Although the Zerg Drone units seemed leagues apart from the massive engineering machinery of the RDA Corporation, every cell and every strand of their genes had been meticulously modulated to deal specifically with all manner of rock. They integrated excavation, refinement, and transport, representing the Zerg’s thoroughly refined biological machinery. Their efficiency in burrowing passages probably wouldn't be much lower than that of human heavy construction equipment.

However, when Fang Senyan marshaled dozens of Zerg Drones to begin digging, he encountered an unexpected situation: the Drones' work efficiency was shockingly low! Normally, when collecting Pandoran ore, which also grew embedded in rock formations, their movements were incredibly swift. A spray of acid, a few quick snaps from their massive mandibles, and the hard rock would easily corrode open, yielding the Pandoran ore. But now, watching a swarm of Drones circle a rock, they seemed sluggish, gripping the stone with their mandibles and not letting go. Dozens of Drones labored for a long time just to deal with a single cubic meter of hard rock.

Fang Senyan knew something strange was afoot, as the concept of Zerg Drones deliberately slacking off was absolutely impossible. After a moment of deep thought, he immediately contacted the Black Wasp Brain Bug. That fellow was quite obliging and dispatched Jiani, the Zerg Queen who had since advanced to the level of a Legendary creature, to investigate the matter thoroughly. Accompanying her were two Elite Great Devourers and six Rare Elite Mutalis, an escort contingent of such scale that it could even put up a fight against an Overlord Phantom Wyvern, demonstrating the importance placed on Jiani.

Because the Zerg Queen’s status was rather unique—she was the only unit within the Zerg capable of controlling enemy structures (controlling human bases)—she was almost considered the representative and avatar of the Hive Mind. As soon as the Queen arrived, she immediately communicated to Fang Senyan via telepathy that a powerful, indescribable psychic force was protecting these stones, which was why the Drones' excavation progress was being severely delayed.

Fang Senyan immediately posed two targeted questions: First, could the source of this psychic power be identified? Second, could this psychic power be weakened to accelerate the excavation?

Jiani began to interface with the Hive Mind, and after a while, informed Fang Senyan that this psychic force seemed to have been imbued into the rocks many years ago. According to her observation, the entire Fengshi Highlands appeared to be shielded by this mysterious spiritual power, which was likely why the surface layer of rock topping the Highlands had never collapsed. Secondly, there was no way to speed up the excavation. The deeper they dug, the stronger the mysterious psychic force became, and the greater the resistance. Proper excavation would require a full six or seven days at the very least...

Finally, Jiani also warned Fang Senyan that ordinary humans would also be affected by this psychic power; prolonged exposure could easily drive them mad and cause them to commit frantic acts. This warning completely extinguished Fang Senyan’s idea of going to the RDA base to seek alternative solutions...

Upon hearing this grim news, Mo Gansha and Reef exchanged worried glances. They had only exchanged for a limited stay duration in this place, and over ten days had already passed. If they were delayed by another six or seven days, Fang Senyan, who still had an extra three days available, would be forced to return to the main space while they would have to be forcibly recalled!

Fortunately, at this critical juncture, MCDH, the Colonizer, stepped forward. He offered Reef and Mo Gansha a single-use item called the GDS Point-to-Point Focus Locator System, originating from the Matrix universe. This device would allow them to locate a specific Contractor’s position after returning to the main space and teleport directly to them to re-enter his world.

Of course, to use this item, they first needed to know the Contractor’s Nightmare Space designation. Secondly, the Contractor in question had to actively cooperate with them for the triangulation. Most crucially, the cost of using this item was extremely high, calculated in Universal Points by the hour, and compounded exponentially.

MCDH gave an example: When Reef and Mo Gansha teleported in, they would immediately be charged twenty thousand Universal Points (for two people). This twenty thousand would only grant them one small hour of stay. Any second beyond that, and another forty thousand Universal Points would be deducted! This forty thousand was the fee for the subsequent extra hour. If they stayed for a third hour, the cost would be eighty thousand, then one hundred and sixty thousand, and so on.

However, such exorbitant pricing was likely related to the space battlefield they were currently immersed in. Based on previous usage experience, the initial teleportation fee for a single person usually did not exceed three thousand points.

The appearance of this item finally resolved the immediate crisis for Fang Senyan and his team. After all, the power of Qi’er'oke’e was evident; having Reef and Mo Gansha present while completing the mission would undoubtedly add two crucial safety nets. Furthermore, although MCDH had only managed to collect one suitable powerful beast soul so far, he remained obsessed with Qi’er'oke’e’s high-tier Death Stalker Beast.

It was important to remember that reviving the Seed had a small chance of failure. Undoubtedly, if MCDH could acquire the soul of that high-tier Death Stalker Beast, the resurrection of his girlfriend would be virtually guaranteed.

Once the group reached a consensus, they could only remain on site, watching the vast contingent of Drones excavate with dull patience. Although Fang Senyan was someone who highly valued time and opportunity, he dared not let his guard down or divert his attention to undertake other tasks at this moment, as no one could guarantee against unforeseen complications. If the Golden Branch Quest were to fail at this late stage, it would truly be a case of dropping the melon while chasing the sesame seed, leading to tears of regret!

Finally, the fifteen-day period of mandatory retention expired, and the remaining stay time for Mo Gansha and Reef was up... The two watched with deep reluctance as the Drones worked, their excavation proceeding as if in slow motion. Their unwavering gazes were filled with an almost mournful resentment, the kind directed at watching a long-admired maiden fall into another’s arms!!

Despite their profound unwillingness to leave, they could not defy the immensely powerful rules of the main space, and slowly faded out of this world. Fang Senyan took a deep breath. If Qi’er'oke’e harbored ill intentions and planned an ambush, this was the moment. Yet, Fang Senyan still controlled thousands of Zerglings, plus numerous elite Zerg creatures; moving against him now would still equate to suicide!

Finally, with only five hours left on Fang Senyan’s countdown to leave this world! The tunnel leading to the underground cavern was finally breached! It truly could not be blamed on the Zerg’s slow pace; the deeper they advanced, the greater the interference became. Towards the end, Fang Senyan actually witnessed several Drones suddenly explode into a gruesome spray of viscous fluid while mining. According to Queen Jiani, this was due to the accumulation and sudden explosive release of the malicious psychic energy within their bodies.

Once the passage was open, Fang Senyan waved his hand with a grim expression! A thousand Zerglings instantly charged madly down the newly dug tunnel. The immediate priority was preventing anyone from barricading the entrance and achieving a bottleneck situation, otherwise, they might actually survive the final five hours only to have the advantage overturned!

Fortunately, the Drones' tunnel excavation did not create the massive, chaotic noise associated with human construction, so Fang Senyan’s immediate worry did not materialize. After the first thousand Zerglings poured into the new passage, two hundred were left behind to defend the entrance, while the remaining eight hundred spread out like a massive net, beginning a systematic sweep of the vast underground space.

One hour later, seven members of the Mo’saak tribe were discovered, including two women and two elders, but Fang Senyan ordered their immediate execution without mercy. Those who had survived to this point without surrendering were hardliners. Fang Senyan had his own principles, but he certainly did not possess maternal clemency! He had given the enemy two chances to live; he would not grant a third!

Killing these seven Mo’saak tribesmen cost four hundred Zerglings, but Fang Senyan immediately reinforced the search, increasing the total number of Zerglings sweeping the underground space, not decreasing it, but raising it to twelve hundred!

Two hours later, another twenty-one Mo’saak tribesmen were found, and they too were annihilated without exception.

Three hours later, the trace of Qi’er'oke’e was finally detected. Fang Senyan immediately ordered an encirclement and divided the eight hundred Zerglings into eight squads! One hundred were committed to the attack in rotation! The remaining Zerglings continued to spread out, searching the entire underground space for any sign of life! Any discovered were to be killed immediately and ruthlessly! They did not even spare the previously trapped Taqi tribe members, because there had been prior instances of Im’tata using soul control over bodies, so there was no guarantee Qi’er'oke’e wouldn't attempt a similar maneuver!

Old Muerbo protested loudly, but upon seeing Fang Senyan’s face and eyes, which were covered in frost, he felt an overwhelming pressure of killing intent! He only managed a few grumbles at his lips but could not articulate a single full sentence.

Time sped past. With only two hours and thirteen minutes remaining before Fang Senyan had to depart this world, Jiani, through the psychic link with the Zerglings engaged in combat ahead, informed Fang Senyan that the leader of the Mo’saak tribe, the leader of the Fallen Ones, the Death Stalker Beast Rider Qi’er'oke’e, was dead.

Fifty-seven seconds later, Jiani notified Fang Senyan again: the Rank Seven Death Stalker Beast he was riding was also dead. This duo, man and beast, had killed a cumulative total of six hundred and fourteen Zerglings before finally succumbing to the frenzied assault of the six hundred and fifteenth Zergling.