Chapter 423: The Empire's Ambition

After thoroughly understanding the history of the Xuanhuang Realm and carefully researching it with the Empire's few cultivators, the think tank reached a bold conclusion.

These restrictions were very likely only effective within the Xuanhuang Realm itself.

Although the cultivation techniques stolen by the Empire's technique thieves were still subject to the restriction against cultivating multiple techniques simultaneously, they did not allow them to detect the precise locations of fellow practitioners, unlike within the Xuanhuang Realm.

In other words, the restrictions were weakened.

This was likely due to the Empire not being in the main Xuanhuang Realm, but rather in an affiliated small world.

Thus, the solution to this problem became obvious.

It was to sever its ties and break free from the Xuanhuang Realm.

To become an independent small world.

For an ordinary mortal civilization, this might be an impossible task.

However, for the Empire, which could control strange beasts, it was certainly worth a try.

When the first generation of technique thieves crossed the Immortal Severing Array to reach the Xuanhuang Realm, the schools of Rift Whales lingering in the void had already caught the Empire's attention.

After a hundred years of attempts and countless lives of warriors, the Empire finally succeeded in capturing a lone Rift Whale.

Subsequently, they achieved large-scale breeding of Rift Whales.

Unlike other strange beasts, Rift Whales reproduced through a unique form of solitary reproduction.

Any individual within the species seemed capable of producing offspring merely by absorbing unknown energy from the void.

However, before this, the Empire had not yet conceived the idea of using Rift Whales to break free from the Xuanhuang Realm.

The numerous and enormous Rift Whales were primarily used as food in the Empire.

Rift Whale meat was succulent and, if consumed consistently over time, could even improve one's physique.

It was very popular in the Empire.

However, once the plan to break free from the Xuanhuang Realm was decided, the Empire issued an order to protect Rift Whales and prohibited private consumption of them.

The entire nation's resources were dedicated to breeding Rift Whales.

Additionally, elite technique thieves were once again dispatched to the Xuanhuang Realm to steal cultivation techniques.

Before this, the most advanced techniques the Empire possessed were only Nascent Soul techniques.

Considering their future plan to completely sever ties with the Xuanhuang Realm, it would be extremely difficult to independently deduce higher realms from scratch without reference techniques beyond the Nascent Soul stage.

Therefore, the Empire decided it would be best to acquire techniques for the Dao Integration stage.

If that wasn't possible, techniques for the Soul Transformation stage would also suffice.

To achieve this goal, the Empire dispatched over a dozen highly loyal warriors to stealthily cross into the Xuanhuang Realm.

To prevent total annihilation, they were organized into small groups, and outside of their immediate team members, they did not know each other's identities.

Zhu Shaotang and Xiao Jin were originally in the same group.

The other member of their group had unfortunately died in an accident, and Li Chenfeng joined later as a reserve member.

For years, the three had adhered to their mission, accumulating contribution points to exchange for Dao Integration techniques and then escape back to their homeland.

This continued until Li Fan's sudden arrival, who captured them all.

From Li Chenfeng's memories, Li Fan also learned that there was still debate throughout the Empire regarding whether to break free from the Xuanhuang Realm.

The largest opposing faction had a simple reason.

If such actions were discovered, the Empire would face utter destruction.

What if they could control strange beasts?

Could they withstand a single strike from an immortal?

The Nine-Headed Divine Bird, beheaded, was still watching them with eyes open in death!

Due to an inherent fear of immortals, the opposition gained significant traction in the Empire.

However, the Empire's ruler, the Empress, forcefully suppressed all dissenting opinions temporarily.

Only then could the Ultimate Technique Theft Plan be implemented.

The Empress was a descendant of the person who first awakened the ability to control strange beasts.

"The Imperial family's surname is Xu..."

Strange beasts, surname Xu.

The combination of these two terms made it difficult for Li Fan not to associate them with Xu Ke of the Beast Taming Sect, whom he had encountered in the Immortal's End Realm.

However, it could also simply be a coincidence.

"I once read in ancient texts that ancient demonic beasts possessed such crystal cores within their bodies."

"Some cultivators could even absorb their power for cultivation."

"I thought they were extinct, but unexpectedly, a small portion of strange beasts still retain them."

"It seems current strange beasts truly evolved from ancient demonic beasts."

The sword marks, where sword energy lingered for a thousand years, subtly hinted at a connection with the ancient Beast Taming Sect.

Li Fan couldn't help but develop an interest in this small world.

"Perhaps later, I can find time to investigate this Empire."

"But for now, my main task takes priority."

Li Fan looked at Li Chenfeng and the other two, who were lost in their illusions, and lightly snapped his fingers.

Instantly, their beautiful dreams shattered, and the three returned to reality.

Their faces were initially filled with confusion, but after glancing around, they gradually came to their senses.

What they had just experienced — their successful technique theft, the Empire breaking free from the Xuanhuang Realm, developing their own dao traditions...

All of it had been a mere illusion.

"You truly are audacious."

Li Fan's soft words struck their ears like a clap of thunder.

Li Chenfeng and the other two immediately turned deathly pale, their hearts filled with utter despair.

Their own demise was of no concern.

Their only fear was their homeland being implicated.

If an immortal were enraged, the death toll would likely be far more than merely thousands.

But tragically, they couldn't even end their own lives now.

However, what the powerful cultivator before them said next utterly defied their expectations.

"Excellent! I admire you."

Li Fan nodded in satisfaction and released Li Chenfeng and the others from their restraints.

The three exchanged glances, but ultimately dared not act rashly.

Zhu Shaotang carefully asked, "Senior, are you planning to let us go?"

Li Fan chuckled faintly, "I had no intention of pursuing the matter. What does the Myriad Immortals Alliance's loss of techniques have to do with me?"

"On the contrary, you were aggressive. If I weren't somewhat capable, I might have carelessly met my end here."

A faint smile played on Li Fan's lips as he looked at Li Chenfeng.

Li Chenfeng took a deep breath and quickly said, "It was my recklessness. Senior, I beg your forgiveness."

As he spoke, Li Chenfeng bent his knees, ready to kneel before Li Fan to beg for forgiveness.

Li Fan shook his head, stopping him.

"There's no need for such formalities in front of me. Let's go to your secret chamber; I have something to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Shaotang and the others' expressions subtly changed.

They hadn't expected their supposedly secret arrangements to be seen through so easily by this person.

Feeling uneasy, the three followed Li Fan into the secret chamber in the courtyard.

Li Fan's next sentence instantly dispelled their unease.

It was replaced by the ecstasy of a joyous turn from despair.

"To be honest, I also come from a small world outside the Xuanhuang Realm."