The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

Lin Qian took a deep look at the Qin Imperial Army and city guards in the distance, then chuckled lightly. With a swift leap, he plunged into the rushing waters of the Shunshui River.

The roaring waters, surging forward with great force, couldn't even budge Lin Qian as he moved through the current. The water struck him as if it were hitting a solid wall.

Lin Qian sank straight to the riverbed, where he donned a water-breathing soul artifact over his face. Although his physical strength allowed him to hold his breath underwater for a month, it was far more comfortable to use the artifact.

The Shunshui River was both deep and wide. Once Lin Qian reached the riverbed, no one would be able to detect him unless a powerful Soul Awakening Realm expert specifically searched for him.

For added security, Lin Qian activated a soul artifact that concealed his presence within a range of several dozen miles. He then summoned craftsmen from the Huaxia Empire and produced the materials needed to construct soul cannons.

"Your Majesty!" the craftsmen saluted as they appeared before him, but Lin Qian quickly waved them off. "No need for formalities. We don't have time for that. Start setting up the soul cannons immediately."

"Yes, sir!"

Upon receiving Lin Qian's orders, the craftsmen donned their water-breathing soul artifacts and began working. The bubbles they exhaled burst against a light barrier above them, unable to rise.

This barrier was created by a long staff with golden bands at both ends, planted firmly in the riverbed near Lin Qian. The staff emitted a golden aura that calmed the waters within a several-mile radius, leaving the area still, unlike the turbulent currents outside.

The artifact was none other than the Sea-Calming Rod.

Although Lin Qian couldn't fully wield the Sea-Calming Rod due to its immense power, its mere presence stabilized the area. The rod had been sealed by one of the most powerful beast commanders in Lin Qian's army, a being whose status rivaled that of Ao Zun.

As the craftsmen continued to build the underwater soul cannons, Lin Qian gently stroked the Sea-Calming Rod. He recalled how he had acquired it in his previous life through a special in-game package that had cost him a hefty 90,000 Huaxia coins.

The package not only contained the Sea-Calming Rod but also a top-tier beast commander and additional items and materials. Many players had spent money trying to get the package, with some lucky ones winning it for as little as 100 Huaxia coins. Lin Qian, however, had only succeeded after spending a fortune.

Back in the Huaxia Empire, a fierce battle was underway in the skies. Suddenly, one combatant was sent flying, struggling to regain his balance. This figure was none other than Guan Yi, known for his immense strength.

"Heh heh, you thought taking away my staff would give you an advantage, huh? Red-faced brat, you're far from it!" his opponent taunted with a mischievous laugh.

Guan Yi could only shrug helplessly. "Even without your staff, I fought without my crescent blade. It's fair. But if we really fought seriously, who knows who'd win?"

"Heh heh, true. But for now, you lost. If you're not satisfied, wait until the Emperor returns my staff, and we'll go another round."

"If you get that staff back, there's no point in fighting! Even if I don't lose, it'll still be a pain," Guan Yi retorted, shaking his head before turning away.

His opponent laughed again and performed a somersault before disappearing into the distance.

Life in the Huaxia Empire was vibrant, with countless activities taking place—like the recent skirmish. Back underwater, the first ten soul cannons were successfully constructed, spread out over a wide area.

These cannons were far more powerful than the ones Lin Qian had previously built in the Four Directions World. Placing them too close together would reduce their effectiveness.

The cannons, known as heavy cannons, had a long cooldown time. They could fire two consecutive shots, but after that, they'd need three days to cool down. Although their projectile speed was slow, their destructive power was immense.

"On to the next location!" Lin Qian declared as he pulled the Sea-Calming Rod from the riverbed. Despite its weight, which caused his arms to tremble, Lin Qian managed to carry it downstream to the next site.

Upon arriving at the new location, Lin Qian planted the rod again and instructed the craftsmen to continue setting up heavy cannons. Without the Sea-Calming Rod's protection, the previously constructed cannons now had to withstand the river's force on their own. But the heavy cannons remained firmly in place, unaffected by the turbulent waters.

Their dark barrels pointed toward the surface, ready to unleash a deadly strike upon Lin Qian's command.

The craftsmen worked quickly, and within a single day, they had set up forty heavy cannons. By the time five hundred heavy cannons were installed along the riverbed, Lin Qian discreetly emerged from the water to scout the Qin Dynasty's forces. He discovered that their numbers had swelled to 1.5 billion.

Quietly retreating to the dense forest along the riverbank, Lin Qian ordered the craftsmen to set up more soul cannons, this time deploying lava cannons.

In the previous game, Lin Qian wouldn't have dared to build turrets so close to the enemy's gathering point. The enemy would have deployed scouting units, making such an operation impossible without a distraction.

But here, it was different. The Qin Dynasty's forces weren't even patrolling the area. They probably believed that no one would dare sneak into their territory to set up weapons.

The first light cannon was completed, its base glowing with formation energy. The barrel slowly moved, emitting a deep rumble.

Click.

With a crisp sound, the cannon locked into place, its barrel aimed directly at the Qin Dynasty's army.

Unaware of the danger, the Qin Dynasty's soldiers continued their preparations, oblivious to the fact that the Huaxia Empire, which they had dismissed as insignificant, had already bared its fangs.