Chapter 434: The Essential Meaning of Survival

In the Fallen Immortal Realm, the wise Beast Emperor Sanmo once told Lu Ya, "Even what you see with your own eyes is not always the truth."

Similarly, the conclusions Li Fan has drawn might not be entirely accurate.

It's like the parable of the blind men and the elephant; what is perceived may not be the complete picture of the situation.

However, it is still a part of the truth.

Inside his mind, the Dao Transformation Stone crystal emitted a brilliant blue light, instantly recording the myriad thoughts swirling through his head.

Next, Li Fan had to consider how to deal with the woman in green.

Shortly after she finished speaking, Li Fan shook his head and replied, "The might of the Immortal Ruins is beyond ordinary comprehension."

"The effects of something that can even distort space and time are truly hard to predict."

"You claim that by severing the Immortal Isolation Channel, you will break free from your constraints and achieve complete freedom."

"But that's merely a theory. What will actually happen? Who can guarantee it?"

As Li Fan spoke slowly, he subtly observed the woman in green's expression.

"After all, those places that previously separated from the Xuanhuang World have now all vanished without a trace and can no longer be contacted."

"Who knows if they truly achieved freedom or were annihilated within the Immortal Ruins?"

"Otherwise, how could our Myriad Realms Alliance attract so many members?"

"Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of failure is too great a risk for an entire civilization."

Li Fan spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

The woman in green's smile gradually faded. She stared at Li Fan, seemingly trying to discern something from his face.

However, Li Fan remained completely unperturbed, showing no flaws.

The woman in green then said, "You make a good point. This is also why I returned to the Xuanhuang World this time."

"Currently, the existence of the Immortal Ruins is still a top secret known only to a very few within the empire. However, there are no impenetrable walls, and once the conservatives learn of this, the resistance to implementing the plan to leave the Xuanhuang World will be even greater."

"At that point, even with the imperial family's millennium-long accumulated prestige, it might not be enough to execute this plan peacefully."

Li Fan interjected, "So, you've come seeking help?"

The woman in green nodded. "The Empress's determination to execute the plan to leave the Xuanhuang World has not wavered. Even if there are some risks, we believe it's worth it."

"However, those odious nobles within the empire might not agree."

"To avoid internal strife, the empire must accelerate the plan's progress."

She paused, then continued, "While acquiring Dao Integration cultivation techniques as quickly as possible, we also need to speed up the cultivation of resources for the World-Rending Whales..."

As she spoke, she handed over a jade slip.

A quick scan with his spiritual sense revealed a long list of materials inside.

After searching his memory, Li Fan found that while most of these materials weren't individually expensive, the quantity needed was quite staggering.

The total cost would likely far exceed the five million-plus contribution points he possessed.

His eyebrows slightly raised, he said, "If you were to join the Myriad Realms Alliance, the organization would naturally provide assistance as appropriate for what you've mentioned."

"However, you're clearly determined to leave, and our alliance isn't a charity."

The woman in green said, "As you, Envoy, have mentioned, departing from the Xuanhuang World might lead to destruction."

"Although the empire's resolve remains unchanged, it doesn't prevent us from hedging our bets."

Li Fan's eyes flickered. "Are you saying..."

"Precisely. The empire will draw out a portion of its forces to join the Myriad Realms Alliance."

"As an alternative spark of civilization, they will remain in the Xuanhuang World. Should the empire truly suffer misfortune in the future, they can serve as a branch lineage to continue the empire's legacy," the woman in green stated frankly, her gaze piercing.

Hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but scoff, "Aren't you overestimating yourselves a bit? To avoid alerting people within the empire, the forces you extract definitely won't be too numerous. It's probably far from enough to exchange for the items on that list."

The woman in green calmly replied, "Envoy, you may have misunderstood. Since they are to be the spark of civilization for the empire's continuation, all the technologies the empire currently possesses will naturally be preserved. Upon joining the alliance, these technologies can, of course, be shared with the organization."

"Leaving aside other things, I believe the value of the Beast God Armor alone is worth more than half the materials on that list."

He hadn't expected his opponent to be so bold, daring to use all the technologies they possessed as leverage.

Even if the "all technologies" they mentioned might come with some caveats, what Li Fan had seen of the empire in Li Chenfeng's mind alone was enough to pique his interest.

Admittedly, these might not be of much direct help to Li Fan's cultivation level.

However, the empire's power system, which was distinct from that of the current Xuanhuang World, could significantly bolster Li Fan's foundational strength.

As the saying goes, 'too many skills are never a burden'; perhaps in a future reincarnation, this power to control exotic beasts could prove useful.

Without much hesitation, Li Fan made his decision moments later.

He decided to obtain the empire's entire set of technologies.

Feigning a look of being subtly moved, Li Fan pondered for a moment and said, "This matter is of great importance, and it's not something I can decide on my own."

"Allow me to report back, and I will give you a response then."

Li Fan's reply was within the woman in green's expectations.

"Delays breed trouble; I hope the envoy can expedite this."

Li Fan cupped his hands and left in a hurry.

In the secret chamber, only the imperial group remained.

"Holy Master, are we truly going to use the core technologies the empire has developed for so many years as a bargaining chip?" Li Chenfeng asked somewhat reluctantly.

The woman in green did not answer immediately. Instead, she frowned and looked up at the sky.

After setting up numerous restrictions, she finally looked at Li Chenfeng and reprimanded him, "Have you forgotten how I taught you?"

"Survival is the primary imperative for a civilization's development."

"Only by surviving do technology and culture hold any meaning."

"If the civilization itself perishes, what good is any brilliance it achieved?"

Li Chenfeng still seemed a bit resentful. "But..."

The woman in green raised a hand to cut him off. "This matter has been discussed and finalized with the Empress. There's no need to say more!"

Seeing this, Li Chenfeng could only lower his head and grudgingly assent.

"I couldn't see through that person just now. And he's merely an envoy. It seems this Myriad Realms Alliance truly has some profound methods."

The woman in green watched the direction Li Fan had left, and after a moment, spoke softly.

Li Chenfeng was startled. "Holy Master, with your cultivation, you couldn't see through his true nature? What exactly is his cultivation level?"

The woman in green also seemed perplexed. "On the surface, his cultivation might not appear very high, but I consistently sensed a faint aura of danger from him."