My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1059: Heavenly King Once A Henchmen

"If fortune favors us, the Holy Emperor might even be discovered as early as tomorrow," the imperial daughter remarked, her voice betraying a flicker of anticipation.

Li Fan replied with a grave expression, "Do not act impulsively once the Holy Emperor is located. There must have been a concealed motive for his abrupt disappearance in the past. Your first priority is to notify the Federation of All Worlds; I shall be the one to make the ultimate call."

Confirming her comprehension, the imperial daughter gave a firm nod.

Throughout the preceding five years, Li Fan had provided the empire with every piece of data he possessed regarding the small worlds and Cave-Heavens within the Xuanhuang Realm.

By utilizing a unique exotic beast that possessed the ability to traverse space at will, the empire had initiated an exhaustive sweep of these minor realms. Their primary objective was to pinpoint the location of Xu Ke's sanctuary.

In the 115th lifetime, shortly before the confrontation between Heavenly Dao Bai and the Immortal Ancestor occurred.

The individual who had stood beside Heavenly Dao Bai, bearing a coffin upon his back, was almost certainly Xu Ke.

Questions regarding the contents of that coffin, the reasons he deserted the empire he painstakingly built, and why he even abandoned his cherished pets remained unanswered.

All these mysteries would be resolved once he was tracked down.

In truth, Li Fan did not place much personal weight on this matter. It served primarily as a psychological anchor to ensure the loyalty of the empire’s citizens.

Once the details concerning Xu Ke were shared, the empire’s commitment became absolute, causing their productivity to more than double. Li Fan no longer found it necessary to direct or pressure them personally.

Having finished his briefing, Li Fan descended into the most secluded depths of the Dome Laboratory.

Within the absolute darkness, crimson filaments slithered through the air like aquatic serpents.

This was the red string Mr. Bai had left behind within the empire, originally gifted to Xu Ke for his protection.

A single strand possessed the power to execute a top-tier powerhouse of the Demon Race. Its potency was nearly equivalent to a maximum-effort strike from a modern New Method Longevity Immortal.

Due to his wariness of Mr. Bai, Li Fan had avoided direct contact with the object during this current lifetime.

Instead, he delegated the analytical research of the artifact entirely to the empire.

At a glance, the red string appeared to be a physical manifestation of the Sword Dao.

However, after years of relentless study, the empire’s researchers concluded that the string functioned more like a sentient organism, endowed with its own spiritual essence.

It did not rely on spiritual energy for activation. Rather, it fed upon the essence, energy, and spirit of living beings—that enigmatic and profound substance.

To put it bluntly, it consumed the lifespan of the living.

Furthermore, the red string ignored common lifeforms. It only showed interest in consuming individuals who were vigorous and possessed an ambitious, striving nature.

After being nourished by an immense quantity of exotic beasts, the red string—which had once been a mere wisp—had grown into the size of a slender snake within the laboratory.

Even with multiple layers of protective formations standing between them, the sight of it was enough to instill primal dread.

Because his clone had achieved Foundation Establishment using the Black Sword Heavenly Wonder, Li Fan possessed a deep understanding of the Xuanhuang Realm's Sword Dao.

Upon closer inspection, Li Fan realized that the red string did not just embody the [Dao of Sword].

It was even more heavily infused with the [Dao of Balance].

To inflict harm upon another, a price must be paid; thus, the weapon first takes from the wielder.

In the perspective of heaven and earth, all existences are viewed as equals.

There is no distinction between a common mortal and a Dao Integration cultivator.

Consequently, by wielding this lethal blade, even a mortal frame could potentially fell a Dao Integration expert.

This was a fundamental principle of the Ancient Method, frequently cited in the various historical texts Li Fan had studied.

As the final Ancient Method Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign of the Xuanhuang Realm, it was logical for Mr. Bai’s techniques to carry such traits.

Nevertheless, as eras shifted and time marched on, even the world no longer viewed all lives as equal.

The higher a cultivator’s rank, the more weight they carried within the world, and the more resentment the heavens felt toward them.

The possibility of a mortal achieving a "one-for-one" trade no longer existed in the current age.

As a result, the practical power of the red string had been diminished.

Li Fan calculated that a single filament of the red string could destroy the physical form of a Soul Transformation cultivator. However, a New Method Soul Transformation expert, whose body was integrated with heaven and earth, would survive with only grievous wounds. Those at the Dao Integration level could parry the string's strike with ease.

Yet, that was only the capacity of a single tiny strand.

If the entire mass of the red string, now as thick as a bowl, were to be unleashed at once...

Li Fan doubted he could survive such an onslaught without the protection of his Tianyang Immortal Puppet.

At this stage, the red string appeared to have hit a threshold and ceased its feeding.

Watching the red string writhe in the shadows, Li Fan became lost in contemplation.

"The core nature of the red string is to turn the power of the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao against one's enemies. It isn't a violation of the rules, but a transaction within them."

"Utilizing the red string's power still drains the user's own longevity."

"However, if one can topple or even kill a Soul Transformation cultivator at the cost of only a minor portion of their life..."

"Should this become common knowledge, people would scramble for it like starving ducks."

"It might serve perfectly as the hallmark treasure of the Federation of All Worlds."

"As for a name..."

"The Sword Holder."

A sharp light flickered in Li Fan's eyes. He commanded his subordinates to harvest nearly a hundred strands from the main mass, sealing each one individually within Seven-Colored Divine Light.

"By merely joining the Federation of All Worlds, one gains the power to hold this sword and strike down Soul Transformation cultivators."

"Who would dare claim our Federation lacks a proper Foundation now?"

"Furthermore, since slaying practitioners of the new laws aligns with the heavens' will, there is no risk of a karmic backlash from excessive slaughter."

"This plan is truly brilliant!"

Despite the extraction, the remaining portion of the red string did not return to its feeding frenzy.

It appeared the total quantity of red string allowed in the Xuanhuang Realm was capped; some had to be depleted before more could be produced.

While the red string was a profound mystery, Li Fan had no intention of using it himself.

He would distribute it solely as a defensive trump card for members of the Federation of All Worlds.

"Coincidentally, a few deathsworn soldiers survived the exploration of the blood-colored river. I shall grant them this treasure, followed by the formal teaching of the immortal method to bolster their resolve." With that thought, Li Fan exited the imperial sector.

He traveled to the [Seeking the Hidden] district.

Among the vast array of empty pedestals, the primary stone monument had silently arrived.

The tablet was carved with the likeness and name of the cultivator who had successfully salvaged a fragment of forgotten history from the blood-red river.

By interacting with the tablet, one could witness the events of that past era.

The initial discovery was a relatively minor event.

The period likely predated the time when the Immortal Path was severed.

It showed travelers from distant cultivation realms arriving with great pomp aboard a fleet of over a dozen immortal ships.

The various Sects of the Xuanhuang Realm had gathered to greet them, organizing a massive conference for exchange.

The scene was vibrant and teeming with life.

It stood in stark contrast to the stagnant, decaying state of the modern Xuanhuang Realm.

Any cultivator witnessing this vision would feel a pang of melancholy and regret.

However, there was one detail in the scene that caught Li Fan's eye.

In the midst of this grand gathering, Li Fan identified the figure of Xuantian King Xuanyuan Hong.

Back then, he was merely an insignificant junior among the many hosts.

He stood there like a low-ranking servant, his face filled with a mix of anxiety and thrill as he observed the esteemed senior cultivators.

None of those present could have guessed that this minor, unnoticed cultivator would eventually become the final ascender of the Xuanhuang Realm, destined to carry the weight of the world's salvation on his shoulders.