Zi Yan stood beneath the Dragon Seal, the Dragon Phoenix Pattern between her brows slowly lighting up.
She took a deep breath, her clear voice carrying through the void.
"Rise."
Only then did Zhuli and the others stand.
Yet even after rising, the gazes of everyone on East Dragon Island remained fixed on her.
Excitement, reverence, delight, and the relief of having endured suppression for far too long.
They did not hesitate, nor did they doubt.
Because this was East Dragon Island.
East Dragon Island had never betrayed the Dragon Emperor.
Over the years, East Dragon Island had hidden itself within the void. It had not participated in the struggle for the throne among the four islands, had not acknowledged the West Dragon King, South Dragon King, or North Dragon King, and had not actively sent troops to interfere with the development of the other three islands.
To outsiders, East Dragon Island appeared to have withdrawn from the world and yielded ground.
But those who truly knew the situation understood that East Dragon Island was not afraid.
It simply did not wish to drag the Ancient Void Dragon Clan into a civil war that could never truly be settled while there was no Dragon Emperor Bloodline.
Zhuli was the Great Elder who managed East Dragon Island openly, overseeing clan affairs, restraining the clansmen, and maintaining the island's operations.
But what truly made the other three islands wary was not Zhuli alone.
It was those senior elders deep within East Dragon Island who had remained in seclusion for many years.
Those old fellows were East Dragon Island's true foundation.
They did not vie for power, establish kings, or concern themselves with the titles of Dragon King claimed by the three islands.
But as long as they remained, the western, southern, and