My Longevity Simulation

Chapter 1035: The Self-Circulating Cycle of Xuanhuang

Li Fan had met Gongsun Qixuan a long time ago.

In the following lifetimes, whenever there was a strange mutation within the Mysterious Net, the shadow of this man could always be found behind it.

Even in this lifetime, he was mysteriously transferred to the Strategy Formation Hall Headquarters of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, taking part in the development of the Tianxuan Spirit Locking Formation.

…

All of this proved that Gongsun Qixuan was no ordinary individual.

After several communications with the Tianxuan Mirror clone, Li Fan gradually learned more about Gongsun Qixuan’s background.

He was actually the human template, the observation subject used by the Tianxuan Mirror when creating its human clone.

As for why Gongsun Qixuan was chosen out of countless cultivators of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, the Tianxuan Mirror clone claimed it was due to chance and luck.

Naturally, Li Fan did not believe that explanation.

From his memories and observations, Gongsun Qixuan’s aura indeed carried a faint resemblance to that of the Tianxuan Mirror clone.

Li Fan even suspected that he might be another human incarnation from the Xuantian.

If one searched for information about him within the Tianxuan Mirror, everything seemed normal on the surface. But once one dug deeper, it became evident that all related intelligence had been fabricated.

Before he was appointed to the Congyun Sea, his whereabouts had been a complete mystery. No one knew where he came from or what he had done.

It seemed that Gongsun Qixuan noticed Li Fan’s hidden observation, for he subtly glanced toward the sky.

Yet he quickly withdrew his gaze, lightly coughed, and began commanding his subordinates to handle the strange phenomenon.

The method he used was quite peculiar. He took a small doll woven from dried grass out of his robe and tossed it into the air.

Then the subordinates from the Tianji Hall followed suit, skillfully placing smaller grass dolls around every corner of the outbreak area.

Under Li Fan’s observation, the eerie and shadowy energy did not erode these cultivators who had recklessly entered the area.

Instead, that dark power was deeply attracted to the small grass dolls in their hands.

Like long dragons, the strange forces were siphoned into the bodies of the dolls.

“Hm?”

Li Fan’s interest was immediately piqued.

Looking closer, he found that each grass doll seemed to possess a life of its own. As the shadowy energy poured in, the dolls’ faces twisted into grotesque expressions—grinning, pained, enraged, and distorted.

Faint rustling sounds could even be heard coming from them.

These grass dolls acted as nodes, absorbing the strange power and channeling it into the largest grass doll floating in midair.

The cleansing operation against the strangeness lasted for three days.

In the end, the bizarre energy that had spread across the region completely vanished, and the normal Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm once again prevailed.

When Gongsun Qixuan retrieved the large grass doll from midair, something occurred that made Li Fan’s pupils contract.

On the surface, it appeared as though Gongsun Qixuan simply put the doll back into his robe.

But in truth…

It looked more like he had opened his mouth wide and swallowed the doll whole.

In that instant, Li Fan felt a shroud of shadow envelop Gongsun Qixuan’s entire being.

His coughing grew more frequent and hoarse.

Only when they reached the next outbreak site did his condition improve slightly.

Of course, Gongsun Qixuan did not use the grass dolls for every strange incident.

Most cases, after careful assessment confirmed there was no risk of spreading, he simply ordered the area to be sealed off.

From the clouds above, Li Fan watched in silence, deep in thought.

“For the lesser threats, he allows the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm to digest them naturally. But those that grow out of control, he absorbs into himself through these paper effigies.”

In Li Fan’s eyes, Gongsun Qixuan had already become a composite of countless strangenesses, a vessel in which countless twisted and chaotic laws intertwined—something that sent chills down one’s spine.

If he were to suddenly die for some reason, and all those strange entities gathered within his body were to erupt at once, then perhaps the entire population across several prefectures would be wiped out in an instant.

“No wonder every time I see this guy, I always feel something’s off.”

“To merge one’s body with the Dao…”

“That’s not something an ordinary cultivator’s body should be capable of.”

A trace of wariness flashed through Li Fan’s eyes, and he pulled back, increasing the distance of his pursuit slightly.

He recalled that Gongsun Qixuan had once managed to truly deduce the future based only on the nonsense he had fabricated about the so-called Tianxuan Spirit-Locking and Xuan-Huang Unification.

At that moment, Li Fan suddenly began to suspect Gongsun Qixuan’s true identity.

“The Tianxuan Mirror wants to simulate a human incarnation. Yet, as an immortal artifact, lofty and proud, how could it possibly lower itself to truly observe and learn from ordinary mortals?”

“And when one wishes to accomplish something, the easiest way is to find a precedent and learn from those who came before.”

“So…”

A flash of brilliance crossed Li Fan’s eyes as countless clues merged together in his mind.

“The one that the immortal artifact chose to learn from must naturally be another artifact that had already succeeded in transforming into a human form.”

“Gongsun Qixuan should be one of the immortal artifacts that once vanished from the Xuanhuang Realm, having transformed into a human!”

Considering that the Kun-Qian Bone Hand once possessed by Ou Shangtian might have been the bone of an immortal, it made sense.

Everything within the Xuanhuang Realm participated in the operation of the Heavenly Dao and the cycle of the world.

Those missing immortal artifacts were likely involved as well.

“Transformed into humans, or became heavenly anomalies, or perhaps…”

Li Fan suddenly began to understand where the nearly heaven-defying power of the Dharma-transmitter, Jiang, might have come from.

“Perhaps he too was a transformed immortal artifact…”

Having figured out the key connection, Li Fan’s gaze toward Gongsun Qixuan completely changed.

Amid the wariness in his eyes, there was also a glint of greed, as well as caution and vigilance.

Anything bearing the title of Immortal Artifact was an existence that could never be underestimated.

Not to mention that Gongsun Qixuan had already fallen under the gaze of the Tianxuan Mirror and was burdened with countless strange entities—he was practically a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.

“Although he’s a priceless treasure, he’s one I can see but cannot touch.”

Li Fan stared at him for a long while, then finally sighed softly and slowly withdrew his gaze.

“Besides, for now, the Tianxuan Mirror is still an ally. The main task is to first sever the True Immortal Web.”

“No hurry. Now that I’ve discovered his true identity, there will be plenty of opportunities later.”

The desire in Li Fan’s eyes gradually faded away.

Meanwhile, below, Gongsun Qixuan furrowed his brows slightly, as though sensing something.

He calculated with his fingers, but could not discern anything concrete.

Images of his past encounters with Gongsun Qixuan replayed in Li Fan’s mind.

“It seems that his original body must have been an immortal artifact related to divination.”

“But judging from his current state, after transforming into a human, his power has been greatly diminished.”

Li Fan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Still, that gives me some inspiration.”

“There are still countless secrets hidden within the Xuanhuang Realm.”

“In the past, there were many existences close to immortal artifacts. Not to mention, after merging with so many cultivation realms and worlds, could there really be no other beings of similar level?”

“Even if the Immortal Ancestor took some of them away, there should still be a few that slipped through the net.”

“I was too narrow-minded before. It might not just be artifacts. Humans themselves could be the greatest treasures of all.”