The Voyager sailed at full speed for about an hour in the indicated direction.
At first, the sea was calm and the Yangguang was gentle.
But gradually, subtle changes began to emerge.
First, the constant salty and humid air was mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible, dry smell, similar to sulfur and hot rocks.
Then, everyone clearly felt the surrounding temperature gradually rising. The metal railings on the deck were no longer cold to the touch, and the sea breeze blowing on their faces carried a distinct warmth, even a sweltering heat.
At the edge of the horizon, on the azure dividing line that was once purely composed of the sea and the sky, an inconspicuous black dot quietly emerges.
As the distance closed, the black dot rapidly expanded and rose, its outline gradually becoming clearer. It was not an island, but a mountain peak that stood abruptly amidst the vast blue waves.
The mountain is dark, steep and rugged, exuding a silent and majestic aura.
The closer you get, the more noticeable the temperature rise becomes.
The air began to distort slightly, and the distant scenery rippled like water.
Kong Xuan at the bow of the ship, feeling the increasingly active fire-elemental energy in the air. He turned to face the crowd gathered behind him, his voice clear and resolute.
"There should be an underwater volcano ahead, and it's currently active."
"More importantly, the influence of the God of Love Pearl here has reached its peak. Without a doubt, this is the place where the Fire God Inheritance, and it is also our final destination: ' Fire God Mountain '!"
Fire God Mountain!
The crowd repeated the name in hushed tones, exchanging glances, a mix of excitement, nervousness, and eagerness filling the air.
After some time, the Voyager finally came to a stop on the sea about a few miles away from Fire God Mountain.
At this distance, one can clearly feel the surging heat waves emanating from the mountains; the seawater here becomes noticeably scalding hot, with wisps of steam rising into the air.
The black rocks were bare, devoid of any vegetation, with only dark red veins appearing and disappearing on the surface of the mountain like blood vessels, making the entire mountain seem like a sleeping, fiery behemoth.
"We cannot get any closer. The seabed geology here is extremely unstable, and the water temperature is high enough to damage the ship."
Captain Luo Yuan walked over to the group and said, "Gentlemen, this is as far as I can take you."
Kong Xuan nodded and said to Luo Yuan, "Thank you for your help, Captain. We'll be landing on the island now."
Having said that, he took the lead and leaped into the air, his Flying Soul Tool unfolding as he took flight.
The others followed suit, rushing towards Fire God Mountain following behind Kong Xuan.
The group quickly flew over Fire God Mountain. Even with their Soul Power protecting them, their skin still felt a burning pain.
From above, the dark red magma inside the massive crater at the summit churns slowly like viscous blood, occasionally bubbling up with a huge bubble.
Sweat soaked everyone's clothes almost instantly, then evaporated quickly in the scorching heat, leaving only itchy salt stains.
Breathing became difficult; with each inhale, the scalding air burned through my nasal cavity and throat.
Gu Yuena frowned slightly, and with a gentle wave of her slender hand, several crystal-clear ice crystals condensed out of thin air and swirled around the group.
The ice crystals emitted a chilling aura, temporarily dispelling the suffocating heat.
However, amidst this ever-rising heatwave, the ice crystals, like snowflakes thrown into a furnace, are melting rapidly at a visible speed, with hissing white steam constantly rising from their surfaces.
"As expected of the place where the Fire God fell." Gu Yuena's clear, cold voice rang out, tinged with a hint of solemnity. "The fire attribute here has reached its peak, forming a natural domain that strongly suppresses other elemental forces."
Xu Wei wiped his forehead, which seemed perpetually damp, and panted, "If it's this unbearable up there, won't it melt people down here? We probably won't last much longer here."
The light from Xiao Hongchen Hongchen's Soul Tool Shield flickered as he stared at the churning magma below. Though his eyes held apprehension, they were filled with an even greater burning desire. "The inheritance of a god is not easily given away. This intense heat is probably just the first hurdle."
Kong Xuan heard all the conversations and worries of the crowd.
But he did not respond immediately; instead, he completely relinquished his senses.
Sight, hearing, smell... and Divine Power spread like countless invisible tentacles toward the Fire God Mountain below and even the surrounding space that was scorching and distorted.
He is searching for the true location of the land of inheritance!
Kong Xuan slowly withdrew his gaze from below and returned it to the faces that were flushed red from the heat.
His voice rang out clearly. "The entrance to the Land of Inheritance is not elsewhere, but right here in this volcano."
"What?!"
Everyone was shocked upon hearing this, almost unable to believe their ears.
Subconsciously, all eyes turned downwards again. Inside the massive crater, a hundred meters in diameter and resembling the eye of hell, viscous, dark red magma slowly writhed, bulged, and cracked like the entrails of a giant beast...
Everyone involuntarily swallowed, instinctively feeling fear.
Kong Ling's voice trembled slightly with disbelief. "Brother... are you sure? Down below... is a real sea of lava!"
Kong Xuan met the surprised and suspicious gazes of his sister and the others, his expression remaining unwavering, but instead becoming even more solemn.
He pointed to the churning crimson below. "To be more precise, the entrance is beneath this magma. Only by passing through this sea of lava can one reach the true site of the Fire God Inheritance."
No one doubted Kong Xuan's judgment, and it was precisely because of this that an almost desperate solemnity choked everyone's breath.
Xu Tianyi frowned, gazing at the crimson mass devouring the light below, his voice hoarse. "This level of heat... even a level nine protective Soul Tool probably couldn't withstand it for long."
A silence, like an invisible boulder, weighed heavily on my heart. After a long and arduous journey to this place, the inheritance seemed within reach, yet it was blocked by an insurmountable furnace of heaven and earth.
The disappointment of gaining and then losing quickly cooled the excitement, turning it into an indescribable sense of frustration and powerlessness.
However, just when this hope seemed to have frozen...
A gentle radiance suddenly shot out, and the God of Love Pearl, which had been put away, appeared on its own, hovering quietly in front of everyone.
The bead trembled slightly, and the normally flowing gold and silver light within it suddenly became turbulent, like a flood that had found a breach, rushing out from the bead!
What's even more strange is that the golden and silver lake water was completely unaffected by the surrounding Destruction heat, and did not evaporate at all.
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the gold and silver waters rapidly spread and intertwined, eventually forming a huge, transparent water dome that enveloped everyone.
The cover ripples gently like water, with fine gold and silver patterns flowing across its surface, pulsating as if Life.
Just as the water shield closed.
"Buzz..."
A refreshing coolness quietly spread out, completely shutting out the terrifying heat wave that was so pervasive and seemed to burn even the soul!
Everyone felt a lightness all over their bodies, the burning and stinging sensation on their skin quickly subsided, their breathing became smooth, and even the Soul Power that had been rapidly depleted in their bodies due to resisting the high temperature seemed to have calmed down.