My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1281: Reunion in the Star Sea

Countless corpses of Dao Integration cultivators floated aimlessly, like marionettes controlled by unseen strings. Their faces, which had only moments before expressed relief at escaping danger, were now frozen in a permanent state of surprise.

“Damn it all…”

Gazing upon the lifeless forms of those who were alive scant moments ago, Guan Xingxiu could no longer contain his fury. His Falling Star Divine Sword transformed into a blinding golden light and shot forward.

A figure cloaked in cyan suddenly materialized, intercepting the sword’s trajectory.

Frost bloomed like delicate flowers from the figure’s fingertips. The very air around them seemed to congeal, halting the Falling Star Divine Sword in its mid-air flight.

“Is this… Qing Shuang?”

Xu Guanhai’s eyes widened in shock as he recognized the familiar, yet strangely altered, individual. The entity blocking the Falling Star Divine Sword was indeed Qing Shuang, a Dao Integration cultivator who, he believed, had been utterly drained and perished not long ago.

But how could this be?

“Old Guan, be cautious. That isn’t Ji Wantao himself, but rather a Spirit of Heaven and Earth,” Xu Guanhai urgently warned, having spotted the crucial detail.

[T/N: 青霜 (Qing Shuang) means Azure Frost]

The five remaining Dao Integration cultivators immediately stiffened, their senses on high alert.

Upon closer examination, they noticed that this new Spirit of Heaven and Earth, Qing Shuang, no longer possessed its former indistinct visage. Instead, its features now bore a striking resemblance to the living Immortal Sage Qing Shuang, Ji Wantao.

Even more chilling was the sight of a slender thread extending from this Spirit of Heaven and Earth Qing Shuang, vanishing into the void. This thread was identical to the otherworldly weapons they had witnessed the flying vessel employ to annihilate Dao Integration cultivators.

As the cultivators faced the formidable flying vessel, numerous such threads materialized from the emptiness.

Familiar faces seemed to emerge from the encroaching shadows.

These spectral figures completely encircled the five survivors.

Sun Luchang’s complexion turned ashen, his body wracked with uncontrollable tremors. “How is this possible? That even after death, Spirits of Heaven and Earth can be extracted and refined? What abhorrent technique is this…”

Zi Mei, however, appeared contemplative. “We are quite distant from the Xuanhuang Realm here. The natural law of returning Dao to Heaven is no longer effective. If specific, unconventional methods are used, it might be possible to mimic the Heavenly Dao and claim these Spirits of Heaven and Earth.”

Xu Guanhai offered a wry smile. “Old Guan, it seems this disaster is unavoidable for us. I might not fear one or two Spirits of Heaven and Earth. But this many… and that terrifying flying vessel…”

Determination flashed in Guan Xingxiu’s eyes. “Then we shall destroy this monstrosity first.”

“Hold on.” Just as Guan Xingxiu prepared to impale the flying vessel’s deck with the Falling Star Divine Sword, Lan Yu’s voice rang out urgently.

Stepping forward to place himself between the Spirits of Heaven and Earth, Lan Yu declared in a resonant voice, “Ascertain the current mission completion probability.”

All the spectral Spirits of Heaven and Earth froze in place. After a brief pause, the dispassionate voice of the Wangzun flying vessel echoed through the void.

“Current mission feasibility: exceedingly high.”

“Current energy reserves: adequate.”

“Energy replenishment plan: terminated.”

…

The pronouncements continued, one after another. The thread-like appendages retracted the expressionless Spirits of Heaven and Earth back into the void.

The seemingly inescapable peril dissipated in an instant.

Sun Luchang wiped the cold sweat from his brow, exhaling a long sigh of disbelief. “It… it was resolved just like that?”

Lan Yu’s expression remained grim. “Only temporarily. It appears that as long as its energy levels remain sufficient, it will not attack us, provided we make no attempt to flee.”

Guan Xingxiu nodded with a cold expression. “However, once its energy dwindles, it will undoubtedly hunt and absorb us once more. Hmph. We, the esteemed officials of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, reduced to mere sustenance for a tool in this desolate void. How utterly ironic…”

Zi Mei remained silent, his face etched with solemnity.

Only Xu Guanhai offered a bitter smile. “I had not anticipated living for a little longer. Let us consider it a fortunate circumstance. Everyone, try to relax. This entity just consumed a multitude of Dao Integration cultivators. Perhaps its energy reserves will suffice until we encounter the Heavenly Sovereign.”

“Furthermore,” he added, transmitting his thoughts via divine sense, “they were ambushed previously. If the five of us combine our strength and remain vigilant, we might find a way to escape this place.”

“I possess the Heavenly Capital Martial Arena. If I deploy its combat domain, it should grant us some precious time,” Lan Yu declared.

“This location is not safe to remain in. Let us first recuperate our strength, and then we shall attempt a coordinated breakthrough. What are your thoughts?”

“If we stay here, we will perish anyway. Let us fight our way out.”

…

As their discussions concluded and time elapsed, they eventually reached a state of full recovery.

When all five cultivators had regained their peak condition and acted in concert, the operation proceeded with surprising ease.

Not a single Spirit of Heaven and Earth materialized to impede them. Even the formidable Wangzun flying vessel itself proved surprisingly vulnerable, easily rent asunder as if it were made of mere paper.

“We… we’ve made it out?” Sun Luchang stammered, his voice filled with disbelief.

“Something is amiss,” Guan Xingxiu stated, his expression turning grim as he surveyed the surrounding emptiness. “We are still within the flying vessel. We are trapped.”

The Falling Star Divine Sword blazed brilliantly, its light striving to pierce the oppressive darkness. Yet, much like the vast expanse of the true star sea, this domain appeared infinite. The sword’s gleam was as fleeting as a firefly’s, extinguished in a blink.

“Let’s go,” Guan Xingxiu insisted, his resolve unwavering. He propelled the Falling Star Divine Sword forward, sending it hurtling into the abyss. It vanished without a trace, utterly consumed by the void.

The others, now fully aware of their predicament, attempted their own escape methods, but none could break free from this void prison.

“That accursed thing never intended to release us. While we plotted our escape, it had already laid a snare,” Sun Luchang grumbled, laced with fury.

“This appears to be some form of formation, vaguely resembling the legendary Two-Extreme Microdust Formation of antiquity,” Xu Guanhai mused after a period of careful observation. He let out a sigh of regret. “Alas, formations are not my forte. If I understood them, I might attempt a break.”

“Nor do I understand them,” another chimed in.

“…”

A heavy silence descended, and all eyes turned to Lan Yu. As a seasoned cultivator at the Dao Integration stage, having lived for millennia, surely he possessed some knowledge of formations.

Beneath their expectant gazes, Lan Yu offered a helpless shake of his head. “I do possess some understanding of formations, but the intricacies of this particular one…” He confessed honestly, “It surpasses my comprehension.”

Despair washed over the group like a tidal wave.

A chilling silence enveloped them.

“This formation creates an absolute sealed space. Finding an exit is impossible. However,” Lan Yu’s voice cut through the gloom, rekindling a spark of hope, “if that flying vessel attempts to attack us again, a breach will inevitably form. That will be our chance.”

“I shall deploy the martial arena. Everyone, enter it to prevent further surprise attacks.”

As he spoke, a circular structure materialized within the darkened void. With no other viable option, everyone converged within its confines.

Once the entrance sealed, the five exchanged glances, a fierce surge of combat intent igniting within their hearts.

“Elder Lan, can you truly control this treasure? This is hardly the time for sparring. If we deplete our strength, what will we do when the flying vessel attacks anew?” Guan Xingxiu questioned.

“The hell, Old Guan, why are you attacking me?” Xu Guanhai bellowed in surprise.

Despite their efforts to quell the rising agitation, the five found themselves compelled to engage in combat with one another.

Lan Yu explained with a hint of exasperation, “This treasure was personally passed down by the Grand Mage in ages past. Once entered, one is compelled to spar continuously until departure. It is the inherent nature of the artifact and beyond my control. The very reason I hesitated to reveal it sooner.”

“However, the intensity of the clashes can be modulated. I have already set it to the bare minimum. Do not suppress your fighting spirit; engage with casual moves, simply maintaining a state of readiness. With the provisions we carry, there is no need to concern ourselves with energy depletion.”

After a period of chaotic exchanges, adaptation gradually set in among them.

They engaged in light sparring while maintaining calm communication.

“This kind of warm-up is surprisingly beneficial. At the very least, it ensures we can act at peak condition whenever necessary,” Xu Guanhai remarked with a wry smile.

Sun Luchang sighed repeatedly. “It has been ages since I last sparred like this with fellow Daoists. Please, be gentle…”

Guan Xingxiu steered the conversation back to their critical situation. “In this dire predicament, we possess only a single opportunity. Therefore, we must gain a clear understanding of each other’s most potent techniques.”

His sentiment met with unanimous agreement.

He initiated the demonstration. “My strongest strike is a technique I recently comprehended within this star sea. It is named, Sword Dividing the Star River. Exercise caution.”

With a soft cry, Guan Xingxiu unleashed a blinding sword radiance. In that instant, it seemed as though myriad stars ignited from its core. The star-splitting sword did not strike the other four; instead, it impacted the training ground’s firmament with immense force. The sky rippled, cracks webbed across its surface, only to swiftly mend.

“What a magnificent artifact,” Guan Xingxiu praised.

Subsequently, the other four demonstrated their ultimate skills. Through their sparring, their coordination coalesced, becoming increasingly seamless. They even devised a joint attack method through their collaborative efforts.

Within the confines of the void-trapping formation, time seemed to lose all relevance.

The five cultivators at the Dao Integration stage were like finely honed blades, diligently refining their essence, Qi, and spirit.

They awaited only the opportune moment to unleash their full power.

After an indeterminate duration…

A colossal tremor jolted them, startling their reverie.

It was not the training field that shook, but the entirety of the dark void outside its boundaries.

More accurately, the vibration originated from the Wangzun Flying Vessel.

Through their extended period of cooperative sparring, the five had already forged a significant degree of mutual understanding.

A consensus was reached in an instant; they resolved to await the opportune moment of weakness.

The darkness receded as abruptly as it had appeared, and light flooded back in. They found themselves inexplicably returned to the interior cabin of the flying vessel.

However, having already endured one deception, the five wasted no time in their reaction.

Their most formidable combined assault, meticulously prepared over time, was unleashed immediately.

“Sword Dividing the Star River!”

“Twilight Gazing at the Star Sea!”

“Feather Extinction!”

…

Simultaneously, their battle cries echoed, and five beams of light converged into a single devastating force, striking the vessel’s wall with immense power.

Yet, a scene of utter despair unfolded before them.

A black hole materialized on the surface of the wall, effortlessly consuming the destructive might of their joint attack.

The void sealed itself, and the wall was restored to its pristine condition.

Their ultimate technique, honed through arduous practice, was rendered futile, incapable of inflicting even the slightest blemish.

A pallor washed over all five individuals.

Guan Xingxiu’s Dao heart trembled, his form faltering as if on the verge of collapse.

“How could this be?” he whispered in bewilderment, unable to comprehend the outcome.

With their strongest offensive nullified, the five felt a profound loss of spirit, their will to resist dwindling.

But soon, the Wangzun Flying Vessel emitted another violent tremor, jolting them back to awareness.

“Something’s amiss. That attack originated from outside the vessel!”

“A void calamity?”

The realization dawned upon the five, their faces illuminated with a surge of hope.

“We still have a chance!”

They also detected other anomalies within the vessel.

The spirits of heaven and earth previously absorbed had not reappeared.

Furthermore, the vessel itself bore the marks of a fierce conflict, with faint cracks visible along its walls.

While their minds raced with uncertainty…

The chilling voice of the Wangzun Flying Vessel resonated once more.

“Engaging third battle against an unknown star sea civilization.”

“Energy reserves depleted.”

“Calculated probability of victory in the next engagement: zero.”

“Executing contingency protocols…”

“Transferring data…”

“Initiating self-destruction sequence…”

The vessel’s pronouncement sent waves of shock through the five Dao Integration cultivators, their complexions shifting dramatically.

“This is bad!”

Lan Yu instinctively cast his training field outward once more, encompassing the group.

The others likewise employed their unique abilities for self-preservation.

“Initiating… ini… ini…”

However, an even more astonishing event transpired.

The Wangzun Flying Vessel’s voice became distorted, faltering and repeating itself, yet the expected explosion never occurred.

Boom, boom, boom.

From above the vessel, a new series of thunderous explosions erupted.

Amidst billowing smoke and debris, a circular breach suddenly materialized. Over thirty unfamiliar beings clad in bizarre armor poured through the opening.

Their movements were precise and coordinated. Ten of them immediately moved to surround Lan Yu and his companions.

The remaining combatants pressed further into the vessel’s depths.

“Brother Lan Yu, you have traveled extensively. What is your assessment of this situation?” Xu Guanhai inquired via transmitted message.