That same day, beneath the Imperial City in Wangan Capital, at the heart of the Twelve-Capital Divine Dragon Nation-Guarding Grand Array.
Emperor Jianyuan stood at the center of the grand array, looking at the twelve enormous dragon pillars around him. His handsome, majestic face had become so dark and twisted it was scarcely recognizable.
This place should have been surging with Dragon Qi, bathed in crimson radiance.
The Dragon-Storage Pool at its center, in particular, should have had Dragon Qi rising like a rainbow, like a colossal pillar of red gold. Countless illusory red dragons should have coiled above it, their imposing might swallowing rainbows whole.
Yet now, at least a third of the "water" in the pool was gone!
The Dragon Qi throughout the Twelve-Capital Divine Dragon Nation-Guarding Grand Array had also grown much thinner, its radiance dimmed.
Emperor Jianyuan's strength had not declined, but his reserves of Dragon Qi had fallen drastically.
They had vanished without explanation, flowing away in an unknown direction.
Emperor Jianyuan had spent an entire day and night inspecting the whole Magic Array, yet he still could not determine what had caused this or where the Dragon Qi had gone.
Emperor Jianyuan clenched his fists. Almost tangible flames shot from his eyes, and astral force surged out from him in every direction.
Who was it? What exactly had caused his Dragon Qi to disappear? Was someone stealing his Dragon Qi, stealing his nation's fortune? Who exactly was he?
At that instant, the twelve Red Dragon Souls on the Twelve Dragon Pillars all let out mournful cries.
Their spectral forms twisted violently, and thin streaks of blood seeped from the dragon pillars.
"Your Majesty, have you still not discovered why the Dragon Qi was lost?"
Just then, a deep, powerful voice carried over from afar.