The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

The warship's interior was its most crucial area, functioning as the command center for external combat and operations—a core that couldn't be breached. The entrance to the ship's interior was heavily guarded by formations, and within, soldiers of the Huaxia Empire stood watch. Anyone attempting to force their way in would undoubtedly face severe consequences.

Fortunately, the disciples of the Wanxiang Sect were disciplined. Upon noticing the formations guarding the entrance, they only observed out of curiosity and refrained from attempting to break in.

Some of the more skilled disciples in the art of formations did linger at the entrance, analyzing and discussing the formations among themselves.

Using the ship's communication system, Lin Qian issued a broadcast to all five warships, instructing everyone that their activities were limited to the upper decks and buildings of the ships. Under no circumstances were they to force their way into the interior, as doing so would put their lives at risk.

The upper levels of the warships were extremely luxurious. The towering buildings spanned over ten stories high and were vast enough to comfortably accommodate tens of thousands of people.

With five warships at his command, Lin Qian ensured that every disciple of the Wanxiang Sect had a comfortable living space aboard.

To the disciples' delight, each room on the ships contained a spirit-gathering formation, which greatly benefited their cultivation. Additionally, the ships' dining facilities served not only delicious food but also meals that surprisingly enhanced cultivation.

Furthermore, the ships featured sparring grounds protected by powerful defensive formations, allowing disciples to practice without causing any damage to the ships.

These favorable conditions left the Wanxiang Sect disciples overjoyed.

Using the communication system, Lin Qian made several announcements.

First, he firmly stated that the five warships were his personal property, and all activities and behavior aboard must follow his instructions.

The first rule Lin Qian emphasized was that no conflicts were permitted. While sparring was allowed, serious injuries and fights outside the designated areas were strictly forbidden. Anyone caught breaking this rule would be immediately expelled from the ships.

The second rule involved the usage of the ships' resources. The disciples were required to contribute by channeling half of their soul power into the receiving crystal in their rooms each day. This would help power the ships. If Lin Qian discovered anyone shirking this duty, they too would be expelled.

No one found Lin Qian's rules unreasonable. Given the current situation, fighting among sect members was unthinkable. As for contributing soul power, the disciples felt it was a fair exchange for the exceptional conditions they were enjoying.

By requiring the disciples to contribute soul power, Lin Qian aimed not only to reduce the ships' resource consumption but also to remind everyone that these privileges came at a cost. Without this arrangement, the disciples might take their comfortable circumstances for granted.

Some disciples even went as far as channeling all their soul power into the crystals, only to discover that doing so greatly enhanced their cultivation. Additionally, they found that fully charging the crystals would sometimes result in the appearance of medicinal pills—though that was a story for another time.

As for the warships themselves, even Wei Wushuang and the other elders were astonished. They bombarded Lin Qian with questions, eager to know more about the massive vessels.

These ships were leagues beyond the cloud boats typically seen in Linhai Prefecture.

Wei Wushuang noted that while similar large cloud boats did exist beyond Linhai Prefecture, they were usually the property of only the most powerful factions.

Even those enormous cloud boats, according to Wei Wushuang, couldn't compare to these warships.

However, Lin Qian remained tight-lipped in response to their inquiries.

How could he explain that his body was connected to an entire empire? It was best to keep this a secret. If Lin Qian remained silent, everyone would simply assume he had encountered some extraordinary fortune that led him to acquire such remarkable resources.

After all, no one would ever guess that within his body resided a vast empire.

Under Lin Qian's command, the warships steadily ascended, eventually hiding within the clouds. If necessary, the ships could even generate their own cloud cover to conceal themselves.

These were the lowest-grade warships of the Huaxia Empire, lacking the ability to become invisible. More advanced warships required more powerful operators, which Lin Qian couldn't yet provide.

By the time the warships were safely hidden within the clouds, it was already the following morning.

Meanwhile, within the northern sect of Shengtian, two figures met in secret.

The sect resided in the beautiful Xiuling Mountains of northern Linhai Prefecture. With its picturesque landscape, abundant spiritual energy, and grand scale, it far surpassed the Wanxiang Sect.

Deep within the sect's grounds, a magnificent palace floated above a verdant mountain.

Inside the grand hall, dressed in white robes, Zhang Dingyun raised his wine cup toward the person across from him. "To you, Senior Lu."

Opposite him sat a figure with purplish skin and strange markings—a being clearly different from the human race. Though humanoid in shape, this being was unmistakably from the Blackblood Tribe.

Lu Shangda lifted his cup in return and drained it in one gulp before slamming it onto the table.

Seeing this, Zhang Dingyun's expression shifted as he asked with a light chuckle, "Senior Lu, is something troubling you?"

"Wanxiang Sect's subjugation is out of the question," Lu Shangda replied darkly, his tone filled with frustration.

Zhang Dingyun frowned slightly. "What do you mean, Senior Lu? Didn't you turn Gao Yuefei into a blood-refined corpse? With his strength at the Life and Death Realm, no one in the Wanxiang Sect should be able to oppose him, right?"

"Hmph, your so-called Battle Emperor and his disciple are quite something," Lu Shangda scoffed.

Zhang Dingyun's face grew more serious. "Senior Lu, what do you mean by that?"

"That so-called Battle Emperor, Wei Wushuang, isn't dead. In fact, he's broken through to the Heart Realm of the Life and Death stage, just one step shy of my own level. Even more surprising, he possesses dual attributes in his soul power. If we were to fight head-on, our chances of victory would be fifty-fifty."

"But that's not the worst part. If you knew what his disciple is capable of, you might reconsider the terms of our agreement," Lu Shangda said, his eyes flashing with a cold purple light.