Outside the Netherworld!

"From the sound of it, Your Highness seems quite familiar with all the twists and turns involved?"

With all the hints from before, Qiu Yan was no longer surprised upon hearing this. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and asked in return.

The Well Dragon King said, "Naturally. Though my Dragon Clan is foremost among scaled creatures, our ancient progenitor also branched off from the Dragon Veins of heaven and earth. Strictly speaking, we share the same lineage as the True Dragon that bears Heaven's mandate and evolves a dynasty's Dragon Qi."

"Since that is so, Your Highness saw the danger. Why did you not act?" Unfooled by the other man's words, Qiu Yan did not pursue the matter of the Dragon Vein's division. Instead, he pressed on. "As Qiu understands it, if a True Dragon becomes entangled in mortal schemes or is overthrown by a mundane coup, that is one thing. But the present situation clearly has transcendent forces stirring behind the scenes. At a time like this, should someone not step forward to stop it?"

For him to say such things now proved that the Well Dragon King knew Qiu Yan had discovered the Black Hole that had appeared from nowhere. Perhaps he had even noticed the arrangements Qiu Yan had made through his Divine Spirit Body. Thus, Qiu Yan had fewer reservations when he questioned him.

In truth, this was what had puzzled Qiu Yan most after discovering that the Black Hole was drawing away the Emperor's lifespan.

The Emperor had said that he was "not long for this world," so he must have discovered something. Though few people had been told, the imperial physicians knew, as did the eunuchs attending him. Ordinary officials might have found it difficult to learn of it, and the palace concubines might