My Longevity Simulation Chapter 4: Immortal Spells and Swords

High in the sky, the two immortal cultivators were blindsided, taking the impact directly in their faces.

No carnage of blood and bone followed. Instead, concentric ripples shimmered in the air around them. An unseen barrier was neutralizing the torrential wave of bullets.

"Hmph, what sort of artifact is this?" Facing a sudden ambush by thousands of mortals, the two immortal cultivators remained perfectly composed. Kou Hong extended his right hand, telekinetically pulling a soldier into the air. He snatched the gun from the man's grasp to inspect it closely before carelessly tossing the soldier aside.

"Quite fascinating. It utilizes a sophisticated mechanical design rather than a spell formation, harnessing the explosive force of mortal materials instead of spiritual power. It actually possesses the destructive capacity of the early stage of Qi Refining…" Kou Hong grasped the gun's mechanics after a single look.

He shook his head dismissively. "I never imagined that after several millennia, the mortals exiled to the Immortal Extinction Land could develop such a clever device. Regrettably, it only functions in this realm devoid of the Great Dao. Beyond the Land of Immortal Extinction, it is nothing more than a heap of worthless copper and refined iron." With those words, the weapon in his hand vanished instantly, tucked away as if into thin air.

"As mere mortals, you have the audacity to strike against us immortal cultivators. Initially, I felt a flicker of guilt, but it seems you are simply courting death!"

Standing tall, Kou Hong peered into the darkness at the massive swarm of mortal soldiers, his eyes brimming with disdain.

His right hand traced intricate, complex patterns rapidly in the empty space before him.

Suddenly, countless sparks ignited in the dark, resembling a wildfire condensed into massive spheres of flame.

"Dao Art: Fire Dragon's Roar!”

As Kou Hong gave a chilling cry, crimson fire surged from the giant clusters that acted as focal points, burning outward in unison. Within moments, the flames took on the appearance of flesh and sinew, knitting the fire clusters together in the sky.

A terrifying dragon forged from scarlet flames manifested over Xuanjing City.

Raising its head, the fiery dragon let out a thunderous roar, coiled its massive body, and then plummeted toward the earth.

"Boom!"

Ear-splitting explosions erupted one after another.

The structures of Xuanjing City were like fragile toys, obliterated without offering any resistance.

As if possessed by a malevolent will, the red flames consumed and incinerated everything they touched upon impact.

In a heartbeat, Xuanjing City was transformed into a roaring inferno!

Yet, Kou Hong, the architect of this destruction, frowned with an expression of pure disbelief.

He realized that despite the devastation below, the vast majority of the soldiers had actually survived his assault!

One had to understand that the Fire Dragon's Roar he launched in his fury was executed with his full power.

The might of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator was not something mortals should be able to withstand!

Even if those soldiers were elite and had utilized protective gear or hidden within building ruins the moment they saw him cast the spell, the casualties should have been far greater!

What was happening?

Shocked and suspicious, Kou Hong suddenly realized something. With a flick of his wrist, he examined one of the tiny metal projectiles that had previously struck his body-protecting aura and fallen away.

"This is…" Kou Hong’s expression shifted violently. He scanned his surroundings with newfound alertness, his contempt turning into grim realization.

"These hidden weapons are drenched in mortal blood and tainted with Immortal-Mortal Miasma..." Dao Xuanzi’s voice reached him, his face equally pale.

"We were ambushed the moment we arrived. Furthermore, the enemy is employing Immortal-Mortal Miasma; they are clearly prepared for us. Could there be immortal cultivators directing these mortals from the shadows?" The pair exchanged a glance, numerous theories racing through their minds. "Regardless, this is a trap. We cannot stay here."

Though Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong were locked in a lethal feud over the Golden Core Technique, that was a private matter.

With the unexpected variable of thousands of mortals ambushing them, their century of shared history kicked in, and they both instinctively chose to retreat first.

Sensing their intent to flee, the gunfire that had paused during the Fire Dragon's Roar erupted once more!

This only confirmed the suspicions of Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong.

These mortals definitely had a calculated plan!

"Go!" Just as they were about to depart, a voice boomed from below.

"Dao Xuanzi! Kou Hong! If you run now, the secret of your Golden Core technique will be broadcast throughout the entire cultivation world!"

The voice resonated from every corner of Xuanjing City, its echoes piercing the night with relentless force.

It sounded aged, yet the tone was chillingly certain and cold.

Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi froze mid-air, their faces masks of shock and disbelief.

"How can this be? Only the two of us knew about the Golden Core Technique. How could the news have leaked?" For a moment, the two were gripped by an intense fear.

They had entered a hidden cave together, Kou Hong had snatched the manual and fled, and Dao Xuanzi had pursued him until Kou Hong desperately crossed into the Land of Immortal Extinction to find a way out…

They mentally reviewed every person they had encountered during this time.

Who was the informant?

As their focus wavered, dozens of shells trailing fire were launched from hidden positions in the darkness, streaking toward the duo.

“You seek death!" Kou Hong snapped out of his shock, his fury reaching new heights.

"Dao Art: Inferno Explosion!"

A massive ring of fire began to manifest out of thin air.

"It's a trap! Dodge, Kou Hong!" Dao Xuanzi’s voice screamed out in warning.

"What?" Kou Hong was momentarily confused, but as his divine sense swept the area, terror filled his eyes.

He tried to move, but he was too slow.

Dozens of projectiles detonated simultaneously around them.

There were no thunderous blasts; instead, clouds of dark red liquid erupted, creating a localized rain of blood that drenched both immortal cultivators!

"Aaaargh!"

Agonized screams pierced the sky.

Simultaneously, the powerful auras surrounding the two men began to rapidly fade.

After a brief, futile struggle, the pair could no longer stay aloft and crashed to the earth.

Thousands of armed soldiers immediately closed in on them.

The sight of the two "immortals" at that moment caused even these hardened death soldiers to feel a shiver of dread.

Initially appearing to be in their prime, Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong had been transformed by the blood rain. Their hair turned snowy white in an instant. Within a few breaths, they aged decades, their skin becoming a map of deep wrinkles.

The two men sat slumped on the ground, broken. Kou Hong looked to be on the verge of death, while Dao Xuanzi, possessing a slightly higher cultivation, was in marginally better condition, though he was barely clinging to life.

The once-exalted immortals had been reduced to this pathetic state!

Even Li Fan, directing the operation from the shadows, felt a strange chill when he received the report.

"Immortal masters, our Imperial Advisor has decreed: if you surrender now, your lives will be spared!" a soldier shouted toward the fallen pair.

“Surrender…" The mangled Dao Xuanzi looked at his comrade, whose eyes were filled with defiance. He tried to speak but found he couldn't. However, Kou Hong’s final gesture caused him to break into a bitter, cold laugh.

Seeing Dao Xuanzi’s reaction, Kou Hong knew exactly what his friend intended.

He gave a faint shake of his head, then used his final spark of strength to slide his storage ring toward Dao Xuanzi.

"Go…" Kou Hong’s lips parted slightly before his head slumped. He died in an instant.

Suddenly, a bizarre phenomenon manifested in the sky above!

A red, twisted dragon appeared in the heavens. It seemed to be in agonizing pain, thrashing and howling as if trying to shake off an invisible parasite.

But its efforts were futile.

It rapidly withered, and in heartbeats, only a husk of skin and bone remained.

Seconds later, the entire dragon was consumed, leaving nothing behind.

Only then did the observers see the culprit: a plain, brown tree branch that had rooted itself in the dragon and drained its essence!

An ordinary-looking branch had devoured a dragon!

This spectacular vision acted like a grand firework, lighting up the sky for thousands of miles.

Everyone who witnessed this—human or otherwise—felt a specific message manifest in their minds.

"Foundation Establishment Cultivator Kou Hong, with two hundred and five years of mortal cultivation, attained his Dao Foundation using the special item [Gnarled Dragon Branch]. In the Land of Immortal Extinction, he was besieged by thousands of mortals and poisoned by the Immortal-Mortal Miasma."

“His cultivation was stripped, and his lifespan was severed.”

“Now, in death, his Dao returns to the heavens!"

Grief, righteousness, and the struggle for transcendence…  

All living beings around Xuanjing City who saw the vision were swept up in these overwhelming emotions, unable to pull themselves away.

The magnificent display lasted nearly half an hour before finally fading away.

The soldiers eventually regained their senses and looked silently at the remaining, dying Immortal Cultivator.

"Immortal Master Dao Xuanzi, our Imperial Advisor does not wish for your death. If you cease your resistance, he guarantees your safety…" The soldiers resumed their shouting under Li Fan's orders.

From his hidden position, Li Fan sighed. He knew his plan to capture a living immortal in this lifetime had failed.

He had simply underestimated how devastating the Immortal-Mortal Miasma would be against cultivators.

Predictably, Dao Xuanzi ignored the calls to surrender.

He stared up at the fading vision with a look of profound nostalgia.

"Gnarled Dragon Branch..."

After a long silence, he lowered his gaze and forced his hunched body to straighten.

Scanning the area, Dao Xuanzi tried to locate the mastermind behind the scenes.

"I do not know who you are," he spoke, his voice reaching Li Fan. "Nor do I know your true aim."

"Perhaps it was for this Golden Core Technique, or perhaps something else entirely." Dao Xuanzi looked at the storage ring in his hand and spoke with eerie calm. "Now that my brother and I have been trapped and brought to our end by you, there is little left to say."

"But I am not resigned to this," Dao Xuanzi said coldly.

"To track us this far and know our secrets so intimately without being detected, your cultivation cannot be low."

“Yet, despite such power, you lacked the courage to face us directly. To use such schemes, to hide behind mortals, and to employ the Immortal-Mortal Miasma—a repulsive thing that all true cultivators loathe…"

Dao Xuanzi took a deep, steadying breath.

"My brother, Kou Hong, did not deserve to die like this!”

Dao Xuanzi slowly ascended into the air, once again assuming a position of dominance. He looked down at the soldiers who immediately braced themselves, his face devoid of any emotion.

"You have witnessed my brother's Foundation Building wonder. Now, I invite you to behold mine."

"With the wonders of heaven and earth, I establish my foundation!" Dao Xuanzi proclaimed loudly.

"My foundation is named Dao Xuan!"

A colossal, shattered iron sword manifested in the sky above Xuanjing City.

Every living soul beneath the shadow of that giant blade felt their thoughts turn sluggish and heavy, like rusted gears.

"I have but one sword; please, bear witness!"

The world was suddenly flooded with light, and everyone in Xuanjing City seemed frozen in a moment of absolute stillness.

Then, like glass spider-webbing under pressure, the entirety of Xuanjing City shattered into fragments in a single instant!

“[Truth].”

As his charging progress plummeted and his consciousness began to fail, Li Fan silently invoked the command in the depths of his heart.