The Peerless Emperor

In the shrine hall, Yun Hu had a deadly grim expression, enveloped by a dangerous aura.

Initially, when he had taken in Yun Fan, it was also to fill a gap in the plan. However, he had never anticipated the person he nurtured would gradually slip beyond his control.

To think he had become the upright and powerful Yun Monarch was something Yun Hu simply could not accept.

Fortunately, he had other offsprings. Otherwise, he wouldn't know what to do.

"But that thing is still inside him. The death of fourteen Elder Yun Wus isn't the issue. The real disaster is not being able to retrieve that thing," Yun Hu clenched his fists tightly and turned away from the shrine hall, planning to find out what exactly had happened in the Ten Thousand Medicine Thousand Wood Valley.

After leaving the shrine hall, Yun Hu walked into the Yun family's Council Hall and sat down, waiting in silence.

Not long after, urgent footsteps sounded from outside. A Yun family member clad in a blue and white robe hurried into the hall and bowed to the elder, "Elder, there has been an incident in the Ten Thousand Medicine Thousand Wood Valley."

"I already knew that. The fourteen Elder Yun Wus dispatched to the Ten Thousand Medicine Thousand Wood Valley have perished. But why has the news only just arrived!" As he spoke, Yun Hu's eyes suddenly snapped open, revealing a crimson glint within his pupils.

Thud!

As these words left Yun Hu's mouth, the Yun family member abruptly knelt on the ground, pressing his forehead to the floor, trembling uncontrollably: "Elder, not a single person from the Yun family in the Ten Thousand Medicine Thousand Wood Valley survived. The Yun family members from the neighboring regions of the valley received the news afterward, and only then did they learn of the incident through the words of others."

"Speak!"

"Lin Qian, the son of Lin Di and Yun Yunyan, has appeared in the Central Domain..." The Yun family member went on to report all the details he had gathered to the Yun family elder in front of him.

Yun Hu, seated in his place, listened intently as the family member before him gave a detailed account of the events that had unfolded in the Ten Thousand Medicine Thousand Wood Valley.

The expression on Yun Hu's face became colder and darker as if covered by ominous clouds.

After the family member finished recounting the events, Yun Hu's breathing became slightly rushed: "A traitor? What audacity Lin Qian has, indeed."

Words of fury erupted from Yun Hu's mouth. The Soul Power within him trembled violently, causing the prostrated body of the Yun family member before him to swell and suddenly burst, turning into a blur of flesh and blood on the ground.

Looking at the messy scene beside him, Yun Hu's demeanor seemed to stabilize somewhat, his gaze flickering.

"Things have gotten troublesome," Yun Hu furrowed his brows, stood up, and walked towards the hall's exit. As he left, he commanded the maids waiting outside, "Clean up the interior thoroughly, leave no trace of the bloody scent."

The maids stationed outside, still bent over, promptly responded, not daring to rise until Yun Hu had completely departed. Then, they covered their mouths and noses and entered the hall.

As they faced the indistinguishable remains on the ground, the maids' faces turned pale as they began to clean up.

In Yongquan State, within the city fortress, the full assembly had already filled the Council Hall inside the City Lord Mansion.

There, Yun Fan naturally occupied the principal seat, accompanied by Yun Rong. Lin Di, Yun Yunyan, and Lin Qian, a family of three, sat nearby.

The Yuan Supreme had already departed, returning to the Yuan family and had also followed Lin Qian's instructions to spread the necessary information throughout the Central Domain.

Lin Qian, sitting in his designated seat, curiously surveyed the various individuals seated below.

From the aura emanating from these individuals, many were Soul Martial Artists of the Transcendence Realm, with no fewer than twelve present.

In addition, there were over a hundred strong practitioners of the Ninth Level of the Awakening Realm, each with a remarkable aura, suggesting they were figures capable of standing on their own.

It was said that these were elders from the Yun family, who had voluntarily left with Lin Qian's own grandfather when he departed from the Yun family.

This clearly illustrated just how magnetic Lin Qian's own grandfather, Yun Fan, truly was.

In fact, the Yun family's current scale owed much to the assistance of Lin Qian's own grandfather. It was rumored that these elders also felt disillusioned with the actions of the Yun family's ancestor, Yun Hu, and were more willing to recognize Yun Fan as their Family Head.

However, Lin Qian clearly noticed that when they looked at his own grandmother, Yun Rong, their eyes were filled with reverence.

Different from their regard for his own grandfather, their gaze toward Yun Fan was filled with admiration, bordering on submission.

As for their look toward his own grandmother, Yun Rong, their eyes carried a hint of awe.

"This gathering is to discuss some matters, the first being the complete recovery of my body, which has now reached a higher level, achieving the Ninth Level Peak of the Transcendence Realm!" Upon Yun Fan's declaration, excitement flickered in the eyes of all present.

Indeed, the preceding days had been fraught with concern for them, and they were, subsequently, both astonished and amazed by the enhancement of Yun Fan's strength.

"If it weren't for my grandson Lin Qian's return this time, curing the poison of the Spirit Transformation Fruit and the bloodline curse, I fear the outcome would have been perilous." Speaking thus, Yun Fan looked at Lin Qian with eyes full of satisfaction, "The improvement in strength is also inseparable from this good grandson of mine. You all, this is probably the first time meeting my grandson Lin Qian."

Everyone nodded, looking towards Lin Qian with a mix of curiosity and intrigue.

What sort of person was this grandson of Yun Fan's? Was he a brash and arrogant young master, or a person with limitless potential? It remained to be seen.

However, given that Lin Qian had resolved the condition of Yun Fan's body and was the son of Lin Di and Yun Yunyan, he was certainly not of common stock.

It was noteworthy that Lin Di and Yun Yunyan were not even fifty years old and had already reached the Transcendence Realm; such talent was truly astounding.

How about the talent of their son?

"As for another matter, I am preparing to launch a counter-offensive against the Yun family." After a moment's silence, Yun Fan abruptly spoke, addressing the crowd.

Everyone's attention was instantly captured, and after a brief interval, the Council Hall erupted into a frenzy.

"Family Head, isn't a counter-offensive against the Yun family too hasty? Our foundation isn't stable, and our greatest ally and support, Yuanling Commerce, is also in turmoil. It's unwise to counter-attack the Yun family," a Transcendence Realm elder advised Yun Fan.

Others quickly followed suit, voicing their cautions.

At present, their strength was simply inadequate to support a counter-offensive against the Yun family; insisting on such a course would lead to an irredeemable predicament.

"A counter-offensive doesn't mean you are the main force; the main responsibility for the assault will lie with my people. You will assist from the sidelines, serving as high-level combat power to oversee the battle," announced an authoritative voice, suddenly emanating from the front amidst the clamorous debate.

The person who spoke was none other than Lin Qian.

"The Yun family is just a minor obstacle, easily crushed as if it were a game. Is it really worth such dread on your part?"