The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

The entire council hall fell silent. Many of the people present were frozen in place, staring in disbelief at the scene before them. What had just happened left everyone confused and bewildered.

Fang Yiping looked at his father in shock, unable to believe his ears. Li Xiaotian and Yang Yifan were also stunned, their breathing heavy, clearly shaken by the situation, unable to comprehend what was happening.

If even these three were reacting this way, it was no surprise that the elders from the three factions were similarly taken aback. They looked at the three elders as if they had seen ghosts, as if they were seeing them for the first time.

Even Lin Qian was startled by the three elders' actions. He had speculated countless times about why these three powerful figures treated him so well. But the reality before him was far beyond his expectations.

"What... what did you just say?" After calming himself a bit, Lin Qian asked again, still filled with uncertainty.

The three elders exchanged glances, smiles appearing on their faces. "You are our young master. As for the details, we will explain later. For now, let's discuss the matters concerning the Qin Dynasty."

The three elders' firm words created a storm of disbelief in the hearts of everyone present. The shocking news left everyone momentarily unable to process what they had just heard.

While they were eager to understand the reasons behind this, they could only accept that the elders weren't willing to explain right now.

After speaking, the three elders seated themselves, casting a stern glance at the gathered elders. Their authority remained intact, and with just one look, the others quickly composed themselves and sat down.

Fang Yiping, Li Xiaotian, and Yang Yifan also sat, their emotions conflicted, casting strange looks at Lin Qian. Who exactly was this young man, and how had he suddenly become the young master of the three elders?

Even Lin Qian himself had some speculations about the situation, but since the three elders had already spoken, he decided to steady his mind. After regaining his composure, he addressed the assembly.

"Honored elders, this conflict with the Qin Dynasty began because of the Huaxia Empire, and naturally, it is our responsibility to resolve it. However, our empire's current strength is limited, which is why we need your assistance," Lin Qian said seriously after calming his thoughts.

The gathered elders, hearing Lin Qian's words, began to relax from the shock and nodded slightly.

One of the elders, the long-nosed elder from the Xiaoyao Sect, voiced his doubts. "Your Majesty Lin, from what we saw during the battle at Yuanye River, the Huaxia Empire's military strength is indeed formidable, and that aerial warship is nothing short of awe-inspiring."

"Frankly speaking, I am puzzled. With such power, why does the Huaxia Empire need our help?"

As someone who had personally witnessed the battle at Yuanye River, the Xiaoyao Sect elder was well aware of how powerful the Huaxia Empire truly was.

Lin Qian had anticipated this question. When the elder spoke up, Lin Qian immediately responded, "While the Huaxia Empire is indeed strong overall, we currently have one fatal weakness—we lack enough awakened soul warriors."

"I can assure you all that if we set aside the presence of awakened soul warriors, even the entire might of the Qin Dynasty would be helpless against the Huaxia Empire."

"They wouldn't even be able to leave their territory. They would be forced to fight within their own borders, slowly ground down by the Huaxia Empire. In fact..." Lin Qian's face lit up with a mysterious smile. "The Huaxia Empire could inflict heavy losses on the Qin Dynasty's regular army without deploying a single soldier!"

Lin Qian's confident tone left the group skeptical.

How could that be possible?

Could the Huaxia Empire really be so powerful that it could cripple the Qin Dynasty's regular army without even sending troops?

That sounded too far-fetched.

Many of the elders frowned, displeased by Lin Qian's words. They had come to help the Huaxia Empire, not to be toyed with.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the council hall grew tense.

Lin Qian understood their doubts. After all, the Huaxia Empire's unique way of fighting was entirely unfamiliar to them, just as it was to the Qin Dynasty. They had no knowledge of how to deal with the array virus, as it was something entirely new to this world.

"You don't believe me?" Lin Qian chuckled and continued, "Once the results are laid before you, I'm sure you'll come to believe it."

"For now, there's one thing I need to make clear: since you're here to help the Huaxia Empire, you must agree to follow my commands from start to finish without defiance."

"I can also promise you that I will never send you on a suicide mission."

Lin Qian's gaze swept across the room as he concluded, "If you agree to these terms, stay. If not, I won't force you. You are free to leave without any blame from me."

After speaking, Lin Qian waited patiently for their decision. He knew that these powerful figures from the three factions had come out of goodwill, and he couldn't force them to risk their lives for his empire.

In truth, Lin Qian did have ways to deal with the Qin Dynasty's awakened soul warriors. He could use the warship, soul cannons, and various tools from his previous life to eliminate them.

Even if he resorted to the most straightforward method of overwhelming them with sheer numbers from the Imperial Army, it would still work.

But since he had the chance to enlist the help of the three factions' awakened soul warriors, why not? It was the easiest and most effective solution.

To Lin Qian's surprise, not a single elder left. They all remained seated, calmly watching him.

Noticing Lin Qian's surprised expression, the long-nosed elder took out a jade gourd, took a swig of spirit wine, and laughed heartily. "What, Your Majesty Lin, did you think we would flee from battle or refuse to follow orders?"

After a brief hesitation, Lin Qian nodded. "Yes, that thought did cross my mind."

As Lin Qian's words hung in the air, the elders from the three factions burst into laughter.

"Your Majesty Lin, since we agreed to help, we won't back down now. The fact that you managed to capture the three border cities and wipe out the Qin Dynasty's million-strong vanguard speaks volumes. We believe that following your orders will lead us to victory," another elder chimed in.

Then, another elder, with a look of anticipation, added, "Your Majesty Lin, we are genuinely curious to see how the Huaxia Empire can inflict heavy losses on the Qin Dynasty's regular army without sending out a single soldier."

Lin Qian smiled at the eager group of elders. "I promise, you won't be disappointed!"