The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

In the end, Wei Wushuang still shook his head in disbelief, finding Lin Qian's words too outlandish to accept. After all, what Lin Qian had said was simply too shocking and beyond comprehension.

However, Ye Xin completely trusted Lin Qian's words. With excitement, she said, "If only I could visit Xiao Qian's Hua Xia Empire someday. That would be amazing."

Lin Qian also wished he could take Ye Xin to the Hua Xia Empire to see it for herself, but as of now, he hadn't found a way to do so.

"Hopefully, one day I'll figure out how to bring you there to see it with your own eyes," Lin Qian said after a moment of thought, smiling at Ye Xin. "But Xin'er, in the near future, you might be able to meet Zhuge Ming in person."

Ye Xin's eyes lit up with joy. "Really? But didn't you say it would take a long time before you could summon Chancellor Zhuge?"

Lin Qian chuckled. "He's researching a type of puppet that, once completed, can act as a stand-in for himself and appear in this world. Not just him—other top experts from the empire, including generals and commanders, will be able to manifest here as well. Of course, their power will be greatly limited."

Hearing this, Ye Xin's eyes sparkled with anticipation. She held great respect for Zhuge Ming, seeing him as another wise mentor besides Wei Qingqing, and the thought of meeting him in person filled her with excitement.

Just then, an alarm blared in the command room. Ye Xin glanced at one of the tactical screens and then turned to Lin Qian. "Xiao Qian, the Sea Tribe is here again—they've come to negotiate with us."

Lin Qian looked puzzled. "The Sea Tribe? A race that lives in the ocean?"

"Yes," Ye Xin replied. "Ever since we moved the warships above the ocean, they've visited several times." She paused for a moment, recalling past encounters. "They want to trade for one of our warships, but since it's your property, no one could make the decision without you."

"The Sea Tribe wants to trade for our warship?" Lin Qian was surprised. If they lived in the ocean, what would they need with a flying warship?

Seeing Lin Qian's confusion, Ye Xin began to explain.

It turned out that the Blackblood Clan's Lu Shangda had once intruded into the Sea Tribe's sacred burial ground—a site where their ancestors rested. Naturally, he was there to steal corpses, which the Sea Tribe held sacred.

Fortunately, their patrols had stopped him, preventing any desecration. Otherwise, Linhai Prefecture would have been in much greater danger.

The Sea Tribe held deep reverence for their ancestral grounds. According to their customs, the waters above these sacred sites were not to be disturbed, as it would be seen as disrespectful to their ancestors. Moreover, their elders placed a curse upon these sacred grounds—anyone who violated the sanctity of these places would have their life force drained and be forced to accompany the dead.

The Eight-Armed Sea Tribe, located in the southern waters of Linhai Prefecture, had their sacred grounds in both the southern and western seas. Whenever they needed to travel westward for trade with other tribes, they had to take a long detour, which was incredibly inconvenient.

If they had a warship, however, it would be a different story. With it, they could easily fly over the sacred grounds, simplifying their journeys considerably.

Furthermore, a warship would allow them to quickly transport younger tribesmen to distant waters for exchanges with other Sea Tribes. In short, obtaining a warship would be incredibly beneficial for the Sea Tribe.

Additionally, they harbored a deep desire to personally hunt down Lu Shangda, who had disturbed their ancestors' rest, and exact vengeance. But because of their sacred grounds, they couldn't directly enter Linhai Prefecture.

Thus, the Eight-Armed Sea Tribe had been persistently visiting, hoping to negotiate a trade for one of the warships.

"Every two or three days, they send someone to visit. Despite me explaining that we have to wait for you to return, they continue coming," Ye Xin said. "And they're sending one of their elders—a third elder who is stronger than those in the Life and Death Realm. Yet, despite their strength, they've always been respectful, bringing gifts and making polite requests without resorting to force."

Hearing Ye Xin's description, Lin Qian became even more curious.

"Some Sea Tribes are aggressive, but many are as vast and serene as the oceans they live in—provided you're not their enemy," Wei Wushuang added.

Lin Qian nodded thoughtfully and turned to Ye Xin. "Xin'er, what gifts have they brought during their visits?"

"They've given us five different types of lower-tier Grade-B pills, totaling one hundred pills, as well as ten complete sets of lower-tier Grade-B Yuan and Soul weapons. Additionally, they've offered five hundred thousand mid-grade Soul Crystals." Ye Xin recited the details without hesitation. "According to the third elder, these are merely introductory gifts and don't count toward the purchase price of a warship."

"Since they're so sincere, I should meet with them personally," Lin Qian said, extending his hand to Ye Xin.

With a smile, Ye Xin took his hand in hers.

Watching the couple, Wei Wushuang clicked his tongue in mock disapproval. "This is your business, you young ones. I won't interfere," he said, leaving the command room with a smirk.

In the grand hall at the center of the warship, a luxurious feast had already been set up. The food, with its rich colors, aromas, and flavors, was tantalizing, making those present eager to dig in. The intoxicating scent of fine wine filled the hall, causing those already seated to close their eyes and inhale deeply.

"Grandfather, why do you think Lady Ye is hosting us with such a grand feast today?" A young man seated at the table asked, looking much like a human but with eight arms adorned with circular suction cups.

The elderly Eight-Armed Sea Tribe member beside him waved one of his four hands dismissively. "It's only natural that she would return the courtesy after we've visited so many times."

The elder's words were met with nods of agreement from the six other Eight-Armed Sea Tribe members seated around the table.

As the grandfather and grandson continued their conversation, the hall's doors slowly opened, and two figures—a man and a woman—entered.

Seeing the pair, the Sea Tribe members were visibly surprised. Up until now, they had only been dealing with the warship's empress, Ye Xin. But who was this young man accompanying her?