Chapter 96: Successful Refinement

Nan Xin stood at the forefront of his army of undead, staring at Lin Qian with furrowed brows. He couldn't understand how Lin Qian could remain so calm in such a dire situation. How could Lin Qian possibly escape? What was he relying on?

Seeing the confusion on Nan Xin's face, Lin Qian merely chuckled and said nothing more. When he glanced over at Ye Xin, his eyes softened with affection.

Ye Xin was still in the process of refining the soul essence, so Lin Qian had no intention of making any moves. He would wait patiently for her to finish. At the same time, he connected with Zhao Long through his mental link, giving him orders.

Above ground, Zhao Long's small squad had arrived, and the undead that had been chasing Lei Qian and the others were no longer a threat, having been completely eliminated.

After taking care of the undead, Lei Qian and his group wasted no time looting the area for treasures. While scavenging through the ruins, they discovered something surprising—the two death zones on the east and west sides of the ancient ruins were actually connected.

Because of this connection, Zhao Long and his team, who had been sent to the other death zone by Lin Qian, were able to come up behind Lei Qian and his group during the battle.

Lin Qian, having noticed this connection on his tactical map, was not worried about Lei Qian and the others' safety at all.

"His Majesty said he was delayed and that you should proceed to the second area without waiting," Zhao Long informed Lei Qian as he approached.

Lei Qian thought for a moment before nodding. "Understood."

He then stood up and signaled to Ding Zhirong and the others, preparing to leave.

"But are we really just going to leave like this? What about Lin Qian? What will happen to him?" Li Letian asked Lei Qian, clearly confused.

Lei Qian simply nodded as he packed the spoils into his storage bag. "Don't worry. If the boss says to go on ahead, there must be a reason. With his abilities, what could possibly go wrong? Besides, we still have them with us."

He pointed to Zhao Long and his squad. Ding Zhirong and the others followed Lei Qian's gaze, and the memory of Zhao Long's terrifying power in battle made them swallow nervously.

Zhao Long, following Lin Qian's instructions, escorted Lei Qian and his group out of the death zone through the deadwood forest. Once they were safely out, he turned and re-entered the forest.

As Lei Qian watched Zhao Long and his men disappear into the distance, he turned to the others and said, "Let's go. The boss will catch up to us."

With that, Lei Qian decisively led the group away, his actions reflecting his unwavering trust and almost blind faith in Lin Qian.

After parting ways with Lei Qian, Zhao Long and his troops returned to the central part of the deadwood forest. There, they planted their spears in the ground and silently stood guard.

Deep underground, Lin Qian had already packed away the Huaxia Empire's version of the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast and approached Zhang Jun Cheng, asking him about the details of the array.

"It seems like you're interested in the Dangyuan Sect's treasury, huh?" Zhang Jun Cheng teased with a chuckle. "But since we seem to be fated, if you can break through the array protecting the treasury, you're welcome to take everything inside."

Zhang Jun Cheng then began to explain the intricacies of the array, not even bothering to hide anything from Nan Xin, knowing full well that the alien had no means to take advantage of the knowledge.

Meanwhile, in the Huaxia Empire's Tiangong Division, Zhuge Ming stood before a tactical mirror, listening attentively to the conversation through the dialogue box Lin Qian had opened. As he studied the array through Ye Xin's observation mirror and Zhang Jun Cheng's explanation, Zhuge Ming formulated a plan.

"This world's arrays, especially at this level, provide valuable insights for our research," Zhuge Ming remarked from his podium, addressing the scholars around him.

The other scholars nodded in agreement, sharing his sentiment. While the Huaxia Empire's array techniques far surpassed those of the ancient sect, the differences between the two worlds presented opportunities for learning and growth.

"Let's focus on finding a solution to ease His Majesty's troubles and deal with the current problem," Zhuge Ming ordered, and the scholars immediately set to work.

In the underground chamber, Lin Qian and Zhang Jun Cheng continued their conversation, completely ignoring Nan Xin, who could only watch with clenched teeth. Suddenly, the curtains around Ye Xin's bed fluttered as a gust of wind lifted them.

Seeing this, Lin Qian rushed to the bedside. Ye Xin's long eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes, finding Lin Qian at her side.

"How long was I asleep?" Ye Xin asked softly, rubbing her forehead.

Lin Qian helped her sit up, smiling. "You slept for seven days, quite a long time."

"Seven days?!" Ye Xin exclaimed, clearly shocked at how long she had been unconscious.

"How do you feel? Any gains?" Lin Qian asked cautiously. Refining soul essence was a delicate process, and he was concerned about any potential complications.

Ye Xin closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them with a joyful expression. "The areas of cultivation I struggled with before suddenly feel clear, so much easier. And my mind feels more serene, more at peace than ever."

"That's normal. After successfully refining the soul essence, your soul becomes stronger," Zhang Jun Cheng chimed in from the platform, nodding. "This was indeed a fortunate opportunity for your little wife."

Hearing the last part, Ye Xin blushed and lowered her head.

In the distance, Nan Xin's face turned ashen. Ye Xin's newfound benefits were all thanks to him.

"Wait, if I slept for seven days, does that mean we failed the first trial? Why haven't we been transported out?" Ye Xin suddenly exclaimed.

"Haha, young lady, my soul is anchored to this array, which spans this entire small world. Who do you think is overseeing the trials here?" Zhang Jun Cheng explained with a laugh.

Ye Xin's eyes lit up with understanding. It all made sense now—why the trials in the ancient ruins continued to function without any visible overseer.

"So, you were behind everything all along!" Ye Xin realized.

"Alright, now that you're awake, it's time to get down to business," Lin Qian said, his eyes sharp as he raised his hand toward the sky.

"Huaxia Imperial Army!"

At Lin Qian's command, Zhang Jun Cheng's expression shifted as he sensed a disturbance in the array's central beam of light.

Before he could react, figures descended from above, landing heavily on the ground as they shouted in unison.

"Hail, Your Majesty!"