Lin Ming's clear voice still lingered in the main hall, and before it could completely dissipate, a sudden change occurred!
Before he finished speaking, something ancient and noble seemed to be suddenly awakened beneath the skin between his brows! Immediately, a dazzling, majestic purple-gold light burst forth without warning!
That light was not a simple leakage of energy; it was pure, noble, and carried an ancient rhythm as if from the primordial chaos. Like a miniature, purplish-gold sun born from Chaos, it instantly became the absolute core of the entire main hall, and even the entire energy perception range of East Dragon Island, attracting all existence. Whether Soul Perception, it was the focal point!
Then, under the gaze of countless shocked eyes, a strange scale, about the size of a palm, with a deep, noble purple-gold luster flowing throughout, slowly emerged from the brightest point between his eyebrows.
This scale armor is perfectly shaped, with wisps of primordial Chaos flowing around its edges. Its surface is naturally imprinted with countless complex and mysterious dragon-shaped patterns, which seem to writhe and combine on their own, revealing the ultimate secrets of space and power. Just gazing at it is enough to make one feel a sting and insignificance in one's soul.
It is none other than the supreme Sacred Artifact of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan — the Dragon Emperor's Inverse Scale!
The moment the Reverse Scale completely detached from Lin Ming's brow and fully manifested in this space—
"Roar--!!!"
A mighty dragon roar, not transmitted through the air, but exploding directly from the depths of the Soul Origin all beings possessing the Ancient Void Dragon Bloodline, suddenly erupted!
This roar seemed to traverse Eternal Space-Time, originating from the ancient era when the Ancient Void Dragon ruled the universe. It carried the supreme majesty of ruling the world and commanding all dragons, along with a trace of Reverse Scale rage from having their provocations violated. Instantly, it swept over the minds of every member of the Ancient Dragon Clan present!
At the same time, the purple-gold Reverse Scale light surged again, like a bursting dam of a galaxy. The surging light rapidly gathered and solidified behind Lin Ming, eventually transforming into an enormous purple-gold Giant Dragon phantom that almost filled the entire dome of the main hall!
Although the phantom was somewhat blurry and the specific details of its scales and claws were unclear, its posture of perched in the void and looking down upon all living beings, its indifferent dragon eyes that were as bright as the sun and moon and contained endless power and will, and its pervasive, heavy, and tangible aura that made the space groan and all dragons lie dormant were real, vast as the Star Sea, and unfathomable!
The Dragon Emperor Pressure was unleashed without reservation!
"Buzz!"
The first to bear the brunt were the Great Elder and the Second Elder, who were closest and the most powerful!
Even though they were Two-Star Dou Saint standing at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent, having already transcended the ordinary and mastered the rules, they instantly felt unprecedented pressure in the face of this emperor's aura, which was pure to the extreme, originated from the source of their bloodline, and surpassed all Dragon Clan!
The feeling was like a mortal suddenly carrying a mountain, or a deep-sea fish being thrown into the endless void. The absolute difference in their Life Level and bloodline origin made the dragon blood that surged like a river in their bodies seem to freeze instantly. The mighty Dou Qi in their bodies, which was powerful enough to overturn rivers and seas, was like being trapped in an invisible swamp, and its circulation became more sluggish and difficult than ever before!
The two men's expressions changed drastically at the same time! The Great Elder's withered body suddenly straightened up, and his previously cloudy eyes now shone brightly, filled with indescribable shock and an almost pilgrimage-like excitement. The space around him twisted violently, forming circles of silver spatial ripples, as he struggled to resist the urge to submit that came from the depths of his soul.
The Second Elder clenched his teeth, his face, which Ice-Sealed for millennia, twitched slightly, and fine, cold beads of sweat appeared on his forehead from the extreme confrontation. He exuded an aura as hard as a fortress of Mysterious Iron, but under the impact of the Dragon Emperor Pressure, that aura was constantly emitting a faint, metallic "creaking" sound. His eyes were filled with disbelief and a sense of horror at being crushed by absolute power.
Meanwhile, inside the main hall, and among the other East Dragon Island clansmen who had been startled by the sudden, overwhelming imperial pressure and rushed from all over the island but had not yet entered the main hall and were merely gathered in the Outer Hall Square or in the air, their cultivation was far less profound than that of the two elders, making it difficult for them to withstand the pressure.
In that instant, the vast and boundless Dragon Emperor Pressure, like the descent of divine might, descended—
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Like waves of harvested wheat, or like an invisible giant hand simultaneously pressing down on both the proud head and the resilient knees!
Whether it's a powerful commander who has reached the Peak Dou Venerate and rules over a region, or an ordinary ancient Ancient Dragon Warrior is slightly weaker but has pure blood, or even some reclusive cultivators hiding in the shadows with obscure auras...
Almost everyone, involuntarily and irresistibly, knelt on one knee in unison, facing the main hall, the radiant Reverse Scale between Lin Ming's eyebrows, and the domineering Dragon Emperor phantom behind him!
They buried their heads, which had once looked down upon countless Magical Beasts races, deep into the ground, pressing their foreheads, which represented submission and awe, against the cold earth or their bent knees!
The entire scene was completely silent, with only the roar of the Dragon Emperor at the soul level still echoing, and the breathtaking Scroll Painting of countless kneeling figures illuminated by the flowing purple-gold light.
Even Elder Zhu Li, who was mentally prepared, couldn't help but tremble slightly under the full Dragon Emperor Pressure, which was a hundred times stronger than any he had ever felt before.
His face was devoid of its usual composure, filled with primal awe and indescribable fervor. He bowed deeply, almost at a ninety-degree angle, to Lin Ming, or rather, to that Reverse Scale, to express the highest level of respect.
Hei Qing, a burly man of fierce and unyielding character, reacted even more violently. His massive, mountain-like body trembled violently as the pressure descended, as if struck by a giant hammer.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force, and the veins on his arms bulged like dragons. A low, mournful whimper, like that of a wounded beast, came from his throat, as if the indomitable will within him was making a final, futile resistance.
However, that absolute suppression, originating from the deepest part of his bloodline and soul, like Law, was so irresistible. In the end, he could only let out a muffled groan filled with unwillingness and helplessness, and with great difficulty, as if every joint was protesting, he slowly and heavily knelt down on one knee, lowering his head, which symbolized strength and pride and never easily bowed.
At that moment, he clearly understood what "imperial power" and "legitimacy" meant.
The entire East Dragon Island and its surrounding vast area fell into an eerie, suffocating silence.
The sounds of the wind, breathing, and even heartbeats seemed to be swallowed up and suppressed by the invisible imperial pressure.
Only the illusory image of the Purple- Dragon Emperor, suspended in the air and slowly rotating, roared silently; only the vast and imposing aura emanating from Lin Ming, like a god descending to earth, silently yet unmistakably proclaimed—
A being wielding a supreme token, capable of influencing and even determining the future fate of the entire Ancient Void Dragon Clan, has officially made his debut here!
Lin Ming's gaze was calm as he slowly swept across the entire scene, taking in the expressions of every kneeling person and every person who was resisting. Finally, his gaze fell on the two Dou Sheng Elders who, although still barely standing, were pale-faced, slightly out of breath, and were exerting all their Dou Qi to resist.
At this moment, with a slight thought, he did not completely withdraw his oppressive aura, but slowly reduced some of the most intense sense of pressure.
The enormous purple-gold Giant Dragon phantom gradually faded under Lin Ming's thoughts, changing from solid to semi-transparent, and finally slowly dissipated as if merging into the void.
The light emanating from the Reverse Scale between his brows also became much less dazzling, but the aura of supreme authority that it exuded, which was both awe-inspiring and symbolized absolute power, still lingered around Lin Ming like a halo, never dissipating.
With the pressure suddenly reduced, the Great Elder and the Second Elder almost simultaneously and uncontrollably exhaled a long breath of stale air that had been suppressed in their chests. The breath even carried a faint Spatial Fluctuations, showing just how intense the confrontation had been.
At this moment, the way they looked at Lin Ming had undergone a complete and fundamental change.
All the previous doubts, scrutiny, and investigations had vanished without a trace. In their place was an incredibly complex gaze, a mixture of lingering shock, indescribable excitement, disbelief as if in a dream, and a hint of... the relief of finally seeing clear hope and direction after thousands of years of burdening burdens?
"Now."
Lin Ming's voice rang out again, calm and steady, yet seemingly carrying immense power, clearly breaking the breathtaking silence in the main hall.
"Elders, do you believe what I say is true? Do you believe that His Majesty the Old His Majesty the Dragon Emperor is about to return, and that Princess Zi Yan Highness on her way to inherit the throne? Do you believe that the time has come to end the division, unify the ancient Ancient Dragon Clan, and restore the glory of the Ancient Dragon Clan Dragon Emperor?"
Upon hearing this, the Great Elder and the Second Elder briefly exchanged glances in the air.
Without a word, the two old friends, who had guarded East Dragon Island together for countless years and whose hearts were already connected, saw exactly the same thing in the depths of each other's still excited eyes—determination and a long-dormant passion that had been ignited.
The next moment, under the breathless gaze of all the clansmen inside and outside the hall, these two supreme elders, who held pivotal positions on East Dragon Island and even within the currently divided Ancient Void Dragon Clan, and whose cultivation had reached the Dou Sheng realm, simultaneously made a move that would be recorded in the clan's history—
Facing Lin Ming, who stood in the center of the main hall, and the Dragon Emperor's Inverse Scale that floated before him, symbolizing the supreme authority of the Ancient Void Dragon, they slowly, solemnly, and with an almost ritualistic reverence, bowed their backs, which even heaven and earth could not break, and clasped their hands in salute.
The Great Elder's aged voice, now imbued with newfound power, carried an unprecedented solemnity and a barely suppressed tremor. Like a divine pronouncement, it resounded throughout the entire hall, even penetrating the walls and echoing in every inch of East Dragon Island.
"His Majesty the Dragon Emperor's token is here, as if His Majesty were here in person! All of us on East Dragon Island will obey this decree!"
This bow and this declaration completely established Lin Ming's extraordinary status on East Dragon Island!
It represents the official, public, and unreserved recognition by the highest authority on East Dragon Island of Lin Ming's identity as someone who holds the Reverse Scale and represents the will of the Dragon Emperor!
This also means that the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, which has been silent and inflicting internal strife for thousands of years, has finally gathered its first powerful core force and is about to sound the powerful horn to unify the entire clan. It can now unleash its long-awaited and sharp dragon claws on the Three Great Dragon Islands of the South, West and North, which are divided and in confrontation!