The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

When Lin Qian's words fell, everyone present was shocked and stared at him in disbelief.

Qin Wushuang chuckled bitterly and voiced everyone's thoughts, "You really know how to talk, huh? Shengtian Sect has been the strongest force in Linhai Prefecture for so many years and remains unshaken. How could it be so easily destroyed?"

"There is indeed a powerful existence within Shengtian Sect," Wei Wushuang suddenly interjected after Qin Wushuang finished speaking.

A powerful existence?

Everyone turned their puzzled gazes towards Wei Wushuang.

Based on the current understanding of Linhai Prefecture's strength, Wei Wushuang, the Battle Emperor, was considered the most powerful person in the region.

Yet now, this most powerful individual was claiming that there was someone even stronger within Shengtian Sect?

"When I planned to strike against Shengtian Sect, I was already poisoned, enduring torment that could only allow me to maintain my Soul Realm state for a limited time. I wanted to do something for Wanxiang Sect while I could," Wei Wushuang said, his voice tinged with nostalgia as he recalled the past.

"Indeed, I stormed into Shengtian Sect, and with my Soul Realm strength, no one in Linhai Prefecture could stand against me. Or so I thought!"

"But within Shengtian Sect, there is someone incredibly powerful—Yuan Wuyi."

Upon hearing this name from Wei Wushuang, everyone present was stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.

"Senior Brother, you must be joking. Is Yuan Wuyi really still alive? That man lived over 300 years ago. How could he still be alive?" Qin Wushuang gasped, deeply shocked. "He was a figure from over 300 years ago, and he's still alive?"

Seeing everyone's shock, Lin Qian grew curious about this Yuan Wuyi. Who was this person that could provoke such astonishment?

After listening to his uncle's explanation, Lin Qian also found himself taken aback.

In this world, because soul martial artists cultivate by absorbing the world's spiritual energy, converting it into soul force, their physical functions are greatly enhanced, and they live much longer than normal people.

Ordinary people can easily live to eighty years old, while martial artists in the foundational three realms can live up to around a hundred years.

For those who break through to the Nirvana Realm, their lifespan increases to over 150 years.

As for those who reach the Void Shattering Realm, they can live beyond 200 years.

A Soul Realm martial artist, according to Wei Wushuang, can live for over 300 years.

However, this Yuan Wuyi was said to be a figure from over 300 years ago, which meant that a Soul Realm's lifespan couldn't possibly sustain him for this long.

There was only one possibility: Yuan Wuyi had surpassed the Soul Realm and entered an even higher realm.

But if that were the case, Shengtian Sect would have long dominated all of Linhai Prefecture.

"Master, who exactly is Yuan Wuyi? Has he really broken through the Soul Realm and reached an even higher realm?" Lin Qian asked, still puzzled.

Wei Wushuang began to explain, "Yuan Wuyi was the Shengtian Sect's leader over 300 years ago, a figure who, along with Liu Yun, the leader of Wanxiang Sect, was known as one of the Twin Heroes of Linhai Prefecture."

"In their era, their talents overshadowed all others in Linhai Prefecture. The one-sect, five-gate structure that exists today was shattered by these two."

Lin Qian couldn't help but feel a deep respect.

Just like Linhai Prefecture today, the structure of the three sects and five gates had remained stable for over 300 years, despite occasional skirmishes. The biggest shift recently had been Shengtian Sect's growing ambition to dominate other forces.

But this trend of internal conflict was nothing compared to what Yuan Wuyi and Liu Yun accomplished 300 years ago when they rose from small sects and took on the already established powers of Linhai Prefecture.

Their achievements were extraordinary.

"However, to be fair, Yuan Wuyi was always slightly ahead of our Wanxiang Sect's Liu Yun."

"When their time was nearing its end, they agreed to a final duel, but they never disclosed the location to anyone. When Liu Yun returned, he revealed that they had fought at sea."

"No one knows the outcome of that battle, and Liu Yun remained tight-lipped. Shortly after, he passed away. This secret was something our master shared with me and my junior brother back then."

"But I never expected that Yuan Wuyi didn't die. After the battle with Liu Yun, he seemed to have gained insight and returned to seek a breakthrough. However, he failed."

"Even though he failed to break through, Yuan Wuyi's strength surpassed the Soul Realm, but his lifespan didn't increase. So, he chose to enter a state of hibernation, effectively extending his life and preserving his strength for when Shengtian Sect might face a crisis."

Wei Wushuang's explanation gradually revealed the truth to everyone.

As Wei Wushuang had said, Yuan Wuyi's decision to enter hibernation was to ensure Shengtian Sect would have a trump card in times of danger.

When Wei Wushuang stormed Shengtian Sect, this was the situation he faced.

Although Yuan Wuyi could have killed Wei Wushuang, he knew that doing so would drastically reduce his remaining lifespan. What could have been another hundred years of hibernation would shrink to just a few decades.

Moreover, Yuan Wuyi saw that Wei Wushuang was already poisoned and had only a short time left to live.

Yuan Wuyi and Wei Wushuang made an agreement: Shengtian Sect would retreat and compensate Wanxiang Sect, and in return, Wei Wushuang would not attack Shengtian Sect further.

Yuan Wuyi's plan was to wait for Wei Wushuang to succumb to the poison before taking action against Wanxiang Sect.

However, Yuan Wuyi never expected that Lin Qian would appear and bring Wei Wushuang back to life.

"Now, I am confident that I could face Yuan Wuyi in battle. The odds would be 60-40, but I can't guarantee I would kill him, just as he can't guarantee he would kill me," Wei Wushuang explained, shaking his head at Lin Qian. "So, your idea of destroying Shengtian Sect is unlikely. Especially now that Shengtian Sect has allied with the Blackblood Tribe."

As Wei Wushuang spoke, the others nodded in agreement, while Lin Qian silently considered the possibilities.

In a full-scale war between sects, Lin Qian was confident that his army would have a decisive advantage. However, when it came to high-level combat power, that was a different story. No matter how well-equipped or coordinated his forces were, even with his emperor soul techniques, a thousand soldiers would likely be wiped out by his master's thunderous palm alone.

Not to mention that Shengtian Sect had an elder who was even stronger than his master.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, Wei Wushuang sensed something and took out a round crystal, probing it with his consciousness before turning to Lin Qian with a smile. "I have some good news for you."

"What is it?"

"Your fiancée has arrived."

Hearing his master's words, Lin Qian was stunned. He hadn't told Ye Xin his location, so how had she found him?

Looking at the crystal in Wei Wushuang's hand, Lin Qian couldn't help but feel puzzled. "Master, don't tell me it was that female Sword Saint who tipped her off again. What's your relationship with her anyway?"