My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1099: Stealing Darkness to Seek a Chance for Survival

"Begging more often for the power of darkness opens up even greater vulnerabilities. This raises the risk of the darkness breaking through substantially."

With a steady demeanor, Li Fan broke down the key traits of the power of darkness.

One could easily picture that without the enigmatic force holding back the ocean of darkness, the entire Xuanhuang Realm would have been riddled with countless breaches from this relentless dark surge long before now.

"The Immortal Ruins gave birth to the ocean of darkness. So what hidden mechanism quietly thwarts this looming disaster without drawing any attention?"

Recalling Mo Rubin's frantic push to breach the Dark Realm, Li Fan grew nearly convinced that some link to the Xuantian King lingered within.

Maybe just echoes of his lingering might.

Or possibly...

The man in person.

From the You Clan, he picked out three youthful members and instructed them individually on the ceremonies to connect with the power of darkness.

The dark tide's presence inevitably sparked assaults from the power of darkness. Thus, Li Fan had no intention of conducting the ceremony right in his living space.

Luckily, he was aware of numerous unoccupied minor worlds.

After half a day, Li Fan pinpointed an ideal spot and slipped into it discreetly.

This minor world lacked any surface level.

Just vast subterranean tunnels stretching on forever. Faint illumination came solely from sporadic luminous fungi clinging to the tunnel walls.

It proved rather fitting for the You Clan to settle there.

Prodded by Fang Zaiji, the You Clan leader initiated the ceremony to unlock the gateway to the Dark Realm.

Next, Li Fan commanded him to take the lead.

Li Fan stayed back with Tianyang, Master Qiaogong, Liu Ruchen, and Fang Zaiji; the five gripped each other's hands firmly and trailed right after.

They plunged once again into the limitless dark domain.

Li Fan had grown somewhat accustomed to it by now.

Master Qiaogong and his companions, though, displayed obvious signs of strain and dread radiating from their forms.

Despite prior warnings and thorough mental readiness.

Full immersion in the environment still proved tough to endure without those feelings creeping in.

Bound together, the party exchanged thoughts through divine sense.

"Do you detect any traces of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance folks in this place?"

Li Fan questioned the You Clan leader.

He responded in the negative.

"The power of darkness runs so deep. Even we, who dwell here for ages, struggle to make out our surroundings. Plus, I've been away from home for quite some time. Give me a moment to readjust, lord emissary..."

At those words, Li Fan fixed him with a sharp, suspicious gaze.

Thankfully, it turned out to be mere paranoia on his part.

Soon enough, the You Clan leader managed to gauge the general bearing.

"Stick with me. Up ahead lies our old dwelling spot. If the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance has planted their base here, they'd pick that location without doubt."

Through the obscurity, they pressed onward for an indeterminable stretch.

The You Clan leader halted abruptly.

"Sure enough, intruders are present, and in decent numbers. The sea of darkness feels disturbed, rippling with disorderly waves." He informed Li Fan and the rest, his voice laced with deep resentment.

Only then did Li Fan realize.

The strange throbbing he'd picked up from Mo Rubin's remains during their last visit appeared to have faded away.

And overhead in the gloom, no sense of orientation was possible.

"Looks like we'll have to probe for hints at the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance's outpost."

Li Fan mused inwardly.

"Any idea on the count of people there?"

The You Clan leader probed briefly.

"Likely about five. Their power levels match this one's..."

He meant Liu Ruchen in their midst.

"You can really gauge our cultivation levels?" Fang Zaiji inquired with interest.

"Not out there, of course. But within this sea of darkness, it's effortless for us You Clan folk." The You Clan leader replied, a touch of smugness in his tone.

"Think of it like varying weights of items stirring up distinct shifts in water. He probably reads it that way." Master Qiaogong stared into the surrounding infinite void and clarified.

Fang Zaiji got it then.

"What exactly are the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance people up to in there?" Li Fan pressed, brow furrowed.

"We ought to edge nearer."

After a brief consideration, Li Fan consented: "Don't push too hard. This isn't the moment to confront the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance head-on."

Having clashed with the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance in the past, the You Clan leader well knew the dreadfulness of their prowess.

He nodded in agreement, then crept forward gradually.

“This is...”

“How dare they!”

The You Clan leader's feelings surged wildly all of a sudden.

Good thing they lurked in the Dark Sea, evading notice from the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance group.

The You Clan leader broadcast the vision he perceived.

A handful of pale figures arranged in a ring.

At their core swirled a tiny whirlpool of shadowy essence.

This whirlpool stayed minuscule, barely shy of palm-sized.

Its form looked odd too, with the hub tilted skyward, bucking the norm of typical swirls encountered daily.

Yet the cluster of Dao Integration experts from the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance watching over it appeared utterly on edge.

“What’s that thing?” Fang Zaiji wondered aloud, puzzled.

“They’re plundering the mighty power of darkness!” the You Clan leader spat through clenched teeth.

The revelation stunned Li Fan and his allies.

“Despite the Dark Sea’s own barriers, these vile pilferers can’t be halted!” The You Clan leader yearned to charge in right then and halt the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance’s scheme.

Luckily, rationality held him back, limiting it to words alone rather than deeds.

“What’s your take on this?”

Gazing at the mental image, Li Fan consulted the team.

“The darkness power strays from the Immortal Ruins. Evidently, the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance isn’t content with mere trickles seeping out via the tides; they aim to siphon off vast quantities of dark power.”

“Looks like they couldn’t hold back from the urge to flee the Immortal Ruins after all.”

Liu Ruchen, privy to the relayed details from Li Fan, let out a quiet sigh.

“Not sure what trick they pulled to form that vortex. Couldn’t be they sacrificed a minor realm to lure in the darkness power, could it...” Fang Zaiji remarked offhandedly.

The moment the words left him, he froze in realization.

“Wouldn’t rule it out. A minor realm holds little worth anyway. If it pulls in such enormous darkness power, sacrificing it would pay off big time,” Master Qiaogong asserted assuredly.

“Superior Emissary, why not copy the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance’s approach?” He went so far as to propose Li Fan try it.

“I sense that blending this darkness power with source power essence for immortal puppets could elevate them immensely, forging genuine True Immortal Puppets.” A zealous edge colored Master Qiaogong’s voice.

Though Li Fan harbored akin ideas, he held off on endorsing it.

Instead, he queried the You Clan leader about detecting any leftover traces of fallen cultivators’ bodies close by.

“Huh? Hadn’t the lord emissary brought it up, I might’ve overlooked it.”

“Yet this doesn’t feel like a full corpse.”

“More akin to a hollow husk.”