Chapter 741: White Sir's Sword

"We all come from different minor worlds, and compared to the Xuanhuang Realm, there's a natural hierarchical gap. However, we also possess advantages that should not be underestimated."

"That is diversity."

"Just as your empire can manipulate exotic beasts for combat, other minor worlds have also developed various unique and strange abilities over the years."

"Even if they are slightly weaker than the immortal techniques of the Xuanhuang Realm, if we can concentrate all our power and synthesize the strengths of countless worlds, we might be able to develop and research a system capable of contending with immortal techniques."

Xu Bai spoke eloquently.

Xiao Qing's first reaction was to shake her head.

However, before she could speak, Xu Bai interrupted her with a solemn gesture, saying, "As they say, where there's a will, there's a way. Everyone knows the hope is slim, but at this critical juncture, our only option is to fight to the death."

"You, my friend, must be clearer than I am about the lives ordinary mortals lead under the rule of cultivators, aren't you?"

"The members of the Myriad Worlds Alliance are all rulers of their respective worlds. Even if they face death, they would likely not wish to live a life of endless toil."

"The alliance of myriad worlds is the prevailing trend. For those unwilling..."

Xu Bai's expression instantly darkened: "While it won't come to armed conflict with you, it will be impossible for us to offer you our protection any longer."

Xiao Qing softly said, "My friend, you needn't worry. Our empire would never side with the Xuanhuang Realm. However, imperial matters are not something I can decide on my own."

"Please wait here for a moment, my friend. I need to consult with Her Imperial Highness and the Imperial Council."

Hearing this, Xu Bai nodded in understanding.

At the same time, however, he also put forward his own request: "I've heard that the empire was built upon the corpse of a three-headed divine bird."

"And the divine bird's head was severed by an immortal's sword back then."

"Since I've come all this way, it would be a great regret if I couldn't witness such a marvel with my own eyes. I wonder if you, my friend, can fulfill this long-cherished wish of mine?"

Xiao Qing looked at the smiling Xu Bai, her eyes flickering.

A moment later, she agreed, "It's a small matter. Since you're interested, my friend, I will have someone take you there shortly. However, residual sword qi and lingering regrets remain at the severed head, so you must be very careful."

Xu Bai's face showed surprise, which then turned to delight: "After all this time, the sword qi still exists—it truly speaks to the grandeur of that era! What you've said, my friend, only makes me more eager to see it."

Xiao Qing smiled without a word.

After she left, a young woman, appearing seventeen or eighteen years old and dressed in a gauze skirt, entered within half a day.

"Please follow me, honored sir."

As she spoke, the woman in the gauze skirt summoned an exotic beast resembling an inflated sphere.

An opening appeared in the sphere, and the woman stepped inside.

Xu Bai, feeling a little curious, also followed her in.

Inside the sphere, there were seats for comfort. As soon as the two entered, it continued to expand.

It slowly floated out of the spired palace, rapidly moving towards the distant "Imperial Sacred Land."

The spherical exotic beast's body gradually became transparent, allowing Xu Bai to clearly see the surrounding scenery.

"This is a Flying Orb Beast. Once it expands, it can soar high into the sky and travel with the wind at an extremely fast speed. Imperial citizens often use this method when visiting the Sacred Land," the woman in the gauze skirt explained to Xu Bai in a soft, melodious voice.

"However, since you, sir, will be visiting, Saint Master Qing has already given orders to temporarily clear out the visitors from the Sacred Land, so as not to disturb your peace."

As the woman softly provided her explanations, they soon arrived at one of the severed heads of the Scarlet Nine-Headed Beast.

"This is one of the nine temples."

Xu Bai followed the woman into the quiet building. The moment he stepped inside, he faintly perceived the sounds of fierce wails and mournful howls.

The floor and walls were covered in dark, inky black stone slabs, making the temple appear solemn and dim.

Without needing the woman to guide him, Xu Bai followed the direction of the sounds and walked deeper into the temple.

The deeper he went, the louder the wails of the exotic beasts became in his ears.

From the explanation provided by the woman in the gauze skirt, he learned that these were not merely the sounds of the Scarlet Nine-Headed Beast at the brink of death.

Rather, over the years, to reduce the divine bird's malevolent aura, countless exotic beasts had been slaughtered and sacrificed by the empire, their collective cries forming this mournful lament.

In each temple, countless exotic beasts had met their tragic end.

The entanglement of countless vengeful spirits was enough to transform any ordinary area into a realm akin to purgatory.

However, within this temple, despite its eerie atmosphere, no mischievous vengeful spirits had appeared.

This was because an incomparably sharp sword qi constantly suppressed them firmly.

"Swish..."

A strand of hair drifted down inexplicably, causing Xu Bai to immediately stop.

Ahead, dark, fleshy mass, like entangled vines, was coiled into a bundle.

It occasionally twitched, making it hard to believe it was the corpse of a demonic beast that had been dead for thousands of years.

Directly above the black mass of flesh, a wisp of red sword qi existed.

It resembled a long rope, floating unstably.

In fact, this red rope-like sword qi was invisible to ordinary cultivators.

Let alone the common mortals within the empire.

They could only infer the residual "immortal sword qi" from the continuously suppressed black flesh and the occasional bursts of sword qi directed outwards.

But Xu Bai could see all of this clearly.

Even...

Xu Bai slightly closed his eyes.

A scene suddenly appeared in his mind.

It was a crimson light that illuminated the heavens and earth, seemingly even faster than lightning.

The sharpness it contained felt capable of splitting the very cosmos.

"It looks like a rope, but in reality, it's..."

"A sword."

Xu Bai gazed at the red line before him, and after an unknown period, he mused thoughtfully.

"Is it the red rope given by Mr. Bai..."

"Compared to the wooden sword he casually crafted that I saw in the Fallen Immortal Realm, this red rope-like sword carries a much stronger killing intent."

"Rather than a pure sword, it seems to carry a hint of punishment."

Numerous insights continuously welled up within Xu Bai's mind.

He seemed to see Mr. Bai's figure, gently flicking out a strand of silk.

And then the peerless and arrogant Scarlet Nine-Headed Beast tragically died on the spot.

Thus, Xu Bai became engrossed in his insights, oblivious to the passage of time.

The girl in the gauze skirt also dared not disturb him, quietly standing behind Xu Bai the entire time.

Not far from Xu Bai, just beyond a temple wall,

Xiao Qing and a graceful young woman were intently staring at Xu Bai through a transparent wall.

"How is it? Can you confirm?" Xiao Qing asked, a rare trace of anxiety flashing in her eyes.

The young woman, however, kept her eyes closed.

Her eyelashes trembled incessantly, and beads of sweat trickled down her face.

After a long while, she suddenly opened her eyes.

"How can this be?"

The young woman's face was filled with shock.

"When I looked at him, it was like looking at myself!"