My Longevity Simulation Chapter 3: A Mortal’s Desire to Capture Immortals

As the fiftieth year of his third life approached, Li Fan felt the passage of time quicken. He began executing his long-term strategy with cold, calculated precision.

Everything proceeded without a hitch, bolstered by the accumulated wisdom of two previous incarnations. Once again, he sat for the imperial examinations.

With decades of political acumen backing his brush, his essays were vastly superior to anything he had produced before. He swept the county, provincial, and imperial levels, taking top honors in each and becoming a scholar of worldwide renown!

Despite his youth, this fame secured him an official posting in Wen County.

Three years later, he returned to the familiar grounds of Wen County. This time, his rise to power was far swifter. Utilizing his prestige and his intimate knowledge of the local bureaucracy, he brought the region under his thumb with ease.

He immediately began elevating the loyal subordinates he had relied on in his past life, steadily expanding his network of influence.

Simultaneously, he provided craftsmen with blueprints for flintlock pistols. He personally guided them through the technical hurdles he remembered from before, while sending agents to recruit master artisans in secret to pioneer even more sophisticated weaponry.

The mountain mines were also a priority. Li Fan purged the bandits near Wen County, forcing the survivors into hard labor within the pits. Using these mineral resources, he established hidden mountain workshops for the mass production of steel armaments. To fund these operations, he organized merchant caravans to trade across the realm.

Four years in, Li Fan’s secret search finally located Emperor Xuanjing’s body double. This decoy had nearly ruined his assassination attempt in the previous life. Fortunately, his natural caution and numerous contingencies had saved him then. Now, Li Fan spent six months personally training the double until the man was indistinguishable from the original.

In the fifth year, a catastrophic drought struck Jiangnan. Li Fan ordered his men to infiltrate the starving masses and lead an assault on the Prince of Langya’s estate. Publicly, Li Fan led a valiant rescue effort; privately, he directed his agents to slaughter the Prince and his entire lineage. In the chaos, he substituted the Prince with his own trained double.

From that moment on, the Langya estate belonged to Li Fan.

The massacre of the Prince’s family, with the Prince himself as the lone survivor, sent shockwaves through the empire. The Emperor’s fury resulted in a military crackdown on the refugees, while Li Fan was rewarded for his "heroism" with a promotion to Governor of Jiangnan Province.

Though his power grew, Li Fan became increasingly discreet. He halted his outward expansion, choosing instead to focus on technological advancement under a low profile.

The scheduled locust plague arrived in the seventh year. Thanks to Li Fan’s foresight, Jiangnan remained unscathed. He then petitioned the throne to distribute imperial grain to the starving provinces, a request that was granted.

This maneuver won him the hearts of the people. Countless refugees migrated to his territory, further strengthening his foundation.

In the ninth year, the wedding between the Prince of Langya and the Chief Grand Secretary’s granddaughter took place. That night, Li Fan infiltrated the bridal chamber, terrifying the new consort. Upon hearing that Li Fan had murdered the real Prince and replaced him with a puppet, she cursed him as a traitor. Li Fan merely laughed, demanding she recount the "outrage" in a letter to her grandfather.

Armed with that letter and disguised as a messenger for the Prince, Li Fan slipped into the capital for a private audience with the Chief Grand Secretary.

With absolute composure, Li Fan admitted his control over the Langya estate. Though shaken, the Chief Grand Secretary maintained his dignity and asked Li Fan’s price.

Li Fan pointed out that the Imperial Advisor’s long tenure had created many enemies. Given the incompetence of the Secretary’s sons, the family’s wealth would vanish once the old man died. Li Fan promised to ensure the family's eternal safety and status in exchange for a single favor at a critical moment.

After a long silence, the Chief Grand Secretary asked what the favor entailed. Li Fan only smiled, stating he would know when the time came, and vanished into the night.

Ten years into his life, the Consort of Langya bore a son—Li Fan’s own flesh and blood. He sent a letter to the Chief Grand Secretary to announce the news.

Fifteen years in, the Emperor fell deathly ill. Summoned by imperial decree, Li Fan accompanied the "Prince of Langya" to the capital, traveling at breakneck speed.

Once his puppet ascended the throne, Li Fan utilized the sovereign's authority to purge the court and install his own men. With the Chief Grand Secretary’s quiet cooperation, Li Fan’s takeover was absolute and unchallenged.

By the sixteenth year, rebellions flared across the provinces. Li Fan used the unrest to embed his loyalists within the military, using their victories to secure rapid promotions. Within four years, the entire army answered only to him.

Two decades in, as the realm stabilized after the transition of power, Li Fan eliminated the fake Emperor with poison, removing the final potential liability.

After placing his own son on the throne, Li Fan assumed the title of Imperial Advisor. He stepped out from the shadows into the light of the court, wielding supreme authority over the land.

Under his command, the technological progress of the Grand Xuan Kingdom accelerated at an unprecedented pace.

In the thirty-fifth year, at the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion.

Li Fan studied a confidential report, his brow furrowing as he processed the contents.

"You are certain the mists over the Ruins Abyss clear for only half a day every fifteen years?"

"Reporting to the Imperial Advisor, it is exactly as you say. Our Immortal Seeking Battalion kept watch over the abyss day and night as ordered. Success finally came a few days ago." The official knelt, his voice trembling with lingering shock. "When the fog lifted, a faint radiance emanated from the depths. We observed it through telescopes and witnessed sights beyond imagination."

"Though reports vary, they described a mountain range with thousands of peaks and magnificent structures nestled among them. There were massive cities on the plains housing millions, and even a floating city bathed in light, surrounded by exotic birds and mythical beasts. It was..." The official hesitated before whispering, "Truly miraculous."

"So they really originate from the Ruins Abyss." Despite his long-held suspicions, hearing it confirmed sent a thrill through Li Fan. However, his years of power had granted him an iron mask of self-control.

He asked coolly, "Is there a path to the bottom?"

The official’s face paled as he struggled for breath. He kowtowed deeply. "Your subordinate is useless. We attempted many descents, but at a certain depth, an astral wind shreds everything. It is so fierce that even our strongest steel armor is torn apart instantly."

Li Fan showed no disappointment.

Dismissing the official with a wave, Li Fan murmured to the empty room, "It seems I must still wait for your arrival."

......

The 50th year. Grand Xuan Kingdom, Xuanjing.

The capital, once a bustling metropolis, was now hauntingly silent.

A month prior, Li Fan had decreed a mass evacuation to neighboring cities, citing an impending disaster. While many were skeptical of this absurd excuse, Li Fan did not use force. He merely advised those who stayed to hide in underground bunkers. Most treated his warnings as a joke.

When the reports reached him, Li Fan ignored them. He had fulfilled his duty to the people.

Hidden within the alleys of Xuanjing were his elite special forces—units he had spent decades training specifically to combat the two immortals.

The stage was set. All that remained was for the actors to appear!

That night, under a luminous moon, the two cultivators arrived exactly as predicted!

"Dao Xuanzi! You have pushed me too far!"

Kou Hong’s furious roar echoed through the empty streets of the capital.

“Ratatatatat...”

Suddenly, the darkness was shattered by flashes of gunfire. Tens of thousands of bullets erupted like a torrential downpour, converging on the two immortals in a singular, devastating volley!