My Longevity Simulation

Chapter 1261: Cat Treasure's Third Transformation

Sun Luyuan spoke on and on while Li Fan still seemed unable to recover from the shock and grief of learning that his beloved wife had already perished.

“Such is the time. Such is fate. No wonder I have felt restless these past days.”

“Trapped here, I could not see her one last time.” Li Fan said with sorrow on his face.

“Does my son have a name yet?”

Sun Luyuan replied with a calm expression: “Sun Tianci. Ninglu personally chose the name for her son before she died.”

After a brief silence, Li Fan spoke with both grief and some comfort: “Tianci... a good name.”

Once the topic of Sun Tianci was finished, Sun Luyuan’s expression gradually grew serious as he turned to the main matter.

“Your eldest uncle, Sun Luchang, is about to depart.”

Sun Luyuan briefly recounted how a sword light had appeared in the sky, bringing news of the Xuan Shang Immortal Ark from the far side of the Star Sea.

Li Fan showed some surprise: “From the looks of it, traveling far beyond the stars is hardly a good thing. Can it be declined?”

Sun Luyuan shook his head: “The current situation is that the upper-level families of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance who know the truth are avoiding it at all costs, while the lower-level guarding Dao Integration cultivators who know nothing are scrambling to go. To have more scapegoats, they naturally will not reveal the truth to them. It is rather ironic.”

“Although Eldest Uncle is at the Dao Integration realm, he has grown accustomed to ease and comfort these years. I fear...” Li Fan said with evident worry.

“If I were not stationed here and unable to leave, I would definitely go in Eldest Uncle’s place and take the journey beyond the stars.”

Li Fan’s words were firm and decisive, perfectly matching the image Sun Ang had previously shown.

Sun Luyuan did not suspect anything and only showed a trace of displeasure: “Our Sun family’s prominence has grown too great. Being assigned to guard the Derivation Law Jade and to travel beyond the stars... these arrangements likely carry the deliberate intent of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance to suppress us.”

“Do not overthink it. Just live peacefully here.”

Without revealing to Li Fan that the Sun family had already pledged allegiance to the Holy Dynasty of Great Qi, Sun Luyuan simply urged him to prioritize safety in all matters.

“I have already spoken with Elder Xu on your behalf.”

“Perhaps you will not need to wait the full three hundred years before you succeed and can leave.”

Before departing, Sun Luyuan added these words.

“The family head has gone to great trouble.” Li Fan said with gratitude on his face.

“By the way, after sitting in meditation here for several years, I have summarized what I learned in my lifetime and gained some insights.”

“Family head, please pass this treatise ‘[Uplifted Righteous Dharma]’ to Tianci on my behalf.”

As he spoke, a seemingly ordinary text appeared in Sun Luyuan’s mind.

A quick scan revealed nothing special.

It was merely an ordinary method for refining the heart and clarifying one’s resolve.

Sun Luyuan nodded and agreed at once.

He then took his leave.

Only after Sun Luyuan’s figure had vanished from the area did Li Fan snort coldly in his heart: “In a hundred years or so, it is still uncertain whether the Xuanhuang Realm can even survive that long.”

Still, he knew the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance maintained hidden surveillance here, so he did not dwell on it. The thought merely flashed through his mind.

As for the ‘Uplifted Righteous Dharma’, it was meant to plant a seed for Sun Tianci’s future rise.

Li Fan looked at the Derivation Law Jade, who had grown somewhat lazy again and was now pretending to work while slacking off. He could not help but patiently urge and admonish it once more.

...

Holy Dynasty of Great Qi.

Holy Dynasty Secret Martial Test Field.

Li Ping and Qiao Gong watched as Sun Erlang struggled to control the third Holy Punishment Divine Puppet.

The Holy Punishment Divine Puppet was the name Li Ping had given to the golden puppet to distinguish it from ordinary Holy Army puppets.

“The Sun kid truly has exceptional talent and frightening adaptability. He has already gotten the hang of the third divine puppet. At this rate, he might end up mastering all our reserve divine puppets.” Qiao Gong praised without restraint.

“By comparison, everyone in my Lingyuan Sect is useless.”

“Speaking of which, you have been staying in the Holy Dynasty all this time. Is everything all right with the Lingyuan Sect in Nine Mountain Prefecture?” Li Ping asked casually, though his gaze remained fixed on Sun Erlang in the test field, where beads of sweat kept dripping from the young man’s forehead.

Qiao Gong waved his hand: “I have a puppet stationed in Nine Mountain Prefecture. Those fools bow and scrape every time they see me and dare not even raise their heads. How could they possibly tell the difference?”

At this point Qiao Gong paused: “But by my calculations, the fellow from the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance who comes to collect taxes should arrive soon. I may need to return for a visit then.”

Li Ping knew that Qiao Gong’s large-scale collection of source power in Nine Mountain Prefecture through the Vital Essence Technique of All Living Beings was permitted by the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance. The price was handing over a portion.

A very large portion.

“The Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance should not lack consumables. Why are they so particularly attentive to your share?” Li Ping asked.

Qiao Gong replied indifferently: “Who knows? Perhaps they find such dirty work inconvenient to handle openly themselves.”

“However...”

Qiao Gong seemed to recall something: “Now that you mention it, I remember the Immortal Alliance envoy once let slip that the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance’s internal deficit is too large, so they can only open new sources and reduce expenditure.”

“I even teased him at the time, saying the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance looks wealthy but is actually penniless.”

Li Ping fell into thought upon hearing this.

“Source power is merely pure, ownerless cultivation energy. Ordinary cultivators have no need of it...”

“Interesting.”

“When the Immortal Alliance envoy arrives this time, I will meet him in your place.” Li Ping decided.

“Very well, very well.” Qiao Gong, who could not spare the time, was more than happy to accept. He immediately transmitted every detail of the previous meetings to Li Ping.

“By the way, how is the puppet body I asked you to prepare?”

Qiao Gong showed a proud expression and clapped his hands.

A faceless body instantly appeared before Li Ping.

Unlike the Holy Emperor’s massive three-zhang-three height, this faceless body was normal human size. Yet it was a perfectly proportioned miniature version, nearly identical in appearance to Li Ping.

If the Holy Emperor had too many suspicions, Qiao Gong might have been charged with great disrespect.

But at this moment Li Ping merely stared at the puppet body with interest and some surprise: “It is actually a real flesh-and-blood body?”

Qiao Gong nodded: “Yes. Did you not say you wanted to use it to travel into the Star Sea? The Star Sea is full of dangers, and some strange phenomena can only be sensed with a genuine flesh-and-blood body. I suffered greatly when I first came to the Xuanhuang Realm.”

A flash of heartache crossed Qiao Gong’s eyes before he continued introducing it to the Holy Emperor: “I referenced Tianyang’s embodiment of the Dao as well as your prized disciple’s flesh cultivation technique.”

“This flesh puppet’s cultivation aptitude cannot be hoped for, but full sensory connection is no problem. Moreover, like the Holy Army Divine Puppet, it can incorporate the Spirit of Heaven and Earth along with source power essence. Although its strength will be somewhat discounted due to the inherent weakness of the body, as long as it is cautious, a Dao Integration level of power should be more than enough for self-protection in the Star Sea.”

“As long as it does not encounter any strange calamities in the void.” Qiao Gong added very cautiously.

The Holy Emperor nodded. A speck of gold flew from his fingertip and poured into the flesh puppet ahead. The sensation of it being like a clone, as if it were an extension of his own arm, rose in his heart.

The Holy Emperor carefully experienced these familiar yet unfamiliar sensations. A few insights surged into his mind.

“I will take this body with me.”

Golden light flashed. The Holy Emperor and the flesh puppet body vanished together.

Qiao Gong redirected his attention to Sun Erlang in the test field.

Inside the Holy Dynasty’s treasury.

The Holy Emperor, having avoided Qiao Gong, began modifying the puppet body. His purpose in traveling to the Star Sea this time was to comprehend the Dao.

He still had requirements regarding the aptitude of the body he would possess. What Qiao Gong could not achieve...did not mean the Holy Emperor could not.

His large hand rested on the crown of the flesh puppet’s head as the Xuanhuang Heavenly Favor slowly infused into it.

Suddenly...a sense of déjà vu arose in the Holy Emperor’s heart. His hand movements paused slightly.

After pondering for a moment, he suppressed this unusual feeling. The originally somewhat stiff shell gradually became lifelike.

As one heavenly material after another in the Holy Dynasty’s treasury was refined into liquid by source power essence and merged into the puppet body, the body grew increasingly crystalline and translucent, emitting a rich fragrance.

Even the slumbering Cat Treasure was drawn by it. It woke with a start and looked around. Upon discovering that the source of the fragrance was the body refined by Li Ping, a trace of disappointment flashed in its eyes.

Just as it was about to sleep again, it received the Holy Emperor’s instruction.

Cat Treasure shook its head somewhat unwillingly. In the end, unable to resist the promised temptation of source power essence, it let out a lazy meow.

Then it leaped forward and transformed into the shape of a blue, transparent glass cover.

It enveloped the body Li Ping had refined.

Strands of blue light released from the container. After drifting for a moment, they all drilled into the interior of the puppet body.

At this moment Li Ping had a strand of consciousness attached to the puppet body, so he could personally and vividly feel the specific changes occurring as it bathed in the blue light.

“Reorganization of flesh and blood, sublimation of life form.”

“Even without cultivation, the strength of this body already surpasses that of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm.”

“And...”

The Holy Emperor carefully sensed the differences between this body and his original one.

He could not yet understand all the consequences caused by these differences. But he could almost confirm that these variations had been created to deal with some special circumstance.

While the blue light cover continued its modifications, a flash of insight appeared in Li Ping’s mind. He could even use Cat Treasure’s function to infuse the special abilities of the living beings Cat Treasure had previously absorbed and imitated into this body, turning them into innate divine powers.

However, since this was an artificially created body, doing so might cause unpredictable changes.

The divine powers Cat Treasure currently possessed were all optional for Li Ping. With departure for the Star Sea imminent, he did not pursue it further.

He could experiment slowly in the future.

The blue light cover grew dimmer and dimmer until its glow completely faded.

Cat Treasure looked as if it had fought a great battle for three days and three nights. Its face was haggard, and even its once-glossy fur appeared somewhat yellowish.

Li Ping fed it a large mouthful of golden source power essence. Only then did Cat Treasure sink contentedly back into deep sleep.

“Item replication and living being imitation. This is Cat Treasure’s third function.”

“Changing tendons and cleansing marrow.”

“Truly remarkable!” Li Ping exclaimed in admiration.

The puppet body had awakened from its sublimation. Li Ping sensed that this body was even more suitable for his divine soul than his original one.

“Why not simply switch bodies?”

An irresistible thought surged from the depths of his mind, but the Holy Emperor forcibly suppressed it in an instant.

Cat Treasure’s tendon-changing and marrow-cleansing function was not a one-time use.

The effect on the puppet body was already so excellent; applying it to the main body would naturally be no worse.

There was still plenty of time. There would be plenty of opportunities. Li Ping focused his will on the puppet body and began adapting to and attempting to control it.

...

Half a month later.

Before the puppet body could fly out of the Xuanhuang Realm, it first received a transmission reminder from Qiao Gong.

The Immortal Alliance envoy was about to arrive at the Lingyuan Sect in Nine Mountain Prefecture.

Golden light flashed across Li Ping’s body, instantly transforming him into the appearance of Master Qiao Gong.

He appeared noiselessly inside the Lingyuan Sect headquarters.

He waited for the Immortal Alliance envoy’s arrival.

The puppet body left behind by Qiao Gong had already prepared a large quantity of collected source power.

Li Ping naturally looked down on this low-quality energy.

Not to mention compared with source power essence, it fell far short even when compared with the source power produced by the people of the Holy Dynasty of Great Qi through cultivating the Vital Essence Technique of All Living Beings.

However, after inspecting it, the Immortal Alliance envoy was overjoyed.

“The quality of this batch submitted seems to have improved quite a bit?”

“The sect master has put in real effort.” The Immortal Alliance envoy praised as he carefully stored away the light sphere containing the source power.

Li Ping, imitating Qiao Gong’s tone, smiled and replied: “Recently I acquired a profound technique that can invisibly eliminate the distracting thoughts of the sect members, allowing them to devote more time to cultivating the method.”

The Immortal Alliance envoy’s eyes brightened: “There is such a divine technique?”

“Why? Is the envoy interested?” Li Ping asked.

The Immortal Alliance envoy looked somewhat embarrassed: “The Immortal Alliance’s deficit has grown larger again recently. If the sect master finds it convenient...”

Li Ping waved his hand: “It is no trouble. It is merely a minor path. If the envoy is interested, I shall recite it for you.”

“Keep the mind free of distractions and reside in one’s own spirit. Ten thousand laws cannot invade; touch upon the profound and mysterious...”

As Li Ping spoke, he chanted the words of the technique aloud.

The Immortal Alliance envoy was delighted and concentrated on listening attentively.

He did not notice that his own mind was slowly sinking under the other party’s gentle chanting.

When the Immortal Alliance envoy’s eyes turned completely vacant and he fell into a state of total stupor, Li Ping smiled faintly and flicked a speck of gold from his finger. It flew into the other party’s sea of consciousness.

As expected, there was protection from the Immortal Alliance’s restrictions.

Yet under the silent infiltration of source power essence, the defenses were like paper and were pierced without sound.

Soon Li Ping found the information he wanted inside the envoy’s mind.

“Power of ten thousand cultivators, condensed into a Piercing Spear.”

“Striking deep into the Xuanhuang Realm, toward the endless Dark Sea...”

“Just as expected.”

Previously Li Ping had always been curious about how the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance had located and maintained the entrance to the Dark Sea.

According to the You Clan’s accounts, the channel the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance had dug in the Dark Sea differed markedly from the channels opened by traditional You Clan methods.

Perhaps they did not fully trust the You Clan, or perhaps the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance wanted to keep firm control of the Dark Sea channel in their own hands.

In any case, the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance had devised a method of using highly condensed source power to directly open a passage between the Xuanhuang Realm proper and the Dark Sea.

“It is precisely because the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance has been eyeing the Nether Realm like a tiger watching its prey, that the power of the Dark Sea has continued to diminish.”

“It seems it is time to cut off some of their reaching tentacles first.”