Ye Xin felt fortunate—thankfully, Lin Qian was present, or else the human race might have faced disaster.
Given that the Swift Shadow Tribe and the Formless Tribe had planned to seize the Four Directions World and destroy Yuan Xiang's restrictive formation to allow the alien races to enter unimpeded, and then use the portal to directly attack the heart of human territory, it was clear that these two tribes wouldn't act alone.
According to Ye Xin's speculation, once the Swift Shadow Tribe and the Formless Tribe began their invasion, other alien races would likely follow suit, attacking from the outskirts of human territory in a coordinated assault. If that truly happened, the situation would be dire.
Although the alien races' plan was thwarted due to Lin Qian, Ye Xin was convinced that the aliens wouldn't simply give up.
However, now that the vast Four Directions World was under Lin Qian's Huaxia Empire, it was time to develop it properly.
How to leave this small world wasn't something Ye Xin needed to worry about—Lin Qian had already explained that once the teleportation array was constructed, they could return to the Starting Province and quickly get back to Linhai Province.
The Four Directions World was vast, and Lin Qian believed that once the Starting Province and Linhai Province were fully under his control, their development would be swift. In the not-so-distant future, their territory might not be sufficient.
Thus, this expansive Four Directions World had arrived just in time.
With the power of the Huaxia Empire, transforming this small world wouldn't be an issue. Especially since Lin Qian had refined the World Heart, overturning Yuan Xiang's original formations would be as easy as flipping his hand.
However, Lin Qian planned to preserve the trial elements, including their dangers.
The Huaxia Empire in the external world needed such a trial ground to temper its new citizens. In the future, this place would serve as the training ground for the next generation of Huaxia Empire geniuses.
As for the detailed plans for modifying the Four Directions World, Lin Qian left that to the Tian Gong Department and the Fire Engineering Department. He didn't need to oversee every detail. The captured members of the Formless Tribe were also being studied within the newly constructed Tian Gong Department branches in the Four Directions World.
The Four Directions World was renamed to Sifang Province, becoming the Huaxia Empire's third province in this world.
For now, Lin Qian only needed to wait for the teleportation array to be completed, after which he and Ye Xin could return.
With some leisure time, Lin Qian took Ye Xin on a tour of Sifang Province, exploring the unique landscapes of this small world.
Occasionally, Lin Qian and Ye Xin would spar. Despite Ye Xin's cultivation surpassing his own, she still found herself firmly suppressed during their bouts.
Of course, the final result was always Lin Qian conceding defeat, as he was utterly powerless against Ye Xin's "Acting Cute" soul technique, her ultimate move.
Research on the Formless Tribe also advanced rapidly, offering significant insights into the puppet body project, especially concerning soul beads.
The Tian Gong Department successfully analyzed the Boundary Array Crystal and replicated it through the Fire Engineering Department.
According to Zhuge Ming's plan, the Boundary Array Crystal could be embedded within puppet bodies, serving as a stabilizing force and fortifying them.
Meanwhile, beyond Sifang Province, significant events were unfolding.
With the Southern Gathering concluded, the surviving human and sea tribe geniuses had left the ruins. The powerful figures waiting outside, except for the prematurely departed Black Blade Fish Tribe leader, remained quietly on guard.
Of course, they were unaware that the real Black Blade Fish Tribe leader was already dead, and the one who had been with them all along was actually Wu En of the Formless Tribe.
To their astonishment, after everyone but Lin Qian and Ye Xin had emerged, the originally stable portal suddenly collapsed, finally shattering with a loud bang.
After the array masters confirmed the situation, everyone regrettably learned that the portal could no longer be reopened—the spatial gateway to the Four Directions World had been sealed.
The younger generation was shocked by this outcome. They knew that Lin Qian hadn't yet come out—could he be trapped forever in that ruin of a small world?
Some rejoiced while others lamented. The powerful figures who saw their juniors return safely and stronger than before were all smiles, nodding in satisfaction.
Meanwhile, those who realized their geniuses had fallen within the ruins were filled with sorrow.
Among the crowd, three figures stood out—Xiaoyao Sect's Zhou Yi'an, Blood Spirit Valley's Yang Guixiang, and Twin Extremes Hall's Fang Shuiwen—all wearing expressions of deep concern as they gazed at the now-dormant portal.
They had just heard from their juniors that Lin Qian intended to come out later, telling them to leave without waiting for him.
But in the next moment, the portal had shut down.
For these three, Lin Qian was someone who absolutely couldn't be allowed to fall.
Now, they were left like headless flies, helplessly exchanging worried glances before collectively sighing.
Around them, the powerful figures from other human and sea tribe forces had eyes gleaming with interest. Having learned about Lin Qian's extraordinary prowess from their own juniors, they were left speechless with shock.
Afterwards, they carefully scanned the surroundings and, seeing that those whose people had perished hadn't noticed, they instructed their disciples to keep quiet. They understood that the fewer people who knew and befriended someone with such potential, the better.
It was enough that the forty-something forces present knew and had established a good relationship with him.
However, upon hearing that Lin Qian was trapped within the small world with no way out, their faces turned mournful.
And when they looked towards Zhou Yi'an, Yang Guixiang, and Fang Shuiwen, their expressions turned playfully amused.
For a long time, the three new rising powers of the southern region—Xiaoyao Sect, Blood Spirit Valley, and Twin Extremes Hall—had been competing with each other. Now, their creators were huddled together, apparently engaged in some deep discussion, their expressions hinting at a newfound camaraderie.
"That brat Lin Qian really got lucky." Just then, an angry roar echoed across the seabed, drawing everyone's attention. They saw a middle-aged man clad in black dragon robes, his face contorted with rage.
He was the Sixth Prince of the Qin Dynasty, the powerful figure representing Qin.
Everyone understood the reason behind his fury. They had already heard from their juniors what had happened inside the ruins.
The Qin Dynasty's Third Prince and Fifth Princess had not emerged from the ruins.
But that wasn't the main issue. The real problem was that they hadn't fallen during the trials within the ruins—they had been killed by Lin Qian.
Now, the Sixth Prince of the Qin Dynasty turned his gaze towards Zhou Yi'an and the others, unleashing a terrifying aura befitting a powerhouse of the Awakening Realm. "That brat with a death wish, from some so-called Huaxia Empire—where is this insignificant country? The Qin Dynasty will flatten it! You better tell me, or you'll regret it!"