Chapter 99: Pierced

It wasn't that Zhang Jun Cheng and Nan Xin were making a big deal out of it—Lin Qian's twelve-layered soul glow, signifying twelve rounds of Nirvana, was simply too incredible.

"Senior, you're a powerful figure from the ancient era. Haven't you ever seen someone with twelve rounds of Nirvana?" Ye Xin asked, surprised by their reactions.

Hearing her question, Zhang Jun Cheng sighed deeply and said, "Nine rounds of Nirvana is the limit for most people. Achieving it is the basic requirement for being considered a genius."

"But after breaking through Nirvana, some truly extraordinary talents can use supplementary rounds to reach ten rounds of Nirvana, breaking through their limits."

"However, using supplementary rounds to reach ten rounds of Nirvana is the utmost limit. No one has ever completed eleven rounds, let alone twelve."

"Unprecedented, unheard of."

Zhang Jun Cheng's words made Ye Xin realize just how extraordinary Lin Qian's twelve rounds of Nirvana truly were.

She had initially thought that Lin Qian's achievement, while impressive, might not be entirely unique in broader regions. But it seemed that Lin Qian's accomplishment was truly one of a kind, shaking the ancient and modern worlds alike!

"Imperial Presence!" Suddenly, Lin Qian's commanding voice echoed, drawing Ye Xin's attention.

As Lin Qian spoke, his entire body was once again enveloped in a golden soul power, and the imperial might spread over all the soldiers.

Ye Xin noticed that unlike the mutated undead, the soldiers' bodies didn't change in size. However, their pale yellow Huaxia soul power suddenly ignited.

The soldiers' eyes glowed with a golden light, and they all roared in unison, their voices booming.

"Long live the Emperor!"

The underground space echoed with the soldiers' shouts, and the shield wall suddenly collapsed.

However, as the shield wall disintegrated, the shield-bearers paired up, holding their massive shields as they charged forward, shouting.

It was as if these shield-bearers weren't flesh and blood but rather unstoppable war machines. Even the mutated undead couldn't withstand their charge, stumbling and losing their balance.

Meanwhile, more spear-wielding soldiers followed closely behind the shield-bearers, thrusting their spears into the fallen and injured undead.

Even though the mutated undead were now more resilient, their Dantian still wasn't strong enough to withstand the piercing blows, leading to their deaths.

Despite being the lowest-ranking troops, their equipment and technology were upgraded to the highest levels—after all, Lin Qian was once an idle heir with vast wealth, free to indulge in his whims.

While the shield-bearers and spear-wielders burned with golden flames, the swift troops showed no visible signs of soul power. They darted through the battlefield like shadows.

When the swift troops struck, their bodies seemed to ignite instantly. After landing a blow, they vanished before the surrounding undead could react, disappearing from sight.

As the undead blindly searched for their attackers, the thunderous footsteps of the shield-bearers crashed down upon them.

The tide of battle quickly turned in Lin Qian's favor. The undead army, overwhelmed by the disciplined and well-coordinated Huaxia Empire soldiers, found themselves utterly outmatched and slaughtered.

As Lin Qian stood behind Ye Xin, watching her back, he found her presence to be incredibly reassuring.

He couldn't help but recall their childhood. Back when Lin Qian hadn't awakened his martial soul and couldn't cultivate, he had been bullied and looked down upon by others in the clan.

At that time, Ye Xin had silently vowed to cultivate diligently and protect Lin Qian.

When she learned that Lin Qian had become the Young Emperor of Wanxiang Sect and could cultivate, she was genuinely happy for him.

But now, Lin Qian was far from the boy she once sought to protect. Instead, he had become the one taking care of her.

Ye Xin remembered the night before awakening her martial soul in Bashan City, when Lin Qian had confidently promised to protect her for life.

Although Lin Qian hadn't awakened his martial soul at that time, leading to a period of despair, things had changed.

"It seems you've managed to keep your promise," Ye Xin whispered as she gently hugged Lin Qian from behind, resting her head on his back with a contented smile.

Lin Qian stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, placing his hand over hers as he smiled at the sight of the Huaxia Empire troops slaughtering the undead.

On the platform, Zhang Jun Cheng sighed as he watched the undead being wiped out.

These undead were once his disciples in Dangyuan Sect, but they had been cruelly transformed into this state by the enemy's soul techniques.

Now, Lin Qian's summoned troops were putting an end to their suffering, freeing their bodies from further desecration. In a way, it was a mercy.

"Charge!"

Suddenly, a battle cry echoed from behind the undead army. Nan Xin quickly turned around and was shocked to see a black dragon-armored general leading a group of spear-wielding soldiers. They pierced through the rear of the undead army like a sharp spear.

The leading general's spear swept through the battlefield like a dragon. With a single thrust, the spear's powerful force pierced through more than ten undead, demonstrating incredible strength.

The battle raged on for more than half an hour. When the undead were finally wiped out, all the soldiers, led by Zhao Long, knelt before Lin Qian in salute.

"Well done!" Lin Qian nodded in approval at his soldiers. "The task is complete. You may all return."

"By your command!" Zhao Long and the other soldiers responded in unison. Their bodies shimmered with white light as they vanished, returning to the Huaxia Empire.

Ye Xin blinked in surprise as she watched them disappear. "Where did they go?"

"They went back," Lin Qian replied with a chuckle, pinching her nose affectionately. "Someday, I'll take you to see a wonderful place."

Ye Xin didn't fully understand, but she looked forward to visiting the place Lin Qian spoke of, guessing that it might be where those soldiers resided.

"Now that your undead army is gone, how will you stop me?" Lin Qian taunted Nan Xin.

Hovering in mid-air, Nan Xin's face was dark with anger as he silently glared at Lin Qian.

"From the beginning, you've only enhanced the undead's strength, never once attacking yourself. This tells me that you can't fight—probably because this isn't your real body." With that, Lin Qian boldly stepped out of the protective barrier and gestured provocatively at Nan Xin.

However, before Lin Qian's words had fully settled, Nan Xin's figure vanished from the air and reappeared right in front of him.

"Boy, who said I can't fight?" Nan Xin's hollow eyes, burning with purple flames, were inches from Lin Qian's face.

Before Lin Qian could react, Nan Xin's hand had already pierced through his Dantian!