My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1081: The Sole Sanctuary

Neither the Heavenly Sword Sect nor the Emperor Yi demon beast clan that set off into the distance left any trace in the future Xuanhuang Realm. No word of them ever surfaced again.

From Li Fan's perspective, this escape route ranked as the one he'd least want to pursue. The High Walls cut off the inner world from the vast starry sea beyond. Stepping past those barriers would likely sever all ties to the Xuanhuang Realm for good. As a result, success or failure of such a flight could never be confirmed.

Beneath the intense energy surges from the Rift Realm, failure might leave no opening to trigger [Truth]. Neither Li Fan's primary form nor his duplicates could truly test if the Rift Realm offered a viable path. That's why he'd always dismissed this option with scant attention.

"Fleeing via the Rift amounts to nothing more than a band of cowards running away. The Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable's judgment would never back such a scheme."

"If I stood in the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable's place and discovered a bunch of defectors scheming to abandon my domain, how would I respond?"

Traveling toward Nanming Mountain alongside Xu Ke, Li Fan mulled over the question deeply.

The journey mirrored the scenes from his prior illusory trials. Yet this round, shielded by Mr. Bai's wooden carving, proceeded even more flawlessly, free of any threats, leading them to arrive without a hitch.

Led by the human form split from Emperor Yi, they entered the demon beast clan's grand Ten Thousand Demons Assembly.

Amid the roaring acclaim from demon beasts chanting "We will forever support Emperor Yi," the gathering came to an end.

Emperor Yi's response stayed true to form. After uttering a string of cryptic, baffling phrases, it separated a dull gray orb and passed it to Xu Ke.

"You may leave now."

Emperor Yi then commanded their departure.

"Hold on a second."

Right then, Xu Ke piped up once more.

"Hmm?" The Emperor Yi beast appeared mildly taken aback. Still, it waited calmly for Xu Ke to speak his piece.

"Senior, out of all these demon beasts here, how many do you reckon truly want to trail after you and depart?"

"All because of some hazy, baseless notion of calamity, they have to forsake the Xuanhuang Realm, this heavenly haven."

Emperor Yi's human form creased its brow: "I don't require their genuine loyalty. Obeying my directives is enough."

"Should they outright defy me, I'll simply devour the lot of them!"

Xu Ke grinned, exuding a sage-like poise far beyond his youth: "Earlier, Senior mentioned that across the endless future, countless paths unfold. So why are you so sure this calamity dooms the Xuanhuang Realm, with escape as the sole faint hope for survival?"

"Isn't there even a single timeline where the Xuanhuang Realm endures and stands as the ultimate sanctuary through every era?"

"Wouldn't you seize action for that faint chance?"

Xu Ke's gaze brimmed with insight, almost shimmering, fixed unyieldingly on Emperor Yi.

Such lines clearly exceeded what Xu Ke, at his tender age, could muster. And the foolish bird dozing noisily atop his head... It couldn't possibly supply these notions either.

"So that's his aim?"

Emperor Yi, aware of who dispatched Xu Ke, now pondered those statements with gravity.

Noticing the shift, Xu Ke followed up: "Since Emperor Sanmo once broke away from the demon beast ranks to align with humanity long ago. Then now, surely some can divide between exodus and endurance, to protect the Xuanhuang."

"This split was bound to happen regardless. Yet with your endorsement, Senior, it gains proper weight."

Emperor Yi's beastly shape peered through the window at the demon beasts, their faces a mix of emotions, deep in reflection.

"Intriguing."

"Then linger a while longer before departing."

With those words, Emperor Yi's human form faded gradually from sight.

Xu Ke and Li Fan turned their eyes to the still-active assembly hall.

Emperor Yi abruptly summoned over thirty demon beasts, [Red Nine-Headed] among them.

Though its words remained unheard, the demon beasts' expressions shifted from terror to doubt, then to wild delight.

Li Fan sensed only Emperor Yi's remote stare lingering on him briefly before turning elsewhere.

Seven days passed.

Hovering over Nanming Mountain.

“What? You expect us to heed this puny child?”

The Red Nine-Headed, now in human guise, eyed the small Xu Ke and scowled in clear annoyance.

The assembly loomed large and formidable. Over three thousand transformed demon beasts made up the throng. Right now, they all exuded killing intent, glaring daggers at Xu Ke.

Xu Ke gulped nervously but, bolstered by Li Fan's nudge, gave a firm nod: “Though Senior Emperor Yi permitted your choice to remain in the Xuanhuang Realm, the sole stipulation is absolute obedience to my directives.”

“Naturally, I won't issue absurd orders. I'm merely concerned you'll stir trouble in human cultivator lands, so show some self-control.”

While speaking, Xu Ke drew a circular disc from his robes.

The disc's emergence instantly quelled the leaking hostility from the horde of demon beasts. Outwardly, at least, they fell into line.

“Alright, with the Beast Taming Wheel in your grasp, you lead,” Red Nine-Headed remarked through gritted teeth with a strained grin. “But kid, we'll obey your commands. Still, there has to be an end date, yeah? We won't serve as your eternal thralls.”

“Hahaha, no need to fret over that. This brat can last maybe a few millennia at best, while us demon beasts endure well past ten thousand years without issue.”

“We'd better watch him closely. Don't let the little guy kick the bucket prematurely!”

...

The demon beast crowd erupted in mockery.

Xu Ke kept his expression rigid, ignoring their barbs.

After their rowdy bout and noting Xu Ke's unflappable calm, the demon beasts settled and pressed onward.

In truth, the relocating demon beast faction dwarfed the mere three thousand or so out in plain view. Nearly every beast hauled kin along. They employed Cave-Heaven treasures akin to those sheltering clans opting to stay in the Xuanhuang Realm.

En route, additional demon beasts, hearing the call and eager to remain, streamed in to swell the ranks.

Upon approaching the Beast Taming Sect, their numbers had ballooned beyond ten thousand.

Mighty and overwhelming, demonic energy surged wildly. It resembled a full-scale demon beast legion on the march to battle.

Were it not for the Beast Taming Wheel from Emperor Yi to curb their presence, and Mr. Bai's wooden carving now and then drawing on Heavenly Dao might to veil them, the cultivators in traversed areas would surely descend into chaos.

Nevertheless, upon arriving at the Beast Taming Sect's entrance, this fearsome demon beast force still threw the unaware sect into utter turmoil.

“Foes incoming! Foes incoming!”

The piercing alert blared throughout the sect at once. Innumerable cultivators summoned their core spirit beasts and surged from every corner toward the gate.

“They're pathetic, utterly pathetic!”

“I couldn't have dreamed our Azure Dragon bloodline, tamed by humans, would sink to such frailty!”

“Hmph, without witnessing it myself, I'd never credit that demon beasts would bow willingly to humankind!”

“We hold the advantage in numbers, so why not...”

Xu Ke observed the demon beasts' mood souring subtly and felt a chill of sweat break out.