At this moment, Ace stepped out of a red swirl before the swirl vanished within the space.

However, his concern was not the swirl but the terrifying heat that attacked him the moment he stepped out of that swirl.

'Is this the second level of the lower layer or the surface of some volcano?' Ace was shocked as he released more Qi to protect himself from the heat, as it was probably ten times more intense than the first level.

However, Ace was more shocked, seeing that he was literally standing on top of a red boulder that was in the middle of a lava river that streamed toward who knows where, like a raging water river.

'I need a high-grade armor that can defend against this strange heat, or I'll run out of Qi sooner or later at this rate, and I need to wear my robes as well.' Ace thought grimly as he finally decided to use armor from his thief's space.

He was refraining from taking out things from his thief's space because he didn't want to draw anyone's suspicion. He wasn't even wearing his favorite Deft Thief Robes in the Union because of obvious reasons.

However, now, he knew he couldn't hold on or move forward like this. So, he decided to bring out his actual treasures.

Now he had a very good excuse to lead the Union Leader in the wrong direction by simply saying these treasures were from SMSC as a gift for passing the test, just in case that guy was watching, which he was 80% sure that he won't.

The Union Scholar Robes instantly vanished from Ace's body, and instantly a black soft skin-tight armor appeared on his entire before the next moment, the Union Scholar Robes appeared over his body again. However, these new robes were his Deft Thief Robes in disguise, while the soft armor underneath was a high-grade-6 skin armor that was as soft as a feather and as tough as a mountain, and it also had a special effect that was it can block off heat and cold alike.

But Ace wasn't' done, as Another brown light armor set started to appear over his robes which covered all of his vital parts and even his face with a full helmet. This was also a high-grade six armor that focused on pure defense.

Now all that terrifying heat which seemed to affect the very being finally lessened by 95%, and Ace felt alive again.

"How much further are we from this layer's guardian zone?" Ace finally asked Moira after he was done dressing.

"We are actually at the very edge of the second layer, and the guardian zone is on the other side. It will take about fifteen to twenty hours to reach it if you avoid all those traps in the way." Moira stated.

"What about the other outsider? How far is it from the guardian zone?"

"Although it's moving in the right direction. But there are a few traps in its route, and if it has some way to escape them, then I'm sure you two might bump into each other just outside the guardian zone."

A sharp glint flashed past Ace's eyes, "Well, it would only take us fifteen to twenty hours by foot, and I'm clearly not planning to go on foot!"

The next moment, the Dark Feather Sword appeared right below Ace's feet, and almost instantly, he took flight and turned into a dark streak as he headed toward Guardian Zone.

However, Moira's hesitant voice rang, "Um… actually, it would've taken you over three days if you were going there on foot. I was telling you the time on the flight."

Ace's confident expression instantly turned dark as the flying sword under his feet trembled slightly. Still, he maintained his poker face and said nothing to save himself from further embarrassing himself.

'Since the clash is unavoidable, then it can't be helped any longer. I have an advantage over this person in that I know it is here and where it will be. So, I'll just be me and observe it first and then decide to weathered to avoid it or… eliminate it.' Ace thought with cold eyes as he flew over the crimson sky.

---

Somewhere in the second layer was a strange red mist spread as far as an eye could see.

At this moment, within this mist, a dark gray Qi sphere was moving. Within this Qi sphere, a tall cloaked figure was holding a bronze formation plate shimmering with black ancient ruins in its gloved hand.

Within this bronze, the formation plate was a pointing needle that was pointing straight ahead without moving.

The mysterious cloaked figure muttered with clear frustration present in its melodious voice, "I've been here for over eight months, and yet I have wasted so much time on the first level of this damnable realm.

"Although this ancient formation is leading me to the recorded location of the Law Source. But it is leading me in a straight line, leaving me to deal with all these annoying traps and aborigines.

"Furthermore, I never thought all those recorded trials in the ancient records were so cumbersome to overcome. Even with my past and present life experiences, I failed three times.

"And there is still one more such trial before I could get on the same level as the Ancient Law Source, and I only have around two months left before the realm will officially be opened from the site under the three races' control and then the 100 days countdown will start before this place closes for a hundred years again.

"Even with this hidden entrance discovered by the Ancient Beast Ancestor can only provide with extra ten months in this place before it will close off for a hundred years.

"I need to get that law source before the three race participants arrive. Since they had somehow reached the third level of the Fiery Hell Secret Realm last time, then this means they can do it again.

"My only advantage is they don't have an ancient location marker nor any guide since all of their people died the last time. Since time is pressing and I also need to head to the Azure Wind Continent to settle my score with that thievish brat, I can't hold back any longer!"

The very next momently, the cloaked figure suddenly started to contort before it expanded like a giant…