The two camps argued furiously in the live chat, neither able to convince the other.
Chen Siyao wasn't looking at the chat. She crouched in front of the formation plate, stared at the two little black-and-white flags for a long time, then looked up at Chen Hao. "Hao, is there really a Two-Yi Coiling Dragon Bagua Formation here?"
Chen Hao nodded. "Yes."
"Then..." Chen Siyao hesitated. "Are we still going to look? That Perfected One Zhuoting said not to tamper with the formation's core."
Chen Hao looked at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. He reached out and gently brushed the fabric of the little black flag. It quivered beneath his fingertips.
"Don't worry." His tone was calm. "That Flood Dragon isn't all that powerful. Besides, after all these years, it's grown stronger, but the formation hasn't changed. If it wants to get out, it can do so anytime."
The women all drew in sharp breaths.
Yang Wanqing hugged Moontrace tighter. "Anytime? Then why hasn't it come out?"
Chen Hao withdrew his hand and looked at the two little flags on the formation plate. "It doesn't want to. There's something down there that helps it cultivate."
Chen Siyao instinctively edged closer to Chen Hao.
Chen Hao placed his hand against the edge of the stone platform and gently pushed it backward.
The platform didn't move.
He pushed again, using a little more force this time. The stone platform gave a dull rumble, as though something had opened. The ground behind the altar table began to sink, revealing a flight of steps descending into pitch darkness, with no telling where they led.
Chen Siyao shone her phone into the opening. The darkness swallowed the flashlight beam, leaving the bottom out of sight.
"Hao..." Her voice trembled a little. "Are