My Longevity Simulation

Chapter 1003: The Immortal Ancestor's Decree Determines Tianxuan

In the end, the Immortal Ancestor, whom he feared most, had temporarily left the Xuanhuang Realm.

Those below, relying on the methods and transmission left by him back then, lorded over him.

But he had created a human clone on his own and achieved a form of freedom in some sense. If powerful external aid were added...

As he indulged in these flights of fancy, Li Fan uttered another startling remark.

"That was the first option just now."

"In truth, I have a second option that might help you achieve true freedom."

"Oh?" The Tianxuan Mirror clone looked at Li Fan with some surprise.

"The Xuantian Treasure Mirror measures heaven and gauges earth. Now, you share myriad ties with the Xuanhuang Realm. Though you call yourself an immortal artifact, you cannot deny that your power is ultimately constrained by this current heaven and earth."

"Right or wrong?"

"The Xuanhuang Realm has expanded a hundredfold in these years; surely you have reaped considerable benefits from it?"

The Tianxuan Mirror clone fell silent, offering no denial.

The knowledge this man before him possessed far exceeded his expectations.

"Perhaps cooperating with him truly is not a bad thing." This thought suddenly arose in the Tianxuan Mirror clone's mind.

"Now, the worlds in the surrounding star regions have nearly all been plundered clean. The Xuanhuang Realm's expansion has hit a bottleneck, and your own deadline approaches."

"However, what you currently control is only the Xuanhuang main realm. If all the small worlds plundered over these years were brought within your measuring scope..."

"Would you not advance further?" Li Fan tempted.

The Tianxuan Mirror clone considered this and admitted frankly: "In truth, I have long planned this over the years. But on one hand, the project is far too vast in scale. On the other, the lineage of Mirror Holders in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has always insisted on limiting my main body's power. Thus, this plan has never been successfully implemented..."

"If I were to scheme it, it would surely succeed and help you ascend," Li Fan said with full confidence.

"By then, with the power you could command, even if the Xuanhuang collapsed, you could likely withdraw unscathed, right?"

The Tianxuan Mirror clone watched as the other spoke with utter conviction, a flicker of doubt passing through his eyes.

"Could it be that he possesses a supreme treasure exceptionally skilled in deduction?"

In the Tianxuan Mirror clone's memory, there existed in the Xuanhuang Realm a deduction realm artifact only slightly inferior to himself. Thus, he instinctively thought in that direction.

Even though the Tianxuan Mirror was once an immortal artifact, it had never seen or even heard of a treasure like [Truth], one capable of turning the illusory into the real and reversing all things. Thus, it never imagined that Li Fan's seemingly unfathomable depths stemmed simply from having experienced enough.

The Tianxuan Mirror clone pondered for a moment and, between the two options Li Fan proposed, ultimately chose the first.

He explained: "The second scheme would take too long to execute and introduce too many variables."

"As for the first scheme..."

"Even if you ultimately fail, as long as it creates the slightest looseness for me." A flash of confidence gleamed in the Tianxuan Mirror clone's eyes.

"Given a bit more time, I can free myself."

Seeing this, Li Fan could not help but applaud: "Very well, since we have reached an agreement. I believe we can proceed with our cooperation."

"Between us, you do not trust me, and I do not trust you. So-called cooperation relies entirely on the exchange of interests. But in my view, this is often the most solid form in the world. For oaths and agreements can be betrayed. Yet no one betrays their own interests. At least..."

"Between you and me, that is the case." Li Fan smiled as he appraised the Tianxuan Mirror clone.

"Then, next, I must implement the first step of the plan. Deriving and creating a formation to loosen the restriction binding you..."

"So, what exactly is the Immortal Ancestor's restriction?"

Faced with this question, the Tianxuan Mirror clone did not fall into a brief stupor from accessing vast data this time. Instead, as if etched into the depths of his soul, he blurted out: "Intertwined roots and knotted branches, penetrating to the marrow. Rooted in the Xuanhuang heaven and earth, fused as one!"

Li Fan immediately narrowed his eyes.

The Tianxuan Mirror clone paused, then sighed faintly: "During the Xuantian Sect era, I measured the Xuanhuang heaven and earth, able to observe and discern the vast majority of events in time. Precisely because I hung high in the ninth heaven, aloof from all things."

"But after the Immortal Ancestor's restriction, I fused into the Xuanhuang Realm's heaven and earth. In turn, I lost that divine ability. After all, it is merely rooting and integration, without grasping the true authority of heaven and earth."

"Unless I can seize heaven and replace it, otherwise..." The Tianxuan Mirror clone shook his head in some frustration.

"So, helping you escape is no easy task after all," Li Fan echoed.

"Indeed, and this is merely the initial restriction the Immortal Ancestor imposed on me back then. Over these years of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's rule, the line of Mirror Holders has ceaselessly devised ways to strengthen their control over me. Though their methods fall far short of the Ancestor's, they have accumulated in quantity."

"Even shit, piled up, forms a mountain." Perhaps due to deep-seated resentment, the Tianxuan Mirror clone uttered such crude words.

"If there comes a day when I break free, before departing, I will surely settle accounts with them completely!" he said with hatred.

Seeing him devoid of the immortal artifact's otherworldly poise and detachment, Li Fan smiled without replying.

"I have considerable study in the way of formations. Tell me the detailed information on the Immortal Ancestor's restriction. Give me some time, and I should find a way to crack it." Li Fan made no guarantees.

Since the two sides had already reached a preliminary cooperation agreement, there was no need to conceal this matter.

The Tianxuan Mirror clone immediately transmitted the relevant information.

The method of transmission was quite unique; he directly snapped off one of his fingers.

Then, the finger became transparent and gleaming like a glass mirror, with light leaping ceaselessly within, as if shimmering with countless pieces of information.

Looking again at the Tianxuan Mirror clone, the severed finger had quickly regenerated.

"Worthy of the Tianxuan Mirror's incarnation; it is indeed far from a true human body." Witnessing this, Li Fan sighed inwardly.

At the same time, he accepted the transparent finger.

He began to read the information.

The massive volume of data surged in abruptly, causing Li Fan's thoughts to stall slowly for a moment.

Only then did they gradually resume operation.

Even though it was a restriction left by the Immortal Ancestor thousands of years ago, Li Fan had to admit it was exquisitely profound and incomparably complex.

The data stream was continuously absorbed and transformed by Li Fan.

The Dao Deviation Stone and the Final Dissociation Disc began to collaborate in cracking it.

"These are merely the parts I can perceive. In the unseen places, there may exist other special restrictions," the Tianxuan Mirror clone reminded kindly.

"Rest assured; it should not be a major issue. However..."

"As part of the exchange, since I have begun acting, should you not offer some benefit?" Li Fan suddenly asked.

"What do you want?" The Tianxuan Mirror clone looked at Li Fan.

"Hmm..." Li Fan feigned contemplation for a moment.

Then he said: "I need to derive formations, which requires references for formations."

"How about the Floating Starry Sky Formation?"