Since Lin Qian had already made up his mind, Yun Fan and the others did not plan to interfere. Inserting themselves into his affairs would only complicate things unnecessarily.
Lin Qian's strength had already far surpassed theirs, so there was nothing for them to worry about.
Yun Fan and Yun Rong had decided to follow Ye Xin's travel plans and take various modes of transportation to tour the Southern Region. They also wanted to visit the underwater landscapes of the Huaxia Empire's controlled oceanic territories.
After Yun Fan and Yun Rong left, Yun Qingfeng followed suit, eager to sample the various delicacies of New Qin City.
After watching his grandparents leave, Lin Qian turned around and headed to the back of the palace, making his way toward the sleeping chambers.
Upon entering, Lin Qian saw that Ye Xin was still sitting cross-legged, calmly meditating on the bed with her eyes closed.
Since becoming the empress of the empire, a mysterious transformation had occurred within Ye Xin, causing her cultivation to progress rapidly, with noticeable changes every day.
Lin Qian, having returned to the palace, didn't disturb Ye Xin's peaceful cultivation. He quietly stood there, simply watching her.
However, at that moment, Ye Xin's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her eyes slowly opened. The energy that had been circulating around her dissipated quietly.
"Xiao Qian?" Seeing Lin Qian in front of her, Ye Xin smiled gently. "Have you already finished handling everything?"
Lin Qian nodded and sat beside Ye Xin, brushing her hair away from her forehead. "The empire is running smoothly now. The people across the states have become accustomed to Huaxia's way of governance. There's not much left that requires my attention."
"Now that you're back, things have become much easier," Ye Xin said, stretching lazily before lying back on the soft bed.
Watching her for a long moment, Lin Qian hesitated before saying, "Xin'er, I plan to personally go to the Western Continent to rescue the three elders."
"In the meantime, I'll need you to manage the Southern Region and watch over the empire again."
Still lying on the bed, Ye Xin asked softly, "Does Xiao Qian really need to go in person? You have plenty of capable people under your command."
"After all, it was my actions that put the three elders in danger. If I don't go and rescue them myself, it wouldn't sit right with me," Lin Qian explained, his expression turning wistful. "Besides, I also want to see for myself what the Western Continent, with its diverse races, is really like."
"Improving my cultivation is crucial, and visiting the Western Continent could help me grow. Moreover, if I can also convince some of the races there to join the empire, it would be a significant gain."
As he spoke, Lin Qian's eyes burned with excitement. The prospect of venturing into new lands and personally expanding the empire was something he couldn't resist. He had no desire to pass such an opportunity to someone else.
After listening to Lin Qian's words, Ye Xin remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "Xiao Qian, I want to go with you."
"No, it's too dangerous," Lin Qian responded instantly, without a second thought.
But just as he finished speaking, Ye Xin suddenly jumped up from the bed, throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly. "Don't leave me behind again. I have the strength of someone who has transcended the mortal realm now, don't I?"
"I don't want to always hide behind you. I want to stand by your side, hand in hand, and face the storms together," Ye Xin said, gripping his hands tightly. "So please, don't leave me behind, Xiao Qian."
Lin Qian fell silent. After a long pause, he raised his hands and embraced Ye Xin tightly. "I'm sorry. I've been too presumptuous, always thinking I had to protect you by keeping you behind me, but I never considered your feelings."
"This time, we'll face everything together."
The next day, Lin Qian and Ye Xin quietly left New Qin City, boarding a specially made small cloudship and setting off toward the western seas of the Southern Region.
The Soul Martial Continent was shaped like the Chinese character "几" (Jī). To the west lay the Western Continent, to the east the Eastern Continent, and to the north was the chaotic wasteland known as the Northern Frontier.
Between the Western and Eastern Continents lay the vast expanse of the Violent Star Sea, a region dotted with islands that resembled scattered stars. The area was in constant chaos.
Numerous races, including humans and aquatic races, lived in this lawless sea. Here, there was no concept of racial unity—only the strong and the weak.
In some factions, races mingled freely, but unlike the peaceful coexistence of Huaxia, these groups were anything but harmonious.
Whereas Huaxia was now a beacon of stability, the Violent Star Sea was a symbol of chaos and disorder, a place where killing was a constant.
If someone coveted your belongings, you might be dead the next second.
"Hand it over, kid," a group of shirtless human men sneered as they surrounded a frail-looking young man on a small, desolate island in the vast sea.
The young man, covered in cuts and bruises both old and new, backed away slowly, his face ashen. "You've been chasing me for half a month. Won't you stop? The Returning Spirit Pill was a gift from Elder Liu. Why are you trying to take it by force?"
"Hahaha, because we're stronger than you, kid!" The scar-faced leader sneered, waving his weapon menacingly at the youth.
"Is that so? So being stronger gives you the right to take whatever you want?" A voice dripping with sarcasm came from the side at that moment.
The group froze in confusion and turned to see a young man and woman standing nearby.
The pair, both dressed in white robes draped with light veils, looked like a perfect match—he was handsome, and she was beautiful. However, the aura around them was faint, giving no indication of great power.
"Oh, a pretty boy? What, you think it's your business?" The scar-faced leader jeered at the man.
Nearby, a burly thug with a face full of scars leered as he approached. "Boss, this isn't a busybody. He's clearly delivering this pretty girl to us for fun."
"Come on, sweetheart. Why don't you keep us company?" The thug reached out a filthy hand toward the woman, his face twisted with a vile grin.
Whoosh!
Before he could touch her, the thug's hand suddenly froze in midair. A second later, his head dropped to the ground, neatly severed from his body.
"Oh? He's already dead? It seems I'm quite strong, too," Lin Qian remarked with a smile, turning to look at the scar-faced leader and his men.