The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

"What?" Lin Qian's brow furrowed in confusion as he scanned his surroundings, but he didn't see any extra figures.

The faint voice he heard earlier felt like a hallucination, possibly brought on by the fire poison coursing through his veins. Dismissing it, Lin Qian focused on the immediate and pressing danger before him.

By the time Lin Qian stood upright, panting heavily, the three figures who had emerged from the lake had already bypassed him and were now standing beside Liang Ren.

Despite having just emerged from the water, the three figures were completely dry, their black-trimmed red robes spotless.

These newcomers were undoubtedly also disciples of the Overlord Blade Sect, and like Liang Ren, they exuded the powerful aura of Nirvana Realm Soul Martialists.

Among them were two elderly men with white hair and beards, their auras tinged with a mysterious and intricate energy—an aura Lin Qian recognized as that of formation masters.

It was clear these two elders had limited potential as Soul Martialists but possessed some talent in formations, leading them to specialize in this area. Their presence here suggested they were brought along to break the seal his father had placed on the relic.

After all, a seal was simply another form of a formation.

The third newcomer was a younger man with a delicate, almost feminine appearance, a faint, insincere smile on his face. To Lin Qian, this smile was repulsive.

"Fu Yuxiang, so it really was you who betrayed the Myriad Image Sect!" Lin Qian growled through gritted teeth as he glared at the man.

A year ago, when Lin Qian had first arrived at the Myriad Image Sect under his master's guidance, he had met the sect's mole who had been assigned to infiltrate the Overlord Blade Sect. That mole was none other than the delicate-looking man standing before him, Fu Yuxiang.

By falsifying reports about the strength and composition of the Overlord Blade Sect's forces being sent to Bashan City, and by embedding himself within those forces to explore the relic, Fu Yuxiang's betrayal was undeniable.

"To think that the boy I once knew has now become the famed 'Lesser Emperor.' You're still standing despite being struck by Brother Liang's fire poison—impressive." Fu Yuxiang turned to face Lin Qian, clapping slowly in mock applause.

"Was it you who sold out Senior Brother Qi's team?" Lin Qian asked, his voice filled with barely contained fury.

"Senior Brother Qi was so formidable. When he ventured into the Overlord Blade Sect's territory, of course I had to help them out a bit," Fu Yuxiang replied with a nonchalant smile, curling a lock of hair around his finger. "He was foolish enough to share his plans with me without informing anyone else. Selling him out for a reward from the Overlord Blade Sect was a risk-free opportunity."

"You were nothing but a beggar before Senior Brother Qi took you in, raised you, and brought you to the Myriad Image Sect, allowing you to become a Soul Martialist. He treated you like his own brother, and yet you betrayed him!" Lin Qian spat, his voice trembling with rage.

Senior Brother Qi had been responsible for guiding new disciples within the sect. When Lin Qian first joined, it was Qi who had helped him adjust, earning the respect and admiration of many junior disciples.

However, half a year ago, when Qi and a team of 46 Myriad Image Sect disciples ventured into the Overlord Blade Sect's territory on a mission, they were ambushed. Not a single one returned alive.

The truth was that they had been betrayed by the very person Qi had considered a brother—Fu Yuxiang.

"Brother? Who cares? I couldn't stand his pitying gaze, treating me like some charity case. I don't need his pity. So what if I was a beggar?" Fu Yuxiang's voice grew agitated, his pale face flushing with anger as he glared at Lin Qian.

"You're worse than an animal!" Lin Qian spat on the ground in disgust, his eyes cold and full of contempt.

"Hahaha…" Fu Yuxiang laughed, shaking his head at Lin Qian. "A wise bird chooses the best tree to nest in. Being a mole for the Myriad Image Sect, living in constant fear within the Overlord Blade Sect, it was all too much. So, I decided to join the Overlord Blade Sect instead. Life has been much more enjoyable since."

"Watching former comrades die, unaware of who betrayed them—it's thrilling."

Lin Qian felt a wave of nausea at the sight of Fu Yuxiang's smug expression.

Bashan City, located at the border between the Myriad Image Sect and the Overlord Blade Sect's territories, was a place where both sects exercised strict vigilance. The Overlord Blade Sect's forces, as reported by Fu Yuxiang, had supposedly lacked any Nirvana Realm experts.

This information had led the Myriad Image Sect to relax their border patrols slightly, allowing the Overlord Blade Sect's team to slip through.

However, the Myriad Image Sect could never have anticipated that Fu Yuxiang, who was thought to be deeply loyal due to the tragic loss of his beloved Senior Brother Qi, had orchestrated the entire betrayal.

Now, with the truth laid bare, Lin Qian was overcome with a profound sense of betrayal and despair.

"I might as well tell you," Fu Yuxiang continued with a mocking grin, "the team sent this time includes ten Nirvana Realm experts and a hundred Formation Realm disciples. Even with the appearance of the mighty 'Lesser Emperor,' there's nothing you can do."

"Killing you will be a major achievement."

Lin Qian's face turned ashen at Fu Yuxiang's words.

If what he said was true, then Bashan City was utterly doomed.

Even if Lin Qian hadn't been poisoned by Liang Ren, even if he were at his peak, he couldn't possibly withstand ten Nirvana Realm experts.

No matter how strong his body was, no matter how terrifying his combat abilities, he was still only at the Formation Realm and had only been cultivating for a little over a year!

"Fu Yuxiang, I can help you unlock the seal on the relic beneath the lake," Lin Qian offered, taking a deep breath and trying to suppress his rising panic.

"Oh?" Fu Yuxiang raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. The seal on the relic had indeed been a significant obstacle, and now Lin Qian was offering to help. "But I assume there's a condition?"

"Swear a blood oath that no one in Bashan City will be harmed, and I will help you break the seal."

Fu Yuxiang's response was immediate, shaking his head with a smile, "Since you're asking for a blood oath, it means you don't trust me. It's unfortunate, but this deal can't be made. Our primary mission is to annihilate the Ye family and kill their patriarch, Ye Nanxin."

"What?" Lin Qian's eyes widened in shock, unable to comprehend why their primary target was Ye Nanxin.

Lin Qian's body trembled with anger and helplessness. Was he really going to die here, and watch as Ye Nanxin was killed, the entire Ye family and Bashan City wiped out?

He still hadn't found his parents, hadn't shared the news that he could now cultivate, hadn't reunited with Ye Xin, and his master's poison hadn't been cured.

There was so much left unfinished, and now he was going to die at the hands of such a vile man…

The more Lin Qian thought about it, the more his emotions surged, until he finally let out a furious roar.

"I won't accept this! I won't!"

"Hahaha, scream all you want. No one's coming to save you," Fu Yuxiang taunted, laughing as Lin Qian vented his frustration.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Suddenly, the sound of metal clashing echoed from behind Lin Qian.

He slowly turned around, bewildered, to see a massive, tightly-knit army that had appeared out of nowhere.

At least a thousand soldiers, clad in heavy armor, suddenly knelt on one knee, their fists striking their chests as they shouted in unison, their voices resounding through the valley.

"All hail the Emperor!"