Lin Qian was thoroughly surprised by the actions of the four human elders. He had considered many possibilities for how they might report back to him. For instance, they might offer material rewards, provide some texts, or even offer something in return to plead for his help to save other humans. However, Lin Qian did not expect that the four elders from the Ancient Forest World would directly submit to him and make a decision on behalf of all the humans in that world.
In fact, the four elders were indeed qualified to make such decisions and pledge their allegiance to Lin Qian. The current position of the humans, who coexist harmoniously with the other three races, was not only due to their own efforts but also the efforts of these four elders. Their expertise in formations allowed the humans to maintain a foothold among the four races. Thus, in the Ancient Forest World, the words of these four elders were of utmost importance.
If the four elders spoke, then Lin Qian's mere nod would make the entire human race in the Ancient Forest World acknowledge him as their ruler.
Would he disagree?
"Only a fool would disagree!" Lin Qian smiled as he stepped forward to help the four elders up and accepted their loyalty.
It was a rare opportunity to easily make the humans of the Ancient Forest World become citizens of the Huaxia Empire while accepting their voluntary allegiance. Where else could such a good fortune be found?
After helping the elders to their feet, Lin Qian filled the jade cups that had held the refining potion with spirit wine and signaled the four to raise their cups and lightly clink them together.
The crisp and pleasant sound of the clinking glasses rang out.
"I welcome you four to join the Huaxia Empire. In the future, we will need your strength in many areas," Lin Qian said, raising his cup to Wang Qiongxing, He Baili, Xu Wuwei, and Fu Deqing. He then drank from his own cup.
The four exchanged glances, smiles on their faces, and also drank the spirit wine.
After the four elders finished their wine, Lin Qian expressed his admiration: "For the sake of the human race, you four really sacrificed yourselves and directly pledged allegiance to me."
The four elders showed some embarrassment.
Upon realizing that Lin Qian had given them the refining potion, their quick decision to acknowledge him as their leader was likely because, as the supreme ruler of the Ancient Forest World, he would not refuse to provide the potion.
In the eyes of the four elders, the human race in the Ancient Forest World had a brighter future. Why not accept a stronger leader?
Although Lin Qian understood their intentions, he was not angry. The emperor's charisma, combined with their vow of loyalty, assured him of their commitment. Furthermore, healing the human race in the Ancient Forest World was Lin Qian's original plan.
The level of Ling Fruit consumption among the humans in the Ancient Forest World varied, and the situation was particularly complex. According to Zhuge Ming and Hua Sheng, this highly complex situation was ideal for research.
Obtaining so many citizens directly was a pleasant outcome for Lin Qian.
After swearing their allegiance to Lin Qian, the four human elders left to visit the four major gathering places in the north, south, east, and west, and communicated the news thoroughly.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! In the air outside the current gathering place where Lin Qian was located, the atmosphere exploded violently as the four elders sped away.
"Hahaha, that's refreshing!" In the sky, He Baili shouted loudly, obviously excited.
Not only he, but Wang Qiongxing, Xu Wuwei, and Fu Deqing were also in high spirits, their blood boiling with excitement.
After consuming Lin Qian's refining potion, their strength matched their realm, their soul power no longer weak and sparse. Their dantian could now contain more soul power, and their wide meridians allowed the soul power to roar and burn freely.
The four were now recklessly burning their soul power and flying with full force, an experience they had never had before.
After the four elders left, Lin Qian resumed his cultivation. He couldn't believe he couldn't break through to the Awakening Realm.
The other humans were not in a hurry to use the refining potion. At the earliest, they would have to wait until the four elders informed the other gathering places and prepared them.
Lost in his cultivation, Lin Qian did not know how much time had passed before he suddenly awoke, his body enveloped in red-gold thunder soul power, and he charged out of the gathering place.
The underground world was illuminated by the sunfire fruit. Lin Qian's speed was extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, he crossed the cliff outside the gathering place and, reaching the other side, shouted forward, "Stop!"
At this moment, in front of Lin Qian, a young man from the Black Horn Tribe, wearing a black robe with gold edges, stood arrogantly.
In mid-air, a human child was held by soul power, while people below were crying.
The child being held was none other than Xiao Jiang, and the ones crying below were Xiao Jiang's parents.
Poof! As Lin Qian shouted, he also activated his soul power and reached out for Xiao Jiang.
Blood spattered as Lin Qian caught Xiao Jiang and fell toward the ground. Just before hitting the ground, he suddenly stopped.
At this moment, Xiao Jiang was already on the brink of death, lying in Lin Qian's arms, his arms crushed by the soul power and his legs below the knees completely missing.
Lin Qian quickly took out a recovery potion and poured it into Xiao Jiang. The once profusely bleeding wounds gradually stopped bleeding.
Xiao Jiang's breathing stabilized, and Lin Qian returned him to his parents' arms, then looked around and saw that most of the four-race team had suffered injuries.
Many had died, mostly children of the four races. Their parents were holding these mutilated small bodies, crying in agony.
If Lin Qian had not discovered the situation through the scout beast and arrived in time, Xiao Jiang would have been in dire straits.
Lin Qian looked up at the young Black Horn Tribe man and asked a nearby human man in a deep voice, "What happened?"
"That person claimed to be the seventh son of the sixteenth prince of the Black Horn Nation. He was preparing to attack our gathering place and, encountering our team, used his superior strength to torment these children," the human man clenched his teeth and looked angrily at the young man above. "He used his aura to suppress us, preventing us from moving, forcing us to watch our children being tortured to death!"
"We tried to resist. We asked him why he was doing this!"
"He answered… he actually said he liked it!" The human man's teeth shattered from the force, his mouth full of blood. He held a blood-stained, tattered piece of clothing, clearly belonging to a human child. "Because he likes it, he tortures our children. Ah, ah, ah!"
The man's anguished screams, mixed with blood and shattered teeth, erupted from his mouth.
At this moment, Lin Qian's face darkened with rage.