Lin Qian understood deeply that for the Hua Xia Empire, a colossal empire on the rise, the most crucial foundation was resources. These resources not only had to be abundant but also of high quality.
The emergence of the Wood Spirit Clan, Green Spirit Clan, and Earth Spirit Clan would significantly boost the quantity and quality of the empire's resources, making them extremely vital.
Thus, Lin Qian took the upcoming meeting with the leaders of the Green Spirit Clan and Earth Spirit Clan very seriously.
Unlike the Wood Spirit Clan, who were exiled and had no other choice but to join the Hua Xia Empire, the Green Spirit and Earth Spirit clans had not been expelled. Convincing them to join was not going to be as straightforward.
Lin Qian couldn't take them on a tour of the Hua Xia Empire to win them over; he needed to persuade them here and now.
As he prepared for their arrival, Lin Qian retreated to his room to ponder how best to showcase the advantages of the Hua Xia Empire.
After much thought, he concluded that using the Wood Spirit Clan as an example would be a powerful tool in persuading the two clans.
"This is the way to go!" After a solid half-hour of contemplation, Lin Qian finally had a clear plan and felt fully prepared.
He was confident that, after presenting his reasoning and appealing to their emotions, the leaders of the Green Spirit Clan and Earth Spirit Clan would agree to join the Hua Xia Empire.
Three days later, the medium-sized village of the Green Spirit Clan welcomed two esteemed guests: the leaders of the Green Spirit Clan and the Earth Spirit Clan.
In the house that originally belonged to the village elder, several figures were already seated inside.
The village elder himself was there, personally brewing spiritual tea and placing it on the table.
Lin Qian and Ye Xin sat in chairs, with the three elders standing behind them.
Lin Qian had originally wanted the three elders to sit with him, but they insisted on standing behind him, believing that such a formal occasion required a show of authority. Standing behind Lin Qian, who was the emperor of the Hua Xia Empire, would also highlight his power.
Opposite Lin Qian sat two figures.
One was an elder of the Green Spirit Clan, who appeared youthful despite his long white hair. His white hair was tied up neatly, giving him a refined and scholarly air.
Beside him sat a burly man dressed in animal skins. His dark skin contrasted with his bald head, and his body was robust and powerful. His black face was marked by two protruding tusks, and when he smiled, his teeth gleamed white.
The refined elder was the leader of the Green Spirit Clan, Cui Bailin.
The burly man with tusks was the leader of the Earth Spirit Clan, Zhu Dingtian.
"Leaders, I am Lin Qian, Emperor of the Hua Xia Empire." Lin Qian smiled warmly at the two clan leaders as he spoke. "May I ask what brings you here to meet with me?"
Cui Bailin, the leader of the Green Spirit Clan, cupped his hands respectfully toward Lin Qian and replied with a smile, "Your Majesty Lin, you are truly a remarkable young man. Not only do you rule over such a vast empire, but your cultivation is also so advanced. It's truly admirable."
"Oh, enough with the pleasantries!" Zhu Dingtian, who had been listening to Cui Bailin's polite remarks, seemed impatient and turned to Lin Qian with a grin. "Hehe, Your Majesty Lin, we've come today with a request."
"..." Lin Qian felt a bit uneasy looking at the grinning tusked elder, but he maintained his composure and gestured for Zhu Dingtian to speak. "Leader Zhu, what is it that you seek? Feel free to tell me."
Upon hearing Lin Qian's words, Zhu Dingtian pounded his chest and stood up. "Since Your Majesty is so direct, I'll get straight to the point."
He paused briefly before bowing deeply toward Lin Qian and speaking with a pleading tone, "Your Majesty Lin, I humbly beg you to accept the Earth Spirit Clan as part of the Hua Xia Empire. Let us become your subjects."
"We of the Green Spirit Clan also request that Your Majesty Lin allow us to join the Hua Xia Empire and become part of your empire." Seeing Zhu Dingtian speak, Cui Bailin hurriedly stood up as well, a look of urgency on his face as he made the same request.
"Uh…" Lin Qian was momentarily stunned by their words, unsure of how to respond.
Beside him, Ye Xin also looked bewildered, uncertain of how to react to the scene unfolding before them. She turned to look at Lin Qian, only to find him just as dumbfounded as she was.
However, Lin Qian quickly regained his composure.
The two clan leaders had completely defied his expectations. He had meticulously prepared, thinking he would have to deliver an impressive speech to persuade the clan leaders to join the Hua Xia Empire willingly.
But to his surprise, before he could even begin, the two clan leaders had already requested to join the empire on their own.
The unexpected turn of events left Lin Qian a bit overwhelmed. After clearing his throat, he addressed them, "May I ask why both of you wish to join the Hua Xia Empire? After all, our empire is governed by humans."
"Why have you suddenly asked to join the Hua Xia Empire? What are your true intentions?" Lin Qian's imperial aura surged as he spoke, releasing his overwhelming emperor's pressure to test their sincerity.
As Lin Qian had mentioned, it was unusual for these two leaders to so suddenly request to join the empire. Were they harboring ulterior motives?
Lin Qian wasn't certain, so he decided to use this method to gauge their true feelings.
Caution never hurts when something seems too good to be true.
"The truth is, news of the Hua Xia Empire has already spread throughout the entire Wood Spirit underground world," Cui Bailin explained, his body drenched in sweat from Lin Qian's powerful presence. "But the main reason we are here is that Mu Houde has been in contact with us."
"He told us a great deal about the reality of the Hua Xia Empire and Your Majesty's benevolent attitude toward weaker races like ours. I was truly moved. Especially when I heard the words of Your Majesty, I was in awe."
"Regardless of the race, all are considered citizens of the Hua Xia Empire. Such vision, such an empire, filled me with admiration. Thus, I hope to lead the Green Spirit Clan to join the Hua Xia Empire and contribute to its strength."
"You sure know how to talk, don't you?" Zhu Dingtian snorted, giving Cui Bailin a sidelong glance before cupping his hands toward Lin Qian. "Your Majesty Lin, it's simple for me. Following you means we'll have meat to eat!"
Seeing the two leaders before him, Lin Qian stood up and approached them. "I welcome you to the Hua Xia Empire. Let's set off and return to the empire immediately. How does that sound?"