tīng dào dì nǚ nà xìn shì dàn dàn de huí dá ， yǐ jí tā liǎn shàng dǔ xíng wú bǐ de yàng zi ， xǔ bái jī hū xiào chū le shēng ：“ zhè jiù shì nǐ men de jì huà ？”
听到帝女那信誓旦旦的回答，以及她脸上笃行无比的样子，许白几乎笑出了声：“这就是你们的计划？”
Hearing the Empress's resolute response and the determined look on her face, Xu Bai almost laughed out loud. "This is your plan?"
“ bǎ xī wàng jì tuō zài xū wú piāo miǎo 、 shuí yě bù zhī dào jiū jìng huì bú huì chū xiàn de dà yīng xióng shēn shàng ？”
“把希望寄托在虚无缥缈、谁也不知道究竟会不会出现的大英雄身上？”
"Relying on a nonexistent hero who might or might not appear in the future?" Xu Bai shook his head repeatedly. "It seems the organization has overestimated your value."
xǔ bái lián lián yáo tóu ：“ kàn lái zǔ zhī hái zhēn shì yǒu diǎn gāo gū nǐ men de jià zhí le 。”
许白连连摇头：“看来组织还真是有点高估你们的价值了。”
Despite Xu Bai's contemptuous demeanor, Empress did not get too angry.
miàn duì xǔ bái biǎo xiàn chū lái de qīng miè ， dì nǚ què bìng bù zěn me shēng qì 。
面对许白表现出来的轻蔑，帝女却并不怎么生气。
Instead, she spoke with firm conviction: "The savior we have been waiting for for thousands of years will surely come! Before the Xuanhuang Realm reaches its end."
ér shì yǎn zhōng shǎn dòng zhe jiān dìng de mù guāng ：“ wǒ men děng hòu le shù qiān nián 、 yì zhí kǔ kǔ qī pàn de nà wèi jiù shì zhǔ ， zhōng jiāng huì chū xiàn de ！”
而是眼中闪动着坚定的目光：“我们等候了数千年、一直苦苦期盼的那位救世主，终将会出现的！”
"This is a devout belief passed down from the Holy Emperor. No matter what policies the emperors make, they cannot contradict it."
“ zài xuán huáng jiè chè dǐ xiàn rù mò lù zhī qián 。”
“在玄黄界彻底陷入末路之前。”
These words made Xu Bai hesitate. He suddenly remembered something and fell silent.
“ zhè shì chuán zì shèng dì de qián chéng xìn niàn 。 dì guó lì dài huáng dì wú lùn zhì dìng shén me guó cè ， dōu bù néng yǔ zhī xiāng wéi bèi 。”
“这是传自圣帝的虔诚信念。帝国历代皇帝无论制定什么国策，都不能与之相违背。”
Clearly, only Mr. Bai could instill such deep trust in Xu Ke.
cǐ yán jì chū ， xǔ bái yuán běn hái yù cháo fěng ， què hū de xiǎng qǐ le shén me ， dǒu rán chén mò xià lái 。
此言既出，许白原本还欲嘲讽，却忽的想起了什么，陡然沉默下来。
"So you predict that after many years, there will be a hero who can save the Xuanhuang Realm from its predicament?"
háo wú yí wèn ， néng ràng xǔ kè rú cǐ shēn xìn bù yí de ， zhǐ yǒu bái xiān shēng yī rén bà le 。
毫无疑问，能让许克如此深信不疑的，只有白先生一人罢了。
Xu Bai couldn't help feeling absurd at this thought. But he recalled the lingering presence of the Ferrying Calamity Sect, which seemed to have some connection with him.
“ zhè me shuō ， bái xiān shēng yù jiàn dào le ， ruò gān nián hòu ， huì yǒu tiān jiàng qí rén ， zhěng jiù xuán huáng jiè yú shuǐ huǒ zhī zhōng ？”
“这么说，白先生预见到了，若干年后，会有天降奇人，拯救玄黄界于水火之中？”
Perhaps... it wasn't impossible.
xǔ bái xīn zhōng bù jīn gǎn dào yī zhèn huāng miù 。
许白心中不禁感到一阵荒谬。
At least the Ferrying Calamity Sect's chosen "one who bears the calamity" pointed towards himself.
què yòu xiǎng qǐ le ， yì zhí yīn hún bù sàn 、 sì hū gēn zì jǐ yǒu suǒ qiān lián de dù è zōng 。
却又想起了，一直阴魂不散、似乎跟自己有所牵联的渡厄宗。
Xu Bai frowned.
huò xǔ …… zhè bìng fēi bù kě néng zhī shì 。
或许……这并非不可能之事。
"From Mr. Bai breeding a new species of boundary whale and ensuring that many ordinary people's small worlds stay away from the Xuanhuang Realm, it seems the empire's ultimate plan is to align with other ordinary worlds."
zhì shǎo dù è zōng xuǎn dìng de “ yīng jié zhī rén ”， jiù zhǐ xiàng zì jǐ 。
至少渡厄宗选定的“应劫之人”，就指向自己。
"The empire just has more initiative and can be farther away. The rest are forced to accept without understanding what truly happened."
xǔ bái bù jīn zhòu qǐ le méi tóu 。
许白不禁皱起了眉头。
The difference lies in Xu Ke's connection with Mr. Bai. Perhaps this was what Lu Ya had instructed Xu Ke before his death.
“ cóng bái xiān shēng péi yù chū xīn pǐn zhǒng de liè jiè jīng ， shè fǎ shǐ de zhū duō fán rén xiǎo shì jiè yuǎn lí xuán huáng jiè lái kàn 。 dì guó de zuì zhōng jì huà ， shí zé shì gēn qí tā fán rén shì jiè shì bǎo chí yí zhì de 。”
“从白先生培育出新品种的裂界鲸，设法使得诸多凡人小世界远离玄黄界来看。帝国的最终计划，实则是跟其他凡人世界是保持一致的。”
Now, the question was: could Mr. Bai and the Ferrying Calamity Sect really predict my existence and that of [Truly Real] a millennium ago?
“ zhǐ bù guò dì guó de zhǔ guān néng dòng xìng gèng qiáng yì diǎn ， néng lí xuán huáng jiè gèng yuǎn yī xiē 。 ér qí yú shì jiè zhǐ shì bèi pò jiē shòu ， bìng bù míng bái zhēn zhèng fā shēng le shén me 。”
“只不过帝国的主观能动性更强一点，能离玄黄界更远一些。而其余世界只是被迫接受，并不明白真正发生了什么。”
Xu Bai quickly dismissed such thoughts.
“ zhè qí zhōng chā bié de lái yuán ， zé shì yīn wèi xǔ kè gēn bái xiān shēng zhī jiān de lián xì 。 huò xǔ zhè jiù shì lù yá shēng qián jiāo dài gěi xǔ kè de shì qíng 。”
“这其中差别的来源，则是因为许克跟白先生之间的联系。或许这就是陆涯生前交代给许克的事情。”
[Truly Real]'s mere thought could turn truth into falsehood, reality into illusion, and revert everything to its original point. This kind of ability was beyond even true immortals.
“ xiàn zài de wèn tí shì ， bái xiān shēng 、 dù è zōng ， zhēn de néng zài qiān zài zhī qián ， suàn chū wǒ 、 yǐ jí 【 hái zhēn 】 de cún zài me ？”
“现在的问题是，白先生、渡厄宗，真的能在千载之前，算出我、以及【还真】的存在么？”
If Mr. Bai and the Ferrying Calamity Sect truly predicted [Truly Real]'s existence, they wouldn't need a savior. With their own abilities, they could solve the problems in the Immortal Void.
jǐn jǐn shì piàn kè zhī hòu ， xǔ bái jiù fǒu jué le cǐ zhǒng cāi cè 。
仅仅是片刻之后，许白就否决了此种猜测。
"The Ferrying Calamity Sect's method should be similar to Chapter Senior Brother. They only pay attention when certain conditions are met. Perhaps they cast a wide net. The one who bears the calamity is not just me."
【 hái zhēn 】 yí niàn zhī jiān ， biàn kě huà zhēn wèi jiǎ 、 huà shí wèi xū ， jiāng shì jiān yī qiè huí guī zuì chū máo diǎn 。
【还真】一念之间，便可化真为假、化实为虚，将世间一切回归最初锚点。
"And Mr. Bai..."
zhè děng néng lì ， jí biàn shì chuán wén zhōng de zhēn xiān ， dìng rán yě yuǎn yuǎn bù jí 。
这等能力，即便是传闻中的真仙，定然也远远不及。
Xu Bai remained silent, unsure of how he could be so sure that someone would emerge a thousand years later to save the Xuanhuang Realm.
rú guǒ bái xiān shēng yǔ dù è zōng ， zhēn de néng yù cè dào shì shàng yǒu 【 hái zhēn 】 cún zài 。 nà me tā men yòu hé bì děng dài shén me jiù shì zhǔ ， guāng píng tā men zì jǐ de néng lì ， kǒng pà jiù néng jiě jué xiān xū de má fán 。
如果白先生与渡厄宗，真的能预测到世上有【还真】存在。那么他们又何必等待什么救世主，光凭他们自己的能力，恐怕就能解决仙墟的麻烦。
It couldn't simply be because he held hope, right?
“ dù è zōng de fǎ mén ， yīng gāi shì gēn zhāng shī xiōng lèi sì ， dāng mǎn zú mǒu zhǒng tiáo jiàn zhī hòu ， cái huì tóu lái mù guāng 。 shèn zhì tā men yě kě néng shì guǎng sā wǎng 。 suǒ wèi de yīng jié zhī rén ， yě bìng fēi zhǐ yǒu wǒ yí gè 。”
“渡厄宗的法门，应该是跟章师兄类似，当满足某种条件之后，才会投来目光。甚至他们也可能是广撒网。所谓的应劫之人，也并非只有我一个。”
"Infinite futures mean infinite possibilities. This means even if the probability is minuscule, everything must happen under [infinite] conditions." Xu Bai suddenly recalled what Emperor Yi had said: "Perhaps in Mr. Bai's countless futures, there really was a possibility for the Xuanhuang Realm to be saved, just like how I saw in my previous life."
“ ér bái xiān shēng ……”
“而白先生……”
Even though the Xuanhuang Realm experienced decay and civilization collapse, it eventually welcomed revival. Even if he didn't know what happened, if the empire could persist until then, perhaps their strategy would succeed.
xǔ bái mò rán 。
许白默然。
Xu Bai understood something.
shàng bù zhī dào ， tā jiū jìng shì píng shén me dǔ dìng ， qiān nián hòu huì yǒu rén zhàn chū lái zhěng jiù xuán huáng jiè de 。
尚不知道，他究竟是凭什么笃定，千年后会有人站出来拯救玄黄界的。
Empress watched Xu Bai lost in thought without interrupting him.
zǒng bù néng jǐn jǐn shì yīn wèi ， xīn huái xī wàng ba ？
总不能仅仅是因为，心怀希望吧？
"Well, if my ancestor's judgment is correct, there might be some truth to it. Unfortunately, from the current situation, your empire won't make it without our Multiverse Alliance's help." After regaining his composure, Xu Bai said with a hint of sarcasm.
“ wú xiàn de wèi lái ， yǒu wú xiàn de kě néng 。 zhè yě yì wèi zhe ， jí biàn kě néng xìng zài zěn me xiǎo ， zài 【 wú xiàn 】 de qián tí xià ， yī qiè dōu bì rán huì fā shēng 。”【 dì yī 】 céng jīng de huà ， hū de fú xiàn zài xǔ bái nǎo hǎi zhōng 。
“无限的未来，有无限的可能。这也意味着，即便可能性再怎么小，在【无限】的前提下，一切都必然会发生。”【帝一】曾经的话，忽的浮现在许白脑海中。
"Although we are distant relatives, I would love to help you. But the ability to conceal the use of the Heavenly Xuan Treasure Mirror is not something I can decide alone. You need to show some sincerity for me to do anything." He shrugged, looking helpless.
“ huò xǔ shì ， bái xiān shēng tuī yǎn chū de wú shù wèi lái zhōng ， zhēn de chū xiàn le xuán huáng jiè dé jiù de kě néng xìng 。 jiù xiàng shàng yī shì wǒ yǐ shēn huà wù suǒ kàn dào de ， suī rán xuán huáng jiè jīng lì guò wàn wù diāo bì 、 wén míng pò bài 。 dàn zuì hòu ， què réng shì yíng lái le fù sū de yáng guāng 。 jí biàn mù qián hái bù qīng chǔ ， zhè qí zhōng fā shēng le shén me 。 dàn cóng mǒu zhǒng yì yì shàng lái jiǎng ， rú guǒ dì guó zhēn de néng jiān chí dào nà ge shí hòu ， huò xǔ tā men de zhàn lüè yě jiù suàn chéng gōng le 。”
“或许是，白先生推衍出的无数未来中，真的出现了玄黄界得救的可能性。就像上一世我以身化物所看到的，虽然玄黄界经历过万物凋敝、文明破败。但最后，却仍是迎来了复苏的阳光。即便目前还不清楚，这其中发生了什么。但从某种意义上来讲，如果帝国真的能坚持到那个时候，或许他们的战略也就算成功了。”
Empress nodded slightly: "During your visit to the Nine-Headed Temple, we also learned about the changes in the Xuanhuang Realm—Afterlife Mansion and Heavenly Xuan Treasure Mirror..."
xǔ bái ruò yǒu suǒ wù 。
许白若有所悟。
"Indeed, it has surpassed our ability to resist. After discussion, if you can offer resources for our Multiverse Alliance's help..."
ér dì nǚ kàn zhe xǔ bái xiàn rù le chén sī zhōng ， yě yì zhí méi yǒu dǎ rǎo 。
而帝女看着许白陷入了沉思中，也一直没有打扰。
"No one in the empire would oppose this. The nobles are very afraid of death and losing their current status." Empress spoke calmly as though discussing a trivial matter.
“ hǎo ba ， rú guǒ shì wǒ xiān zǔ de pàn duàn ， nà me kě néng hái zhēn yǒu diǎn shuō fǎ 。 bù guò hěn yí hàn de shì ， cóng mù qián de qíng kuàng lái kàn ， rú guǒ méi yǒu wǒ men wàn jiè lián hé huì de bāng zhù ， nǐ men dì guó kǒng pà shì chēng bú dào nà yī tiān le 。” bù jiǔ hòu ， huí guò shén lái de xǔ bái yī jiù shì lüè wēi cháo fěng dào 。
“好吧，如果是我先祖的判断，那么可能还真有点说法。不过很遗憾的是，从目前的情况来看，如果没有我们万界联合会的帮助，你们帝国恐怕是撑不到那一天了。”不久后，回过神来的许白依旧是略微嘲讽道。
"Haha, it seems your empire is more pragmatic than I imagined. Good, no need to waste my words. But..." Xu Bai paused, smiling: "In such a crisis, under the pressure from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, our alliance can't be everywhere. We will provide different levels of support based on each small world's potential."
“ suī rán zán men suàn de shàng yuǎn fáng qīn qī ， wǒ yě hěn xiǎng bāng nǐ men yī bǎ 。 dàn shì néng gòu zhē yǎn tiān xuán bǎo jiàn de zhì bǎo shǐ yòng quán ， bú shì wǒ yí gè rén néng jué dìng de 。 nǐ men bù ná chū yì diǎn chéng yì lái ， wǒ yě hěn nán bàn a 。” tā sǒng sǒng jiān ， mǎn shì wú nài de yàng zi 。
“虽然咱们算的上远房亲戚，我也很想帮你们一把。但是能够遮掩天玄宝鉴的至宝使用权，不是我一个人能决定的。你们不拿出一点诚意来，我也很难办啊。”他耸耸肩，满是无奈的样子。
"So if you want more help, your empire needs to have something truly valuable."
dì nǚ wēi wēi diǎn tóu dào ：“ zài nǐ cān guān jiǔ tóu shén miào de shí hòu ， wǒ men yě dǎ tīng qīng chǔ le xuán huáng jiè suǒ fā shēng de biàn gù 。 wǎng shēng fǔ 、 tiān xuán bǎo jiàn ……”
帝女微微点头道：“在你参观九头神庙的时候，我们也打听清楚了玄黄界所发生的变故。往生府、天玄宝鉴……”
"I'll come straight to the point. Your pride in breeding exotic beasts is merely cannon fodder for us. These alone cannot sway those greedy old men in our alliance." Xu Bai said coldly.
“ dí què yǐ jīng chāo chū le wǒ men suǒ néng dǐ dǎng de fàn chóu 。 jīng guò yī fān shāng yì zhī hòu ， rú guǒ néng yòng zī yuán huàn qǔ nǐ men wàn jiè lián hé huì de bāng zhù ……”
“的确已经超出了我们所能抵挡的范畴。经过一番商议之后，如果能用资源换取你们万界联合会的帮助……”
Empress nodded in understanding.
“ dì guó zhōng shì bú huì yǒu rén chí fǎn duì yì jiàn de 。 bì jìng nà xiē guì zú men ， bù dàn fēi cháng pà sǐ ， yě shí fēn wèi jù shī qù jīn rì de dì wèi 。” dì nǚ miàn sè rú cháng ， sì hū zài sù shuō zhe yī jiàn xún cháng wú bǐ de shì qíng 。
“帝国中是不会有人持反对意见的。毕竟那些贵族们，不但非常怕死，也十分畏惧失去今日的地位。”帝女面色如常，似乎在诉说着一件寻常无比的事情。
Then she flew forward and said: "Follow me."
“ hē hē ， kàn lái dì guó bǐ wǒ xiǎng xiàng zhōng de hái yào gèng shí shí wù 。 yě hǎo ， shěng de wǒ zài duō fèi diǎn kǒu shé 。 bù guò ……” xǔ bái yǔ qì yī dùn ， zuǐ jiǎo fú xiàn chū yī sī xiào yì ：“ rú jīn xíng shì wēi jī ， miàn duì wàn xiān méng de qiáng dà yā lì ， wǒ men lián hé huì yě bù kě néng yǔ lù jūn zhān 。 kěn dìng huì gēn jù bù tóng xiǎo shì jiè zhǎn xiàn chū de qián lì ， huì yǒu bù tóng de zhī yuán qīng xié 。”
“呵呵，看来帝国比我想象中的还要更识时务。也好，省的我再多费点口舌。不过……”许白语气一顿，嘴角浮现出一丝笑意：“如今形势危机，面对万仙盟的强大压力，我们联合会也不可能雨露均沾。肯定会根据不同小世界展现出的潜力，会有不同的支援倾斜。”
After flying through the imperial treasury, they stopped before a mechanical device composed of several moving rings with rapidly changing numbers.
“ suǒ yǐ xiǎng yào huò qǔ wǒ men gèng duō de bāng zhù ， hái yào kàn nǐ men dì guó jiū jìng yǒu duō shǎo zhēn zhèng yǒu jià zhí de dōng xī 。”
“所以想要获取我们更多的帮助，还要看你们帝国究竟有多少真正有价值的东西。”
"This is the crystallization of thirteen generations of emperors' efforts—the [Virtue Grid Navigation Instrument]." Empress's eyes held a hint of nostalgia as she explained to Xu Bai. "In space travel, it records and saves spatial data around us. Based on predetermined targets, it sets routes, preventing us from getting lost in the void. It also marks coordinates for passed locations..."
“ wǒ yě zhí shuō le ， nǐ men suǒ yǐn yǐ wéi ào de yì shòu péi yù zhī shù ， zài wǒ men kàn lái ， yě jǐn jǐn shì néng gòu chōng dāng pào huī de céng cì 。 guāng píng zhè xiē ， gēn běn shì wú fǎ dǎ dòng lián hé huì lǐ nà xiē wéi lì shì tú de lǎo jiā huǒ de 。” xǔ bái lěng shēng dào 。
“我也直说了，你们所引以为傲的异兽培育之术，在我们看来，也仅仅是能够充当炮灰的层次。光凭这些，根本是无法打动联合会里那些唯利是图的老家伙的。”许白冷声道。
"Useful but not much." Xu Bai interrupted her with a gesture. "Our main challenge now is surviving the first wave of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's sweep."
dì nǚ wēi wēi diǎn tóu ， biǎo shì lǐ jiě 。
帝女微微点头，表示理解。
Empress nodded in understanding and led Xu Bai to a round gem.
ér hòu fēi shēn xiàng qián ， dào ：“ gēn wǒ lái 。”
而后飞身向前，道：“跟我来。”
"What is this?" Xu Bai narrowed his eyes.
yú dì guó bǎo kù zhōng fēi chí yī duàn shí jiān hòu ， tā zài yī zuò jī xiè zhuāng zhì miàn qián tíng xià 。
于帝国宝库中飞驰一段时间后，她在一座机械装置面前停下。
From the gem, he felt both spiritual energy and beastly aura.
zhuāng zhì yóu shù gè bù tóng de 、 zhèng zài bù tíng yùn dòng de yuán huán zǔ chéng ， qí zhōng yǐn yuē yǒu shù zì zài kuài sù biàn dòng 。
装置由数个不同的、正在不停运动的圆环组成，其中隐约有数字在快速变动。
(End of chapter)
Hearing the Empress's resolute response and the determined look on her face, Xu Bai almost laughed out loud. "This is your plan?"
"Relying on a nonexistent hero who might or might not appear in the future?" Xu Bai shook his head repeatedly. "It seems the organization has overestimated your value."
Despite Xu Bai's contemptuous demeanor, Empress did not get too angry.
Instead, she spoke with firm conviction: "The savior we have been waiting for for thousands of years will surely come! Before the Xuanhuang Realm reaches its end."
"This is a devout belief passed down from the Holy Emperor. No matter what policies the emperors make, they cannot contradict it."
These words made Xu Bai hesitate. He suddenly remembered something and fell silent.
Clearly, only Mr. Bai could instill such deep trust in Xu Ke.
"So you predict that after many years, there will be a hero who can save the Xuanhuang Realm from its predicament?"
Xu Bai couldn't help feeling absurd at this thought. But he recalled the lingering presence of the Ferrying Calamity Sect, which seemed to have some connection with him.
Perhaps... it wasn't impossible.
At least the Ferrying Calamity Sect's chosen "one who bears the calamity" pointed towards himself.
Xu Bai frowned.
"From Mr. Bai breeding a new species of boundary whale and ensuring that many ordinary people's small worlds stay away from the Xuanhuang Realm, it seems the empire's ultimate plan is to align with other ordinary worlds."
"The empire just has more initiative and can be farther away. The rest are forced to accept without understanding what truly happened."
The difference lies in Xu Ke's connection with Mr. Bai. Perhaps this was what Lu Ya had instructed Xu Ke before his death.
Now, the question was: could Mr. Bai and the Ferrying Calamity Sect really predict my existence and that of [Truly Real] a millennium ago?
Xu Bai quickly dismissed such thoughts.
[Truly Real]'s mere thought could turn truth into falsehood, reality into illusion, and revert everything to its original point. This kind of ability was beyond even true immortals.
If Mr. Bai and the Ferrying Calamity Sect truly predicted [Truly Real]'s existence, they wouldn't need a savior. With their own abilities, they could solve the problems in the Immortal Void.
"The Ferrying Calamity Sect's method should be similar to Chapter Senior Brother. They only pay attention when certain conditions are met. Perhaps they cast a wide net. The one who bears the calamity is not just me."
"And Mr. Bai..."
Xu Bai remained silent, unsure of how he could be so sure that someone would emerge a thousand years later to save the Xuanhuang Realm.
It couldn't simply be because he held hope, right?
"Infinite futures mean infinite possibilities. This means even if the probability is minuscule, everything must happen under [infinite] conditions." Xu Bai suddenly recalled what Emperor Yi had said: "Perhaps in Mr. Bai's countless futures, there really was a possibility for the Xuanhuang Realm to be saved, just like how I saw in my previous life."
Even though the Xuanhuang Realm experienced decay and civilization collapse, it eventually welcomed revival. Even if he didn't know what happened, if the empire could persist until then, perhaps their strategy would succeed.
Xu Bai understood something.
Empress watched Xu Bai lost in thought without interrupting him.
"Well, if my ancestor's judgment is correct, there might be some truth to it. Unfortunately, from the current situation, your empire won't make it without our Multiverse Alliance's help." After regaining his composure, Xu Bai said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Although we are distant relatives, I would love to help you. But the ability to conceal the use of the Heavenly Xuan Treasure Mirror is not something I can decide alone. You need to show some sincerity for me to do anything." He shrugged, looking helpless.
Empress nodded slightly: "During your visit to the Nine-Headed Temple, we also learned about the changes in the Xuanhuang Realm—Afterlife Mansion and Heavenly Xuan Treasure Mirror..."
"Indeed, it has surpassed our ability to resist. After discussion, if you can offer resources for our Multiverse Alliance's help..."
"No one in the empire would oppose this. The nobles are very afraid of death and losing their current status." Empress spoke calmly as though discussing a trivial matter.
"Haha, it seems your empire is more pragmatic than I imagined. Good, no need to waste my words. But..." Xu Bai paused, smiling: "In such a crisis, under the pressure from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, our alliance can't be everywhere. We will provide different levels of support based on each small world's potential."
"So if you want more help, your empire needs to have something truly valuable."
"I'll come straight to the point. Your pride in breeding exotic beasts is merely cannon fodder for us. These alone cannot sway those greedy old men in our alliance." Xu Bai said coldly.
Empress nodded in understanding.
Then she flew forward and said: "Follow me."
After flying through the imperial treasury, they stopped before a mechanical device composed of several moving rings with rapidly changing numbers.
"This is the crystallization of thirteen generations of emperors' efforts—the [Virtue Grid Navigation Instrument]." Empress's eyes held a hint of nostalgia as she explained to Xu Bai. "In space travel, it records and saves spatial data around us. Based on predetermined targets, it sets routes, preventing us from getting lost in the void. It also marks coordinates for passed locations..."
"Useful but not much." Xu Bai interrupted her with a gesture. "Our main challenge now is surviving the first wave of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's sweep."
Empress nodded in understanding and led Xu Bai to a round gem.
"What is this?" Xu Bai narrowed his eyes.
From the gem, he felt both spiritual energy and beastly aura.
(End of chapter)