My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1187: Infiltrating the Immortal Ark Alone

“That, there, is the character for [Hunger]…”

Li Fan’s clone assessed the situation swiftly, noting the subtle disruptions originating from the Dao Integration cultivator aboard the Immortal Ark nearby.

Refraining from drawing too close, he remained inside the wooden structure to monitor the events.

“Elder Yan…” Elder Gou, usually a man of rigid expression, was currently nodding and bowing with profound sycophancy.

Those gathered in the valley felt a surge of silent resentment, yet terror kept them in check. They bowed their heads lower, fearing to meet the gaze of the Dao Integration powerhouse standing before them.

In the perception of commoners, Dao Integration practitioners were essentially no different from the legends of old.

“Gou Liang, I have heard reports that five individuals met their end in Sin-Suppressing Valley in rapid succession,” Elder Yan remarked, his voice heavy with authority.

Gou Liang’s frame shivered. He stammered a frantic reply: “It is true, Excellency. But it was merely the misfortune of those specific sinners. They were only sent out to toil a few times before their ailments worsened and they perished. The Sin Suppression Valley itself remains free of faults…”

“Hmpf! Misfortune, you say…” A chilling shimmer ignited in Elder Yan’s eyes. He offered no further elaboration.

His expansive divine sense instantly swept across the entirety of Sin Suppression Valley.

“Indeed, this sector has succumbed to corruption.”

Elder Yan’s face turned grim. A spark of brilliant starlight flickered at his fingertip before he directed a point in the distance—aimed directly at the residential quarter where Li Fan’s clone resided.

A deluge of searing light annihilated everything within its reach.

…

Outside the Immortal Ark.

The Holy Embryo Li Fan, currently masked in seclusion to deepen his comprehension, tilted his head slightly.

“As expected from a civilization that has endured the ravages of the Darkest Star Sea for so long. Their level of caution is truly remarkable.”

“It appears that if I intend to infiltrate properly, I must first resolve the fact that I am a walking catalyst for contamination. If I fail to do so, even with a perfect disguise, the deaths of everyone near me will inevitably lead to my discovery.”

“My divine soul has lingered within the Darkest Star Sea for an excessive duration. The accumulated trauma is arduous to rectify. I am forced to sever yet another clone to attempt entry. With the previous methodology, I can refine the process…”

For the two months that followed, no expeditions ventured out from the Immortal Ark to retrieve artifacts of world extinction.

However, it was clear that they could not simply abandon the vast hoard of relics scattered outside.

Thus, Li Fan eventually waited as a fresh collection unit was deployed.

Drawing upon his previous experience, Li Fan’s clone concealed himself among the relics, allowing himself to be carried back into the Immortal Ark.

However, the Ark’s protocol regarding relics was noticeably more rigorous this time. Cultivators remained fully armored while processing the items. Once the relics were transferred to a hermetically sealed chamber, a hazy talismanic projection manifested above the room.

“This is…”

The talisman hummed with a dim radiance, washing over the dozen relics collected below.

Although Li Fan’s clone shared this space and was bathed in the glow, the energy left him unaffected.

He observed as the remnants of Truth Immortal Seal Script power, which were on the verge of fading, were siphoned into the projected talisman through that spectral light.

Li Fan’s clone felt the various enigmatic forces clinging to him being drawn away by the talisman as well.

Moments later, the lingering power attached to the relics vanished entirely. They were rendered nothing more than worthless detritus in the vastness of the Star Sea.

The talisman shimmered once and departed.

“The Immortal Ark utilizes the power of True Immortal Seal Script with more sophistication than I had anticipated.”

Trapped within the sealed room, Li Fan’s clone could not easily depart. Yet, he remained unperturbed.

Someone would surely come to collect this remaining “garbage.”

Exactly as Li Fan anticipated, two days passed before two Qi Condensation cultivators entered, escorted by a Foundation Establishment supervisor.

“Transport all these items onto the vessel.”

“Exercise caution. While the world extinction energy has been stripped from these items, they are still authentic ancient relics. Their survival in the Star Sea indicates their materials are of exceptional quality. Deliver them to the Star Forging Workshop; they may serve a purpose there,” the Foundation Establishment cultivator ordered.

The two Qi Condensation disciples appeared to be no older than fifteen or sixteen, displaying the naivety of those who have seen little of the world.

Li Fan’s clone pondered briefly before latching onto one of them.

Escorted by the trio, he left the sealed vault, boarded a compact shuttle, and reached the facility dubbed the Star Forging Workshop.

It was a circular, enclosed structure forged from a pale, unidentified metal.

Suspended in the ring’s heart burned an immense, roiling fireball.

The ferocious heat waves roiling on its surface spoke of the titanic energy held within.

One could vaguely discern streams of flame being funneled into orifices embedded in the surrounding walls.

The overseer of the Star Forging Workshop was no conventional mortal.

It was a monstrous hybrid of man and beast, possessing crimson skin, a pair of horns, and a long tail that flicked restlessly.

The three assistants appeared visibly terrified of the creature. Once the cargo was offloaded, they steered their craft away in haste.

After navigating a series of corridors, they finally returned to their dwelling.

They resided within the Academy of Dao Attainment, situated on a isolated continent drifting through the void.

The Academy rose toward the stars, its spires piercing the heavens.

They made their way to the lower levels of the Academy to deliver their report.

Their master, a white-haired Nascent Soul cultivator known as Zhao Wuji, awaited them.

Seeing their return, he set aside the text-artifact he was studying and inquired with a gentle smile: “Has the task been concluded?”

The trio bowed their heads. “Reporting to Master, the cargo has been processed accordingly.”

“Do you understand why I specifically assigned this duty to you?” Zhao Wuji asked.

All three stood frozen, unable to formulate a response.

“A while back, Sin Suppression Valley was leveled. The survivors were seized and placed under strict quarantine. The official explanation was that the collection team breached protocol, leading to the leakage of world extinction power.”

“Heh…”

“Those procedures were established by the Celestial Pivot Court and have been followed for a thousand years. Despite minor errors in the past, no such catastrophe ever occurred. Yet this instance triggered such a monumental scandal.” Zhao Wuji fell into a sudden silence.

At this moment, the Foundation Establishment disciple had an epiphany: “Does Master suggest the Severed Immortal Tower is exploiting this incident to stir unrest?”

“Precisely.” Zhao Wuji displayed a look of satisfaction. “And it is not limited to Sin Suppression Valley. Every district under the control of the Celestial Pivot Court within the Immortal Boat faces impending aggression from the Severed Immortal Tower.”

“The Celestial Pivot Court has maintained hegemony for too long, and those who hunger for mastery over the Immortal Ark have waited long enough.”

Zhao Wuji heaved a soft sigh.

Upon hearing these words, the three disciples reacted in varying ways.

The Foundation Establishment disciple’s eyes darted about, clearly deep in calculation.

Of the two Qi Condensation disciples, one lowered his gaze, turning his master's revelation over in his mind.

The other, the one Li Fan’s clone currently inhabited, appeared entirely indifferent.

His consciousness seemed lost, drifting in a vacant, dreamlike state.