My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1288: Immortal Artifact Linking Two Worlds
Previously on My Longevity Simulation...
The atmosphere of the meeting reached its zenith with Second Elder Gan Jingda’s decisive declaration. A cultivation world, still whole and brimming with resources, a concept previously relegated to mere fantasy for the inhabitants of the Immortal Ark, now felt tantalizingly close. Such a prospect was bound to ignite fervent excitement.
Prior to this gathering, most cultivators aboard the Xuan Immortal Ark had only acquainted themselves with the Xuanhuang Realm through a captured flying vessel originating from that world. Following the meeting, however, an intense period of study commenced, with everyone frantically consuming all available data concerning the Xuanhuang Realm.
The Xuan Immortal Ark boasted a lengthy heritage. Despite experiencing the devastating tragedy of splitting into two, its profound legacy endured, unbroken.
Ten days after the pivotal meeting, a comprehensive report on the Xuanhuang Realm was meticulously compiled through the collaborative efforts of the Severed Immortal Tower, the Celestial Pivot Institute, the Academy of Dao Attainment, and the major clans residing on the Immortal Ark.
The Severed Immortal Tower contributed the most substantial portion of this report, drawing its intelligence from the sworn testimony of the captured Dao Integration cultivator, Lan Yu.
Information furnished by the Celestial Pivot Institute and other organizations originated from records compiled during the Xuan Immortal Ark’s multiple expeditions to the Xuanhuang Realm, undertaken before the Star Sea calamity befell them.
During a smaller, more exclusive assembly of the Xuan Immortal Ark’s high-ranking officials, this detailed Xuanhuang report was circulated amongst all attendees.
Though his standing was not formally high enough, Li Fan was present, attending as Ai Tianjue’s disciple.
"Currently, we remain uncertain about the full extent to which the Star Sea anomaly will develop three years from now. Consequently, the feasibility of launching an expedition to the Xuanhuang Realm necessitates ongoing observation. However, this does not preclude us from commencing preparations in advance."
"Esteemed colleagues, please direct your attention here."
Lu Yuzhi, the fifth of the six Dao Entrant cultivators within the Severed Immortal Tower and a man of refined demeanor, proceeded to elucidate the compiled findings.
"Our Xuanshang Immortal Ark made three journeys to the Xuanhuang Realm in antiquity. One was an official envoy, during which we were met with a cordial reception. The other two were clandestine resource-gathering missions. At that era, the Xuanhuang Realm possessed two unique treasures, invaluable even across the entirety of the Star Sea. The first was the Ruomu Fruit. The second was Immortal Realm Gifted Artifacts."
A subtle pause followed Lu Yuzhi’s statement, during which Li Fan detected a faint tremor in his voice.
"According to historical documents, the Xuanhuang Realm was among the scarce cultivation worlds in ancient times that maintained the most consistent interaction with the Immortal Realm. As a result, a significant number of immortal artifacts, bestowed as rewards, were retained there. Over time, some of these artifacts gradually became ownerless. Specialized cultivators within the Star Sea would covertly journey to the Xuanhuang Realm, seeking information on these lost immortal artifacts with the aim of securing immense profits."
"Although the probability of success was exceedingly remote, there were indeed a handful of recorded successes. The two secret missions undertaken by our Xuan Immortal Ark were, in fact, to escort individuals who had achieved such success."
His revelations instantly sent ripples of astonishment through the hall.
Even amongst the crème de la crème of the Immortal Ark, certain individuals had never before encountered such classified information.
"One of the two immortal artifacts we procured from the Xuanhuang Realm had already been liquidated prior to the descent of the Star Sea calamity. The other, regrettably, was lost to the Shang Immortal Ark during the schism of the Immortal Ark in years past."
A palpable sense of deep regret permeated Lu Yuzhi’s words.
A collective intake of breath swept through the assembly, and expressions of profound animosity etched themselves onto many faces.
Gan Jingda, the Second Elder of the Severed Immortal Tower, cleared his throat softly, effectively quelling the rising murmurs within the hall and gesturing for Lu Yuzhi to proceed.
"While the immortal artifacts originating from the Xuanhuang Realm are no longer within our grasp, our Immortal Ark does, however, retain a single Ruomu Fruit."
Upon receiving clearance, the representative from the Celestial Pivot Institute performed a series of intricate spell seals.
As a soft luminescence began to emanate and spread, a fruit of perfect spherical shape, possessing a crystalline clarity and resembling fine white jade, materialized before the astonished onlookers.
Even through the dense layers of protective restrictions, the cultivators present could distinctly sense the potent vitality radiating from the Ruomu Fruit.
For the cultivators of the Immortal Ark, a community perpetually grappling with severe resource scarcity, this object represented an overwhelming temptation. Despite the esteemed status of those present, none had ever had the privilege of experiencing such a treasure.
The vast majority of them found their gaze locked onto the Ruomu Fruit, their throats constricting as they swallowed involuntarily.
Li Fan, too, observed it with great intensity.
"A strangely familiar aura," he mused internally.
"This indeed originates from Ruomu. However, the potent vitality radiating from this fruit is beyond what the current Ruomu could generate. It appears the injuries Ruomu sustained previously were quite severe." "And..." Li Fan’s heart fluttered. He observed that threads of vitality appeared to detach from the Ruomu Fruit, dissipating into nothingness. Alternatively, one could say they flowed into the void. Lu Yuzhi stated solemnly, "Everyone should grasp that the vitality within this Ruomu Fruit has been continuously seeping away for ten thousand years. Despite numerous secret techniques employed by successive generations of our Immortal Ark to drastically decelerate this loss, we were ultimately unable to halt the process." Someone in the hall exclaimed, "After ten millennia of vitality depletion, it still holds such immense life force. It boggles the mind to imagine the original state of the Ruomu Fruit." "Small wonder it's hailed as a priceless treasure across the Star Sea." "Hmm, peculiar. How did those elders from the Celestial Pivot Institute manage to refrain from consuming such a treasure themselves?" Amidst the animated discussion, an individual pinpointed the crucial element in Lu Yuzhi’s explanation. "Brother Lu, are you implying that the vitality dispersing from this Ruomu Fruit is returning to the Xuanhuang Realm?" The hall lapsed into instant silence. All eyes turned back to the Ruomu Fruit. Along with avarice and longing, their gazes now conveyed a different sentiment. Lu Yuzhi nodded. "Precisely." "The Star Sea is immeasurably vast. Even the captured Xuanhuang cultivator, Lan Yu, cannot recall the path back. Yet, through this Ruomu Fruit, we can meticulously pinpoint the Xuanhuang Realm’s location within the boundless Star Sea." Following a brief pause, fervent debate reignited. "Does the Xuanhuang Realm still possess Ruomu Fruit presently? If each of us were to obtain one, the experience would be truly beyond imagining..." "It makes sense why those individuals at the Celestial Pivot Institute didn't ingest it. As valuable as the treasure is, it's intertwined with the fundamental power of another cultivation world. For common cultivators, this might be acceptable, but for the esteemed rulers of the Immortal Ark, it is utterly unacceptable. That is, unless they are prepared to relinquish their esteemed positions." "Wait. Could things truly be this straightforward? And the manner in which the fruit’s vitality flows back towards its origin world seems far too intentional. Could this fruit actually be a lure, set to attract beings from the Star Sea into a trap for hunting?" The crowd argued incessantly, and Lu Yuzhi, acting as the moderator, did not intervene. Instead, he closed his eyes, descending into profound contemplation. Only after the hall gradually quieted once more did Lu Yuzhi proceed with his summation. "Based on the recollections of Xuanhuang cultivator Lanyl Yu, we have definitively excluded the possibility of this being a trap. Even if a conspiracy involving the Ruomu Fruit genuinely existed in antiquity, there is no cause for concern regarding the present Xuanhuang Realm. Although the Xuanhuang Realm weathered the Star Sea Calamity, it has also endured unimaginable upheaval." "The current Xuanhuang Realm operates under the unified governance of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Association..." Lu Yuzhi commenced providing everyone with a thorough briefing on the details concerning the Xuanhuang Realm. "That assessment is inaccurate. How can the Xuanhuang Realm be significantly larger than what is documented within our Xuan Immortal Ark's records?" "Our preliminary assessment suggests this must be the consequence of Star Sea survivors uniting their forces in an endeavor to resist the allure of the Immortal Ruins. In my perspective, calling it the Xuanhuang Realm is less fitting than designating it the Land of Survivors of All Worlds." "Then the Xuanhuang Realm must undoubtedly harbor hidden experts. It certainly cannot be limited to mere the Immortal Ancestor and the five Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereigns observable on the surface." "Defying the natural laws of heaven and earth to attain Longevity... it is indeed somewhat intriguing. By forming a symbiotic bond with their world, they can undoubtedly achieve lifespans far exceeding those of ordinary cultivators. They can even synchronously enhance their own power as the world flourishes. Unfortunately, once they venture beyond their world, their strength diminishes considerably. And should their world be annihilated, they too will perish along with it." Everyone studied the records of the Xuanhuang Realm with grave expressions. "Let us not forget that the Xuanhuang Realm possesses numerous artifacts bestowed by the Immortal Realm. The Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance’s Tianxuan Mirror is clearly one such item. Are there other immortal artifacts within the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance? If we initiate an expedition, this factor must absolutely be taken into consideration. Everyone understands the formidable might of a True Immortal. Can we truly expect a swift victory?""In my humble opinion, engaging in conflict and bloodshed is entirely unnecessary. Based on Lan Yu's recollections, the Xuanhuang Realm possesses abundant resources. Our Immortal Ark, at its current scale, is but a fraction of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance's territories. We could easily establish trade routes to acquire the resources we require." "Precisely. Even if claiming the Xuanhuang Realm is not feasible, exploring the so-called Immortal Ruins would undoubtedly yield significant benefits. The immense True Immortal power emanating from it... perhaps even complete True Immortal seal script characters might be found within." "Alas, I urge everyone to exercise a greater degree of caution. While we desire the Xuanhuang Realm's resources, do they not equally yearn to break free from the shackles of the Immortal Ruins? To them, is our Xuan Immortal Ark not also a tempting prize?" ... Whether to embark on the journey to the Xuanhuang Realm was a decision that could irrevocably alter the destiny of the Immortal Ark. It was impossible to reach a conclusion swiftly. Furthermore, due to historical precedents, all present tacitly refrained from suggesting the deployment of a partial contingent for reconnaissance. Regardless of the outcome, the Xuan Immortal Ark was bound to advance or retreat as one. It could not endure another schism. The council resolved to reconvene in thirty days to render a final verdict. Following the departure of most attendees, nine cultivators remained. Four hailed from the Severed Immortal Tower, three from the Celestial Pivot Institute, one from the Dao Attainment Academy, and one specialist from the Immortal Ark Star Forging Workshop. Even Li Fan, despite being a direct disciple, lacked the clearance to remain and was instructed to await outside. With a subtle gesture, Gan Jingda conjured a projected image before the assembled group. A brilliant streak of sword light bisected the sky. Sixteen characters blazed across the celestial expanse. Beyond the Star Sea, beneath the towering High Wall, the Xuan Shang Immortal Ark traverses through tribulations. Gan Jingda inquired, his voice measured, "What are your thoughts on this?" "This method of communication... is it Unbounded?" Nangong Lie of the Dao Attainment Academy questioned, his expression grave. "Could there be a traitor within the Immortal Ark?" "Not necessarily. It could also be that faction which defected previously. They might intend to divert the calamity towards us, subsequently profiting from the ensuing chaos?" "Regardless of the circumstances, in the face of overwhelming power, any scheme or deception is naught but an illusion. The sole factor meriting consideration is whether the endeavor is worthwhile." ... The group deliberated for a considerable time regarding the future of the Xuan Immortal Ark. Outside the council chamber, Li Fan lingered, awaiting his mentor's appearance. His gaze swept over the various structures adorning the Immortal Ark's colossal divine tree below, yet his thoughts remained preoccupied with the Ruomu Fruit that had briefly materialized during the council. "The vitality emanating from the Ruomu Fruit did indeed drift towards the Xuanhuang Realm. However, this occurred through extraordinary means, intricately linked to the very fabric of the Star Sea itself." "Attempting to pinpoint the Xuanhuang Realm's location by tracing that vitality is fundamentally impossible." "They are being deceptive. They must be employing some alternative method." Several hypotheses formed in Li Fan's mind, but at this juncture, he had not gained insight into the inner workings of the Immortal Ark's highest echelons. He was unable to ascertain the definitive truth. Just as he was lost in contemplation, a transmission disrupted his thoughts. "Brother Zhao, hurry here!" It was a vocal transmission from Wang Hai, another disciple under Ai Tianjue. Under ordinary circumstances, Wang Hai rarely initiated contact with Li Fan. His current urgency suggested a matter of significant import had transpired. Li Fan ceased his wait for Ai Tianjue and promptly proceeded towards Wang Hai's quarters. "Brother Zhao, observe this." "How could such a critical oversight appear in the Immortal Ark's official report?" Wang Hai had not been present at the council meeting, but he had already procured the Xuanhuang report compiled collaboratively by several factions within the Immortal Ark. Li Fan's eyes narrowed as he perused the document. The item presented by Wang Hai was a jade slip, emanating an aura of antiquity. Moreover, the contents inscribed within the jade slip profoundly astonished Li Fan. "...At that juncture, the Xuan Immortal Ark confronted its most perilous existential crisis. To surmount the immediate survival threat faced by the Ark's cultivators, the sole remaining immortal artifact aboard was ultimately employed." "The Seed of Transformation." "Planted as an unassuming black seed, a divine tree simultaneously took root and sprouted upon the ravaged remnants of the Immortal Ark's original structure.""It was precisely because of the divine tree's reinforcement that the Immortal Ark, broken in half, gradually managed to maintain stability."
"As the saying goes, every cause has its destined effect. Who could have imagined that this immortal artifact from the Xuanhuang Realm, once judged to have no trade value, would ultimately become the Immortal Ark's lifeline..."
After perusing the contents of the jade slip, Li Fan discerned it was an account detailing historical events and reflective notes from the period after the Immortal Ark fractured.
"Where did this originate?" Li Fan was momentarily taken aback.
"Where did it come from? Naturally, it's a family heirloom passed down from my ancestors," Wang Hai responded with bewilderment, yet unwavering confidence.
"When I was young, I went through all the jade slips in our family's possession, so I recall this passage. It's clear the Immortal Ark Divine Tree originated from the Xuanhuang Realm. Yet, this record states the Immortal Ark held no immortal artifacts..."
Noticing Li Fan's peculiar expression, Wang Hai hastily clarified, "I'm aware there's something suspicious here, which is why I haven't disclosed this information. That's the reason I invited you."
"I simply wished to ascertain if pointing out this discrepancy would yield Correction merit. If not, then simply disregard my mention of it."
The so-called Correction merit was a paramount form of merit that a Xuan Immortal Ark cultivator could accrue. Should one, during their cultivation or research, uncover and highlight inaccuracies within the Immortal Ark's inherited texts, or propose enhancements, they were bestowed with exceptionally generous compensation.
Throughout the eons, the Immortal Ark had never remained static; it was only through the collective wisdom of successive generations of cultivators that it had endured in the star sea until the present day.
Li Fan returned the jade slip and offered his assessment directly, "In my opinion, this is not an error. Instead, the Immortal Ark deliberately obscured the connection between the Immortal Ark Divine Tree and the Xuanhuang Realm."
"Why would they enact such a measure? There seems to be no logical reason..." Wang Hai expressed, astounded.
Li Fan then revealed the sixteen characters from Lan Yu's memories to him.
"Ah, I recall it now."
"This is the reason the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance dispatched the flying vessel to the distant reaches of the star sea," Wang Hai mused, lost in thought.
Li Fan stated softly, "This is a communication method from the Unbounded, a secret transmission art of the Immortal Ark."
Wang Hai was significantly alarmed and moved to speak, but Li Fan interjected.
"The Immortal Ark Divine Tree originated from Xuanhuang. Could the cultivators of Xuanhuang still possess methods to command it?"
"The Divine Tree rescued the Immortal Ark, yet we contemplate invading the very cultivation world that originally bestowed us with the Divine Tree. Would this not be an act of repaying kindness with malice?"
"If the truth were to be revealed, it would undoubtedly incite widespread apprehension throughout the Immortal Ark. Such a situation would be highly unsuitable. It is best to keep this matter concealed. After all, so many years have transpired, and very few individuals remain aware of the events from that era," Li Fan elucidated.
"Furthermore, there's a possibility of spies from the Xuanhuang Realm infiltrating the Immortal Ark. Should they learn of this secret, it would place our Immortal Ark in a considerably disadvantageous position," Wang Hai conceded, his understanding dawning as he transmitted his thoughts.
Li Fan nodded in agreement.
"Ah, what a shame. I had genuinely believed I had uncovered another error," Wang Hai lamented with a touch of dejection.
"You need not be anxious. A peculiar transformation in the star sea is imminent. As the residual True Immortal power within the star sea becomes increasingly active, comprehending True Immortal seal script will consequently become less arduous for us as well," Li Fan reassured him, his expression carrying a peculiar undertone.
...
"Seed of Transformation?"
Within the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan's divine sense clone, currently inhabiting Sun Tianci of the Sun family, endeavored to probe his memories for any connections to these words.
"The name does not m"