Watching Lin Qian laughing hysterically, Yun Yunyan hurried over to his side. "Qian'er, are you okay? Did something happen? Don't scare your mother like this."
"Mother, don't worry. I'm perfectly fine," Lin Qian quickly reassured her, waving his hand to prevent any misunderstanding. "Soon, I'll be able to introduce you to the grand commanders, the chancellor, and the great saints of the Huaxia Empire. Just thinking about it fills me with excitement."
"It seems these people are not only your trusted aides, but you also share deep bonds with them," Yun Yunyan observed with a smile, clearly relieved to see her son so happy. "Are they all your subordinates as Emperor of the Huaxia Empire?"
"Yes, they are."
"It seems that the bond between you and your subjects is quite strong," Yun Yunyan said, smiling warmly. Seeing her son so genuinely happy filled her with joy as well.
Yun Yunyan's words made Lin Qian reflect for a moment. He walked over to Jin Mao, helping him to his feet and patting him on the shoulder. "Mother, you may not understand this, but in the past, my actions today would have been nothing but a wild fantasy because they couldn't respond to me."
Looking at the pride on Jin Mao's face, Lin Qian felt an overwhelming sense of contentment.
"In those days, despite all the wealth I had, I was incredibly lonely. I couldn't even walk on my own two feet. In those darkest days of despair and solitude, it was the Huaxia Empire that accompanied me. To some, it may have seemed like I was wasting my time, lost in a virtual world."
"They'll never understand that those hours spent in the game, those so-called 'virtual things,' filled the emptiness in my heart with fulfillment. I had friends who shared my goals, accomplishments I could be proud of, and in that world, I was never alone."
Lin Qian's words made Yun Yunyan's heart ache for him in a way she hadn't before.
"Mother, what can a child do when he's left alone in an empty room?" Lin Qian turned back toward his mother, letting out a long sigh as he asked the question.
Yun Yunyan gently stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her son. "Qian'er, your father and I were wrong to leave you alone back then. I'm sorry."
Lin Qian shook his head lightly, looking at his mother. "Mother, I wasn't talking about that."
With a bitter smile, Lin Qian continued. Everyone has their own secrets, and he was no exception. His words had been driven by memories of his past life.
However, obtaining the Body Refining Manual brought Lin Qian immense satisfaction.
The Puppet Body Project had always been something Lin Qian hoped to complete. It was his dream to see the people he had nurtured and been proud of manifest in this world as soon as possible.
With Zhuge Ming by his side, not only would Xin'er be less burdened, but the empire itself would run even more smoothly. Talented people from all walks of life would surely flock to become Zhuge Ming's disciples.
Once the commanders appeared, the Huaxia Empire's future conquests would be assured, and they would be invincible.
In this world, who could possibly withstand Sun Wukong's staff? Who could endure the might of Lü Bu's Fangtian Halberd or the charge of his Red Hare?
The soul weapons of the martial artists would surely pale in comparison to Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light!
Lin Qian felt a wave of gratitude for his foresight in keeping and nurturing the generals and war beast commanders who had come from his treasure chests.
Once those who were still in their slumber awoke and were summoned from the Illusory Star to this world, Lin Qian would be the one to reign supreme.
Using the Illusory Star as his foundation, he would steadily consume the territories of this world, gather and train talents from various races, and integrate them into the Huaxia Empire. The empire would break through its current limitations and reach unprecedented heights.
Thinking of this filled Lin Qian with uncontrollable excitement.
"Once the Puppet Body is complete and with Zhuge Ming and Hua Sheng's help, we'll finally understand what's truly going on with Father," Lin Qian thought, glancing at his father lying on the bed.
News of the Yun Clan's destruction and the Huaxia Empire's successful campaign had spread like wildfire.
At the same time, the rightful Yun Clan would be reestablished on the Soul Martial Continent, and the one hundred and ninety states once ruled by the Yun Clan would now fall under the control of the rightful Yun Clan, with Yun Fan as the clan head and his wife Yun Rong as the deputy head.
The rightful Yun Clan was now part of the royal family, not a separate power, but an integral part of the Huaxia Empire.
When this news spread, the Central Region was abuzz, though the other major forces did not make any significant moves.
Lin Qian had ordered a blockade around the Yun Clan's territory long before the war started, preventing any spies from entering.
He didn't want the empire's battle tactics to be revealed to the other powers of the Central Region. Nor did he want anyone cursed within the Yun Clan's domain to escape.
As a result, while the forces in the Central Region knew of the Huaxia Empire's strength and the fall of the Yun Clan, they did not feel directly threatened.
However, they had no idea that the Huaxia Empire had deployed eight hundred peak Transcendent Realm warriors to eliminate the Yun Clan.
If they had known, they wouldn't be sitting so comfortably in their positions right now.
At this moment, only the Yun Clan understood the true power of the Huaxia Empire!
Lin Qian sat at the head of the council hall, with the members of the Yun Clan seated below him. Even Supreme Master Yuan sat below, next to his son, Yuan Wudi.
The members of the Yuan family looked at Lin Qian with eyes full of reverence. They had all sworn a Heart Demon Oath, pledging their loyalty to Lin Qian, following the instructions of their ancestor Yuan Xiang, and recognizing Lin Qian as their master.
"To be honest, I hope your loyalty comes from your own hearts. I have great respect for the Yuan family," Lin Qian said, looking down at the Yuan family members with a hint of helplessness. "But the way you're acting makes it seem like I've forced you."
As Lin Qian spoke, beads of sweat formed on the foreheads of the Yuan family members.
They would never forget the terror they felt as eight hundred peak Transcendent Realm warriors marched past them.
The Huaxia Empire's swift destruction of the Yun Clan in just one year filled them with even more dread.
Currently, the most widespread rumor outside the Central Region was that the Yun Clan's rapid fall was entirely due to the efforts of Yun Fan, the Yun Lord. After all, the majority of the Yun Clan's territory had been conquered by him, so the remaining Yun Clan members likely surrendered directly.
But to the Yuan family, this rumor was utterly laughable.
After seeing the vast scorched earth that was once the Yun Clan's territory, anyone would be scared out of their minds!