"The rulers of the Empire across all generations must study within from the moment they are born. Only after mastering the countless troves of knowledge preserved inside can they formally ascend the throne."
"And the Imperial Treasury can only be entered by those who possess royal blood," Xiao Qing explained.
"Yet I can't enter right now either, can I?" Xu Bai shook his head slightly.
"Attune your heart and sense it; then this invisible barrier will cease to exist," the Imperial Daughter said softly.
With that, she gave a personal demonstration. Taking a step forward, she slipped right through the ward and stepped into the Imperial Treasury.
Hearing this, Xu Bai closed his eyes.
Sure enough, an inexplicable sensation welled up in his heart.
Within the boundless darkness, what sounded like the beating of a heart seemed to echo.
It came from every direction.
Recalling what he had seen before—how the entire imperial palace seemed to have been formed from the carcass of a colossal exotic beast—understanding dawned upon Xu Bai.
The Imperial Treasury might very well be this beast's heart.
The various exotic beasts of the Empire had all been bred through Xu Ke's secret methods.
Bearing Xu Ke's essence blood, this place naturally could not keep him out.
A sudden flash of inspiration struck him, and Xu Bai took a step forward. As though passing through some transparent membrane, he arrived inside the Imperial Treasury the very next moment.
Without eyeing the various objects displayed around the chamber, he turned his gaze to the Imperial Daughter and Xiao Qing. "I did manage to get in. But that proves nothing."
"'Only those who possess royal blood can enter'—"
"That sort of claim," Xu Bai said, shaking his head slightly.
The Imperial Daughter offered a gentle smile. "There is no need to be so suspicious. Walk around this treasury, and you will understand on your own."
"These are all treasured heirlooms of the Empire; aren't you afraid I might pocket a few?" Xu Bai asked.
"If you want to cart the entire place away, you can. But in truth, what is truly precious here is the memories of the Empire's past sovereigns," Xiao Qing said nonchalantly.
The Imperial Daughter made an inviting gesture toward Xu Bai.
Xu Bai let out a cold snort and drifted toward an exotic beast that resembled a two-winged turtle.
"Silent Flying Turtle: Lifespan can reach three hundred years. Its meat can treat ailments such as hyperactivity disorder and mania. Note, however, that its blood is harmful; consuming it will shorten one's lifespan."
A voice, accompanied by an image, suddenly flashed into Xu Bai's mind.
The figure in the image looked strikingly similar to Xu Ke.
He was seated upright before an examination workbench, dissecting a Silent Flying Turtle while continuously jotting down notes.
At the same time, all manner of data regarding the Silent Flying Turtle surged into Xu Bai's mind.
Before Xu Bai could finish digesting it, another image surfaced a moment later.
The person recording data this time was a woman, whose appearance still bore a resemblance to Xu Ke.
"New discovery: the wings of the Silent Flying Turtle can be used as material for manufacturing sky-skimming airships, maintaining high-speed flight while keeping flight noise to an absolute minimum."
...
The scenes shifted one after another.
Over a dozen figures took their turns, and the research into the Silent Flying Turtle steadily progressed.
By the end, techniques to cultivate Silent Flying Turtles en masse had emerged, enabling them to complete an entire life cycle in a mere three years, drastically reducing the breeding time.
The imagery faded. Savoring the vast deluge of information that had populated his mind, Xu Bai looked toward the Imperial Daughter.
"What is this?"
"The Empire's founding ruler was bred by Saint Emperor Xu Ke using the Sacred Blood Embryo Transformation Method."
"The second-generation sovereign was likewise created in this manner."
"Passed down generation after generation."
"In essence, every imperial sovereign throughout the Empire's history and Saint Emperor Xu Ke are the exact same person," the Imperial Daughter answered with a smile.
Xu Bai had long known this, but he still feigned utter horror: "What kind of demonic art is this?"
"How can technology be divided into righteous or evil?" The Imperial Daughter shook her head. "Though of the same flesh and blood, we possess our own distinct consciousnesses. You may also view us as different individuals.
"Yet, due to the connection of the Sacred Blood Embryo Transformation Method, we can achieve synchronized mental resonance.
"What you sensed just now was the research accumulated by successive emperors on the Silent Flying Turtle.
"Before dying, every ruler of the Empire, in addition to transforming sacred blood into an embryo, must leave behind their intent in the Imperial Treasury.
"The new successor then inherits the vast majority of the wisdom and experience of past emperors.
"Thus, the master of the Empire grows ever stronger.
"Only in this way could a perpetual empire be established."
The Imperial Daughter spoke placidly, a trace of pride and grandeur quietly seeping into her tone.
"A perpetual empire..." Xu Bai scoffed coldly, showing no regard for her pride. "To say nothing of a Longevity Heavenly Venerable, I doubt you could even withstand a Dao Integration cultivator."
The Imperial Daughter stiffened at his words, her face flushing crimson.
Xu Bai swept his gaze across the Imperial Treasury and asked, "Though the curious records in here are numerous, few are truly of great value.
"I must hurry back to report. Tell me, what are the Empire's most formidable technologies?
"With sufficient bargaining chips, I can fight for more on your behalf in the Association," Xu Bai said pointedly.
The Imperial Daughter glanced at Xiao Qing outside the invisible barrier.
Seeing Xiao Qing nod slightly, the Imperial Daughter pondered before speaking: "In our respective eyes, our understanding of what is 'valuable' may not be the same.
"From the perspective of the Empire's strategic objectives, our pinnacle technologies are, first, the methods to breed and control Realm-Rifting Whales.
"And second, void warp-and-weft positioning.
"Armed with these two technologies, the Empire can continuously open void corridors to get as far away from the Xuanhuang Realm as possible," the Imperial Daughter said slowly.
Xu Bai sneered with mockery. "I've heard about this ridiculous plan of yours from a fallen colleague of mine.
"The idea sounds fine, but...
"If it were truly so easy to leave the Xuanhuang Realm, someone would have done it thousands of years ago. Would it ever be your turn?
"Those cultivators who fled into pocket worlds for refuge when the great catastrophe descended—why do they still yearn day and night to return to the Xuanhuang Realm rather than escape beyond their pocket worlds?
"It isn't that they don't want to. It's that they simply cannot.
"I advise you to abandon these unrealistic fantasies and join our Myriad Realms Association..."
Facing Xu Bai's mockery, not a ripple of emotion stirred on the Imperial Daughter's face.
Instead, resolute and unwavering, she cut Xu Bai off: "What if our objective was never to escape the Xuanhuang Realm from the very beginning?"
This gave Xu Bai pause.
"Not escaping the Xuanhuang Realm? Then why go to such great lengths?"
The Imperial Daughter smiled faintly. "To buy time.
"To get as far from the Xuanhuang Realm as possible, minimizing the chance of being swept up when disaster befalls the Xuanhuang Realm.
"And at the same time, to wait patiently.
"Sooner or later, a savior will emerge to rescue the Xuanhuang Realm from the catastrophe of annihilation."
Chapter 749