My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1092: The Mad Heavenly Dao

"Thus, Mr. Bai wasn't truly weaker than the Immortal Ancestor; he merely attained the Dao after the Immortal Ancestor did. On the other hand, had Mr. Bai transformed the Xuanhuang Realm first, the Immortal Ancestor would probably have found himself utterly helpless. Regrettably, such 'what ifs' don't exist."

The elderly voice of Xu Ke echoed with profound sorrow. Li Fan stayed quiet for a prolonged moment, finally letting out a deep sigh in reply. "So that's the truth of it."

"However..." Li Fan creased his forehead: "Mr. Bai gave his life for the Dao; was it truly so straightforward? The emergence of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma did safeguard the mortals of the Xuanhuang Realm for some period. Yet, at its core, it served only as a temporary postponement."

"Ultimately, mortals continue to be herded like livestock by cultivators; the Xuanhuang Realm still hangs in grave danger. Since Mr. Bai foresaw occurrences thousands of years ahead, he surely wouldn't have ignored this flaw. With his nature, how could he leave without any contingency plans and rush off so abruptly?" Li Fan pressed on, seeking to uncover further mysteries from Xu Ke.

For he constantly sensed that some concealed truth lay behind Mr. Bai's demise.

To his surprise, Xu Ke just offered a gentle smile and shook his head: "We both regard Mr. Bai as an all-powerful sage. Yet, as he himself stated... He was merely a common individual unable to endure the suffering of others."

"From his early helplessness amid Miss Liu'er's misfortune and the heartbreaking slaughter of Ningyuan City's blameless residents, to the failures he faced in challenging heaven's mandate. Mr. Bai's whole existence revolved around [Incompetence]. Thus, he never thought himself capable of rescuing all. He simply poured forth his greatest efforts. And he sacrificed far too much in the process."

Xu Ke grew quiet once more: "Do you realize what lies within the coffin at my back?"

Li Fan cast a look toward Xu Ke's rear. Examining it more closely this time, he noticed how this ghostly pale coffin subtly linked to the massive stone peak upon his frame. Or more precisely...

Li Fan squinted his eyes and scrutinized it for an extended while until enlightenment struck him abruptly. The vista of the full miniature realm before him flipped upside down in a flash. The ground loomed overhead, the heavens beneath. The colossal stone mountain atop the coffin resembled a brace upholding the vast sky. Or maybe, the burden of the whole realm bore down relentlessly on the coffin.

And emanating from this coffin, Li Fan detected a strikingly recognizable presence. It was a presence utterly familiar to any cultivator of the Xuanhuang Realm. Thinking back to Xu Ke's introduction when they first met, in which he described himself as "a person at enmity with the world".

"This... is it possible?" Li Fan jolted in shock and sharply raised his gaze to Xu Ke.

Xu Ke's face remained unchanged, holding only a subtle smile. "Mr. Bai received the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's profound blessing, almost like an embodiment of the Heavenly Dao itself. He not only soared straight to Longevity Immortal from a mortal form in one bound. He also bore the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's duty to forsake the realm."

"Yet ultimately, Mr. Bai refused to depart. He even joined the New Method outright, joining the rebellion against the laws of heaven and earth. To the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, this amounted to outright treason. The stronger the initial grace from the Heavenly Dao, the fiercer the retribution for defection. This played a key role in why Mr. Bai fell to his own unreasonable invention. For prior to that, his strength had already waned severely."

Xu Ke tapped the coffin at his back and continued: "Truth be told, with the magnitude of Mr. Bai's Heavenly Favor back then, he couldn't execute the Reversal of Principle at all. The backlash from the Heavenly Dao would have destroyed him before the reversal took hold. Therefore... Prior to the Reversal of Principle, Mr. Bai first severed the Heavenly Favor. Then he sealed it away."

As though reacting to Xu Ke's declaration, the coffin behind him abruptly released a low, thudding noise. A wave of vertigo overwhelmed his mind, and a visage resembling Mr. Bai's—though unnaturally pallid—materialized suddenly in Li Fan's view. It whispered alluring temptations, urging Li Fan to aid in freeing the coffin. Should he succeed, upon his return to the Xuanhuang Realm, boundless rewards awaited him.

Were it any typical cultivator, they might yield immediately and turn into its pawn for liberation, clashing with Xu Ke. But who was Li Fan? Beyond the ironclad strength of his determination, his persistent caution regarding Mr. Bai alone would prevent him from falling for this ghostly likeness of Mr. Bai.

With a sharp huff, the vision shattered completely. Li Fan snapped back from the hallucination, only to discover Xu Ke watching him with icy detachment, poised to attack at the merest provocation. Yet, seeing Li Fan untouched by the deception, the murderous glint in his eyes dissipated.

"Sealed Heavenly Favor? What is that precisely?" Li Fan pretended a trace of unease.

"The Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's self-consciousness, which had bonded to Mr. Bai, was torn free by him. After prolonged confinement and restraint, it has twisted into something quite radical. Should it break loose and reintegrate with the Xuanhuang homeland..." Xu Ke's face grew intensely somber. "A catastrophe far more terrifying than [Incompatible Cultivation] by tenfold would erupt without delay. This explains why, through all these years—even after Xiao Hei's downfall—I've never dared stray from this spot. The stakes are too high; no errors can be tolerated."

"An enraged Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao?" A subtle gleam sparked in the depths of Li Fan's gaze.

"Indeed. I perceive that, throughout this extended sealing, the consciousness within has developed increasingly bizarre traits. I genuinely fear that someday, I might falter in containing it." A shadow of profound concern crossed Xu Ke's eyes. "Recently, I've been quietly seeking a fitting heir. But I've yet to discover someone reliable. Fellow Daoist, your arrival here today seems no mere coincidence..."

Xu Ke altered his manner abruptly: "Isn't this the will of fate? I observe that Fellow Daoist possesses exemplary virtue and disposition." He regarded Li Fan with genuine warmth, his words heartfelt.

Li Fan contemplated in silence, offering no reply.

"Naturally, the task of restraining the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao proves immensely isolating and hazardous. If Fellow Daoist declines, I'll respect that. Still, I have a single plea..." Xu Ke stated.

"Speak it, Fellow Daoist." Li Fan's demeanor grew serious.

"Should the day come when this coffin's Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao overwhelms me and erases my mind, I beg you to end me." Xu Ke uttered solemnly.

Locking eyes with the weathered Xu Ke, Li Fan inclined his head: "Agreed, I vow it. Furthermore, you needn't fret over locating an heir."

A brief stiffness touched Xu Ke's features.

"You might doubt me, but I don't stand alone. I belong to the [Federation of All Worlds]."