"Teacher, you were looking for me."
Only a few days later, informed by Hu Liena, Wang Zhong once again knocked on Ying Yanyang's office door.
"Yes, the simulated training environment I mentioned to you before has been approved."
Ying Yanyang stood up from behind his desk and walked to the door, looking at Wang Zhong with a hint of emotion.
To be valued by the Pope and have her consider taking him as a disciple, he had only encountered Wang Zhong in his many years of teaching.
"However, I need to confirm one thing with you now."
"Are you ready to enter it?"
To this, Wang Zhong lightly smiled and said, "Teacher, of course I am ready."
"Although the simulated training environment is very dangerous and not open to soul masters below level thirty, I have absolute confidence that I can cultivate within it."
Ying Yanyang nodded. He didn't refute Wang Zhong's words. After all, the simulated training environment was his suggestion to Wang Zhong, and as his homeroom teacher, he was well aware of whether the other party could cultivate within it.
The reason for asking this extra question was merely a normal procedure. Every student entering the simulated training environment for the first time would be asked this question.
"Come, follow me."
The two walked out of the teaching building and headed towards the deepest part of the school.
After passing through the teaching buildings, the grand competition square, and then a magnificent building, Wang Zhong's gaze lingered there for a moment.
The entire building was based on platinum and white as its main colors, with a simple and grand exterior. At the very top of the building, there was a statue of a woman identical to Qian Renxue's martial soul, reaching out to embrace the sky.
This building was where the Pope worked.
It was also the most important place in the entire academy. Even teachers like Ying Yanyang could only submit a request letter to the Pope for decisions that needed her approval. One could imagine how sacred and noble this place was.
"Although there is no one guarding it now, no one is allowed to enter without permission. Wang Zhong, don't go in casually out of curiosity."
Noticing Wang Zhong's gaze, Ying Yanyang reminded him.
"Teacher, I know."
Wang Zhong withdrew his gaze and followed Ying Yanyang attentively.
Passing through the building, Wang Zhong arrived at a spacious square similar to a grand hall. The square was paved with flat marble, and there was a small fountain in the center.
At the end of the square stood a tall and huge stone gate. On either side of the gate stood a magnificent figure clad in golden armor, holding a long halberd like a knight, guarding the place meticulously.
As Wang Zhong watched, Ying Yanyang stepped forward. In his hand appeared a token with the same pattern as the flag from the previous competition. After being inspected by the two knights, they both exerted their strength and slowly opened the giant stone gate behind them.
"Wang Zhong, go in."
"This is the entrance to the simulated training environment. Once inside, you can follow the instructions to find the most suitable training location for yourself."
Ying Yanyang moved aside and pointed to the opened gate, advising him.
Wang Zhong peeked into the gate. It was completely dark inside, and he couldn't see anything.
"Okay, Teacher."
Nodding in agreement, under Ying Yanyang's gaze, Wang Zhong's figure disappeared through the gate.
"I hope that when you come out again, you will give me unexpected surprises."
With these words, Ying Yanyang also turned and left. Only the two solemn knights remained in the empty square.
As soon as he stepped through the gate, light instantly filled Wang Zhong's vision. The sudden change from dark to bright made him squint his eyes for a moment.
After waiting for a while, his eyes had adapted to the brightness. What Wang Zhong saw reflected in his eyes was a forest that towered so high it was almost boundless.
A small path extended from his feet deep into the forest, as if it had no end.
Looking around, the surroundings were all covered by dense forest, impenetrable. There was only one direction to go, along the path under his feet.
"Does this mean I have to keep walking along the path?"
Wang Zhong stepped forward along the path. After walking for an unknown amount of time, a small path appeared on the left side of the path. Beside the path stood a stone tablet with the words "Swamp" written on it.
"This small path leads to a large swamp. This seems to be a simulated training ground for agility-type and earth-water element soul masters, right?"
Wang Zhong scratched his head, guessing.
"My martial soul is wood. A place that can improve my soul power cultivation should be a dense forest or a jungle, while a place that accelerates my soul power consumption is fire or lava."
"Condense soul power rapidly in the former place, and consume it in the latter place, thereby accelerating the progress of soul power cultivation."
"So, my destination is not here. It's still ahead."
With his mind made up, Wang Zhong continued forward. After passing several paths such as the Poisonous Mist Forest, Rocky Ground, Sand Dunes, Wind Valley, and Snow Cliff,
Wang Zhong stopped in front of a path called the Lava Land.
"This is it."
Wang Zhong nodded at the stone tablet in front of the path, confirming his destination.
"Let's go in and see what the so-called Lava Land looks like."
Following the path forward, Wang Zhong could clearly feel the heat in the air steadily increasing. He hadn't walked dozens of meters yet, but the incoming heat was so scorching that Wang Zhong started to sweat.
"We're only just approaching, and it's already this hot."
Wang Zhong fanned himself with his hand, exclaiming at the terrifying heat.
He walked up to a tree and examined it up and down. Looking at its still green leaves and tall trunk, he was a little curious.
Generally speaking, under such high temperatures, very few trees could survive. Even if they were lucky enough to survive, they should be withered and cracked.
But the trees here were very different. They looked so vibrant.
He gently placed his palm on the trunk, intending to examine the reason up close. But as soon as he touched it, he jumped back abruptly, shaking his hand and exclaiming,
"It's so hot, so hot!"
"Why is this tree trunk like a red-hot iron pot?"
Wang Zhong blew on his palm and carefully leaned forward to examine the trunk, his face contorted in pain. After a good while, he said with astonishment,
"This isn't a tree!!"
"This is rock formed by cooled and solidified magma, and someone has shaped it like a tree!"
"Moreover, inside the 'tree', magma is still flowing! It is because of this flow that such terrifying heat is generated."
"Hiss."
Wang Zhong took a deep breath of hot air, amazed by his discovery.
He also felt incredulous towards the person who did all this. This could not be simply described by strength; the person must also have mastered the fire and earth attributes to a masterful degree.
"I must be in the outer layer of the Lava Land now."
"Even the outer layer is like this, how astonishing will the inside be?"
A sense of curiosity instantly arose in his heart. Wang Zhong was quite interested in the scenery inside the Lava Land.