The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

After leaving the outer hall of the treasury, Zhang Zide still felt like he was dreaming.

Thirty-six million top-grade soul crystals were already a considerable sum for him.

"Lin, my brother, your eye for treasures is truly extraordinary," Li Yunfeng said sincerely as he looked at Lin Qian, giving him a thumbs up. "I, Li Yunfeng, am thoroughly impressed!"

"I'm just as impressed," Zhang Zide added, nodding in agreement. "Your skills are truly remarkable."

It wasn't just the fact that they had exchanged the items they found for so many soul crystals; it was the sheer precision of Lin Qian's selections that left them in awe.

The appraisal elder, who had asked Zhang Zide about the prices paid for each item, was just as astonished.

Every single item Lin Qian picked had turned out to be a massive profit, without a single loss among them.

According to the elder, Lin Qian had likely scoured Houhai Street for every valuable item, leaving nothing worthwhile behind.

After exchanging some words of admiration, Zhang Zide handed Lin Qian the storage ring containing the soul crystals, asking him to keep it safe.

Although Zhang Zide and Li Yunfeng had provided the funds to purchase the items, Lin Qian had been the one to identify them, so the thirty-six million top-grade soul crystals rightfully belonged to him. However, they decided to keep the soul crystals pooled together for the upcoming Treasure Gambler's Fair.

Lin Qian accepted the responsibility without hesitation. After securing the soul crystals, he bid farewell to Zhang Zide and Li Yunfeng and headed back to the Eastern Branch Clan's temporary residence.

On his way, Lin Qian glanced down at the storage ring, reflecting on his situation.

The Hua Xia Empire was incredibly powerful, yet it was still in a phase of growth. On the Mystic Star, life was flourishing, and the population continued to increase.

For example, many civilians had studied and joined the Ministry of Industry, contributing to the empire's progress.

This was certainly a good thing, but it also came at a cost.

The Hua Xia Empire had evolved from a mere game into a tangible powerhouse under Lin Qian's control.

While the empire could produce soul crystals by harnessing the world's spiritual energy and mining resources, the amount was just enough to keep the empire running smoothly.

This delicate balance meant that while the empire had plenty of people and resources, it lacked sufficient funds—specifically, soul crystals.

This was why the funds used to purchase items at Houhai Street had come from Zhang Zide and Li Yunfeng.

After returning to the Eastern Branch Clan's residence, Lin Qian visited the Hua Xia Empire and discussed the situation with Zhuge Ming.

Zhuge Ming informed Lin Qian that the empire was likely to face a shortage of soul crystals in the future.

As the empire continued to grow and expand its territory, the demand for soul crystals would undoubtedly rise.

Additionally, as Lin Qian acquired more texts and knowledge, research within the empire would require more resources, including soul crystals.

Furthermore, in the event of future conflicts with other forces, the empire would need soul crystals to produce soldiers in its barracks.

While there was no immediate problem, Zhuge Ming emphasized the importance of preparing for the future. The empire needed to find ways to generate income and fill its treasury.

After hearing Zhuge Ming's concerns, Lin Qian explained the upcoming Treasure Gambler's Fair to him.

Upon learning about the fair, Zhuge Ming's eyes lit up as if he could see piles of soul crystals stacking up before him.

Zhuge Ming eagerly requested permission to personally lead the Ministry of Industry's elite in analyzing items at the fair, aiming to secure the Hua Xia Empire's first fortune.

Although the potential earnings from the Treasure Gambler's Fair might seem immense for factions like the Eight-Armed Sea Clan and the Carefree Sect, it would only be a drop in the ocean for the Hua Xia Empire.

Still, Zhuge Ming believed that a strong start would set a positive precedent. Even a small profit was still a profit, and with time, the empire's treasury would become robust and secure.

After leaving the Hua Xia Empire, Lin Qian sat on his bed, surrounded by an array that created a waterless space within his room.

"I never thought I'd reach a point where I'd have to earn soul crystals for the Hua Xia Empire," Lin Qian mused, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "But this makes things even more interesting!"

"In the past, when the empire's data reached its peak in the game, the developers intentionally opened a war event to let other servers attack me."

"At that time, the Hua Xia Empire had already reached the pinnacle, with no room for further growth."

"But now, things are different in this world. The integration of two cultivation civilizations offers endless possibilities for growth. Zhuge Ming's concerns about future soul crystal consumption show that we still have a long way to go—how exciting!"

At this moment, Lin Qian was bursting with enthusiasm.

As someone who thrived on building and developing, he found it frustrating when the game world reached its peak, leaving no room for improvement.

But now, with the prospect of further growth and the opportunity to make the Hua Xia Empire the strongest, Lin Qian was driven by a renewed sense of purpose.

"If the Hua Xia Empire was the top empire in the game, then in this new world, it must also become the strongest," Lin Qian declared, his eyes burning with determination.

Finally, Lin Qian had found a clear goal to strive for in this life.

"First, I'll cultivate and strengthen myself, then find ways to earn soul crystals!" With this resolve, Lin Qian sat cross-legged on his bed and resumed his cultivation.

The next day, the clan competition continued as usual. However, unlike the previous day, Zhang Zide and Li Yunfeng joined Lin Qian at the Eastern Branch Clan's viewing platform, chatting and laughing together.

Their camaraderie did not go unnoticed by Zhang Wenxuan, who frequently glanced their way, puzzled by how quickly Lin Qian had become close with these two renowned talents.