My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1137: The Holy Dynasty Reveals Its Portents
Previously on My Longevity Simulation...
"The shifts of heaven and earth, the shifts of yin and yang, everything lies inside just one heart..."
Above Jieli Mountain, Li Fan's actual form floated in the air, gazing down at the vast Great Xuan Realm. As he felt the connection between the world-altering forces inside him and the surrounding heaven and earth, a deep sigh escaped his thoughts.
"The Heavenly Doctor likely employed a technique much like the one I'm using at this moment when he carved up and reshaped the Xuanhuang Realm in the past. Had he not moved ahead, with my present power, I could genuinely reshape specific areas of the Xuanhuang Realm."
Right now, the time anchor remained fixed at one year.
Following the outlined strategy, the clone Li Ping made his way to Xuan Capital City. Moving with the swiftness of lightning and the abruptness of a spark right by one's ear, he struck down the oppressive ruler, one who went against heaven's mandate, and founded a fresh dynasty.
In this existence, the ruling dynasty wasn't some rushed creation meant just to flee from the Faceless True Immortal. Instead, it served as groundwork for uncovering the real nature of the Immortal Ancestor. Of course, it required greater legitimacy; the previous dynasty's title couldn't be recycled.
So, after seven days, Li Ping cast spells to announce across the realm that the fresh dynasty would be called [Qi].
As [Holy Imperial Bases] sprang up everywhere in the Great Xuan territories, the supreme rule of the Qi Dynasty swiftly took root in the populace's minds. This effect grew even stronger once the [Heaven and Earth Furnace] was built and installed in the Holy Imperial Base, causing the spiritual energy levels in Great Qi to climb steadily each day.
At the same time, while Li Fan's true body oversaw the revival of spiritual energy, he subtly channeled his immense spiritual strength to speed up and refine the entire procedure.
"The effect I unleashed in Great Qi stems from one of the natural shifts that emerged in the Xuanhuang Realm during the last cycle after it confronted a dire threat to its survival."Through Li Fan's eyes right then, the tiny realm of Great Qi resembled a lump of clay, endlessly morphing under the molding of his palms.
"They say the upheavals of heaven and earth birth great heroes. Since these heroes usually follow heaven's will and receive its blessings, their natural gifts and potential vastly outstrip the common folk. In the mortal world's old stories, chaotic times often feature heroes as stars falling from the skies. The truths linking these ideas run deep. This particular shift goes by the name [Heaven Opens Its Favor, Myriad Stars Descend to the World]."
With the world-shaping energies flowing out from his core, Li Fan keenly perceived the alterations sweeping through the Great Qi realm because of them.
Over the next several decades, destined figures akin to Mr. Bai and Su Yuqing would sprout up everywhere, like bamboo after a downpour. A destined one's true potential ties directly to the world's own power level.
Mr. Bai, among all destined ones, clearly outshines Su Yuqing, who came from the ordinary Li Realm. The new wave of destined talents born in Great Qi might start off a bit below the Xuanhuang Realm's initial geniuses. Yet as Li Fan kept reshaping Great Qi, this small world would slowly rise in stature. The caliber of its prodigies would progressively match and then exceed those from the Xuanhuang Realm!
"This represents the mutual response between heaven and humanity, the path of heaven raising its people."
Li Fan delved deeply into the fine details of the changes as the world gradually formed under his control, and a feeling of grand achievement and worldly transcendence swelled within him.
"This marks the real essence of effortlessly reshaping heaven and earth with mere movements. What I'm tweaking right now is only a minor mortal realm. I can't help but imagine the sensation of freely sculpting the Xuanhuang Realm like the Heavenly Doctor..."
World versus humanity. Immense versus tiny. But in this instant, the tiny human reversed roles, molding the world itself.
The thrilling rush from such a profound reversal even topped the delight of breakthroughs in cultivation or realms. It left Li Fan almost hooked, struggling to pull away.
Luckily, the Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Mantra kicked in automatically, quickly snapping Li Fan back to clarity.
"Ah... So this is the instinctive haze of the mind that follows seizing power from a realm once out of reach. If someone keeps giving in to it, they risk being swallowed by the world's heavenly dao instead. Forgetting who they are and merging into the heavenly dao of the world."
Li Fan's eyes tightened slightly as he reflected silently.
While crafting the brand-new mortal realm of Great Qi from scratch, Li Fan also realized that the world-shaping forces didn't last forever.
"As the world follows the shaping, it uses up that energy supply. Take the [Heaven Opens Its Favor, Myriad Stars Descend to the World] I've set in motion—for instance, without adding more fuel down the line, based just on the starting push, it would endure roughly fifty years at most. Unforeseen events could even cut that shorter."
...
While Li Fan bided his time for [Truth] to finish recharging, he kept pondering and grasping the core rules of the world's heavenly dao, along with the dao path ahead that was truly his own.
At the same time, inside the Great Qi Dynasty, staggering upheavals—ones that could only be described as horrifying—unfolded without pause every single moment.
With the anchor at 1 year, fresh [Body Purifying Spirit Pools] got built in locations all over. Alongside them came a technique known as the [Clear Heart Mantra]. Folks from every corner could visit the spirit pools and, drawing on the Clear Heart Mantra's strength, purge the worldly impurities from their forms.
By the 2-year anchor point, spiritual energy density in Great Qi had climbed to match the Xuanhuang Realm's standard. The Heavenly Mandate Holy Emperor appeared in the heavens and directly taught immortal arts to every being. This method was dubbed the [Enlightenment Spirit Origin Technique].
Any Great Qi resident who had cast off their mortal husk could practice it. Those reaching a basic level in the technique could all travel to the Holy Capital to encounter the Heavenly Mandate Holy Emperor and gain his direct teachings.
Concurrently, in a hidden underground facility in the Holy Capital, more than ten thousand sturdy warriors started refining their physiques via the [Creation Furnace Technique] and drawing in the essence of strange beasts.
At the 3-year anchor, the Heavenly Mandate Holy Emperor rolled out a decree to boost population growth. Households with three offspring qualified for half-off taxes. Larger families earned extra bounties from the throne.
To back this initiative, [Holy Medical Institutes] popped up throughout Great Qi. The healers at these institutes were all immortals who had stepped onto the path. They had learned healing arts straight from the Heavenly Mandate Holy Emperor, each boasting exceptional skills. While they couldn't bring back the deceased or mend bones from nothing, they handled everyday sicknesses and aches with ease, plus all sorts of risks tied to giving birth.
Apart from the [Holy Medical Institutes], places like [Holy Academies] and [Holy Heart Halls] began to appear too.
As the titles suggest, Holy Academies served as learning centers. Thanks to linked image projections, people across Great Qi could get direct lessons from top educators in the Holy Capital, right from their local Holy Academies.
The mighty Heavenly Mandate Holy Emperor himself would sometimes address them. His sight appeared to pierce through and behold every soul beneath the skies at once. During his talks, he would quiz learners from distant spots. If someone froze up and couldn't reply, the Holy Emperor wouldn't scold them; he'd offer gentle words of support instead.
As days turned to months and years, the Heavenly Mandate Holy Emperor's place in people's souls soared higher, becoming utterly revered and immovable. As a result, crowds flocked to the Holy Heart Halls daily to offer prayers.
Towering effigies of the Heavenly Mandate Holy Emperor filled the Holy Heart Halls. Their features stayed vague, yet their presence radiated holiness and untouchability. Great Qi dwellers with troubles, those chasing desires, those seeking forgiveness... Everything could be poured out to the Holy Emperor.
The Holy Emperor accepted it all without judgment toward any. Rumors even whispered that he sometimes granted divine blessings, quietly easing the deepest troubles of his devoted ones.
Beyond these acts of sacred benevolence, the dynasty maintained vital systems of justice. The Holy Supervisory Court watched over everything; breaking imperial rules brought the harshest penalties.
The worst fate wasn't mere execution, but ripping out one's mind and locking it in the Holy Heart Hall. There, it would endure the endless scorn of Great Qi's masses forever.
...
The whole Great Qi Dynasty resembled a soaring ship with mounting engine power, its might exploding ahead and expanding without end. Still, it avoided any outside conflicts, focusing solely on building up its reserves.
At the start of the eighth year under anchor. Seeing [Truth] fully recharged, Li Fan shot to his feet. He flexed his limbs and body, then set off for the Eastern Ruins Abyss.
Staying out of sight didn't require him to remain trapped in the Great Qi small world indefinitely. Much like in the closing stages of his 119th life, when he concealed himself in the Nether Prison. The foe's core territory, the overlooked spot right under the light, could prove the securest and most surprising hideout.
Back in the well-known Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan wasted no time dawdling; he morphed into a faint shadow and sped directly to Tianyu Prefecture. Drawing from the hidden intel he'd caught in the Tianxuan Mirror before, a persona in Tianyu Prefecture fit perfectly for his cover.
In Tianyu's heartland, the Luojia Mountains. Deep in a cavern below ground. Li Fan glided inside like a specter, utterly quiet and leaving no trace. After gauging the energy pulses around him, a subtle grin crossed his face.
"Sun Ang, a Soul Transformation expert, found a Spirit of Heaven and Earth right here. He locked the cavern with an array and spent three whole years solo grinding it down to nothing. Finally, he broke through to Dao Integration Immortal Sage."
"The Sun Ang lineage held key posts in the Guardian Hall for generations. Soon after reaching Dao Integration Immortal Sage, he got picked to join the Guardian Hall's main base, protecting the Derivative Law Jade. He was among the few elders I encountered facing the Derivative Law Jade that time."
"The Spirit of Heaven and Earth Sun Ang offered up holds deep secrets. Post-Dao Integration, he never stirred again, so even I lack the full story on him. But that's no issue..."
As Li Fan's mind shifted, he'd already locked onto his mark.
The once-dark cavern underground burst into brilliant rainbow hues. Sun Ang sat in lotus position, face grave, hands weaving seals nonstop. He released beams of colorful light, meticulously tying down the phantom form in front.
And that Spirit of Heaven and Earth, for whatever cause, lay in profound sleep. It remained oblivious to Sun Ang's efforts, letting him bind it freely.
"Spirit of Heaven and Earth, Purple Luminous. Charged with a celestial task, it fosters the Luojia Thousand Crystal Hundred Flowers..."
The instant Li Fan laid eyes on the Spirit of Heaven and Earth's phantom, its true nature clicked for him.
"The Luojia Thousand Crystal Hundred Flowers form a renowned wonder in the Luojia Mountains. Every five hundred years, they burst from the soil, covering the peaks like a floral sea. Actually, they're unique crystals akin to spirit stones..." Bits of knowledge flooded Li Fan's thoughts in a flash.
"One of heaven's mandates, nothing to do with me."
Truth be told, Li Fan had zero plans to meddle with this Spirit of Heaven and Earth. He directed his attention to Sun Ang, who concentrated on spellcasting to cage Purple Luminous, and a glint sparked in his gaze.
In a blink, he erected multiple barriers, encasing him at the core. Only then did shock rouse Sun Ang.
"What..."
Before he could finish speaking, blackness swallowed his vision, and awareness fled.
Li Fan delved into his sea of consciousness, scanning every memory. Next, he pulled out a thread of his vital blood and lightly confined him within his inner small world.
Without delay, Li Fan triggered the Mysterious True Spirit Transformation, assuming Sun Ang's exact look.