My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1073: Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable

"Unless I'm wrong, Feng Rui and the rest were truly taken over by another being at some stage."

"Yet, this method of takeover stands out as unusual. It even allows the body to be given back."

Dharma-Transmitter Jiang spoke, his brows knitting together tightly.

Li Fan reflected deeply too: "Still, everything that happens leaves behind some signs. That time of possession inflicted lasting harm on their souls and physical forms."

"Bits of the Xuantian Sect Dharma King's soul traits lingered inside them."

Dharma-Transmitter Jiang squinted his eyes: "The Dharma King goes by Mo Rubin, right? What an impressive and praiseworthy person he is."

Li Fan just gave a nod, staying silent on the matter.

"Memories from the takeover phase persist in their minds. Yet, to them, it all feels like actions they planned together with Mo Rubin."

"Regarding where Mo Rubin is now..."

"About a year back, he said goodbye and left, disappearing completely. In thanks for the moments shared, he gifted them a few cultivation methods from the old Xuantian Sect as repayment." Dharma-Transmitter Jiang went on with his account.

"Likely, it served as a way to cloud our sight. And it succeeded, for sure; I squandered all that effort for nothing." Li Fan remarked, a hint of wry amusement in his voice.

"Even so, just where has he ended up? Has the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's Tianxuan Mirror stayed as the true immortal treasure it once was?"

"I'll look into that aspect." Dharma-Transmitter Jiang stated gravely, "Concerning your duplicate form..."

"We must offer them some account for it."

Dharma-Transmitter Jiang's dark eyes fixed sharply on the Immortal Puppet Li Fan.

Suddenly, it seemed drawn into an empty void, the Immortal Puppet Li Fan's figure gradually swallowed by the darkness.

Within seconds, it faded entirely from existence.

...

Within the Spiritwood Realm, Li Fan caught the last visions sent from the Immortal Puppet's frame and shook his head faintly.

The abrupt move by Dharma-Transmitter Jiang came as no shock to him.

In the end, pinning blame on a Dharma-Transmitter for shortcomings—or even worse, defaming one—counted as an utterly intolerable serious offense.

A scapegoat had to be found.

Even if just for appearances' sake.

Prior to erasing the Immortal Puppet form, Dharma-Transmitter Jiang had whispered a message, noting that the probe into Xuantian King Mo Rubin would now proceed in secrecy.

Findings ought to pass through Dharma-Transmitter Zhou still.

"Among the Dharma-Transmitters, Jiang stands as the sole trustworthy ally."

"To uncover Mo Rubin's location, I'll have to await his probe's outcome."

After getting toyed with repeatedly by Mo Rubin, a wave of frustration welled up in Li Fan's chest.

Even more troubling was Mo Rubin's absence for almost a full year.

While he held sway over the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, he'd tapped the Tianxuan Mirror's immense processing strength, no doubt for clues on the vanished Xuantian King.

All this while, no sign of him had surfaced.

Did that mean he'd already tracked down the lost Xuantian King? Or maybe, he'd skipped hunting for any Xuantian King altogether. Perhaps, drawing on the old Xuantian Sect's arts, he'd slipped free from this grim star sea?

For the first time in ages, unease stirred in Li Fan's thoughts, until at last, Dharma-Transmitter Jiang's probe results arrived.

In Dharma-Transmitter Zhou's secluded mini-world, yet another freshly made Immortal Puppet body stepped in.

"The Tianxuan Mirror remains unchanged as itself. But drawing excessively on its processing strained the artifact's core essence."

"Numerous features will likely stay offline for an extended period."

"On Mo Rubin's location, it refused to reveal anything."

"That said, Jiang consulted the Mirror Holders and the followers of Illusory True Sage, merging the might of three key influences to extract the prior calculation logs from the Tianxuan Mirror by force."

"At last, we've pinpointed a potential landing spot for that Xuantian Sect Dharma King." Dharma-Transmitter Zhou's voice carried an uncharacteristic weight, differing from his typical lightness.

Li Fan's expression grew intently focused as he listened in silence for more.

An outcome demanding harm to an immortal artifact's core for calculation clearly signaled something major.

After a brief silence, Dharma-Transmitter Zhou dropped his tone and continued deliberately.

"Are you aware that, mirroring the real Xuanhuang Realm, an illusory domain exists within this one?" Zhou posed what seemed like an off-topic query initially.

Li Fan's pulse quickened, and he affirmed with a nod: "Of course I do. You folks in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance name it the [Fallen Immortal Realm]."

"Right, the Fallen Immortal."

"As this immortal plummeted, he spared one final look toward the Xuanhuang Realm. In that instant, the entire world—from vast landscapes to the smallest creatures—was flawlessly mirrored into this dreamlike space! What an astonishing power!"

Dharma-Transmitter Zhou exclaimed in awe, his words laced with a trace of yearning.

"So, have you pondered the identity of this immortal with such boundless abilities? And the reason for his downfall?"

"Curiosity has gripped me, yes. Do you have the answers?" Li Fan inquired.

"Truth be told, I was in the dark until now. Yet, drawing from the Tianxuan Mirror's inferences, we might venture some speculations," Zhou confessed openly.

"Recall the way to access the Fallen Immortal Realm?"

"The ritual?" Li Fan swiftly remembered that odd ceremony.

It called for four objects.

A simple hemp robe.

A full head of grain.

A delicate tiny house replica.

A detailed small wagon pulled by a donkey.

Position these four in the room's four corners.

First: Turn to the hemp robe and chant softly:

"Blessings to the Xuanhuang Immortal Venerable."

Second: Face the grain head and utter devoutly:

"Blessings to the Xuanhuang Heavenly Monarch."

Third: Look upon the fine house model, hold your breath, and breathe:

"Blessings to the Xuanhuang Supreme Emperor."

Fourth: Stare at the loaded cart.

At last, whisper: "Blessings to the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable."

"Often, the solution hides right in the puzzle," Zhou declared seriously. "This fallen immortal is the [Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable] himself!"

"The hemp robe, grain, house, and cart align exactly with attire, sustenance, dwelling, and travel: the vital needs for human survival. All these domains belong to the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable!"

"Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable?!" Li Fan's heart jolted.

"Xuanhuang ties to the Xuanhuang Realm. Celestial Venerable..."

"Could it point to the Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign?"

"But linking them this way leaves me a bit lost."

"Can someone at the Longevity Realm wield such godlike strength?" Li Fan creased his forehead, thoroughly baffled.

"No regular Longevity Realm expert could pull off what seems like miracles. But the [Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable] surely could," Zhou clarified for Li Fan.

"The Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable isn't a name for one person alone. It's an bestowed role."

"Picture a cultivator in a realm who merges fully with the world's Heavenly Dao in body and spirit."

"Until [my heart matches heaven's heart, my intent becomes heaven's intent], then indeed, no secret in the realm could hide from his gaze."

"The Supreme Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable embodies exactly that."

While Zhou elaborated, Li Fan abruptly recalled his own bond with the Spiritwood Realm.

[Translator's Note: "Celestial" and "heavenly" mean the same here for 天 (Tiān). Same for 天尊 (Tiān Zūn): which I've translated as both "Celestial Venerable" or "Heavenly Sovereign," switched for better read, but it's the same one title. That's why Li Fan links Tian Zun (Celestial Venerable) to "Chang Sheng Tian Zun" (Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign)]