My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1154: The Transformation of Rebuilding the Foundation

"Isn't this a bit wasteful?" In front of his loyal subordinate Yan Huan, Shang Shaojun sent a hushed voice transmission to Li Fan with his query.

Li Fan's mysterious smile appeared on his face, making Shang Shaojun sense that his words could be improper. A gentle cough escaped him as he tried to hide his awkwardness.

"The name 'Immortal Heart Mantra' stands out too much. Shaojun, perhaps rename it to something more plain before you share it," Li Fan suggested.

Thinking back to the method obtained from the Derivation Law Jade, Shang Shaojun instructed Yan Huan, "This is the [Heart Forging Technique], handed down by this esteemed senior. It guards against the corruption of demonic sounds. Distribute it across the whole army without delay; make sure all soldiers master it."

"Heart Forging Technique" sounded so ordinary that Yan Huan displayed no thrill at Shang Shaojun's command. He simply bowed, took the directive, and started cultivating it right there.

"Having such a hidden art yet not recognizing its worth is really..." Shang Shaojun sighed, observing Yan Huan's back as he departed.

"Should they grasp its true value, they could grow too fearful and find it hard to cultivate properly," Li Fan replied.

"The Qingxuan Army boasts a million troops. Even with my ban on sharing, the Immortal Heart Mantra will probably leak out anyway. Does that not concern you, fellow Daoist?" Shang Shaojun questioned Li Fan, his face showing bewilderment.

From the moment Li Fan reached the Eternal Immortal Fortress, Shang Shaojun viewed his deeds as completely baffling. It wasn't driven by glory or gain.

"Xuanhuang cultivators hoard their arts, swayed by the belief that methods can't be combined in practice. Gradually, their outlook has quietly changed," Li Fan explained.

"Back in the ancient era of cultivation, folks gathered to debate the Dao and exchange insights openly. Those times have vanished."

"I can't stand that."

The Holy Embryo Li Fan delivered his thoughts steadily, his tone seeming aloof and otherworldly to those around him.

"Let it circulate freely. If it follows my intent, who cares if it's an immortal art?"

Shang Shaojun stared at Li Fan's form, lost in admiration for a moment. Such daring was scarce indeed in this era.

In the company of someone so exceptional, a wave of bold resolve rose inside Shang Shaojun.

...

Everything at the Eternal Immortal Fortress had been resolved, with no remaining ties.

Beside Li Fan outside the fortress, Shang Shaojun stared into the endless white fog. "What's our next destination?"

Suddenly shouldering the duty of "saving the Xuanhuang Realm," Shang Shaojun sensed a hint of doubt as they readied to depart. Yet now, retreat was impossible.

A quick look at Li Fan next to him convinced Shang Shaojun that trying to withdraw would earn him an immediate slash from the blade.

"The destiny of the Xuanhuang Realm lies solely with me. This sensation..." Shang Shaojun pondered inwardly, "...isn't half bad."

Li Fan reached out his hand, summoning a tiny sword barely the length of his palm into his hold.

As though detecting something, it whirled around without pause.

At last, the blade's edge locked onto a specific bearing and halted.

Shang Shaojun peered toward where the little sword was aiming.

"Every existence leaves behind clues. No matter how formidable that enigmatic person is, once they enter the Xuanhuang Realm, contact with the world is unavoidable. By following their trail, we'll uncover additional proof," Li Fan stated, his gaze shining brightly.

Shang Shaojun deemed Li Fan's logic solid and gave a nod of approval.

He remained unaware that the small sword's direction in Li Fan's grip wasn't aimed at chasing the shadowy entity.

Rather, it guided toward various puzzling areas Li Fan had once delved into through his recollections.

Naturally, all roads converge at the end. In those spots, they were sure to discover plenty of signs that the Xuanhuang Realm had been tampered with.

...

As Holy Embryo Li Fan led Shang Shaojun to reveal the secrets lurking under the Xuanhuang Realm's facade, within the Great Qi small world, Master Yin's testing grounds had taken initial shape.

"During my previous encounter with Mr. Bai, he mentioned that using my Foundation Establishment approach, I could attain the 'Primordial Golden Core,' 'Physical Nascent Soul,' or 'Heart-Mind Soul Transformation.' Consider these ideas for your ongoing inferences," Li Ping, the clone of Li Fan, informed Master Yin.

Right before Li Ping, Master Yin had just enacted a strange ritual.

His form tore apart at the center, with a duplicate self clawing its way out from inside.

Swiveling around, he then consumed his original physical body.

Echoes of munching flesh and cracking bones filled the testing site, Master Yin's features streaked with gore.

Still, his demeanor stayed completely composed, his gaze intense with concentration while devouring his own form.

He appeared not to be feeding, but rather performing an experiment.

Despite Li Ping's vast array of prior life experiences, witnessing Master Yin stirred a faint shiver in him.

This wasn't a matter of bravery; it just defied basic humanity.

After methodical bites, Master Yin finished ingesting his duplicate completely.

Li Ping observed that Master Yin's visible cultivation had dropped from Foundation Establishment down to Qi Condensation.

At that point, Yin Shangren cleaned his bloody palms on his robes and clarified, "To infer the following phase of the technique, I need to tread the right route first."

"My Foundation Establishment has merely partially worked. Thus, I have to shatter my base and rebuild my cultivation."

He looked toward the heavens: "It could stir some issues, but I'll handle it."

While Master Yin uttered these words, Li Ping abruptly detected an entity approaching the Holy Capital City.

By practicing the Heavenly Emperor’s Qi Classic and merging the dynasty's full fortune, Li Ping embodied the Great Qi Dynasty entirely in that instant.

No outside interference could slip past his awareness.

It felt like icy larvae slithering gradually over his skin's surface. Upon initial touch, the larvae sprouted needle-like points, striving to burrow into the heart of the Great Qi small world.

"Hmm? This area looks like a closed loop. Their counterattack may prove milder than anticipated," Master Yin observed.

Li Ping understood the "they" in Master Yin's words meant the remnants of the former world's ghosts.

Evidently, Master Yin's aggressive shift in his condition had attracted notice from his own sort.

Rain-like pattering sounds started.

However, no water droplets descended.

Overhead, dense black clouds had formed unnoticed above Li Ping's position.

They hung heavily above the testing grounds.

The solid basalt floor, under the patter of phantom rain, turned suddenly soft and boggy like loose soil.

Pale limbs emerged one by one from the earth.

Li Ping's brow furrowed faintly as he tried to rise into the sky to evade them.

Yet within this warped, bizarre realm, flight had become impossible for him.

Luckily, these realm phantoms targeted not him.

For him, the limbs resembled mere phantom illusions.

Myriad limbs dragged along the surface, converging fiercely on Master Yin.

Master Yin displayed a wicked grin in response.

Seizing the closest limb, he pulled it free and crammed it between his teeth, gnawing hungrily.