Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, Emperor Lin and Yun Yunyan clearly sensed the sound of something cutting through the air behind them. Turning around in surprise, they saw distant beams of light approaching, figures flying toward them at high speed.
Upon closer inspection, these figures were all clad in heavy armor, and every one of them was a peak Life and Death Realm warrior, hovering densely in formation behind Lin Qian. At the front of these forces were powerful Awakening Realm warriors of ruler-level strength, leading the army in strict formation as they followed Lin Qian.
The number of figures gathering from all directions rapidly increased, until they completely surrounded Lin Qian and his parents, with an estimated force of more than 100,000 soldiers.
However, Emperor Lin and Yun Yunyan were curious—they didn't see the wolf-man figure from earlier among them.
What they didn't know was that Lin Qian had already withdrawn the Imperial Army and Beast Generals who had been hunting down the Yun family in the Extreme Cold Zone, returning them to the world of Fantasy Star.
The troops surrounding them now were the initial force Lin Qian had deployed to scatter across the Valley of Myriad Herbs and Trees. Their task had been to place the control arrays developed by the Engineering Department's Zhuge Ming throughout the valley.
After thoroughly observing and studying the valley through the control arrays, Lin Qian's goal was to replicate such a place within Fantasy Star, transforming the territory of the Medical Department into a site for accelerated material production.
With his parents by his side, Lin Qian chose not to send these forces back into Fantasy Star for now. Instead, he simply allowed them to accompany him out of the valley.
"Qian'er, are all these people under your command?" Yun Yunyan asked curiously as they flew forward, glancing back at the massive army behind them.
Lin Qian nodded in response. "Yes, they are all soldiers of the Huaxia Empire. I dispatched them across the valley earlier."
"By the way, Qian'er, I've heard you refer to yourself as 'I, the Emperor,' several times. What's that about?" she asked, still curious about her son's unusual phrasing.
Lin Qian explained honestly, "I am the Emperor of the Huaxia Empire. It's a royal self-address, much like how a human emperor refers to himself as 'I, the Emperor,' or a grand emperor says 'I, the Sovereign.'"
After Lin Qian's explanation, both Yun Yunyan and Emperor Lin finally understood.
"Qian'er, are you sure it's wise for us to leave the Valley of Myriad Herbs and Trees like this?" Emperor Lin asked, growing concerned as they neared the valley's exit. "I might be able to handle one Yun family elder, but three of them at once could be quite difficult."
"Don't worry. I've already set traps around the valley. They won't be able to touch us," Lin Qian reassured him with a confident smile. "Just stay close to me, Father and Mother, and everything will be fine."
"We have a powerful backup ready."
Boom!
In a distant ancient city within the valley, inside a quiet bedroom, Yun Rong suddenly opened her eyes.
Thanks to a period of healing and restoration, Yun Rong no longer looked like her old self. She was now dignified and radiant, with jet-black hair and an elegant presence.
As her eyes snapped open, Yun Rong quickly looked toward the bed, her face filled with excitement.
The wooden bed in front of her had completely collapsed into fragments, and a cloud of dust enveloped the area.
In the bedroom, Yuan Supreme's figure appeared, watching the scene unfold with a smile. "Yun family lad, I must congratulate you. You've broken through to an even higher level."
Whoosh!
With a sudden gust of wind, the dust cloud dissipated, revealing a bare-chested man. Though appearing middle-aged, he still exuded a striking, mature charm, with a well-groomed beard and a refreshed, vigorous expression.
This man was none other than Yun Fan, Lin Qian's grandfather.
Yun Fan now looked completely rejuvenated, with no trace of his former frailty. His muscles were firm, and his body radiated explosive strength. The aura surrounding him clearly demonstrated his immense power.
Gazing down at his hands, Yun Fan could sense the profound transformation in his body, as though he had been completely reborn.
"The potion Qian'er gave me is truly incredible," Yun Fan said, clenching his fists as he looked over at Yuan Supreme. "Yuan Elder, my grandson..."
"Best not to ask me," Yuan Supreme chuckled, cutting him off. "Your grandson's abilities are beyond comprehension. Even Old Ancestor Yuan Xiang personally ordered the Yuan family to recognize him as the young master. I know very little about him beyond that."
Whoosh!
At that moment, a figure dressed in green robes appeared in the bedroom, bowing deeply to Yun Fan. "Honored Grand Duke, His Majesty has commanded that upon your awakening, you are to immediately proceed to the Valley of Myriad Herbs and Trees to aid him."
Surprised by the sudden appearance of this figure, Yun Fan accepted the clothes handed to him by Yun Rong and dressed quickly. "Grand Duke? His Majesty? What's going on?"
"The 'His Majesty' he speaks of is your grandson," Yuan Supreme explained with a smile. "He's already on his way to the Valley of Myriad Herbs and Trees to help his parents."
Hearing this, Yun Fan finally began to grasp the situation. Although he didn't fully understand what had happened, it didn't matter—his grandson needed his help, and that was all he needed to know.
"I'll set out immediately. Yun Rong, you stay here and guard the area," Yun Fan instructed, turning to his wife.
Yun Rong nodded gently. "Don't worry. I'll make sure everything remains safe here."
"By the way, with my current strength, I should be able to beat you now, right?" Yun Fan said playfully, glancing at his wife.
However, Yun Rong simply shook her head with a smile. "You're still far from it."
"Having such a talented wife is truly a headache," Yun Fan sighed with a chuckle. After a quick stretch, he disappeared from the room in an instant.
Yun Rong walked to the doorway, watching as Yun Fan flew off into the distance. "Please, all of you, come back safely."
Soaring into the sky, Yun Fan raced toward the Valley of Myriad Herbs and Trees, where tensions at the valley's entrance were rapidly building.
"Emperor Lin, Yun Yunyan!" As Emperor Lin and Yun Yunyan neared the valley's exit, they were immediately spotted by the Yun family members guarding the entrance, who glared at them with fierce intent.
The battle was about to begin.
If this had been the past, Emperor Lin and Yun Yunyan would have been in grave danger, forced to flee for their lives.
But with Lin Qian by their side now, the situation was entirely different.