My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1090: A Millennium Later, Xu Ke

Yet, to Li Fan's astonishment, those who had managed to survive the Oath of the Dharma-Transmitter, even without any executive authority anymore, stayed right at the heart of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's power structure. Rather than departing, they received oversight privileges to bolster the Dharma-Transmitter Council.

Jiang appeared to have grasped the flaws among the Dharma-Transmitters following this event. Without proper checks, similar troubles were bound to crop up again down the line.

"I wonder whether Mo Rubin will finally conquer the trial set by the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable."

"Sharing a few key elements of the trial illusion with the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance won't cause any harm. After all, they've already figured out how to access it. Given the vast resources of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, they'll inevitably discover fitting entrants for the illusion before long."

With these thoughts in mind, Li Fan sent a broad summary of the illusion's opening sequence, [Ning Yuan Obtains the Lifespan Fruit], over to Dharma-Transmitter Zhou. He skipped any mention of his own success in the trial, instead inventing a tale that mirrored the probable unfolding for a novice's first venture inside.

While securing the Lifespan Fruit, a grave wound from Manager Song left him on the brink of death. Senior Brother Zhang's shielding barely kept him alive, but he slipped into unconsciousness and wandered in a foggy haze throughout the day. Then, one evening, an unseen force took hold of him, erasing his awareness without warning.

Soon enough, Dharma-Transmitter Zhou responded with grave respect: "The details you've shared, Fellow Daoist, are invaluable. They'll prove immensely helpful in our future delves into the illusion."

In appreciation, Dharma-Transmitter Zhou, speaking for the Dharma-Transmitter Council, awarded Li Fan an honorary role as a senior elder within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. Though it carried no actual power, the title granted unrestricted entry to the Alliance's central hub whenever desired, with clearance just a notch below that of a Dharma-Transmitter.

"That said, Fellow Daoist, you can't take up this senior elder role openly. Remember, to the other Dharma-Transmitters who remain in the dark, Jiang has already put you to death for your fabricated charges," Dharma-Transmitter Zhou cautioned.

This honorary senior elder status was obviously a ploy to court the Federation of All Worlds that backed Li Fan. In the recent Xuantian Sect takeover affair, the Federation had showcased formidable might. It even harbored numerous mysteries hidden from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's knowledge.

Offering a symbolic post to strengthen ties between the factions was undoubtedly a smart move. Still, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance could never suspect that the mighty Federation of All Worlds was nothing more than Li Fan's solo operation.

Over the year-plus that Li Fan had secluded himself and faded from sight, the Federation's affairs had marched forward smoothly. Development followed the set plans without falter, with regular updates compiled and forwarded to Li Fan.

He quickly scanned through the various reports. The one that grabbed his focus most was the dispatch from the empire.

The precise spot of the minor world housing Xu Ke had at last been pinpointed!

An aged figure with white hair, lugging a coffin strapped to his back—it lined up perfectly with the vision Li Fan recalled from before. Though the imperial princess brimmed with thrill at locating her forebear, she kept her head clear and stuck to Li Fan's directives, avoiding any impulsive rendezvous with Xu Ke.

"In that case, I'll head over to see him myself. Mr. Bai's backup scheme still piques my curiosity quite a bit."

"Qinghui Prefecture."

Li Fan made a beeline for the designated site. "Shifting into the seven-colored divine light grants incredible velocity, yet it can't hold a candle to the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable's feat of manifesting anywhere with just a whim."

Back in the real world after briefly inhabiting Mr. Bai's form during the trial illusion, the difference hit Li Fan hard, sparking a subtle pang of emptiness. A whisper of reluctance even crept into his thoughts.

As soon as that feeling surfaced, Li Fan's awareness snapped alert. He promptly invoked the Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Mantra to purge it. But this time, the technique that never failed before let him down completely.

"Hmph. Nothing in this Xuanhuang Realm deserves my lament. I'd toss aside even a supreme immortal treasure like yesterday's trash!"

"Just a Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable, attempting to unsettle my Dao heart?"

The realization that triggering [Truth] would let him recapture all these missed chances afresh swept away those faint jarring sentiments in Li Fan's mind in a flash.

"The Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Mantra set me apart from fellow cultivators right from my arrival in the Fallen Immortal Realm. Even in its earlier form as the Xuanhuang Heart-Refining Mantra, it probably acted as a unique beacon for the Fallen Immortal Realm to track me."

"When the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable enters the picture, it breaks down entirely. Looks like even origins shrouded in mystery can't be relied on blindly. Ultimately, one's own strength is the only true foundation."

A shadow of unease flickered across Li Fan's gaze.

"Xuanhuang Heart-Refining Mantra..."

Up until now, Li Fan had never considered passing this technique to anyone else. Yet this small setback jolted him into reflection.

"Handing it to the right individual, spurring them to claim the role of Great Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable, or to harness the immortal spiritual energy and breach the High Wall—either path holds real promise."

Various faces raced through Li Fan's thoughts in quick succession. As he mulled over potential heirs, he reached the spot where Xu Ke lay hidden.

"This area... It reminds me of Nine Mountains Prefecture, shaped from the corpse of some ancient demon beast."

Right at the small world's gateway, Li Fan picked up on a recognizable energy. From his over ten years amid demon beasts in the trial illusion, he'd built an innate sense for their presence. Even here in the actual realm, he could still pick out the faint traces of demon beast essence.

"Such is the expansion of understanding."

In a heartbeat, he unraveled the array barriers guarding the small world's entry. Li Fan slipped inside without a sound.

The empire's intel rang true: this small world stretched out as a desolate Gobi wasteland. A murky gray blanketed the horizon in every direction. Far off, a colossal stone peak thrust upward, seemingly linking sky and ground, standing as the lone landmark in this barren domain.

That peak pulled Li Fan in right away. At its lofty crest perched Xu Ke.

Li Fan attempted to soar upward, only to find, with mild shock, that flight was impossible. It stemmed not from any weakness in his power, but from the unique laws governing this small world. He could force it, sure, but it'd invite retaliation from the small world's heavenly dao.

Li Fan chose not to kick things off on a hostile note. Instead, he tilted his head up, his sight slicing through endless miles of barriers to fix straight on Xu Ke atop the mountain.

This elder with flowing white locks felt the scrutiny too and turned his eyes toward it. Their stares locked.

The instant after, Li Fan advanced a step. Without taking wing, he ripped open the void, materializing next to Xu Ke. His face stayed composed, while twin tears in space—one at his origin, one at his arrival—hung in the air, slow to fade.

"Fellow Daoist Xu Ke?"

Li Fan wasted no time, calling out the white-haired elder's name outright.

Xu Ke betrayed no shock at Li Fan's abrupt arrival. He countered directly: "Do you recognize me from the Fallen Immortal Realm?"

At those words, Li Fan's eyes narrowed sharply. His go-to strategy of grabbing the upper hand had fallen flat for once.