The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 892 - 490: The Pressing Situation (2)

All of this invisibly created heavy psychological pressure for everyone. Especially as everyone noticed the water temperature is rising. If it was just over fifty degrees when they entered the water, it’s now approaching sixty degrees, and since the Hidden Guards are not water-dwelling demons, they must surface outside the volcano to breathe after one or two hours underwater, inadvertently reducing work efficiency a bit. Ning Xiaoxian, however, wasn’t troubled by this. Her Concealing Breath Technique is more enduring than most demons, and even if she can’t hold it any longer, entering and exiting the God Demon Prison solves the problem.

Only now does one truly realize how precious time is.

Eight hours have passed, even Gongshu Zhao couldn’t help but come out to assist, yet everyone remains empty-handed, and her anxiety gradually increases.

Changtian in the God Demon Prison hasn’t spoken for a long time. She is somewhat worried.

At this moment, an urgent call reaches her ears—Qingluan has finally discovered something.

Qingluan’s assigned position isn’t far from her, so with her speed at full throttle, it took just over sixty breaths to get there. Qingluan was standing on a huge crack waiting for her.

The crack is about thirteen meters long, less than ten feet wide, perfectly straight from start to end like a straight line, with pointed ends and a rounded thick middle, resembling an elongated spindle shape. Inside the crack is pitch-black, it’s impossible to see how deep it is.

They searched for so long, yet didn’t see a second similar crack at the lake bottom. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Changtian suddenly said: "It should be here."

Ning Xiaoxian was stunned: "What?"

He quickly replied: "Look at the shape of this crack; it’s definitely not naturally formed. From a high place looking down, isn’t it just like a longsword piercing the ground, creating a gap?"

"Indeed." She stretched her brows, "It really does look like it. But the crack is too wide, could the Nanming Lihuo Sword be so enormous?"

This time Gongshu Zhao interjected: "If its size couldn’t change according to the owner’s wishes, how could it be considered a Divine Artifact? The original owner of this sword must have been extremely tall, so the Nanming Lihuo Sword in their hand naturally would change to a size suitable for them to wield."

Her heart was hit like by a giant hammer, suddenly aching: "Are you saying... the Nanming Lihuo Sword really isn’t here anymore!"

Gongshu Zhao quickly said: "Do not let your imagination run wild. After the Divine Sword was thrown into the volcano, without the owner’s Divine Power to maintain it, it can only rely on earth energy to keep its substance from disappearing, it won’t maintain such a large form anymore, probably reverting to a size you and I can hold." He paused, "Meaning, it’s very likely below this crack."

"I..." She barely got one word out before being interrupted by a sudden anomaly around her.

The most severe earthquake they had experienced yet finally came upon them.

The depths of the lakebed seemed like massive plates colliding, pulling, emitting deep and terrifying ominous sounds, like a beast’s roar. The originally uneven lava ground at the lake bottom cracked open, resembling wrinkles on an elderly face. The lake water instantly rushed into these cracks, filling the entire lakebed with bubbles, nearly blocking everyone’s vision.

The rock layers beneath the lakebed cracked open.

Next step, the internal pressure at the volcano’s mouth will suddenly increase, and the entire lakebed will vanish, magma will erupt, and as the lake water vaporizes, flames reaching thousands of degrees will wrap around the lava, bursting forth. The anger of Wu Chi’er Mountain, calmed and suppressed for tens of thousands of years, is about to return to the world.

Such terrifying scenes truly shiver the spine at the mere thought. Whether cultivator or mortal, in the face of such Earth’s might, all are ants.

The Hidden Guards demonstrated high quality at this time, none showing panic on their faces. Qingluan glanced at Ning Xiaoxian, only to see a calm expression; she merely commanded: "All Hidden Guards evacuate outside the volcano, Qi Zai stays."

Qingluan was shocked, couldn’t resist crying out: "Lord Ning, you..."

"Go. Take them out!" Illuminated by the surrounding crocodile beasts, Ning Xiaoxian’s face appeared somewhat pale, she yelled sternly, "Don’t distract me here."

Once she ordered thus, none of the Hidden Guards dared to hesitate, floating up to the water surface, then riding magic artifacts, they flew out of the volcano’s mouth, quietly waiting in the air.

She transmitted to Qi Zai: "Wait here for me." Then steadied her mind, plunging headlong into the depths of the giant crack. Qi Zai lacked the Water-Repelling Pearl; he wasn’t as agile as her in water, the crack is only ten feet wide, his body too large, making him more cramped compared to her.

The surrounding water temperature suddenly soared, letting her know time is running short. Fortunately, they are in a lake, where the boiling point of water is maximally around one hundred degrees, and being at high altitude, the boiling point would be even lower. Now, the water temperature around her is roughly ninety degrees, already capable of cooking meat, but it poses no impact on her.

Using the Water-Repelling Pearl, she sank to the bottom like a cannonball.

Five meters, ten meters, twenty meters... suddenly the whole Wu Chi’er Mountain shook like sieving bran once more; the stone walls rushed toward her, nearly caught her off guard as she almost crashed into the stone wall, thankfully she reacted swiftly, clawing her fingers into the stone to secure herself.

Unlike the previous tremors, this one was too prolonged and overwhelming, making her feel as though the entire great mountain began to sway, seeming as if a Giant Strength was stirring within the rocks beneath her feet, roaring, eager to break free, yearning to regain freedom! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to cast a recommendation or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com); your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)