Lin Qian looked at the man before him and chuckled. "Back then, your Zhenyuan Sect requested that the Huaxia Empire refrain from setting up soul cannons along our border, claiming it was unfriendly. I granted your request."
"And what happened? The Yuheng Dominion passed freely through your territory to launch a sneak attack on the Huaxia Empire's Qingshui Prefecture. Your Zhenyuan Sect didn't even offer us a word of warning, not even in secret."
"Even if you feared the strength of the Yuheng Dominion, I could have understood that. But what I can't fathom is why your people decided to join Yuheng's forces in causing chaos in our territory."
As Lin Qian spoke, his voice was filled with anger. At that time, the Stormwinds, Shadowstalkers, and scout beasts hadn't yet spread across the region, so there was no way to detect the sneak attack on the Huaxia Empire.
"As for whether I understand the extent of my reach, Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect, you'll find out soon enough," Lin Qian said coldly, his gaze fixed on the man before him.
"This Zhenyuan Mountain is an eyesore. Flatten it for me—we'll use the land for farming!"
With Lin Qian's command, the two Skyborne Warships that had been positioned around the area began to slowly move aside, making way. Meanwhile, the Renhuang Wudi ship gradually ascended.
Standing at the forefront of the ship, Lin Qian looked down with cold detachment at the Zhenyuan Sect's Sect Master, who still appeared confused.
"Flatten the Zhenyuan Sect? Impossible, you—" The Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect began to laugh, believing it was inconceivable. Their mountain gate's defensive formation had been reinforced and upgraded with the help of the Yuheng Dominion.
But then, the Sect Master found himself unable to laugh anymore.
In the distance, he saw a massive metal behemoth rapidly accelerating towards them. As the distance closed, the Sect Master could make out the monstrous features of the advancing object more clearly.
A warship crafted entirely of metal, its front end featuring a spinning drill, radiating a terrifying aura as it hurtled toward Zhenyuan Mountain.
The Sect Master's pupils contracted as he instinctively dodged to the side, just as the metal beast shot past him and crashed directly into Zhenyuan Mountain.
The defensive formation, enhanced by the Yuheng Dominion, twisted and shattered upon impact with the metal drill, crumbling into fragments before the Sect Master's disbelieving eyes.
The ferocious metal beast burrowed deep into Zhenyuan Mountain, piercing the sect's gates.
Rocks and soil flew in all directions, and countless sect buildings were pulverized. Cries of agony echoed throughout the Zhenyuan Sect's mountain gate.
But unlike the battle in the ancient forest, this Assault Warship, after plowing into the Zhenyuan Sect's mountain gate, slowly came to a halt, toppling over amid the collapsing mountains.
The Assault Warship was designed differently, with its controlling formation pre-set based on strategic conditions.
During normal flight, the formation was operated by scholars from the Tiangong Department. However, before an assault, these scholars would thoroughly study the enemy's situation and map out a detailed attack plan. They would then pre-program the warship's course and actions through the formation before evacuating.
As a result, there was no one aboard the Assault Warship at this moment.
Such a devastating impact had immediately shattered the defensive formation of the Zhenyuan Sect's mountain gate and toppled five of its peaks, including the main one. These events happened so quickly that the Sect Master was left in a state of shock.
But now, the Assault Warship had adopted a different posture—it lay quietly at the center of the Zhenyuan Sect's mountain gate.
If Yue Liqiu were here, he would have noticed that this Assault Warship was different from the one he had seen before; it had no magma soul cannons mounted on it.
Instead, the sleek, smooth surface of the warship began to glow with crimson formation lines, which gradually spread out, connecting with each other.
The Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect, still reeling from the recent events, was left in a daze as he observed the behemoth. The defensive formation had been shattered in an instant, and the five mountain peaks had collapsed—everything happened so quickly that he was at a loss.
Just then, a black sleeve embroidered with a golden dragon appeared before him, with a hand extending from it.
In the next moment, another hand reached from behind him and grasped his neck. When the Sect Master turned his head, he found himself staring into Lin Qian's youthful face.
"I just can't understand it. When the Huaxia Empire annihilated the Qin Dynasty, most of the forces in the Southern Region sent observers to witness our strength. Why then did they still think they could devour us?" Lin Qian mused, turning to look at the heavily wrinkled face of the Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect.
"Perhaps it's because they were narrow-minded, and couldn't see beyond their own little worlds. The Qin Dynasty, despite being a prominent force in the Southern Region, was but one of over thirty such powers, and it was already in decline. Destroying it, what's the big deal?" The Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect stared back at Lin Qian, cold sweat dripping from his brow as he tried to suppress his fear. "Lin Qian, it's not too late to turn back now. If you challenge the entire Southern Region, you'll only bring about your empire's destruction."
"You see, the actions of the Yuheng Dominion, along with the threats from the Kuanglang Sect and Guiyuan Valley, made me realize that in this world, you have to be tough with others, or they'll see you as weak."
"And your Zhenyuan Sect's behavior made me understand that considering others' feelings and taking a step back will only make them push their limits, even harming my people."
"A while ago, a group of people provoked me, saying I should challenge the entire Southern Region if I dared." Lin Qian glanced at the crimson formation lines growing brighter on the Assault Warship before returning his gaze to the Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect, who was still locked in his grip. "I suddenly realized that by showing goodwill, the entire Southern Region saw the Huaxia Empire as a fat, easy target."
For reasons unknown, the Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect felt a growing sense of unease as he watched the crimson formation lines on the Assault Warship become more intense.
"Tell me, how much do you think that Assault Warship, which just demolished your mountain gate, would fetch if sold?" Lin Qian suddenly asked the Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect, seemingly out of nowhere.
"At least two billion high-grade soul crystals, or two million top-grade soul crystals," the Sect Master estimated after a moment of silence. "Lin Qian, what exactly are you planning?"
"Nothing much," Lin Qian replied with a smile. "I just want you to understand whether the Huaxia Empire challenging the entire Southern Region is truly overestimating itself. You know what they say—when you have soul crystals, you can do as you please." Lin Qian's smile widened. "Ever seen a fireworks display worth two billion high-grade soul crystals?"
"I haven't," the Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect instinctively replied, only for his expression to change drastically.
At that moment, the smooth surface of the Assault Warship lying at the center of the Zhenyuan Sect's mountain gate suddenly erupted with blinding crimson light.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of terrifying explosions echoed out. The Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect could only watch in horror as the fiery red light expanded wildly, only to suddenly contract into a single point of dark red electricity.
Boom!
A sea of crimson flames burst forth, the ground collapsing inward as a mushroom cloud rose, engulfing the entire Zhenyuan Sect and its mountain range.
Lin Qian, his soul power condensed before him, remained unfazed by the catastrophic explosion, smiling as he turned to the terrified Sect Master of the Zhenyuan Sect beside him. "So, now you've seen it. Feel the power of wealth, Sect Master."