The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

"If my guess is correct, they are being commanded by someone behind the scenes," Lin Qian said, his expression darkening as he looked at Shi Yun. "Chief Shi, do you remember what I told you earlier about why I entered this small world?"

Shi Yun nodded. "Of course I remember. You came to pursue a foreigner from the Blackblood Clan to stop him..."

At this point, Shi Yun suddenly realized something, his eyes widening in shock as he looked at Lin Qian. "My lord, could it be that the reason the Giant Goblins suddenly moved south is because this foreigner from the Blackblood Clan ordered them to do so?"

Lin Qian solemnly nodded. "This Blackblood Clan member entered this small world likely to awaken one of his ancestors. It seems that the purpose of having the Giant Goblins capture humans is to refine them into blood and flesh essence to help his ancestor recover, or perhaps even revive."

"But my lord, didn't you say that this Blackblood Clan member is only one person? How could the Giant Goblins, who are known for their violent tempers, follow the orders of a single individual?" Shi Yun asked, clearly confused by Lin Qian's explanation.

Lin Qian sighed deeply and replied, "You all are descendants of a sect that existed in ancient times, but the severed development of your cultivation civilization has made your situation difficult."

He continued, "Earlier, I asked you how many people in this small world can fly, how many are as strong as you, and what the strength of the Dwarf and Giant Goblins is. Based on your answers, I now have a rough understanding of the overall power level in this small world."

From the information provided by Shi Yun, Lin Qian could deduce that both humans and the Dwarf and Giant Goblins had cultivators at the Void-Breaking Realm. However, among the humans in this small world, those who had reached the Void-Breaking Realm, revered as sages, numbered no more than ten.

After the recent war, there were now only four Void-Breaking Realm cultivators among the humans, who were also the chiefs of the four major tribes.

As for those at the Nirvana Realm, whom they referred to as "Revered Ones," there were less than a hundred among the entire human population.

For example, in the Stone Tribe, there were only three at the Nirvana Realm: Shi Yun, Shi Niu, and Shi Meng. The Qin Tribe had just four.

In contrast, the Dwarf and Giant Goblins, when they moved south together, had at least thirty cultivators at the Void-Breaking Realm and over three hundred at the Nirvana Realm.

This did not even account for the many other powerful beings in the northern regions controlled by the two tribes. To the humans in this small world, the strength of the two goblin tribes was overwhelming and seemingly impossible to resist.

Moreover, Lin Qian realized that the people in this small world had no knowledge of soul weapons or the benefits of cultivating through the Ninefold Nirvana process. Their strength was simply on a different level.

The greatest advantage of humanity lies in their ability to learn and adapt, as well as the presence of the soul spirit within them. However, in this small world, where humans were treated as livestock by the goblin tribes, they were unable to fully utilize either of these advantages.

Looking at the puzzled expressions on Shi Yun and Qin Xing's faces, Lin Qian patiently explained the true structure of cultivation realms to them.

"If my guess is correct, the strongest among the Dwarf and Giant Goblins are at the Void-Breaking Realm, likely at the Ascending Void stage at best."

"In that case, it would be no surprise that the Blackblood Clan member could control these two tribes. With his strength, he could easily wipe them out if he wanted to."

Hearing Lin Qian's words, both Shi Yun and Qin Xing broke into a cold sweat. Only now did they realize how naive they had been.

They had always thought that those at the Sage level were the most powerful beings in the world, but now they understood just how laughable that belief had been.

"In the face of absolute power, numbers mean nothing," Lin Qian concluded, his expression growing serious.

He now felt certain that the Blackblood Clan member was likely in the northern part of this small world.

The reason Lin Qian and the foreigner had ended up so far apart upon entering the small world was probably due to the damage caused when Lin Qian forced his way in, which had disrupted the entrance portal.

In a way, Lin Qian was relieved by this. If not for that disruption, the humans in this small world might have already been wiped out.

The Dwarf and Giant Goblins wouldn't completely exterminate the humans because they needed them as a source of sustenance for future wars.

But the Blackblood Clan member wouldn't hesitate to do so!

If this small world really did hold a royal member of the Blackblood Clan who needed the death of all humans here to break free, he would undoubtedly go through with it.

Lin Qian's gaze suddenly shifted to the area outside the tribe's walls. Thick, dense white fog had begun to form, but the Stone Tribe itself remained untouched by the fog due to the absence of any dead trees within its walls.

"I see... It's already morning. It seems that for now, the Blackblood Clan member can't use the power of the walking corpses. This fog will also hinder the movements of the Dwarf and Giant Goblins," Lin Qian mused. He then turned to Shi Yun and Qin Xing and asked, "How many human tribes are there, and do you know their locations?"

Hearing Lin Qian's urgent questions, both Shi Yun and Qin Xing quickly responded.

"There are about sixty or so tribes!"

"Since the southern lands suitable for living haven't changed much, we know the locations of all the tribes."

Lin Qian nodded and instructed Shi Yun and Qin Xing, "Point out the directions and describe how long it would take you to reach each tribe at your fastest speed. Chief Shi, you focus on the left, and Chief Qin, you take the right."

Shi Yun and Qin Xing exchanged a glance, wondering if Lin Qian could really remember all this information. But they dared not question him and began pointing and speaking as instructed.

"Over there, the Qi Tribe, three hours away."

"The Wang Tribe is in that direction, a full day's journey."

As Shi Yun and Qin Xing spoke, this information was transmitted to the Heavenly Works Department, where a tactical map simulating the distribution of human tribes in the southern part of the small world gradually took shape.

"Wh-what is that?" A startled cry suddenly came from nearby, drawing the attention of the Stone Tribe people toward the newly created water reservoir.

Lin Qian also turned to look.

Beyond the water reservoir he had created, and behind the two-meter-high stone walls, a massive figure began to emerge from the dense fog. The stone walls barely reached the figure's waist.

"Hahaha, you human ants, aren't you going to hide?" A mocking voice boomed from above as the giant figure stepped out of the fog, crushing the stone walls beneath its foot.

At that moment, the towering giant, who had been looking down on them, finally appeared before them.