In the secret passage...
Lu Chao immediately said, "Brother Chang, you all go ahead. I'll stay and see if Commander Ke can break through the stone slab of this passage."
Before entering the passage, he had seen Commander Ke emerge from the barrier.
In the Illusory Battlefield on the 9th Floor, Lu Chao hadn't managed to put much distance between himself and Commander Ke.
He had no idea if Commander Ke had seen them enter the secret passage. Moreover, Lu Chao didn't know if the stone slab could withstand an assault from someone above the Creation Level like Commander Ke.
He had to make sure first.
If the slab couldn't hold, Lu Chao would have to try and collapse the entire passage.
And so, Chang Yuan continued onward, still carrying his son, while Le Chun followed with a semi-conscious Cheng Yunsu in her arms.
Lu Chao, however, remained where he was, his eyes fixed on the stone slab...
Time trickled by. Suddenly... BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
