Hearing Lin Qian's words, Cui Bailin and Zhu Dingtian exchanged glances, both detecting the curiosity in each other's eyes.
Why would everything be fine once they reached the coast? Had Lin Qian already arranged for a fleet to be waiting there?
"Perhaps the Hua Xia Empire's ships are so large that each one can carry fifty thousand people!" Zhu Dingtian speculated confidently as they traveled towards the sea after leaving the underground world.
"Stop joking. There's no way a single ship can carry fifty thousand people. If it can hold ten thousand, that would already be impressive," Cui Bailin replied with a chuckle, shaking his head. "Don't daydream. Although the Hua Xia Empire is powerful, just think about how many ships it would take to transport both our clans. It's unimaginable."
"But I suspect the ships won't be much different from the ironwood vessels the Wood Spirit Clan managed to get. Our people will likely have to endure some rough seas," Cui Bailin added, gazing ahead and then glancing back at the enormous group of his clansmen behind him.
Zhu Dingtian nodded solemnly, then turned to Cui Bailin. "I wonder if you've brought enough calming herbs. Many of our people will likely get seasick crossing such a vast ocean."
"What I'm worried about is how many of our people will survive the journey across the Violent Star Sea," Cui Bailin said, his concern evident. As he spoke, Lin Qian's voice suddenly rang out from ahead.
"There's no need to worry. Not a single member of the Green Spirit Clan or the Earth Spirit Clan will die. The Imperial Army of the Hua Xia Empire will protect every one of you."
Lin Qian's words left the two clan leaders stunned.
Imperial Army?
Boom!
Suddenly, a violent gust of wind swept through the air. The members of the Green Spirit and Earth Spirit Clans stared ahead in bewilderment, unsure of what was happening.
The next moment, a vast steel tide surged in from the horizon. Upon closer inspection, it was a formidable army clad in heavy armor, their bodies radiating an intense and oppressive aura.
"This... this is!" Cui Bailin's face was filled with shock and disbelief as he watched the army approach. His eyes were wide with fear.
The soldiers' soul-powered armor gleamed menacingly in the sunlight, and their presence exuded the powerful aura of peak life-and-death realm cultivators, all moving in perfect formation.
But what startled Cui Bailin even more was the sheer number of them—at least four or five hundred thousand soldiers, by his estimate.
What made his heart race even faster were the hundred formidable figures leading the charge, each radiating an aura that terrified him to the core.
They were all at the ninth level of the Transcendent Realm!
These hundred terrifying experts led different sections of the heavily armored army, splitting up and positioning themselves around the massive group of Green Spirit and Earth Spirit Clansmen.
"There's no need to be alarmed. These are the generals and soldiers of the Hua Xia Empire. From now on, they will protect you throughout the journey. If you have any concerns, you may consult with them," Lin Qian's voice echoed just as the Green Spirit and Earth Spirit Clans began to stir uneasily.
Upon hearing Lin Qian's words, the two clans fell into stunned silence. Cui Bailin and Zhu Dingtian were both dumbfounded.
They had initially assumed that this terrifying force was some kind of enemy, but to their surprise, these soldiers were actually the Imperial Army Lin Qian had mentioned?
"Protect us...?" Cui Bailin muttered, rubbing his forehead in disbelief. "With such a powerful army guarding us, crossing the Violent Star Sea might actually be possible without losing a single person."
Zhu Dingtian watched as the soldiers seamlessly integrated into their group, organizing themselves amongst his people. He muttered in awe, "I understand now why Mu Houde said the Hua Xia Empire is a place where people can truly feel safe."
"Indeed, I now feel completely at ease about the journey ahead."
After this brief interruption, the Green Spirit and Earth Spirit Clans continued their march towards the sea.
Initially, many members of the two clans felt uneasy around the Imperial soldiers of the Hua Xia Empire. The soldiers were clad in full soul-powered armor, exuding strength and power, and their cold expressions were intimidating.
The clanspeople feared that the soldiers might be as harsh as the powerful Fengxun warriors, who had often bullied and abused them.
However, as the journey progressed and they spent more time together, their fears gradually dissipated.
Whenever elderly clan members grew tired, these heavily armored soldiers would unhesitatingly remove their armor and carry the elders on their backs.
If young children from the Green Spirit or Earth Spirit Clans became fatigued, the soldiers would lift them effortlessly, placing the children on their shoulders.
Though the soldiers' expressions remained stoic, their actions warmed the hearts of the clanspeople.
In the past, the Fengxun Clan had treated them as nothing more than tools, forcing them to labor endlessly. Even if they worked themselves to death, the Fengxun Clan wouldn't care.
If they failed to meet the Fengxun Clan's demands, entire villages would be executed.
Among the clanspeople, Cui Yu couldn't take her eyes off a tall female officer walking beside her. The officer's form-fitting armor accentuated her impressive figure, making her stand out.
"Hm?" The female officer turned her head, noticing that the young Green Spirit girl had been staring at her. "What is it? Do I have something on my face?" she asked with a smirk.
"Ah, no! It's just that... you look so cool, big sister!" Cui Yu quickly waved her hands in embarrassment, trying to explain.
Hearing this, the female officer laughed heartily. "Sweet-talker. The guys all just call me a tomboy."
"Sister, are there many people like you in the Hua Xia Empire?" Cui Yu asked hesitantly after a moment of silence, her curiosity piqued.
The female officer nodded and patted Cui Yu's head. "You mean the Imperial Army? Of course. There are more of us than you can imagine."
"So many?" Cui Yu's eyes widened in surprise.
"Of course! Without a large army, how could we protect you?" the female officer replied with a soft laugh. She looked at Cui Yu sincerely and added, "I hope you'll find happiness living in the Hua Xia Empire, under His Majesty's rule."
Cui Yu soon became absorbed in conversation with the officer, asking all sorts of questions. To her surprise, the officer was nothing like the Fengxun warriors, who always had cold, arrogant expressions and acted as if they were superior to everyone.
The Fengxun warriors had treated her people with cruelty, beating and even killing them without hesitation.
Moreover, many beautiful women from the Green Spirit Clan had suffered at the hands of the Fengxun Clan, and attempts to resist had only led to more deaths.
"Finally, we're leaving that terrible place behind," Cui Yu thought as she glanced back at the land they were leaving. Reflecting on all that her clan had endured, she felt an immense sense of relief that those three human elders had arrived in their world and brought the Wood Spirit Clan to the empire across the sea.
And that Emperor Lin had come to save them.
As they finally reached the seashore, cries of astonishment erupted from both clans. Even Cui Yu stood in shock, her expression frozen in disbelief.