One of the master teachers stepped forward, intending to pass through the barrier just like before. However, as if he had struck a metal plate, a powerful force repelled him.
"This …" The master teacher narrowed his eyes in disbelief. "If that's the case, how are we supposed to leave this place?"
He wasn't the only one. The other master teachers also stepped forward to give it a try, and their faces turned pale.
The red barrier from before was as easy as touching the surface of water. However, this white barrier was like a city wall. Given their strength, it was impossible for them to break through it.
In other words, once the entrance closed, they would be in a dead end! If he couldn't find a way forward, he could only be trapped here. It was impossible for him to escape.
"No wonder it's said to be a narrow escape.
It is indeed fearsome … "one of the master teachers muttered with a bitter smile.
Before coming here, Wu Shi and the others had warned them that this was an extremely dangerous place. Initially, they didn't think much of it, but after seeing this sight, they realized that it was indeed as they had expected.
They hadn't even entered the ancient domain yet. Just the entrance alone was enough to leave them at a loss. Wouldn't it be even more terrifying if they were to enter the ancient domain?
"I have already said that the seal will close in fifteen minutes. Once it closes … we won't be able to open it unless we find a way to solve it!"
President Han shook his head. "Alright, there's no point in worrying about this. Since we have entered this place, we are already prepared to die. What we should do now is to find the entrance to the ancient domain!"
"Un!" The others nodded.
Knowing the dangers of this place, most of them had already made arrangements beforehand. Since there was no turning back, they might as well proceed forward.
Zhang Xuan also understood this as well. He turned his gaze to the lava below and secretly communicated with the Myriad Anthive Queen.
"Master, there isn't a folded space here! Even if there is, it might be beneath the lava, and I can't see through it … "
Not too long later, the Myriad Anthive Queen's voice sounded.
"There isn't?" Zhang Xuan's face turned livid.
Could the passageway to the ancient domain really be beneath the lava?
Even Wu Shi couldn't enter it, let alone them!
Surely it wouldn't be so difficult before entering the ancient domain!
If that was the case, how did the old principal and the other outstanding individuals manage to enter the ancient domain back then?
"It's a pity that we didn't obtain the map of the Poison Temple, or else we wouldn't be in such a passive position …"
Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly.
If he could find that map, he should be able to easily find the way out. He wouldn't be like this, completely clueless.
"Let's not think about it. Let's try the library and see if we can find anything."
Casting these negative emotions aside, Zhang Xuan flew straight toward the lava.
Lava was an inanimate object. One could not execute Martial Techniques or circulate it. One could only touch it with their hands to activate the Library of Heaven's Path.
"Zhang Shi, what are you doing?" Mu shi couldn't help but ask.
"Let me take a closer look at it …" Knowing that he couldn't go into the details regarding the Library of Heaven's Path, Zhang Xuan waved his hands casually.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Xuan was already above the lava. As expected, he could feel waves of heat assaulting him. The heat seeped through his skin and seeped deep into his bones, threatening to burn him to a crisp at any moment.
"It's so hot!" Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes in astonishment.
It was no wonder Wu Shi was only able to reach forty meters into the lava. The temperature here was far higher than he had imagined. Even if he were to exert his full strength, thirty meters would still be a huge barrier.
After driving his Heaven's Path zhenqi to expel the heat from the surroundings, Zhang Xuan reached out and touched the lava.
Flaws! Zhang Xuan thought.
Hu! A book materialized in the Library of Heaven's Path.
"Volcano Lava is formed by melting rocks with earth flames. Its temperature is extremely high, and it contains Bluestone, Granite, Lapis Lazuli, and many other types of rocks. Upon solidification, it can be used to construct houses …"
Upon seeing the content of the book, Zhang Xuan staggered, and he nearly fell to the ground.
Construct houses? Construct your head!
That's not what I want to know, alright?
Zhang Xuan felt stifled, but he knew that this was within his expectations. The Library of Heaven's Path could only analyze what he had touched, and it was only a small portion of it.
It was just like how he had tried to collect the books on the bookshelf into his Library of Heaven's Path, but he knew that it was impossible.
What the Library of Heaven's Path revealed was the properties of the lava, not the flaws within the area.
In other words, the Library of Heaven's Path, which had always been successful, was useless at this moment.
What should he do?
Rubbing his glabella, Zhang Xuan had no choice but to return to the surface.
"If it comes down to it, we should split up into several areas and explore the area one by one. Since the seal can be opened, it means that the ancient domain isn't too deep. As long as we work together, we should be able to find some clues. "
Seeing that even the omnipotent President Zhang had returned empty-handed, President Han sighed in disappointment.
"Explore the area one by one?"
Everyone nodded with a solemn expression.
This was the only solution they had at the moment.
There was no formation on the surface of the lava, and there was nothing special about it either. This meant that the ancient domain was likely to be hidden within. Since there was no way out, there was only one solution left — to explore the area one by one.
"What if … the ancient domain is hidden forty meters beneath the surface of the lava?"
The head of the Luoqing Master Teacher Academy, Shen Pingchao, frowned.
Upon hearing those words, the others nodded in agreement.
Even Wu Shi had only been able to reach a depth of forty meters, so it was impossible for them to do so. It was indeed possible for them to search the area one by one, but if the ancient domain was hidden forty meters beneath the surface of the lava, it would be futile even if all of them were to die here.
"It's indeed a good idea to search the area one by one, but it's not feasible."
Lozosy spoke up.
"Oh? Luo shi, what do you think? "President Han turned to look at her.
"Just like what they said, if the ancient domain is hidden forty meters beneath the surface of the lava, it will be impossible for us to find it. Besides, given the size of the lava, how long do you think it will take for the thirty of us to comb through the area?" Lozosy asked with a frown.
"This …" President Han was rendered speechless.
Most of the people present possessed Spiritual Perception, allowing them to peer into the depths of the lava. However, the deeper one went into the lava, the greater the resistance would be, and the smaller the radius of their search. Given their current strength and zhenqi recovery rate, it would take at least a month for them to comb through the entire volcano!
If they didn't fight for such a long period of time, they would surely run out of strength and die here.
"What should we do then?" a master teacher asked.
"I don't know either. I just think that since the other party left behind the Life Gate, there must be a way out. It's just that we didn't think of it before. Rather than trying our luck, we might as well think through the situation first before making a move!"
Lozosy said.
The others nodded in agreement.
She was right. Casting a wide net and trying to get lucky was indeed not a good idea for them right now.
The environment here was simply too harsh. Even if they were to persist for two hours, four hours, or even twenty hours, they would still be able to do so. However, if they were to persist for a day … they would probably be afflicted by the fire poison, and if they were to persist for two days, they would probably be reduced to a dried husk.
"Indeed. We have to continue searching …"
Zhang Xuan nodded before turning his gaze back to the volcano.
The volcano was circular in shape, but it wasn't very orderly. From time to time, there would be energy seeping out from the volcano, striking the seal above, resulting in a deafening explosion.
Had it been before, the seal would surely explode if it couldn't be released. However, since Zhang Xuan had poked a hole on the outside, it wasn't too dangerous.
Could it be … related to the energy seeping out from the volcano?
Zhang Xuan suddenly thought.
Back then, the old principal, You Xu, and the others didn't have to go through so much trouble to enter the volcano. Based on the latter's explanation, they encountered a tempest of energy as soon as they entered the barrier, and they were swept to an unknown location, where they encountered the Otherworldly Demons …
In other words, when they arrived, the barrier was filled with energy, making it impossible for anyone to withstand it …
Could the tempest be the energy seeping out from the volcano?
If that was the case, even though the volcano would be much safer without the energy seeping out, it would still be impossible for them to find the entrance to the ancient domain.
Energy seeping out from the volcano … Could it be that the location of the energy seeping out from the volcano is where the ancient domain is hidden?
With such thoughts in mind, a thought flashed across Zhang Xuan's mind.
If what You Xu said was true, the location where the energy seeping out from the volcano was most likely closely related to the ancient domain.
With such thoughts in mind, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but turn his gaze downward.
At this moment, a surge of energy seeped out from the lava below, surging upward. As soon as it came into contact with the formation flag, it immediately vanished without a trace.
The node that he was looking for was where the loophole of the seal was located. Once the formation flag was planted, the energy seeping out from the volcano would be unable to accumulate anymore. This was also the reason why he had forgotten about this matter.
Let me give it a try!
Zhang Xuan nodded.
Regardless of whether the location was the loophole or not, he would have to test it out himself to find out. Other than this location, he couldn't think of anything else that was unique.
I can't probe the lava, and the Library of Heaven's Path isn't of any use either. The only way is to enter the volcano to take a look … Wu Shi has already exhausted his energy, and he still hasn't recovered yet. I'll have to do it myself!
Zhang Xuan tapped his finger forward, and a massive cauldron appeared before his eyes.
Jin Yuan Ding!
That fellow had already been upgraded to a Saint intermediate-tier artifact, granting him strength comparable to a Saint 4-dan pinnacle cultivator. In a one-on-one fight, he might not be a match for Wu Shi, but in terms of resistance to heat and lava, the latter was far from being a match for him.
"Jin Yuan Ding … has been upgraded to a Saint intermediate-tier artifact?"
Seeing Zhang Xuan's sudden movements, everyone turned their gazes over, and with just a glance, they were stunned.
Everyone had heard of the Guardian Artifact of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, but it was only a Saint low-tier artifact. When did it become a Saint intermediate-tier artifact?
Even though there was only a small difference between low-tier and intermediate-tier, there was a huge gap between the two.
"It's because my master accepted an apprentice blacksmith last night. He casually forged a Saint intermediate-tier artifact for me, and after that … I managed to reach this level. How can you be envious of me?"
Seeing the astonished gazes of the crowd, Jin Yuan Ding burst into laughter as he said gleefully, "However, there's no point in being envious. Given my outstanding talent, you won't be able to learn how to achieve a breakthrough so easily …"
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