My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1263: Establishing Xuanhuang Orthodoxy

“The Primordial Dao intent of the Star Sea…”

Li Fan contemplated the faint insights gifted by the Holy Emperor, while simultaneously sensing the Xuanhuang Realm's gradual internal revival.

“Were it not for cultivators of new laws devouring it from within and the Immortal Ruins pressing from without, the Xuanhuang Realm might truly find new life.”

“Alas… this is merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause.”

As he mused, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Logically, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao shouldn't be ignorant of this. Why expend this revitalizing power now, rather than conserving it for a decisive battle? What was its true intention?

“Hmph. I shall simply wait and see.”

His focus shifted back to the Great Qi Holy Dynasty.

The instant the Genesis Stone Tablet sensed the disturbance within the Xuanhuang Realm, it materialized within the Holy Emperor’s hall. Upon observing the Holy Emperor, who was also radiating powerful auras, the Stone Tablet was taken aback.

“You are aware of the situation in the Xuanhuang Realm?”

“There is no need for undue alarm. It brings benefits without harm,” the Holy Emperor responded.

A measure of ease settled upon the Stone Tablet’s countenance. “I had presumed the Xuanhuang Realm faced a dire crisis, manifesting a final surge of vitality…”

“Your assessment isn't entirely misguided. This surge of revival, sparked by a moment's comprehension of the Dao, is indeed transient. However, for us, it presents a rare, once-in-a-millennium opportunity,” the Holy Emperor elaborated after a brief pause.

“You refer to the Xuanhuang Orthodoxy plan?” Stone Tablet queried, its initial surprise giving way to understanding.

“Precisely.”

The Holy Emperor nodded, and a miniature representation of the Xuanhuang Realm materialized between them.

The original heartlands of the Xuanhuang Realm pulsed with a vibrant yellow light.

The Cave-Heavens and worlds assimilated by the Xuanhuang Realm's native inhabitants, the Xuantian Sect, and the Ten Great Immortal Sects via the Floating Across Starry Sky Grand Formation since the fall of the immortal path, were depicted in an eerie green.

The remnants of other immortal cultivation realms, forcibly incorporated by external forces after the great cataclysm and the destruction of the Star Sea, appeared in a deathly black hue, information directly conveyed by the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao.

Visually, the yellow domain constituted merely one-thirtieth of the entire miniature Xuanhuang Realm.

The green comprised one-tenth.

The remainder was vast expanses of absolute black.

In stark contrast to the green and black, the glowing yellow, representing the Xuanhuang Realm, seemed to possess an intrinsic vitality. It flickered, continuously expanding and encroaching upon the surrounding, differently colored territories.

This encroachment meant the green and black regions were not entirely pure, interspersed with traces of the dim yellow.

Over millennia, this assimilation had noticeably slowed, even showing signs of being repelled. However, the recent surge in the Xuanhuang Realm's vitality had dramatically accelerated this overflow of Xuanhuang yellow.

“Xuanhuang Orthodoxy…”

Stone Tablet pondered. “The territories originally belonging to the Xuanhuang Realm are naturally accounted for; the Genesis Stone Tablet meticulously records all within them. As for those green regions…”

Examining them closely, Stone Tablet noted, “Some fall within the tablet's recorded scope, while others do not.”

“The black regions, however, are complete unknowns.”

Holy Emperor Li Ping stated, “If we take no action, the Xuanhuang Realm's ultimate fate is to be consumed by the black, which holds an overwhelming numerical advantage. These black expanses will likely metamorphose into something entirely different in the future.”

“Therefore, we must act proactively, deeply rooting the Xuanhuang Orthodoxy within these external, residual domains,” the Holy Emperor declared, his voice low but resolute.

“How shall we proceed?” Stone Tablet inquired with burgeoning interest.

“Observe the Dao of Heaven and act in accordance with Heaven’s will…”

The Holy Emperor spoke deliberately, Stone Tablet listening intently and nodding periodically.

After elucidating the strategy in detail, the Holy Emperor’s tone grew somber. “While executing this plan, extreme caution is required to elude detection by the original architect.”

Though the Holy Emperor refrained from naming names, Stone Tablet understood his implication.

A rare, almost playful smile touched Stone Tablet’s features. “As the saying goes, gentle rain moistens all things silently. This method is exceedingly covert. With the active cooperation of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao in providing concealment, even if that individual possesses unparalleled cultivation, I doubt they could perceive our actions.”

The Holy Emperor declared with solemnity, "We must not be careless. Even if he is not present in the Xuanhuang Realm, we must remain vigilant against any residual schemes he might have left behind."

Stone Tablet offered a nod of understanding.

"The fewer individuals involved in this affair, the better. Ideally, Ruomu would handle it for maximum effectiveness. After all, as an innate tree spirit, its connection to the Xuanhuang Realm is far more profound."

"It is not that I lack faith in him, but every action Ruomu takes draws the attention of other formidable powers within this realm. As the primary agent, it would be far too conspicuous. Conversely, others believe you are continuously burdened by the Genesis Stone Tablet, perpetually under its immense pressure. They will, by subconscious default, overlook your involvement." Perhaps due to the immense importance of the Xuanhuang Realm's future, the Holy Emperor elaborated with a few unusually prolonged sentences.

His words seemed directed at Stone Tablet, yet they also appeared to be spoken towards Ruomu.

"This is precisely what is meant by hiding in plain sight," Stone Tablet readily agreed. "Now that I have cast aside the burden of the Stone Tablet, I shall implement further alterations. I assure you, no one within the Xuanhuang Realm will be able to connect me to my previous guise."

"Then we shall bide our time for a few days until the restorative energy emanating from the Xuanhuang Realm reaches its zenith before we initiate our actions. This approach will allow us to achieve double the results with half the effort."

Stone Tablet readily assented.

It did not depart. Instead, it remained standing silently within the Holy Emperor's grand hall, observing the miniature depiction of the Xuanhuang Realm meticulously crafted by the Holy Emperor. The epicenter of the Xuanhuang Realm pulsed with continuous light. Much like a vibrant, beating heart, it dispersed strands of Xuanhuang yellow throughout every nook and cranny of the realm.

This included the regions previously tainted with green and black hues.

Even within these corrupted areas, a subtle process of gradual assimilation had begun. However, under the immense surge of revitalizing force currently being transmitted, they could temporarily retain their original coloration. Slowly but surely, even the darkest zones at the very periphery of the Xuanhuang Realm started to exhibit a faint, almost imperceptible shade of Xuanhuang yellow.

"It is time to act," the Faceless Holy Emperor stated in a deep, resonant voice.

A faint smile touched Stone Tablet's form as its figure flickered, instantly bifurcating into two identical entities within the Holy Emperor's sanctum. Subsequently, two became four, four multiplied to eight, and eight expanded to sixteen. In a mere blink of an eye, an innumerable legion of indistinguishable Stone Tablet figures densely occupied the hall.

"Transform! Transform! Transform!"

The Stone Tablet entities spoke in unison.

Instantly, the Stone Tablet clones morphed into a diverse array of real, existing individuals inhabiting the Xuanhuang Realm.

There were leisurely scholars clad in white robes, humble woodcutters with hunched backs, women of breathtaking beauty, and elderly men with a rebellious spirit... Each transformed figure appeared vibrantly alive, showing no discernible trace of their shared origin.

"I shall depart now."

With smiles gracing their features, each bowed respectfully to the Holy Emperor before their forms dissolved from the Holy Emperor's hall.

Concurrently, across every prefecture and region of the Xuanhuang Realm, their arrival went completely unnoticed.

When congregated within the Holy Emperor's hall, they had appeared rather numerous. Yet, once dispersed throughout the vast expanse of the Xuanhuang Realm, they generated not even the slightest disturbance.

"Observe the Dao of Heaven and execute the actions ordained by Heaven."

"Heaven and humanity act as one; the foundation for all transformations is laid..."

They chanted softly as they made their way towards the mortal cities and towns where ordinary people congregated in each prefecture.

The Holy Emperor's strategy, though described simply, was fundamentally about establishing the heavenly foundation through human will. Leveraging Stone Tablet's extraordinary capacity for disguise, it fragmented into countless duplicates, seamlessly integrating into the mortal populace.

These duplicates would subtly and imperceptibly propagate the concept of the "Xuanhuang Realm" to all sentient beings within its bounds. Contemporary mortals possessed awareness only of the limited territory they inhabited, lacking any specific comprehension of the Xuanhuang Realm as a cohesive entity.

The very notion of the Xuanhuang Realm was absent from their collective consciousness. Therefore, the inaugural step in establishing the Xuanhuang Orthodoxy was to familiarize them with the undeniable truth: the world they inhabited was, in fact, the Xuanhuang Realm.

Naturally, this grand undertaking could not be accomplished in a single day. It required years, perhaps even over a decade, of consistent dissemination. Furthermore, to preempt any suspicion, they were compelled to labor tirelessly and integrate personally into the fabric of mortal society, propagating the message solely through oral tradition.

However, with the formidable power wielded by Stone Tablet, even the act of dividing into thousands upon thousands of clones rendered the task far from insurmountable.

A lone mortal, or even thousands of them, could be as insignificant as an ant. However, when all mortals across the entirety of the Xuanhuang Realm united with a common purpose, they transformed into a force that could not be easily disregarded.

Once the mortal populace of the Xuanhuang Realm achieved a consensus, the second phase of the grand design could commence.

The objective was to utilize the will of the [All Spirits Of Heaven And Earth] to initiate a synchronized counterassault, entrapping and absorbing the residual consciousnesses of those external immortal world remnants.

This critical step necessitated the cooperation of Yin Shangren. As an entity akin to a world's spectral guardian, he held profound insights into the methods of devouring world consciousnesses.

Following collaboration with the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao to complete the encirclement and suppression of the immortal realm remnants, the ultimate phase involved aiding those remnants in their complete integration into the Xuanhuang Realm.

In reality, the majority of the Xuanhuang Realm's territories had already undergone surface-level fusion. Only a select few prefectures continued to experience frequent, peculiar anomalies stemming from inadequate integration.

Such “ulcerated sores” demanded thorough cleansing and surgical intervention: a process of destruction followed by reconstruction. While the first and second phases could potentially be executed without detection.

The third phase would inevitably draw the attention of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, and perhaps even the Immortal Ancestor dwelling beyond the Star Sea.

At that juncture, open confrontation would be unavoidable.

Nevertheless, as per the Holy Emperor's declaration, completion of the second phase alone would suffice.

Even if the final outcome proved unfavorable, the general momentum would have already shifted, rendering any attempt to reverse the tide futile. Unless, of course, more immortal realm remnants were introduced, necessitating another ten-thousand-year cycle for dismemberment and reassembly.

Regarding this plan devised by the Holy Emperor, Stone Tablet, an entity that had long ceased to feel excitement, experienced a surge of verve that made its metaphorical blood boil.

Beyond the prospect of safeguarding the Xuanhuang Realm, the advantages of success were palpably evident. It stood to gain dominion over significantly more heavenly authority, positioning it as an existence even more formidable than the Longevity Immortal.

For reasons yet unknown, Stone Tablet felt compelled not to refuse this plan. A mere dozen years or so represented an insignificant flicker in the grand span of time for it.

...

Within the hallowed confines of the Holy Emperor’s Hall.

Li Ping summoned Ruomu.

A truly sagacious individual never relies on a single approach. Thus, he refrained from entrusting the pivotal task of establishing the Xuanhuang Orthodoxy solely to Stone Tablet, despite the latter's trustworthiness and the plan's inherently low risk.

He conveyed sentiments identical in purport to those shared with Stone Tablet, albeit articulated through different phrasing.

Ruomu was designated as the primary executor of the objective, and the concept of the Xuanhuang Realm was to be infused through the ordinary flora, fauna, and lesser beings of the Xuanhuang Realm, acting as the [All Spirits of Heaven And Earth].

“As the progenitor of all life beneath the heavens, influencing them subtly and imperceptibly should fall well within your capabilities.”

“You shall establish the unwavering will of the [Xuanhuang Realm].”

To Ruomu, this task was deemed trivial. Furthermore, the recent miraculous sprouting of new buds on its withered branches had revitalized its spirit. Seldom did it exhibit such fervor, and it readily assented.

“Ruomu, Stone Tablet.”

“Even with both of them combined, it is still insufficient.”

“This endeavor ultimately necessitates my personal involvement.”

“Only with these three layers of contingency can it be considered absolutely foolproof.”

The Holy Emperor’s thoughts unfolded with deliberate pace.

“The direct confrontation with the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance represents the overt battlefield.”

“While the establishment of the Xuanhuang Orthodoxy constitutes the covert conflict.”

“In comparison, this hidden war holds even greater significance. There is but a single opportunity; its loss signifies utter annihilation.”

As the Holy Emperor engaged in deep contemplation, a noticeable bulge began to form on his forehead. The flesh swelled, and a fleshy growth continued to enlarge progressively. Li Ping appeared entirely oblivious, maintaining a statue-like stillness.

It was only after the passage of half a day that the flesh ruptured, releasing a swirling mass of Xuanhuang Qi. This Qi coalesced around it, forming an indistinct internal image that bore a resemblance to both Mr. Bai and Li Ping himself.

“Cat Treasure.”

The Faceless Holy Emperor roused the slumbering Cat Treasure. He gently grasped the back of its neck, compelling the reluctant creature to activate its replication function.

Another cluster of Xuanhuang Qi, identical in every particular, materialized within the Holy Emperor’s Hall.

“Depart!”

With a subtle command issued by the Holy Emperor, both clusters of Xuanhuang Qi tore through the fabric of the void, exited the Holy Dynasty’s pocket dimension, and soared toward disparate prefectures of the Xuanhuang Realm. Rather than merging directly with the Heavenly Dao, they concealed themselves, lying in wait.

A slight cough escaped the Holy Emperor, a momentary lapse in his formidable power. The Xuanhuang qi that had detached from his form could, in essence, be regarded as the Xuanhuang evil thoughts he had previously absorbed.

Through his personal refinement and the integration with the Holy Dynasty's fortune, drawn from the {b}[Heavenly Emperor Qi Canon]{b}, this qi had transformed into a materialized form of Xuanhuang fortune.

Without his profound exploration of the Star Sea and the subsequent comprehension of its Primordial True Intent, the formation of this materialized fortune would have posed a significant challenge.

"Each bundle of materialized fortune possesses the capacity to integrate with and oversee approximately three prefectures."

"Excluding the Five Elders Association for the moment, the entire Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, with Cat Treasure's aid, will be brought under control in due time."

In mere moments, the Holy Emperor's aura surged back to its zenith. However, Li Ping recognized this resurgence was bolstered by the Holy Dynasty's fortune reserves and the insights gained from his own Dao comprehension.

Frequent use of this ability would undoubtedly impede such rapid recovery.

"Imbuing Xuanhuang fortune into the very fabric of existence is tantamount to re-establishing dominion."

"Even should Ruomu and Stone Tablet falter, the Xuanhuang Orthodoxy shall remain firmly within our grasp."

"Naturally, their success would be an even more desirable outcome."

Li Ping's strategic foresight indicated that the confrontation with the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance should ideally unfold only after the establishment of the Xuanhuang Orthodoxy.

At that juncture, confronting these 'heretics' of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance would be akin to waging war on one's home turf. With a mere whim, spatial barriers could be disregarded, the might of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao could be invoked, and relentless heavenly punishments unleashed, ensuring absolute victory without a single casualty.