99: Boiling Sea Lake

After dealing with the three Azurewood Dragon Lizards, Senior Ning led the team forward.

Because this forest was on the edge of the island, there weren't many monsters.

Often, they would walk over a hundred meters before encountering a few.

And Senior Ning and their main goal was not to hunt monsters on the island; their focus was still on finding the Dragon Island Instance.

Along the way, they dealt with at least a dozen more giant lizard monsters.

Song Ming didn't make a move; there was simply no need for him to.

Firstly, the number of monsters encountered was too small.

Secondly, the monsters' Rank never exceeded Rank 60, which was too weak for him; Senior Ning and her team could handle them.

An hour later.

They walked out of the dense black forest.

Song Ming looked at the boundless crimson plain ahead and pondered for a moment.

Since they were looking for the Dragon Island Instance.

It was highly unlikely to be found in the peripheral areas.

Only by going deeper.

Places where monsters gathered were very likely to contain the Dragon Island Instance.

Song Ming then said to Senior Ning, "Senior Ning, I suggest we go to where the monsters gather; the Dragon Island Instance is very likely to be there."

He voiced his speculation, and the team members were somewhat puzzled.

Such places were usually more dangerous; what if they didn't find the dungeon and instead put themselves in danger?

Guo Jun scoffed and said without hesitation, "Song Ming, are you trying to get us killed? How could the Dragon Island Instance be in such a dangerous place?"

"I, on the other hand, think the Dragon Island Instance is hidden somewhere on the edge; with so many teams, we're sure to find it!"

"Why should we listen to you and venture into the depths!"

Although Guo Jun was deliberately trying to provoke Song Ming, everyone felt that what he said made some sense.

They had no need to take that risk.

Song Ming, however, gave Guo Jun a cold look and said bluntly, "You really are an idiot!"

"You..."

Guo Jun immediately flew into a rage; if not for the others holding him back, he would have already cast an ice bullet spell at Song Ming.

Senior Ning coughed a few times and intervened, "Alright, Junior Brother Song Ming, why don't you state your opinion!"

"I was just about to say it, but I was interrupted by a certain idiot," Song Ming said indifferently.

However, this single sentence pushed Guo Jun to the brink of explosion.

His eyes were red, staring intently at Song Ming, ready to erupt at any moment.

Since entering Divine Xia Academy, no one had ever dared to openly call him an idiot.

He had always been referred to as a Genius by others, so he naturally couldn't tolerate any words that slandered him.

Song Ming, however, was not afraid in the slightest; he was merely a clown, incapable of causing any trouble for him.

It was only because of Divine Xia Academy's motto; otherwise, he would have already dealt with this Guo Jun.

"The reason I said that earlier is simple."

"Anyone knows that dungeon entrances are very conspicuous; even at night, their glowing light can be clearly seen from dozens of miles away."

"If the Dragon Island Instance was, as you said, in the peripheral area, it should have been found long ago."

"But all the teams have spread out, and not a single one has found anything."

"Therefore, I am more inclined to believe that the Dragon Island Instance is in the deeper central area, hidden by terrain or monsters!"

After Song Ming finished speaking, he looked at Senior Ning and the others.

They lowered their heads and thought for a moment, immediately feeling that Song Ming's words made more sense.

After all, if the Dragon Island Instance was really that easy to find, it wouldn't have been designated as a trial mission.

And finding the Dragon Island Instance was only the first part of completing the mission.

Senior Ning nodded, "Junior Brother, what you said makes a lot of sense."

Song Ming smiled, "Senior Ning, you should know something about this Forbidden Dragon Island; do you know where on this island the most monsters are?"

He said this not just to find the Dragon Island Instance.

More importantly, it was to farm monsters for experience and quickly level up.

After all, every monster here was above Rank 50, so his leveling speed would definitely not be slow.

Of course, the prerequisite was not to team up with someone like Guo Jun.

Otherwise, if he had to share the experience he worked hard to earn, that would truly be insane.

Senior Ning had already done some research before coming to these Trial Grounds.

She had also spent credit to find some information about Forbidden Dragon Island in the library.

She recalled briefly and then said, "Almost all creatures on Forbidden Dragon Island possess Dragon Bloodline, with only differences in quantity."

"The two most dangerous places on the island should be Thunderbolt Canyon and Boiling Sea Lake!"

"There are Dragons in both of these places."

"Every adult Dragon has a Rank no lower than Rank 100; they are extremely dangerous creatures, and our small team is no match for them."

Song Ming's eyes lit up upon hearing this; teaming up with Senior Ning was indeed the right choice.

This was his first time in these Trial Grounds, and he didn't even have a map.

Senior Ning had clearly done her homework; with her, his monster farming plan could finally proceed smoothly.

"Which of these two places is closer to us?" Song Ming asked, somewhat impatiently.

Senior Ning said, "Our current location is the edge of the black forest; Boiling Sea Lake is closer to us, just head through this crimson plain in the one o'clock direction!"

Song Ming nodded, then took the lead and walked towards the front right.

The other members of the team exchanged glances; although what he said made a lot of sense, that place was very dangerous.

A Rank 100 Dragon could not be taken down by fewer than three teams.

They were actually unwilling to take the risk.

Senior Ning, however, spoke up, "Alright, everyone, keep up! If another academy gets there first, wouldn't our trip be for nothing!"

Everyone gritted their teeth and then followed.

Guo Jun's face was unpredictable, and he was very unhappy.

Song Ming was just a callow freshman, yet now he was subtly becoming the team's leader.

This was unacceptable to him.

But since the captain hadn't said anything, he had to temporarily swallow his anger and follow the team towards Boiling Sea Lake.

Another hour passed.

They arrived near Boiling Sea Lake and temporarily hid.

Because of the presence of a blessing master, their travel speed was still very fast.

And they avoided several fire lizard monster dens along the way.

If a battle could be avoided, it was avoided, to preserve the team's strength.

After all, Boiling Sea Lake was a very dangerous place, with numerous monsters and all of them very high Rank.

Song Ming hid behind a withered old tree, looking at a giant lake nearly a hundred miles ahead.

According to Senior Ning, this giant lake connected to the outer sea.

There were also Dragons at the bottom of the lake.

The lake water was sea blue, with boiling bubbles constantly emerging from its center.

Even from a distance, Song Ming could feel a scorching heat wave coming towards him, and by the lake, he could see many creatures resembling lizards, yet also like Dragons, resting on the rocks.

Seeing this, his heart filled with joy.

It seemed he had indeed come to the right place; even without the Dragon Island Instance, this large number of monsters would allow him to return with a full harvest!