88: What the hell is going on?

When Shen Bei returned to the coal mine tunnel,

the two surviving humans were still kneeling on the ground, seemingly awaiting their fate.

Actually, they didn't hold much hope.

According to past domestic practice, a temporary Earth Cave would typically require dozens of people for an overwhelming suppression.

But at this moment, after all the fighting, only one Martial Artist had fallen into the Earth Cave World, his life or death unknown.

Without reinforcements, hope was slim.

However,

when they heard footsteps and looked up,

their expressions instantly changed, and the grey, lifeless light in their eyes gradually brightened.

Although Shen Bei was covered in blood, he had returned!

Not only had he returned, but he was also carrying Crimson's head!

At this moment, their hearts were trembling non-stop.

After all, they were both Second-Rank Martial Artists, and Crimson had tormented them like dogs!

All those unbearable memories of the past were now gone!

"Little brother, you're truly incredible!"

"Yes, yes, taking on Crimson alone, how domineering! So domineering!"

"The kindness of saving our lives, we'll never forget!"

"Thank you, thank you!"

The two stood up abruptly, still a bit unaccustomed, almost stumbling.

They had been kneeling for too long.

Shen Bei waved his hand and said, "Don't be so quick to celebrate."

The two were stunned, exchanging glances. Why did it feel like Shen Bei had a hidden meaning in his words?

Shen Bei spoke again, "Look, to save you, my face got disfigured."

Shen Bei made his point subtly.

The two immediately understood the meaning behind Shen Bei's words and promptly said, "Please, be sure to leave your contact information!"

Shen Bei quickly wrote down a string of numbers.

The two took it, their mouths twitching, and asked, "Little brother, why is your phone number 19 digits long?"

"This is a bank card number. Just transfer the money to me."

"Okay, okay, our gratitude will definitely satisfy you."

The two expressed.

Shen Bei nodded with satisfaction. Smart, my friends.

Shen Bei also asked the two why they were captured by the Outsiders, were they traveling in the Earth Cave World?

The two chattered for a long time, one after another, recounting their tragic experiences.

They were originally a small team that entered from the Southwest Permanent Dungeon.

They wanted to explore the Earth Cave World for Treasure Troves.

After all, Martial Artists develop resistance to Medicinal Pills, so new Materials are needed to make them.

The Earth Cave was undoubtedly a Treasure Trove.

But they got carried away.

They were surrounded and captured by Outsiders.

After being sold several times, they finally fell into Crimson's hands.

They suffered abuse that would make them wake up screaming from nightmares.

Even more terrifying was that Crimson possessed "Crimson Blood Boiling," and by consuming human blood, he could heal at an extremely fast rate.

In short, they were Crimson's "blood bags."

Although the two didn't describe the specific process of abuse, Shen Bei could tell from their scarred bodies, and even missing flesh, that it must have been unimaginable.

"Alright, you two are safe now. Go to the front and dig out the collapsed coal, I'll stand guard here."

Shen Bei instructed.

The two immediately nodded and ran towards the front of the tunnel.

Shen Bei sat cross-legged at the entrance of the Earth Cave.

He wanted to see if any other Outsiders would foolishly rush up.

However, it was surprising that these Outsiders could also tame various Vicious Beasts, which Shen Bei found quite unexpected.

"Specialized skills, huh?"

Shen Bei clicked his tongue.

Soon.

Indeed, Outsiders cautiously tried to emerge from the Earth Cave's exit.

But as soon as they saw Shen Bei guarding, before he could even act, the Outsider immediately jumped back the way he came.

Shen Bei simply found a stick; if anyone dared to peek out again, he'd play whack-a-mole!

Gradually, Shen Bei whacked back several Outsiders who tried to rush out.

Time passed, he knew not how long.

The Earth Cave's barrier, parallel to the ground, began to tremble.

In the blink of an eye.

With a 'snap,'

it vanished from Shen Bei's sight, along with the specks of light.

The depths of the tunnel returned to darkness.

"The temporary Dungeon is over?"

Shen Bei stretched his waist, his tense nerves finally relaxing.

As he walked towards the tunnel entrance, he opened the small bag he had obtained from Crimson.

There was only one item inside.

It was a small, purplish-blue fruit.

The fruit was somewhat shriveled.

He sniffed it; it had no scent.

"What is this thing?"

Shen Bei had never seen it before.

Shen Bei still knew too little about the various aspects of the Earth Cave.

For example, the distribution of Earth Cave Outsiders, the bestiary of Earth Cave monsters, the herbal guide of Earth Cave plants, and so on.

These were all subjects Shen Bei had yet to study.

Resisting the urge to eat one, Shen Bei carefully put away the small fruit. He would ask Teacher Professor Gu Xinrou what it was when he had time.

Returning to the cave-in site,

Li Quanyou had already led everyone to excavate a survival passage over twenty meters long.

But they still had over eighty meters to go.

When Li Quanyou learned that the Earth Cave had disappeared, he immediately collapsed to the ground.

The laborers relaxed, sprawling out on the ground.

Everyone deeply admired Shen Bei from the bottom of their hearts.

One person.

Annihilated an entire Earth Cave!

Terrifying!

It was truly terrifying!

There had never been such a precedent!

Li Quanyou gave a thumbs-up: "I knew you could do it. If it weren't for you today, every single person here would have died."

Shen Bei leaned against the wall, calm and collected: "I merely captured the leader first. If Crimson hadn't rushed up ahead, it would have been a war of attrition, and I absolutely couldn't have afforded it."

"That's still your strength," Li Quanyou said with a smile.

...

Main tunnel.

Liao Jianguo, Director, Principal Zhang, and the mine management continuously compiled the information fed back by the students.

The mine management said with a frown, "Something's not right. All the tunnels have been checked, and there's no Earth Cave."

Principal Zhang immediately became displeased: "None? Isn't this making fun of our martial arts university!"

Principal Zhang had come for the Merit. (Note: ' Merit' means merit or credit, which is not in the glossary, so I kept the original character as per instructions.)

Now you're telling me there's no Earth Cave? Is there a problem with the earthquake detection bureau's equipment, causing a huge blunder?

Principal Zhang looked at Liao Jianguo, Director, wanting an explanation.

Liao Jianguo, Director habitually reached for a cigarette, only to realize it was a coal mine and smoking wasn't allowed.

He broke off a stick from a piece of timber, put it in his mouth, and said, "The detection equipment is definitely fine. Is it on the surface?"

"Impossible. If it were on the surface, the Vicious Beasts and Outsiders would have already come out, and the surface guards haven't raised any alarms."

"What, are the Vicious Beasts and Outsiders stuck in traffic?"

"Eh? Eh?" The mine management suddenly realized, "If you put it that way, we really did overlook one place, and that's the collapsed tunnel. Only that area hasn't been searched."

Liao Jianguo, Director dropped the stick and stomped on it with his foot: "Then what are we waiting for? Call people, bring tools, and dig it open!"

The mine management pondered for a moment: "That might mean we've poked a hornet's nest of Earth Caves. After such a long time, it's probably full of Vicious Beasts and Outsiders inside."

"We still have to do it!"

Liao Jianguo, Director led the way towards the collapsed tunnel.

For a time, the student Martial Artists underground gathered at the tunnel entrance.

Looking at the collapsed tunnel, which no longer resembled its original state,

everyone swallowed hard.

If... if that was where the Earth Cave exit was located...

Wouldn't there be a huge crowd of enemies inside?

"Dig!"

Liao Jianguo, Director gave the order.

Yu Hao led the students to start digging.

But everyone felt like they were digging the gates of Hell.

Their hearts were pounding.

Some even broke out in a sweat.

It was as if they were digging their own graves.

Many hands make light work.

Three hours later.

The collapsed tunnel connected with the survival passage dug by Li Quanyou, being cleared ahead of schedule.

Liao Jianguo, Director peered inside, poking his head around.

He heard no roars, nor did he feel any gusts of foul wind.

He didn't even see the Outsiders' characteristic red eyes.

But he did smell a strong scent of blood.

At the same time, he faintly heard distant voices.

Li Quanyou: "Shen Bei, do you think I can fight the Outsider Crimson?"

Shen Bei: "A three-seven split."

Li Quanyou: "Am I that strong?"

Shen Bei: "Your lifeline isn't even as long as your big toe. He'll dismember you in seven pieces in three minutes."

Liao Jianguo, Director: ???

What's going on?

What the Hell is going on here!