Chapter 762

Crisis Demands Truth

Crisis Demands Truth

Angry Squid: . . . . . . . . .

With that, Xu Bai ended the communication.

His face immediately darkened.

"One small oversight, and a weakness was finally exposed."

"Liu San usually appears somewhat undignified, but I never expected him to be so cunning."

Indeed, Xu Bai made an error during the seemingly ordinary conversation he just had with Liu San.

Specifically, when Liu San mentioned that a disciple had successfully established their foundation, Xu Bai paused for a moment.

This silence was caused by his distrust of Liu San.

He knew how difficult it was to successfully establish one's own foundation, understanding that it was clearly an impossible feat.

So he suspected this might be a trap, an excuse for Liu San to coax him back.

Normally, upon hearing such news, he should have reacted with surprise or doubt, immediately questioning Liu San about its veracity.

However, he chose to remain silent.

While he could come up with countless excuses to explain his silence, Xu Bai knew deep down that it was already futile.

Because Liu San had not spoken continuously; instead, he uttered only half a sentence, deliberately waiting for Xu Bai's reaction.

This itself was a test.

Liu San had already obtained what he sought. From that brief silence, he had discerned Xu Bai's distrust.

In a contest between masters, even the slightest misstep means defeat.

"However, the situation hasn't spiraled out of control. The restriction of the True Alluring Fruit isn't easily broken. Even though they've sensed something is amiss and confirmed their suspicions, they still cannot oppose me."

"Aside from having rewritten their thoughts, more importantly, the Xuanhuang True Cauldron remains in my possession."

"With the numerous Yaowang Sect cultivators slumbering within the cauldron serving as hostages, they would never dare to act recklessly."

"For now, I'll ignore them. When the time comes…" A fierce glint flashed in Xu Bai's eyes.

The relationship between Xu Bai and the Yaowang Sect, among others, remained in a peculiar state of balance.

Xu Bai only communicated with them remotely via communication talismans.

Meanwhile, Liu San and the others continued their activities as usual, seemingly oblivious to any irregularities.

During this time, Xu Bai found an opportunity to return to the Empire.

Upon arriving at the capital, Xu Bai faintly detected the subtle scent of blood in the air.

Clearly, a major purge had just recently concluded.

Xu Bai revealed his presence, and soon Xiao Qing arrived to greet him.

Inside the towering palace, Xu Bai met the Imperial Daughter and Xiao Hong again.

Xu Bai was somewhat surprised to find that in the short time since they last met, the Imperial Daughter had transformed from a young maiden into a voluptuous beautiful woman.

Moreover, the timidity in her eyes when she looked at Xu Bai had diminished, replaced by a newfound confidence.

"It seems your Empire still possesses some secret, foundational technologies that you haven't disclosed," Xu Bai remarked indifferently.

The Imperial Daughter chuckled softly, her full figure subtly trembling. "The Empire has endured for a millennium; it has never placed its entire survival on a single path," she said.

"You should be able to understand, right?"

As she spoke, her deep, bright eyes firmly gazed at Xu Bai.

Her gaze held a mix of captivating vulnerability and overt seduction.

Xu Bai's eyes, however, were clear as a lake, without a ripple. He then gave her a brilliantly innocent smile.

The Imperial Daughter's composure instantly faltered, and a hint of panic and embarrassment surfaced on her face.

"Please excuse her, fellow Daoist." At that moment, Xiao Hong slightly bowed and stepped in front of the Imperial Daughter.

The Imperial Daughter took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a long moment, and then regained her composure.

Without chastising or mocking their ill-judged attempt at seduction, Xu Bai instead asked with keen interest, "If I'm not mistaken, is the Imperial Daughter pregnant?"

All three present felt a touch of awkwardness upon hearing this.

Xiao Qing gently waved her hand, and after casting a barrier around them, she quietly explained, "After you departed, fellow Daoist, we followed your advice and purged the imperial nobility. Everyone whose will did not align with ours was apprehended."

"Naturally, the Empire has existed for millennia. The power amassed by these imperial nobles should not be underestimated either."

"Before the operation, we had already considered the potential for failure. To prevent the imperial bloodline from being severed, the Imperial Daughter had preemptively performed the Sacred Blood Transmutation Embryo technique."

Xiao Qing glanced at the Imperial Daughter before continuing, "In fact, the Sacred Blood Transmutation Embryo technique, originally passed down by the Master, has advanced significantly over the years due to continuous research by the Imperial family."

"It can utilize external forces to facilitate accelerated gestation, even when one's own conditions are not ideal."

"The infant born under these circumstances is not so much a next generation as it is a form of doppelganger."

"However, there are also drawbacks. The doppelganger cannot inherit cultivation; it is merely a simple physical body."

Xiao Qing stopped there, deliberately avoiding further elaboration.

Xu Bai, however, narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable.

He refrained from pressing the matter further for the moment, and instead announced the approval of the review directly in front of Xiao Qing and the others.

After a review by several elders, they unanimously agreed that the various technologies demonstrated by the Empire warranted investment from the Myriad Worlds Alliance.

The Empire would also become one of the few small worlds currently under the Alliance's protection.

As he spoke, Xu Bai retrieved three Discs of Termination from his storage ring.

He then explained to them the formation that could amplify the effects of the Discs of Termination and conceal the entrance to their small world.

Among the three, the Imperial Daughter listened in complete bewilderment.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong, however, beamed with delight.

They solemnly put away the Discs of Termination, and then, at their subtle cues, the Imperial Daughter handed over a storage ring.

The storage ring was carved with the pattern of a Sky-Destined Mystic Bird. Its aura was ancient, clearly indicating its venerable age.

It bore a striking resemblance to Xu Ke's spirit beast, Little Black.

"The items we showcased earlier are all contained within."

Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong gazed at the storage ring, a flicker of nostalgia in their eyes.

"This was originally left by the Master and has never been used. Using it today to trade for the Empire's future, he surely wouldn't blame us if he knew, would he?" Xiao Qing remarked with a sigh.

Xu Bai merely scanned its contents, noting the presence of various materials, including "Myriad Beasts Fused as One." He did not immediately verify their authenticity.

He then put away the ring and turned his gaze back to Xiao Qing and the others.

Perceiving that Xu Bai had more to say, Xiao Qing and the others cast inquiring glances at him.

"The transaction between the Empire and the Myriad Worlds Alliance has been concluded."

"Next, I personally have another transaction with you all. I wonder if you are agreeable?"

Xiao Qing's expression grew somewhat solemn. "Please elaborate, fellow Daoist," she said.

"I am very interested in the improved Sacred Blood Transmutation Embryo technique," Xu Bai stated indifferently.

Xiao Qing's expression subtly shifted, and she was about to decline.

However, Xu Bai's subsequent words rendered all three of them unable to maintain their composure.