My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1020: Realms Beyond Xuanhuang

One by one, treasures of the earth and sky coalesced to form the puppet's frame. Golden source power rolled in like a massive tide, manifesting "flesh and tissue" that melded onto the skeleton.

Slowly, the Heavenly Mechanism Puppet began to take its final shape.

Amidst the surging waves of golden source power, Li Fan could hear faint, broken whispers echoing in the air.

"What is that noise?" Seeing that Master Qiaogong looked perfectly relaxed, Li Fan did not hesitate to interrupt and ask him directly.

"I am not certain. However, it is a phenomenon that always manifests when source power is utilized; there is no cause for alarm. We cultivators of the Heavenly Mechanism Realm refer to it as the [World's Whisper]. Once you have witnessed it enough, you will grow accustomed to it."

While responding to Li Fan, the master kept his gaze fixed on the Heavenly Mechanism Puppet, meticulously governing the flow of source force.

The limbs, the torso, and the head appeared, followed by the skin and hair...

Everything took form step by step.

Watching this unfold, Liu Ruchen, the leader of the Medicine King Sect, was paralyzed with shock.

This method of puppet refinement was something that completely surpassed his wildest dreams.

The moment the Heavenly Mechanism Puppet—which looked exactly like Liu Ruchen—was finished, a strange impulse rose within the real Liu Ruchen: a desperate hunger to claim it.

"Fellow Daoist, it is your turn," Master Qiaogong remarked in a lethargic tone.

Liu Ruchen glanced at Li Fan and only moved forward cautiously to enter the puppet after receiving a nod of approval.

A flicker of dim light radiated from the Heavenly Mechanism Puppet. A few breaths later, its eyelids fluttered open.

Reborn in this new vessel, Liu Ruchen squeezed his hands into fists and then relaxed them, his face filled with wonder: "Remarkable... it feels identical to my true body."

"It even possesses a Dantian and a sea of consciousness! How could such a thing be possible?"

Master Qiaogong completely brushed off Liu Ruchen’s amazement: "Is that all? If there is nothing else, I am leaving. Fellow Daoist Tianyang is still waiting for me!" he asked with visible impatience.

With a smile, Li Fan permitted him to depart.

"Sect Master Liu, what is your opinion on the techniques of our Federation of All Worlds?" Li Fan inquired as he watched Liu Ruchen continue to test his new body.

"A divine skill, truly divine," Liu Ruchen replied with sincere conviction.

His expression shifted slightly: "The Federation of All... is it possible that Fellow Daoist Qiaogong is not a native of the Xuanhuang Realm?"

Li Fan gave a nod: "Sect Master Liu is quite sharp. Fellow Daoist Qiaogong indeed comes from the [Heavenly Mechanism Realm]."

Liu Ruchen gasped in astonishment: "The Heavenly Mechanism Realm? Is that the cultivation realm said to be built atop a colossal puppet that drifts aimlessly through the stars?"

"Now, everything becomes clear."

Through Li Fan's questioning, he discovered that the founder of the Medicine King Sect, "Medicine King Sun Piaomiao," had once traveled between worlds and documented his findings.

Among those records were descriptions of the Heavenly Mechanism Realm.

"However, after the immortal path was severed, communication between the different cultivation realms essentially died out. Consequently, the records of these worlds are stuck in the ancient past."

"When I originally planned to lead the Sect away from the Xuanhuang Realm, our goal was the neighboring [Unfettered Free Realm]. The cultivators there follow the path of non-action and liberty; they hate conflict and welcome strangers. It would have been a fine sanctuary. Sadly..."

Liu Ruchen’s face darkened with regret.

As he spoke, he skillfully used his divine sense to transmit the travel logs of Medicine King Sun Piaomiao directly to Li Fan.

A basic star map immediately surfaced in Li Fan's mind.

It detailed the coordinates for eighteen cultivation realms that surrounded the Xuanhuang Realm.

Their arrangement seemed haphazard, lacking any obvious pattern.

Besides the eighteen fixed locations, there were two realms that had no permanent anchor points.

One was the Heavenly Mechanism Realm, and the other was called [Xuanshang].

The logs described Xuanshang not as a planet, but as an enormous flying vessel.

Xuanshang sailed between various cultivation realms to trade resources and pursue wealth.

...

"Ancestor Piaomiao, who could roam the myriad realms at will, was truly someone to be envied," Li Fan remarked with a sigh after reviewing the logs several times.

The era was simply too old, and the Star Sea had surely changed. Most of what was written in those logs had likely faded into oblivion.

Or perhaps, those worlds had been consumed by the Xuanhuang Realm.

"Xuanshang..."

"The behavior of the cultivators from that realm sounds quite similar to Jiao Xiuyuan. If the opportunity arises, I should investigate this."

Unaware of Li Fan's internal monologue, Liu Ruchen went on: "It is said the Ancestor intended to travel even further back then, but he suddenly changed his mind for a reason unknown to us. It seems there was something unique about this specific starry sky. However, the Ancestor never explained the details to those who came after."

Li Fan’s eyes narrowed: "Something unique?"

During Sun Piaomiao's time, the immortal path was still open. The [High Wall] did not yet exist.

Yet, the Star Sea containing the Xuanhuang Realm was already considered different...

"There are absolutely no records of the Immortals who ascended from the Xuanhuang Realm throughout the ages."

"Either every predecessor became a [Nameless True Immortal], or some powerful entity has wiped their existence from history."

"How intriguing..."

Li Fan sank into deep thought.

...

Afterward, Li Fan escorted Liu Ruchen on a tour of the magnificent landmarks within the Spiritwood Realm.

Whether it was the landscapes taken from the Xuanhuang Realm or the reconstructions of ancient Sect ruins, Liu Ruchen was impressed.

Even the towering central tree that pierced the clouds earned his praise.

After they both paid their respects to the Faceless True Immortal Statue, Li Fan produced the Medicine King Cauldron.

"Currently, due to the restrictions of clashing cultivation paths, the disciples inside will surely slaughter one another if they are woken up. Sect Master Liu, how do you intend to resolve this?"

"Our Federation possesses a technique known as the [Vital Essence Technique of All Living Beings]. It can protect them from such restrictions..."

After listening to Li Fan's explanation, Liu Ruchen thought for a moment before answering.

"Since we have committed to joining the Federation, we must prove our worth."

"In a direct fight, my Medicine King Sect might not be formidable. But when it comes to the Dao of alchemy and the cultivation of spiritual plants, we are quite proficient."

"However..." A look of doubt crossed Liu Ruchen’s face.

"After so many millennia, I do not know how much the art of alchemy has progressed in the Xuanhuang Realm. If we can secure certain modern pills and are given time, we should be able to catch up."

Liu Ruchen understood perfectly that the only way to ensure his Sect's survival was to prove they were indispensable.

After seeing the Treefolks working tirelessly in the Spiritwood Realm and the flesh puppets turned into mere tools for Cultivation, he knew the Federation of All Worlds was no charity.

And the "emissary" before him—the representative of the True Immortal and former Dharma King of the Xuantian Sect—was certainly not as kind as he pretended to be.

"The World-Saving Longevity Scripture offers unique benefits to alchemy. Therefore, it would be wise to choose certain Elders to keep their original Cultivation."