My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1088: Xuanhuang Outer Void
Previously on My Longevity Simulation...
While the Xuanhuang Realm possesses far greater might than typical cultivation worlds, it might still fail to endure the ferocious immortal spiritual energy that bursts forth during an immortal artifact's explosion. Furthermore, setting it off inside the Xuanhuang Realm would surely draw the attention of those ancient fiends lurking within.
Once he steadied his thrill, Li Fan swiftly grasped this crucial detail.
“So, we have to venture beyond the realm?”
Li Fan naturally glanced toward the heavens. The Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's awareness, pushing him mentally, appeared to validate his thought. Yet, a flicker of uncertainty stirred in Li Fan's mind: so far, he hadn't encountered any real challenge in this trial from the Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable.
In contrast to the initial three phases, this fourth one—which could well be the ultimate challenge—had shown no hurdles thus far. By simply proceeding step by step with care, anybody could attain the advancement Li Fan had reached.
Afterward, traversing the emptiness and triggering the immortal artifact at a safe distance from the Xuanhuang Realm ought to pose little issue, bolstered by the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable's enhanced physique.
“Regarding the detonation of the immortal artifact and gaining the strength to surpass the Immortal Wall, should someone genuinely opt to depart, they would probably forfeit their chance to ascend as the Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable. It is only through a genuine choice, mirroring what Mr. Bai accomplished in the annals of history—defying the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's intent and staying within the Xuanhuang Realm—that true success as the Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable becomes possible...”
“But is it truly that straightforward?”
This was the Fallen Immortal Illusion, after all; even if someone decided to explode the immortal artifact and breach the High Wall, what would follow?
Beyond the high wall stretched a taboo territory beyond the reach of the Xuanhuang Great Celestial Venerable's influence, an utterly mysterious realm. One could presume that, similar to the Immortal Scroll Edict, the Fallen Immortal Realm wouldn't appear outside the High Wall. Upon returning to actuality, one would remain situated in the Xuanhuang Realm.Would any rational individual select to abandon the Xuanhuang Realm? Then, what purpose did this trial serve?
Carrying these lingering queries, Li Fan silently soared away from the Xuanhuang Realm.
Unlike the intense draw of the Immortal Ruins thousands of years ahead, its pull remained mild during this era. Given Mr. Bai's prowess that eclipsed standard Longevity Immortals, fending off the Immortal Ruins and navigating the void proved far from arduous.
As he raced across the void, the silhouette of the Xuanhuang Realm trailing him shrank steadily. Eventually, it faded entirely into the shadows.
All around lay absolute obscurity. Solely the remote tug from the Immortal Ruins signaled to Li Fan that this wasn't mere fantasy.
“So this is the Darkest Star Sea...”
A profound sense of isolation and icy chill slowly crept into his core. Scanning the surroundings yielded no variation at all. Regardless of how rapidly Li Fan dashed forward, the vista encircling him remained utterly static. This even led Li Fan to wonder if he was actually progressing or merely looping endlessly.
“Lacking Dao markers or a Void Latitude and Longitude Positioning Instrument, depending purely on the flesh to cross the cosmic void is truly quite impractical.”
Li Fan quietly tracked the passage of time internally. Following three days of maximum-speed flight and sensing an adequate separation, Li Fan at last halted. Amid the boundless gloom, Li Fan stood alone.
He withdrew all thirteen plundered immortal artifacts. Though now distant from the Xuanhuang Realm and bereft of the world's inherent backing, which weakened his power slightly, he could still just about shatter and ignite the immortal artifacts.
Spiritual energy churned fiercely inside him, initially flooding into the Desolate God Seal. It felt like innumerable massive mallets pounding it savagely.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The savage force burst into the void, yet it didn't extend far before the infinite darkness devoured it. No disturbance rippled outward.
Beneath Li Fan's unyielding barrage, fissures emerged on the Desolate God Seal's exterior, which wasn't especially resilient anyway. Threads of immortal spiritual power seeped from its depths.
Li Fan's morale surged, and he hastily pulled it into himself. It stayed separate from his personal spiritual energy and couldn't merge. However, with this added might, Li Fan distinctly sensed shifts within his form.
The clearest sign was... The whole Darkest Star Sea appeared to glow faintly brighter. His sight seemed to adjust bit by bit to the murk. He could now spot the tiny speck denoting the Xuanhuang Realm far in the rear.
“Is this the harbinger of [Crossing the Immortal Wall]?”
Even within the Fallen Immortal Illusion, an unexplainable thrill welled up in Li Fan's heart. He wasted no time, ramping up his efforts. Before long, he utterly demolished the Desolate God Seal.
Having wholly integrated the immortal spiritual power it held, Li Fan turned his spiritual energy strikes toward the next immortal artifact. This one was called [Great Sun Golden Bell].
Upon Li Fan lifting its seal, the Great Sun Golden Bell blazed with intense, dazzling radiance, resembling a genuine sun overhead. It lit up a broad swath of the encircling dark cosmos. Luckily, no dreadful entity from the shadows fixed its gaze on Li Fan in a horrifying manner.
Bathed in the glow, Li Fan verified that the area was truly just emptiness. He continued as prior, starting to dismantle the Great Sun Golden Bell.
A spiteful, poisonous wail resounded in Li Fan's ears, echoing persistently. Li Fan paid it no heed whatsoever, showing not a trace of doubt. As the Great Sun Golden Bell erased itself from existence, the immortal spiritual power in Li Fan's body intensified further.
The subsequent piece was the third immortal artifact, [Yin-Yang Hook Sword].
...
Having obliterated nine of the thirteen altogether. With the jubilant response from the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao echoing in his thoughts, Li Fan understood it was enough.
Now, the star sea before his eyes shed its total blackness. Rather, it displayed a strange, constantly morphing display of diverse shades. Those fleeting aurora resemblances that flickered in and out twisted oddly toward the Immortal Ruins' direction.
As his perception stepped into what felt like an entirely fresh domain, his frame also grew notably lighter. It resembled bobbing on water; a mere nudge could propel him free.
Engulfed in this groundbreaking sensation, Li Fan spent quite a while before shaking his head with a wistful breath: “What a shame that it all remains an illusion.”
“The mission is done. Time to head back.”
The instant this resolve formed in his mind, the ambient vista locked in place abruptly. Then Li Fan sharply perceived that, despite the apparent sameness, something had altered subtly.
“Hmm? Does this mean I've cleared the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable's trial?”
“This feels way too effortless.”
“Hold on, something's off?!”
Li Fan's eyes snapped toward the leftover four immortal artifacts. Shockingly, among them was the [Great Sun Golden Bell] he had unmistakably annihilated before!
“What's happening here?”
Li Fan squinted, aiming to collect the four immortal artifacts. But he froze upon realizing they were nothing more than phantoms.
“Is it possible that...”
A disbelieving theory arose in Li Fan's thoughts.
“I've already returned to the real world?”