After Wei Tingzhi and Daoist Feng entered the ark through their Visualization Diagrams, they looked around and saw that the inner walls of the vessel were the color of golden bronze, engraved with elegant, archaic cloud-and-thunder patterns and studded with neatly arranged golden pearls. Their brilliant gleam made the inside of the ark as bright as day.
Vermilion pillars stood throughout the spacious hull, while the floor was formed of wave-like cloud paths, making it resemble a deep and sprawling Daoist palace.
Yet apart from these, the surroundings were utterly bare, without a single furnishing. After a few glances, the two men passed it over.
Each released a strand of aura to probe the vessel. After inspecting it from end to end, they found no issues with the belly or stern of the ark. Only the prow was obstructed. If anyone was here, they were most likely hiding there, so the two headed together toward the bow.
When they reached their destination, they found the prow separated off by a dark bronze wall, upon which was carved an archaic image of a Taotie.
Wei Tingzhi studied it for a while and discerned how to open the door.
He reached out and pressed his hand against it, slowly channeling mana into the Taotie image. The patterns lit up one by one in a different sequence. Once the entire image was bathed in light, a hollow sound rang out, like bamboo striking stone. The door rolled aside, revealing the space within.
The two walked inside. Though they touched nothing, as their auras connected, the hanging tiles on the doorway gave off clear, tinkling chimes.
Neither paid this any heed. They had entered openly and had made no attempt to conceal themselves.
At the center of the cabin was a large circular pit.