My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1081: The Sole Sanctuary

Both the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Emperor Yi demon beast clan that departed vanished entirely from the Xuanhuang Realm's future, with no traces or mentions ever surfacing again.

From Li Fan's perspective, this escape route ranked as the one he'd least favor. The High Walls severed all ties between the inner realm and the outer starry sea. Stepping beyond them likely meant total disconnection from the Xuanhuang Realm forever. Hence, success or failure of such an escape remained impossible to confirm.

Beneath the intense energy surges of the Rift Realm, failure could strike without even allowing time to trigger [Truth]. Neither Li Fan's primary form nor his duplicates could test the Rift Realm's actual viability. Because of this, he consistently displayed scant enthusiasm for the approach.

"Fleeing via the Rift equates to outright desertion. The Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable's test would surely reject any such scheme."

"If I stood in the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable's position and a bunch of defectors plotted to abandon my domain, how would I respond?"

While heading to Nanming Mountain alongside Xu Ke, Li Fan mulled over the matter deeply.

The journey's events mirrored those from prior illusion simulations. Yet, this round proved even easier, shielded by Mr. Bai's wooden carving, free of any perils, leading to a flawless arrival.

Led by the human form branched off from Emperor Yi, they attended the demon beast clan's Ten Thousand Demons Assembly.

Surrounded by the booming roars of demon beasts chanting "We will forever support Emperor Yi," the gathering reached its end.

Emperor Yi's response stayed perfectly consistent. Following a string of cryptic, baffling phrases, it separated a gray orb and passed it to Xu Ke.

"You may go now."

Emperor Yi promptly commanded their exit.

"Wait a moment."

Right then, Xu Ke interjected once more.

"Hmm?" The Emperor Yi beast appeared mildly taken aback. Still, it endured patiently as Xu Ke continued.

"Senior, out of all these demon beasts here, how many do you believe genuinely yearn to trail you in departure?"

"All for some hazy, traceless alleged disaster, forcing them to forsake the Xuanhuang Realm, this true haven."

Emperor Yi's human form creased its brow: "I require no genuine loyalty from them. Obedience to commands suffices."

"Should they truly defy me, I can simply devour them every one!"

Xu Ke grinned, exuding a sage-like maturity far beyond his youth: "Just earlier, Senior mentioned that across the endless future, countless paths exist. Then why are you so convinced that amid this catastrophe, the Xuanhuang Realm faces certain doom, with escape as the sole faint hope for life?"

"Could there be no single timeline where the Xuanhuang Realm endures intact, emerging as the ultimate sanctuary through every era and dimension?"

"Wouldn't you act for that faint prospect?"

Xu Ke's gaze brimmed with insight, almost shimmering, fixed unyieldingly on Emperor Yi.

Such remarks plainly exceeded what Xu Ke at his current age could utter. And the foolish bird dozing noisily atop his head... Clearly offered no inspiration either.

"So that's his aim?"

Emperor Yi, well aware of who dispatched Xu Ke, proceeded to weigh those statements gravely.

Noticing this, Xu Ke seized the moment: "Since Emperor Sanmo once broke away from the demon beast collective to align with humans long ago, then now, surely a faction can divide between exodus and retention, to defend the Xuanhuang."

"This split was bound to happen regardless. Yet with your endorsement, Senior, it gains proper structure."

Emperor Yi's beastly shape peered through the window at the demon beasts displaying a mix of emotions, deep in reflection.

"Intriguing."

"Then hold off on departing for now."

With those words, Emperor Yi's human form faded gradually from sight.

Xu Ke and Li Fan turned their attention to the still-gathered assembly hall.

Emperor Yi abruptly summoned over thirty demon beasts, [Red Nine-Headed] among them.

Though its words remained unheard, the demon beasts' faces shifted from terror to doubt, then to wild elation.

Li Fan sensed only Emperor Yi's remote stare lingering on him briefly before turning elsewhere.

Seven days passed.

Hovering above Nanming Mountain.

“What? You expect us to heed this mere child?”

The Red Nine-Headed, now in human guise, eyed the small Xu Ke and instantly revealed his irritation.

The assembled force loomed large and formidable, comprising more than three thousand transformed demon beasts altogether. Right now, every one exuded killing intent, glaring savagely at Xu Ke.

Xu Ke gulped nervously yet, bolstered by Li Fan's support, ultimately nodded with resolve: “Though Senior Emperor Yi approved your plea to remain in the Xuanhuang Realm, the sole stipulation is absolute obedience to my directives.”

“Naturally, I won't issue any absurd orders. My concern is simply that you might stir trouble in human cultivator lands, so restraint is essential.”

While speaking, Xu Ke drew forth a circular disc from within his robes.

The moment the disc emerged, the horde of demon beasts, previously seeping malice, abruptly subdued their auras. At minimum, they feigned compliance outwardly.

“Alright, with the Beast Taming Wheel in your grasp, you lead,” Red Nine-Headed remarked through a strained grin. “However, child, we'll obey your commands, but surely there's a deadline? We can't serve as your eternal thralls.”

“Hahaha, no need for such frets. This boy might endure a few millennia at best, while we demon beasts thrive beyond ten thousand years apiece.”

“We ought to watch him closely. Don't allow an early demise!”

...

The demon beast throng erupted in mocking laughter.

Xu Ke kept his expression stern, unmoved by their taunts.

After their brief uproar and noting Xu Ke's unflinching calm, the demon beasts settled and resumed their march.

In truth, the relocating demon beast contingent far exceeded the mere three thousand evident upfront. Virtually every beast carried kin using Cave-Heaven artifacts akin to those sheltering clans opting to stay in the Xuanhuang Realm.

En route, additional demon beasts, hearing the call and desiring to linger in the Xuanhuang Realm, streamed in to swell the ranks.

Upon approaching the Beast Taming Sect, their numbers had ballooned past ten thousand.

Mighty and awe-inspiring, demonic energy surged wildly. It resembled a full demon beast legion advancing into battle.

Were it not for the Beast Taming Wheel granted by Emperor Yi to curb their presence, coupled with Mr. Bai's wooden carving periodically channeling Heavenly Dao might to mask them, the cultivators in traversed areas would doubtless fall into chaos.

Nevertheless, upon arriving at the Beast Taming Sect's entrance, this fearsome demon beast host still ignited sheer alarm among the unaware sect members.

“Foes incoming! Foes incoming!”

The piercing alert blared throughout the sect instantly. Innumerable cultivators summoned their core spirit beasts and surged from every corner of the mountain gate.

“They seem so frail, utterly pathetic!”

“I could scarcely fathom that our Azure Dragon bloodline, tamed by humans, has weakened to this extent!”

“Hmph, without witnessing it myself, I'd never credit that demon beasts would truly bow to humans!”

“We hold the advantage in numbers, so why not...”

Xu Ke observed the demon beast group's mood subtly souring and felt a chill of sweat break out.