"Shut up!"
Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up.
"Yes!" Hearing the reprimand, Jin Yuan Ding immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another word.
Even though it had stopped speaking, the crowd still managed to catch a glimpse of what was going on, and they couldn't help but turn their gazes over.
"You took in a blacksmith apprentice at the last minute?"
"You just casually forged it? President Zhang, what's going on? "
Jin Yuan Ding was a Saint-tier artifact, and in order to upgrade it, one would have to possess the prowess of a Seven Star blacksmith at the very least. To take in an apprentice at the last minute … What was going on?
An apprentice blacksmith shouldn't have any rank at all. How could such a person … possibly upgrade a Saint-tier artifact?
"Oh, I met an apprentice who was about to commit suicide last night …"
Under the gazes of the crowd, Zhang Xuan decided that there was no need to hide anything from them. Thus, he recounted the happenings in detail.
"An apprentice who can't even forge a Saint-tier artifact actually managed to upgrade Jin Yuan Ding's cultivation with just an hour of your guidance?"
"This … Surely that shouldn't be possible?"
After hearing the explanation, everyone felt as if they were going insane.
To guide an apprentice to forge a Saint-tier artifact … How much confidence did the other party have in himself to dare do such a thing?
How deep did one's understanding of smithing have to be in order to accomplish such a feat?
"I've heard that President Zhang's smithing skills are incredible, but it seems like I've underestimated him …"
"Indeed. His smithing prowess has most likely reached Seven Star, perhaps even pinnacle."
"Just this move alone is already something that none of us can match up to …"
The principals of the Three Great Master Teacher Academies smiled bitterly.
They had heard from Zhao Bingxu that the young man before them was a skilled blacksmith, but they had thought that he would only be a 6-star blacksmith at the very most. Only at this moment did they realize that the young man before them wasn't as simple as they thought.
One must know that even a true Seven Star pinnacle blacksmith wouldn't be able to guide an apprentice to forge a Saint-tier artifact so easily.
"You … saved a person after we parted ways, and you even exposed the identity of a blacksmith?"
Unlike the crowd, Lozosy's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the young man before her.
"Un. After you left, I was just about to chase after you when I saw someone committing suicide, so … I was delayed!"
Zhang Xuan nodded.
"I see …"
Lozosy shook her head helplessly.
Yesterday, he had been so infuriated that he had thought that Zhang Xuan was lacking in discernment. It seemed like that wasn't the case at all.
As a master teacher, it was more important for him to uphold his dignity as a teacher.
Even though he knew that she had misunderstood him, he didn't bother to explain himself. If it weren't for Jin Yuan Ding being so smug, she probably wouldn't have known about it even now... This kind of character was truly admirable.
"I'm guessing that the core of the lava is where the energy is, so I plan to go down and take a look …"
Zhang Xuan didn't continue discussing this topic. He looked over again.
"Where the power erupted?"
Everyone frowned.
"This place is so ferocious. Even if there is a formation and folded space, it should be destroyed. Why was it built here?"
President Han couldn't help but ask.
He had already observed this place for a long time and eliminated the first possibility.
If the wriggling energy below were to explode, everything within a radius of a thousand li would be destroyed. This was enough to show how powerful it was … Under the impact of such a ferocious energy, no matter how stable a folded space was, it should be impossible for it to withstand it!
"We'll only know if it's true after going down to take a look. Powerful energy can destroy a formation, but it can also sustain it! There are pros and cons to it as well. It's just that the level of the energy is too high for us to comprehend … "
Zhang Xuan waved his hands.
"This …" President Han opened his mouth, wanting to refute Zhang Xuan's words, but he found himself at a loss for words.
The other party was right. Water could carry a boat, but it could also capsize it. Powerful energy could destroy a formation, and if used properly, it could be used as a source of energy to drive a formation to greater heights.
Of course, this could only be done by a formation master of a higher tier. Given his current strength, he was still far from reaching that level.
"Alright, I'll go in and take a look first!"
After explaining the situation, Zhang Xuan beckoned to Jin Yuan Ding, and he leaped into the cauldron.
Given the massive size of this fellow, it wouldn't be a problem for three to four people to sit in the cauldron. This was a good opportunity for him to bring him into the depths of the lava to take a look.
Given its unreliable and smug personality, it was unlikely that it would be able to see through the cauldron by itself.
"Be careful …"
Seeing that Zhang Xuan was about to enter the cauldron at any moment, Lozosy couldn't help but warn him.
"Un!"
Zhang Xuan chuckled lightly.
"I'm coming!" Jin Yuan Ding exclaimed excitedly as he charged toward the source of the energy.
At this moment, the energy should have already dissipated, and there should be a ten-minute break. This was a good opportunity for Zhang Xuan to enter the cauldron. Otherwise, once the energy burst forth, even Jin Yuan Ding wouldn't be able to withstand it.
Gugugugu!
As soon as the massive cauldron entered the lava, bubbling noises immediately sounded. Seated within, Zhang Xuan felt intense heat assaulting him from the surroundings.
The Golden Origin Cauldron was an artifact cauldron, and it was capable of melting even iron ores. From this, it was apparent that the temperature within the cauldron was extremely high. Even though Zhang Xuan would not come into contact with the lava, the sealed environment would prevent any heat from leaking out.
Chuckling softly, Zhang Xuan drove his zhenqi, and the pressure on him immediately lessened. He stood up and said, "Jin Yuan Ding, stop!"
"Stop here?"
The cauldron was taken aback.
They had only just entered the lava, and they weren't even ten meters away from it. To stop here … What for?
"Un!"
Zhang Xuan nodded. "There's no need to go too deep … Wait for me here!"
After saying those words, Zhang Xuan drew out his Primordial Spirit and dived right into the lava.
Even though Jin Yuan Ding's cultivation had improved significantly, forty meters was still his limit. Furthermore, going back and forth was dangerous and troublesome. Thus, Zhang Xuan had only allowed him to enter the lava to protect his physical body.
His true goal was to enter the lava with his soul!
The soul was formless and intangible. Even though it would still be affected by the heat of the lava, it wouldn't be too much of a problem. Furthermore, it wouldn't be affected by the heat of the lava at all. Thus, it was inevitable that he would be able to explore deeper into the lava and uncover more secrets.
It's just as I expected. Not only is my soul not harmed by the lava, it's even able to absorb energy and grow stronger!
Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up as his soul dived into the lava.
His soul had been tempered by the Heaven's Path Soul Art, so it was impervious to heat and scorching sun. If it had been any other ordinary soul oracle, they would have been roasted alive in the cauldron, let alone entering the lava.
Since this heat can temper weapons and reduce the impurities within them, does that mean that it can temper my soul as well?
A thought suddenly surfaced in Zhang Xuan's mind.
Even though the soul was formless and intangible, it was still a sentient entity. Since it could temper weapons, why couldn't it do the same for his soul?
Let me give it a try …
With a thought, Zhang Xuan's soul floated quietly in the lava, slowly absorbing the heat in the surroundings.
Tzzzzzzz!
A surge of heat immediately gushed into his soul, causing it to become even more resilient and powerful. Just as he had expected, the impurities within his soul were being purged continuously.
It's indeed possible …
Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.
All along, he had felt that his soul was too bloated, and it was extremely troublesome for it to enter his body. He had wanted to temper his soul, but he had never been able to do so. However, the temperature of the lava was just right for him.
"However, let's not rush into cultivating for the time being. The eruption of energy here will only occur once every ten minutes. While it's unlikely that our souls will be harmed, the Golden Origin Cauldron could very well be sent flying by the shockwave.
Even though Zhang Xuan wanted to cultivate and temper his soul, he knew that this wasn't the time for him to do so. Chuckling softly, he continued flying downward.
What was more important at the moment was to find the entrance to the ancient domain. As for cultivating, that could wait.
Just as Wu Shi had said, the deeper he went, the more intense the heat became. It was as if there was a limit of ten meters.
Based on my calculations, a Saint 1-dan cultivator should be able to move within ten meters, a Saint 2-dan cultivator should be able to reach twenty meters, and so on and so forth. Wu Shi is a Saint 4-dan cultivator, so he should be able to reach forty meters at most. Anything beyond that would be impossible!
The speed of his soul was extremely fast, and in just a few breaths, he had already reached the depth of forty meters. Feeling the change in temperature along the way, Zhang Xuan deduced.
Forty meters is indeed hot. Even in my current soul state, I am finding it difficult to withstand the heat …
As a soul oracle, Zhang Xuan didn't feel too affected in the first thirty meters. However, at forty meters, he immediately felt a surge of heat assaulting him. Even in his soul state, he found himself struggling to withstand the heat.
Continue on!
Driving the Heaven's Path Soul Art in his body, Zhang Xuan broke through the bottleneck of forty meters and continued diving downward.
As soon as he crossed the threshold, he immediately felt as if he had been plunged into a pot of boiling oil. Even in his current soul state, he was still slightly warped from the heat. Even though he wasn't sweating, his bloated soul felt as if it would collapse at any moment.
This won't do … This is a place where only Leaving Aperture realm experts are able to enter. Even though I am a soul oracle, I have already reached my limit …
Zhang Xuan's face darkened.
He had thought that he would be able to reach a deeper level with his soul, but from the looks of it, he had still underestimated the temperature of the lava.
Considering how even a Saint 4-dan master teacher was unable to withstand the heat, it was only natural that his soul would be unable to withstand the heat.
Gritting his teeth, Zhang Xuan continued diving downward. However, just as he reached the fifty-meter mark, he suddenly felt his soul starting to crumble.
The greater the heat, the greater the activity of an object, and the more unstable it would become. It was just like how many solid weapons would turn into liquid under extreme heat.
Even though the soul wasn't a physical object, if there was too much activity in the surroundings, even space would become unstable, let alone a soul.
Zhang Xuan hurriedly returned to the fifty-meter mark, and this time, he felt much more relaxed. At the same time, a deep frown appeared on his forehead.
I have already reached the fifty-meter mark, but I still haven't found any traces of the ancient domain. Could it be that … my deduction was wrong, and the entrance isn't here?
He had already reached the sixty-meter mark, but he still hadn't found anything. All he could feel was that the temperature was rising higher and higher. Just like what Wu Tianqiong had said, he was about to come into contact with the lava.
Even the formation flags would melt in such a scorching heat. Even if he had a folded space, it wouldn't be able to withstand the heat. Could it be that his deduction was wrong, and the entrance to the ancient domain wasn't here?
While Zhang Xuan was deep in thought, a loud explosion suddenly sounded from below, and a massive millstone began rotating.
"Crap! Why did the energy erupt prematurely this time around … I'm doomed … "
Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes. Following which, he saw a powerful surge of energy gushing toward him!
(Happy Valentine's Day! Those who don't have a lover, enjoy the new year! How is it? This year isn't too bad. At the very least … those who don't have a lover can still celebrate the new year.)
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