My Longevity Simulation

Chapter 1374: The Equal Heaven Star Spirit

"As the body transforms into the universe, the mind roams the Star Sea. Taijia without Limit, the spirit wanders. Taijia without Change, the spirit transforms. Taijia without Emptiness, the spirit becomes spirit..."

The opening chant led by Zhong Daogong was none other than the Taijia Divine Art that Yin Shangren had obtained from the black and white twin orbs and that Li Fan had later passed on to the Immortal Ark.

However, what had once been only an incomplete fragment had now, after extensive research by the Immortal Ark's Council of Elders, finally been restored into a complete technique.

Combined with the power of the True Immortal seal script and amplified through ritual, its might had increased by far more than hundreds or even thousands of times.

Zhong Daogong led the chant, while the Immortal Ark elders gradually joined in harmony.

It was like a majestic symphony echoing throughout the Star Sea.

One after another, banners engraved with fused True Immortal seal script characters fluttered through the air. Viewed from above, one could clearly see that as the rhythm of the chant changed, certain characters upon the banners lit up in response, flashing brightly.

It was as though a colossal being composed of countless characters was breathing.

Watching this scene from outside the ritual, Li Fan suddenly understood the strange feeling he had sensed earlier.

A single [Equal] character lay hidden among the overlapping fused True Immortal seal script characters present at the ritual, concealed without revealing itself.

It merely waited...

For the Star Sea consciousness to be forcibly connected and descend.

Then it would erupt in an instant.

The Equal Heaven Ritual that the Xuan Immortal Ark had prepared for so long was, when stripped to its essence, surprisingly simple and crude.

Yet accomplishing it was far more difficult than it appeared.

The very first step alone, forcibly establishing communication with the Star Sea consciousness, had already exceeded the capabilities of the Taijia Divine Art itself. Li Fan had previously used this divine art before. Relying upon the goodwill accumulated over ten thousand years by the already destroyed Taijia World, he had obtained a single promise from the Star Sea consciousness to assist in the ascension and revival of the Xuanhuang Realm.

After that, the Star Sea had never responded again.

But now, after being improved by the Immortal Ark elders, the Taijia Divine Art had directly opened a bridge between cultivators and the Star Sea, forcibly drawing the true intent of the Star Sea's origin to cast its gaze upon this place.

The chanting grew increasingly magnificent.

Li Fan vaguely sensed an enormous vortex gradually forming above the ritual.

Unlike the utterly lifeless Darkest Star Sea, this vortex shimmered with countless lights and boundless vitality. Within it echoed indistinct rumbling and incomprehensible murmurs.

The surrounding Star Sea space itself seemed to creak under unbearable strain.

Corresponding changes also erupted within Li Fan's own body.

It was exactly the same reaction as when he had previously witnessed the True Immortal figure through that Immortal Realm bronze coin. His spiritual power, physical body, and divine soul all began boiling violently, as though they would evaporate at any moment.

'The difference is that when I faced the True Immortal's phantom before, I had virtually no ability to resist. But now...'

Li Fan took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the abnormalities within himself.

'The Star Sea's pressure is powerful, but it ultimately cannot compare to a True Immortal.'

'No matter how vast and magnificent it is, it still falls short of the qualitative leap brought by elevated ascension.'

As countless thoughts flashed through his mind, Zhong Daogong's voice suddenly rang beside his ear.

"Fellow Daoist, why have you not entered the ritual yet?"

"You have contributed immensely to the success of the Equal Heaven Ritual. Now is precisely the time to harvest its fruits."

It was not only Zhong Daogong's voice.

Jian Daosheng, Nangong Lie, and every elder of the Immortal Ark all spoke simultaneously.

Their voices sounded both like an invitation and a coercion.

'Have all the elders left the Ark, leaving it internally vulnerable? They cannot afford to leave an unpredictable variable like me outside the ritual.'

Li Fan let out a silent cold snort.

"Then I shall gladly accept."

Completely fearless, he flew directly into the ritual.

He did not need to search for a suitable position.

The instant he entered, countless surrounding banners began rotating and shifting positions, naturally drawing him into the formation.

The chanting echoing from every direction even compelled him to unconsciously join in harmony.

Now that everyone had taken their positions, this long prepared Taijia Ritual finally reached its climax.

Within the vortex filled with scattered violet-gold radiance, the previously roaring winds and thunder suddenly fell completely silent.

Even the vortex itself became absolutely motionless.

The scenery before everyone participating in the ritual abruptly changed.

It was as if they had suddenly leaped beyond the Star Sea itself, allowing them to behold the Star Sea in its entirety.

If the previous Taijia Divine Art had merely communicated indirectly with the Star Sea like sending a message, then now they had forcibly pried open the gate separating humanity and the Star Sea itself.

Their gazes met directly.

Li Fan once again experienced the long forgotten sensation of being completely seen through.

Although he possessed absolute confidence that the [Truth] supreme treasure within him could never be detected by the consciousness of a mere Star Sea, Li Fan remained on the highest alert.

He had already summoned the [Truth] interface, ready to activate it at any moment.

Just as he had expected, the Star Sea consciousness was completely blind even to the black mist that represented the precursor of the Dao Annihilation Calamity.

Naturally, it was even less capable of discovering [Truth].

The Star Sea consciousness did not linger upon Li Fan in particular.

Instead, it evenly distributed its anger among every Immortal Ark elder participating in the ritual.

After all, being forcibly contacted by creatures no different from ants was nothing less than an outright humiliation to the Star Sea consciousness.

Now it merely waited to see what these ants wished to accomplish.

Only afterward would it unleash its thunderous wrath.

However...

The ants had never truly intended to communicate.

Countless banners fluttered without wind amidst the resounding chorus.

As each banner continuously unfurled, the portions revealed through their folds instantly combined into one complete whole.

The [Equal] character that had remained hidden beneath countless True Immortal seal script characters finally revealed its true form.

It was as though an invisible chain had suddenly linked the vast Star Sea consciousness above the vortex to the tiny ants gathered within the ritual below.

At this moment, the ants stood upon the shoulders of the Star Sea itself and gazed down upon all living beings.

Li Fan had once become one with the Canghai Pearl, had once become the Heavenly Dao of a small world, and had even connected his consciousness with the Xuanhuang Realm itself.

Yet none of those experiences could compare to the indescribable wonder of this moment.

The boundless Star Sea no longer seemed infinite.

Instead, it felt like an extension of his own body, entirely within sight.

The Star Sea was no longer dark and lifeless.

With every breath, he could sense the limitless vitality quietly accumulating beneath its tranquil surface.

Even the countless laws that composed the Star Sea no longer seemed incomprehensible.

They were like the hairs and pores upon one's own body.

One needed only lower one's gaze to observe them completely.

Wherever his thoughts reached, he could use the Star Sea's own eyes to observe every corner of the Star Sea.

At this moment, through the power of the [Equal] character, everyone participating in the ritual had truly become equal to the Star Sea itself.

They saw what the Star Sea saw.

They felt what the Star Sea felt.

Like every other Immortal Ark elder, Li Fan became deeply immersed in this extraordinary state. He deliberately looked toward the center of the Star Sea.

Sure enough, from the Star Sea's own perspective, there was no trace whatsoever of the black mist within the Central Star Region.

Instead, limitless vitality slumbered there, awaiting revival.

Everything appeared perfectly prosperous.

Naturally, Li Fan had no intention of reminding anyone.

While seizing this once in ten thousand years opportunity to comprehend the Dao of the Star Sea as deeply as possible, he also found himself somewhat curious about the Star Sea's attitude.

Logically speaking, after being ambushed by mere ants through the power of the [Equal] character, the true origin consciousness of the Star Sea should have been utterly enraged.

Even if it could not break free from the influence of the [Equal] character immediately, it should at least have struggled symbolically.

Yet now, the Star Sea was calm in a way that was almost frightening.

This was not the calm before a storm, gathering strength. It was genuine calm, with not the slightest trace of anger arising.

Why was that?

A sudden doubt surfaced in Li Fan's mind.

Under the influence of the True Immortal seal script, the consciousness of the Star Sea was now connected with everyone participating in the Equal Heaven Ritual.

Thus, without much effort, Li Fan followed the Star Sea's thoughts and caught a glimpse of what it was thinking.

'This is...'

'While we are observing the Star Sea, the Star Sea is also observing us?!'

Li Fan was instantly horrified.

In Li Fan's previous understanding, transcendent existences such as the Star Sea Origin and True Immortals would never pay attention to insignificant mortals.

Yet the behavior of the Darkest Star Sea had completely overturned his understanding.

Not only did the Star Sea show no resistance toward the ants attempting the Equal Heaven Ritual.

It even accepted them willingly.

Just as Li Fan and the others were immersed in the Star Sea's perspective.

The consciousness of the Star Sea also seemed to be extremely interested in the lives of these tiny beings.

Both sides remained in a subtle balance, each experiencing the other's existence.

However, because of the vast disparity between them, this balance was destined not to last long.

The Star Sea itself remained unharmed.

But drastic changes suddenly erupted among the cultivators participating in the ritual.

Li Fan had once transformed himself into the Canghai Pearl and observed the changes of the Congyun Sea. Compared to mountains and seas, a cultivator's lifetime was like the brief blooming of an epiphyllum. Compared to this endless starry sky, even the birth and destruction of worlds lasted only an instant.

Viewing all things from the perspective of the Star Sea naturally meant enduring the passage of time on the scale of the starry sky.

Even sacrificing billions of living beings from the Xuanhuang small world merely delayed it for a few brief moments.

Very soon, old age once again descended upon everyone aboard the Immortal Ark.

"Hold on. The power gained from equalizing with the Star Sea is already pouring into our bodies. As long as we absorb this power, we will no longer fear this level of aging!" Zhong Daogong transmitted his voice to remind everyone.

However, just like Li Fan, they had never expected that the Star Sea itself would become interested in this group of rebels.

It was no longer just them actively reaching the consciousness of the Star Sea Origin.

The Star Sea itself was also actively reaching toward them. Originally, the plan had been for the Star Sea to resist while they advanced deeper.

But now, both sides had each taken a step forward.

As a result, the erosion they suffered from the Star Sea became almost twice as severe as originally estimated.

"This is bad!"

The members of the Immortal Ark quickly realized the unexpected change. Looking at the ritual participants whose hair and bodies were rapidly turning white, expressions of fear appeared on their faces.

However, the elders were all resolute and decisive individuals. Once they understood the situation, after only a brief exchange, they reached a unanimous decision.

"At this point, the Equal Heaven Ritual absolutely cannot stop. Abandoning it halfway would result in even greater losses."

"We must sacrifice a portion of our people to buy more time until the Star Sea's power enters our bodies."

After a brief silence, someone suddenly let out a low laugh.

"This old man has already lived long enough. Living another ten or twenty years would only be a waste. If my death can help the Immortal Ark obtain the Star Sea's fortune, then I, Gan Jingda, shall die without regrets!"

Before anyone else could respond, Gan Jingda's life aura had already completely vanished.

The remaining participants in the ritual immediately felt a surge of life force appear within their bodies out of nowhere.

"My old friend has passed on. Remaining in this world would only bring me more sorrow. Better to leave. Better to leave. The future of the Immortal Ark is yours now!"

"My abilities are lacking. I should be the one to die first!"

"Everyone, you must succeed. I am going ahead!"

"I originally did not want to die. But after calculating it over and over, everyone left is more valuable than I am. There is no helping it. My luck has never been very good throughout my life."

...

One after another, figures within the ritual voluntarily abandoned their life force.

Accelerated by the power of time, they crumbled into dust and scattered with the wind.

The final words of the Immortal Ark elders echoed continuously through everyone's ears.

Feeling the life force from their companions surging within them like fresh bamboo shoots after spring rain, every survivor was overcome with grief and sorrow.

Yet thanks to their sacrifices, just before the side effects of becoming equal to the Star Sea completely consumed them, the tremendous power obtained from the Equal Star Sea finally descended.

Within the violet-gold vortex of starlight, dozens of torrents suddenly branched off.

Each poured into the body of a cultivator still persevering in the ritual.

This was the true Origin Power of the Star Sea.

In terms of quality, it might not surpass a True Immortal.

But in terms of quantity alone, it was even greater than that of a True Immortal.

The feeling was completely different from facing a True Immortal.

The boundless Origin of the Star Sea poured down like a vast flood.

As this supreme power washed over them, the bodies of the surviving Immortal Ark elders gradually dissolved.

Yet their vitality did not disappear because of it.

Instead, it became even more vigorous.

They no longer aged.

Their appearances remained frozen at the final instant before the infusion began.

Only the violet-gold radiance surrounding them obscured their features.

The Star Sea's power continued flowing into them without end.

Their bodies of light also grew larger without stop.

Gradually, they became giants standing across the Star Sea itself.

The sorrow from their companions' sacrifices, the excitement of obtaining this power, and every other emotion they once possessed gradually faded away.

...

Li Fan witnessed the birth of this extraordinary race from beginning to end.

As cautious as ever, Li Fan naturally did not directly absorb the Star Sea Origin Power descending from above like the Immortal Ark elders had done.

Instead, he isolated and preserved it with an immortal formation.

Then he concealed and sealed it with the Transformation of Truth and Falsehood, making it disappear within the Star Sea itself. Even the consciousness of the Star Sea could no longer detect it.

Another ingredient had been added for refining the Xuanhuang Pill.

Yet Li Fan felt little joy.

Instead, he watched the starlight figures appearing before him one after another with an extremely solemn expression.

Once they had completely transformed into bodies of starlight, they automatically disconnected from the link created by the Equal Character Art.

At this moment, Li Fan was the only participant remaining in the entire ritual.

'There is no way to communicate with them.'

'Even their subjective consciousness from before seems to have disappeared? No. It is still there. It is simply that the emotional fluctuations belonging to humans have been suppressed to the extreme. They have become more like the Star Sea itself.'

'They are remarkably similar to the Spirit of Heaven and Earth of the Xuanhuang Realm...'

Li Fan then looked toward the violet-gold vortex that was gradually closing.

He vaguely sensed that the Star Sea's own power had not diminished at all despite being equally shared through the ritual.

'It is not that the Equal character art has failed.'

'Rather...'

'No matter how you divide infinity equally, it is still infinity!'