CHAPTER 831: CHAPTER 635: SURPRISE (PART 2)

Chen Shan said with great surprise: "Su Mo, that’s impressive! You detected such a hidden monster. How did you manage that?"

"It’s nothing much, just instinct."

Su Mo replied with a smile.

"But we didn’t notice anything at all."

Chen Shan still found it hard to believe.

Standing nearby, Xiao Wen was also quite shaken, though he didn’t say anything, he was deeply impressed.

Su Mo’s abilities have surpassed his understanding.

"Oh come on, don’t be so startled every time, okay? It’s no big deal for Commander Su Mo, nothing worth fussing over. Actually, I noticed it too."

Mo Baoke naturally began to flatter.

"You noticed nothing! Everyone was sitting inside their mecha, scanning instruments were interfered, no alarms went off, visibility here is so poor, and that bug’s camouflage, plus it’s hidden within a recessed rock wall. How did you notice it?"

Chen Shan couldn’t help but mock Mo Baoke.

"Anyway, I saw it."

Mo Baoke bluffed directly.

"Okay, stop arguing and be careful."

Su Mo replied helplessly, actually, even he couldn’t fully explain it; he just instinctively felt there was an enemy there. From discovery to locking on and attacking, the series of actions were swift and natural, like an instinct.

Upon hearing Su Mo’s words, everyone stopped arguing and focused their attention.

Su Mo continued to control the Slaughter Blade as they descended, chatting with the Fake Owner · Swallower.

"Has my strength improved?"

"Compared to the beginning, your improvement is significant. You have started developing combat instincts, which is a good thing. But you’re still too weak. A true expert has faster, more precise combat reflexes than you!"

The Fake Owner · Swallower answered in a deep voice.

"Take it slow, no one is born an expert."

Su Mo was very satisfied with the Fake Owner · Swallower’s evaluation.

Time gradually slipped away.

Su Mo and the others kept venturing deeper into the insect nest. The passage they were following seemed to be the main passage, as they encountered no forks along the way.

They did run into a few scattered Red Cicada Flying Insects.

Before Xiao Wen and the group could act, Su Mo, who was leading the way, quickly dispatched them.

"This nest is so deep; we’ve been pushing forward for quite some time."

Sun Duoxiang increasingly felt uneasy.

"We’re almost reaching the end."

Su Mo estimated they were nearing the end, similar to when they reached the depth of the Insect King’s nest.

Sun Duoxiang and the group, hearing Su Mo’s words, gripped their weapons tightly. Who knows if they would disturb a hornet’s nest once they breach into the hive.

"Look, up ahead seems like an exit."

Mo Baoke, with sharp eyes, discovered it and shouted excitedly, albeit nervously.

"Let’s go!"

Su Mo took a deep breath and led the way forward. It was precisely because he was operating a III-generation mecha that he needed to be cautious. Had he been piloting the Gluttonous Mecha, he would have rushed in without hesitation.

The group held their breath and followed closely.

As Su Mo and the others stepped out of the passage, the scene before them suddenly opened up.

Everyone was instantly shocked by the sight before them.

They found themselves inside a circular underground nest, filled with various remnants as far as the eye could see. Scattered across the area were countless weapon remnants—those of ships, mechas, and interstellar fighters, among others. All these weapons had been violently destroyed, covered in dark red sticky substances.

Various miscellaneous items and the corpses of monsters and humans were strewn around.

Everything here seemed to have been dragged in by the insects.

Numerous small tunnels extended from the surrounding rock walls, leading to unknown destinations.

Additionally, there were many red insect eggs left scattered around, although they all appeared immature.

At the central area, there was a giant deep pit, seemingly once a lair for some creature.

An overwhelming stench of decay hit them, and their mechas constantly issued alerts, indicating the detection of toxic gases.

Sun Duoxiang spoke in a trembling voice: "Am I seeing things? This is a mechanical ruins!"

"We’re going to strike it rich!"

Mo Baoke exclaimed with extreme excitement.

Chen Shan’s jaw dropped as he said: "Oh my god....."

Xiao Wen couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Regardless of the mineral resources within the nest, just the sight of these mechanical remnants demonstrated their immense value, as the worst among them was of level 3 quality.

Level 3 minerals are used to construct third-generation mechas, which even the Federation has few of now. Seeing all these remnants, once they are retrieved and melted down, it would be hard to guess how many units they could produce.

It’s definitely a fortune.

After all, the planet has just been claimed, and surely no one has visited here before.

The ruins are bound to be filled with valuable finds.

At that moment, the voice of the Fake Owner · Swallower echoed in Su Mo’s mind.

"Head to the center of the nest, there’s a piece of Eternal Metal there!"

Su Mo’s heart was slightly shaken. That was level 6 metal! He then turned to everyone and said: "Stay here, don’t move. I’m going to have a look."

Before anyone could respond, Su Mo controlled the Slaughter Blade and headed straight to the center.

Along the way, seeing shattered warship components and various skeletons, Su Mo felt increasingly thrilled; it was truly a natural treasure trove.

When Su Mo reached the central area, his eyelids jumped.

Embedded at the bottom of the egg-depositing pit where the Red Ridge Insect Queen was perched, crystal blue protrusions looking like III-type Energy Crystals were visible.

Well, the Red Cicada Queen’s nest was actually built atop an Energy Crystal mine. Judging by the quantity, it seemed quite abundant.

"I knew there had to be Energy Crystals here."

Su Mo said with exuberance.

"I know, send everyone out, I need to absorb here."

The Fake Owner · Swallower replied solemnly.

"No rush, we’ll get to that later, where’s the Eternal Metal?"

Su Mo piloted the mecha to land over the insect queen’s nest, surrounded by bones and the lair covered in sticky red secretions. As the Slaughter Blade landed, its feet sank substantially.

"It’s right there."

The Fake Owner · Swallower provided Su Mo visual imagery, directly pinpointing the location of the Eternal Metal.

The majority of the Eternal Metal was submerged in the red sticky secretion, only a tiny part exposed. Without the Fake Owner · Swallower’s hint, it would have been nearly invisible.

"Is it dangerous?"

Su Mo asked.

"There’s no immediate danger."

The Fake Owner · Swallower answered.

"Never mind, better be cautious."

Su Mo then controlled the Slaughter Blade to crouch, extending his right hand to grasp at the ground.

"Do you not believe me?"

The Fake Owner · Swallower questioned in a deep voice.

"I actually trusted you earlier, but now I reserve judgment. You previously assured me there were no Energy Crystals, yet here they are, proving otherwise."

Su Mo playfully taunted the Fake Owner · Swallower in good spirits.