The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

Inside the bedroom, Lin Qian lay sprawled out on the bed, a look of pure contentment on his face. "This familiar scent... When I go back to the Myriad Image Sect, should I bring this bed with me?"

There was an old saying back in his hometown on Earth: "A golden nest or a silver nest can't compare to your own doghouse."

Lin Qian had lived in this courtyard for twelve years.

"My future father-in-law is really good to me. They say a son-in-law is like half a son, but he truly treats me like his own," Lin Qian said as he flipped over and sat up, looking around the clean and tidy bedroom with a sigh of gratitude.

This bedroom in the courtyard had never been occupied, yet it was spotless, clearly indicating that Ye Nanxin regularly had people clean it, keeping it ready for his return.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lin Qian flipped his hand, and a narrow-at-the-top, wide-at-the-bottom crystal bottle appeared in his palm. The bottle was transparent, adorned with golden patterns.

Inside this transparent crystal bottle, a faint purple liquid gently swirled.

This bottle containing the faint purple liquid was none other than the experience potion!

Lin Qian uncorked the bottle and downed the experience potion in one gulp. Instantly, his entire body felt unbearably hot.

As soon as he drank the experience potion, Lin Qian could clearly feel the soul power within him surging, its circulation speed significantly increasing.

He immediately calmed his mind and began to operate the unique technique his master had taught him.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged toward him, entering his body through his pores and orifices, transforming into pure soul power that circulated endlessly.

Simultaneously, the vortex within Lin Qian's dantian continuously spewed out pure spiritual energy, which was converted into soul power by his technique.

The spiritual energy produced by the vortex was ten times the amount Lin Qian could absorb from his surroundings!

This mysterious white vortex was Lin Qian's bizarre martial soul.

For most Soul Martialists, their martial souls took the form of weapons, but his was this strange white vortex.

Lin Qian was certain this vortex was a martial soul because if it weren't, he wouldn't be able to cultivate.

Even when he wasn't actively cultivating, the vortex would slowly emit a steady stream of spiritual energy that washed over his body.

This extraordinary function meant that he was constantly cultivating, his body being continuously refined by the spiritual energy, making it far stronger than that of any martial artist at the same level.

Beyond this, the vortex had a storage function and could also produce potions from the virtual national war game of his previous life.

Lin Qian had once tried to explore the vortex with his consciousness, but all he could perceive was a familiar sky. He couldn't sense anything, even the items he had stored inside.

Yet, if he gave the vortex a command to retrieve something, it would instantly eject the item.

What puzzled Lin Qian even more was that the vortex could eject potions just like the items he retrieved.

When he wanted an experience potion, the vortex would produce one. If he wanted a healing potion, it would produce a rejuvenation potion. If he wanted a soul power recovery potion, it would produce a restoration potion.

The so-called rejuvenation and restoration potions were what players typically referred to as red and blue potions.

Even in that nightmarish place where Lin Qian couldn't afford to relax for a moment, he was utterly baffled by his martial soul.

However, it was thanks to these rejuvenation potions that he managed to heal his current master and escape that nightmarish place.

There is always a trade-off. Because of the peculiar nature of his martial soul, Lin Qian had yet to achieve true weaponization.

"Even so, I'm confident I can dominate this world," Lin Qian thought with a look of confidence on his face as he immersed himself in his cultivation.

Soul power surged through Lin Qian's body, enhancing his cultivation and refining his physique, as time quietly passed during his practice.

For a Soul Martialist, the initial focus is on the three foundational realms: the Entry Realm, the Condensation Realm, and the Formation Realm.

Absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body, refining it into soul power that circulates within and purifies the body, is the Entry Realm. Reaching this level marks the beginning of becoming a Soul Martialist.

When the soul power within the dantian forms a vortex that envelops the entire body, enhancing combat power, it's the Condensation Realm.

Upon advancing to the Formation Realm, a Soul Martialist can project their soul power outward, shaping it into powerful forms.

Each of these three foundational realms is divided into nine sub-levels. Currently, the top three Soul Martialists in Bashan City are the heads of the Ye family, the Bai family, and the Li family, each at the Formation Realm.

As for Lin Qian, his strength was also at the Formation Realm, and he had reached the fifth sub-level!

If Lin Qian's true strength were revealed, it would undoubtedly shock the entire Bashan City, leaving people in disbelief.

And if they knew that Lin Qian had only been cultivating for a year and a half, it would likely cause them to faint from shock.

"Hmm?" Just as Lin Qian was deeply immersed in his cultivation, he suddenly opened his eyes and stopped.

He had sensed a strong presence approaching him.

This presence wasn't concealed at all, clearly belonging to his future father-in-law, Ye Nanxin.

Lin Qian turned to look out the window, noticing it was already late at night. The room was dimly lit, with only the soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the window.

"Lin Qian?" came Ye Nanxin's inquiring voice from outside the door just as Lin Qian stood up.

Hearing this, Lin Qian quickly lit a candle and went to open the door.

Upon opening it, he saw Ye Nanxin standing outside, his expression somewhat worried. But upon seeing Lin Qian, the tight frown on his face instantly relaxed.

"Uncle Ye, it's late. What brings you here?" Lin Qian asked with a smile as he welcomed Ye Nanxin inside.

Ye Nanxin sat down at the table in the front hall of the bedroom and shook his head with a smile. "I saw there was no light in your courtyard and thought something might have happened, so I came to check."

"Come on, Uncle Ye, I'm in the Ye family, one of the three major families in Bashan City, and under your protection. What could possibly happen?" Lin Qian grinned, dismissing the concern. "But I think there's more to your visit than just that, right?"

"You've always been a sharp kid, much smarter than other children," Ye Nanxin said with a laugh. "You're right. I came to talk to you about our girl."

"Xin'er?" At Ye Nanxin's words, Lin Qian couldn't help but picture the gentle, smiling face of the girl in his mind.

"I know some people in the Ye family have been gossiping since your return, but let me assure you, your engagement remains unchanged," Ye Nanxin said, raising his right hand to give Lin Qian a firm pat on the shoulder. "This is also Xin'er's wish. You two have been close since childhood, and she's been thinking of you constantly."

"But I have to say, you've done well, getting along with the Myriad Image Sect disciples. Not only did they not accept the gifts, but they even called me Uncle Ye! Could it be that they're fond of you…?"

"…"

It took all of Lin Qian's efforts to dispel Ye Nanxin's wild speculations and send him off at the courtyard gate before they finally parted ways.

Returning to his room, Lin Qian sat down at the table.

On the table, besides the oil lamp, there was also a stack of unopened letters.

These letters were all from his fiancée, Ye Xin.

One letter per month. He had been away for four years, and there were a total of forty-eight letters on the table.

Opening the first letter, dated just after he was taken to that nightmarish place, Lin Qian unfolded the paper, revealing delicate handwriting.

"Xiao Qian, I've joined the Divine Sword Sect. My master is an incredibly powerful senior. I think that from now on, as long as I'm here, no one will dare to bully you…"

In the first letter, Lin Qian could tell that Ye Xin was still very happy at the time. She mentioned many amusing incidents from her time in the Divine Sword Sect.

"Xiao Qian, why haven't you come back yet? You promised to stay with me forever. How could you leave without a word…?"

In the second letter, Lin Qian could even see traces of tears on the paper, causing him to sigh deeply.

The third letter, the fourth letter…

As Lin Qian read through each letter, his brows furrowed more and more, and his breathing grew heavier. From the words on the page, he could clearly sense Ye Xin's deep feelings for him.

Ye Xin was a year older than him. When she was thirteen, she started to have romantic feelings. Lin Qian, having lived two lifetimes, entertained her with countless jokes and stories from his previous life on Earth, which caused her to cling to him ever since they were children.

In this world, marriages often happen early. His parents in this life had him when they were just eighteen!

Lin Qian could tell from the letters that Ye Xin was exhausted. With no news from him, she was desperate to find him.

However, Ye Xin's master had forbidden her from doing so, promising that she could only search for him after reaching the Nirvana Realm, the level above the foundational three realms.

Lin Qian knew that Ye Xin had never liked cultivating, but from the sword intent contained in the letters, her progress had been rapid, indicating the immense effort she had put in.

The last letter's handwriting was much more hurried than the previous ones, and the sword intent was chaotic.

It contained only four words.

"I miss you deeply!"

But Ye Nanxin had previously told Lin Qian that Ye Xin's master from the Divine Sword Sect had sent a message.

Ye Xin, in her eagerness to improve, had gone to a dangerous place to train on her own and nearly lost her life.

"Xin'er's master suggested that I make up a lie, telling her that you've returned to prevent her from risking her life again."

Those were Ye Nanxin's exact words.

"Silly girl…" Lin Qian murmured softly as he carefully stored the letters away.

"I'm no longer that useless person who couldn't cultivate. It won't be long before we're reunited, Xin'er. When that time comes, you're in for a surprise," Lin Qian said with a slight smile, placing the bundle of letters into his vortex martial soul, before gazing out the window.