At this moment, Leo had a suspicion that made his heart race with excitement.
After the snake statue disappeared, an entrance to a lower level appeared where the statue once stood.
After probing with his Divine Awareness, Leo thought for a moment and then turned to Sophia. “Sophia, come here.”
Sophia walked over to him, using her phone’s light to illuminate the way. She saw the entrance and asked curiously, “Why is there another downward entrance?”
“Since we’re here, let’s keep going. Are you afraid?”
“With you here, I’m not afraid!” Sophia said firmly, holding Leo’s hand.
“Then let’s continue.”
The entrance was spacious, with stairs leading directly down. Leo held Sophia’s hand as they slowly descended.
It was rumored that the Imperial Palace was built on a Dragon Vein. Now it seemed that might be true.
If they could reach the Dragon Vein beneath the Imperial Palace, this trip would be worthwhile.
Soon, they reached the bottom of the stairs.
At the end was another passageway, but it was short. In just a minute or two, they emerged from the passage.
They entered another stone chamber.
This chamber was almost identical to the previous one, but the statue in the center was not a giant snake; it was a dragon.
No, not exactly a dragon. It had no dragon horns. It was a greenish-blue flood dragon, coiled and poised to strike!
A flood dragon is a serpent beast with dragon blood, one of the species that evolves towards becoming a true dragon. It possesses powerful strength second only to true dragons.
In Atraria legends, dragons are mystical creatures capable of transformation, controlling clouds and rain, benefiting all living things. They are the leaders of all scaled creatures and the foremost of the four sacred animals.
Dragons symbolize divine royal authority and the power to rule over the seas.
However, most flood dragons are known for causing storms and flooding lands, hence often called evil flood dragons.
In Atraria mythology, flood dragons are often depicted negatively.
Just like before, Leo used Talismans to protect Sophia and had her stand by the wall while he slowly approached the flood dragon statue.
Having experienced the previous encounter, Leo was very cautious with each step.
But even when he got within three meters of the flood dragon statue, there was no attack.
Leo repeated his earlier tactic, taking out a Talisman and using it.
After the blinding white light faded, Leo was frustrated to see that the flood dragon statue still stood intact in the center of the chamber, unlike the snake statue which had disappeared.
Leo tried to get a little closer to the flood dragon statue. The anticipated attack did not occur.
A bit closer…
Until Leo was half a meter away from the flood dragon statue, there was no danger.
Looking at the statue within reach, Leo was puzzled. Could this be the end of the underground path?
At that moment, Sophia couldn’t help but walk over.
Under the phone’s flashlight, the surface of the flood dragon statue appeared a bluish-gray color, making it look quite unreal.
“What’s wrong?” Sophia asked softly.
“This statue is strange. There should be another entrance to a lower level, but I can’t find it.”
Being under the Imperial Palace, this flood dragon statue should be considered an artifact. Otherwise, Leo would have wanted to destroy it.
Sophia shone her phone’s light upwards and suddenly exclaimed, “Look at the flood dragon’s eyes!”
Leo quickly looked up and saw that the flood dragon statue’s eyes were open!
He had carefully examined it with his Divine Awareness earlier and clearly remembered that its eyes were closed.
A statue is an inanimate object; how could its eyes open?
Moreover, these opened eyes looked like those of a live lizard, with pupils narrowed into slits, coldly watching them with its head slightly lowered.
Staring into the flood dragon statue’s eyes, Leo felt his mind becoming uncontrollably dazed.
Sophia’s eyes once again showed that same dreamy look from before. She stepped forward, extended her left hand with fingers spread wide, and touched the flood dragon statue.
The bluish-gray sheen on the flood dragon statue immediately vanished. A mysterious wave emanated from it.
Leo and Sophia both felt a jolt in their minds as a scene unfolded in their heads.
In ancient times, northeast of the capital was a mountain called Mount Mist.
Under Mount Mist was a lake named Lake Cloud.
Lake Cloud was guarded by “flood dragon,” the third prince of the East Sea Dragon King.
The flood dragon was not only the Dragon King’s son but also a “little deity” who answered the prayers of common people.