The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

Lei Kuo's eyes dimmed as he fell to the ground, staring blankly at the sky. He couldn't understand why Lin Qian dared to kill him, why Lin Qian was so strong, why Lei Qian had become so powerful, and why those three thousand soldiers truly possessed the strength of the Ninth Rank of the Nirvana Realm.

"Is this karma?" Lei Kuo muttered, gazing at the clear blue sky as the last glimmer of life faded from his eyes. He breathed his last breath.

Lin Qian walked down from Arena Thirty-Six, passing by Bai Ren and the others. "Stay in the outer sect and focus on your cultivation for now. Don't come looking for me."

After saying that, Lin Qian led Lei Qian towards the entrance of the trial grounds, with the heavily armored soldiers following behind him in a grand procession.

The gathered disciples automatically parted to create a path for Lin Qian and his soldiers, their eyes filled with awe and respect.

As Lin Qian and his group left the arena, the barrier dissipated, and the black-cloaked deacon elder descended to the ground. He watched Lin Qian's departing figure with a complicated expression.

According to the sect's rules, Lin Qian had killed Lei Kuo during the trial. By rights, the elder should have stepped in to stop Lin Qian from leaving. However, even though he was a deacon elder, he knew he didn't have the strength to do so.

The sect's rules stated that as long as a deacon elder didn't oppress, humiliate, or curse a disciple, the disciple was forbidden from attacking them. But the Disciplinary Hall's elder and two punishment elders were known for their terrifying strength.

And Lin Qian, who had killed the grandson of a punishment elder without hesitation—could he really be expected to hold back against the deacon elder?

In the end, the deacon elder could only watch as Lin Qian walked away. All he could do was report the incident to the sect leader.

As they left the trial grounds and entered the dense forest, Lei Qian was still in shock. "I never imagined my strength would improve this much."

After losing to Lin Qian, the rumors within the Wanxiang Sect had made Lei Qian doubt his own abilities. He wondered if his rank as the tenth inner disciple was truly earned or if his grandfather, Lei Heng, had secretly intervened on his behalf.

Training alongside Lin Qian had been a humbling experience, as he was constantly overwhelmed and outmatched, even when Lin Qian was holding back. Over time, Lei Qian had started to feel inadequate.

But today, after fighting Lei Kuo, whom he had struggled against in the past, Lei Qian realized how much stronger he had become. Lei Kuo's attacks seemed childish, his speed slow, and his power and soul force weak.

In that moment, Lei Qian felt like an adult toying with a helpless infant.

"Never doubt yourself. To become strong, you must have confidence!" Lin Qian suddenly spoke, breaking Lei Qian's reverie.

Lei Qian looked up, surprised that Lin Qian would say something like this.

"You can reflect on your shortcomings and work to improve, but never believe you're incapable," Lin Qian continued, smiling as he turned to walk ahead. "If you don't believe in yourself, how can you become stronger?"

Lei Qian stood there for a moment, processing Lin Qian's words, before breaking into a smile and moving to catch up with him. However, he suddenly froze, turned around, and gasped in shock.

The three thousand soldiers and the imposing general had vanished without a trace. The only evidence of their presence was the footprints they had left behind.

"Where... where did they go?" Lei Qian muttered, scanning the surroundings in disbelief. The once-crowded forest now seemed eerily empty, and he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

"Like seeing a ghost!" Lei Qian shivered and quickly hurried to catch up with Lin Qian.

"Boss, what just happened? Where did your men go?" Lei Qian asked anxiously as he reached Lin Qian.

Lin Qian turned to him with a mysterious smile. "Take a guess."

With that, Lin Qian continued walking towards Mount Maoqing, leaving Lei Qian standing there, dumbfounded. Shaking his head in confusion, Lei Qian hurried to follow.

As they made their way along the road leading to the mountain gate, a disciple suddenly ran towards them in a panic.

Bump!

The panicked disciple collided with Lei Qian and fell to the ground.

Lin Qian glanced over but continued walking as if nothing had happened.

Lei Qian frowned and noticed the jade token hanging around the disciple's neck. "You're supposed to be on duty guarding the mountain gate. Why are you running around in such a panic?"

The disciple scrambled to his feet and looked up at Lei Qian, his face showing surprise. "Lei... Lei Qian, Senior Brother?"

"Hmm?"

"Senior Brother Lei, the patrolling disciples found something..."

"Impossible! You're lying!"

Lei Qian's furious shout echoed through the forest, loud enough for Lin Qian to hear even from a distance.

Lin Qian turned around to see Lei Qian grabbing the disciple by the collar and lifting him off the ground, glaring at him with intense anger.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Lin Qian appeared beside Lei Qian, delivering a swift chop to his hand. The sudden pain forced Lei Qian to release his grip, and Lin Qian quickly steadied the shaken disciple.

"What are you doing, Lei Qian? He just bumped into you, and you're shouting like that? Haven't I told you to treat all disciples equally, whether they're from the outer or inner sect?" Lin Qian reprimanded.

Lei Qian rubbed his hand, his expression darkening. "Boss, he told me something..."

After listening to Lei Qian, Lin Qian's eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously? What's going on?"

He then turned to the disciple and urged, "Lead the way, quickly! Let's go check it out!"

"Yes, right away!" The disciple nodded frantically and started leading the way, with Lin Qian and Lei Qian following close behind.

The Wanxiang Sect covered a vast area, encompassing towering mountains and expansive plains. The mountain gate stood at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by a flat plain and dense forest.

Fifty miles from the mountain gate, a group of Wanxiang Sect disciples had gathered around a freshly dug hole in the ground.

"Xiaoyuan is back!"

"Senior Brother Lin Qian has arrived!"

"And that's Senior Brother Lei Qian from the inner sect!"

The gathered disciples exclaimed in surprise as Lin Qian and Lei Qian approached. When the two reached the hole, the disciples respectfully bowed.

"Senior Brother Lin!"

"Senior Brother Lei!"

Lin Qian nodded in acknowledgment, while Lei Qian rushed to the edge of the hole. As he peered inside, his face fell, and he crouched down, covering his face with his hands in disbelief.