The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

Lin Qian ended the connection with Wei Wushuang through the tactical mirror, and the mirror returned to its calm state.

The purpose of this communication was to reassure his master and Ye Xin, letting them know about his real situation so they wouldn't worry about his current predicament.

"Senior, I don't quite understand," Ye Xin said, blinking her eyes curiously. "If Xiao Qian wants to control that small world, why doesn't he just have his subordinates wipe out those despicable races? Why does he choose to help the humans in that world and let them handle it themselves?"

She was puzzled, and her curiosity extended to why Wei Wushuang seemed to understand Lin Qian's reasoning.

"It's because of the past experiences of that small world," Wei Wushuang said as he gazed at the now dimmed tactical mirror. "Those people have lost confidence in their race, becoming overly self-conscious and inferior. If Lin Qian had no plans for that small world, he would have done as you said—directly exterminated the Dwarf Goblins and Giant Goblins and then brought the humans out of that small world, once and for all."

"But precisely because that brat has plans for that world, he's focusing on nurturing those humans, letting them fight for themselves. His goal is to help them regain their fighting spirit, restore their confidence in their race, and rebuild their dignity."

Wei Wushuang turned to Ye Xin and added, "Don't forget, those people call him 'Your Majesty' and refer to you as 'Empress.' My disciple wants to become the emperor of that small world, and those humans will be his subjects."

With that, Wei Wushuang turned and headed for the stairs, preparing to leave the cabin.

"I don't think my disciple would tolerate his subjects being a bunch of self-conscious, undignified people who don't believe in their own lineage."

As Wei Wushuang left the command room, Ye Xin remained in a daze, her thoughts racing. "Control the small world? Xiao Qian's subjects?"

Her mind couldn't help but conjure an image of Lin Qian, his expression proud and regal. Her cheeks flushed.

"Xiao Qian looks so handsome when he's not being gentle!"

Meanwhile, within the small world, Lin Qian, who was observing the Stone Tribe's preparations, suddenly sneezed. He rubbed his nose and muttered, "What's going on?"

Moments later, Shi Yun and Qin Xing hurried over to him. "Sir, the tribe members are all packed and ready to go."

Lin Qian nodded in acknowledgment, noticing the tribesmen gathering together.

As the people prepared to leave, they glanced longingly at their wooden homes, reluctant to part with them.

"Don't feel too attached; your future will be even better than this," Lin Qian said as he noticed their expressions, pointing upwards.

Suddenly, the members of the Stone Tribe were filled with confusion as darkness seemed to descend over them. It was as if something enormous was blocking the sky.

When they looked up in bewilderment, they saw a colossal object above them.

A warship!

Time passed quickly, and eight days later, the Dwarf Goblins and Giant Goblins had gathered, their excitement palpable as they charged south.

Though both races obeyed the Blackblood Clan's orders, they did not unite as one force. Instead, they invaded the southern region from both the east and west.

Every squad of Dwarf Goblins and Giant Goblins was led by a few Nirvana Realm warriors, each accompanied by a couple of hundred Shape Condensation Realm soldiers, advancing through the dense fog.

Despite the limited visibility, neither race was affected by the fog or its illusions.

With a clear knowledge of the human tribes' locations, they didn't worry about losing their way.

Every Dwarf Goblin and Giant Goblin eagerly anticipated the impending feast, including their commanders, who were in the Sky-Shattering Realm—the so-called "saints" of their species.

None of them questioned why the scouts they had sent out hadn't returned. In their minds, it was impossible for anything to happen to their comrades. They likely believed their scouts were already enjoying a feast.

The Black-Robed Lord had given them clear orders: capture all humans with soul power. As for those without, they could be enjoyed at their leisure.

Furthermore, the Black-Robed Lord had promised to take them out of this world, where even more delectable humans awaited them—if they completed his orders.

"Hahaha, human ants, your Giant Goblin masters are hungry!" came the sinister laughter of a Giant Goblin as it burst out of the fog and into the Stone Tribe, followed by several of its kind.

But as they surveyed their surroundings, they were dumbfounded.

The Stone Tribe was empty. Not a single human remained. And just outside the Stone Tribe, the bodies of their own—Giant Goblins and Dwarf Goblins alike—lay scattered.

"How dare these insects challenge us!" the Giant Goblin leader roared in fury. "Search everywhere! They can't hide for long!"

But it wasn't just this squad. Soon, Dwarf Goblins and Giant Goblins across the southern region began to discover that the human tribes had vanished. The villages were deserted.

And more disturbingly, they found their scouts—dead.

Enraged, the invaders intensified their search for the remaining human tribes, resting in the open areas where the fog had dissipated.

At first, the Sky-Shattering Realm commanders didn't think much of it. After all, in the past, humans would also retreat when the goblins invaded, constantly fleeing southward.

They assumed it was no different this time. The southern humans had likely fled to the farthest reaches again.

But to the Dwarf Goblins and Giant Goblins, this was a futile effort. Where could the humans possibly run?

"These pitiful humans probably don't even know that this is just a small world," one commander sneered during a break from the fog. "Beyond this lies a much vaster realm."

"Exactly. It's a shame—this race is doomed," another chimed in.

"If it weren't for the Black-Robed Lord, we would have continued to herd them like cattle. Wiping them out is almost an act of mercy," a third added, and they all burst into laughter.

But as more days passed, their laughter faded.

They had searched every known human village. But the humans had vanished.

The once-empty southern regions, devoid of dead trees, were also empty of people.

It was as if the humans had disappeared into thin air.

"Impossible! This can't be happening!" roared an eight-zhang-tall Giant Goblin, stomping the ground in fury. "Where have those insects gone? Where?"

In the Dwarf Goblins' camp, a muscular elder narrowed his eyes, staring toward the dense forest in the far south. "Could the humans have gone there? No, impossible. Entering that place would be suicidal. There's no way those cattle would dare."

But at that moment, the question of the humans' whereabouts haunted their thoughts, refusing to go away.