"This presents a problem. The heat from this lava is incredibly high. If we use ropes, won't they burn?"
"No, that's not the only issue we haven't considered. It's the soil. The lava's extreme temperature will dry out the soil, making it loose and prone to collapse."
"Exactly, that's what's about to happen."
...
While the netizens were discussing, the ground near the lava began to collapse.
Large amounts of soil fell into the lava, splashing some of it out.
"Elder Tang, what do we do? There's no exit behind us!"
Professor Lin looked nervously at the scene unfolding before him, especially as the lava crept closer. His heart chilled, not out of fear for his own life, but for the children who might perish here.
"Find an exit immediately! Quickly check for any hidden doors or passages."
Elder Tang tried to remain calm, but having explored many tombs before, he knew that many rulers would construct secret entrances. Now, their only hope was to search diligently. However, the most worrying sight was Zhou Lin, who was staring intently at the lava, lost in thought.
The Taoist priest, the Wolf King, the historian, and the biologist watched this scene unfold, their hearts filled with anxiety.
"Mr. Zhou Lin... you should leave immediately."
The historian looked at Zhou Lin. Behind him, there was still a door; there was no need for him to wait for death with them.
Just then—
The ground began to collapse again, and the speed and scale were even greater than before.
Elder Tang, Professor Lin, and the others saw this and their faces changed instantly, their worry turning to panic.
"Damn it, fall back! Quickly!"
The captain, seeing this, hurriedly shielded the archaeological team and the participants behind him, shouting anxiously as the relentless lava advanced.
Zhou Lin heard a noise from behind him and saw that the stone cave, which had previously had a door, was now blocked by something. The gold and jewels on the ground had already fallen into the lava, turning into molten gold and vanishing instantly.
Zhou Lin felt a deep sense of unease. Even the formidable Emperor Zulong, with his powerful sorcerers, wouldn't have been able to manipulate lava or cause the earth to crack. They wouldn't possess such abilities. Something was wrong...
From the forest they entered earlier... to the sand and snow they encountered, and the gold...
Could it be...
The Five Elements Array?
So this is the fire...
Zhou Lin was inwardly shocked.
To prevent tomb raiding, Zulong had resorted to such a sinister formation, pushing them to their deaths. Now, the exit was blocked. Soon, this cave would be submerged by lava, and everyone would perish here.
Boom...
The ground collapsed in many places again, and the lava began to rise.
Previously, the lava had been over ten meters below, in the fissures, but now it had risen to five meters, and it was still slowly ascending. The pace was rapid, and with the ground constantly falling, the lava's intensity increased.
Elder Tang, Professor Lin, the Wolf King, the historian, the biologist, and the building champion, along with the others, found themselves pressed against the wall, watching the scene. They had nowhere left to retreat. The students who had just regained consciousness, who had previously feared being crushed by gold, now realized...
They would have been better off being crushed to death; at least they would have had intact bodies. Now, they would be charred corpses, or perhaps, no corpses at all. Some of the more timid students began to feel a burning sensation on their faces as the heat intensified. This sensation was a warning of death, filling them with dread and tension.
"Professor... I don't want to die in here. Think of something!"
One student, tears streaming down his face, pleaded.
"Professor, what do we do? I don't want to die here. I'm still young, I can't die here. Save us!"
"Professor, I don't want to die!"
Facing the precipice of death, all they felt was fear and trepidation.
Professor Lin and Elder Tang also felt tormented, watching the scene. Who wasn't afraid of death? But seeing this situation, their hearts ached.
"We'll be alright. You have to believe in Zhou Lin. After all, Zhou Lin is on the other side."
Professor Lin had little hope left and could only offer words of comfort.
Hearing this, everyone quickly looked at Zhou Lin, who was still staring at the lava, lost in thought.
The Wolf King and the Taoist priest exchanged glances, neither speaking. They had lost hope in Zhou Lin. This was the wrath of nature; who could possibly resolve it? Although they were prepared to die, they still felt a pang of regret.
The historian, the biologist, and the building champion all managed bitter smiles as they watched.
The netizens, who were following everything, saw the despair emanating from the professors and participants and felt a deep sense of unease.
"Damn it, why do I feel like crying?"
"Don't just say you do, I feel like crying too. Are we just going to watch them die in there?"
"What else can we do? Big shots are still human, after all. Who can contend with nature? That's a joke, isn't it?"
"But what is Big Shot looking at? Why is he staring at the lava?"
"Yeah, is there still hope? No way, it's this late, and the door behind them is blocked. It shouldn't be, right?"
"But Big Shot's expression is strange. It doesn't look like fear, more like... contemplation, and a hint of difficulty."
"Difficulty with what? When we fall in later, what pose should we strike?"
"..."
The dean and other professors who were monitoring the archaeological team's situation looked at Elder Tang and the others with sorrow. Could this tomb remain unconquered? Did all their deceased colleagues die in vain? Was this the history of Daxia, to be watched from afar but never touched? It was right before their eyes, so close...
"Dean, we have to think of something. We can't just watch Elder Tang and the students die here."
One professor said, his eyes red. He couldn't bear to see it. These were the hopes of the archaeological team.
"No, the rescue team can't get through. Even if they did, they..."