My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1502: The Immortal Realm Is Full of Fellow Disciples

"Inherit Dao."

Li Fan carefully savored these two words.

He then solemnly cupped his hands in respect and said, "Brother Dao, you have set an example through your own actions, willingly entering the net. I admire what you have done. However..."

Li Fan let out a cold laugh. "You may call yourself a gentleman, but I am merely an insignificant person who happened upon a few fortuitous opportunities. All I want is to stay alive."

Pointing toward the surrounding Celestial Pillars, Li Fan spoke with complete composure. "Without my Master's phantom projection and the protection of these Nameless Celestial Pillars, I fear this stretch of starry sky would have collapsed long ago. To be honest, Brother Dao, I was born without any sense of security. I am constantly afraid that the Dao Annihilation Calamity might suddenly descend one day, and my Master's phantom projection might no longer be able to protect me. In that case, would it not be perfectly reasonable for me to reinforce the defenses a little?"

Li Fan spoke as casually as if he were discussing the weather.

Anyone who heard him would find it difficult to associate the 'minor reinforcements' he mentioned with the imprisonment of a Nameless True Immortal.

"Although I would like to follow my Master's example and inherit the Dao through a phantom projection, my comprehension and aptitude are simply insufficient. There is nothing I can do about that, so I have no choice but to resort to some underhanded methods."

"Brother Dao, you must possess extraordinary cultivation to have woven such a magnificent Dao Net. Could you teach me?"

Li Fan smiled and waved his hand gently.

The figure of Lord Hill Guardian sitting on a mountain and gazing out over the sea suddenly appeared before him.

Countless images and shadows continuously shifted and transformed around Lord Hill Guardian's figure.

These were precisely Li Fan's insights into Hill Guardian's Miscellaneous Notes.

Upon seeing the image of his master, the Nameless Inherit Dao immediately grew solemn.

He actually bowed respectfully before examining the image in detail.

Seeing this, Li Fan understood the situation. Most of the worries in his heart immediately dissipated.

The Nameless Inherit Dao was not merely humoring him.

After carefully studying the insights Li Fan had presented, he actually began explaining them to Li Fan on the spot.

He truly lived up to his reputation as a Nameless expert who had attained the Dao of Inherit Dao. The sensation he conveyed was almost identical to the experience of receiving a transmission from Lord Hill Guardian's phantom projection.

It was as if a Sage were standing beside him, personally instructing him and correcting his every mistake.

For a time, Li Fan listened in complete absorption, almost forgetting the dangerous situation he was in. He occasionally asked questions in return, raising every doubt he had accumulated over the past hundred years of comprehending the Dao.

The Nameless Inherit Dao answered every question without holding anything back.

Li Fan's doubts gradually vanished, filling him with delight.

The time spent discussing the Dao seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.

Only when Lord Hill Guardian's image gradually faded away did the Nameless Inherit Dao fix his gaze on Li Fan once more.

"Your doubts may be resolved, but your sins cannot be erased."

"You relied on your Master's inheritance to act recklessly. You deserve punishment."

"You may escape the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment altogether!"

"My sentence is that you accompany me into the depths of the Dao Net and reflect on your mistakes in confinement!"

As the Nameless Inherit Dao shouted, a brilliant azure radiance suddenly erupted, enveloping Li Fan from head to toe.

Li Fan saw it clearly. What lay before him was no ordinary blue light.

It was an innumerable mass of densely interwoven Dao Strings, layered upon one another!

Each individual string seemed to possess the weight of a Celestial Pillar.

With this single move, the Nameless Inherit Dao seemed to have brought the entire Dao Net crashing down upon Li Fan.

'This old monster is powerful!'

Li Fan was secretly startled.

Yet he felt no fear. Instead, his interest was piqued.

Since his life was not in danger, he might as well play along and exchange a few moves with his opponent.

After all, ever since ascending to immortality, Li Fan had not crossed hands with an evenly matched opponent for a long time.

'Illusion Is Also Truth!'

Li Fan silently recited the words in his heart.

The rapidly approaching Dao Net suddenly grasped at empty air.

Li Fan was clearly standing right there, yet the Dao Net could not capture him. It was like a mortal fishing net trying to scoop up water, an impossible task.

At that moment, the rules protecting Li Fan transcended the Great Dao itself. Naturally, the Dao Net could not ensnare him.

"Brother Dao, allow me to show you a few tricks of my own."

Facing the Nameless Inherit Dao, whose expression was filled with uncertainty, Li Fan let out a cold laugh.

With a flick of his finger, countless threads surged upward, entwining themselves along the blue Dao Net.

The net formed from the Ink Death Celestial Spirit was simultaneously eroding the Nameless Inherit Dao's comprehension of the Great Dao.

In the physical world, this manifested as the blue radiance within the Dao Net flickering and trembling incessantly.

Dark shadows began to emerge in one place after another.

Ink Death's innate ability to counter the Great Dao was so overwhelming that the Dao Net was temporarily left without the slightest ability to resist. It could only allow Li Fan to devour it bit by bit.

Endless insights into the Great Dao continuously flooded into Li Fan's mind.

The efficiency was so astonishing that it even surpassed his previous devouring of the Heavenly Capital Grand Mage.

Li Fan keenly sensed that these insights did not belong solely to the Nameless Inherit Dao. They also included the remnants left behind by the True Immortals who had once been imprisoned within the Dao Net.

"What wicked, unorthodox methods!"

Just as Li Fan was happily stealing these insights, the Nameless Inherit Dao let out a furious shout.

The blue Dao Net, which had been swaying under the invasion of the shadows, suddenly stabilized.

It was as though it was no longer an isolated net. Instead, it had gained ample support from something behind it.

Looking at the blue radiance before him, Li Fan could not help feeling as though he were facing a vast expanse of Mountain and Sea.

"Profound as the Sea, steady as the Mountains."

"The Great Dao has no form. Its source lies beyond itself."

In an instant, Li Fan seemed to grasp something.

Although he had spent a hundred years deducing his Myriad Aspects Dao Net and devoured numerous Great Daos, its scale and power were already formidable.

Yet deep down, Li Fan had always felt that the foundations of his Dao Net were not particularly stable.

Against opponents weaker than himself, this was not much of a problem.

But if he encountered someone stronger than himself, or someone evenly matched with him, a gentle push might be enough to dislodge the so-called Myriad Aspects Dao Net and allow them to break free.

His Dao Net had woven together myriad aspects, yet it could not firmly bind its enemies.

The Dao Net woven by the Nameless Inherit Dao, however, had no such weakness whatsoever.

The Mountain and Sea were like a mighty hand pressing down gently, anchoring the swaying Dao Net firmly in place.

Previously, Li Buren had relied on the power of the Wuji Celestial Pillar to wreak havoc within the Dao Net, even dismantling and carrying away three Celestial Pillars. Yet in reality, the true foundation of the Shuo Star Sea's Dao Net had never been destroyed.

"The Celestial Pillars are merely pillars. The foundations of the anchoring sockets remain intact."

"As long as he captures a few more True Immortals, the Dao Net will soon recover. No wonder he watched the destruction of the Dao Net without showing the slightest anxiety."

Li Fan finally understood.

When he had first seen the Shuo Star Sea's Dao Net, the image that had emerged in his mind was that of an invisible pair of enormous hands pressing down upon the Great Daos of the Myriad Heavens. In reality, this effect had been achieved by borrowing the power of the Mountain and Sea.

The Nameless Inherit Dao truly deserved to be Lord Hill Guardian's disciple. Like his master, he could actually borrow the power of the Mountain and Sea, an invisible and formless force that existed beyond the mortal world.

By comparison, Li Fan, another disciple, seemed to possess little more than an undeserved reputation.

With its foundations firmly established, the blue Dao Net was naturally no longer something Li Fan could devour through his previous methods. No matter how many layers of wind battered it, it remained completely unmoved.

It was like a delicious piece of meat that had suddenly transformed into an extremely tough bone, almost impossible to chew through.

Li Fan had no choice but to temporarily abandon his attempt and withdraw the Myriad Aspects Dao Net.

"Brother Dao, what impressive methods!"

"Be careful!"

Praise and a sneak attack came at the same time.

"Since you are borrowing the power of the Mountain and Sea, then I shall sever your connection to them!"

A cold glint flashed through Li Fan's eyes.

Li Fan had ostensibly agreed to spar, but if he could seize this Nameless Inherit Dao in the process, he would not hesitate for even a moment.

Mountain and Sea existed beyond the mortal world.

Only a handful of people in the entire world had ever witnessed the true form of Mountain and Sea.

Li Fan was certain that the Inherit Nameless Inherit Dao before him had never laid eyes on Mountain and Sea in person.

The reason he could borrow Mountain and Sea's power was most likely that he had learned about it through the descriptions preserved in Lord Hill Guardian's inheritance.

Unfortunately for him, Li Fan happened to be one of the few people in the world who had actually seen it.

In a daze, it seemed as though Li Fan had returned to the boundless Infinite Ocean. In the distance stood the towering Mountain Shangfang, its peak nowhere to be seen.

The fusion of Mountain and Sea resounded with endless turbulence and reverberations.

With the wondrous power of [Illusion Is Also Truth], Li Fan had not truly returned to Mountain and Sea, yet it was as though he had once again stood before it in person. Consequently, he detected the faint connection between Mountain and Sea and the Inherit Nameless Inherit Dao before him, a connection that the latter had established through his own means.

Although Li Fan did not understand exactly how this connection had come into being, it did not prevent him from pulling a little trick of substitution.

Taking the Mountain and Sea's place!

The Nameless Inherit Dao would certainly be unable to distinguish between Li Fan, empowered by [Illusion Is Also Truth], and the real Mountain and Sea.

Moreover, unlike the lofty, unreachable Infinite Ocean and Mountain Shangfang, Li Fan, their imitator, would actively draw close to him.

As one connection weakened while the other strengthened, it was only natural that the Nameless Inherit Dao would mistake Li Fan for Mountain and Sea.

Thus, the connection between the blue Dao Net wielded by the Nameless Inherit Dao and Mountain and Sea gradually became disordered before finally severing completely.

Meanwhile, Li Fan, who had temporarily established a connection with the blue Dao Net by borrowing Mountain and Sea's name, seized this fleeting opportunity to discern the reason behind their original connection.

'Just as I thought.'

Between the Mountain and the Sea stood a faint figure with his hands clasped behind his back.

Although Lord Hill Guardian existed within the mortal world, he had left behind an imprint of himself between Mountain and Sea.

Nameless Inherit Dao was a disciple in Lord Hill Guardian's lineage.

Furthermore, his inheritance was no ordinary one.

That was why he could sense the imprint Lord Hill Guardian had left between Mountain and Sea.

This was how he borrowed Mountain and Sea's power to suppress the Dao Net with a single palm!

In the blink of an eye, Li Fan also pinpointed the location of Lord Hill Guardian's imprint within Mountain and Sea.

However, he did not rashly attempt to activate it.

As long as he could gain control over this imprint, he would be able to borrow Mountain and Sea's power just like the Nameless Inherit Dao, regardless of where he was. He would no longer be restricted by the High Wall.

But there was a problem.

Lord Hill Guardian himself still existed within the mortal world.

Nameless Inherit Dao was a genuine disciple of Lord Hill Guardian.

He had inherited the Dao through his own being and carried it forward through his will.

For a disciple like that to borrow a little of his master's name and power was surely something Lord Hill Guardian would never begrudge him.

He might even sense his disciple's danger and cross spacetime to come to his rescue.

But what about Li Fan?

He relied on his clone, Li Buren, to wield the phantom of Lord Hill Guardian. He had even turned the phantom, originally intended to contain Dao Annihilation, into a weapon for sealing Nameless True Immortals.

There was no question that he was a complete fraud, passing himself off as someone he was not.

As long as he remained within the High Wall, things would be fine.

But if he recklessly approached Lord Hill Guardian in person...

Li Fan was certain that even if Lord Hill Guardian himself was magnanimous and broad-minded, and perhaps did not particularly care about the matter, a casual slap from him would still be more than Li Fan could withstand in his current state.

It might even expose the existence of [Truth].

'Perhaps I could deliberately establish contact and trigger the imprint when my life is in danger. Lord Hill Guardian's name should be intimidating enough to create confusion and provide cover. Then I can calmly return to [Truth].'

Li Fan had already employed this sort of trick several times back when he was still a mortal. He had become thoroughly adept at it.

'It is a pity that this Nameless Inherit Dao before me cannot be dealt with so easily after all.'

'As expected, teachers always cherish their best students the most.'

Li Fan secretly lamented the missed opportunity.

Having long since learned to accept reality rather than pursue the impossible, he quickly changed his strategy.

As it happened, the duration of [Illusion Is Also Truth]'s disguise as Mountain and Sea had already expired, so Li Fan took the initiative to call a halt to their fight.

"Brother Dao, your cultivation is indeed far superior to mine. I have learned much from today's exchange."

He changed his expression and spoke with what appeared to be sincere admiration.

Faced with Li Fan's flattery, the Nameless Inherit Dao merely snorted coldly without replying.

Li Fan's method of severing his connection with Mountain and Sea's imprint had indeed exceeded his expectations.

With such an ability at his disposal, he could no longer afford to treat Li Fan carelessly.

Li Fan paid no attention to his cold expression. He continued smiling warmly and spoke with complete sincerity.

"Actually, when you think about it, there is no irreconcilable conflict between you and me."

"I merely seek a safe place where I can live in peace."

"Releasing the True Immortals imprisoned within these Celestial Pillars is not entirely out of the question either..."

"Oh?" The Nameless Inherit Dao looked at Li Fan with surprise. The word disbelief might as well have been written across his face.

"Brother Dao, the reason you care about these people imprisoned within the Celestial Pillars is that they belong to the same kind as me, is it not?" Li Fan asked in return.

The Nameless Inherit Dao pondered for a moment before nodding candidly.

"All the immortals of the Immortal Realm have received my master's grace and inherited his teachings. In a certain sense, every immortal in the Immortal Realm is a disciple of Lord Hill Guardian. How could fellow disciples turn against one another and slaughter their own brothers?"

"Well said! How could fellow disciples raise their hands against their own brothers? Brother, your words today have truly enlightened me!"

Li Fan was taken aback for a moment before immediately applauding in praise.

Quite naturally, he had replaced the term 'Brother Dao' with 'Senior Brother'.

After a brief pause, Li Fan saw that the Nameless Inherit Dao did not object, so he continued with a smile.

"Only after receiving Senior Brother's guidance today have I come to recognize my past mistakes. As I said earlier, I am willing to release the imprisoned True Immortals within the Celestial Pillars unconditionally. Furthermore, I can assist Senior Brother in rebuilding the Dao Net..."

The Nameless Inherit Dao regarded him with suspicion.

"What are your conditions?"

Clearly, he already understood the character of this nominal junior brother of his.

"My goal of constructing a safe refuge has never changed. Surely Senior Brother would not wish to see the phantom left behind by Master reduced to ashes in the great tide of Dao Annihilation either?"

Li Fan continued, "Senior Brother should know that I now have a solution that can satisfy both sides. It will fulfill my needs without harming any of our fellow disciples from the Immortal Realm."

"Have you ever heard of foreign races formed from the manifestation of the Primeval Great Dao?"

Li Fan asked with a smile.

The Nameless Inherit Dao's expression changed slightly.

"Foreign Nameless beings? When did such monstrous existences appear in this world?"

"No, no. Not in this world, but beyond the heavens!"

Li Fan raised his hand and pointed into the distant sky.

Beyond the High Wall, beyond the realm of possibilities.

Only then did the Nameless Inherit Dao's expression change completely.

"How many are there?" he asked in a grave voice, his demeanor utterly different from when he had spoken about the immortals of the Immortal Realm moments earlier.

"Thirteen," Li Fan replied calmly.

"Hm?" Even the Nameless Inherit Dao was startled by the number.

"Is that true?" His voice rose several pitches.

Li Fan answered solemnly, "How would I dare deceive you, Senior Brother? This is precisely the fundamental reason I have gone to such lengths to increase my strength. Those thirteen Primeval Dao Forms are pressing ever closer, leaving me unable to eat or sleep in peace!"

Li Fan let out a long sigh.

Nameless Inherit Dao pondered for a moment before making an immediate decision.

"Junior Brother, rest assured. As long as I am here, even if all thirteen Nameless beings of that foreign race arrive together, they will not harm a single hair on your head!"

"You are right. With these thirteen Primeval Dao Forms to reinforce us, we can completely resolve the threat posed b