After thoroughly understanding the history of the Xuanhuang Realm and carefully researching and verifying it with the few cultivators in the Empire, the think tank reached a bold conclusion.

These restrictions were very likely only effective within the Xuanhuang Realm.

Because the cultivation techniques stolen by the Empire’s fraudsters, while also subject to the restriction of “laws cannot be cultivated together,” did not have the same clear perception of the location of those who cultivated the same techniques as in the Xuanhuang Realm.

In other words, the restrictions were weakened.

This was probably due to the fact that the Empire was not in the Xuanhuang Realm itself, but rather in an affiliated small world.

So, the solution to this problem was obvious.

That was to break free from the shackles and leave the Xuanhuang Realm.

To become an independent small world.

For ordinary mortal civilizations, this might be an impossible task.

But for the Empire, which could control the power of beasts, it was definitely worth a try.

When the first generation of fraudsters crossed the Immortal Extinction Great Array and went to the Xuanhuang Realm.

The group of Realm Breaking Whales hovering in the void had already caught the Empire’s attention.

After hundreds of years of trying and countless sacrifices of warriors, the Empire finally succeeded in capturing a lone Realm Breaking Whale.

And subsequently, they achieved large-scale breeding of Realm Breaking Whales.

Unlike other exotic beasts, Realm Breaking Whales reproduced through a peculiar method called “solitary reproduction.”

Any individual in the population seemed to be able to produce offspring simply by absorbing unknown energy from the void.

However, before this, the Empire had not considered using Realm Breaking Whales to escape the Xuanhuang Realm.

Those numerous and massive Realm Breaking Whales were primarily used as food in the Empire.

Realm Breaking Whale meat was delicious and had the effect of improving one’s physique if consumed consistently over a long period.

It was very popular in the Empire.

But since the plan to leave the Xuanhuang Realm was established, the Empire ordered the protection of Realm Breaking Whales and banned private consumption.

The entire nation mobilized its resources to cultivate Realm Breaking Whales.

Furthermore, they once again dispatched elite fraudsters to the Xuanhuang Realm to steal cultivation techniques.

Before this, the Empire’s highest level of cultivation technique was the Nascent Soul realm.

Considering that they would be completely cut off from the Xuanhuang Realm in the future, it would be extremely difficult to independently deduce realms from scratch without reference to cultivation techniques beyond the Nascent Soul realm.

Therefore, the Empire decided that it would be best to acquire Dao Integration realm cultivation techniques.

If that wasn’t possible, then at least Soul Transformation realm techniques.

To achieve this goal, the Empire sent a total of more than a dozen extremely loyal warriors to sneak into the Xuanhuang Realm.

To avoid a complete wipeout, they formed small groups of a few people each, and besides their group members, they were unaware of each other’s identities.

Zhu Shaotang and Xiao Jin were originally from the same group.

Another member of the group died due to an accident, and Li Chenfeng was a backup member who arrived later.

For all these years, the three of them had been steadfast in their mission, accumulating contribution points, trying to exchange for Dao Integration realm cultivation techniques and then escape back to their homeland.

Until Li Fan arrived out of nowhere and caught them all.

From Li Chenfeng’s memories, Li Fan also learned that there was still debate within the Empire about whether to leave the Xuanhuang Realm.

The strongest opposition group had a simple reason.

Such actions, if discovered, would bring about the Empire’s downfall.

So what if they could control beasts?

Could they withstand a sword strike from an Immortal?

The nine-headed Divine Bird, whose head had been severed, was still staring at us with eyes wide open in death!

Due to the innate fear of Immortals, the opposition group had a strong presence in the Empire.

However, the ruler of the Empire, the Empress, forcibly suppressed all opposition for the time being.

The ultimate law stealing plan was thus implemented.

The Empress was the descendant of the person who first awakened the ability to control beasts.

“The Imperial family of the Empire is surnamed Xu…”

Exotic beasts, the Xu surname.

The combination of these two words made it difficult for Li Fan not to associate them with Xu Ke of the Imperial Beast Sect he had encountered in the Fallen Immortal Realm.

But it was also possible that it was simply a coincidence.

“I once saw in ancient texts that there were such crystal cores inside ancient demonic beasts.”

“Some cultivators could even absorb the power within them for cultivation.”

“I thought they had gone extinct, but now it seems that a few beasts still possess them.”

“It seems that the current beasts are indeed descendants of ancient demonic beasts.”

The sword mark left by the sword energy that had persisted for thousands of years vaguely hinted at the Imperial Beast Sect of the past.

Li Fan couldn’t help but feel a bit interested in this small world.

“Perhaps in the future, I can spare some time to explore this Empire.”

“But for now, the important things come first.”

Li Fan looked at Li Chenfeng and the others who were lost in their dreams and snapped his fingers lightly.

In an instant, their beautiful dreams shattered, and the three of them returned to reality.

Their faces were initially filled with confusion. After looking around, they gradually came to their senses.

The experience they had just had—their successful theft of cultivation techniques, the Empire’s escape from the Xuanhuang Realm, the development of their own lineage…

It was all just a dream.

“You’re quite bold.”

Li Fan’s light words, but to their ears, they were like thunder.

Li Chenfeng and the others immediately turned pale with fear, their hearts filled with despair.

Their own deaths didn’t matter.

The only thing they feared was that their homeland would be implicated.

At that time, if an Immortal were to unleash their wrath, it wouldn’t just be a matter of thousands of deaths.

But tragically, they couldn’t even commit suicide now.

However, to their surprise, the powerful cultivator in front of them said something that was completely unexpected.

“Very good! I admire you.”

Li Fan nodded in satisfaction and released Li Chenfeng and the others from their restraints.

The three of them exchanged glances, but they still didn’t dare to act rashly.

Zhu Shaotang cautiously asked, “Senior, are you planning to let us go?”

Li Fan chuckled, “I never intended to hold you accountable. The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance losing cultivation techniques has nothing to do with me.”

“On the contrary, it was you who were aggressive. If I didn’t have a few skills, I might have carelessly lost my life here.”

Li Fan’s lips curled into a smile as he looked at Li Chenfeng.

Li Chenfeng took a deep breath and hurriedly said, “It was my fault for being reckless. Please forgive me, Senior.”

As he spoke, Li Chenfeng actually knelt down on both knees and was about to kneel before Li Fan to apologize.

Li Fan shook his head and stopped him.

“There’s no need for that formality in front of me. Come, let’s go to your secret room. I have something to tell you.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Shaotang and the others all looked uneasy.

They never expected that their supposedly secret arrangement would be so easily seen through by this person.

Their hearts filled with anxiety, the three of them followed Li Fan into the secret room in the courtyard.

Li Fan’s next words instantly dispelled the anxiety in their hearts.

Instead, they were filled with the joy of a reprieve from death.

“To be honest, I am also from a small world outside the Xuanhuang Realm.”

Li Fan said slowly.

(End of Chapter)