The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

"Humiliation? Anger?" Such emotions couldn't even begin to form in Ato's heart, as it was filled with nothing but pure terror.

This human youth, what kind of monster was he? Even though he was supposed to be at the same level as him, the strength he displayed was far too overwhelming.

Ato's own soul force, which should have provided formidable defense, was rendered useless against the young man's attacks.

He had earth-type soul force, known for its defensive capabilities.

Among the Giant Goblins, Ato was considered extremely gifted, particularly proud of his defense. Even his master, who had the power of a Saint, had praised the strength of his defenses.

But now, this seemingly insignificant human youth had shattered his pride.

Meanwhile, within the Stone Tribe, the other humans were utterly dumbfounded.

As they gazed at the pitiful state of the massive figure before them, they couldn't believe their eyes.

Was that really a Giant Goblin? How could it be so weak?

Everyone in the tribe shared this doubt, but the warriors who possessed soul force were the first to understand the truth.

It wasn't that the Giant Goblin was weak—they vividly recalled the immense pressure they felt when Ato first appeared. Their clothes were still damp with the cold sweat that had soaked through from sheer terror.

No, it was that the young man was simply too strong.

As they looked at the youth who had gifted them so much, they couldn't help but feel both gratitude and awe. They had already been impressed by his ability to blast open a massive crater with his soul force.

But none of them had expected him to be this powerful.

The Giant Goblins, who had always stood above them, capable of defeating five or six human warriors alone, now seemed as fragile as infants before him.

"My lord, you…" Standing beside Lin Qian, Shi Yun and Qin Xing were breathless, unsure of what to say. They exchanged glances, seeing only shock in each other's eyes.

In this small world, the idea that humans were weak compared to the Dwarf Goblins and Giant Goblins was deeply ingrained in every human's mind.

Even though Lin Qian had told them that humans were strong outside this world, they still couldn't shake their deep-seated beliefs.

Lin Qian could see this, and he understood. After all, the tragic plight and humiliating history of these people had shattered their confidence in their own race.

That was why he had questioned Ato—not because the answers mattered, but because he wanted to make a point. Even though he could have easily killed the Giant Goblin with a single strike, he chose to torment him instead.

His goal was to show the humans of this small world that their race was not weak.

"Answer my question, you trash!" Lin Qian's voice, cold and filled with soul force, echoed throughout the entire Stone Tribe, ensuring that everyone could hear.

Ato looked at Lin Qian in terror, not daring to speak, his mind racing with thoughts of escape.

Slash!

Before Ato could act, another blade of soul force sliced through the air, severing his left arm in a swift motion.

A scream of agony echoed through the skies above the Stone Tribe as Ato staggered, barely able to withstand the excruciating pain. Desperate to escape the horror that had befallen him, he tried to flee.

"What? Trying to run?" Lin Qian's voice reached Ato just as the thought of fleeing crossed his mind. When Ato turned his gaze back to the young man, he saw the mocking expression on his face.

In the end, Ato didn't move. He wanted to run, but he didn't dare.

"No, I'll talk! After attacking the previous human tribe, my fellow tribesmen went to search for the ones who had escaped. But I snuck over here because I remembered that there was another human tribe in this area."

In a panic, Ato quickly explained, fearing that if he hesitated for even a second, the human youth would strike him down.

"How many tribes do you Giant Goblins have?"

"Around two thousand, but I don't know the exact number."

"Why did you suddenly move south to capture humans?"

"Because a powerful person arrived and defeated our chieftain. He forced us to work for him."

Lin Qian's eyes narrowed as his expression darkened. "Just as I suspected, that Blackblood being is indeed up north. The Giant Goblins' sudden southern incursion is clearly his doing."

Seeing Lin Qian's grim expression, Ato misunderstood, thinking his answer had displeased the young man. He quickly added, "I-I also heard that those Dwarf Goblins are working for him too!"

"Good. As long as you keep answering my questions, I might just spare your life and let you go," Lin Qian said, before continuing, "What is the overall strength of the Giant Goblin tribe?"

Relieved to hear this, Ato eagerly replied, "We have about one hundred thousand warriors, a thousand at the Revered One level, twenty-four at the Saint level, and one at the God level—our chieftain."

One question after another followed, and Ato hurriedly answered each one, terrified of being too slow.

Meanwhile, the humans of the Stone Tribe began to gather closer, watching in disbelief as the Giant Goblin they had once feared so much now trembled and groveled before the young man.

Initially, their fear kept them at a distance. But as Lin Qian continued to question Ato, who obediently answered without hesitation, the humans grew bolder and drew nearer.

Gradually, the fear in their eyes faded, replaced by anger, satisfaction, and a newfound confidence.

They realized that humans could be strong too!

Humans could make the Giant Goblins cower, obeying their commands just to survive.

After Lin Qian had asked all his questions, he impatiently waved Ato away. "Get lost."

"Thank you for sparing me, my lord!" Ato repeatedly nodded his head in gratitude, turning to leave the Stone Tribe.

As he left the tribe's boundaries and was about to step into the fog, he suddenly froze in place. Confused, he looked down to see two golden blades of soul force had pierced his heart and throat.

As his life force rapidly drained away, Ato turned around, his gaze filled with confusion as he stared at Lin Qian, desperately seeking an answer.

"I told you I'd spare your life if you obeyed," Lin Qian said regretfully, shaking his head. "But I also told you to get lost, not to stand up and walk away. Did you think my words were meaningless?"

Ato's eyes widened in shock as he pointed at Lin Qian. His massive body collapsed into the fog, dying with his eyes wide open.