Chapter 343: A Nose Like a Dog’s

In his previous life, the items in games were static and unchangeable. However, things are different now. The Hua Xia Empire has come alive, and the Ministry of Engineering has developed its own ideas, incorporating this world's cultivation methods. Many items from the games have been modified to achieve incredible effects.

Take the Formation Virus for example!

Lin Qian planned to use the same trick he employed in the Four Quadrants Continent to deal with the foreign races, using it to erode the Qin Dynasty's formations.

In his previous life, many items could only be used by players, and not by game units. Although the Empire has come to life now, that limitation remains. Even though the Ministry of Engineering has developed items that Empire units can use, some items—those with perfect effects—can only be utilized by the Emperor himself.

For example, the Formation Virus Diagram. If Lin Qian uses it, he can take control of an enemy formation without even entering the core of the formation.

This is the power of the Ministry of Engineering. The people of the Qin Dynasty would never imagine that such an unreasonable method of cracking formations exists—one that forcibly seizes control of formations.

However, before doing that, Lin Qian needs to help the three factions gain the upper hand in this watery forest spanning the two prefectures. His goal is to shift the focus of the three forward cities of the Qin Dynasty's Shunshui Prefecture toward this area, making it easier for him and his two companions to operate.

Besides, this whole conflict started because of him, and Lin Qian feels guilty about the disciples of the three factions shedding so much blood for something he caused.

Just like the thirty Qin Dynasty soldiers lying dead beneath their feet, who had been planning an ambush on some Xiaoyao Sect disciples but were taken out by Lin Qian and his companions in advance.

Now, the entire watery forest spanning the two prefectures was under Lin Qian's control. With his scouting beasts deployed everywhere, he knew the movements of both the Qin Dynasty soldiers and the disciples of the three factions like the back of his hand.

In truth, Lin Qian is the one who truly controls the situation here.

Neither the Qin Dynasty nor the three factions could have imagined that there was such a disruptive force in this forested battlefield.

"Let's go to the next spot. There's a squad resting there. Let's take them out," Lin Qian said as he looked off in another direction, signaling Lei Qian and Gao Benli to follow.

Lei Qian suppressed his soul power and looked at Lin Qian with admiration. "Boss, do you have some kind of clairvoyance? It's like you know everything happening in this forest."

"It's more like a dog's keen sense of smell. I can sniff out their stench."

Before Gao Benli could finish his teasing comment, Lin Qian kicked him, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"With a senior brother like you, I'm truly unlucky," Lin Qian said irritably as he turned and walked away.

Lei Qian laughed at Gao Benli's misfortune. "You really have no filter, do you?"

"Pah! Pah!" Gao Benli spat out the dirt in his mouth, looking innocent. "I was just joking. Junior Brother is such a serious person."

Lei Qian shook his head in exasperation, thinking that Gao Benli was truly hopeless. He quickly caught up to Lin Qian.

After the three left, a group of Xiaoyao Sect disciples passed by the area. When they saw the pile of dead Qin Dynasty soldiers on the ground, they all stopped.

"It looks like these guys were planning an ambush on us but were taken out first," said the disciple leading the group, crouching down to examine the bodies closely. "Whoever did this is really strong—killing the enemy in three moves or less. Impressive."

"The whole forest seems weird lately," commented another disciple behind him, looking at the bodies with a puzzled expression. "People from the other two factions have also mentioned being mysteriously helped by someone."

The lead disciple stood up and took a deep breath. "Let's head back and report this to Senior Brother Li Yunfeng. We'll decide what to do next."

Five days later, deep within the watery forest of the two prefectures, three young men gathered together: Fang Ziqian, Li Yunfeng, and Yang Tianhao.

"What do you make of the strange occurrences in the forest?" Fang Ziqian asked, looking at the other two.

Li Yunfeng shook his head. "How should I know? I've been too busy fighting those Qin Dynasty bastards to pay attention to any weird happenings."

"But it seems like you have some idea?"

Fang Ziqian smiled and nodded, standing on the edge of a cliff, gazing out at the forest below. "A fellow disciple told me that his sister and her fiancé were saved by someone named Qian Lin, who claimed to be from the Hua Xia Empire. He suspected it was a trick by the Qin Dynasty, trying to plant a spy in our ranks. But he also feared wrongly accusing a good person, so he sent him away quietly."

"Hua Xia Empire? Someone from Lin's group..." Li Yunfeng didn't think much of it at first, but after a moment, he suddenly realized something. "Qian Lin... Lin Qian!"

Yang Tianhao's eyes lit up as he too caught on. "Could it be..."

"He's back, out of that sealed relic world," Fang Ziqian said with a sigh, still looking out at the forest. "To think he made it out… Who is he, really? People say our three factions are fighting the Qin Dynasty under the pretense of protecting the Hua Xia Empire when, in reality, we're just trying to expand our territories."

"But you two know the truth—those three old men are genuinely fighting the Qin Dynasty to protect the Hua Xia Empire."

Li Yunfeng and Yang Tianhao exchanged glances and shrugged.

Their sect leader's attitude had puzzled Li Yunfeng since the encounter with the Eight-Armed Sea Tribe's patriarch. His master had never paid much attention to young talents, and Li Yunfeng only got to follow him because of his father.

Yet, when his master had taken the initiative to visit Lin Qian, it had completely surprised Li Yunfeng.

Zhang Tianxin's visit had made sense, given the Eight-Armed Sea Tribe's nature. But thinking back, it seemed odd how much his master had been invested in Lin Qian.

"Lin Qian really is something. Coming back and not even visiting us first," Li Yunfeng said with a grin. "With his help, the Qin Dynasty won't stand a chance."

Fang Ziqian and Li Yunfeng both nodded in agreement. They knew how terrifyingly strong Lin Qian was.

The image of Lin Qian enduring his power tribulation was still fresh in their minds.

And the story of him surviving the simultaneous descent of the Fivefold Fire had spread, though few believed it. Most who hadn't witnessed it themselves dismissed it as a wild rumor—after all, who could survive such a thing?

"With that freak on our side, we can easily take down those Qin Dynasty bastards," Yang Tianhao said excitedly, only to hear a voice behind him.

"It's not nice to call someone a freak behind their back…"