The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

With Wei Wushuang's strength not fully restored, he couldn't offer much help to Lin Qian in this matter. All Qin Wushuang could do was prevent Lei Heng from personally taking action.

Their master, the old sect leader of Wanxiang Sect, had gone into seclusion fifteen years ago, seeking a breakthrough, and had not been heard from since.

Lin Qian, however, refused to bow down, firmly believing that he had done nothing wrong, and therefore had no reason to apologize. With both Wei Wushuang and Qin Wushuang unable to change his mind, they could only watch helplessly as Lin Qian walked into what seemed like certain death!

Forcing Lin Qian not to go through with it? That was out of the question as well. Violating the life-and-death duel contract would give Lei Heng an excuse to take action himself.

"Forget it. This kid has always been capable of miracles. Who knows, maybe he'll surprise the world once again," Wei Wushuang suddenly remarked as he watched Lin Qian walk into his room.

Hearing this, Qin Wushuang nodded thoughtfully.

Back when his senior brother brought Lin Qian to Wanxiang Sect, the tests clearly showed that Lin Qian had no martial soul.

Without a martial soul, one couldn't connect with the world's spiritual energy and refine it into soul power for cultivation.

Yet, against all odds, Lin Qian had managed to cultivate to the Soul Shaping Stage despite not having a martial soul, and his physical strength was terrifying.

Now, while others were saying that Lin Qian was an invincible Young Emperor at the Soul Shaping Stage but a half-waste with no future, destined to lose to Lei Qian in their duel, Qin Wushuang couldn't help but think:

"What if this kid… wins?"

But he quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought. "Impossible. No matter how strong Lin Qian is, he's still at the Soul Shaping Stage and can't perform Yuan-Weapon Armament. Lei Qian, on the other hand, has completed eight rounds of Nirvana and is already at the ninth stage of the Nirvana Realm!"

With a sigh, Qin Wushuang left, his mind preoccupied with ways to save his nephew from what seemed like a hopeless situation.

"Uncle, wait a moment!" Just as Qin Wushuang was about to leave, Lin Qian called out to him.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" Qin Wushuang asked, turning back to see Lin Qian rushing out of the room.

"Uncle, I need your help with something," Lin Qian said seriously. "I need copies of the sect's library texts."

"Copies?" Qin Wushuang was puzzled by Lin Qian's request but nodded nonetheless. "Sure, what kind of copies?"

"All of them!"

Qin Wushuang was so shocked he almost stumbled. "Are you messing with me? The library's collection includes texts on techniques, soul skills, alchemy, weapon crafting, formations, and even strange tales and historical records. The library holds more than seventy thousand texts. I can get the copies for you, but why do you need so many?"

Lin Qian's request seemed bizarre to Qin Wushuang. Even if Lin Qian planned to read them himself, there were only six days left before his duel with Lei Qian—hardly enough time to read them all. And selling them wasn't an option, as the texts were sealed by the sect's formation masters and couldn't be taken out of the Wanxiang Mountain Range.

"If I want to defeat Lei Qian, these texts are essential. Please, Uncle, help me with this," Lin Qian said, bowing deeply as he made his request.

Qin Wushuang could only nod and agree. "By noon, I'll bring you copies of all the texts in the library."

"Thank you, Uncle." Lin Qian smiled gratefully as he watched Qin Wushuang leave.

Wei Wushuang, who had been listening from the side, approached Lin Qian. "Do you really have a plan to deal with Lei Qian?"

"When have I ever disappointed you, Master?" Lin Qian replied with a confident smile.

Wei Wushuang thought for a moment and shook his head. "Never. You've always found a way to surprise me, turning the impossible into possible."

"In the previous generation, your title as War Emperor cast a shadow over all the soul warriors of Linhai Prefecture. As for me, my title as Young Emperor has become a joke." Lin Qian's gaze was firm as he looked at Wei Wushuang. "But soon, I'll make sure that the name of the Young Emperor will suppress everyone in this generation!"

Back at Wanxiang Sect, news of Lin Qian's return quickly spread.

Among the disciples, the topic of discussion was all about Lin Qian's upcoming life-and-death duel with Lei Qian.

Lei Qian was a genius among the inner sect disciples, and many believed that the outcome of the duel was already decided.

Most of the inner sect disciples looked down on Lin Qian. Lei Qian, the grandson of the Supreme Elder Lei Heng, was a prodigy with boundless potential. Lin Qian, on the other hand, was just lucky to have become War Emperor's disciple. Although he was unmatched at the Soul Shaping Stage, he was seen as a waste with no future.

Moreover, rumors had spread that War Emperor Wei Wushuang was on the brink of death.

"Humph, what kind of Young Emperor is he? He'll probably end up begging for mercy from Senior Brother Lei!"

"He shouldn't have meddled in the first place. Lei Heng's grandson taking a liking to that female disciple should have been an honor for her. Who does Lin Qian think he is, a righteous hero?"

"A bunch of first and second-round Nirvana warriors talking big. Lin Qian could beat you all down to the ground even at the Soul Shaping Stage."

"What goes around comes around. Lei Kun had it coming, and Lin Qian stood up for what's right. How can you blame him?"

Indeed, within the inner sect, there were those who disliked and despised Lin Qian, but there were also those who admired and supported him.

As for the outer sect and registered disciples, they were almost unanimously in support of Lin Qian.

Since Lin Qian was still at the Soul Shaping Stage, he often attended classes with the outer sect disciples and was known for taking care of his fellow disciples. His connections were strong.

His act of standing up for the female disciple had made him a hero among the registered disciples, who were generally looked down upon by the inner sect disciples.

Despite their support, however, many were deeply worried.

There was no denying Lin Qian's strength, but compared to Lei Qian, the gap in their realms was too wide.

Lei Qian could use Yuan-Weapon Armament, giving him a significant advantage.

A soul warrior at the ninth stage of the Nirvana Realm, who had undergone eight rounds of Nirvana, wielding a Yuan-Weapon Armament—Lin Qian's physical body might not be able to withstand that.

"Lei Qian has reached the peak of the ninth stage of the Nirvana Realm!"

The news of Lei Qian's breakthrough spread throughout the entire Wanxiang Sect.

At that moment, everyone, from the disciples to the inner and outer sect elders and instructors, understood one thing.

"Lin Qian is doomed!"

After hearing the news from his master, Lin Qian remained calm as he returned to his room. Once the door was closed, a white light flashed around him, and he disappeared from the room.

At the same time, a substitute puppet developed by Zhuge Ming, emitting Lin Qian's aura, lay down on the bed.

Returning to the Chinese Empire, Lin Qian appeared directly in the Grand Hall of the Ministry of Works.

Inside the hall, over a hundred thousand scholars were holding transparent windows made of condensed soul energy, each displaying a vast amount of information.

All of this information came from the texts that Qin Wushuang had provided.

"Your Majesty, with these data references, the Ministry of Works will quickly master the art of weapon crafting and create the most suitable Yuan-Weapon Core and Yuan-Weapon Components for you," Zhuge Ming reported, bowing to Lin Qian.

"At the same time, we'll develop soul skills that match your current realm, and the Emperor's Technique will be updated accordingly."

"Based on the texts on alchemy and herbs, we'll also make great progress in the development of potions."

Lin Qian nodded in satisfaction and looked at Zhuge Ming. "Prioritize the development of the Yuan-Weapon Core and Components. I'm eager to find out if…"

"Using both martial souls to perform Yuan-Weapon Armament…"

"Can turn that Lei Qian into potato chips!"