The Daqian Dragon Vein, having undergone several mutations, was already fragile. Now, with the earth veins severed and tributes halted, and further battered by the earth Qi of Central Jin Province, it could no longer withstand the strain.
Successive thunderous sounds signaled the collapse and fall of the core area.
Amidst the booming sounds, came a mournful wail of the Dragon Soul.
The Dragon Vein has shattered!
In front of Tiangang Master, the Heaven-Praying Bureau swayed as one candle after another was extinguished.
Moreover, an intangible and magnificent Anomalous Power descended from the void, suddenly landing on Yuan Geng, the Tiangang Master.
Standing in place, his face abruptly changed color, screaming in pain as he couldn't help but scratch all over his body. Numerous black auras visibly surged out, wrapping around him.
At this moment, a token appeared at his waist, instantly suppressing part of the black aura, yet a portion slithered like venomous snakes into his body, spreading layers of malignant aura throughout, tainting his once immortal jade-like body.
This was the malicious aura suppressed by the Daqian Dragon Vein. Now, as Tiangang Daoist manipulated the Heaven-Praying Bureau and connected his own destiny with the Daqian National Fortune, he was the first to suffer backlash.
This terrifying malignant aura descended on him, erupting in countless sores on his immortal-like body, as waves of malicious aura surged into the depths of his Primordial Spirit, contaminating it.
Tiangang Master had no time to operate the Primordial Spirit Technique to suppress this backlash. Instead, he borrowed the residual feng shui power of the Heaven-Praying Bureau to perform the Feng Shui Banner Sect.
In his hand, a banner suddenly soared into the sky.
It was the Great Qian Dragon Banner.
Xuan-black, red-black dragon patterns!
This Great Qian Dragon Banner was the first dragon banner of Wei Yuanyang, the Grand Ancestor of Daqian, imbued with special Marvelous Power.
As this dragon banner appeared, Tiangang Master used his magic to collect part of the shattered Dragon Qi, summoning a black dragon's shadow from the void, which was then caught by the dragon banner.
Seeing this, a hint of a smile emerged in Tiangang Master's swollen eyes.
The Dragon Vein is the foundation of the National Destiny Dragon Soul. Without the Dragon Vein, the Dragon Qi, lacking a nest, would disperse everywhere.
The Dragon Soul would also be exposed.
Now, having retrieved the Dragon Soul at the first opportunity, it could still be temporarily stored within the Emperor's body using Secret Techniques, granting a brief respite for the Daqian National Fortune.
It was but the Dragon Vein that was lost.
In times of chaos, Emperor Jingwu with the Emperor's Fate still holds an advantage over many Hidden Dragons.
As long as the Hidden Dragons are suppressed, it's still possible to rebuild Daqian.
"Wei Yuanyang, you rascal, this old Daoist has strived mightily for you. If your descendants are useless, they'll certainly drag this master down!"
At this moment, feeling the vibration of the dragon banner in his hand, Tiangang Master gritted his teeth and ascended skyward, transforming into a stream of light heading towards the Imperial Palace.
...
The shattering of the Dragon Vein was earth-shattering. Visible strands of Dragon Qi erupted, shooting skyward, sweeping across in majestic dragon-shaped Qi Forces in all directions.
Indeed, when the dragons lack a leader, the world contends!
As strands of Dragon Qi soared, some turned into streams of light, almost falling upon some civil and military officials in Haojing City, significantly enhancing their Star Fate positions.
Yet the majority rushed out of the capital, speeding towards various provinces, entering the bodies of many Hidden Dragons or those with special Life Plates.
Among them, a substantial portion, at least a third, surged into Fengyang County, drawn by the Dragon Vein forming within the Zhang Family.
Gaining this vast Daqian Dragon Qi, instantly, within the Red Dragon Vein, a Red Dragon Soul took shape.
The Dragon Qi's feedback caused Zhang Jian in the depths of the Blessed Land to feel an urge.
Sitting cross-legged, he saw the red dragon shining in the depths of his Life Palace, as a grand Red Dragon Soul fused with one of the Hidden Dragon Fate plates within his Life Palace.
When this Fate manifested, the skies over the Southern Provinces were suddenly blanketed with crimson clouds, and a vast Dragon's Roar echoed across the heavens.
At that moment, a red-purple dragon shadow appeared around him, possessing a power capable of suppressing ten thousand methods.
At the center of his brow, a red star light seemed to manifest, bursting with intense Marvelous Power.
At that moment, he saw the dragon shadow within the 'Red Virtue True King' Fate having nine complete claws, finally elevating the Hidden Dragon Fate to the Emperor's Fate!
"Red Virtue True Lord!"
Zhang Jian felt the changes brought upon by the sublimation of this Hidden Dragon Fate.
The Sheji Emperor's Mark shimmered brightly, its surrounding Sheji Dao Rhyme more than doubled in richness.
Red Virtue True Lord is among the five powerful Emperor Fates, usually only condensed by founding or restoring monarchs through the Five Virtues True Lord Fate.
...
Simultaneously, cultivators throughout Daqian turned their gaze toward the four directions. Above the heavens, with the Dragon Vein's collapse, the star formations manifested, stars shining more brilliantly than ever.
"The Daqian Dragon Vein has collapsed?"
In various Daoist Temples, many accomplished cultivators, observing the changes in star formations and the flow of Dragon Qi, could faintly discern the situation, causing varied expressions among them.
The Daqian Kingdom, after more than four hundred and sixty years, finally couldn't withstand any longer?
...
On Vermilion Phoenix Mountain, the Guardians of the Four Spirits were awakened by the massive anomaly as large amounts of Dragon Qi surged into the Dragon Vein.
Feng Ling Mountain God, Bai Nu's True Body manifested, standing on the mountain peaks, observed the Zhang Family Dragon Vein below like a massive vortex, drawing in feng shui from all directions, dragon forms wandering around. Nearing Fengyang County, they vanished, drawn by the Red Dragon Pearl, merging into the Dragon Vein.
Dragon Qi condensed, a majestic red dragon shadow circulated.
Its dragon scales were vibrant, and its whiskers extended with divine majesty.
The Feng Ling Mountain God, Bai Nu sensed the oppressive power of the Red Dragon Soul upon them both.
The Red Dragon Soul suppressed all methods.
Seeing this, Bai Nu's eyes flickered.
"The Red Dragon is complete, the Emperor's Qi manifests. It seems the Zhang Family holds a great potential to birth a True Emperor!"
A smile appeared in his eyes.
If the Zhang Family produces an Emperor, as Guardian Divine Beasts, their future achievements would extend far beyond mere attainment of the Longevity Body, with great hope for becoming immortal and achieving the Dao.
Cultivators also emphasize supporting the Dragon Court, because a successful support of the Dragon yields enormous rewards.
The Feng Ling Mountain God watched this unfold with calm indifference.
In her view, the formation of the Red Dragon was only a matter of time.
It's merely happening slightly earlier than expected.
...
In the depths of East Mausoleum, Jingming Daoist felt a chill observing the dispersal of Dragon Qi from the collapsing Daqian Dragon Vein.
He also felt, with the Dragon Vein's collapse, that his Yin Spirit suddenly lost a crucial layer of protection, with numerous malignant aura eager to invade his Yin Spirit at any moment.
This is the backlash from the Dragon Vein shattering.
If it can't be suppressed, eventually it will descend upon the Yin Spirit or greatly increase the tribulation's power during a calamity.
Jingming Daoist's eyes were bloodshot, his fingers clenched tightly. His luck was just a bit short, failing to realize the Primordial Spirit before the Daqian Dragon Vein shattered.
Now, the path to Longevity seemed severed.
But there's still a chance. As long as Emperor Jingwu can turn the tide, reestablish the Dragon Vein, and suppress everything.