Lin Qian remained silent for a moment, contemplating. He speculated that perhaps, because he had lived two lifetimes, his soul was inherently stronger than most. This might be why his Heart Tribulation was far more challenging than others'.
After careful thought, Lin Qian became increasingly convinced that this was likely the reason.
"No point in overthinking it. The important thing is that I successfully overcame the Heart Tribulation, right?" Lin Qian chuckled, gently patting Ye Xin's head. With a playful grin, he suddenly leaped off the bed. "I feel stiff all over—time for a bath!"
With that, Lin Qian shot a mischievous look at Ye Xin before sweeping her up into his arms, making her squeal in surprise.
Ye Xin, lacking Lin Qian's strength, found her resistance futile and could only let him carry her away.
After a relaxing bath together, Lin Qian and Ye Xin went to visit Ye Nanxin.
When Lin Qian first fell unconscious due to the Heart Tribulation, Ye Xin had brought him back to Bashan City. During that time, Ye Nanxin had been deeply concerned about his condition.
"It's good to see you safe and sound!" Ye Nanxin sighed with relief, her face filled with gratitude as she looked at Lin Qian. In her heart, she marveled at how much he had achieved.
Who could have imagined that her future son-in-law would rise to such great heights?
Those within the Ye family who once mocked her and Ye Xin for clinging to what they considered a worthless engagement no longer dared to meet their eyes.
Especially when Ye Xin occasionally returned to Bashan City, the same relatives who once ridiculed them now bowed their heads in shame, unable to look her in the eye.
After all, the statue in the center of Bashan City depicted none other than Ye Xin's fiancé, who was now the true ruler of Linhai Province.
Both the Wanxiang Sect and the Divine Sword Sect had been integrated into the Huaxia Empire, becoming part of its vast territory.
As for Ye Xin, she was now the mistress of Linhai Province, making her presence something her relatives could only dream of avoiding.
The current city lord of Bashan City was Bai Ren, with Ye Lin as his wife.
The Ye family no longer held any special status in Bashan City. They had some influence but nothing compared to Bai Ren's authority.
However, the true figure of special status was Ye Nanxin, the future father-in-law of the Huaxia Emperor. Even so, he had long been warned by Ye Xin never to let the Ye family exploit their relationship with Lin Qian and herself to do anything improper.
If they did, not even Ye Xin could save them.
This was Lin Qian's stance—placing the people first. If any soul martial family dared to act out of line, the Imperial Army stationed in each city would take swift and decisive action.
Fang Shuiwen, Zhou Yian, and Yang Guixiang, who were still watching over the Ye family, also breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Lin Qian had successfully passed the Heart Tribulation and advanced to the Heart Realm of the Life-and-Death Stage.
Outside Bashan City, in the mountains, Lin Qian and Ye Xin strolled through the forest, eventually reaching the site of the ancient ruins they had discovered. This was where the Huaxia Empire had first appeared after its restoration, and the Imperial Army had made its initial appearance.
At that time, due to the urgency of the situation, Zhuge Ming had acted without Lin Qian's permission, sending Zhao Long with low-ranking soldiers through the Heavenly Mark to rescue him.
Except in such extreme circumstances, no living being from the mystical star of the Huaxia Empire would ever appear without Lin Qian's express consent.
Lin Qian and Ye Xin sat on a hill overlooking the lake.
"There was one more thing that happened in the illusion that I haven't told you about," Lin Qian said with a smile as he recounted the part where Ye Xin had looked down on him and wanted to break off their engagement.
"Pfft!" Ye Xin couldn't help but laugh after hearing Lin Qian's story. She teased him, "Your illusion was really strange, turning me into that kind of person."
"By the way, back when your martial spirit hadn't awakened, you never looked down on me or changed your heart?" Lin Qian asked curiously.
Leaning her head against Lin Qian's shoulder, Ye Xin replied softly, "We grew up together, and you've left an indelible mark on my heart. Besides..."
"Falling in love with someone isn't something that changes so easily."
Lin Qian chuckled as well, gently resting his head against hers. They sat there quietly, enjoying each other's company.
After a while, Lin Qian spoke softly, "Xin'er, when I find my parents, I'll come to marry you properly. Only then will the wedding be complete, and I can bring you home with honor."
"Mm!"
Three days later...
In both the southern region's Nine Provinces and the forty-nine provinces newly occupied by the Huaxia Empire, something unusual was happening. In every city, town, and village, the four-sided mirrors that Lin Qian had named Soul Vision Devices hovered in the sky.
At this moment, the previously hazy Soul Vision Devices began to solidify, their surfaces gradually pulsing with soul power. The people below couldn't help but look up in curiosity.
This strange device, named the Soul Vision Device by their young emperor, had appeared without making any impact on their lives, so they hadn't paid much attention to it.
But now that the Soul Vision Devices were showing signs of activity, everyone's interest was piqued. They eagerly turned their gaze upward, wondering what this device would do next.
As the formations fully activated and soul power condensed onto the Soul Vision Devices, they saw images begin to appear on the mirrored surfaces.
The first thing they saw was a spherical object slowly rotating, clearly showing continents and vast oceans.
Then, a line of text appeared, reading: "Huaxia Channel One - Huaxia Broadcast!"
The scene then shifted to show a young figure seated on a dragon throne.
"People of the Huaxia Empire, I am Lin Qian, the Emperor of the Huaxia Empire!"
Lin Qian's image appeared on the screens of the Soul Vision Devices suspended high in the sky, causing a stir across the provinces. Everyone looked closely at the young figure on the screen.
During the rule of the Qin Dynasty, Wei Kingdom, and Autumn Kingdom, most commoners knew of the Human Emperor and the rulers, but few had ever seen their faces.
Now, they all knew that they were citizens of the Huaxia Empire, ruled by a young and benevolent emperor who treated them well.
In the hearts of these common people, this young emperor was deeply cherished. The chance to see him with their own eyes filled them with excitement.
Most of the soul martial practitioners of the Qin Dynasty, Wei Kingdom, and Autumn Kingdom—whether royalty, nobles, regular soldiers, city guards, or city lords—had been killed by the Huaxia Empire. Those who survived had fled the region.
Now, in these forty-nine provinces, only the ordinary citizens and the soul martial practitioners of the Temple of Fate remained, all of whom supported Lin Qian.
As a result, cheers echoed across the land.
At the same time, they eagerly awaited what Lin Qian would say to them next on the Soul Vision Device.