My Longevity Simulation Chapter 1101: Scheming Against the True Immortal in Secret

"Indeed, I kept the recollection of shattering her form earlier, and while forging her fresh vessel this round, I incorporated it..."

"Her face upon that initial awakening—you really ought to have witnessed it."

As Master Qiaogong continued his tale, excitement built within him. The source power essence buffer zone's steady buildup made the area around them light up bit by bit. Now he could plainly spot the looks cast his way by the others. That only fueled his smugness further.

"I ought to have realized sooner. If you're able to duplicate and store your own mind, then safeguarding mind copies of fellow Heavenly Mechanism Realm experts should pose no problem at all." Li Fan materialized abruptly, his cool voice making Master Qiaogong freeze up right away.

"Those from the Heavenly Mechanism Realm stand as unmatched prodigies in forging artifacts. The Federation of All Worlds desperately requires such skills at this moment; why would you keep them to yourself?" Li Fan's eyes sharpened with menace.

An uneasy grin was all Master Qiaogong could muster.

"How many more mind copies of others do you hold? Surrender them every one, and I'll overlook it. Or else..."

From Li Fan poured surges of murderous aura, pounding Master Qiaogong's chest with terror. He even felt an unseen colossal grip clamping his throat, almost choking the life from him. And that squeeze kept growing stronger.

Trapped like an insect in a spider's snare, he lay powerless to escape, resigned to a pointless doom. Master Qiaogong recognized this as the might of the True Immortal of Salvation and Mortal Compassion. Since swearing the vow to enter the federation, he'd been ensnared in the True Immortal's trap. Without exceeding its power, Li Fan, the higher-ranking emissary, could wipe him out merely by willing it so.

Thankfully, Li Fan truly didn't plan to end him on the spot. Right when Master Qiaogong's thoughts started to fade, the throttling pressure dissolved instantly.

Snatching back his chance at survival, Master Qiaogong heaved breaths, mopped the chill sweat off his brow, and quickly clarified: "Only the key members from the Elder Council, nothing more."

"I escaped so frantically then; that's all I managed to grab."

"The force of darkness holds deep enigmas; when the moment arrives, set them loose so we can examine it as a group," Li Fan remarked flatly.

Master Qiaogong had little option except to consent. Scarred by Li Fan's earlier scare, he acted far more compliant from then on.

After three days, the golden buffer zone stood complete. Staring at the dense shadows far off, sealed away entirely now, the group couldn't suppress another wave of awe for the Compassionate True Immortal's wondrous prowess. No matter its terror, the darkness force couldn't rival a True Immortal.

Despite these safeguards, the darkness force still risked spiraling out of hand. Li Fan saw no point in hauling it to the Spiritwood Realm for analysis. Instead, a fresh study outpost had sprung up here in the Dark Realm.

Qiaogong had freed all four elders from the Heavenly Mechanism Realm. It was then that Li Fan discovered the exquisite immortal puppet woman earlier was none other than Shangguan Tuo, the past head elder of the Heavenly Mechanism Realm that Qiaogong had referenced.

Shangguan Tuo had aimed to seize total command of the [Ancestor], so she staked everything by merging her divine soul with the [Ancestor]'s shattered core. She'd wisely made a mind copy in advance, of course. Yet her bold move almost toppled the whole Heavenly Mechanism Realm. It ranked as a severe offense.

So the elder council back then turned down any idea of restoring Shangguan Tuo. They just buried her mind copy away in secrecy. Ultimately, as the Heavenly Mechanism Realm faced ruin, Qiaogong snatched it along.

Li Fan hadn't foreseen that Shangguan Tuo served as Qiaogong's own teacher.

Qiaogong met the stares from the assembly without a flicker of unease. The remaining three Heavenly Mechanism Realm elders stayed mum about Qiaogong's deed, which smacked of disloyalty to his mentor and uprooting his lineage.

Once Li Fan questioned Shangguan Tuo on her wish for liberty, she denied it outright. That stirred Li Fan's interest sharply. His eyes shifted to Qiaogong, who quaked and rushed to defend himself.

"This really isn't connected to me much at all."

"Remember, these are just mind copies, after all. To prevent two versions of 'me' clashing fatally, this copy got its self-will curbed and can't fully match a real self. Solely the head elder holds the key to lifting those limits."

"Our Heavenly Mechanism Realm set this as a safeguard against folks hoarding mind copies en masse and threatening global safety."

"For me, though, with the Heavenly Mechanism Realm vanished, such worries don't apply anymore."

A touch of blatant arrogance slipped into Qiaogong's voice.

"So they're like lesser citizens in the Heavenly Mechanism Realm. That means they bow to you, the one above them?" Fang Zaiji rubbed his jaw and inquired.

Qiaogong affirmed with a nod. But catching Li Fan's look, he thumped his chest and vowed: "Have no doubts, Superior Emissary. Even if they rank a notch under me, their genius for research matches the originals exactly. United with us few, cracking the secrets of this darkness power won't prove tough."

"Very well, it's yours to handle."

Li Fan cared little for the Heavenly Mechanism Realm's inner workings. Provided they advanced his goals, that sufficed. With his orders issued, Li Fan ventured back solo to the Dark Realm.

Solitary amid the gloom. No dread stirred in Li Fan's core; he merely attuned himself calmly to the environment.

"Just as suspected. Amid these shadows, the sway of the Faceless True Immortal dims markedly."

"True, it won't grant total release, but for my needs, it's nearly a haven."

"Deep in the You Realm, [Truth] lets me return whenever I choose."

This realization eased the constant peril that had burdened Li Fan's mind at last.

"Yet hiding away forever won't work."

"This lifetime, armed with all this groundwork, I'm highly sure I can slip away unharmed from the Faceless True Immortal's duel with the Immortal Ruins Immortal."

"What path do I pick, exactly?"

For the first time this life, Li Fan settled into quiet reflection by himself. The enveloping dark, a veil hiding all, brought an unprecedented peace to his spirit.

"The Faceless True Immortal's essence haunts the Xuanhuang Realm without end; dodging it by steering clear holds no guarantee."

"Attaining a high enough level will surely catch His notice, no matter what. That's set in stone."

"Save for discovering a secure exit from the Xuanhuang Realm beforehand."

"Still, True Immortals lurk past the High Walls."

"No way out exists..."

A fierce spark ignited in Li Fan's gaze.

"Against a True Immortal, your frailty can sometimes turn into a strength."

"It lets you watch closely while they overlook you entirely."

Li Fan glanced once more at the abyssal dark encircling him.

"Take this swath of night. Suppose some entity lurks within, eyeing me, but its might falls far short of mine and offers zero danger..."

"How would I ever sense its presence?"