"Young Master!"
"Bai Zihe!"
"Lord Bai..."
Seeing this, everyone's eyes reddened, and they let out heart-wrenching roars.
Unwilling.
And unwilling to believe.
Even more unwilling to accept!
This was already the core of the volcanic crater.
The temperature of the air alone made one feel unbearably hot, and even the hair of many experts had begun to scorch.
One could imagine...
How high the temperature of the magma below would be.
If Bai Zihe fell into it, how could there be any chance of survival!
At this moment.
Everyone felt their hearts tear.
They had all climbed to the edge of the precipice and looked down, unwillingly.
However, not looking was fine, but looking down brought even more despair.
Below was an endless ocean of molten lava.
Like red-hot iron, it churned continuously, often making "hissing" sounds that grated on the ears, making one feel uneasy.
For a time.
Everyone fell silent, a profoundly eerie silence.
Only the scorching heat and the smell of magma continuously wafted and permeated the air.
Including Zhuge Sheng.
Everyone's expression was extremely grim.
"Swish!"
Just then, a group of people appeared on the mountainside.
It was the imperial family's protector, Sword Saint Liu Wen, leading the experts under the fake emperor.
His eyesight was excellent.
From a distance, he saw Bai Zihe being hit by a mechanism and falling into the magma below.
This was a rare opportunity.
"It seems..."
Liu Wen scanned everyone, a hint of amusement in his eyes: "The Dragon Emperor was right, this treasure is not so easily obtained."
Saying this.
He led the many experts forward step by step.
With each step.
A powerful aura poured out, like rivers, like oceans, unrestrained and violent, carrying killing intent that swept like a long dragon.
"Rebellious traitors!"
Zhuge Sheng's gaze fixed on him, and he said coldly, "What, are you going to commit slaughter now that Bai Zihe is no longer here?"
"Swish!"
The response to Zhuge Sheng was a sword light that appeared in front of Liu Wen.
The sword light shone brilliantly.
As soon as it appeared, it exuded an extreme sense of oppression.
It was dazzling, as if it contained the creation of heaven and earth, making it impossible to look directly at it.
Even...
The heat in the air seemed to diminish by a few degrees because of it.
"Swish!"
"Hiss..."
"Crackling—"
The experts on Bai Zihe's side, holding back their anger, immediately drew their weapons without a word, ready to fight.
"Whoosh..."
The next moment, the light sword, filled with boundless killing intent, stirred the sky and the weather, and slashed down from the sky.
It possessed the power to destroy heaven and earth, and the will to crush everything!
A great battle was about to break out!
In an unknown place.
"Where is this..."
Bai Zihe looked around, a look of confusion in his eyes.
He remembered that when he was trying to retrieve the treasure chest in the volcanic crater, the mechanism had suddenly erupted, targeting not only him but also all the experts behind him.
To protect those experts, he used the Yin Yang Seventy-Two Golden Needles to help them block many of the mechanisms.
But he himself was hit by a sharp arrow.
The powerful inertia sent him plummeting into the abyssal magma.
And now...
This was an extremely spacious hall. There was no volcano, no magma to speak of, only four large doors at the end.
"Bai Zihe, congratulations."
Just as Bai Zihe was very confused, the ethereal voice of the Dragon Emperor sounded.
At the same time.
A familiar figure materialized in mid-air.
However, this time, the Dragon Emperor's form did not possess that world-shattering power, nor that ancient vicissitude; it was imbued with a touch of... kindness.
Like a neighborly grandfather, with a benevolent smile.
"Congratulations?"
Bai Zihe looked at the Dragon Emperor, puzzled.
The Dragon Emperor nodded and smiled: "In fact, the treasure chest and magma you just saw, as well as those deadly mechanisms, were all illusions."
"And all tests."
"And you have passed the test and can enter the true treasure land."
Bai Zihe's pupils suddenly constricted.
Before he could speak, the Dragon Emperor continued: "Dragon Island contains a tremendous secret, a secret that is enough to overturn the current world."
"And the subsequent treasure hunt will lead you to this secret."
"Therefore..."
"Only those with great wisdom, great perseverance, and great power can bear this important responsibility and enter to seek treasure."
"The fact that you could find the Treasure Dispersal Rock even without your mask proves your clear understanding and utilization of your own conditions."
"Your steadfast refusal to use your companions to open the treasure and lower the difficulty, despite several temptations, shows that you are not self-centered and are capable of great responsibility."
"And..."
"This treasure hunt requires an extremely precious item."
Bai Zihe raised an eyebrow.
He suspected that the precious item he spoke of was likely the dodecahedron.
"Go."
The Dragon Emperor spoke slowly, his phantom image gradually dissipating: "It is behind the four doors, but you can only choose one to enter."
"Whether you can obtain that ultimate treasure depends on your destiny."
His voice fell.
The Dragon Emperor's phantom image completely dissipated.
Bai Zihe felt a sense of awe.
He had been on Dragon Island for so long, and now he was finally about to enter its core.
Perhaps the answers about the dodecahedron, about Kong Wu, and about his mother's past were all behind the four doors.
Bai Zihe immediately walked towards the four large doors.
Closer now.
On the four large doors, ancient seal script characters were respectively engraved.
Weapons, magical artifacts, elixirs, cultivation techniques.
These were likely hints about the treasures hidden behind each path.
This made it difficult for Bai Zihe.
He did not know what that treasure was.
Could he sense it through his Hell Blood?
Bai Zihe recalled that earlier, at Zhuge Sheng's hint, he had used his Hell Blood to sense and eventually found the cave and entered the Treasure Dispersal Rock.
"Buzz..."
No sooner said than done.
Bai Zihe immediately activated some of the aura of his Hell Blood.
"Swish!"
However, before he could probe with his divine consciousness.
A strong radiance erupted from the four large doors, blindingly brilliant, blocking his probing divine consciousness.
Like glass, it prevented the flow of air!
This was indeed troublesome.
"Swish!"
Hesitation was not Bai Zihe's nature.
He directly pushed open the last door and strode in.
Weapons...
He had always been indifferent to using weapons.
Elixirs...
They were mostly one-time use, and no elixir could truly lead to ascension.
Even if there were, ascension gained through medicine would be far inferior to that achieved through one's own cultivation, step by step, and through one's own battles, again and again.
Magical artifacts...
Some magical artifacts did have great effects.
But these were still external forces, and for Bai Zihe, they were never as alluring as his own strength.
Therefore, he chose the last option: cultivation techniques and secret manuals.
"Swish!"
Bai Zihe stepped in, and space shifted.
The next moment.
Bai Zihe found himself in an unfamiliar environment.
This was also a hall, but it was confined, cold, dim, and gave off an incredibly oppressive feeling.
"Whoosh..."
The next moment, a black shadow ghost-like attacked Bai Zihe.