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After Lei Qian left, he just stepped onto the flight corridor departing from Maoqing Mountain when he saw the disciples of the Thunderbolt Department waiting for him early.
Upon seeing Lei Qian come out, the Thunderbolt Department disciples reported to him about someone challenging Lin Qian.
After hearing the report from the Thunderbolt Department disciples, Lei Qian returned to Maoqing Mountain with a strange expression and told Lin Qian about the matter.
"Haha, didn't you just say that challenging me was akin to seeking death? Isn't someone seeking death now?" Lin Qian laughed out loud, looking at the returning Lei Qian.
Lei Qian shook his head lightly, then said to Lin Qian, "Because the disciple challenging you has some skills."
"Oh?" Hearing Lei Qian say this, Lin Qian looked curious.
"This disciple is called Ding Zhirong. Back in the Outer Sect, he was the number one."
"Later, after breaking through to the Nirvana Realm and becoming an Inner Sect disciple, he rarely appeared in the Sect. Because he crazily accepted Sect tasks, often taking three or four tasks at once."
"After completing the tasks and returning to the Sect to hand them in, he would not stay long but accept new tasks and leave the Sect again."
"No one really knows how strong Ding Zhirong is, but back when he was in the Outer Sect, he could suppress Zhao Haiming, so now his real strength must be quite strong."
After Lei Qian finished speaking, Lin Qian nodded silently. This Ding Zhirong seemed to be a disciple who crazily completed Sect tasks to sharpen himself through experience.
And Zhao Haiming was now the disciple ranked first in strength among the Inner Sect, powerful.
Back in the Outer Sect, only Zhao Haiming could contend with Ding Zhirong, and the two had countless confrontations.
However, Zhao Haiming often lost to Ding Zhirong and was always suppressed.
There was even a saying in the Wanxiang Sect's Inner Sect that if Ding Zhirong frequently stayed in the Sect and participated in the grand competitions, the first place in the Inner Sect would likely be his, while Zhao Haiming could only rank second.
"From this, it seems that this Ding Zhirong is very confident in his strength," Lin Qian mused, nodding with a smile.
Evidently, Ding Zhirong was confident that his strength surpassed even Zhao Haiming, who was ranked first in the Inner Sect.
Since that was the case, why should he fear Lin Qian?
"No matter how strong Ding Zhirong is, he cannot possibly defeat the boss," Lei Qian said with a confident look, gazing at Lin Qian.
Lin Qian saw Lei Qian's expression and responded with amusement, "Why are you so sure?"
"Boss, I know very well how strong you are," Lei Qian said with a sigh, "You're not someone ordinary of the same realm can contend with. I dare say that in the entire younger generation of geniuses in the Coastal State, none can rival you."
"You little rascal, Lei Qian, since when did you start flattering?" Wei Wushuang, also sitting at the stone table, laughed and cursed at Lei Qian.
"Master, you're wrong. What Lei Qian is saying is the absolute truth, not flattery," Wei Wushuang finished saying, and Lin Qian immediately retorted.
"..."
According to the news brought by the Thunderbolt Department disciples, Ding Zhirong's challenge to Lin Qian was set for the next day, scheduled at the ninth arena of the competition grounds.
The time was set just like Liu Ming's challenge to Lin Qian, at noon.
According to the rules set by Qin Wushuang, whoever was challenged had to attend; otherwise, the slot would belong to Ding Zhirong.
Regarding Ding Zhirong challenging him, Lin Qian did not mind because he was very confident in his own strength.
Still, Lin Qian would not be careless, as one should never let down their guard against any opponent.
This principle was something that Wei Wushuang constantly reminded him of.
Because Wei Wushuang himself had been on the brink of death, poisoned and all due to underestimating a minor character, which resulted in a critical error.
This time, Lei Qian truly left Maoqing Mountain and returned to his residence, while Wei Wushuang also went back to his room and began cultivating.
And in Lin Qian's house, there were only enhancement puppets present.
As for Lin Qian himself, he had already returned to within the Huaxia Empire, teleporting to another large city outside the capital.
Compared to the solemn and magnificent bustling capital, the city Lin Qian arrived in now was full of a heated atmosphere and a constant clanging sound.
The entire city was forged from metal, and tightly packed with mechanical components, scattered across the city.
Walking through the city, one could see robust men about two meters tall moving around, wearing custom leather suits filled with numerous pockets containing tools.
The Heavenly Art Department could be said to be the brain of the Huaxia Empire, with scholars spread all over the planet maintaining the empire's operations, array maintenance, and technology research.
The Fire Department, however, was the hands that completed the Heavenly Art Department's research. Whether generals or soldiers, their equipment and weapons were completed by the Fire Department.
Lin Qian now in Firework City was the headquarters of the Fire Department.
Walking on the streets of Firework City, Lin Qian looked around with interest, the whole city overflowing with vitality. Craftsmen passing by would bow in salutation upon seeing Lin Qian.
At this moment, Lin Qian also smiled and indicated for them to rise.
Huaxia Empire's military soldiers only had emotions akin to artificial intelligence, barely considered half-life.
However, the scholars of the Heavenly Art Department and the craftsmen of the Fire Department, like the generals, possessed true, living life.
Lin Qian did not use teleportation, carefully experiencing the atmosphere of iron and fire in the Fire Department, as well as the vitality he had never experienced while playing games in his past life.
In the game of the previous life, the inside of the Fire Department was just a precise machine. The craftsmen simply followed the program's settings to complete Lin Qian's construction commands.
Even if there was a fatigue system, it was just a bubble with text appearing above the craftsman's head.
Yet now, tired craftsmen set up wooden tables to wipe sweat, rest, chat leisurely in the workshop, and even drink and chat with small plates.
Seeing this, Lin Qian couldn't help but step into this craftsmen's workshop, surprising the craftsmen inside, who immediately stood up, "Your Majesty!"
"Come, come, sit down, and drink with me." Lin Qian spoke with a smile as he picked up a bowl of wine on the table, forcibly pulling a few craftsmen to sit down with him.
The craftsmen, feeling flattered, conversed respectfully with Lin Qian.
However, it wasn't long before this emperor, who didn't refer to himself as "us," made these tall and robust craftsmen less restrained.
"Recently, you've been working hard on completing Primordial Weapons and Soul Devices for the Empire's army," Lin Qian said, raising his bowl of wine to the craftsmen and downing it in one gulp.
The craftsmen hurriedly raised their glasses and drank them dry as well.
"Your Majesty, what can we say? Our Huaxia Empire came to this strange world and underwent earth-shattering transformations, with something called Soul Power emerging in our bodies, and the Imperial Army transforming alongside it."
"The Primordial Weapons and Soul Devices researched by the Heavenly Art Department must be quickly forged and crafted to replace the equipment of the entire army. Otherwise, in the future, when Your Majesty goes to battle, and the soldiers under you have no weapons or armor, wouldn't it become a laughingstock for others?"
"Melting down and recasting the old weapons and armor can actually save quite a bit of effort. According to the Prime Minister, Your Majesty doesn't need the help of a large army for now, so our tasks aren't too heavy."
After listening to the craftsmen's words, Lin Qian nodded with a smile, giving them comfort before getting up to wave goodbye.
"Now we can boast that we drank with His Majesty."
"That's right, those guys will probably envy us to death."
Naturally, Lin Qian did not know the conversation between the overjoyed craftsmen after he left. He had already teleported to the north of Firework City.
Compared to the heated atmosphere and metallic clattering of the southern part of Firework City, the northern part appeared much quieter.
Entering a mansion composed of splendid pavilions and gardens, Lin Qian was immediately greeted by a group of female workers who curtsied, "Your Majesty."
"Please rise," Lin Qian raised his hand to indicate.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"The gift for the Empress, has it been completed?" Subsequently, Lin Qian asked with a smile. His purpose in coming here was precisely for this.
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