Seeing Lin Qian agree, Zhang Nianxin also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling immensely grateful.
"According to the message passed down from our clan, that ancient human ruins only allows the younger generation under sixty years old to enter, and the minimum requirement for cultivation is the Nirvana Realm."
"Emperor Lin is so young and has already reached the Sky Breaking Realm; his potential is extraordinary and should be the strongest talent of the Human Clan in Coastal State. It is only right that Emperor Lin should go on this mission."
After Zhang Nianxin finished speaking, there was an awkward expression in his eyes. Lin Qian found it amusing and shook his head: "In my eyes, Clan Leader Zhang says this only because of my status as the Emperor of the Huaxia Empire, right?"
"After all, the person you should be sending must be Elder Zhang’s grandson, Zhang Qi. I see that at his mere age of twenty-five, he has already reached the Life and Death Realm. Compared to him, my cultivation at the Sky Breaking Realm doesn’t amount to much, does it?"
"I think Elder Zhang’s idea is simply to rely on me to join this expedition to the ruins and regard this precious opportunity as a form of repayment to me."
Hearing Lin Qian speak his mind, Zhang Nianxin’s face showed an awkward expression, and he waved his hands again and again: "How can you say that, Emperor Lin? After all, as the sovereign of an empire, it is inevitable that your cultivation would fall behind due to the countless affairs you need to manage."
"I am twenty this year, and I only started cultivating five years ago." Just at this moment, Lin Qian suddenly spoke up.
Hearing Lin Qian’s words, Zhang Nianxin’s face changed drastically.
Zhang Qi, his own younger brother’s grandson, the number one talent of the younger generation in their clan, began cultivating at five years old and spent a full twenty years to reach the Life and Death Realm.
Five years. When Zhang Qi was ten, he had only just reached the Shape Origin Realm, and at the age of twenty, he had just broken through to the Sky Crossing Stage of the Sky Breaking Realm.
Even if he was stronger than Lin Qian, after all, he had been cultivating for fifteen years.
Given the rate of Lin Qian’s cultivation progress, it was estimated that in another two years, Lin Qian would have most likely reached the Life and Death Realm!
"Emperor Lin, I really didn’t expect your natural talent to be so exceptional," Zhang Nianxin sighed heavily and apologized to Lin Qian, "My previous insincere words were indeed an insult to you."
"It’s alright, after all, you didn’t know." To this, Lin Qian was nonchalant and waved his hand dismissively.
"It’s a pity. Given another five years for Emperor Lin, I’m afraid our sub-clan’s achievements would be remarkably high," Zhang Nianxin then spoke with much regret.
According to him, when their sub-clan went to the Eight-Armed Sea Clan, the internal clan meetings would still be held regularly, including internal sparring.
At that time, the clan would distribute certain resources as rewards based on the performance of the sub-clan members.
This time, because of the affair with the ancient human ruins, the human ally invited could also take action and contribute to the performance calculations.
After all, the human ally invited is also an ally of that sub-clan. The strength of the ally is related to the strength of the sub-clan.
Therefore, Zhang Nianxin lamented that if they could have given Lin Qian another five years to enhance his strength, their sub-clan’s performance would have been much better.
Finally, Zhang Nianxin convened a meeting of the sub-clan to announce the decision, making sure all the elders heard it clearly.
Regarding Zhang Nianxin’s decision, the other elders had no objections.
In the past, their sub-clan’s performance during clan meetings had always lagged behind. Whether Lin Qian was involved or not did not affect it much; they could exactly use this opportunity to repay him for his kindness.
After the meeting ended, Zhang Qi proposed a suggestion: to have a sparring session with Lin Qian.
According to Zhang Qi, from now on, Lin Qian would be his partner, and it was very necessary to understand each other’s strength.
"Although I am not part of the Human Clan, I must have many things to teach Emperor Lin in terms of combat experience," Zhang Qi said not arrogantly but with a sincere face, genuinely wanting to help Lin Qian improve his strength.
Having listened to Zhang Qi’s words, Lin Qian didn’t show any particular expression. Rather, it was Ye Xin who had a strange look beside him.
Eventually, everyone came to the practice arena in the Saint City used by the Central Sea Clan for cultivation, including Zhang Nianxin, Zhang Nianyi, and other high-ranking elders of the Eight-Armed Sea Clan’s sub-clan.
They too were very curious about the Emperor of the Huaxia Empire’s true strength.
Lin Qian’s realm was the First Level of the Sky Breaking Realm, which everyone could see, but exactly how much combat power he could exhibit remained unknown.
"There’s a saying of nine cycles of Nirvana for the Human Clan’s breakthrough from the Shape Origin Realm to the Nirvana Realm, how many cycles do you think Emperor Lin has undergone?"
"At the very least eight layers, right?"
"I think it is nine layers!"
The bystanders were all discussing and speculating while watching the sparring.
After settling in the underwater arena, Zhang Qi suggested isolating the seawater and also proposed to fight with three of his arms tied behind his back, adopting a more humanoid form.
"There’s no need to isolate the seawater, and Zhang Qi, use your full strength; don’t hold back," Lin Qian called out at that moment.
Hearing Lin Qian’s request, Zhang Qi was somewhat surprised.
Without isolating the seawater, his strength would not be decreased. If he used his full strength, all eight arms would be in action, taking on the true form of the Sea Clan.
The Eight-Armed Sea Clan, when resembling a humanoid, has six more limbs with suction cups on them, but otherwise, they’re not much different from humans.
However, once they take on the true form of the Sea Clan, their entire skin turns pale pink, becomes delicate and smooth and highly elastic, capable of moving agilely through water.
In Zhang Qi’s view, as he was in the Life and Death Realm, how could Lin Qian possibly be his opponent if he were to use his full strength.
"Please do as Little Qian says, or you won’t stand a chance against him, not even having the power to counter," suddenly, Ye Xin, who was standing next to Zhang Nianxin and watching, spoke up, "He is the Emperor of an empire, how can you judge him solely by his realm?"
Hearing Ye Xin’s words, many of the Eight-Armed Sea Clan also felt it made sense.
Still, they believed that facing Zhang Qi at full strength, Lin Qian would not be a match.
The difference between the First Level of the Sky Breaking Realm and the initial stage of the Life and Death Realm, that is, the Body Realm of the Human Clan’s Life and Death Realm, was indeed too vast.
But out of respect for Lin Qian’s wishes, Zhang Qi still reverted to the true form of the Eight-Armed Sea Clan, ready to engage at full power.
"That’s more like it. Now let’s see if I’m qualified to instruct you," Lin Qian said with a smile as he nodded, seeing Zhang Qi prepare to give it his all.
"Instruct me?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Qi’s first reaction was that the Emperor of the Huaxia Empire must be joking.
But soon after, Zhang Qi was very certain that the Emperor of the Huaxia Empire was indeed qualified to instruct him.
"Emperor Lin, you can’t be human…" These were the words Zhang Qi exclaimed with a stunned face after a short span of time.