My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1071: Asking the Heart Without Guilt

The field of [All Things Are Like Me] had already expanded to encompass the entire area. Through its influence, Jiang could perceive that Zhou and the others were speaking the truth.

Consequently, he now found the situation somewhat difficult to process.

He was, of course, aware of the unrest at the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters five years prior. However, that disturbance had been settled swiftly; the only significant result was a rotation of the Dharma-Transmitters in charge of administration. No lives had been lost during the transition.

Because his primary obligation was to ensure the safety and stability of the Xuanhuang Realm, he had chosen not to interfere at the time.

In his estimation, it mattered little who held the reins of power, provided the operations of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance remained functional.

To him, the individuals within the Dharma-Transmitter Council were largely interchangeable.

However, if remnants of the Xuantian Sect had truly wormed their way into the Dharma-Transmitter Council to plot against the Xuanhuang Realm in secret,

Then the gravity of the situation shifted entirely.

The Immortal Ancestor had granted him the solemn duty of overseeing the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. Allowing such a massive oversight to occur was nothing short of a total dereliction of his duty!

“I will investigate this matter to its very depths,” he promised, his expression turning grave as he looked toward Zhou, Huang, and Wei to give his word.

“Time is working against us. Please accompany me back to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters immediately.”

Jiang then shifted his gaze toward the Immortal Puppet Li Fan: “Fellow Daoist, you should also join us. Had it not been for your alert, I might have stayed ignorant of this threat.”

Since this was only a puppet body, Li Fan had no reservations and consented at once.

With a casual wave of his hand, Dharma-Transmitter Jiang tore open a spatial rift leading directly to the alliance headquarters and was the first to step inside.

Feeling the familiar yet long-absent aura drifting from the other side of the portal, Dharma-Transmitter Zhou and her companions shared looks of complex emotion.

They took deep breaths before following him through one by one.

The moment the Immortal Puppet Li Fan stepped into the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters, the sound of three distant bell tolls reached his ears from the horizon.

“The Great Bell of the Dharma-Transmitters. Three rings that resonate across the entire Xuanhuang Realm. Regardless of where they are or their personal wishes, every Dharma-Transmitter must return to headquarters within a single day of hearing this summons.”

“It has been an age since I last heard that sound,” Dharma-Transmitter Wei remarked with a trace of nostalgia.

The eyes of Zhou and Huang reflected a similar sense of melancholy.

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters was placed under an emergency lockdown, permitting entry but forbidding anyone from leaving.

Deep within the most secure space of the headquarters, a circular council chamber manifested out of thin air.

Dharma-Transmitters began to arrive one by one, their faces masked with solemnity.

Though the reason for Jiang’s summons remained unknown to them, the tolling of the great bell signaled a crisis of the highest order.

As the room filled, quiet whispers began to circulate among the gathered crowd.

“Look, even Hua has appeared? She hasn't been seen since she sequestered herself in that small paradise world she built—it’s been nearly a thousand years, hasn't it?”

“It isn't just Hua. Even Zhou and those who were exiled have come back.”

“When was the last time this chamber was so crowded?”

...

The meeting officially commenced once every surviving Dharma-Transmitter in the Xuanhuang Realm had assembled.

Including Jiang, there were twenty-eight in total.

With the addition of the Immortal Puppet Li Fan, twenty-nine individuals were present for the proceedings.

Li Fan cast a secretive glance toward Dharma-Transmitter Feng—otherwise known as Mo Rubin.

To his surprise, the man showed no signs of apprehension.

Even when he noticed Li Fan, he displayed neither shock nor panic; instead, he offered a small, composed nod of greeting.

“How interesting,” Li Fan mused with a cold internal smile, returning the gesture.

Dharma-Transmitter Jiang wasted no time, concisely explaining the suspicion that a Dharma King from the Xuantian Sect had infiltrated their ranks.

This revelation triggered an immediate wave of shock among the assembly.

“The Xuantian Sect? Were they not annihilated long before our rise? Are they still haunting us like ghosts after all these centuries?”

“This... to possess someone without alerting the Heavenly Sovereign’s prohibition? Isn't that a bit far-fetched?”

“Fascinating, truly fascinating. A perfect new toy, heh heh heh...”

The reactions were a chaotic mix of skepticism and curiosity.

Under the collective gaze of the room, Dharma-Transmitter Zhou produced the puppet figurine Li Fan had provided, which was still actively demonstrating the Xuantian Sect’s Cultivation method.

Buzz buzz buzz...

The figurine reacted the moment it was brought out.

Its eyes snapped open as if it possessed life. It turned to stare directly at four specific people in the room, one of whom was Dharma-Transmitter Feng.

“Earlier, it only reacted to three of them. Has another been possessed in such a short span of time?” Zhou felt a surge of both alarm and rage.

“Fellows, here is your proof!” Zhou announced loudly, giving a brief summary of how the puppet figurine functioned.

A multitude of gazes focused sharply on Feng and the three others.

Dharma-Transmitter Jiang’s expression darkened: “All of you...”

Before the interrogation could truly begin, Feng cut him off: “I object to Transmitter Zhou’s claims.”

“A simple Cultivation technique proves nothing.”

“The techniques of the Xuantian Sect are a legacy of the Immortal Realm. I was lucky enough to find several volumes and, out of curiosity, began to practice them. What crime is there in that?”

“After testing them, I found them to be truly remarkable. Naturally, I shared what remained with my brothers.”

“Is there something wrong with seeking strength?”

Feng spoke with a voice full of righteous conviction.

He looked around the room, his eyes burning like torches, showing no hint of shame at his actions being brought to light: “Fellow brothers, be honest with yourselves: if an immortal technique was placed in front of you, could you truly suppress the urge to cultivate it?”

“I doubt many here possess such restraint.”

His words were followed by a sudden, heavy silence.

The gathered Dharma-Transmitters reflected on his words and found a certain logic in them.

Indeed, what was the harm in a technique?

Could a person be condemned simply for the path they chose to practice?

If that were the case, very few among the Dharma-Transmitters could claim to be truly blameless.

Even Dharma-Transmitter Jiang paused to consider this.

“As for the claim that we are possessed by Xuantian Sect demons intending to sabotage the Alliance...”

After the brief pause, Dharma-Transmitter Feng spoke with renewed passion: “I am prepared to voluntarily submit to the [Dharma-Transmitter’s Oath] to prove that my original purpose remains untainted.”

He made the declaration with absolute resolve.

“I am willing as well.”

“My heart has not changed.”

The other three Dharma-Transmitters identified by the Xuantian aura quickly voiced their consent.

Li Fan traded looks with Zhou and the others, a sense of impending dread rising within him.

However, the wheels were already in motion; there was no turning back now.

Under the watchful eye of Dharma-Transmitter Jiang, the ritual of the Oath began.

In the center of the circular hall, the Dharma-Transmitters closed their eyes and began chanting incantations.

In the air above, the spectral forms of countless pioneer Dharma-Transmitters—those who had fallen in battle or sacrificed themselves—seemed to manifest.

They appeared in such numbers that they nearly filled the entire chamber.

Dharma-Transmitter Feng stood tall in the center of the room, remaining unshaken under the scrutiny of ten thousand spectral eyes.

“I, Dharma-Transmitter Feng.”

“My vow to rescue the Xuanhuang Realm from its trials has never wavered.”

“It remains true today, and it shall remain true forever.”

He offered this summary first, speaking with a direct and unwavering clarity.