Hearing the Imperial Daughter's solemn, unwavering answer and seeing the boundless conviction on her face, Xu Bai nearly laughed out loud. "This is your plan?"
"To pin your hopes on some ethereal, legendary hero that no one even knows will ever appear?"
Xu Bai shook his head repeatedly. "It seems our organization really did overestimate your worth."
Faced with Xu Bai's open disdain, the Imperial Daughter showed little anger.
Instead, a resolute light flickered in her eyes. "The savior we have awaited for thousands of years, the one we have yearned for so bitterly, will eventually appear!"
"Before the Xuanhuang Realm truly reaches the end of the road."
"This is a devout conviction handed down by the Saint Emperor. No national policy enacted by any emperor throughout imperial history may run contrary to it."
Xu Bai had intended to sneer further, but at those words, he suddenly recalled something, and his voice died away.
Without a doubt, the only person capable of inspiring such absolute belief in Xu Ke was Mr. Bai.
*In other words, Mr. Bai foresaw that years later, a miraculous figure would descend from the heavens to save the Xuanhuang Realm from dire peril?*
Xu Bai could not help feeling a sense of absurdity.
Yet he also remembered the Crossing Adversity Sect, which lingered like a relentless ghost and seemed inexplicably linked to him.
Perhaps... it was not impossible.
At the very least, the "calamity-bearer" chosen by the Crossing Adversity Sect pointed directly at him.
Xu Bai frowned thoughtfully.
*Judging by how Mr. Bai bred a new breed of Realm-Rifting Whales and contrived to move many mortal pocket worlds far away from the Xuanhuang Realm, the Empire's ultimate objective is essentially aligned with the other mortal worlds.*
*The only difference is that the Empire possessed greater agency and could drift even farther from the Xuanhuang Realm, whereas the other worlds were simply forced along, completely ignorant of what was actually happening.*
*The origin of this difference lies in the connection between Xu Ke and Mr. Bai. Perhaps this was precisely what Lu Ya entrusted to Xu Ke before his death.*
*The question now is: could Mr. Bai and the Crossing Adversity Sect really have deduced my existence—and the existence of True Reversion—a thousand years ago?*
After merely a moment's contemplation, Xu Bai dismissed the notion.
With a single thought, True Reversion could turn truth into illusion, turn reality into void, and return everything in existence to the initial anchor.
Such an ability was far beyond even the legendary True Immortals.
If Mr. Bai and the Crossing Adversity Sect truly could have foreseen the existence of True Reversion, why would they need to wait for a savior? With their own abilities alone, they probably could have resolved the crisis of the Immortal Ruins.
*The methods of the Crossing Adversity Sect are likely similar to Senior Brother Zhang's. Their gaze only turns this way once certain conditions are met. They might have cast a wide net, meaning the so-called calamity-bearer was never limited to just me.*
*And as for Mr. Bai...*
Xu Bai fell silent.
He still had no idea what gave the man such certainty that someone would rise up a millennium later to save the Xuanhuang Realm.
It could hardly be out of mere wishful thinking, could it?
*"An infinite future holds infinite possibilities. This also means that no matter how small the probability, under the premise of infinity, everything is bound to happen."* The words Di Yi had once spoken abruptly surfaced in Xu Bai's mind.
*Perhaps among the countless futures Mr. Bai deduced, a genuine possibility of the Xuanhuang Realm being saved actually emerged. Just like what I saw in my previous life when I transformed into all things: though the Xuanhuang Realm endured the decay of creation and the ruin of civilization, in the end, it still welcomed the sunlight of revival. Even if I don't yet understand what happened along the way, from a certain perspective, if the Empire truly manages to hold out until then, their grand strategy could be counted a success.*
An inkling of understanding dawned on Xu Bai.
Seeing him lost in thought, the Imperial Daughter did not interrupt.
"Very well. If it was my ancestor's judgment, there might indeed be some merit to it. But unfortunately, from the look of things, without the help of our Myriad Realms Association, your Empire probably won't survive long enough to see that day," Xu Bai said a moment later, having collected himself, his tone still lightly mocking.
"Although we could be considered distant relatives and I'd like to lend you a hand, the right to deploy the supreme treasure capable of blinding the Heavenly Profound Treasure Mirror isn't mine alone to decide. If you don't show some sincerity, it puts me in a difficult spot as well." He shrugged with an air of complete helplessness.
The Imperial Daughter nodded slightly. "While you were touring the Nine-Headed Temples, we also inquired thoroughly into the upheavals taking place in the Xuanhuang Realm. The Manor of Rebirth, the Heavenly Profound Treasure Mirror..."
"They are indeed beyond our ability to withstand. After some deliberation, if exchanging resources can secure the aid of your Myriad Realms Association..."
"No one in the Empire will raise an objection. After all, those nobles are not only terrified of dying; they are equally terrified of losing the status they enjoy today." Her expression remained placid, as though she were speaking of the most mundane matter.
"Heh, it seems the Empire is even more pragmatic than I expected. Fine, that saves me further breath. However..." Xu Bai paused, a faint smile touching the corners of his mouth. "Given the current perilous situation and the immense pressure from the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, our Association cannot distribute its grace evenly. Our support will certainly tilt depending on the potential demonstrated by different pocket worlds."
"So if you wish to obtain more of our assistance, it will depend on how many truly valuable things your Empire can offer."
"I'll be blunt: that exotic beast breeding technique you pride yourselves on is, in our eyes, only fit to provide cannon fodder. That alone is nowhere near enough to move those mercenary old fogies in the Association," Xu Bai said coldly.
The Imperial Daughter nodded slightly in understanding.
Then she took to the air, gliding forward. "Follow me."
After flying through the Imperial Treasury for a while, she stopped before a mechanical apparatus.
The contraption was composed of several distinct, ceaselessly rotating rings, within which faint numerical markings shifted rapidly.
"This is the culmination of thirteen generations of emperors' painstaking efforts: the Void Warp and Weft Track Determiner," the Imperial Daughter introduced, a trace of reminiscence flickering in her eyes.
"During void navigation, it can record and preserve spatial data of the surrounding expanse. Based on predetermined targets, it plots routes, ensuring we do not become lost in the void. At the same time, it can mark coordinates for locations we pass..."
"Somewhat useful, but hardly decisive," Xu Bai interrupted with a wave of his hand. "The primary pressure we face right now is how to survive the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals' first sweeping purge."
The Imperial Daughter nodded to show she understood, then led Xu Bai before a spherical orb.
"What is this?" Xu Bai narrowed his eyes slightly.
From this orb, he sensed both spiritual energy and the unmistakable aura of a monster beast.
Chapter 750