My Longevity Simulation

Chapter 1288: Immortal Artifact Linking Two Worlds

The atmosphere of the meeting reached its peak with the announcement of Gan Jingda’s resolution.

A cultivation world that was still intact and rich in resources, something that had previously existed only in the fantasies of the people of the Immortal Ark, now seemed almost within reach. How could this not stir excitement in their hearts?

Before the meeting, the vast majority of cultivators aboard the Xuan Immortal Ark knew of the Xuanhuang Realm only through the captured flying vessel that had come from there. After the meeting, they began frantically studying all available information related to the Xuanhuang Realm.

The Xuan Immortal Ark had a long inheritance. Although it had suffered the tragedy of the Immortal Ark splitting into two, its legacy had ultimately not been severed.

On the tenth day after the meeting, after joint organization by the Severed Immortal Tower, the Celestial Pivot Institute, the Academy of Dao Attainment, and the major clans of the Immortal Ark, a detailed report concerning the Xuanhuang Realm was produced.

The content provided by the Severed Immortal Tower made up the overwhelming majority of the report. Its source was the testimony of the captured Dao Integration cultivator, Lan Yu.

The content provided by the Celestial Pivot Institute and other organizations came from records left behind from the several visits made by the Xuanshang Immortal Ark to the Xuanhuang Realm before the Star Sea calamity descended.

At a small scale meeting among the upper ranks of the Xuan Immortal Ark, this Xuanhuang report was distributed to everyone present.

Although Li Fan’s status was insufficient, he attended as Ai Tianjue’s disciple.

"At present, we still cannot determine what degree the Star Sea anomaly three years from now will develop into. Therefore, whether we can launch an expedition to the Xuanhuang Realm still requires continued observation. However, that does not prevent us from making preparations first."

"Everyone, please look."

Of the six Dao Entrant cultivators of the Severed Immortal Tower, the fifth, a refined man named Lu Yuzhi, summarized the findings for everyone.

"Our Xuanshang Immortal Ark visited the Xuanhuang Realm three times in ancient times. One was an official visit, during which we received a warm reception from the Xuanhuang Realm. The other two visits were secret missions to gather resources. At that time, the Xuanhuang Realm possessed two specialties that were priceless even across the entire Star Sea. One was the Ruomu Fruit. The other was Immortal Realm Gifted Artifacts."

Lu Yuzhi paused slightly. Li Fan could hear a faint fluctuation in his tone.

"According to records, the Xuanhuang Realm was one of the few cultivation worlds in ancient times that maintained the most frequent contact with the Immortal Realm. Because of this, a considerable number of immortal artifacts bestowed as rewards remained there. Some of these immortal artifacts gradually became ownerless with the passage of time. There were specialized cultivators in the Star Sea who went to the Xuanhuang Realm in secret to gather information about these lost immortal artifacts, hoping to reap enormous profits."

"Although the chances of success were vanishingly small, there were indeed several successful cases. Our Xuan Immortal Ark’s two secret visits were actually to receive those who had succeeded."

His words immediately caused a stir in the hall.

Even among the upper ranks of the Immortal Ark, some had never heard of such secrets.

"The two immortal artifacts we gathered from the Xuanhuang Realm, one had already been sold before the Star Sea calamity descended. The other was lost to the Shang Immortal Ark during the Immortal Ark schism of that year."

Lu Yuzhi spoke with deep regret.

Everyone’s breathing stalled, and expressions of intense hatred appeared on their faces.

Second Elder Gan Jingda of the Severed Immortal Tower coughed lightly, suppressing the murmurs in the hall and signaling Lu Yuzhi to continue.

"Although the immortal artifacts that came from the Xuanhuang Realm are no longer in our possession, our Immortal Ark still retains a Ruomu Fruit."

After requesting approval, the representative from the Immortal Pivot Institute cast several spell seals.

Under the radiance of spreading light, a perfectly round fruit, crystal clear and resembling white jade, appeared before everyone.

Even under layers of sealing restrictions, the cultivators present could still feel the surging vitality radiating from the Ruomu Fruit.

For the cultivators of the Immortal Ark, where resources were extremely scarce, this was undoubtedly an immense temptation. Even though those present were all high ranking figures, none had ever enjoyed such a treasure. ȑᴀ₦O͍𝐛ЁŚ

The overwhelming majority stared fixedly at the Ruomu Fruit and swallowed unconsciously.

Li Fan also observed it carefully.

"A familiar aura."

"It truly comes from Ruomu. But the vigorous vitality permeating this fruit is not something the current Ruomu could produce. It seems the injuries Ruomu suffered back then were indeed severe."

"And..."

Li Fan’s heart stirred.

He noticed that strands of vitality seemed to drift from the Ruomu Fruit and vanish into nothingness.

Or rather, they flowed into the void.

Lu Yuzhi said solemnly, "Everyone should understand that the vitality within this Ruomu Fruit has continuously dissipated for ten thousand years. Although generations of our Immortal Ark used many secret methods to greatly slow the rate of that loss, we ultimately could not stop the process."

Someone in the hall exclaimed, "After ten thousand years of vitality dissipation, it still contains such immense life force. It is hard to imagine what the original Ruomu Fruit must have been like."

"No wonder it is called a priceless treasure throughout the Star Sea."

"Hm, strange. Those old fellows from the Celestial Pivot Institute actually managed to resist swallowing such a treasure themselves?"

Amid the lively discussion, someone grasped the key point in Lu Yuzhi’s explanation.

"Brother Lu, do you mean that the vitality dissipating from this Ruomu Fruit is returning to the Xuanhuang Realm?"

The hall immediately fell silent.

Everyone looked at the Ruomu Fruit again. In addition to greed and desire, their gazes now held another meaning.

Lu Yuzhi nodded.

"Correct."

"The Star Sea is vast beyond measure. Even the captured Xuanhuang cultivator Lan Yu cannot remember the route back. But through this Ruomu Fruit, we can accurately lock onto the location of the Xuanhuang Realm within the boundless Star Sea."

After a brief silence, heated discussion erupted once more.

"Does the Xuanhuang Realm still have Ruomu Fruit now? If each of us got one, the feeling would truly be unimaginable..."

"No wonder those people in the Celestial Pivot Institute did not consume it. As valuable as the treasure is, it is entangled with the foundational power of another cultivation world. For ordinary cultivators that might be acceptable, but for rulers of the Immortal Ark, it is absolutely unacceptable. Unless they are willing to abandon their positions."

"Wait. Could things really be this convenient? And the way the fruit’s vitality flows back toward its original world feels far too deliberate. Could this fruit actually be bait, meant to lure beings from the Star Sea over to be hunted?"

The crowd argued without end, and Lu Yuzhi, as the moderator, did not stop them.

Instead, he closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

Only after the hall gradually became quiet again did Lu Yuzhi continue with his summary.

"From Xuanhuang Lanyl Yu's memories, we have ruled out the possibility that this is a trap. Even if the conspiracy surrounding the Ruomu Fruit truly existed in ancient times, there is no need to worry about it in the present Xuanhuang Realm. Although the Xuanhuang Realm survived the Star Sea Calamity, it has also undergone unimaginable upheaval."

"The current Xuanhuang Realm exists under the joint rule of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Association..."

Lu Yuzhi began giving everyone a detailed introduction to information regarding the Xuanhuang Realm.

"That is not right. How is the Xuanhuang Realm much larger than what is recorded in our Xuan Immortal Ark's records?"

"Preliminary judgment suggests that it should be the result of Star Sea survivors joining forces in an attempt to resist the pull of the Immortal Ruins. In my view, rather than being called the Xuanhuang Realm, it would be more appropriate to call it the Land of Survivors of All Worlds."

"Then the Xuanhuang Realm must certainly still have hidden experts in secret. It absolutely cannot be limited to only the Immortal Ancestor and the five Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereigns seen on the surface."

"Defying the natural principles of heaven and earth to achieve Longevity... it is indeed somewhat interesting. By binding themselves to the world, they can indeed obtain lifespans far beyond what ordinary cultivators can reach. They can even synchronously increase their own strength as the world grows stronger. Unfortunately, once they are outside the world, their strength is greatly weakened. And once the world is destroyed, they can only perish along with it."

Everyone studied the Xuanhuang Realm's records with solemn expressions.

"Do not forget that the Xuanhuang Realm contains many Immortal Realm bestowed artifacts. The Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance's Tianxuan Mirror is clearly one of them. Are there other immortal artifacts within the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance? If we launch an expedition, we must absolutely take this factor into account. Everyone understands just how powerful a True Immortal's strength is. Can we truly win so easily?"

"In my view, there is no need for fighting and killing. From Lan Yu's memories, we can see that the Xuanhuang Realm's resources are still quite abundant. Our Immortal Ark, at most, is not even equivalent to half a prefecture of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance. We could entirely adopt trade as a method to exchange for what we need."

"Exactly. Even if we cannot occupy the Xuanhuang Realm, going to investigate the so-called Immortal Ruins would still be greatly beneficial to us. Such surging True Immortal power... perhaps there may even be complete True Immortal seal script characters within it."

"Sigh, I advise everyone to remain more cautious. We covet the Xuanhuang Realm's various resources, but does the Xuanhuang Realm not also desperately wish to free itself from the constraints of the Immortal Ruins? To them, is our Xuan Immortal Ark not also a fat piece of meat?"

...

Whether to journey to the Xuanhuang Realm was absolutely a matter capable of completely changing the fate of the Immortal Ark. It was impossible to make a decision in a short time.

And because of historical reasons, everyone present tacitly avoided proposing the idea of sending only a portion of their forces as a test.

No matter what, the Xuan Immortal Ark had to advance and retreat together.

It could no longer withstand a second division.

The council decided to convene again in thirty days to make the final decision.

After everyone dispersed one after another, only nine cultivators remained.

Four from the Severed Immortal Tower, three from the Celestial Pivot Institute, one from the Dao Attainment Academy, and one from the Immortal Ark Star Forging Workshop.

Even Li Fan, as a direct disciple, was not qualified to remain and had to wait outside.

Gan Jingda lightly pointed with his hand, and an image immediately appeared before everyone.

A streak of sword light tore through the heavens.

Sixteen characters shone brilliantly across the sky.

Beyond the Star Sea, beneath the High Wall, lies the Xuan Shang Immortal Ark drifting across calamities.

Gan Jingda slowly said, "What do you all think?"

"This transmission method... Unbounded?" Nangong Lie of the Dao Attainment Academy looked grave.

"There is a traitor within the Immortal Ark?"

"Not necessarily. It could also be that group who defected back then. They may wish to redirect disaster toward us, then reap the fisherman's profit?"

"No matter what, in the face of absolute strength, any conspiracy or trickery is nothing but illusion. The only thing worth considering is whether it is worth it."

...

The few of them discussed the future of the Xuan Immortal Ark, one after another.

Outside the council space, Li Fan did not leave in advance, instead waiting for his teacher.

He looked at the various buildings located throughout the Immortal Ark's divine tree below, but his thoughts remained focused on the Ruomu Fruit that had briefly appeared during the council.

"The vitality of the Ruomu Fruit did indeed drift toward the Xuanhuang Realm. But it was not through ordinary means, rather something involving the level of the Star Sea itself."

"Trying to rely on that vitality to lock onto the Xuanhuang Realm's location is fundamentally impossible."

"They are lying. They should be relying on some other method."

Several possibilities flashed through Li Fan's mind, but at present, he had not yet touched the true core of the Immortal Ark's highest leadership.

He could not determine the correct answer.

Just as he was deep in thought, a transmission interrupted him.

"Brother Zhao, come quickly!"

It was a voice transmission from Wang Hai, who was also a disciple under Ai Tianjue.

Under normal circumstances, Wang Hai would almost never actively seek out Li Fan. Since he was being so urgent this time, something important must have happened.

Li Fan no longer waited for Ai Tianjue and directly returned, heading toward Wang Hai's residence.

"Brother Zhao, look at this."

"There is actually such a major error in the Immortal Ark's report."

Wang Hai had not attended this meeting, but he had already obtained the Xuanhuang report jointly produced by several forces of the Immortal Ark.

Li Fan narrowed his eyes as he looked over.

What Wang Hai held in his hand was a jade slip radiating an ancient aura.

And the contents recorded within the jade slip greatly surprised Li Fan.

"...At that point, the Xuan Immortal Ark had reached its most critical life and death moment. In order to resolve the survival crisis of the Immortal Ark cultivators at that time, the only remaining immortal artifact aboard the Ark was finally used."

"The Seed of Transformation."

"As a black seed, appearing completely ordinary, was planted, a divine tree simultaneously took root and sprouted upon the shattered remains of the Immortal Ark's original body."

"It was precisely because of the divine tree's reinforcement that the Immortal Ark, broken in half, gradually managed to maintain stability."

"As the saying goes, every cause has its destined effect. Who could have imagined that this immortal artifact from the Xuanhuang Realm, once judged to have no trade value, would ultimately become the Immortal Ark's lifeline..."

After reading the contents of the jade slip, Li Fan found that it was actually a historical record and reflective notes about the period after the Immortal Ark split apart.

“Where did this come from?” Li Fan was slightly stunned.

“Where did it come from? Of course it is a family heirloom from my ancestors.” Wang Hai felt somewhat baffled and answered confidently.

“When I was young, I read through all the jade slips in my family’s collection, so I had an impression of this passage. Clearly, the Immortal Ark Divine Tree came from the Xuanhuang Realm. Yet this report says the Immortal Ark retained no immortal artifacts…”

Seeing Li Fan’s somewhat strange expression, Wang Hai quickly explained, “I know there must be something suspicious here, so I have not spread this around yet. That is why I invited you here.”

“I just wanted to test whether pointing out this error would count as Correction merit. If it does not count, then pretend I never mentioned it.”

So called Correction merit was one of the most significant types of merit an Xuan Immortal Ark cultivator could accumulate. If, during cultivation or research, one discovered and pointed out errors in the Immortal Ark’s inherited texts, or proposed improvements, they could receive extraordinarily generous rewards.

Over countless years, the Immortal Ark had never remained stagnant. It was only through the wisdom of generation after generation of cultivators that it had survived in the star sea until today.

Li Fan returned the jade slip and answered directly, “In my view, this is not an error. Rather, the Immortal Ark deliberately concealed the connection between the Immortal Ark Divine Tree and the Xuanhuang Realm.”

“Why would they do that? There is absolutely no need…” Wang Hai said in astonishment.

Li Fan then showed him the sixteen words from Lan Yu’s memories.

“Ah, I remember now.”

“The reason the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance sent the flying vessel to the far side of the star sea.” Wang Hai fell into thought.

Li Fan quietly said, “This is the Unbounded communication method, a secret transmission art of the Immortal Ark.”

Wang Hai was greatly alarmed and was about to say something, but Li Fan stopped him.

“The Immortal Ark Divine Tree came from Xuanhuang. Could the Xuanhuang cultivators still retain methods to control it?”

“The Divine Tree saved the Immortal Ark, yet we are planning to invade the cultivation world that originally gifted us the Divine Tree. Would that not be repaying kindness with hostility?”

“If the truth were made public, it would certainly cause many concerns throughout the Immortal Ark. That would be inappropriate. It is better to conceal the matter. In any case, so many years have passed, and very few still know what happened back then,” Li Fan explained.

“And there may even be spies from the Xuanhuang Realm within the Immortal Ark. If this secret were known to them, it would be greatly disadvantageous to our Immortal Ark,” Wang Hai also came to his senses and transmitted his voice.

Li Fan nodded in agreement.

“Ah, what a pity. I thought I had finally discovered another error.” Wang Hai said somewhat dejectedly.

“You need not be anxious. A strange transformation in the star sea is about to arrive. As the remaining True Immortal power within the star sea gradually becomes more active, comprehending True Immortal seal script will inevitably become easier for us as well,” Li Fan comforted him, his expression strange.

...

“Seed of Transformation?”

In the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan’s divine sense clone attached to Sun Tianci of the Sun family attempted to search his memories for clues related to these words.

“The name does not match. But that appearance is extremely similar to the relic treasure left behind after the destruction of the Divine Wood Sect.”

Li Fan fell into thought.

The Divine Wood Sect was one of the ancient immortal sects of the Xuanhuang Realm.

It belonged to the same era as the Desolate God Sect and the Samsara Sect, the great age of cultivation before the Immortal Path was severed.

The Mountain Sitting Art that Li Fan was familiar with also originated from this sect.

Within the Divine Wood Sect was an extraterrestrial divine tree. Because it continued growing stronger, it eventually threatened the existence of Ruomu.

Conflict broke out between the two sides.

In the end, the Divine Wood Sect was destroyed and disappeared into the river of history.

The sect’s defeat was partly because Ruomu was at the peak of its vitality at the time and was extremely powerful, along with the support of many other cultivators.

But the more crucial reason was the same as with the Desolate God Sect. The Divine Wood Sect’s connection to the Immortal Realm had mysteriously been severed, rendering many of its methods unusable.

After the Divine Wood Sect fell, that extraworld divine tree was completely destroyed.

Only several relic treasures remained, which were divided among the cultivators of the various sects at the time.

One of those treasures, a tree seed shaped artifact, was almost exactly identical to the Seed of Transformation recorded in the Xuan Immortal Ark.

“No wonder there have been no further records of it in the Xuanhuang Realm ever since.”

“So it had already been sold to the Xuan Shang Immortal Ark.”

“According to the deductions of the cultivators at the time, planting this seed would give birth to another extraterrestrial divine tree. But Ruomu had just achieved its great victory then. Even if it were planted, it would inevitably invite Ruomu’s reckoning. It was meaningless. Besides, the Xuanhuang Realm could no longer accommodate a second divine tree.”

“It simply had no real value, so cultivators gradually ignored it.”

“If my prediction is correct, the Immortal Ark Divine Tree grown from the Seed of Transformation should still maintain a subtle connection with the extraterrestrial divine tree of the Divine Wood Sect. Back then, that extraterrestrial divine tree lost in battle. Its body was destroyed, while its essence was absorbed by Ruomu…”

“The Xuan Immortal Ark should be using this method to remotely lock onto the position of the Xuanhuang Realm across the void.”

“…”

“Though the Star Sea is vast, all events within it are faintly connected.”

“By this reasoning, the Xuan Immortal Ark will almost certainly come to the Xuanhuang Realm. When that time comes, they may encounter the war between the Holy Emperor and the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and interfere midway. Interesting.”

A faint smile appeared in his heart.

“In that case, I shall add more fuel to the fire!”

Within the boundless dark space.

More than a hundred terrifying phantom ghost gods drifted through the air, wailing without end.

Beneath these ghostly manifestations sat a woman with disheveled hair, cross-legged with her eyes closed.

Although her expression was calm, one could faintly discern the extreme hatred and resentment buried deep within her heart.

She was none other than Wu Ninglu, the wife of Sun Ang, whose body Li Fan's true self had occupied.

Wu Ninglu.

During the Dao Integration process, she had been used by the Sun family as a sacrifice, accomplishing Sun Tianci's peerless inborn Dao Integration aptitude.

At the brink of her soul's extinction, only a single remnant thought remained, which Li Fan had saved.

He then bestowed upon her the Three Disasters and Hundred Tribulations Divine Clarity Method.

"Your cultivation is far too slow."

"After all this time, you have only cultivated three hundred sixty-four gods through the Three Disasters and Hundred Tribulations Divine Clarity Method..."

"What utter trash."

"Take a look at what stage your precious son has reached now."

As Li Fan mocked her, he waved his hand, displaying an image of Sun Tianci.

In the scene, Sun Tianci appeared to be only five or six years old.

Yet standing before him in full battle readiness were three adult Dao Integration cultivators.

"Please instruct us."

Without any unnecessary words, the three Dao Integration cultivators joined forces and launched a siege against Sun Tianci.

These three were not weak. One of them had even devoured a Spirit of Heaven and Earth in the form of bizarre and elusive black mist.

Yet as their attacks approached Sun Tianci's surroundings, they were silently blocked and dissolved into nothingness.

Li Fan explained with ridicule, "Do you know what this represents?"

"Your precious son’s understanding of the laws of heaven and earth has already reached an astonishing level. Attacks from Dao Integration cultivators using Spirit of Heaven and Earth are all effortlessly transformed by him into the most primordial law power and returned to the Xuanhuang world itself. If this continues, those three Dao Integration cultivators all risk falling in realm."

Just as Li Fan had said, not long afterward, the three Dao Integration cultivators in the image wore extremely ugly expressions and ceased their assault. They cupped their fists toward Sun Tianci and admitted defeat.

Sun Tianci also responded with perfect courtesy.

The scene ended abruptly.

The previously calm Wu Ninglu suddenly went mad.

"It was mine. All of this should originally have been mine."

"Hatred. I hate this so much. The Sun family should all die!"

She cursed endlessly.

Li Fan merely said coldly, "Even if you curse until your soul is completely annihilated, it will not affect them in the slightest."

"It seems I truly made a mistake, actually nurturing such useless trash."

Wu Ninglu gradually recovered from her madness.

Although she could not see Li Fan’s hidden divine sense clone, that did not stop her from kowtowing and begging.

"Senior, help me. I am willing to pay any price. As long as the Sun family and that little bastard suffer the consequences..." Wu Ninglu said through gritted teeth.

"Pay a price? You?" Li Fan said with utter contempt.

Faced with Li Fan’s naked mockery, the hundred demonic gods Wu Ninglu had condensed trembled slightly, as if they might erupt into frenzy at any moment.

Yet Wu Ninglu forcibly suppressed them.

Wu Ninglu continued to beg, weeping tears of blood.

Li Fan, however, looked at those demon gods who still glared viciously at him despite being suppressed, and smiled faintly.

“They still have some spirit.”

“Besides, I personally enjoy watching a good show. Helping you is not out of the question.”

Wu Ninglu’s face filled with wild joy.

“However, you must first change that loathsome appearance of yours that both humans and ghosts detest.”

Li Fan’s clone suddenly revealed a vague figure from the darkness, placing one hand atop Wu Ninglu’s head.

Wu Ninglu’s body, originally formed from shadows, instantly emitted countless streams of white smoke.

She immediately let out miserable screams and collapsed limply onto the ground.

Toward this senior whom she had been desperately begging just moments ago, she now switched to hurling all kinds of vicious curses.

“Heh heh heh…”

Li Fan paid no attention, never loosening his grip.

The hundred demon gods Wu Ninglu had painstakingly refined attempted to charge forward.

Yet the moment they approached Li Fan’s clone, they were violently sucked into his body and vanished without a trace.

Not a single exception.

The hundred demon gods Wu Ninglu had worked so hard to refine were reduced to only a mere handful in an instant simply because they attacked Li Fan.

They trembled in fear, no longer daring to step forward.

Her painstaking efforts destroyed, her very foundation ravaged, Wu Ninglu wailed in agony, yet she still refused to stop struggling.

“As expected of something formed purely from lingering hatred…”

Li Fan inwardly praised her, but accelerated the pace of his transformation.

After an unknown amount of time, Wu Ninglu’s miserable screams gradually faded.

That originally sinister and terrifying body had also become no different in appearance from that of a normal person.

“With that ghostly appearance of yours, before you could even approach your son, you would be casually purified.”

“If you want to deal with him, you must strike at his weakness.”

“No matter how peerless a genius he may be, in the end, he is still just a pitiful wretch who grew up without father or mother.”

“He has always longed for the familial affection he never had. So first, learn how to be a qualified mother.”

Li Fan sneered as he poured countless images into Wu Ninglu’s mind.

Gradually, Wu Ninglu’s face also softened.

She truly came to resemble a kind and gentle mother.

But only Li Fan could see that deep within her eyes, the blazing hatred remained, impossible to erase.

And outside this dark space.

In a place Wu Ninglu could not perceive.

“Master, how was my performance just now?” Sun Tianci asked Li Fan, who resided deep within his sea of consciousness.

“Originally, you could have done even better. Did you hesitate?” Li Fan reprimanded indifferently.

Sun Tianci admitted honestly, “It was merely a sparring match. If it had been a life and death battle, those three would have already lost three layers of cultivation from that exchange.”

“Have you sensed the emotions of heaven and earth yet?” Li Fan asked again.

A trace of guilt flashed across Sun Tianci’s face.

“Not yet.”

“It does not matter. Heaven and earth’s hostility toward New Method cultivators will not be reversed in a single moment. Continue using sparring as a pretext to challenge Dao Integration cultivators across various regions. With your talent, it will not take long before you reverse heaven and earth’s attitude toward you,” Li Fan said calmly.