The Peerless Emperor

(Third update complete; the weekend has arrived, and additional updates are starting.)

Yuan Xiang couldn't help but shake his head with a smile, "It's my own fault for trying to act mysterious, hoping you would listen to me obediently. After all, this matter concerns the safety of the Human Clan on the Soul Martial Continent."

"Although I've left the Soul Martial Continent a long time ago, in theory, matters concerning the Continent's Human Clan should be dealt with by you all. However, it is also my birthplace, and I did not make it back in time to lend a hand in the last major conflict. I absolutely cannot let the situation worsen this time."

After that, Yuan Xiang explained in detail the reasons, making Lin Qian and the others understand why this Small World was so important.

This Small World was originally discovered by Yuan Xiang, who naturally left his mark and took possession of it.

However, this Small World was very special, possessing five stable space cracks that could be used to construct gateways.

One of them was where Lin Qian and his group entered the Small World, and another was the entry point for the Sea Clan.

The two other gateways were naturally located among the Swift Hidden Clan and the Invisible Clan.

Yet the fifth gateway was by the heart of this Small World. Passing through this gateway would lead to the Xuan Mountain Range, in the heartland territory of the Human Clan.

Yuan Xiang was born in a small city on the edge of these mountains, which now naturally had become the Xuan Mountain Range, and that small city had naturally turned into Xuan City.

This Small World was discovered precisely when Yuan Xiang returned to his hometown. At the time, his Realm was not high enough to notice it when he left his homeland.

When Yuan Xiang reached this point, Lin Qian understood why Yuan Xiang said he wanted to give away the Small World to him!

If the Swift Hidden Clan and the Invisible Clan got their hands on this Small World, they could use the space crack by the heart of the world to go directly to the interior of the Human Clan's territory.

At that time, what specific events might unfold, no one knew. But one thing was certain: the heartland of the Human Clan would not be safe. The enemies of the Human Clan could continuously emerge from the heartland through this Small World and launch attacks.

This was not a situation that Yuan Xiang wanted to see.

Back in those circumstances, the Small World connected with the territories of the other three races, and Yuan Xiang thought of a way to transform this Small World into a trial ground for a blood battle of Life and Death, diverting the attention of the other three clans.

As the main person transforming this Small World, Yuan Xiang took advantage of a moment when the Artifact Refiners and Array Masters of the other three clans were not paying attention, and completely sealed the heart of the world to prevent others from discovering it.

All along, things had developed perfectly according to Yuan Xiang's plan—the Sea Clan, Swift Hidden Clan, and Invisible Clan had not found out, and even the Human Clan itself was unaware of this.

Yuan Xiang believed that to preserve this fifth gateway, his own people also must not know about it.

However, Yuan Xiang did not anticipate that Lin Qian and his group would become aware of an Ancient Era war that had broken out.

The Human Clan, Sea Clan, and other races had erupted into a world-shaking war with the Invisible Clan, Swift Hidden Clan, and other tribes, plunging the entire Soul Martial Continent into the flames of war.

During that period, there was no distinction between day and night, as the sky was shrouded by myriad soul powers, and the earth quaked and mountains shook from the Ancient war.

Yuan Xiang, observing the situation through the Small World, was unconcerned.

Leaving the Soul Martial Continent, he was freed from his fetters, and his strength improved by leaps and bounds, his vision no longer comparable to that of the Soul Martial Continent's inhabitants.

For Lin Qian and the others, the Ancient Era was very remote.

Especially for Lin Qian, who recalled in his past life, due to technological advancement, the average lifespan had increased to 120 years, but compared to this other world, lifespan was not an advantage.

Therefore, what they saw as the Ancient Era was, in Yuan Xiang's view, not long ago.

The war that swept through the Soul Martial Continent was, to Yuan Xiang, like a petty squabble between children—not a big deal at all.

But it was still his homeland after all. If the space crack vulnerability was not addressed, the possibility of the Human Clan's annihilation on the Soul Martial Continent existed.

The damage caused by enemies suddenly appearing in the heartland would be incalculable.

Therefore, Yuan Xiang planned to entrust Lin Qian with going to the heart of the world and inscribing his mark there to take control of this Small World.

To leave a mark upon the heart of the world, one's Soul Power had to be extremely strong.

Yuan Xiang also noticed that among the people of the Human Clan who entered this Small World, only Lin Qian's Soul Power met the requirements; the others could not even come close.

Especially after entering Lin Qian's Sea of Consciousness and being injured by the terrifying power of the Huaxia Empire's luck, Yuan Xiang was even more convinced that Lin Qian would be up to the task.

If Lin Qian could successfully become the new master of the world's heart, Yuan Xiang could rest assured that all of the soul energy in his remaining mark could be used to repair the Array he had originally set up around the world's heart.

Once the repaired Array is in place, the Swift Hidden Clan and Invisible Clan would no longer be able to use the incomplete power to send people above the Life and Death Realm into this Small World.

Breaking through the Array left by him at the Life and Death Realm? Apart from Lin Qian the freak, it was utterly impossible.

Therefore, Yuan Xiang placed all his hopes in Lin Qian.

As for Yuan Xiang's trust, Lin Qian had no reason to refuse. His original goal was to control the entire Small World and include it within the territory of the Huaxia Empire.

With such an opportunity directly presented to him, why would Lin Qian refuse it?

"Personally and for the sake of others, I seem to have no reason to refuse your request," Lin Qian gently nodded after listening to Yuan Xiang's explanation and responded, "But senior, how do I do it? How can I go to the heart of the world and leave my mark? Since this Small World currently belongs to you, you should be able to send us there with a thought, right?"

However, after Lin Qian finished speaking, Yuan Xiang's face also showed a hint of embarrassment: "My mark is now greatly discounted, and I no longer have the ability to control this Small World."

"That means..."

"You can only follow the rules of the trial, pass through the challenges one by one, and after earning enough points to exchange for the prize at the end, you will then be able to enter the center and leave your mark on the heart of the world."

Lin Qian looked astonished; he originally thought with yuan Xiang's help, he could easily obtain this Small World.

It looked like he had thought too much; getting this Small World was probably not that simple.

While they were chatting, Zhang Zide and the others had already returned from the distance.

What was unexpected, however, was that Zhang Zide and his group, who hadn't been gone for very long, already had some injuries, with only one member of Swift Wind at their side, and no trace of the others.