My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1034: Demonic Shadow Lingers in the Heart

Jiang Nian'er had already emerged from his meditative state even before Li Fan released the bindings on the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

His senses were sharp and alert as he mentally rehearsed the intricate steps of the formation over and over.

As a mere Qi Condensation cultivator, he was fully aware that he couldn't take a single direct hit from a Foundation Establishment opponent.

Either he would be struck down instantly, or...

He had to trigger the formation before his adversary could make a move!

Faced with a life-or-death crisis, Jiang Nian'er pushed his inner potential to its absolute peak.

Despite this being his debut in actual formation casting, the process was as fluid as if he had performed it a thousand times, finishing in the blink of an eye.

Watching his foe wander aimlessly within the [Bamboo Sea Dragon-Trapping Formation], desperately seeking an exit, Jiang Nian'er knew the victory was halfway his.

The outcome now depended on who possessed the greater endurance.

A spark of determination lit up Jiang Nian'er’s eyes as he once again forced his potential to its breaking point.

The rate at which he pulled spiritual energy from the heavens and earth into his body surged significantly.

"Of the hundred thousand souls on this island, I am the sole survivor! I refuse to perish here!"

"Even if you are a Foundation Establishment cultivator, you will not be the one to defeat me!"

A sudden wave of ruthlessness washed over Jiang Nian'er's heart.

In response, the environment within the Bamboo Sea Dragon-Trapping Formation shifted violently. Myriad bamboo leaves transformed into sharp, emerald flying daggers, tearing through the air toward the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

...

"It appears he will secure this victory without much trouble."

Li Fan observed every minute shift in Jiang Nian'er with perfect clarity.

While he was reconstructing Jiang Nian'er's physique, Li Fan had secretly planted countless surveillance threads within him.

After all, how could he properly study the mysterious devouring process without making such preparations beforehand?

This balanced duel did not last very long.

The opponent was just a mediocre Foundation Establishment cultivator; it seemed that merely scraping together enough merit to buy a Foundation Establishment technique had cost him everything he had.

The man clearly lacked any knowledge of formations; after venting his useless rage inside the Dragon-Trapping Formation for half a day, he was eventually brought to his knees.

His life force was now as thin as a thread, hanging on the edge of oblivion.

Jiang Nian'er did not let arrogance take over or dismantle the formation prematurely.

Instead, he watched his enemy from the safety of the perimeter: "In this battle, I am the victor."

"It's starting..." Li Fan’s focus sharpened.

From his cosmic perspective, he saw that as soon as Jiang Nian'er spoke, the quiet darkness within him began to boil.

Like a shadow beast expanding rapidly, it swallowed the Foundation Establishment cultivator whole.

And then, it consumed him entirely.

Jiang Nian'er's own form became blurred in the process.

That sinister dark energy acted as a bridge, linking him to the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

It looked as though invisible giant hands were violently mashing the two entities together.

A few moments later...

Jiang Nian'er vanished from his original position.

Inside the formation, the dying Foundation Establishment cultivator suddenly opened his eyes with a sharp, piercing gaze.

Like a withered tree blooming in spring, his aura exploded, becoming hundreds of times more powerful than before.

He stood motionless for a brief moment as he finished absorbing the memories of the former body's owner.

"The strong prey on the weak; such is the way of the world. You can only blame yourself for losing..." he whispered, his confusion hardening into resolve.

Li Fan could see that within Jiang Nian'er's sea of consciousness, the soul of the original Foundation Establishment cultivator was screaming like a vengeful spirit.

However, it lacked any power to resist and was easily crushed by Jiang Nian'er.

After getting used to his new physical form, Jiang Nian'er stood up and dismissed the Dragon-Trapping Formation with a wave of his hand.

Then, he slowly dropped to his knees before Li Fan.

"How does it feel to hold the power of Foundation Establishment?" Li Fan asked, smiling.

"It is formidable. But compared to Senior..." Jiang Nian'er did not dare look up.

"Heh, with the potential of this body, as long as you keep devouring your way up—from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, and then to Nascent Soul..."

"Might you not eventually stand above me one day?"

Hearing this, Jiang Nian'er felt as though he had been struck by lightning, his frame shaking uncontrollably.

That sentence mirrored the exact thought he had just hidden in the depths of his mind!

Instead of offering empty platitudes like "This junior would never dare," Jiang Nian'er felt his heart turn to ice.

He realized his life was entirely at the mercy of this man. He kept his head pressed against the soil, paralyzed with fear.

Time passed slowly until Jiang Nian'er was drenched in a cold sweat, his robes completely soaked through.

Only then did Li Fan’s voice speak again.

"Stand up."

Jiang Nian'er finally exhaled, feeling an immense pressure lift from his shoulders.

"The higher the Cultivation realm, the wider the chasm between levels."

"In this world, many can defeat a Golden Core while at Foundation Establishment. But those who can best a Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign while at Dao Integration..."

"Have never existed in all of history."

"If you ever wish to seek vengeance against me, you must first reach the Longevity Immortal stage."

Jiang Nian'er felt like he had been dropped into a frozen pit; the triumph of his recent victory vanished instantly.

"Longevity Immortal stage..."

Those words felt as heavy as mountains and seas, making it difficult for him to even draw breath.

He waited for a long time, but no other words came from the stranger.

Finally, Jiang Nian'er summoned the courage to look up.

He discovered that the mysterious figure had already disappeared without a trace.

Jiang Nian'er was dazed. He surveyed the area; he was truly the only living soul left on Fan Yong Island.

His strength gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud.

The memories of everything since the eerie outbreak began rushed through his mind like crashing waves.

Eventually, his mind grew still.

"Wen Nianyu..."

"From this day forward, I am Wen Nianyu."

After checking his belongings, Jiang Nian'er took flight toward Ten Thousand Immortals Island.

His flight was shaky at first, but he soon found his balance, his speed increasing as he streaked across the sky.

...

Li Fan’s form slowly faded back into view.

"The boy adapts well."

"Let him return to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance; I want to see if the Alliance's experts can detect the eerie power within him."

Li Fan had witnessed the entire fusion and devouring process quite clearly.

To be honest, Jiang Nian'er was of little further use to him.

Yet, Li Fan had a nagging feeling that with Jiang Nian'er's personality and tactics, he might yet produce an interesting surprise.

"The power of the eerie is essentially a law of heaven and earth; it is a resource to be used."

"There was once a technique to forge it into Heaven-defying Arrows, which could even disrupt the Mysterious Net that had usurped the sky."

"If applied to the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm, it would mean total chaos in the laws of several provinces, allowing the eerie to run rampant."

Having finished this particular study, Li Fan did not leave the Congyun Sea immediately. Instead, he continued to travel through the various sites of the eerie outbreaks.

He occasionally spotted cultivators from the Alliance's Tianji Hall and Martial Hall working, but most locations were already silent and dead.

The Congyun Sea region was clearly struggling to handle an eerie event of such magnitude.

However, the situation began to stabilize once Gongsun Qixuan returned.

Gongsun Qixuan was the leader of the Tianji Hall in the Congyun Sea.

He was a man who appeared frail and sickly, possessing the air of a traditional scholar.

He had always been the one tasked with overseeing the eerie and unusual phenomena within the Congyun Sea.