"What in the world is going on? Why is it so hot tonight!"
Dai Xiaomei was sweating profusely, fanning herself frantically with a banana leaf.
"Could the outside temperature have risen?"
Zhou Niannian guessed.
Jiang Fan initially didn't want to reveal the truth, but it seemed he had no choice.
"We are at the bottom of a volcano. Any rise in the outside temperature will have a minimal effect on us."
"There's only one possibility for the sudden increase in temperature."
"This long-dormant volcano is about to erupt."
Jiang Fan's words instantly cast a heavy atmosphere.
Silence fell all around, so profound that the drop of a needle could be heard.
Zhou Niannian's expression was unreadable, a mix of tears and a strained smile.
She felt like fate was toying with them. This volcano might not have erupted for centuries, yet it chose to erupt the moment they entered.
Dai Xiaomei's eyes welled up with tears, on the verge of crying.
A volcanic eruption would fill the internal caves with lava.
At that point, even if they survived the death flies, they would be roasted by the volcano.
"Why don't we just go back the way we came!"
Zhou Niannian proposed.
Jiang Fan shook his head. Returning the way they came was not an option, time was too short.
Besides, they had brought the ropes down. Jiang Fan still needed to climb up and prepare the tools to get everyone out.
Moreover, what would happen even if they got out? They would still face a desperate situation of no water and no food.
"Don't waste any more time. Let's split up and search for an exit, and everyone, prepare a torch!"
"These insects are afraid of fire. If the death flies charge, use the torches to drive them back."
"The volcanic eruption shouldn't be immediate; we still have time."
After speaking, Jiang Fan glanced at the rock walls outside the oasis. Countless small dots had appeared on the walls, as if black mist was surging towards them from all directions.
The damage to the rock walls indicated that it wouldn't be long before the black mist orbs inside broke through and attacked.
"I... I'll go find an exit."
Dai Xiaomei shivered as she got up, but before she could take a step, she tripped and fell face-first.
"Don't panic. When true crisis arrives, panic is utterly useless."
"The calmer you face it, the higher your chances of survival."
Jiang Fan comforted Dai Xiaomei and Zhou Niannian, then stood up, ready to search for an exit.
The green-furred sea bristles lizards, which had been following Jiang Fan, seemed to consider him their leader.
They carried several bamboo poles, from which hung strings of dried fish, and also a fishing net, looking quite comical.
"Why are you following me? Go find your own way to survive."
Jiang Fan said irritably. This was a matter of life and death; who had the mood to take care of a few lizards?
One of the green-furred sea bristles lizards tugged at Jiang Fan's clothes and pointed towards the river.
Jiang Fan stared at the lizard. The lizard tugged harder, as if urging Jiang Fan to follow it.
Could this clumsy lizard know something? A thought flashed through Jiang Fan's mind, and he followed the lizard to a spot by the river.
In the middle of the river, there was a stone pier with an iron chain that extended directly into the water.
The green-furred sea bristles lizard pointed at the chain and hissed repeatedly.
Jiang Fan's heart stirred. He picked up the chain and tested its weight. It was clear something was attached to the other end.
The green-furred sea bristles lizards all dived into the water, gesturing for Jiang Fan to follow.
Jiang Fan pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, grabbed the chain, and dived into the water.
Guinness World Record for freediving was twenty-six minutes and thirty-eight seconds. Jiang Fan could easily surpass that.
The other end of the chain was buried in the mud at the riverbed.
The green-furred sea bristles lizards gathered around the mud and began digging frantically. It seemed the other end of the chain held a secret.
Jiang Fan couldn't help but laugh and cry. If they knew there was a secret at the end of the chain, they should have started digging earlier.
It showed how lazy these lizards were, only doing strenuous work when absolutely necessary.
Jiang Fan thought for a moment, then swam back to the surface and signaled to everyone.
Soon, everyone gathered around Jiang Fan.
"Whoa, what is that?"
Zhou Niannian also noticed the strange stone pier.
"Yao, Panda, accompany me into the water. Let's dig up the mud!"
Jiang Fan instructed Yao and Panda, holding an entrenching tool in his hand.
With tools, digging up the mud would be twice as effective.
Once in the water, Yao skillfully followed behind Jiang Fan, while Panda sank like a stone, making gurgling sounds.
It turned out Panda was afraid of water.
Zhou Niannian and Dai Xiaomei quickly pulled Panda out.
Using his entrenching tool, and Yao with his stone axe, they quickly cleared away the mud.
What appeared before them was a huge hole.
The other end of the chain was connected to a massive plug that sealed the hole.
Jiang Fan's eyes lit up. This could be an escape route.
The problem was, how to pull out the plug?
The plug hadn't been moved in a long time and was rusted.
Jiang Fan tried to push the plug and heard a creaking sound.
This indicated a threaded structure inside, and by turning it in the opposite direction, there was a chance to open the plug.
Several green-furred sea bristles lizards also came to help Jiang Fan push.
However, despite their utmost strength, the plug barely budged.
Jiang Fan thought for a moment, then swam back to the surface and instructed Dai Xiaomei to keep an eye on the death flies.
He then took out all the oil refined from pigs and rabbits from their luggage and looked at Panda.
Panda, who had sunk like a stone earlier and was now a drenched mess, was sitting nearby, whimpering.
"Gungun, it's said that the Wind Master and Rain Master aided your master back then, summoning a torrential flood. Chi You rode on you, fighting the Yellow Emperor and Yan Emperor in the flood, is that true?"
Jiang Fan brought up a topic Panda loved to hear.
Panda immediately became proud, nodding vigorously.
"Yes, you weren't afraid of the torrential flood back then, how could you be afraid of a small river!"
"Have you gotten old..."
Jiang Fan deliberately used provocation to stimulate Panda. As expected, upon hearing this, Panda suddenly stood up, puffed out its chest with a roar, and extended five fingers towards Jiang Fan.
"You're five years old? Then to prove you're still as mighty as before, hurry up and go into the water with me to open the plug!"
With that, Jiang Fan leaped into the water like a fish.
A moment later, with a splash, Panda, unable to resist the provocation, indeed dived into the water.
Although its landing was not graceful, like a falling stone, it could at least contribute to the team.
It had to be said that Panda's strength was immense. With Panda's assistance, the plug began to move.
Just then, Jiang Fan heard Dai Xiaomei's ear-splitting scream.
"Oh no, help!"