My Longevity Simulation

Before the blood-robed man had even finished speaking, everyone suddenly felt a strange suction force appear above the circular floating landmass. It was as though a vortex had suddenly formed, pulling all of them into it.

Before being swallowed by the vortex, Li Fan inadvertently glanced once more at the stone pillar carried on the blood-robed man's shoulder.

At the instant the man had lightly patted the stone pillar just now, Li Fan had sensed it. A faint tremor had simultaneously occurred within the Dao Net.

"A Pillar of the Great Dao? Or perhaps, it is itself one of the Great Daos?"

"To be able to carry the Great Dao on his shoulders and appear so completely at ease. This person's strength..."

"I'm afraid he is no weaker than Nameless!"

Li Fan's heart tightened.

The invisible vortex swallowed all twenty-eight newly inducted Immortal Hunters.

By the time they recovered their senses, they were already in an unfamiliar starry sky.

Relevant information about this operation came through the Dao Net.

"The True Immortal is expected to arrive here in half an hour."

"Use the remaining time to discuss how we will conduct the hunt."

As everyone absorbed the information, they all looked toward the so-called "Immortal Bait" floating in the void and emitting strange fluctuations.

It was a quietly floating bronze coffin, surrounded by carvings of nine dragons and nine phoenixes.

What caused an inexplicable chill to rise in their hearts was that one corner of the coffin lid had already been opened by someone, though no one knew who. Intermittent whispers could be heard coming from within.

Although the sound originated from the bronze coffin, it seemed as though the whispers were appearing directly behind their ears.

Demonic whispers filled their ears. Although they did not seem to have any effect on everyone for the moment, since this coffin could actually attract True Immortals to cross the Star Sea without regard for the hardships involved, it clearly possessed something extraordinary.

Everyone silently observed it for a while. In the end, Dao Yuan, who had ranked first in the test, was the first to speak.

"Fortunately, I happen to know a little about the origins of this Immortal Bait. Allow me to offer what little knowledge I have as an introduction. If anything I say is inappropriate, I hope everyone will forgive me."

Dao Yuan's attitude was humble, and the surrounding people nodded one after another.

"As everyone knows, among the surviving True Immortals in the Star Sea today, there are roughly two things they seek. The first is comprehension of the Great Dao, in order to prove the Nameless Realm. The second..."

"Naturally, it is a method of avoiding calamities and escaping disaster. Back then, the Immortal Realm suddenly perished, and countless True Immortals died like ants. Those immortals who were fortunate enough to survive consequently became obsessed with finding ways to escape and survive. It is said that after the destruction of the Immortal Realm, the Nameless True Immortals gathered together and researched three miraculous methods of avoiding disaster."

Although Dao Yuan had said that these matters were common knowledge, judging from the expressions of the newly inducted Immortal Hunters, it was obvious that such secrets were far beyond what ordinary people could know. Most of them were deeply captivated and listened attentively.

However, some people were unimpressed by Dao Yuan's display of knowledge and merely sneered coldly.

"It is said that these three methods of avoiding disaster can protect living beings and allow them to survive every calamity in the world. Even a disaster as great as the destruction of the Immortal Realm could be survived safely."

"The bronze coffin before us is one of the three methods of avoiding disaster, the [Mystic Coffin of World Traversal]. This Mystic Coffin seems to be connected to other worlds. Once someone lies inside it, they will completely disappear from this world..."

At this point, someone could not help interrupting Dao Yuan.

"Completely disappear? If that is the case, how can we determine whether the person has actually perished or truly escaped to another world to avoid disaster?"

This was clearly the question in everyone else's hearts as well.

Dao Yuan smiled faintly and pointed at the carvings of nine dragons and nine phoenixes on the bronze coffin.

"Have you noticed these dragon and phoenix carvings? Once someone lies inside the coffin and disappears, the dragons and phoenixes will cry out together and ultimately reflect the scene of the world on the other side. It is said that without exception, those who appear there are overjoyed and clasp their hands in thanks. Presumably, even while sending the person inside the coffin to another world, some form of communication can still be maintained."

"As for whether these scenes are genuine... The countless True Immortals, and even Nameless True Immortals, who have eagerly sought after the [Mystic Coffin of World Traversal] already tell us enough."

Everyone sucked in a cold breath upon hearing this.

"Then the one before us..."

Dao Yuan smiled.

"Naturally, it is an imitation."

Although this was the answer they had expected, everyone still could not help sighing.

"From the moment the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal was created, its purpose was to help immortals avoid calamities and disasters. Thus, back then, several great beings with divine abilities joined forces and announced its existence to all surviving immortals throughout the world. They also passed down the coffin's aura fluctuations and the method of activating it."

"Those who were fated could enter the coffin and avoid the calamity."

Dao Yuan continued explaining in an unhurried manner.

Only then did someone among the newly inducted Immortal Hunters realize something.

"If that is the case, does that not mean that the powerful beings who originally forged the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal already used it to escape the world and flee to other worlds?"

Dao Yuan nodded.

"Exactly!"

"The Mystic Coffin was also the legacy they left behind. It is said that the true Mystic Coffins float through the Star Sea according to a special pattern, continuously emitting their proclamation fluctuations in all directions. Although we of the Shuo Star Sea have never seen a genuine Mystic Coffin of World Traversal, we have already been able to imitate the coffin's fluctuations..."

Suddenly, a cold laugh interrupted him.

"Brother Dao Yuan, how do you know that we of the Shuo Star Sea have never seen a genuine Mystic Coffin? For such a divine object, if you had never witnessed it with your own eyes, how could you imitate it so perfectly?"

Dao Yuan's expression, as well as those of the surrounding Immortal Hunters, changed instantly.

However, after uttering that mocking remark, the owner of the voice said nothing more. It was impossible to determine who had spoken.

Everyone secretly scrutinized one another, but they seemed unable to find anyone suspicious.

Seeing that the atmosphere had momentarily fallen into an awkward stalemate, someone stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Brother Dao Yuan, tell us about the other two methods of avoiding the world. We have only just heard such a secret, and we are truly curious!"

The others quickly echoed his words. Dao Yuan's expression also relaxed, and he spoke again.

"As for the other two methods of avoiding the world, I only know one of them."

"It is the [Reverse Flowing Boat]."

"The Reverse Flowing Boat?"

Everyone quietly savored the meaning of those three words.

Dao Yuan's expression became solemn.

"The long river of time surges endlessly, always flowing forward since ancient times. This Reverse Flowing Boat is said to be capable of carrying people upstream along the river of time, traveling back to a point before any of the calamities had occurred..."

"Ah!"

The shock brought by the Reverse Flowing Boat was clearly far greater than that of the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal. After all, reversing the flow of time was a dream desired by every living being.

Everyone's enthusiasm for discussion was immediately ignited, and they began talking among themselves.

"Brother Dao Yuan, was this Reverse Flowing Boat truly created by those True Immortals?"

"I say that is absolutely impossible. If they truly returned to the past, why has the fact that the Immortal Realm was destroyed not changed in the slightest?"

"Ah, that is because you do not understand. If one returns to the past and various details of history change, it would be like a river changing its course. Naturally, a different river would form downstream. We, however, would still be living within the original long river, so naturally we would be unable to perceive it."

"That is nonsense! According to what you are saying, should we not disappear as the long river of time changes its course? Why do we and everything in the world still exist?"

"This..."

"The principles of time have already surpassed the scope of what we can understand or imagine. There is no need for the two of you to argue so seriously."

"However, since Brother Dao Yuan speaks of it with such certainty... I'm afraid the existence of the Reverse Flowing Boat may not be false after all."

...

Everyone spoke over one another, each offering their own words.

In the end, Dao Yuan smiled. “Whether the Reverse Flowing Boat truly exists or not, I really cannot say for certain. Let alone me, even those seniors in the Shuo Star Sea may not truly know. It is merely a vague and ethereal rumor.”

Someone else asked, “The second method of avoiding disaster can already reverse the flow of the river of time. Then, as for the third method of avoiding the disaster, exactly what…”

The discussion about the Reverse Flowing Boat among the newly appointed Immortal Hunters came to an abrupt end. Everyone stared intently at Dao Yuan, waiting for his explanation.

Dao Yuan smiled bitterly. “As for this third method of avoiding worldly disaster, even among the immortals of that era, there were not many who knew its true details. However, everyone who knew its true nature firmly believed that it was the most perfect method of avoidance. If one could master that method, all the calamities and disasters in the world would be nothing more than fleeting clouds. That is true great freedom, great ease, and great liberation!”

As Dao Yuan spoke, a deep yearning inevitably appeared in his eyes.

Everyone present was the same.

Yet there was one person whose heart was shaken far more violently than the others upon hearing this.

It was Li Fan.

Because he had already learned of the existence of the annihilation calamity that would sweep across the entire mortal world from the countdown of [Truth], Li Fan had initially been filled with disdain when he heard about these so-called three great methods of avoiding the worldly disaster.

However, that disdain had already vanished without a trace after he heard about the first method, the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal.

By lying inside the Mystic Coffin, one could travel to another world. Clearly, this world was not as simple as another lower realm star sea. Almost instantly, Li Fan thought of the [Ancient Cang Primal Essence].

The Yao beast race could use it to cross possibilities. The True Immortals who had survived the Dao Annihilation Calamity might likewise possess the power to cross possibilities.

“If it merely allows random jumps between possibilities like those of the Yao beast race, then it probably would not deserve to be called ‘World-Traversal.’”

“If what Dao Yuan said is true, and every survivor who jumped across was overjoyed and expressed their gratitude…”

“Could it be that this Mystic Coffin can survey in advance, or even select, the possibilities it can reach?”

A thought stirred within Li Fan's mind.

The entire mortal world still had seven million three hundred and sixty thousand years of lifespan remaining.

In other words, there must still be possibilities that could survive for more than seven million years.

Although this number did not seem particularly long, compared with the [Yuanchu] possibility where Li Fan currently resided, which was already on the verge of death and could suffer the disaster of the Dao Annihilation Calamity at any moment, it could already be considered a long life.

If one could find such a paradise within the ruins of the destroyed Immortal Realm, it would be perfectly normal to be overjoyed.

…

If the existence of the Mystic Coffin of World-Traversal had merely caused Li Fan some surprise, then the existence of the Reverse Flowing Boat had shaken him to his core.

Of everyone present, Li Fan was the one most convinced that the [Reverse Flowing Boat] truly existed.

Putting aside the fact that Li Fan himself possessed such a strange treasure as [Truth], merely the [Kun-Qian Bone Hand] he had seen in the Xuanhuang Realm was enough to prove that the ancient immortals had already mastered certain divine abilities related to [Time].

“However, although one can reverse time, the descent of the Dao Annihilation Calamity is the momentum of the greater order. It is like the earth beneath the world. If the west is high and the east is low, then rivers will generally flow from west to east and pour into the sea. Even if one can repeatedly return to the source of a river and begin again, one cannot change the final outcome of the river flowing eastward into the sea.”

“Applied to reality, if one is ultimately unable to discover the true cause behind the eruption of the Dao Annihilation Calamity, then even if time is reversed again and again, it will all be futile. Moreover, traveling backward along the river of time must inevitably require an extremely painful price. Perhaps it can be done once or twice, but not three times.”

After this contemplation, Li Fan also understood the fundamental difference between his [Truth] and treasures capable of reversing time.

“When the Truth is made False, the Falsehood also becomes Truth.”

“With a single thought, one can create something from nothingness.”

“Even the concept of time exists because existence itself exists.”

“Let us use the eastward-flowing river as an analogy. My [Truth] is like being able to freely alter the terrain of the earth, and even the condition of the heavens.”

“Not only can I make all the rivers flow backward, I can even make the waters of the earth surge upward from below and rush into the heavens. There is nothing impossible about it…”

“Is this not precisely the great freedom, great ease, and great liberation that was spoken of?”

Although Li Fan already knew that the end of the mortal world existed, he was not particularly frightened.

Precisely because he believed that possessing [Truth] meant possessing the power to rewrite everything.

After witnessing the scene of the countdown to the apocalypse and its numbers leaping forward by tens of millions of times, Li Fan became even more certain of his judgment.

If there truly existed some great method of avoiding the world that could grant true great freedom, then perhaps the only one was [Truth].

Dao Yuan's words, however, awakened a hidden concern that Li Fan had long kept buried deep within his heart.

The scene he had once witnessed in the Darkest Star Sea, where True Immortals silently waited within the Xuanhuang Realm.

It seemed to indicate that the immortals of the past had already known of the existence of [Truth].

Just like the Immortal Hunters of today, they had already laid a trap within the Xuanhuang Realm.

It was only for some unknown reason that [Truth] arrived far later than expected.

This was what ultimately allowed Li Fan to escape that calamity.

Although this was merely one of Li Fan's conjectures, today, after hearing the rumors surrounding the [Reverse Flowing Boat] and the third method of avoiding the world, Li Fan seemed to have thought of a certain possibility, causing his mind to become incomparably solemn.

“The mortal world is probably a gigantic Xuanhuang Realm.”

“Just as everything that once happened in the Xuanhuang Realm. When disaster arrives, some people choose to flee at the first sign of danger, while others choose to stand forth and resolutely search for a way to save the world.”

“Still others simply give up, lying down and wasting away the rest of their lives.”

“Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. The secrets I thought were secrets may not have been truly secret at all.”

“It is merely that the group of people who happened to know them are already gone.”

Li Fan had never underestimated the power of immortals.

Especially those True Immortals capable of crossing possibilities.

“If one day I leave the [Yuanchu] possibility and travel to other worlds, I must be even more cautious.”

Dao Yuan's words had stirred Li Fan's thoughts into turmoil, making it difficult for him to calm himself.

Fortunately, the reactions of the others present were no better. Thus, he did not reveal any flaws.

“All right, let us return to the main matter. We have just received news that our target, that True Immortal, entered the Dao through [Yi].”

“What is [Yi]?”

“To look upon it and see nothing. We must be careful and guard against it.”

As Dao Yuan spoke, his gaze swept toward the distant horizon.