My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1090: A Millennium Later, Xu Ke

To Li Fan's astonishment, those individuals who had just cleared the Oath of the Dharma-Transmitter, despite losing their executive roles, stayed embedded in the heart of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's power structure. Rather than departing, they received oversight privileges to bolster the Dharma-Transmitter Council.

Evidently, Jiang had come to understand the flaws among the Dharma-Transmitters following this event. Without proper checks, similar troubles were bound to crop up again down the line.

"I wonder whether Mo Rubin can truly overcome the trial set by the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable."

"Sharing a few insights about the trial's illusion with the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance won't cause any harm. They've already grasped the way to step inside it, after all. Given the vast resources at the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's disposal, they'll eventually pinpoint the right people to venture into the illusion."

With that in mind, Li Fan sent a broad summary of the illusion's opening sequence, [Ning Yuan Obtains the Lifespan Fruit], over to Dharma-Transmitter Zhou. Yet, he skipped any mention of his own successful completion of the test. Instead, he spun a tale based on the probable storyline for a novice's initial dive.

While securing the Lifespan Fruit, he suffered grave wounds from Manager Song. Though Senior Brother Zhang shielded him just enough to save his life, he slipped into unconsciousness and stayed in a foggy, disoriented state throughout the day. Then, one evening, some unknown force took hold of him, plunging him into total blackout.

Soon enough, Dharma-Transmitter Zhou responded with grave seriousness: "The details you've shared, Fellow Daoist, are invaluable. They'll prove immensely helpful in our future probes into the illusion."

In appreciation, Dharma-Transmitter Zhou, speaking for the Dharma-Transmitter Council, awarded Li Fan an honorary role as a senior elder within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. It carried zero real power, yet it granted unrestricted entry to the Alliance's central hub whenever desired, with clearance just a notch below that of a full Dharma-Transmitter.

"That said, Fellow Daoist, you can't actually take up this senior elder post. Remember, to the other Dharma-Transmitters who remain in the dark, Jiang has supposedly put you to death for your false charges," Dharma-Transmitter Zhou cautioned.

Strengthening ties between the two factions through such a symbolic gesture was undoubtedly a smart move. Still, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance could never suspect that the mighty Federation of All Worlds was nothing more than Li Fan's solo operation.

Over the year-plus that Li Fan had secluded himself and gone off the grid, the Federation's affairs had chugged along smoothly. Development followed the set plans without a hitch, with regular updates compiled and sent his way.

He quickly scanned through the various reports. The one that grabbed his interest the most came from the empire.

They had at last pinned down the exact spot of the minor world housing Xu Ke!

An aged man with weathered features, lugging a coffin strapped to his back. The description lined up perfectly with the vision Li Fan recalled from before. Though the imperial daughter buzzed with thrill at locating her forebear, she kept her head clear and stuck to Li Fan's directives, avoiding any rash solo encounter with Xu Ke.

"In that case, I'll head over to see him myself. Mr. Bai's backup scheme still piques my curiosity quite a bit."

"Qinghui Prefecture."

Li Fan made a beeline for the designated area. "Shifting into the seven-colored divine light grants incredible velocity, yet it can't hold a candle to the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable's power to manifest anywhere with mere intent."

Back from the trial illusion—where he'd briefly inhabited Mr. Bai's form—the return to the real world hit Li Fan with a sharp disparity, stirring a subtle pang of emptiness. A quiet twinge of sorrow even flickered in his chest.

As soon as that feeling surfaced, Li Fan's thoughts snapped into focus. He promptly activated the Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Mantra to purge it. But this time, the technique that never failed him before let him down completely.

"Hmph. Nothing in this Xuanhuang Realm deserves my sorrow. I'd toss away even a supreme immortal treasure like yesterday's trash!"

"Just a Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable, attempting to rattle my Dao heart?"

The realization struck that, once [Truth] kicked in, he could seize all these missed chances afresh. In a flash, the faint jarring sentiments in Li Fan's mind evaporated entirely.

"The Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Mantra sets me apart from fellow cultivators ever since I stepped into the Fallen Immortal Realm. Even in its earlier form as the Xuanhuang Heart-Refining Mantra, it probably served as a unique tag for the Fallen Immortal Realm to track me."

"When the Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable factors in, it breaks down right away. Looks like even origins shrouded in mystery can't be wholly relied upon. Ultimately, a cultivator must stand on their own."

A shadow of unease crossed Li Fan's gaze.

"Xuanhuang Heart-Refining Mantra..."

Up until now, Li Fan had never considered passing this technique to anyone else. But this small setback jolted him into reflection.

"Handing it off to the right individual, spurring them to claim the mantle of Great Xuanhuang Celestial Venerable—or to harness the immortal spiritual energy and breach the High Wall—either path holds real promise."

Countless faces raced through Li Fan's mind in quick succession. As he mulled over potential heirs, he reached Xu Ke's secluded spot.

"This area... It reminds me of Nine Mountains Prefecture, shaped from the corpse of a mighty demon beast."

Right at the small world's gateway, Li Fan picked up on a recognizable energy. In the trial illusion, after more than ten years mingling with demon beasts, he'd developed a sharp instinct for their presence. Even here in the actual world, he could still sense the faint traces of demon beast essence.

"Such is the expansion of one's awareness."

With a swift motion, he unraveled the array barriers guarding the small world's entry. Li Fan slipped inside without a sound.

The empire's intel proved spot-on: this minor realm stretched out as a desolate Gobi wasteland. A dull gray haze blanketed the horizon in every direction. Far off, a colossal stone peak thrust toward the skies, as if linking mortal ground to the heavens—undoubtedly the sole landmark in this barren domain.

Li Fan's attention locked onto it immediately. There, atop the mountain's crest, perched Xu Ke.

Attempting to soar upward, Li Fan was taken aback to find flight impossible. It wasn't a limit of his own power, but the unique laws governing this small world. He could push through by force, sure, but it'd invite retaliation from the small world's heavenly dao.

Li Fan preferred not to kick things off on a hostile note. Instead, he tilted his head skyward, his vision slicing through countless li of barriers to fix straight on Xu Ke at the summit.

The silver-haired senior felt the scrutiny and turned his eyes toward Li Fan. Their stares locked.

In the blink of an eye, Li Fan advanced. No flight involved—he rent the fabric of space itself, materializing next to Xu Ke. His face stayed composed, while twin spatial tears hung in the air at his origin and arrival points, slow to fade.

"Fellow Daoist Xu Ke?"

Li Fan wasted no time, calling out the elder's name outright.

Xu Ke betrayed no shock at Li Fan's abrupt arrival. He countered plainly: "Do you recognize me from the Fallen Immortal Realm?"

At those words, Li Fan's eyes narrowed. For once, his go-to strategy of grabbing control had backfired.