My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1059: Heavenly King Once A Henchmen
Previously on My Longevity Simulation...
"If fortune favors us, the Holy Emperor might be discovered as early as tomorrow." A trace of anticipation colored the imperial daughter's voice.
"Do not approach the Holy Emperor impulsively once he is found. There must have been a hidden motive behind his abrupt disappearance in the past. Notify the Federation of All Worlds first, and I shall provide the final instructions," Li Fan declared with gravity.
The imperial daughter bowed her head, signaling her comprehension.
Throughout the past five years, Li Fan had transferred all his knowledge concerning the small worlds and Cave-Heavens of the Xuanhuang Realm to the empire.
Utilizing a specific exotic beast capable of traversing spatial voids, the empire had initiated a meticulous sweep of these minor realms. Their objective was to pinpoint Xu Ke’s place of seclusion.
In the 115th lifetime, shortly before the confrontation between Heavenly Dao Bai and the Immortal Ancestor.
The individual seen standing beside Heavenly Dao Bai, a coffin strapped to his back, was undoubtedly Xu Ke.
Regarding the contents of that coffin, or why he had abandoned the empire he personally established—even forsaking his cherished pets—all would be revealed once he was apprehended.
Li Fan, however, viewed this search primarily as a tactic to stabilize the hearts of the imperial citizens rather than a personal concern.
Once information regarding Xu Ke was disclosed, the empire’s devotion became absolute, and their productivity more than doubled. Li Fan no longer found it necessary to monitor or pressure them.
Following his briefing, Li Fan descended into the most secluded depths of the Dome Laboratory.
Within the absolute darkness, crimson filaments slithered like aquatic serpents.
This was the red string left behind by Mr. Bai within the empire, entrusted to Xu Ke for his protection.
A single strand possessed the power to execute a premier powerhouse of the Demon Race. Its potency was nearly equivalent to a maximum-effort strike from a contemporary New Method Longevity Immortal.
Due to his wariness of Mr. Bai, Li Fan had avoided direct contact with the object during this lifetime.
Instead, he delegated the research of the artifact entirely to the empire.
To a casual observer, the red string appeared to be an embodiment of the Sword Dao.
Yet, following years of relentless experimentation, the empire realized the string was akin to a sentient organism, endowed with its own spiritual essence.
Activating it did not require Qi or spiritual energy. Rather, it fed upon the essence, energy, and spirit of living beings—that profound and enigmatic force.
Put more simply, it consumed the lifespan of the living.
Furthermore, the red string ignored common lifeforms. It only sought to devour those within a race who were vigorous and possessed a drive for self-improvement.
After being nourished by a vast quantity of exotic beasts, the string—which had once withered to a faint wisp—had grown into a slender snake within the Dome Laboratory.
Even with multiple layers of formation barriers providing separation, the sight of it triggered an instinctive dread.
Since his clone had achieved Foundation Establishment using the Black Sword Heavenly Wonder, Li Fan possessed a deep understanding of the Xuanhuang Realm’s Sword Dao.
Upon closer inspection, Li Fan realized the red string contained more than just the [Dao of Sword].
It was even more deeply rooted in the [Dao of Balance].
To inflict harm on another, a price must be paid; thus, the weapon first harms its wielder.
In the eyes of the heavens, all existences are viewed as equal.
A common mortal and a Dao Integration cultivator are fundamentally the same.
Consequently, by wielding this lethal blade, even a mortal frame could strike down a Dao Integration master.
This was a core tenet of the Ancient Method, often cited in the various archaic texts Li Fan had studied.
As the final Ancient Method Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign of the Xuanhuang Realm, it was natural for Mr. Bai’s inherited techniques to possess such traits.
However, as eras shifted and time progressed, the heavens no longer viewed all beings as equal.
The higher a cultivator’s Cultivation realm, the more weight they carried within the world, and the more the world resented them.
It was no longer possible for a commoner to achieve a "life-for-a-life" trade.
Because of this, the actual combat value of the red string had diminished.
Li Fan estimated that the energy released by a single thread could obliterate the physical form of a Soul Transformation cultivator. Yet, a New Method Soul Transformation expert, whose body was anchored to the world, would survive with only grievous wounds. Those at the Dao Integration stage could likely parry the attack with ease.
But that was only the effect of a single thread.
If the entire mass of the red string, now as thick as the rim of a bowl, were unleashed...
Li Fan lacked the confidence to survive such an onslaught without the aid of the Tianyang Immortal Puppet.
At present, the red string seemed to have reached its saturation point and refused further nourishment.
Li Fan watched the crimson cord writhing in the shadows, lost in contemplation.
"The core of the red string is to utilize the authority of the Xuanhuang Realm’s Heavenly Dao against foes. It is an exchange governed by rules, not a violation of them."
"Harnessing the red string's power still demands the user's own lifespan."
"However, if one can slay or defeat a Soul Transformation cultivator at the cost of only a minor portion of their life..."
"People would scramble for such an opportunity like starving beasts."
"Perhaps this could become the defining artifact of the Federation of All Worlds."
"But what name should it bear..."
"The Sword Holder."
A sharp light flickered in Li Fan’s eyes. He commanded his subordinates to harvest nearly one hundred strands from the main body of the red string, sealing each one within the Seven-Colored Divine Light.
"By joining the Federation of All Worlds, one gains the power to wield this blade and execute Soul Transformation cultivators."
"Who would dare claim our Federation lacks a proper Foundation now?"
"Furthermore, purging New Method cultivators harmonizes with the will of the heavens, so there is no fear of karmic backlash from excessive slaughter."
"This is truly a masterstroke!"
Even after the extraction, the remaining red string did not resume its feeding.
It appeared the total quantity of the red string allowed in the Xuanhuang Realm was a fixed constant; it could only grow further once some of it was used up.
Despite the red string's mysterious depth, Li Fan did not intend to master its use himself.
He would distribute it to Federation members as a supreme defensive tool.
"Several of the deathsworn who survived the exploration of the blood-colored river are still alive. I shall grant them this treasure and officially bestow an immortal method to foster their loyalty." With these thoughts, Li Fan departed from the imperial region.
He arrived at the [Seeking the Hidden] sector.
Among the numerous vacant pedestals, the first stone monument had silently manifested.
Carved upon the tablet were the name and likeness of the cultivator who had successfully retrieved a fragment of lost history from the blood-colored river.
The historical memory itself could be observed through the stone.
The initial discovery was a relatively minor event.
The era depicted likely predated the severing of the Immortal Path.
Emissaries from distant cultivation worlds arrived with great pomp, traveling upon more than a dozen massive immortal vessels.
The various Sects of the Xuanhuang Realm had organized a grand reception, hosting a massive exchange gathering.
The scene was vibrant and teeming with life.
It stood in stark contrast to the stagnant, decaying state of the modern Xuanhuang Realm.
Any cultivator witnessing this vision would inevitably feel a profound sense of grief and nostalgia.
One detail in the scene was particularly striking to Li Fan.
Amidst the crowd at this exchange event, he recognized the figure of Xuantian King Xuanyuan Hong.
At that time, however, he was merely an insignificant cultivator serving as a host.
He stood there like a lowly servant, his expression a mix of nervousness and awe as he gazed upon the senior experts.
No one present could have guessed that this trivial junior would eventually become the final ascender of the Xuanhuang Realm, bearing the fate of the entire world upon his shoulders.