The void was windless.
When the imperial banner, bearing purple-gold dragon patterns as its base and dark-gold phoenix patterns as its edge, slowly unfurled above the Dragon Hall, even the turbulent spatial currents surrounding East Dragon Island seemed to be pressed down by an invisible hand.
A colossal dragon phantom rose from the heart of the island.
It was neither the manifestation of a particular elder's Dou Qi nor an illusion condensed by an array.
It was the Ancient Void Dragon Clan's fate, dormant for a thousand years, manifesting once more after the Dragon Seals of the four islands had united.
The purple-gold dragon phantom coiled above East Dragon Island, its immense body nearly spanning the void. Its dragon head hung low as it overlooked all directions. It did not roar, yet it was more awe-inspiring than any roar could have been.
Those from the western, southern, and northern islands who had pledged allegiance all knelt beneath the void platform.
The armor of the East Dragon Guards rang in unison.
Hei Qing stood at the forefront of the dragon guards, dragon spear in hand, his eyes blazing.
Zhuli held the Dragon Emperor Edict as he stood before the steps of the Dragon Hall. His aged fingers pressed against the edge of the jade slip, and for a long while, he said nothing.
He had waited far too long for this day.
So long that the young dragon guards of that time had become elders. So long that the Old Dragon Emperor's edict had nearly been mocked by the false kings of the three islands as outdated stubbornness. So long that many young dragons no longer even knew why East Dragon Island would rather retreat into the void than compete for the throne of the four islands.
It was not that