The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

"Stronger than you?" Lin Qian stood frozen in place, stunned by Zhuge Ming's words.

"Indeed, Empress Ye Xin possesses remarkable intuition. Often, after explaining something once, she can extrapolate and innovate further on her own. She quickly identifies areas where the cultivation systems of the Empire and this world can complement each other, recognizing these connections in record time."

"It's as if the Empress has a natural, keen perception in this field. In that regard, I must admit, I fall short."

"But I'm delighted. If the Empress's abilities in this area can match or even surpass mine, it would be an immense asset for Your Majesty, for the Empress herself, and for the Hua Xia Empire."

Zhuge Ming's eyes shone with excitement as he continued, "Thus, I have been imparting all my knowledge to the Empress without reservation, ensuring that her cultivation is not hindered."

"However, even that concern seems unnecessary. The Empress's talent is undeniable. Even if she dedicates only a small portion of her time, she achieves results far beyond the reach of ordinary people. Of course, Your Majesty is not included among those ordinary people; after all, Your Highness excels in cultivation beyond measure..."

Seeing Zhuge Ming's sly smile, Lin Qian narrowed his eyes, "There's no need to be roundabout. I know I'm hopeless in refining, alchemy, and other such fields, so you'd better teach the Empress well, or I'll hold you accountable!"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhuge Ming replied, bowing deeply as their conversation ended.

"He's getting bold, mocking me like I wouldn't understand," Lin Qian grumbled to himself, though there was no anger in his tone.

In fact, he was quite pleased. Zhuge Ming's lively demeanor made Lin Qian feel a deep sense of fulfillment—this was what he had longed for, a connection beyond mere duty, a genuine camaraderie.

After concluding the discussion, Lin Qian turned around to find Ye Xin and Wei Wushuang staring at him with puzzled expressions. He chuckled and explained, "I have a special technique that allows me to communicate directly with people from the Empire. You can't see it; only I can."

Hearing this, Ye Xin and Wei Wushuang finally understood.

"Since the Chancellor holds your talent in such high regard, continue to learn from him. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Trust me, his knowledge is beyond your imagination," Lin Qian said to Ye Xin with a smile.

Ye Xin nodded earnestly. "These past days, I've already experienced it. It seems there's nothing too difficult for him. No matter how fast I progress, I can never reach the Chancellor's limits."

"There were so many times I thought I was finally approaching his level, only to realize that whenever I asked him a question, he always had the perfect answer, as if there's nothing he doesn't know."

As she spoke, a deep respect gleamed in Ye Xin's eyes.

Even Wei Wushuang sighed deeply and turned to Lin Qian. "Disciple, even I must admit, your Chancellor is truly extraordinary. Maybe Xiao Ye doesn't fully grasp it yet, but I understand just how terrifying this Zhuge Ming really is."

"After all, Xiao Ye's current understanding is still confined to Lianhai Prefecture. Once she sees the world beyond, she'll gradually realize how formidable Zhuge Ming truly is."

Lin Qian wasn't surprised by Wei Wushuang's sentiment. In the game world of his previous life, Zhuge Ming had been the strongest strategist, and it seemed that in this world, he still held that title.

Even after obtaining the vast library of Daoyuan Sect's ancient texts, Zhuge Ming mastered them all at a glance, finding no challenge in any of it.

To put it into perspective, those same texts were incomprehensible to most of Wanxiang Sect's elders, save for the most basic material. Yet Zhuge Ming learned them all effortlessly, highlighting the vast gulf in their abilities.

"By the way, Xiao Qian, since you can summon these soldiers and scholars from your empire, why can't you summon the Chancellor himself?" Ye Xin suddenly asked, her curiosity piqued.

Wei Wushuang was also intrigued, turning his gaze to Lin Qian for an answer.

They both knew that Lin Qian had received some extraordinary inheritance, becoming the emperor of a mysterious empire capable of summoning subordinates. But if that was the case, why hadn't he summoned Zhuge Ming?

Looking at Ye Xin and Wei Wushuang—two of the people he trusted the most—Lin Qian decided it was time to tell them.

"Xin'er, Master, this is not something I want widely known. Please promise me you'll keep it to yourselves," Lin Qian said seriously after a brief silence.

Ye Xin and Wei Wushuang exchanged a glance before solemnly making a vow, and a strange, subtle wave seemed to ripple through the air.

They had sworn a heavenly oath, a promise bound by the heavens themselves, ensuring that breaking it would result in divine retribution. Though the oath placed a slight burden on their souls, neither of them hesitated, wanting to reassure Lin Qian.

Touched by their gesture, Lin Qian offered a wry smile. "It's not that I don't want to summon Chancellor Zhuge Ming—it's that my strength isn't enough. I simply can't summon him."

"Not strong enough?"

"Yes. The strength of the one I summon is directly tied to my own. If they're too powerful, summoning them could cause my body to explode," Lin Qian explained, spreading his hands.

Ye Xin nodded thoughtfully before asking, "Xiao Qian, these soldiers and this battleship—what rank are they in your empire? Are they considered middle or upper tier?"

Lin Qian shook his head slowly, a proud smile on his face. "These soldiers are the lowest-tier troops in the empire."

He then gestured to the ship beneath their feet and added, "This battleship, despite its city-sized proportions, is the empire's most basic model. We have as many as we need. Xin'er, since you're interested in studying battleships, I could give you a few to take apart if you'd like."

"The lowest-tier troops… and the lowest-tier battleships?" Ye Xin muttered, massaging her forehead as she felt her mind spinning.

Beside her, Wei Wushuang's eyes widened. "This battleship is basic? And you have endless numbers of them? Disciple, don't make empty boasts. If I asked you for ten thousand, could you deliver?"

"Ten thousand? Well, since you've made your vow, I might as well tell you. One hundred million of these battleships wouldn't be a problem. I'm not exaggerating, Master."

Thud!

Wei Wushuang could no longer keep his composure and plopped down on the ground, staring at his disciple in disbelief. His perception of reality was beginning to crumble.