My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1088: Xuanhuang Outer Void

While the Xuanhuang Realm surpasses typical cultivation worlds in might, it could still buckle under the fierce outburst of immortal spiritual energy unleashed by a detonating immortal artifact. Additionally, triggering such an explosion inside the realm would undoubtedly rouse those ancient fiends lurking in secrecy.

Once his surge of thrill settled, Li Fan promptly recognized this crucial detail.

“So, we have to venture beyond the realm?”

Instinctively, Li Fan glanced skyward. The Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's awareness pressing upon his thoughts appeared to affirm his notion. Yet, a flicker of uncertainty lingered in Li Fan's mind: thus far, he hadn't encountered any real challenges in this trial from the Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable.

In contrast to the initial three phases, this fourth one—which could mark the ultimate trial—had presented no hurdles whatsoever. Simply adhering to the process step by step would allow anyone to advance as far as Li Fan had.

The subsequent journey through the void to trigger the immortal artifact at a safe distance from the Xuanhuang Realm ought to pose little issue, bolstered by the enhancements from the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable's form.

“Regarding the detonation of the immortal artifact and gaining the strength to breach the Immortal Wall, should someone genuinely opt to depart, they'd probably forfeit their chance to claim the title of Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable. Only by emulating Mr. Bai's historical defiance against the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's intent and staying within the Xuanhuang Realm can true ascension to Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable be achieved...”

“But is it truly that straightforward?”

This was the Fallen Immortal Illusion, after all; even selecting to explode the immortal artifact and surmount the High Wall—what would follow?

Beyond the high wall stretched a taboo domain beyond the reach of the Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable's influence, an utterly mysterious realm. One could presume that, akin to the events in the Immortal Scroll Edict, the Fallen Immortal Realm wouldn't materialize outside the High Wall. Reverting to the actual world would nonetheless deposit one back in the Xuanhuang Realm.

Wouldn't any rational individual refuse to abandon the Xuanhuang Realm? Then what purpose did this trial serve?

Bearing these uncertainties, Li Fan silently soared away from the Xuanhuang Realm.

Unlike millennia in the future, the draw of the Immortal Ruins held far less sway at this juncture. With Mr. Bai's prowess eclipsing that of average Longevity Immortals, fending off the Immortal Ruins and navigating the void proved no great ordeal.

As he hurtled across the void, the silhouette of the Xuanhuang Realm dwindled behind him, eventually fading entirely into the shadows.

All around stretched absolute obscurity. Solely the remote tug from the Immortal Ruins signaled to Li Fan that this wasn't mere fantasy.

“So this is the Darkest Star Sea...”

A profound chill of isolation slowly crept into his core. Surveying the expanse yielded no variation at all. Regardless of how rapidly Li Fan dashed onward, the vista encircling him remained utterly static. This even led Li Fan to wonder if he was actually progressing or merely looping in circles.

“Lacking Dao markers or a Void Latitude and Longitude Positioning Instrument, attempting to cross the stellar emptiness using just the fleshly form does seem rather impractical.”

Li Fan mentally tracked the duration. Following three full days of maximum velocity flight and deeming the separation adequate, he at last halted. Amid the boundless gloom, Li Fan stood solitary.

He withdrew the thirteen plundered immortal artifacts. Though now distant from the Xuanhuang Realm and bereft of the world's inherent backing—which weakened his power to a degree—he could still scarcely shatter and ignite the immortal artifacts.

Spiritual energy churned turbulently inside him, initially flooding into the Desolate God Seal. It resembled innumerable massive mallets pounding upon it savagely.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The savage force burst forth in the void, yet it swiftly got devoured by the infinite murk. Not even a faint disturbance rippled outward.

Beneath Li Fan's unyielding barrage, fissures emerged on the Desolate God Seal's exterior, which wasn't especially resilient anyway. Threads of immortal spiritual power seeped from its core.

Li Fan's morale surged, and he hastily pulled it into himself. It stayed separate from his personal spiritual energy, refusing integration. Nevertheless, incorporating this force brought evident shifts to his physique.

The most noticeable effect was... The whole Darkest Star Sea appeared to glow faintly brighter. His sight gradually adjusted to the shadows. He could now discern the tiny speck denoting the Xuanhuang Realm, distant in his wake.

“Is this the harbinger of [Crossing the Immortal Wall]?”

Even within the Fallen Immortal Illusion, an odd thrill welled up in Li Fan's chest. He wasted no time, ramping up his efforts. Before long, he utterly demolished the Desolate God Seal.

Upon thoroughly assimilating the enclosed immortal spiritual power, Li Fan turned his spiritual energy strikes toward the next immortal artifact. This one bore the name [Great Sun Golden Bell].

As Li Fan unsealed it, the Great Sun Golden Bell erupted in searing, dazzling radiance, mimicking a genuine sun overhead. It bathed a wide swath of the encircling dark cosmos in light. Luckily, no nightmarish entity from the depths fixed a glare upon Li Fan.

Bathed in this glow, Li Fan verified that the vicinity was truly vacant space. He continued as prior, commencing the dismantling of the Great Sun Golden Bell.

A spiteful, poisonous wail resounded in Li Fan's ears, echoing persistently. Li Fan dismissed it entirely, showing no trace of doubt. With the Great Sun Golden Bell erased from existence, the immortal spiritual power coursing through Li Fan intensified further.

The subsequent piece was the third immortal artifact, [Yin-Yang Hook Sword].

...

Having obliterated nine of the thirteen overall. With the jubilant response from the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao echoing in his thoughts, Li Fan understood it was enough.

By now, the star sea before his eyes had shed its inky blackness. It displayed a strange, constantly morphing array of hues. Those fleeting aurora streaks that flickered in and out twisted oddly toward the Immortal Ruins' pull.

As his perception stepped into what felt like an entirely fresh domain, his form also grew notably buoyant. It evoked drifting atop water; a mere nudge could propel him free.

Enveloped in this fresh, unmatched sensation, Li Fan lingered for quite a while before shaking his head with a wistful breath: “What a shame that it's all just an illusion.”

“The mission is done. Time to head back.”

The instant this resolve formed in his mind, the ambient vista locked in place abruptly. Then Li Fan sharply sensed that, despite the apparent sameness, an alteration had occurred.

“Hmm? Does this mean I've cleared the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable's trial?”

“This feels way too straightforward.”

“Hold on, something's off?!”

Li Fan's eyes snapped toward the leftover four immortal artifacts. Shockingly, among them sat the [Great Sun Golden Bell], which he'd unmistakably annihilated before!

“What's happening here?”

Li Fan squinted, aiming to collect the four immortal artifacts. But astonishment hit as he realized they were nothing but phantoms.

“Is it possible that...”

A disbelieving theory arose in Li Fan's thoughts.

“I've already returned to the real world?”