The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

In the grand hall aboard the airship, the former leaders of the various human tribes were gathered, engaged in lively conversation. For the first time, they felt a sense of true freedom and victory after their overwhelming success against the Dwarf and Giant Goblins. It wasn't just a hard-fought victory; it was a victory that had crushed their enemies with sheer might. There was no greater sense of accomplishment than breaking free from the shadows of the past and creating a bright future for their people with their own hands.

A young man in white robes entered the room. As soon as the leaders saw him, they hurriedly stood up and respectfully addressed him, "My Lord!"

Lin Qian waved his hand, signaling them to sit down, and took his seat at the head of the table. The eyes of the tribal leaders were filled with respect, admiration, and gratitude. They knew that without this young man, their people would likely still be living in darkness—or worse, exterminated. Everything they had now was thanks to Lin Qian.

"Although I provided assistance, it was merely to help you regain the strength that humanity should possess. This victory was earned through your own hands, through your sacrifices of blood and tears," Lin Qian said with a smile, praising the leaders.

Liu Wei quickly responded, "My Lord, you're too modest. Without you, relying on our own hands would have only led to death."

"That's right! My Lord is our greatest benefactor," another leader added.

Everyone joined in, laughing and expressing their gratitude. The hall instantly became lively and filled with joy.

Lin Qian raised his hand to quiet the room. Once all eyes were on him, he spoke solemnly, "I've gathered you all here today to announce something important. Once peace is fully restored in this small world, I will claim it as my own, as part of my private domain. To be transparent, I am the Emperor of a nation called the Huaxia Empire. This small world will become part of my territory."

He continued, "If any of you wish to stay and live in this world, you will become my subjects. However, if you don't want to be part of my empire, I will arrange for you to leave this world and integrate into the larger human world. The choice is yours."

After Lin Qian finished speaking, he looked at the leaders, waiting for their response.

"So, from now on, we'll have to address you as 'Your Majesty,' just like those mysterious warriors?" Stone Cloud was the first to break the silence, smiling as he spoke.

The other leaders exchanged smiles, seemingly having already made up their minds. Almost in unison, they stood up and respectfully bowed, "Your Majesty!"

Their swift decision surprised Lin Qian. He had expected them to discuss the matter thoroughly before making a final decision, and he had anticipated that some would choose to stay while others might prefer to leave. He hadn't expected such a unanimous and immediate acceptance.

"We had already discussed this among ourselves, planning to dissolve our individual tribes and form a single tribe under your leadership, My Lord," Liu Wei explained when he noticed Lin Qian's slight confusion.

Realization dawned on Lin Qian. They had already planned to unite under his leadership, which wasn't much different from becoming his subjects. No wonder they agreed so readily.

In truth, Lin Qian had underestimated his influence over them. To these leaders, Lin Qian was an almost divine figure, someone they revered and held in the highest regard. After all, it was Lin Qian who had shattered their world of darkness and allowed them to truly live as humans. They would follow him even to their deaths without hesitation.

After a moment of silence, Lin Qian laughed and opened his arms wide, "From now on, you are all part of the Huaxia Empire. You are the first citizens of this empire, and this land shall be known as the…"

"Land of Origins!"

The decision spread quickly throughout the land, and as expected, there was no opposition. On the contrary, the people welcomed the change, eager to be ruled by Lin Qian. For them, being governed by him meant a better life, not enslavement like before. The past six months of abundant food and warm clothing had made them feel happier than ever. Being ruled by the one who had given them such a life was something they eagerly embraced.

The Land of Origins, the Huaxia Empire's first territory in this world, was of utmost importance and needed careful planning. Fortunately, Lin Qian didn't need to worry about the specifics. Zhuge Ming, his chancellor, would handle all the logistics. Once the plans were finalized, Zhuge Ming presented them to Lin Qian for approval before proceeding to implement them with his team of scholars.

The Land of Origins would be managed by the former leaders of the four main tribes—Liu Wei, Qian Ling, Sun Ang, and Li Yi—who would serve as regional governors. Cities would be built throughout the land, with the other tribal leaders serving as city lords.

Lin Qian only needed to review and approve the plans. He left the detailed work to Zhuge Ming and his scholars, as that wasn't his area of expertise. With capable people at his disposal, he saw no need to involve himself in every minor detail.

However, while the administrative groundwork was being laid, there were still unresolved issues. The remnants of the Dwarf and Giant Goblins in the north, as well as the lingering threat of the Blackblood race, had to be dealt with. Since Lin Qian now considered this world his own, he couldn't tolerate any remaining instability.

After setting the groundwork for the Land of Origins, Lin Qian returned to his cultivation. He would leave the implementation of the plans to Zhuge Ming and the scholars. Once everything was in place, he would lead the charge to the north, exterminating the Dwarf and Giant Goblins and dealing with the Blackblood threat once and for all.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three loud knocks interrupted Lin Qian's cultivation, and he opened his eyes.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" came the urgent voice of Stone Bull from outside the door. Lin Qian immediately recognized the voice and quickly stood up to open the door.

"Calm down and speak clearly," Lin Qian instructed as he saw the panic on Stone Bull's face.

"Your Majesty, a massive number of zombies have emerged from the ground, and they're all converging to the north!" Stone Bull reported, swallowing nervously.

Lin Qian's expression darkened as he swiftly left the room and headed for the deck.