My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1253: Clear World-Observing Divine Eye
“As the saying goes, when the nest is overturned, how can there be any intact eggs? When the Xuanhuang Realm is no longer the Xuanhuang Realm, existences like you, Fellow Daoist, who rely on the Xuanhuang Realm today will likely face retribution as well.”
“Even Longevity is not a true escape..” The Faceless Holy Emperor delivered his conclusion.
The moment Li Ping finished speaking, a sense of crisis naturally arose in the heart of Stone Tablet. It was as if his spiritual intuition was echoing Li Ping’s conclusion.
“I had never considered this point before. I wonder what the other Longevity Immortal ones think. We have had no contact for many years.”
After pondering for a long time, Stone Tablet replied in this manner.
Li Ping gave a cold laugh: “Those few still plan to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.”
“But it does not matter. Staying neutral is fine as well. They were never within the scope of my plans anyway.”
Stone Tablet skipped over the topic: “So, Fellow Daoist, you say the key point is that Xuanhuang is the orthodoxy.”
“How can this be achieved? Moreover, if it is truly as you say, if we make any unusual moves, the Immortal Ancestor will surely detect and stop us.”
Li Ping remained silent for a long while without responding.
Instead, he suddenly said: “Let me first help Fellow Daoist resolve the trouble brought by the Stone Tablet on your back.”
Stone Tablet knew very well that in the eyes of the Holy Emperor before him, he was not yet someone to whom all plans could be fully disclosed. Thus, he did not press the matter and simply cupped his hands: “In that case, I shall thank Fellow Daoist in advance. If it does not succeed, it is also fine.”
“Since I have taken action, there is no reason for failure.”
The Holy Emperor’s single sentence left the Stone Tablet speechless.
Snap!
The Book of Du'e was thrown by Li Ping onto the floor of the great hall.
The book pages flipped rapidly without any wind.
Gilded paper figures surged out from the book one after another, lining up neatly like soldiers in formation.
Leading them was naturally the thick-browed little golden figure from before.
No one knew what method the Holy Emperor had used, but after being suppressed for less than half a day, the paper figures seemed to have undergone an earth-shaking change compared to when they had just left the Du'e Sect.
The Stone Tablet’s gaze focused on the Du'e Sect paper figures.
Li Ping, however, sensed an unusual movement from Cat Treasure inside the Holy Dynasty’s treasury.
As if it had discovered something of great interest, it flashed to Li Ping’s side. Standing on Li Ping’s shoulder, it affectionately rubbed against his head, yet its eyes stared fixedly at the paper figures below.
An inexplicable atmosphere instantly enveloped the Holy Emperor’s hall.
The paper figures, which had been shaking their heads and making occasional small movements, suddenly froze like ice sculptures.
They did not dare move at all.
The leading little golden figure even began circulating the [Eternal Aeon of Tribulation] technique.
However, the golden light on its body flickered like a candle in the wind, appearing extremely precarious.
Even when they had just faced the Holy Emperor’s threat to refine the entire Du'e Sect, the whole sect had not been this terrified.
Yet at this moment, they acted as if they had encountered their true natural enemy.
Stone Tablet, who had been continuously watching the Du'e Sect paper figures, naturally noticed the abnormality in the hall. he looked toward the Faceless Holy Emperor seated high above with some uncertainty.
From the Stone Tablet’s expression, Li Ping judged that the other party had not discovered Cat Treasure on his shoulder.
With an almost imperceptible glance at the restless Cat Treasure, countless thoughts flashed through the Holy Emperor’s mind.
“It is not that it saw [food] and wanted to hunt, but pure curiosity.”
“The entire Du'e Sect, although also unable to see Cat Treasure, instinctively sensed a fatal calamity crisis due to their cultivation technique. To be frightened to this extent is interesting.”
“Cat Treasure… and what lies beyond the High Wall…”
Li Ping separated a strand of golden source power to calm the restless Cat Treasure.
After observing the paper figures below for a round, Cat Treasure seemed to suddenly lose interest. It only licked some source power from Li Ping before flashing back to the Holy Dynasty’s treasury below to rest.
The eerie atmosphere in the hall gradually returned to normal.
No one brought up the strangeness that had just occurred in the hall. The Du'e Sect members simply transformed from scattered rural soldiers into a battle-hardened army, moving according to the Holy Emperor’s will.
With Li Ping’s approval, the stout, golden figure, resembling a miniature man with thick eyebrows, directed its gaze towards the stone slab. It then proceeded to explain, “The Genesis Stone Tablet is intrinsically linked to the fundamental principles governing the Xuanhuang World. Think of it like the growth rings on a tree, continuously and automatically documenting every single occurrence within the Xuanhuang Realm, moment by moment.”
“Considering the vastness of a world, cataloging tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, or millions of years of major and minor events might seem insignificant. However, when an individual is burdened with holding all of this…”
“It naturally becomes an immensely agonizing experience.”
The diminutive golden figure then offered a gesture of respect towards Li Ping with cupped hands. “In truth, if your esteemed self wishes to resolve this predicament, the solution is remarkably straightforward. One method involves enhancing the individual’s capacity to bear the load. The alternative is to establish a buffer zone.”
The leader of the Du’e Sect adopted an air of complete unfamiliarity with the Stone Tablet, as if he had never encountered it before. He gestured towards the Book of Du’e positioned nearby.
As the pages rapidly turned, a multitude of scenes, meticulously recorded by the [Clear World-Observing Divine Eye], flickered into view.
“Our Du’e Sect has, through the years, provided a certain degree of oversight for the Xuanhuang Realm, functioning in a manner analogous to the Genesis Stone Tablet. The key distinction lies in that none of us directly engage with this overwhelming volume of information. Instead, we first archive and store it, subsequently delegating the review process among our members. While the capability of a single person is undeniably insufficient for such a task, the collective power of an entire sect renders it effortless.”
The small golden figure turned its attention back to the Stone Tablet. “Should you find yourself standing alone and desiring to alleviate or even entirely discard the burden imposed by the Stone Tablet, you will inevitably need to seek assistance from external resources. In bygone eras, rejection by the Heavenly Dao rendered this endeavor somewhat challenging. However, with your current Venerable assistance, this should no longer present a significant obstacle.”
Judging by the subtle nuances in the little golden figure’s tone and its very demeanor, the Stone Tablet grew increasingly convinced that this individual was none other than Daoist Yi Jue, the former acting sect master of the Du’e Sect. Nevertheless, given the other party’s deliberate refusal to acknowledge his identity, the Stone Tablet felt compelled to reciprocate the pretense.
Li Ping allowed Yi Jue to conclude his discourse before addressing the Stone Tablet. “Esteemed Fellow Daoist, kindly grant me a moment’s patience.”
With these words, the imposing figure of the Holy Emperor vanished from the opulent confines of the Holy Emperor’s Hall.
Indeed, even the entirety of the Great Qi small world became incapable of detecting his presence.
Within the hall, only a collection of paper effigies representing the Du’e Sect and the stoic, standing Stone Tablet remained.
The Stone Tablet, its form immobile, appeared to address Yi Jue, yet its words seemed to falter, caught in a moment of hesitation.
“Now that we have irrevocably pledged our allegiance to the Venerable One, all matters of the past have dissolved like wisps of smoke, ceasing to be worthy of mention,” Yi Jue declared, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
“Naturally, should you ascend to a similar station as ours, and we find ourselves serving as colleagues of equal standing, an even closer bond could conceivably develop.”
This particular approach to managing the situation bore a striking resemblance to Yi Jue’s characteristic demeanor from days long past.
The Stone Tablet offered a slight, almost imperceptible nod, signifying its comprehension of the underlying message conveyed by the other party’s pronouncements.
“Within the sealed domain of the Immortal Ancestor, even when confronted with the harrowing trials of the golden flame refinement, our Du’e Sect experienced remarkably little apprehension. This was primarily due to the absence of any perceived true, unyielding calamity.”
“However, the events that transpired within this very hall just moments ago…”
“Presented a terrifying disaster of unprecedented magnitude. Exercise extreme caution. That individual is by no means ordinary…”
A faint whisper, emanating from Yi Jue, reached the Stone Tablet’s auditory senses, causing its core to tighten with nascent alarm.
It harbored a desire to engage in further discourse with the other party, but the little golden man offered no further response, its silence absolute.
Meanwhile, the Faceless Holy Emperor, Li Ping, reappeared within the hall a short while later.
“This Dao Deviation Stone should possess a quality sufficient for our needs.”
He then produced a crystalline blue object and propelled it towards the stone slab.
“Your Venerable wisdom is indeed profound. A high-grade Dao Deviation Stone is more than adequate to serve as a recording buffer, I assure you.” Before the Stone Tablet could offer its own assessment, Yi Jue of the Du’e Sect interjected with alacrity.
“Frankly, even a medium-grade specimen would have sufficed. Opting for a high-grade one is, in my estimation, somewhat extravagant.” The small golden man’s tone even adopted a subtle hue of deference, bordering on flattery.
Observing this exchange, the Stone Tablet gave a subtle shake of its head and directly extended its hand to retrieve the Dao Deviation Stone presented before it.
Upon conducting a preliminary test, it was evident that while the antagonistic force emanating from the Heavenly Dao laws had diminished to some extent compared to earlier, it still maintained its formidable opposition, effectively barring the ingress of any external objects.
The Stone Tablet turned its gaze expectantly towards Li Ping.
“It is merely a high-grade Dao Deviation Stone. If my Esteemed Fellow Daoist does not find it objectionable, then its use is perfectly acceptable.” The Holy Emperor’s pronouncement was delivered with an air of utmost graciousness.
“Kindly follow me.”
Complying with Li Ping’s directive, the Stone Tablet, accompanied by all the paper figures constituting the Du’e Sect, ascended into the skies above the Great Qi small world.
At the precise nexus where the mysterious formation power, encompassing the entirety of the small world, converged, intermittent strands of golden light could be observed spiraling and weaving, creating a distinct void.
Suspended directly above this void, the azure hue of the heavens was conspicuously absent, replaced instead by an inky, profound blackness.
It conveyed the distinct impression of being connected to some unknown, unfathomable entity.
An instinctual sense of impending danger washed over Stone Tablet once more upon his arrival.
“What kind of formation is this now?”
Though Stone Tablet was growing accustomed to such feelings, his instincts compelled him to examine the residual traces of the formation present.
The paper figures belonging to the Du'e Sect, however, remained composed, seemingly oblivious to the perilous situation.
Li Ping strode forward, positioning himself at the hollow's center and assuming a cross-legged meditative posture in the void.
An inexplicable power emanated from the Holy Emperor, and moments later, a brilliant beam of golden light ascended from his crown, vanishing into the inky blackness above.
It was as if a portal had been unveiled, disturbing the darkness and causing its hue to gradually shift, blending with the surrounding sky.
Lifting his gaze, Stone Tablet detected a profoundly familiar aura emanating from the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao at the hollow's apex.
“Fellow Daoist, come here,” Li Ping's voice echoed.
Stone Tablet's form glided over, settling into the air opposite the Holy Emperor.
The Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's aura cascaded down from Li Ping's head like a waterfall, enveloping Stone Tablet in a sense of long-forgotten solace.
The torment inflicted by countless fragmented visions also began to recede.
Simultaneously, while bathed in this Heavenly Dao aura, Stone Tablet perceived distinct internal shifts within himself.
“Could this be…”
“The thousand-year transformation of Xuanhuang?”
After a period of introspection, Stone Tablet became lost in thought.
The Stone Tablet he bore primarily chronicled events within the Xuanhuang Realm's history. Changes arising from its fusion with fragments of other immortal worlds had, until now, been imperceptible to him.
Yet, with the influx of the Heavenly Dao's power, he could now viscerally experience the world's profound alterations.
Stone Tablet sensed a weakening in the Xuanhuang laws' resistance to external influences within his being, and remarkably, the stone tablet itself was undergoing strange transformations.
Vague impressions of the integrated prefectures started to materialize on the Stone Tablet's surface.
However, due to the incomplete integration, the inscriptions remained indistinct, appearing as if they could be easily erased.
“If the Xuanhuang Realm were granted eons to naturally absorb other worlds, it might have preserved its distinct orthodoxy. The stone tablet upon my back would then chronicle all events from the assimilated realms. Alas, reality offers no such luxury of time…”
As Stone Tablet mused, the voice of the Faceless Holy Emperor suddenly resonated in his ear.
“Dao Transformation Divine Unity.”
Stone Tablet instantly refocused, pressing the high-grade Dao Deviation Stone against the center of his brow.
He initiated the process of integrating it into his being. Indeed, the experience differed entirely from previous attempts.
The Heavenly Dao's inherent resistance within him had significantly diminished, and with the continuous stream of Heavenly Dao aura from above, this opposition grew ever fainter.
“Touch with the divine, fuse with calculation.”
“Merge object and self, Dao Transformation Divine Unity…”
Stone Tablet silently chanted the Taiyan Sect’s secret technique. The azure crystal dissolved like ice under warmth, gradually flowing into his sea of consciousness.
The entire integration proceeded flawlessly. Just as only the very tip of the Dao Deviation Stone remained visible, Stone Tablet's attention was drawn to an anomaly occurring in the void above.
“What is that…”
Streams of withered yellow light began to emerge from the end of the pitch-black passage.
Initially few in number, the yellow light intensified within the passage, growing exponentially.
Thousands, then tens of thousands, swarmed forth like a dense cloud of agitated bees.
The pervasive yellow light carried an aura that, while not posing an immediate threat, induced a profound sense of unease in Stone Tablet.
This celestial cascade of yellow light steadily drifted towards the Holy Emperor.
Li Ping extended his hand, intercepting each stream individually.
It was then Stone Tablet discerned that these lights were, in fact, papery effigies with unsettling visages.
Unlike the lifelike creations of the Du'e Sect, these were purely made of paper, exuding an aura of decay. Even without direct confrontation, the sight of these paper figures seemed to fixate upon the stone slab, causing a persistent irritation.
“World-Observing Divine Eye?” Stone Tablet exclaimed, realization dawning after a moment of stunned silence.
“These entities are detrimental and serve no purpose to the world, thus they must be reclaimed,” Li Ping stated with nonchalance.
“Did the Du’e Sect not claim that once implanted, they were irretrievable? Back then, we…”
Stone Tablet recalled past events and turned towards Daoist Yi Jue with a look of profound astonishment.
Acting as if he hadn't noticed the Stone Tablet's scrutinizing stare, Daoist Yi Jue addressed the Holy Emperor with utmost respect: "Although the World-Observing Divine Eyes have sustained some damage, they can certainly be repurposed after a re-refinement process."
"The materials required for these artifacts were sourced from beyond the celestial realms. Our Du'e Sect possesses very limited quantities of such items. These were exceptionally precious and rare objects, which we had originally intended to reclaim once we had weathered the impending calamity. Now, it seems, we are merely accelerating that plan."
...
Observing Yi Jue's composed demeanor, Stone Tablet found himself suppressing a strong urge to reprimand the man.
"Utilizing them occasionally for scouting enemy intelligence is acceptable, but having them scattered across the entire world is hardly necessary," Li Ping stated placidly, sensing the considerably heightened affinity with Xuanhuang subsequent to the removal of the World-Observing Divine Eyes.
"Your teachings are indeed correct, Venerable One," Daoist Yi Jue of Du'e Sect replied with a smile.
Stone Tablet simply ceased observing the two individuals and devoted his attention entirely to the fusion with the Dao Deviation Stone.
As the Dao Deviation Stone vanished completely from sight, a resplendent crystal materialized within his sea of consciousness.
The myriad scenes that had been held in suspension appeared to crystallize for an instant.
Subsequently, they surged ferociously into the Dao Deviation Stone. Concurrently, the voice of Daoist Yi Jue continued to resonate.
It was, in fact, the Du'e Sect's unique methodology for preserving and documenting knowledge pertaining to the heavens and the earth.