As soon as I put it on, I met a sickly man

The dark entrance was like the bloody mouth of a giant beast, emitting a disgusting stench.

Mr. Qinglian stepped in first, and his figure was quickly swallowed by the darkness.

Ding Chen held Xiaoxuan's hand tightly, gave her an encouraging look, and then followed her in.

General Lin, Yingfeng and Ah Hu followed closely behind.

The passage was narrow and damp, with sticky liquid oozing from the stone walls. Underfoot were rotten leaves that had accumulated for who knows how many years, making a teeth-grinding crunching sound when stepped on.

The air was filled with a suffocating smell of decay, like the slowly decaying corpse of some creature.

The deeper you go, the thinner the oxygen becomes and breathing becomes more difficult.

Xiaoxuan's face gradually turned pale. Ding Chen hugged her tightly with concern and passed his breath to her.

"Xiaoxuan, are you okay?"

Xiaoxuan suppressed her discomfort and smiled faintly: "I'm fine, Brother Chen, don't worry."

A trace of solemnity appeared on Yingfeng's stern face. He took out a stone emitting a faint blue light from his arms, and suddenly a circle of soft light appeared around him.

"This is a night-shining stone. It can provide light and also replenish some oxygen." He handed the stone to Ah Hu. Ah Hu smiled innocently, took the stone and held it in front of him to light the way forward for everyone.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the view ahead suddenly opened up and a huge underground cave appeared.

In the center of the cave, a huge crystal emits dazzling light, illuminating the entire space.

The crystal was surrounded by complex runes, and a powerful energy wave emanated from it.

"It's here!" A hint of excitement flashed in Mr. Qinglian's eyes.

Just then, a figure stepped out from the shadows beside the crystal.

He was a burly man with skin as rough as rock, and his whole body exuded a strong earthy smell.

"Who dares to trespass into the forbidden area?" His voice was rough and harsh like the friction of rocks.

"We are..." Ding Chen was about to explain when he was rudely interrupted by the Earth Spirit Envoy.

"I don't care who you are, this is not the place for you! Leave immediately, or don't blame me for being rude!"

"We are here to..." Ding Chen tried to explain again, but the Earth Spirit Envoy didn't listen at all.

"I've already warned you!" A fierce light flashed in the eyes of the Earth Spirit Envoy, and he slammed his hands on the ground.

"boom--"

The ground shook violently...

The ground cracked into hideous cracks, and sharp stalagmites emerged from the ground like the fangs of wild beasts, heading straight for everyone.

The earth spirit flew his hands, controlling the earth and rocks to form huge stone hammers and sharp stone blades, which smashed towards Ding Chen and others like a storm.

General Lin roared angrily and swung the long sword in his hand tightly, smashing the incoming stones one by one.

But his two fists were no match for four hands, and the earth and stone attacks continued, and he gradually felt overwhelmed.

A huge rock came roaring towards him, and General Lin was unable to dodge it. He was hit hard in the chest. He staggered back a few steps, and a trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Yingfeng was agile and moved like a ghost, weaving through the earth and stone attacks, trying to get behind the Earth Spirit and launch an attack.

However, the Earth Spirit knew his actions well. With a sneer, the ground suddenly bulged, forming a huge earth and stone cage that trapped Yingfeng inside.

"Brother Chen, be careful!" Xiaoxuan exclaimed.

Seeing Yingfeng trapped, Ding Chen was extremely anxious and rushed towards the Earth Spirit Envoy regardless of everything.

A trace of contempt flashed in the eyes of the Earth Spirit Envoy. With a wave of his hand, a thick earth and stone wall rose from the ground, blocking Ding Chen's way.

"You are overestimating yourself!" The Earth Spirit sneered and controlled more earth and rocks to attack Ding Chen.

Ah Hu and other villagers were extremely anxious, but they were powerless to do anything and could only watch Ding Chen, General Lin and others fall into danger.

"What should we do? We have to find a way to save them!" Ah Hu shouted anxiously.

At this critical moment, an old and majestic voice came from the depths of the cave: "Stop."

A white-haired old man slowly walked out from the shadows beside the crystal...

After the white-haired wise man appeared, an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the entire cave.

He slowly raised his skinny hand, muttering something, and a dazzling white light shot out from his hand and hit the Earth Spirit Envoy.

The Earth Spirit's movements froze instantly, and the earth and rocks he controlled also stopped in mid-air, as if time had stopped.

"Xiaoxuan, it's now!" Ding Chen shouted.

Xiaoxuan was already prepared. She poured the potion in her hand towards the earth and stone cage that trapped Yingfeng.

The moment the agent came into contact with the soil and rocks, a sizzling sound was heard, and the hard rock quickly softened like melting ice and snow, eventually turning into a pool of mud and water.

Yingfeng broke free and flashed behind the Earth Spirit Envoy. A cold light flashed in his hand. The Earth Spirit Envoy groaned and his body shook.

Ding Chen seized the opportunity, bypassed the softened earth wall, flew up, and kicked the earth spirit in the chest.

The earth spirit was knocked back several steps and crashed into the crystal with a loud noise.

The crystal flickered, as if stimulated by something.

Ding Chen took advantage of the victory and pursued the enemy, his fists and kicks raining down on the Earth Spirit Envoy, each strike containing great power.

During the fierce fight, Ding Chen inadvertently looked back at Xiaoxuan.

Xiaoxuan stood not far away, her eyes full of worry, but also full of trust in him.

Ding Chen felt a warmth in his heart, and a surge of strength flowed through his body. He became more determined to fight and was determined to protect Xiaoxuan and everyone.

Just when Ding Chen was about to completely subdue the Earth Spirit Envoy, something strange happened.

A trace of determination flashed in the eyes of the Earth Spirit Envoy. He looked up to the sky and let out a long roar. His body began to swell, emitting a dazzling light.

"You...all must die!"

There was a deafening explosion and the Earth Spirit blew himself up.

The shock wave of the explosion swept through the entire cave, the crystal shook violently, the ground began to collapse, huge rocks continued to fall from the top of the passage, and dust filled the air.

"Run!" shouted Qinglian Jushi.

"Xiaoxuan!" Ding Chen stretched out his hand...