My Longevity Simulation

Chapter 974: The Lost Fishing Pond

“Within the Dharma-Transmitter’s small world, cultivators can also enjoy the same agelessness. Even the Dharma-Transmitter Feng, whose body I currently occupy, though he is the least interested in gathering talents, still has over a thousand true geniuses within his small world.”

“One can only imagine how deep the foundations of the other Dharma-Transmitters must be.”

Mo Rubin sighed emotionally.

Hearing this, Li Fan could not help but picture a vivid scene.

The Xuanhuang Realm was like a great field. For thousands of years, its cultivators had grown like crops, generation after generation.

The ordinary ones were harvested, while the true essence among them was carefully preserved by those Dharma-Transmitters.

“No wonder the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance’s trump cards seem endless. Every lifetime brings me new surprises.”

“And this is only the lineage of the Dharma-Transmitters. The Immortal Alliance also has the Mirror Holders and the Illusory Truth Sages—two parallel branches…”

“Compared to them, even the Five Elders Association appears somewhat…”

Li Fan thought so, but aloud he only gave a cold snort. “What do they take all the cultivators of the world for? They truly deserve death.”

Mo Rubin nodded in agreement. “If Xuantian King were to return, he would surely purge them all.”

Li Fan did not respond. Instead, he feigned confusion. “King Xuantian… King Xuantian… that name feels so familiar…”

Seeing Li Fan sink once again into a momentary daze, Mo Rubin could only shake his head helplessly.

“Fortunately, it’s only intermittent—it won’t affect the grand plan.”

With that thought, Mo Rubin patiently “awakened” Li Fan again, giving him instructions on what to do should further developments arise.

Only then did he leave Li Fan’s divine sense space.

After a long while, Li Fan finally dropped his act and returned to normal.

“Dharma-Transmitter Jiang must have perished along with that gray mold-like corruption. No wonder there’s been no attack—it seems I’ve escaped unscathed.”

“However, it seems that Jiang’s innate nature was transformed from a remnant immortal artifact of the Xuanhuang Realm. There’s no real method to guard against such a thing. Even if I knew beforehand, I couldn’t resist its influence…”

Even though Li Fan was protected by the Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Mantra, the Dharma-Transmitter Jiang’s innate nature seemed to alter his very essence and attributes, rather than simply confusing his mind or senses—since the Immortal Heart Mantra’s protection was never triggered at all.

“Before the great calamity of that era, all immortal artifacts in the Xuanhuang Realm vanished without a trace in an instant. I didn’t expect that some might have transformed into living beings.”

“How interesting…”

Since he had not truly been exposed, there was no need to reveal himself now.

This life’s plan had to continue as intended.

Still, Li Fan remained vigilant, his divine sense connected with the Spiritwood Realm at all times.

For all he knew, that Dharma-Transmitter Jiang might even deceive his own allies—perhaps this was all part of a diversionary scheme.

Li Fan decided to keep observing.

For now, there was only one thing to do: wait.

During his earlier discussion with Mo Rubin, he had mentioned whether it might be possible to further strengthen the Xuantian Nether-Lock Formation, in order to pressure the Xuantian Treasure Mirror even more.

Neither “Sun Xingwang” nor Mo Rubin were skilled in formations, and the formation masters of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance’s Formation Hall could not be fully trusted either.

Thus, they would need to rely on external tools.

Perhaps because he knew they would also need to repair the Floating Starry Sky Formation in the future, Mo Rubin thought for a moment, then agreed that Li Fan’s reasoning made sense.

After agreeing to return, he began searching to see if there were any rare treasures capable of deducing formations.

"If I can absorb the Nine-Discs-in-One Dissociation Disc, my ability to deduce formations will undergo another qualitative leap."

"At that time, even the Reversing of Life and Death Grand Formation might be easily deciphered by me. Perhaps then, I can uncover the true identity of that Life and Death Heavenly Sovereign."

…

Li Fan’s plan to remain seated in the Spiritwood Realm was abruptly brought to an end half a month later by an unexpected message from Lin Ling.

Although she was already a Dao Integration cultivator, her voice was filled with childlike panic. "M-Master, the Senior Stone Tablet… he’s gone!"

"The small pond also disappeared along with him!"

Li Fan’s heart trembled as he stood up sharply.

The Supreme Treasured Fishing Pond and the Senior Stone Tablet were both gone?

What was going on?

Feeling a surge of anxiety, Li Fan was about to rush toward the small mountain temple.

However, as he recalled some of Lin Ling’s earlier behavior, he suddenly halted his steps.

He transmitted his voice calmly. "Why panic? With the strength of the Senior Stone Tablet, who in the Xuanhuang Realm could possibly harm him?"

"Describe exactly what happened at the time."

"Yes, Master." Lin Ling, still flustered, began to recount the strange events that had occurred.

She said that ever since the Senior Stone Tablet sat by the fishing pond to comprehend the Dao, he had remained motionless, like a sculpture.

Out of respect and awe for him, both Lin Ling and the young Daoist child, Liuli, had always kept a good distance away.

But as time passed, their courage gradually grew.

They discovered that even when they got close, there was no reaction from the Senior Stone Tablet.

So they occasionally approached to observe this mysterious figure more closely.

At first, Lin Ling had been afraid, but after being pulled along by Liuli and seeing that nothing happened—she became increasingly bold.

"Big Sister Lin Ling, the closer you are to the Senior Stone Tablet, the greater the benefits," Liuli said, plopping down on the ground, gazing up greedily at him.

Lin Ling also felt that there was a peculiar Dao rhythm fluctuating around the Senior Stone Tablet.

It seemed to resonate with the world’s laws themselves, and within moments, many fragmented scenes appeared naturally in her mind.

Profound and mysterious, they touched upon the principles of heaven and earth.

Even for her, a cultivator with the power of Dao Integration, it was of immense benefit.

"I later realized that Senior Stone Tablet had reached the most crucial point in comprehending the Dao of Fishing. That was why the world’s laws resonated with him…"

"But at that time, I was too absorbed in the enlightenment’s benefits to notice."

"Not long ago, that Dao rhythm suddenly became turbulent. The feeling…"

"Was like calm waters suddenly being struck by a great storm!"

There was fear in Lin Ling’s voice.

"In the fishing pond, it felt as if something was forcefully pulling from below."

"Without any warning, the Senior Stone Tablet was dragged a step forward."

"His expression was strange—both delighted and terrified."

"It was as if an invisible line tied him to something within the pond. The two struggled fiercely, neither willing to let go."

"Then…"

Lin Ling paused, her face pale with dread. "All of a sudden, the Senior Stone Tablet was pulled straight into the pond and vanished before our eyes!"

"What was even more terrifying was that afterward, we discovered the Fishing Pond had lost all its function."