Zhang Hao said to Ying Da and the others, "Let's go! The next target is the Mountain of Flames! After passing this Mountain of Flames, we'll reach Death Mountain. I think, this time we might really be able to take first place."
"Haha... Boss, it's really possible. This time we didn't delay too long at each stage, greatly reducing the time to reach Death Mountain." Dou Bi smiled slightly.
"Let's go!"
The group quickly headed towards the Mountain of Flames.
This Mountain of Flames was not the one from Journey to the West. Its slopes were steep and undulating, with jagged rocks. It was completely black, clearly showing signs of prolonged scorching.
"Dou Bi, is this the Mountain of Flames you mentioned?" Zhang Hao asked, looking at Dou Bi.
Dou Bi was stunned for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, "Mm, Boss, this is it. But it doesn't spew flames all the time. It's very strange here; as long as it senses a person's aura, the flames from underground seem to appear and then devour people!"
"So magical?"
Zhang Hao was a little surprised.
Just at this moment, a wild rabbit ran over from a distance, casually running across the Mountain of Flames.
Zhang Hao and the others stared at the wild rabbit without blinking, wanting to see if it could cross the Mountain of Flames. The rabbit's speed wasn't slow; in just over ten breaths, it had already covered a little less than half the distance, nearing the central part of the Mountain of Flames. But nothing happened at all. Just as Zhang Hao and the others thought the rabbit would be spared, suddenly, a ball of flame erupted from beneath the Mountain of Flames. The rabbit had no reaction at all and was instantly reduced to ashes.
"Hiss!"
Zhang Hao and the others couldn't help but gasp. They hadn't expected such a cute little rabbit to be killed by the flames just like that. It seemed there were indeed hidden dangers around this Mountain of Flames!
"What should we do?"
Dou Bi and the others had no ideas and just looked at Zhang Hao.
"Mm, no matter what, we must cross. I've observed that the flames from underground might be sensing the True Qi in Martial Warriors. As long as we carefully conceal our True Qi, we should not trigger the underground flames."
Although Zhang Hao said this, he actually had no confidence in his heart.
"Then let's go!" Dou Bi nodded with a serious expression.
Just as the few were preparing to set off, a figure appeared beside Zhang Hao and the others. This was a grey-clothed youth, around eighteen years old, precisely Xiao Kuang.
Zhang Hao had previously discovered many candidates over sixteen years old. At first, he was a bit puzzled, but later he saw it often enough not to find it strange. He learned from Dou Bi that the major, more reputable families in the Northern Region, such as the Xiao Family, the Li Family, or the Cai Family, had some recommendation spots. These recommendation spots allowed them to be exempt from the sixteen-year-old age limit. Of course, even with these recommendation spots, it didn't mean the age limit would be drastically relaxed; it was only relaxed appropriately. If someone was over eighteen, even with a recommendation spot, the Colleges would not admit him.
Zhang Hao understood that although the Colleges' assessments were supposedly fair, it was only relatively fair; absolute fairness did not exist.
Xiao Kuang glanced at Zhang Hao indifferently and was about to dart towards the Mountain of Flames.
"Brother Xiao, wait!"
Zhang Hao quickly shouted.
Xiao Kuang looked at Zhang Hao and frowned.
"Brother Xiao, the Mountain of Flames poses a great risk. Aren't you going to observe for a while before setting off?" Zhang Hao advised, looking at Xiao Kuang.
Zhang Hao still had a good impression of Xiao Kuang. Back in the jungle, when fighting against the Tree Demon King, Xiao Kuang also took the lead. Although he ultimately fled, that was when his life was in danger, which was understandable. He truly fought until the last moment. Although Zhang Hao had a conflict with Huo Xiu, the Vice Alliance Leader of the Seven Stars Alliance, this didn't have much to do with Xiao Kuang.
Xiao Kuang smiled slightly and said, "Observing again still means we have to cross it, so why be hesitant?"
Xiao Kuang was very confident, and even Zhang Hao was successfully spurred into competitiveness by him.
"Good, Brother Xiao is right. Since we must enter, why be hesitant?" Zhang Hao laughed heartily.
"Let's cross!"
Zhang Hao no longer hesitated and said to Dou Bi and the others.
Dou Bi was still a bit hesitant and said to Zhang Hao, "Boss, aren't you going to reconsider?"
"No need to consider, just try your best to conceal the True Qi in your body."
It was unclear if Xiao Kuang also knew about Zhang Hao's method, but he walked very slowly the whole way. Without using True Qi, his speed naturally wouldn't be fast.
Xiao Kuang glanced at Zhang Hao, saw that he had also brought people to follow, and revealed a smile, which counted as greeting him.
It was unknown if Zhang Hao and the others' method was indeed effective, but at least after walking one-tenth of the distance, no flames erupted from underground.
After successfully covering one-tenth of the distance, Zhang Hao and the others also became a bit happy. If the rest of the way went just as smoothly, that would be great. But just at this moment, a flame erupted from under Dou Bi's feet.
"Be careful!"
Zhang Hao was quick-witted and swift-handed, grabbing Dou Bi's body and pulling him away. A fire dragon shot up from the spot he had just been. Fortunately, Zhang Hao saved Dou Bi; otherwise, this fire dragon could have completely incinerated him.
Although Zhang Hao had only used the strength of his Physical Body just now, the surrounding fire dragons seemed to sense some aura and erupted wildly, sweeping towards where Zhang Hao and the others were.
Xiao Kuang was also implicated by Zhang Hao and the others; the surrounding fire dragons also surged towards him frantically.
Zhang Hao was in a bit of a frenzy at this moment. These underground flames were not ordinary mundane fire but core-earth fire, belonging to the category of earth fire. Zhang Hao and the others absolutely could not withstand them. They were just starting to emerge now; if it continued for long, more earth fire would surge out, and these people would be completely incinerated.
"Boss, there's a stone platform over there. It seems there are no flames around it. Let's go there and take shelter first," Dou Bi said, wiping the sweat from his body.
Zhang Hao focused his gaze and indeed found a black platform that seemed to be made of piled stones. It looked like it was over thirty square meters. It was unclear if these stones were fire-resistant, but there were no earth flames erupting around it. At this moment, this area was the only place not affected by the flames.
"Brother Xiao Kuang, let's go there first!"
Zhang Hao said to Xiao Kuang.
Xiao Kuang was also caught in the crossfire because of Zhang Hao and the others, so Zhang Hao also reminded him.
Xiao Kuang was currently in a bit of a mess, being hit by the earth fire. Although his combat strength was strong, he was helpless against the power of nature. Hearing Zhang Hao's words and seeing the platform area, his eyes lit up. He nodded and flew there first.
Zhang Hao and the others rushed onto the platform, finally getting some temporary respite.