its massive body jumped directly from the top of the nest, which was four or five meters high. Its six pairs of thick, segmented limbs plunged deep into the ground, causing the cave to tremble slightly.

On its dark red carapace, bony spikes stood upright, and its compound eyes were fixed on An Changqing, who had just landed and whose aura had slightly subsided. With a snap of its mandibles, a jet of acid, several times thicker than that of an ordinary rock beetle and nearly black in color, shot out like a high-pressure water gun, directly at An Changqing.