My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1291: Lingering Remnant Soul Hidden Within Residual Will

The intent transmitted by the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao was not entirely clear, but the Holy Emperor Li Ping had already roughly understood what it wanted to convey.

“The position of Great Celestial Venerable…”

“It may lose its connection with me?”

Li Ping frowned and could not help but fall into deep thought.

“For several thousand years, there has not been a new Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable appointed, yet it happens precisely at this moment… who could it be?” The Holy Emperor sensed the faint scent of conspiracy. At present, he could only monitor a small portion of the Xuanhuang Realm, while the vast majority remained blind spots. One face after another flashed rapidly through his mind, yet he could not identify any truly suspicious target.

“Though in theory, anyone capable of passing the Great Celestial Venerable trial should stand on my side and face the Immortal Ancestor together, but…”

While soothing the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, the Holy Emperor’s gaze turned resolute.

“It seems the plan must be moved forward.”

“As long as I can force out the Immortal Ancestor when the Star Sea anomaly arrives, that will be enough.”

A streak of starlight flew out from the Holy Emperor’s throne.

The long-prepared war machine of the Holy Dynasty Great Qi began operating at full speed.

Sun Erlang, who was conducting the final tests on the defensive capabilities of the Holy Army puppets, was somewhat surprised upon receiving the Holy Emperor’s decree. But when he looked at the endless puppet formations arranged across the testing grounds like a field of stars, he quickly became excited and eager.

“Raise an army for a thousand days, use it for a single moment. It is time for the decayed Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance to witness the elite forces of the great Holy Dynasty!”

Just as he was about to leave to handle the expedition preparations, Sun Erlang seemed to remember something and flashed to the deepest underground section of the testing grounds.

Surging earth vein power flowed there, dense enough to seem almost tangible. It appeared to be continuously hammered and compressed by some immense force. What had originally been earthy yellow had now become magma-like crimson. The earth veins roared like torrents, crashing repeatedly against a black stubborn stone at the center.

No matter how violently the earth vein power raged, the stubborn stone stood firm and unmoving. In fact, with every strike from the crimson earth veins, the luster on its surface only grew brighter.

Above the black stubborn stone, a beam of starlight descended from a constantly rotating vortex of starry sky, shining directly onto it.

Under the illumination of the starlight, the black stone seemed almost to breathe. With each inhalation and exhalation, tiny specks of starlight were drawn into it.

Master Qiao Gong floated in midair nearby, staring intently at the black stubborn stone within this strange phenomenon. He also seemed to be constantly calculating something, adjusting and controlling the ratio between the input earth vein power and starlight.

“Senior Qiao Gong, the great battle may begin earlier than expected. Senior Tianyang, he…”

Qiao Gong had apparently already received the decree as well. Without taking his eyes off Tianyang’s body, he said calmly, “Do not worry. When the time comes, I will definitely give the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance a tremendous surprise. Those bastards swallowed quite a bit of my source power in previous years…”

“Right. Since a great battle is coming, those from the Heavenly Spirit Sect can also be put to wasteful use.”

Qiao Gong slapped his forehead, then after reporting to the Holy Emperor with closed eyes, sent out another command transmission that drifted toward the puppets in Nine Mountains Prefecture.

A trace of pride flashed in his eyes, and his attention returned to Tianyang, who was undergoing dual tempering from the surging earth veins and the power of the star sea.

Qiao Gong could clearly sense the immense power being nurtured within that black stubborn stone.

His body trembled slightly, and madness flashed in his eyes.

“This puppet is the pinnacle of my refining skill. Even in the old Heavenly Mechanism Realm, absolutely no one could surpass it. Shangguan, watch carefully. The disciple you once ignored will completely surpass you…”

Ignoring Sun Erlang, who was still present, Qiao Gong muttered to himself while continuously casting spell seals onto Tianyang’s body.

Seeing this, Sun Erlang wisely withdrew in silence.

While the armies and citizens of Great Qi hurriedly prepared for war, two people within the Holy Dynasty were already completely at ease as they left the small world and returned to the Xuanhuang Realm.

They were Xu Ke and Yin Shangren.

Yin Shangren narrowed his eyes and looked up at the sky, seemingly somewhat unaccustomed to the sunlight of the Xuanhuang Realm.

Xu Ke, meanwhile, was determining direction.

Before the great battle began, they intended to infiltrate the Divine Treasure Museum Hall first.

“This Emperor Sanmo is rather interesting. Clearly one of the Three Beast Emperors, yet he joined a human cultivation sect. And when disaster struck, he immediately defected and joined the Newly New Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance…” Yin Shangren said with a cold sneer.

Xu Ke shook his head in explanation.

“Grandfather San is mysterious and unfathomable. No one knows what he is truly thinking. The fact that he did not leave the Xuanhuang Realm with Emperor Yi back then was already incomprehensible. Besides, his actions cannot really be considered betrayal of the Beast Taming Sect. After all, the entire Beast Taming Sect rose to prominence almost entirely because of the methods he brought. He bestowed favor upon the Beast Taming Sect, not the other way around.”

“As for joining the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, I think perhaps it was simply for survival.”

Yin Shangren sneered.

“I do not care about the rest. If I am taking Mr. Bai’s skull and he appears to stop me, I will not show mercy. As for you, you will not switch sides at the last moment, will you?”

Xu Ke replied seriously.

“Do not worry. I have already made arrangements in advance, sending Qing and Hong to the Lingxu Realm. With the imitation Beast Taming Wheel and the current cooperation of the Beast Taming Sect, it should be enough to lure Grandfather San away. Even if the plan fails…”

“I will not show mercy either.”

“Good.”

After receiving Xu Ke’s assurance, Yin Shangren smiled, his expression returning to normal.

Following their plan, the two moved stealthily until they arrived near the Heavenly City of Tianyu Prefecture in the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.

“This should be the place, the Heng family of Tianyu Prefecture.” Xu Ke observed the surroundings as he spoke.

“From my perspective, we could just pick any family with authority to enter the Museum of Divine Treasure Hall. Why come all the way here?” Yin Shangren rubbed his scalp impatiently.

“That was the original plan. But the Holy Emperor suddenly sent word that something seems to have changed within the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance. Access control for entering and leaving alliance headquarters has suddenly become much stricter. As a result, there are not many cultivators left who still have access to the Divine Treasure Hall. Among them, the Heng family of Tianyu Prefecture is the most suitable target.”

“A prominent family, all due to their weaving techniques. Their strength is not especially great, and they keep a relatively low profile, with little public presence…” Xu Ke explained via voice transmission.

Yin Shangren’s gaze pierced through the Heng family’s defenses, revealing a cold smile.

“The easiest targets should be those two girls, correct? A mother and daughter pair, no less…”

“Correct. Heng Ruoshui and He Xinxin. We only need to capture them when they leave and assume their identities.”

“The Holy Emperor instructed that unless necessary, no one should be harmed,” Xu Ke added.

Yin Shangren replied, “Do not worry. Their tender flesh does not suit my appetite anyway. Though the two of us becoming women? Can we not choose different targets?”

Xu Ke laughed.

“You still care about this outer shell?”

Yin Shangren waved dismissively.

“That is true enough. No point wasting time. Quick victory. I am becoming rather impatient to see Mr. Bai’s skull.”

The Heng family mother and daughter did not make the two wait long.

One day later, He Xinxin slipped out to play and was silently captured by the pair.

Two days after that, Heng Ruoshui seemed to have received an invitation to a banquet and left her cave dwelling. She too was captured in an instant by the two.

Looking at the Heng family mother and daughter, bound together and unconscious, Yin Shangren stroked his chin.

"The technique bestowed by the Holy Emperor is truly useful. The Dao script compass within this little girl's body is somewhat extraordinary. It has the ability to seek fortune and avoid misfortune, as well as deduce and predict. It can be considered half of a Heavenly Wonder, perhaps reborn after the dissolution of an ancient immortal artifact..."

"However, with the secret technique [Sky Shrouding Hand] granted by the Holy Emperor, this little girl did not sense the coming danger at all."

Xu Ke smiled.

"Perhaps because neither of us harbors any intention to harm others. Quickly, let us begin."

They each extracted a drop of essence blood from the foreheads of the Heng family mother and daughter.

Xu Ke took his and pressed it into his glabella.

Yin Shangren was far cruder. A slit opened across his scalp, and his Oneself Dao Foundation swallowed it whole.

As flesh squirmed and churned, in the blink of an eye, Xu Ke and Yin Shangren had respectively transformed into Heng Ruoshui and He Xinxin.

Their appearances, auras, and even soul fluctuations were almost completely identical.

"The wondrous methods passed down by the Holy Dynasty are indeed extraordinary." Xu Ke's eyes showed astonishment.

Yin Shangren closed his eyes in contemplation.

"The self that follows the heart is the true self. Ever-changing and unpredictable, unfathomable to gods and ghosts..."

After hiding the mother and daughter, the disguised Xu Ke and Yin Shangren flew toward Tianyu Heavenly City.

For cultivators to apply to visit the Museum of Divine Treasures, they had to submit a request through the local Administration Hall to the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters.

Only after approval from the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters would a designated guiding cultivator arrive to escort them inside.

In Tianyu Prefecture, a face like Heng Ruoshui's was the best possible pass.

And bringing a younger family member to visit the Museum of Divine Treasures was the most natural thing imaginable.

The journey proceeded without obstruction, and the application was quickly sent to the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters.

The response efficiency of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters was not nearly so swift. Only after seven days did a final reply arrive.

The nobility of Tianyu Prefecture seemed utterly insignificant before the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance's guiding cultivator.

The black-robed guiding cultivator wore an indifferent expression and casually explained a few matters requiring attention upon entering Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters.

He brought the two to Tiancheng of Tianshu Prefecture, located around the center of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, then opened a portal leading to the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters within a room deep inside the Administration Hall.

The moment they stepped into the ring of light, rolling illusions surged forth one after another.

Even with Yin Shangren and Xu Ke's current strength, they could not stop it.

But Xu Ke recovered in an instant, because the Heng Ruoshui he was impersonating had not come to Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters for the first time.

As for the He Xinxin impersonated by Yin Shangren, her body trembled slightly before she opened her eyes a moment later.

Following routine, the guiding cultivator explained the reason for the illusions appearing. Then he casually asked:

"What did you see?"

Yin Shangren answered according to the Holy Emperor's instructions:

"The Dharma-Transmitting Immortal Ancestor's manifestation, towering between heaven and earth, transmitting the Dao to all living beings."

The guiding cultivator nodded and asked no further questions.

While traveling along the path through the void toward the Museum of Divine Treasures, Yin Shangren and Xu Ke secretly communicated through voice transmission.

Yin Shangren said: "Interesting. I saw the scene of the Immortal Ancestor floating outside the Xuanhuang Realm. Looking down upon Xuanhuang from above. The Xuanhuang Realm was far smaller than it is now. It should be a scene from shortly after the Immortal Ancestor attained Longevity Immortal through Dao attainment."

"What did you see?" Master Yin asked.

Xu Ke immediately transmitted an image.

It seemed to be within chaotic void, with no way to determine the exact location.

Two figures stood facing each other, their appearances impossible to discern.

"Who are you?"

"I am you."

"You are me..." The voice sounded somewhat hesitant.

After a brief silence, the speaker slowly shook his head.

"No. I am not the same as you..."

The other voice laughed, carrying faint mockery.

"This is your destined mission. You cannot refuse. Better accept reality. Sooner or later, we will become one."

"I already said, I am Xuanyuan Tuo. Not..."

At the crucial moment, the image shattered abruptly.

Yin Shangren was stunned for a moment and glanced at Xu Ke.

Xu Ke looked somewhat helpless.

"That is all I saw as well. The crucial part afterward was indeed gone."

Yin Shangren replayed the sequence several times.

"Interesting. Once we return, this information must be reported to the Holy Emperor. He should know something."

As the two conversed, they soon arrived before the Museum of Divine Treasures.

Standing atop a floating continent, the entire structure was black, solemn, and majestic.

Its towering and narrow gates caused every visiting cultivator to instinctively feel reverence.

After another round of identity verification, the guiding cultivator led them inside the museum.

The first exhibit they were required to visit was the enormous sphere of light known as [Beautiful Era].

Within the sphere of light, it seemed as though countless worlds were being born and destroyed.

"This is [Era]," the guiding cultivator explained with practiced familiarity.

"Using a single Dao Deviation Stone as its core, it deduces and manifests scenes from every era in the history of the Xuanhuang Realm."

"In all of the deduced worlds, cultivators have a far lower chance of survival than they do now."

"So although it is called Era, in truth it exists to highlight the beauty of the present age."

...

Yin Shangren and Xu Ke both remained unconvinced, though neither showed it openly. They merely nodded silently.

“As is customary, the two of you may personally experience it.”

“Do not worry. A whole lifetime within an era passes in but an instant in reality. And under normal circumstances, you will not survive more than a few years in an era illusion.”

Under the operation of the black-robed guide cultivator, Yin Shangren and Xu Ke each sent out a strand of divine sense and entered separate era light spheres.

Not long afterward, the guide cultivator’s expression became somewhat strange.

Because the situation he had expected did not occur.

One of them entered the ancient immortal cultivation era, while the other was cast into an age of absolute chaotic slaughter.

Yet one of them had surprisingly good fortune. Not only did they step onto the immortal path from childhood, they repeatedly encountered fortunate opportunities. They cultivated smoothly all the way to Soul Transformation, became a core disciple of an immortal sect, and ultimately died of old age.

The other was even more absurd.

She forcibly carved out a bloody path through the chaotic age. She became a female devil whom everyone feared, even taking pleasure in devouring cultivators’ souls alive. Only after committing countless atrocities, when cultivators across the world could no longer endure it and united together, was she finally slain in a siege.

“The other eras seem quite good as well.” After awakening from the era illusion, the two spoke with lingering interest.

The guide cultivator froze for a moment, then checked their information once again.

Heng Ruoshui. He Xinxin.

“I never expected this young girl to be so vicious at such an age.”

He had just been about to persuade them to continue the era journey and serve as proof for the Beautiful Eras.

But the two had already impatiently walked onward through the eras.

The guide cultivator hesitated as if wanting to speak, but ultimately said nothing more.

Next, he led them through different sections such as Heroes of Many Talents, Seas Change into Mulberry Fields, and Contest of Ten Thousand Techniques.

Yin Shangren suddenly said, “Next, we would like to look around on our own. Is that possible?”

His tone clearly carried impatience.

The guide cultivator nodded. In any case, his task had already been completed, so he handed over a jade token.

“When your visit is over and you wish to leave, contact me. Remember, inside the Divine Treasures Hall, silence must be maintained.”

After explaining some precautions, the guide cultivator vanished from before them.

Xu Ke and Yin Shangren exchanged a glance. With perfect tacit understanding, they continued browsing while slowly moving toward the central area of the Divine Treasury Hall.

After quite some time, they finally saw the skull resting quietly in the distance.

Xu Ke’s body trembled slightly. He took a deep breath, and only then did his emotions gradually calm.

Yin Shangren also exerted tremendous effort to avoid showing any abnormal reaction.

They walked before Mr. Bai’s skull and silently gazed at it.

“I am almost unable to resist making a move.”

“Wait a little longer. The Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and the Holy Dynasty have not started fighting yet. More importantly, I can vaguely sense that Grandfather San is still in the museum. In any case, with the authority level of these two members of the Heng family, there is no time lim