Yuan Xiang—a name known to every human on the Soul Martial Continent.
In the past, the human race on the continent lived in harsh conditions, confined to a small, isolated region where survival was a constant struggle. Then, Yuan Xiang emerged as the most brilliant genius of his time. By the age of 30, he had expanded the human territory a hundredfold.
After that, he disappeared from the continent for 200 years. Even though Yuan Xiang was no longer there to protect humanity, his rise had sparked the emergence of other human talents. While they couldn't expand human territory as he did, they could still defend it effectively.
When Yuan Xiang finally returned, it was during a time when the human race was under siege from several other races. His reappearance was marked by unparalleled strength. Single-handedly, he almost wiped out the five clans that had attacked humanity.
According to the records, Yuan Xiang had ventured beyond the continent and encountered other human clans. From them, he learned advanced martial techniques such as combining martial souls, the concept of Soul Gear Armament, the nine rounds of Nirvana, and martial soul attributes.
With this new knowledge, humanity's power grew exponentially, leading to rapid development. Yuan Xiang naturally became a hero, and at the time, he was considered invincible on the continent. He was known as the "Xuán Jūn" (Mysterious Lord).
As the continent's strongest warrior, Yuan Xiang named the entire land "Soul Martial Continent," a name still used today.
As for Yuan Xiang himself, some legends say he failed in his pursuit of a higher realm and died as a result. Others claim he simply lived out his natural lifespan and passed away peacefully.
To see this legendary figure appear before them left Li Yúnfēng and Yang Tiānhào, along with his junior brother, breathless with excitement. Ye Xin also gazed at Yuan Xiang with deep respect, fully aware that humanity owed much of its current prosperity and martial heritage to his contributions.
Lin Qian also regarded the ethereal elder with respect, though he wasn't as emotionally overwhelmed. Instead, his gaze held a hint of caution.
He remembered sensing an elder in his sea of consciousness during his evening meditation. Now, seeing this apparition, Lin Qian realized that the elder from his earlier experience could only have been Yuan Xiang.
While Yuan Xiang was hailed as a hero of humanity, Lin Qian couldn't help but wonder what such a legendary figure was doing in his sea of consciousness.
Noticing Lin Qian's wariness, Yuan Xiang's translucent face showed a hint of embarrassment.
"Senior, you mentioned earlier that we shouldn't get involved in this mess. What did you mean by that?" Lin Qian asked, still puzzled by the elder's earlier warning.
Yuan Xiang's expression turned serious as he explained, "This small world was once a trial ground jointly constructed by the human race, the Sea Clan, the Swift Shadow Clan, and the Formless Clan. It's a battlefield of life and death."
"I don't know what's happened on the Soul Martial Continent in recent years or why this small world has been sealed off for so long, but I do know that the Swift Shadow Clan and the Formless Clan have already entered this world."
Yuan Xiang's words sent a chill through Lin Qian and his companions.
"They've already entered?"
"The formations within the human and Sea Clan fortresses have been tampered with. If enough people enter, the Swift Shadow and Formless Clans will activate those formations, refining the humans and Sea Clan members inside into pure life essence," Yuan Xiang warned.
As his words fell, Lin Qian's expression darkened.
Suddenly, several figures materialized around Lin Qian.
These newly appeared individuals knelt on one knee in mid-air, saluting him. "Your Majesty!"
These were soldiers of the Hua Xia Empire, clad in dark green armor. Hoods extended from their armor, covering their heads, while masks concealed their faces. Their appearance was similar to that of Night Shadows, except for the dark green attire instead of black.
"Catch up with Zhang Zidè and the others. Warn them to return immediately. Also, inform any other Sea Clan members you encounter to avoid the fortress. Just deliver the message; whether they heed it or not is up to them," Lin Qian commanded.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The figures swiftly responded before transforming into streaks of dark green light, darting off into the distance with such speed that the air seemed to burst as they vanished from sight.
"What incredible speed!" Li Yúnfēng exclaimed in shock, amazed by how quickly the figures had disappeared. Though they were clearly at the Life and Death Realm, their speed was at least three times faster than his own.
Yang Tiānhào also looked at Lin Qian in astonishment. He couldn't fathom how Lin Qian had summoned these individuals, each radiating the aura of a Life and Death Realm expert, seemingly out of thin air. And their speed—Yang Tiānhào had never seen anything like it.
Seeing their stunned reactions, Lin Qian couldn't help but feel a bit smug.
The Swift Soldiers evolved into two advanced forms: the Night Shadows, assassins who thrived in the dark, and the Gale Runners, swift and elusive scouts responsible for reconnaissance, much like elite skirmishers. Among all the advanced forms, the Gale Runners were the fastest.
Though Zhang Zidè had left some time ago, Lin Qian was confident the Gale Runners would catch up soon.
As for warning the other Sea Clan members, Lin Qian saw it as a small favor. He trusted Yuan Xiang's words and saw no reason to let others walk into a death trap. Whether they chose to listen or not was up to them.
Disrupting the Swift Shadow and Formless Clans' plans by preventing them from harvesting life essence was something Lin Qian was more than happy to do.
With those concerns addressed, Lin Qian turned his attention back to the ethereal elder. "Senior, now can you explain what happened last night?"
"Last night? Qian, what happened?" Ye Xin asked, startled. She quickly scanned Lin Qian for any signs of injury or abnormality.
Lin Qian fixed his gaze on the elder, his tone cold. "Last night, you wandered into my sea of consciousness during my meditation, didn't you? If you hadn't shown up now, I might've dismissed it as just my imagination."
Yuan Xiang didn't deny it. Instead, he offered a sheepish smile. "I didn't mean any harm. I only wanted to give you this small world, but I didn't want to alert others, so I entered your consciousness."