The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

Even if the strength of the Huaxia Empire exceeded their previous intelligence, it was still much stronger than expected.

But the Qin Dynasty, a thousand-year-old empire, was no small opponent. The sheer power of its military was daunting. Even when the three sects combined their forces, they found the Qin Dynasty's massive army challenging, and the outcome of a battle was uncertain.

In fact, according to their own estimations, the three sects didn't hold much hope of winning a direct confrontation with the Qin Dynasty.

Although the Huaxia Empire's strength was impressive, defeating the Qin Dynasty still seemed unlikely.

Some among them even felt a twinge of displeasure at Lin Qian's words.

Who did he think was causing trouble? It seemed to them that the Huaxia Empire would only be adding to the chaos, not helping.

"The old and new Qin emperors are indeed our responsibility, but in terms of the war with the Qin Dynasty, your Huaxia Empire should only assist. The Qin Dynasty is not like those small prefectures. Their army is vast," said Fang Shuiwen, seated at the head of the table, smiling at Lin Qian.

Yang Guixiang, sitting beside him, also nodded, trying to persuade Lin Qian. "The Qin army is renowned across the southern region for its exceptional combat ability. Compared to sect forces like ours, a nation's army holds a significant advantage in battle."

After the three elders finished speaking, they invited Lin Qian to sit down, and without saying much, he found a seat.

At that moment, the Eighth Elder, who had been kicked out by Lin Qian earlier, returned, now dressed in clean clothes. Upon entering the council hall, he immediately apologized to the three elders.

He then turned to Lin Qian, bowing deeply and pleading for forgiveness.

Watching this unfold, Lin Qian knew exactly why the Eighth Elder had returned. But instead of exposing him, Lin Qian smiled and invited him to sit by his side. "Since the Eighth Elder has acknowledged his mistake, there's no reason for me to hold a grudge."

The Eighth Elder narrowed his eyes in a smile as he took a seat next to Lin Qian, though a hint of malice flickered in his gaze.

With that matter seemingly settled, the council resumed discussions on the upcoming war with the Qin Dynasty.

While the three elders would handle the two Qin emperors, everyone else needed to figure out how to lead their sect disciples and those under their command into battle against the Qin Dynasty's army.

A direct confrontation was out of the question. Going head-to-head with the Qin army was like pitting their strength against a fortified wall—foolish at best.

"Based on our observations, the Qin Dynasty's vanguard has already reached the border of Shunshui Prefecture. After regrouping, they will likely move into Liujiang Prefecture," reported an elder of the Double Extremes Hall, responsible for gathering intelligence on the Qin Dynasty.

The elder went on to describe the enemy's positions in detail, suggesting that they set up an ambush along the vanguard's route.

The Qin army, composed of soul warriors, often used flight to travel. However, this also made them vulnerable to ambushes from above or below.

Still, the Qin Dynasty's vanguard, aware of the possibility of ambushes, would likely proceed with their usual tactics, confident in their ability to crush any attackers.

"What if we set up an ambush at Yuanye River, hiding our forces underwater to catch them off guard?" proposed one elder. His suggestion was met with nods of approval from many others.

"The Yuanye River is indeed a good spot for an ambush, but in the Liujiang Prefecture area, it's too narrow and shallow to conceal ten thousand troops," countered another elder from the Double Extremes Hall, who was more familiar with the terrain.

At that moment, the Eighth Elder sitting next to Lin Qian suddenly spoke up, suggesting, "In that case, why not enter the Yuanye River in Shunshui Prefecture?"

His words made everyone pause, and after a moment of thought, many elders' eyes lit up with realization and approval.

Brilliant!

The conflict in the Two Prefectures' Forest had blurred the border between Shunshui and Liujiang Prefectures, and neither side paid much attention to this area anymore.

It had become a chaotic battlefield for the younger generation, so even if they entered Shunshui Prefecture, the Qin Dynasty might not notice.

The Qin Dynasty was arrogant, never taking the three sects seriously, and certainly not the Huaxia Empire. Even though the Huaxia Empire had gained some fame, the Qin Dynasty still saw them as little more than a slightly stronger group of ants.

But ants nonetheless!

Just like when Lin Qian had entered Shunshui Prefecture, the Qin Dynasty had never expected such a move. And even if they did, they believed it would be a suicidal mission.

The three sects were well aware of the Qin Dynasty's attitude.

So, sneaking into Shunshui Prefecture for a surprise attack seemed like a brilliant plan.

"Good, Eighth Elder. You will lead this operation as a way to atone for your earlier greed!" Li Xiaotian stood and addressed the Eighth Elder.

He then turned to the elder with the bulbous nose. "Elder, you will assist him."

The elder grumbled but stood up to accept his orders.

Fang Yiping also instructed two elders from the Double Extremes Hall to assist the Eighth Elder, and Yang Yifan of Blood Spirit Valley followed suit, sending two elders to join the operation.

"Why not have Emperor Lin of the Huaxia Empire accompany them? We all know his combat prowess, and he could make a significant impact in the battle."

"Winning this fight would also boost Emperor Lin's reputation, wouldn't it?"

Hearing the Eighth Elder's suggestion, Lin Qian glanced at him and then chuckled. "If victory is assured, why wouldn't I take the credit?"

Seeing Lin Qian agree, the Eighth Elder nodded with a smile and cupped his hands to the others. "I will ensure our alliance secures this first victory and redeem myself for my greed!"

"Success is essential!" declared the leaders of the three sects.

This first clash with the Qin vanguard was critical, as its outcome would greatly influence both sides' morale. Failure was not an option.

Throughout the meeting, Zhou Yian had been observing Lin Qian closely. He noticed that when the Double Extremes Hall elder reported the intelligence, Lin Qian had smirked.

As the discussions progressed, Lin Qian's expression remained one of disdain, as if he were watching a group of fools.

After the meeting concluded and everyone left to prepare for the upcoming war, only four people remained in the council hall: Lin Qian and the three elders.

Lin Qian looked at them for a long time before finally speaking. "What have I done to deserve such care from you three?"

"To have your favored disciples risk their lives for me in the ruins, and now to be willing to go to war with the Qin Dynasty to protect my empire..."

He paused, his voice becoming more serious. "Why?"

The three elders fell silent. After a moment, Zhou Yian sighed and spoke first. "In time, you will understand."

Lin Qian was quiet for a moment, then nodded. If they didn't want to explain, he couldn't force them.

"By the way, during the meeting, you kept smirking. Why?" Zhou Yian suddenly asked, curious.

"Oh, nothing much. I planned to set a trap for the Eighth Elder, but it turns out he jumped into it himself," Lin Qian replied with a grin. "And if you're wondering why I targeted him, it's simple—he's a spy for the Qin Dynasty!"