The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

At this moment, the five warships hovering in the air bore some resemblance to Lin Qian's own ship, yet they were vastly different.

The five warships were entirely constructed from azure blue metal, and the structures on the deck were made of azure crystals—materials favored by the sea tribe. Moreover, the ships were enveloped in a formation that contained seawater, creating the illusion of an ocean suspended in the sky.

Suddenly, Lin Qian pointed to one of the warships.

That azure warship immediately surged with seawater, which churned and swirled in midair, infused with the glow of the formation, forming a floating body of water.

With another wave of Lin Qian's hand, the seawater retreated back into the ship, restoring calm.

"This... this is incredible!" Zhang Nianxin and Zhang Nianyi were utterly astonished by the warships, particularly the one that had just showcased its water-manipulating abilities. The sea tribe warriors behind them were also intrigued, their eyes filled with wonder as they examined the ships. Clearly, these warships far exceeded their expectations.

"Considering that you are a sea tribe, the original warships wouldn't have suited you. These five warships were custom-made by the engineers and artisans of my empire, tailored specifically to the needs of the Eight-Armed Sea Tribe," Lin Qian explained.

"These warships can not only soar through the air but also navigate underwater. Although they fly at only half the speed of my own ship, their underwater speed is four times faster."

"With half a year remaining before your clan gathering, you should have more than enough time to reach your destination within two months. Since such gatherings are infrequent, I decided to optimize these warships for underwater travel rather than aerial flight."

"Additionally, while flying, the ships can create an extended water domain, allowing you to battle more effectively in your preferred environment even when attacked in the air."

"Furthermore, the interiors of the warships have been modified to replicate underwater conditions, ensuring your comfort while living aboard."

As Lin Qian calmly explained the features of the custom warships, the Eight-Armed Sea Tribe members listened in amazement.

"Of course, there are additional surprises within the warships that you can discover over time."

When Lin Qian finished speaking, he waited silently for their reaction.

After a moment of stunned silence, Zhang Nianxin and Zhang Nianyi hurriedly flew up to the warship.

Upon boarding, Zhang Nianxin gratefully extended one of his arms to shake Lin Qian's hand. "Emperor Lin, your generosity is beyond words. I don't know how we can ever repay this kindness."

The surprise and joy were overwhelming!

Neither Zhang Nianxin nor Zhang Nianyi had anticipated that, in exchange for their manuscripts, they would receive such an incredible gift.

Originally, the benefit of acquiring a warship was primarily the convenience it provided for travel to the main clan. After all, they were sea dwellers, and the ocean was their true home. Flying through the air was merely a necessity. Given enough time, they would have preferred to travel through the ocean.

But now, with these custom-made warships, they could not only fly but also traverse the sea even faster.

What's more, the warships' ability to create a water domain in the air resolved the disadvantage of their strength being reduced by 20% when away from the sea. This eliminated the risk of being at a disadvantage during an aerial battle.

"Actually, these warships are also equipped with offensive capabilities, known as soul force cannons..." Lin Qian continued, providing a detailed explanation of the warships' features, leaving Zhang Nianxin and Zhang Nianyi increasingly astonished.

At that moment, they fully understood why these were called warships rather than Yunzhou. Transporting people was merely a secondary function; the warships were truly designed for battle.

When Lin Qian mentioned that his empire's scholars would stay with the Eight-Armed Sea Tribe to teach them how to operate the warships, Zhang Nianxin and Zhang Nianyi felt even more humbled.

"Emperor Lin, this is truly embarrassing. You've given us so much. We must find a way to make it up to you," Zhang Nianxin said, blushing with guilt, and offered to compensate Lin Qian further.

Soul crystals, elixirs, soul weapons, and other such compensations were all refused by Lin Qian, as they held little value to him. What truly mattered were the sea tribe's manuscripts, which would further his empire's research into this world. The other items were things he could easily produce on his own.

Seeing that Lin Qian wasn't interested in their treasures left Zhang Nianxin and Zhang Nianyi in a dilemma, unsure of how to properly repay him.

"Clan Leader Zhang, I have a suggestion: how about we form an alliance?" Lin Qian proposed with a smile, seeing their troubled expressions.

"No problem!" Zhang Nianxin agreed without hesitation. Forming alliances wasn't new to him; the Eight-Armed Sea Tribe had allied with other sea tribes before. Although they had never allied with humans, this Emperor Lin had shown them such great kindness—how could they refuse?

These custom-made warships were worth 40 million top-grade soul crystals each, and their main clan would likely purchase them without hesitation.

But Lin Qian? He gave them five for just 10 million top-grade soul crystals! No wonder Zhang Nianxin felt so embarrassed, believing that Lin Qian had made a huge sacrifice.

Lin Qian then outlined the terms of the alliance, leaving Zhang Nianxin and Zhang Nianyi astonished.

In the past, their alliances with other forces or tribes involved signing agreements to assist each other in times of need or trade resources. Beyond that, there wasn't much interaction.

However, Lin Qian proposed establishing a Hua Xia Empire Embassy within the Eight-Armed Sea Tribe, and suggested that the sea tribe establish their own embassy in Linhai Province.

This idea was entirely new to Zhang Nianxin and Zhang Nianyi, and after hearing Lin Qian's explanation, they found it to be incredibly convenient.