The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

"So, if that's the case, then Sheng Tian Sect must be colluding with the Black Blood Clan?" Qin Wushuang asked after a long pause, taking a deep breath and looking at Lin Qian.

Lin Qian nodded uncertainly, "My guess is the same as yours, Uncle-Master, but I can't be completely sure. Given the current situation, it's highly likely."

With Gao Yuefei transformed into a Blood-Refined Corpse, his actions were now dictated by the will of the Black Blood Clan. The gathered elders finally understood why the old sect leader's behavior had changed so drastically, even agreeing to a truce with Sheng Tian Sect and subordinating Wanxiang Sect to them.

The truth was that the real Gao Yuefei was dead, and what remained was a puppet controlled by the Black Blood Clan.

Suddenly, Qin Wushuang seemed to recall something and frowned as he turned to Lin Qian. "Lin Qian, how is Gao Benli handling all of this?"

"Senior Brother is both angry and heartbroken. After all, this happened to his own grandfather. But you know how carefree and quirky he is, Uncle-Master. There's no need to worry about him," Lin Qian replied, dismissing concerns about Gao Benli's emotional state.

Lin Qian knew his Senior Brother well—despite his playful and humorous nature, Gao Benli's mind was as solid as a rock. His temperament was resilient, and his mental fortitude was unmatched. Wei Wushuang had once told Lin Qian that when Gao Benli eventually reached the Life and Death Realm, overcoming the Heart Tribulation would be effortless for him.

The other elders, aside from Qin Wushuang, were stunned when they heard the mention of a "Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother? Who is this Senior Brother?" Lei Heng, the Discipline Elder, and the others asked in surprise, turning to Lin Qian for an explanation.

Qin Wushuang nodded and clarified, "Wei Wushuang didn't only take on one disciple. His first disciple is Gao Benli, and Lin Qian is actually his second disciple."

The elders were shocked to learn that Gao Benli and Lin Qian were martial brothers. They had heard about the recent conflicts and had felt powerless to intervene due to Gao Benli's status as the grandson of the old sect leader and a prodigious cultivator at the fifth stage of the Void Break Realm.

After Lin Qian finished explaining the truth behind recent events, he moved from his seat at the front and joined Lei Qian and the other disciples at the back. Qin Wushuang then took his place at the front, facing the gathered elders in contemplative silence.

For a moment, the entire group was at a loss for words.

"Now that everyone is aware of the situation, let's discuss what our next steps should be," Qin Wushuang said, breaking the silence and inviting the elders to share their thoughts.

"Why don't we take the initiative and head to the secret valley to destroy the Blood-Refined Corpse? We can't let my Senior Brother's body be desecrated," Lei Heng suggested, slapping his thigh in frustration.

"Lei Shishu, Master reached the Life and Death Realm before his death. Without Senior Brother fully recovered, going there would be suicide," Qin Wushuang replied, shaking his head at the suggestion.

"How far along is War Emperor Wei Wushuang in his recovery?" one elder asked.

"I'm not sure, but I know that he's close. Once he fully recovers, he's certain to break through to a higher realm," Qin Wushuang responded.

As Qin Wushuang and the elders continued their discussion, Lei Qian leaned over to Lin Qian and whispered, "Boss, I need to tell you something."

"Hmm?" Lin Qian turned to Lei Qian, waiting for him to elaborate.

"On my way to find Grandpa and the others, I noticed some disciples from the Formation Hall working on modifying the sect's formations. They said it was an order from the old sect leader," Lei Qian said, his expression filled with concern. "They mentioned that the modifications would increase the sect's spiritual energy density, but now that we know the old sect leader is a Blood-Refined Corpse, I can't shake the feeling that something is off."

Lin Qian's expression grew serious as he pondered the implications.

"Don't worry. The formation modifications aren't harmful," a kindly voice interjected. An elderly man with a long white beard, deep-set eyes, and a gentle demeanor turned around to face them.

Recognizing the elder as Qi Faxin, the head of the Formation Hall, Lin Qian quickly asked, "Qi Shishu, are you certain the formation modifications are safe?"

"Yes," Qi Faxin replied confidently. "When the old sect leader instructed me to modify the formations, he provided me with a formation blueprint that left me in awe. In just two years, my understanding of formations has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to it."

"This formation is called the 'Spirit Nourishment and Renewal Grand Formation.' Its effect is simple—it enhances the spiritual energy density within the sect. The tricky part is the 'renewal' aspect, which expels impurities generated during cultivation."

"While I don't fully grasp the intricacies of the formation, I've been able to set it up according to the blueprint. From what I can tell, it's purely a support formation designed to aid cultivation and poses no threat."

Seeing Qi Faxin's confident demeanor, Lei Qian relaxed. However, Lin Qian remained uneasy, sensing that something wasn't quite right.

"Qi Shishu, may I borrow the formation blueprint to take a closer look?" Lin Qian asked, bowing respectfully.

Qi Faxin hesitated for a moment, his expression conflicted.

Realizing he might have overstepped, Lin Qian quickly added, "In exchange, I'll offer you this tome on formations. It covers everything from low-level formations to high-tier ones, and I assure you it's far more valuable than the blueprint. What do you think?"

With that, Lin Qian produced a book from his storage ring and handed it to Qi Faxin.

Qi Faxin's eyes widened in disbelief as he skimmed through the tome. Overwhelmed with joy, he almost fainted. Eagerly, he handed the formation blueprint to Lin Qian, fearing the young man might change his mind.

Amused by Qi Faxin's reaction, Lin Qian quickly sent the blueprint to the Huaxia Empire for analysis.

Within three breaths, a notification popped up, indicating that Zhuge Ming, the expert in charge of the Empire's research division, had an urgent message for him.

"What?!" Lin Qian exclaimed after hearing Zhuge Ming's report. He shot to his feet and grabbed Qi Faxin by the shoulders, startling the old man out of his elation. "Qi Shishu, how much of the formation has been completed?"