My Longevity Simulation

Chapter 1319: The Shortcut to Attaining the Dao

Faced with Li Fan's request, the people of the Immortal Ark did not find anything inappropriate about it.

However, they also put forward their own conditions.

"True Immortal seal script characters are among the Immortal Ark's greatest secrets. Although we are deep within an uninhabited region of the star sea, we must still guard against eavesdroppers and hidden observers."

"Therefore, we must also set up our own formation here."

Li Fan smiled.

"As you wish. If you find it difficult to establish the formation, I can lend a hand."

The Immortal Ark elders snorted coldly and ignored Li Fan's teasing.

Working together within the illusion formation Li Fan had arranged, they layered another formation on top of it. Only after confirming that everything was foolproof did they finally begin the formal exchange.

"I am Jian Daosheng. Please enlighten me."

Without any unnecessary pleasantries, Jian Daosheng, the chief of the Celestial Pivot Institute of the Immortal Ark, immediately and solemnly wrote out a True Immortal seal script character.

Perhaps to suppress Li Fan's momentum and seize the initiative, the character he chose this time was indeed extraordinary.

Even during his previous life while studying in the Immortal Ark, Li Fan had never had the opportunity to come into contact with it.

Even after becoming Ai Tianjue's disciple and nearly joining the Immortal Ark's inner core, the same remained true.

Dark lines slowly drifted through the void.

The moment the character fully took shape, it was like a blazing sun, illuminating the Darkest Star Sea where Li Fan and the people of the Immortal Ark stood.

The True Immortal seal script character brought more than a mere change in brightness.

Under its radiance, this Darkest Star Sea, filled only with deathly silence, unexpectedly gained a trace of vitality.

'A True Immortal seal script character with positive effects?'

Li Fan's heart stirred, and his expression immediately grew serious.

Ignoring Jian Daosheng's rather self-satisfied expression, he focused entirely on the character before him.

With Li Fan's current knowledge, especially after glimpsing the mysteries of [Creation] and that mysterious character that created the bloodline of the Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable, his ability to analyze True Immortal seal script characters could almost be called unrivaled throughout the Darkest Star Sea. 𝘳ἈＮÒᛒΕS

He carefully comprehended the constantly shifting character that remained suspended like a great sun overhead.

After only the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the true meaning represented by this character surfaced within Li Fan's mind.

[Dawn].

The rising sun, circulating vitality, the revival of all things...

These countless phenomena together formed this special True Immortal seal script character.

"So that is how it is."

After deciphering the [Dawn] character, Li Fan finally resolved a question that had troubled him for a long time.

How exactly had the Xuan Immortal Ark survived the destruction of the star sea until now?

At first, Li Fan had believed it was because of the Immortal Ark Divine Tree formed from the Seed of Transformation.

However, after living within the Immortal Ark for several years, he gradually realized something was wrong.

The Immortal Ark Divine Tree needed to continuously absorb extraordinary objects such as the Dao-Chasing Giants and the Human Emperor Rabbit in order to provide sufficient energy for the Immortal Ark.

This proved that the Divine Tree alone could not offset the consumption required for the Immortal Ark's normal operation.

Over the past ten thousand years, the Divine Tree had not continuously absorbed external energy.

During those intervals, what had ensured its vigorous growth?

Furthermore, the warm and vibrant environment within the Immortal Ark, nearly identical to a normal cultivation world, clearly could not have been provided by a mere World Beyond Divine Tree.

After all, even the original extraterrestrial Divine Tree of the Divine Wood Sect from the Xuanhuang Realm had not possessed such miraculous abilities.

Today, with the appearance of this [Dawn] character, the mystery was finally solved.

It was precisely this True Immortal seal script character representing the rising sun that had long provided the Immortal Ark with a suitable living environment.

"This is truly the foundation of the Xuan Immortal Ark's survival. It is an invaluable treasure."

"And yet these people revealed it right from the start..."

"It seems they have no intention of letting me leave."

Having spent his previous life within the Immortal Ark, Li Fan understood these elders very well.

They valued True Immortal seal script characters and the future of the Immortal Ark more than their own lives.

Yet now they were openly sharing a supreme secret tied directly to the Immortal Ark's future and destiny.

Even as a one-character-for-one-character exchange, it seemed highly suspicious.

"Unfortunately, your plan is destined to fail. Stirring up trouble is one thing, but trying to keep me here..."

Li Fan snorted inwardly.

The formation jointly established by the Immortal Ark elders appeared childishly crude and full of flaws in his eyes.

Moreover, with his unparalleled escape techniques, even if a True Immortal descended, he was eighty percent confident he could withdraw safely.

Naturally, he did not fear being besieged by the Immortal Ark elders.

Pretending to know nothing of their schemes, Li Fan continued focusing on deciphering the [Dawn] character.

As his analysis deepened, however, he discovered something amiss.

The character did indeed represent the phenomenon of the newborn sun.

The morning sun was gentle, but that gentleness applied only to the Immortal Realm.

For beings of the lower realms, even the warm sunlight of an Immortal Realm dawn was far beyond what they could endure.

If this character descended directly, it would not bring vitality.

Instead, it would instantly burn an entire world into an infernal wasteland.

"So this is not a beneficial True Immortal seal script character either."

"It still represents destruction and chaos."

"The people of the Immortal Ark merely reduced the similarity and completeness of the True Immortal seal script character, weakening its power and turning harm into benefit."

"Wonderful. As expected of a force that has survived since the great catastrophe. They truly possess extraordinary methods."

Li Fan silently praised them.

However, his expression suddenly darkened as he coldly swept his gaze across the Immortal Ark elders.

"Something is wrong."

"This character is nowhere near ninety percent complete. Do you think I cannot tell?"

Li Fan appeared furious.

Then his face filled with disappointment.

"Forget it. I never expected you to be a group that breaks its promises."

"The exchange is canceled."

The Immortal Ark elders had never expected Li Fan to uncover the truth behind the character so quickly.

While inwardly shocked, Jian Daosheng hurriedly explained.

"Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. It is not that I deliberately concealed anything. For beings of the lower realms like us, a character with thirty percent similarity is actually more useful than one with higher completeness."

"Of course, if you insist, showing you the complete character is no problem."

As he spoke, Jian Daosheng wrote the character once more.

Even though the power of the True Immortal seal script character had been greatly weakened by the Various Forms Method, Li Fan still sensed the surroundings change the instant the character formed.

The warmth that had filled the area vanished, replaced by suffocating waves of heat.

Vitality disappeared in an instant, transforming into a chilling aura of destruction.

Li Fan memorized the complete character before speaking.

"Very well. I admit you are right."

"Since it was only a misunderstanding, let us continue the exchange."

Hearing this, the Immortal Ark elders secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Fan coughed lightly to draw everyone's attention.

"Everyone, watch carefully."

His hand moved like a dragon and serpent.

In an instant, the character [Fallen] was completed.

The moment the [Fallen] character appeared, the expressions of the Immortal Ark elders became rather strange.

Especially Ai Tianjue.

He stared blankly at the character suspended in the void before him.

He had likely never imagined that the True Immortal seal script character he had studied most deeply would be written first by someone else.

"The completeness has already far surpassed the Immortal Ark's current progress. It is probably close to ninety percent..."

Ai Tianjue could not help but feel a deep sense of loss.

What Ai Tianjue did not know was that the [Fallen] character Li Fan had written had not actually reached ninety percent completion.

Having inherited the knowledge of Ai Tianjue from several decades in the future during his previous life, Li Fan's understanding of the [Fallen] character was only around eighty percent.

However, Li Fan had integrated his understanding of [Creation], that mysterious character representing the transformation between immortals and mortals, and even a trace of his comprehension regarding the [Transformation Between Truth and Falsehood]. He had reconstructed and modified the [Fallen] character.

By infusing it with the aura of a deeper level of power, the [Fallen] character written by Li Fan appeared even more advanced.

It looked even more like the true [Fallen] character than the original itself.

Li Fan had not been certain beforehand whether such a method could deceive the people of the Immortal Ark.

But judging from their expressions now, it had clearly succeeded.

Li Fan sneered inwardly, growing even more confident that the plan was proceeding smoothly.

"Everyone, what do you think of this True Immortal seal script character, [Fallen]?" Li Fan asked loudly.

The members of the Immortal Ark dearly wanted to say that their own research had already covered the [Fallen] character. However, their progress was inferior to Li Fan's. Within such a short period of time, the Immortal Ark elders had no way of matching Li Fan's level of comprehension regarding the character.

The Immortal Ark elders looked at one another. After a brief discussion, they ultimately decided to swallow this loss in silence.

This time, it was the Immortal Ark's turn.

Lu Yuzhi of the Severed Immortal Tower inscribed the True Immortal seal script character, [Solitude].

Although Li Fan's research into this True Immortal seal script character still surpassed that of the Immortal Ark, he did not push things too far. After all, he intended to reel in a bigger catch.

Pretending to mutter to himself, he said, "The character [Solitude] is not uncommon within the Star Sea. However, our research progress is indeed inferior to yours."

Li Fan cupped his fists.

"I have learned much."

This time, the Immortal Ark managed to recover some ground.

The elders could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, throughout this exchange, the Immortal Ark had already suffered considerable losses. This reversal of fortune was at least a good beginning.

When it was Li Fan's turn again, the character [Suppression] descended.

This character had likewise originated from the Immortal Ark's research. However, their analysis had not even reached one third of its full potential and lacked any coherent framework.

In his previous life, after Li Fan taught this incomplete [Suppression] character to Sun Tianci, he used Sun Tianci's extraordinary comprehension to carry out further deductions.

In this life, he combined that with his own understanding, reconstructing and fabricating the details to complete it.

Once again, he intended to test the level of the Immortal Ark elders.

The result was unexpected.

After discussing among themselves, Zhong Daogong and the others accepted the True Immortal seal script character Li Fan had provided.

Li Fan remained expressionless on the surface, but inwardly, he had already reached a conclusion.

"It seems the Xuan Immortal Ark has indeed never come into contact with True Immortal seal script characters at the [Creation] level."

"Copying and imitating from the top down is not something they can uncover in a short time."

"Of course, given enough time, they may notice some clues..."

Li Fan pondered silently. Meanwhile, the Immortal Ark revealed another new True Immortal seal script character.

The moment it appeared, both the formation jointly arranged by the Immortal Ark elders and the illusion formation Li Fan had established began trembling faintly.

As an absolute grandmaster of formations, Li Fan sharply sensed that under the influence of this new True Immortal seal script character, the most fundamental units maintaining the structure of formations were beginning to disintegrate.

Li Fan was instantly alarmed.

The formation he had casually arranged was by no means an ordinary illusion formation.

Rather, it was a pseudo Immortal formation created by combining downgraded versions of two Immortal-grade formations, [Desolate Fall, Flowers Bloom in an Empty Room] and [Immortal Descent, All Things Return to Void].

Hidden killing intent lay concealed within the invisible structure, capable of silently exterminating all enemies trapped within.

Yet even a formation of such a level had suffered damage to its very foundation under the influence of this weakened True Immortal seal script character.

"If the full power of this True Immortal seal script character were revealed, my pseudo Immortal formation could likely be shattered with a mere flick of the finger."

Having already made formations his most important trump card, Li Fan's expression became extremely grave.

While repairing the gradually collapsing formation, he simultaneously studied this newly appeared True Immortal seal script character.

"Without question, this is a direct counter to formations."

"With this True Immortal seal script character in their possession, it is no wonder the Immortal Ark's formation standards are so low."

"It is difficult to say whether the Immortal Ark intentionally revealed this character as a warning."

"Learning of this character alone has made this trip worthwhile."

Li Fan was extremely satisfied with this exchange of True Immortal seal script characters.

At the same time, he gradually deciphered the true meaning behind the character before him.

[Resolve].

The moment he comprehended the fundamental meaning of the True Immortal seal script character, Li Fan immediately thought of his treasure, the Final Dissociation Disc.

"Perhaps my Dissociation Disc has now become similar to the Derivation Law Jade, a partial projection of the Great Dao from below."

"Perhaps I can attempt to use the Dissociation Disc to glimpse the Dao of [Resolve]."

...

As the number of True Immortal seal script characters he mastered continued to increase, Li Fan gradually realized that what was truly powerful was not the seal script characters themselves, but the Great Dao they represented.

True Immortal seal script characters were merely shortcuts, tools that helped ordinary people, or even ordinary immortals, touch the Great Dao.

"Similarly, world wonders and eternal remnants are also comparable shortcuts."

"Their essence is fundamentally the same."

Li Fan suddenly thought again of the nameless True Immortal known as the Inscription Immortal, who was said to have engraved countless paths of the Dao and made them more accessible.

"The paths of the Dao cannot be cultivated simultaneously. Yet this Inscription Immortal possesses such profound understanding of countless Daos..."

This was truly beyond Li Fan's current comprehension.

...

Li Fan's fleeting thoughts did not affect the ongoing exchange of True Immortal seal script characters within the void.

Using the characters [Chaos], [Nothingness], [Devoid], together with the character [Forgetfulness] that he had learned from the Immortal Ark in his previous life, Li Fan had nearly emptied the Immortal Ark's accumulated research foundation regarding True Immortal seal script characters.

Of course, characters like [Chaos] and [Nothingness] were not the complete versions he had personally witnessed.

Instead, they were slightly modified and weakened versions.

Apart from the character [Resolve], Li Fan also learned two new characters.

[Cold] and [Mourning].

At this point, both sides had nearly exhausted their reserves.

The atmosphere in the arena gradually became subtle.

"Everyone."

Li Fan was the first to speak, slightly breaking the stalemate.

"I must admit that your research into True Immortal seal script characters is truly no less than ours in Great Qi."

"I never expected that within the star sea, there would still exist another surviving civilization capable of standing on equal footing with us."

Li Fan let out a long sigh.

Suddenly, his expression changed.

"However, even among True Immortal seal script characters, there are differences in value."

"Even if all the characters we have exchanged so far were combined, they would still be inferior to the one I am about to reveal next."

His words were shocking.

The Immortal Ark elders instantly suppressed all the schemes and calculations in their hearts and stared fixedly at Li Fan.

"Fellow Daoist, you cannot speak carelessly."