My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1018: Already at the Pinnacle of the Mortal World
Previously on My Longevity Simulation...
Li Fan had previously witnessed the results of merging identical objects.
The Dao Deviation Stone and the Halted-Step Remnant Stele were prime examples of this process.
However, it was evident that the outcomes of those fusions were far less impressive than what the Dissociation Disc had achieved.
"The reason likely lies in the fact that the Dissociation Disc already represents the peak of mortal formation arts. Even though it didn't manage to ascend after consuming its counterpart, it still underwent a fundamental qualitative transformation."
"The world contains many entities like the Dissociation Disc, standing on the very threshold of ascension. Yet, because the immortal path has been severed, they are practically doomed to remain stagnant forever. After all, a monumental feat like that of the Tianxuan Mirror in the 115th lifetime—mobilizing every Cultivator in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance to scout countless small worlds just to facilitate the main body's ascension—is not something just anyone can pull off."
"However, by utilizing [Truth], the [Unity of the Two] I have performed can easily bridge that gap for them."
"Currently, this might be the most straightforward method in existence to mass-produce power that rivals the immortals."
In a flash, a multitude of items crossed Li Fan's mind, each paired with the potential forms they might take after fusing with duplicates of themselves.
The Law Derivation Jade, the Wooden Sword, and even the Genesis Stone Tablet were among them.
As for whether items that have already undergone fusion can be further boosted through repeated self-fusion...
That theory still requires more testing.
Nevertheless, Li Fan suspected that it likely wouldn't be effective.
"The core issue is the severance of the immortal path and the total lack of immortal spiritual energy."
"Without that essential foundation, mere quantity becomes meaningless."
His focus gradually returned. Upon exiting the seclusion chamber, Li Fan’s first task was to refine the protective grand formation of the Spiritwood Realm.
He spent more time on this upgrade than he had on the original construction of the formation. It was practically a complete reconstruction.
The entire operation was carried out in silence, ensuring no one in the Spiritwood Realm was alerted.
Only when the formation was finished did the subtle shift in the aura surrounding the Spiritwood Realm catch the attention of Daoist Hundred Flowers and several other Dao Integration realm experts.
Li Fan stood suspended in the sky, his eyelids tightly shut.
Without using his physical sight or divine sense, he could see a miniature, highly detailed map of the entire Spiritwood Realm in his mind, purely through his connection to the protective grand formation.
Not a single soul in the Spiritwood Realm could hide from his gaze.
Utilizing the strength of this upgraded grand formation, Li Fan could wipe out any lifeform within its reach instantly, without even moving a muscle.
"The gap between the immortal and the mortal truly is an unfathomable abyss."
"I look at the people of the Spiritwood Realm as if they were ants; an immortal would surely view me the same way."
"That is, if I didn't possess [Truth]."
Li Fan let out a quiet sigh.
In principle, the newly established Spiritwood grand formation had not yet reached its peak. However, because certain materials only exist in the immortal realm and immortal spiritual energy is absent, the formation had little room left for improvement.
Having finished the initial testing of the Dissociation Disc's new power, Li Fan went back to his chamber. He continued organizing the Final Dissociation Disc’s data on the All Spirits Return to Numbers while simultaneously overseeing the decryption of the Immortal Ancestor's restriction.
Even though the Final Dissociation Disc possessed incredible calculating power—arguably the best in the mortal world—it was still just a machine.
It was an inanimate object that required Li Fan's constant direction.
Without his supervision, its derivations might wander into strange, useless directions.
The study of formation arts is an infinite journey, and Li Fan became so absorbed in it that he lost all track of time.
One day, a sudden intuition pulled Li Fan out of his research.
"Anchor at 15 years: the Medicine King Cauldron is returning."
Based on his calculations, the timing was exactly right.
Li Fan's eyes sharpened as he put his work aside, his form vanishing from the Spiritwood Realm instantly.
He traveled to the Cangwu Abyss, the spot where the Medicine King Cauldron was destined to land, and waited there quietly.
Li Fan looked down into the depths of the abyss, his face turning serious.
With his current level of Cultivation, he certainly had the power to go deeper than before.
Yet, every time he considered it, a feeling of dread would rise in his chest, which he forced himself to push down.
As the Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Mantra cleared away these intrusive thoughts, Li Fan’s gaze grew more intense: "This strange pull I feel is definitely not a hallucination."
"If I'm right, the Cangwu Abyss is similar to the Congyun Sea—a large fragment left over from another world of Cultivation. Actually, it might be even more than that. The bottom of this abyss might even link back to the heart of the white mist."
Li Fan observed the drifting ruins and broken buildings around him, lost in thought.
The Cangwu Abyss didn't exist in ancient times. While the Congyun Sea was created by a palm strike, the Cangwu Abyss was formed by a single step.
It was clear that the Immortal Ancestor was assisting the Xuanhuang Realm in absorbing and merging with other worlds.
"The fact that the Xuanhuang Realm couldn't digest these worlds on its own and needed the Dharma Transmitting Immortal Ancestor’s help points to certain underlying problems."
The Cangwu Abyss undoubtedly held many secrets, much like the Congyun Sea.
However, Li Fan had no plans to investigate those mysteries right now.
He simply waited for the Medicine King Cauldron to come back.
Just as he remembered, a flaming meteor streaked across the night sky at the exact time expected.
It then plunged into the shadows, diving straight toward the Cangwu Abyss.
As it reached Li Fan's location, the Medicine King Cauldron stopped in mid-air and masked its presence.
"Wait?"
Li Fan’s expression became strange as he looked at where the cauldron was hovering.
After comparing the scene to his memories multiple times, he confirmed that the cauldron’s landing position in this lifetime had shifted slightly.
It was a tiny deviation of only three inches. If not for Li Fan’s incredibly sharp divine sense and the perfect records kept by the Dao Deviation Stone, he would have missed it.
"Was it nudged by some external force on its way back? Or..."
"Has the Xuanhuang Realm's own size or position changed?"
A strange sense of worry rose within him.
He quickly scanned through the events of this lifetime in his mind, looking for anything that could have caused such a shift.
He identified a few possibilities but couldn't be certain yet.
He simply etched the detail into his memory. Then, Li Fan used a smaller Medicine King Cauldron to fly into the interior of the genuine one.
To take command of the Medicine King Cauldron, one had to reach the control room.
Li Fan was well-prepared for this task.
With a thought, he released a strand of Longevity Green Power from his body and directed it into the [Life-and-Death Gate] guarding the control room.
Li Fan had practiced the Salvation Longevity Scripture before the cauldron’s return. Although he had since discarded that Cultivation, he had kept several units of Longevity Azure Power stored in his Cave-Heaven for this specific purpose.
Since the World-Saving Longevity Scripture could only be used by true disciples of the Medicine King Sect, Li Fan passed the test and entered the control chamber.
The space looked like a vast void.
Aside from a translucent figure, there was nothing there.
That ghost-like image was likely the deceased Sect Master of the Medicine King Sect, Liu Ruchen.
His face was blurry; he simply looked at Li Fan and acknowledged him as a true direct disciple of the Medicine King.
Images began to appear in the emptiness, one after another.
They showed the trials the Medicine King Sect faced after leaving the Xuanhuang Realm, including their near-capture by the Immortal Ruins.
The scenes depicted Liu Ruchen sacrificing himself alongside several Elders to successfully save the Medicine King Cauldron.