The disciples of the Eight Mystical Hall soon disappeared from sight, while the Black Blade Fish Clan continued their journey without giving chase. Meanwhile, the one-armed member of the Black Blade Fish Clan savored the severed arm of the Eight Mystical Hall disciple, basking in the envious gazes of his fellow clansmen.
Lin Qian gradually dispersed the soul energy in his eyes, ceasing his observation of the Black Blade Fish Clan. His brows furrowed as he pondered deeply.
Seeing Lin Qian's troubled expression, Ye Xin walked up to him. "Xiao Qian, is something wrong? You don't look well."
"Of course, I'm not well. How could I be when I see my fellow humans being treated like food by another race?" Lin Qian sighed, and with a wave of his hand, a memory crystal appeared. Infusing it with soul energy, the events he had just witnessed played out for the others to see.
After watching the entire scene, Ye Xin covered her mouth, remaining silent as she stood close to Lin Qian. Li Yunfeng, on the other hand, clenched his teeth so hard they cracked, his knuckles turning white as his grip tightened. His aura grew wild with rage, and he immediately demanded to know where those despicable creatures were so he could go and kill them.
If someone had fallen in battle due to being outmatched, it would have been understandable. After all, they were opponents, fighting over interests, and there was some dignity in that. But what the one-armed member of the Black Blade Fish Clan had done—treating humans as food—was no different from treating them like livestock. The sheer humiliation was something Li Yunfeng could not bear, and he was on the verge of losing control.
Zhang Zide, Zhang Qi, and Zhang Wenshuan all shared the same dark expressions. The actions of the Black Blade Fish Clan were a disgrace to the entire sea race.
The various tribes within the sea race had their own distinct cultures and traditions. Though they were proud and considered themselves noble, they held certain standards and dignity. Consuming other intelligent races was something they considered beneath them.
Lin Qian was aware of this. Back when he first encountered the Shark Clan, he had been curious and asked Zhuge Ming if the sea race ate humans. Zhuge Ming had analyzed ancient texts and concluded that the sea race, due to their pride, would not engage in such practices.
But what had just occurred shattered Zhuge Ming's assumptions, leaving Zhang Zide, Zhang Qi, and Zhang Wenshuan furious at the disgrace brought upon their race.
Li Yunfeng wanted nothing more than to charge forward and annihilate the Black Blade Fish Clan, especially that one-armed monster. Lin Qian felt the same, as did Ye Xin. Zhang Zide, Zhang Qi, and Zhang Wenshuan were all eager to cleanse their race of this shame by cutting the Black Blade Fish Clan into pieces.
But logic told them they couldn't do it; they couldn't pursue the Black Blade Fish Clan. When the group had cleared a path earlier, they had clearly seen that the one-armed clan member referred to the leader of the Black Blade Fish Clan as "Master," who turned out to be the clan's chieftain!
The moment they recognized the chieftain of the Black Blade Fish Clan, Zhang Zide had cursed out loud. "Damn it, how did that old bastard get in here? He's at the Awakening Realm!"
Back at the entrance to the small world, they had seen the leaders of various factions hovering in the air, watching the portal closely. The Black Blade Fish Clan's chieftain had even exchanged friendly banter with Zhang Tianxin, as if the previous enmity between their clans had been completely resolved.
It was all so strange!
However, Lin Qian's scouting beasts had already spread out, and the forest of spirit trees was now under the observation of the Ministry of Works. He also received a report from Zhuge Ming about the imperial princess's situation.
After recounting the events, Lin Qian learned more about the princess's identity from Li Yunfeng.
"She's the fifth princess of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Yiyi—arrogant, domineering, and insufferable. Despite the distance between the Free Cloud Sect and the Qin Dynasty, her reputation precedes her," Li Yunfeng said with a sneer. "Although the Qin Dynasty has existed for over nine thousand years, they aren't invincible. Yet her despicable behavior is well known."
Li Yunfeng explained that Qin Yiyi's temperament was terrible, but her father, the current emperor of the Qin Dynasty, doted on her excessively. This indulgence, combined with the affection of her powerful brothers, had further fueled her vile behavior.
Despite her terrible character, the Qin Dynasty was incredibly powerful, ruling over thirty-two provinces. They had been allotted eighteen spots to enter the small world—far more than the Free Cloud Sect.
However, the Free Cloud Sect shouldn't be underestimated either!
While the Qin Dynasty had a nine-thousand-year history to establish its dominance, the Free Cloud Sect was a rising power, founded just over two hundred years ago by Zhou Yian. It had already secured control over nine provinces and gained a significant following. Along with other new forces like the Blood Spirit Valley and the Dual Pole Hall, which controlled eight and ten provinces respectively, the Free Cloud Sect had made a name for itself.
Yet even if these three emerging powers joined forces, they still couldn't match the might of the Qin Dynasty. Nine thousand years of history had built a foundation that couldn't be shaken in just two hundred years.
After explaining the situation, Li Yunfeng quietly observed Lin Qian, curious about his reaction. Offending such a colossal force—could even a genius like Brother Lin remain unfazed?
Li Yunfeng expected Lin Qian to show some anxiety or fear. To his surprise, Lin Qian's entire body trembled with excitement rather than fear.
Not only that, but Zhao Long, standing nearby, scoffed at Li Yunfeng's words. His aura radiated with tangible killing intent. "No need to worry. That so-called princess's actions are already a direct challenge to the Hua Xia Empire."
"And anyone who challenges the Hua Xia Empire will face one outcome: destruction."