The methods employed by the Huaxia Empire filled them with deep fear—they were simply too ruthless.
It wasn't until Supreme Master Yuan explained the situation in detail, and after Yuan Wudi came forward to share what he had witnessed firsthand, that the members of the Yuan Clan felt a bone-chilling dread.
Thus, they came to respect Lin Qian, knowing that without the Huaxia Empire, the curse-infected people would have spread throughout the entire Soul Martial Continent, rendering their status as the so-called "guardians" of the continent a complete joke.
Though they felt helpless in the current situation, Lin Qian's ability to subdue the Yuan Clan so easily left them with no reason to resist. After all, why not submit to such overwhelming power?
Although the Yuan Clan's strength couldn't be used for internal human conflicts, they were an immense force when it came to conquering the continent and fighting the hostile alien races that harbored intense hatred toward humanity.
After all, the Yuan Clan was no small power. Even if they weren't worth much to the overall strength of the Huaxia Empire, Lin Qian still welcomed any increase in power, no matter how small.
As a true enthusiast of nurturing and growth, Lin Qian believed that even the smallest increase in experience points should be received with gratitude and reverence.
"In that case, I must make it clear: from now on, the Yuan Clan will no longer be the guardian clan of the Soul Martial Continent, but a part of the Huaxia Empire's Yuan Clan," Lin Qian said after a brief pause, addressing the elders of the Yuan Clan. "I've already discussed this with Elder Yuan. You'll be relieved of the heavy burden of guardianship. It's unfair to you."
"Come with me. I want to show you something." Lin Qian stood up and motioned for the Yuan Clan members to follow him outside.
Lin Qian flew into the air, and below him lay a city that had been directly transferred from the Illusory Star. The former ancestral city of the Yun Clan had been destroyed after the discovery of the Body Refining Manual.
Now, the Yun Clan's territory was filled with barren land.
On one stretch of wasteland outside the city, a Soul Cannon had been constructed according to Lin Qian's orders, specifically to demonstrate its power to the Yuan Clan.
Apart from Supreme Master Yuan, the rest of the Yuan Clan members were completely bewildered by the strange structure, not understanding what it was.
In the next moment, the Soul Cannon began to gather soul force, and a brilliant soul light condensed at the muzzle.
The intense fluctuations in the air could be felt even from a great distance.
Boom!
A blazing white beam of soul force shot forward, causing the elders of the Yun Clan to gasp in awe.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A rapid series of explosions erupted, and a towering mushroom cloud rose in the distance. The sight caused the Yuan Clan members to swallow nervously. From their perspective, the blast could easily flatten a medium-sized city.
"This device will be deployed along the borders where your Yuan Clan's soldiers are stationed, with at least three of these Type C Soul Cannons per combat zone to ease the pressure," Lin Qian said calmly as he observed their astonished faces. "Oh, and one more thing—get used to being shocked. You'll have plenty of moments like this in the future."
After a long silence, Yuan Wudi bowed to Lin Qian and said, "Young Lord, perhaps we should keep some of these here to defend the 190 states."
"After conquering the Yun Clan's 190 states, the Young Lord has surely drawn the attention of many forces who now see you as a threat. Such firepower could be a great defensive asset," Yuan Wudi suggested.
The other elders of the Yuan Clan, who had been overwhelmed with excitement, quickly calmed down and bowed to Lin Qian. "Young Lord, Yuan Wudi is right. Having one Soul Cannon per combat zone at the borders is already a great blessing."
"If we are to serve as part of the Huaxia Empire, the safety of the empire must come first."
"We are deeply grateful for the Young Lord's care toward the Yuan Clan."
Hearing the Yuan Clan elders' words, Lin Qian remained silent for a moment before finally speaking. "You've been guardians for too long, always thinking of others."
The imperial aura radiating from Lin Qian had already begun to take root in their hearts, instilling absolute loyalty—something Lin Qian valued above all else.
Moreover, as Lin Qian had mentioned, the Yuan Clan members had grown accustomed to their role as guardians, always thinking of others. Coupled with the influence of his innate talent, it wasn't surprising that they expressed such thoughts.
"I'm not making excuses, but this Type C Soul Cannon is the most basic, trash-tier weapon in the Huaxia Empire. It's worthless and shouldn't be treated like some kind of treasure. You're now part of the Huaxia Empire, so broaden your horizons."
"Do you really think I gave you something valuable? These Soul Cannons are nothing but junk. To deal with those alien races, junk is enough—they're not even worthy of being destroyed by better cannons. Understand?" Lin Qian waved his hand dismissively. "After you've compiled the list of your border combat zones, report the specifics to me. Increase the number of cannons from three to twenty per zone!"
With that, Lin Qian turned and left without looking back, leaving the stunned crowd staring at the Soul Cannon.
At that moment, the Soul Cannon suddenly emitted a searing light, and before their shocked eyes, it exploded into a pile of scrap metal. A group of workers quickly collected the debris into storage items.
One of the Yuan Clan members, unable to comprehend what had just happened, grabbed a passing technician and asked, "Sir, why did the Soul Cannon suddenly explode? Is it a one-time-use weapon?"
"Not at all," the technician replied. "This Soul Cannon was ordered by His Majesty for demonstration purposes. It's not part of the local construction plan. Dismantling it is a hassle, so we just blow it up and melt it down for recycling—it's quicker." With that, the technician left, leaving the dumbfounded Yuan Clan members behind.
Blowing up such an advanced weapon... just for convenience?
"From now on, Yuan Clan children won't be forced to go to the battlefield the moment they're born," Supreme Master Yuan suddenly said. "In the future, they'll be able to choose their own paths. Do you understand why His Majesty was upset earlier?"
The Yuan Clan members looked at Supreme Master Yuan in confusion, waiting for an explanation.
"By accepting the Soul Cannons from His Majesty, we could reduce the casualties of our younger generations, but you refused and put their lives in jeopardy. That's why His Majesty was angry," Supreme Master Yuan sighed. "In the future, do not reject what His Majesty bestows upon you, because His Majesty once said…"
"Value is demonstrated through use. If it rots in a warehouse, it's utterly meaningless."