“No need. What can I do if I go out like this? I’ll only be a burden to my family.” Corey shook his head and refused, taking out a Yuan Crystal Core from his spatial storage. “Please give this to my parents and apologize to them for me. Tell them that Corey won’t be able to stay with them anymore…”

(The elemental crystal core is the energy core of a mech, providing it with energy. The higher the quality of the elemental crystal core, the more energy it provides. Elemental crystal cores can be formed naturally or extracted and synthesized from elemental crystal stones. Elemental crystal cores are generally very expensive!)

(The spatial key is also bound to an individual. If the person in charge does not take out the items from the spatial key, no one else can take them out. This effectively prevents criminals from killing, robbing, and stealing the spatial key.)

"I can take you out; you can hand you over to them yourself."

Corey shook his head, shoved the Yuan Crystal Core into Yun Qi's hands, signaling him to hurry up and leave. He then took out a bomb from his spatial storage, saying, "I originally intended to use this bomb for mining, but I didn't expect to end up using it myself..."

"Don't do anything rash, let's get out of here! Even if you don't have half a body, we can get prosthetics, don't give up!" With that, Yunqi picked up Corey and was about to take him away.

Corey broke free: "Thank you for your kindness, but I don't want to live anymore. I just want to blow these bugs up! You'd better leave quickly, or you won't be able to leave once the bugs come!"

"Don't give up, Corey! I really can get you out of here!"

Corey shook his head: "You'd better get out of here! Don't let the bomb explode and hit you, get out of here now!"

"Corey!"

Let's go!

Xiao Qi anxiously whispered in Yun Qi's mind: "Qi Qi, hurry! Lots of bugs are coming this way! I'll guide you away!"

Yunqi: But, Corey...

Xiao Qi said urgently: "He only wants to die together with the insects, can't you see that?! Hurry up! Don't waste time being so indecisive!"

"I will help you hand over the Yuan Crystal Core to your parents!" Yun Qi gripped the Yuan Crystal Core tightly, got up, and left, exiting the mine following the route given by Xiao Qi.

Corey smiled and watched Yunqi leave, silently saying "thank you."

Just as Yunqi reached the entrance of the mine, a loud "boom" was heard, and the mine collapsed, raising a cloud of dust...

Simon pulled Yunqi to a safe spot: "How's it inside? Why did it suddenly collapse?"

“I saw Corey in the mine. He was eaten away by bugs and only half of his body remained. He was determined to die and used a bomb to take the bugs down with him.”

“…Let’s go back first.” Simon looked at the collapsed mine shaft and helped Yunqi leave.

"I suspect there is an insect nest deep in the Yuanhu area."

"Okay, I will report these situations to the federal government!"

"Okay. Simon, take me to meet Corey's parents."

"good."

Corey's parents were working and had no idea that Corey had died.

Yunqi briefly explained what had happened and handed the Yuan Crystal Core to them: "This is what Corey asked me to give you. I'm sorry I couldn't rescue Corey."

"It's not your fault. You've done what you could. Thank you!"

After instructing Simon and the others not to approach Yuanhu District, Yunqi prepared to leave.

Simon grabbed Yunqi and said, "The Federation has confirmed they will send someone over, and they'll be here in as little as a week. Yunqi, please don't risk your life alone!"

After thanking Simon for his kindness, Yunqi waved goodbye to him.

Yunqi prepared sufficient supplies and equipment and explored the undeveloped areas of Star L on her own.

"Xiao Qi, can you detect the elemental crystal mines in this undeveloped area?"

"No, this is an unknown area, and I cannot view it during my preliminary discussion."

When can we check it out?

"After someone explores it."

"Then I'll go explore."

"Sure." Little Seven flapped its wings in the system space. "Qiqi, there's no one here, can I come out and play for a while?"

"You can come out?"

"Of course! I am now the Vermilion Bird, so theoretically I can come out anytime. However, I'm afraid it might cause chaos if someone sees me, so it's best not to come out when there are other people around. Unless there is a Vermilion Bird divine beast in this world itself."

"Then come out."

"Okay!" Xiao Qi flapped its wings, circled once in the sky, slowly shrank, and landed on Yun Qi's shoulder. "It's really not easy to get out and get some fresh air."

Yunqi patted its head: "I'll let you out when there's a chance in the future."

Xiaoqi nuzzled Yunqi and said, "Qiqi is the best!"

"Let's go inside and take a look." Yunqi released a scout bee to explore the surroundings.

Soon the scout bee sent him a message, and the image it sent back showed a group of worker bees carrying something.

Yunqi immediately went over, slowly and quietly approaching.

Yunqi observed quietly for a while and found that the worker insects were carrying the elemental crystals in an orderly manner.

Yunqi: What are these worker insects doing moving the elemental crystals?

Xiaoqi: Why don't you go and see for yourself?

These insects were all a meter long. Yunqi didn't mind the dirt. She secretly killed one of the insects, smeared it with its juice, and mingled into the group, following the group returning to their nest deeper and deeper.

Insects use scent to sense their companions, so they didn't notice anything different about Yunqi.

Yunqi followed the group for a long time before finally seeing a cave.

Yunqi looked at the data recorded by the quantum computer along the way and was surprised to find that the cave was so far away; it had taken them half a day to walk there.

Xiaoqi looked at the cave and decisively gave up: "My form is inconvenient in the cave, I'd better stay in the system space first."

Yunqi: Okay. Xiaoqi, please record the situation inside the cave for me later.

Xiaoqi: No problem.

Yun Qi took out her spirit sword from her spatial ring and quietly walked towards the cave.

The cave was completely dark, without a single ray of light. Fortunately, Yunqi had the Heavenly Eye, so even though it was pitch black, she could still see very clearly.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!