My longevity simulation

It was not that the flow of time itself had truly changed.

Rather, the rate of evolution of the Xuanhuang Realm surrounding the Boundless Mirror had expanded by countless times.

It was as if an acceleration switch had been pressed. Within a single breath, light and shadow flickered and alternated tens of millions of times.

The ancient Boundless Mirror visibly grew more weathered and aged.

One could even clearly see tiny gray particles, like grains of dust, drifting out from the Boundless Mirror, carried away by the wind before dispersing into the air.

One of Li Fan's divine soul incarnations had remained hidden within the Boundless Mirror for nearly an entire lifetime. It could be said that Li Fan understood the Boundless Mirror even better than its original artifact spirit, Sun Luyao.

Therefore, he could clearly discern the changes occurring to the Boundless Mirror.

"So this is the process by which the Xuanhuang world digests it..."

Although the shell of the Boundless Mirror was gradually dissolving, the power of the deduction laws contained within it lingered without dispersing.

Clearly, the level of an Immortal Artifact still exceeded that of the current Xuanhuang Realm. Thus, the Xuanhuang Realm did not possess the ability to completely digest it.

Space and time continued evolving at a speed multiplied millions of times over.

The ancient Boundless Mirror gradually decayed until only the mirror surface remained.

In the end, even that completely dissolved.

Only a phantom remained, quietly floating in the air.

As if sensing this free-floating Immortal Artifact law power, a mysterious transformation descended upon the Xuanhuang Realm.

The change was almost formless and invisible.

Yet with Li Fan's current strength and understanding of the Xuanhuang Realm, he could clearly see everything happening before his eyes.

A transparent human figure appeared beside the phantom of the Boundless Mirror.

The Passage of Shifting Times, Blue Seas Becoming Mulberry Fields seemed incapable of affecting it in the slightest.

The transparent figure drifted closer and gradually overlapped with the phantom.

It was as though it had swallowed the Boundless Mirror into its stomach.

Then, like ripples spreading across a water surface, the human figure slowly merged into the Xuanhuang world and vanished from Li Fan's sight.

From beginning to end, the figure never even glanced at Li Fan.

It was as if carrying away the law power of the Boundless Mirror was the only thing that mattered to it.

"A Spirit of Heaven and Earth. A type I have never seen before."

"And unlike all other Spirit of Heaven and Earth, cultivators who see it do not feel any greed or desire to devour it..."

Li Fan withdrew the World-Destroying Transformation divine ability and gazed into the distance.

He seemed to see that somewhere within the Xuanhuang Realm at this very moment, that transparent human figure had attached itself to a newborn infant.

As the child grew, a new Boundless Mirror would eventually be born.

However, it would no longer be an Immortal Artifact.

Instead, it would become a Heaven and Earth Wondrous object of the Xuanhuang Realm.

Under normal circumstances, for the Xuanhuang Realm to complete the entire process of digestion and transformation would require thousands or even tens of thousands of years.

Yet under the enhancement of Li Fan's World-Destroying Transformation, the entire process was completed in less than half a day.

Logically speaking, helping the Xuanhuang Realm consume an Immortal Artifact should have increased its favorability toward him somewhat.

But after waiting for quite a while, Li Fan noticed no increase in goodwill whatsoever.

After pondering briefly, he understood.

The transformation of Seas Becoming Mulberry Fields also represented a form of lifespan expenditure for the Xuanhuang Realm.

The gains and losses effectively canceled each other out.

Li Fan did not care much about this.

The increase in the Xuanhuang Realm's strength was real.

Every bit of growth in the Xuanhuang Realm would ultimately be reflected in the future Xuanhuang Immortal Spirit.

And he would always be the final beneficiary.

Retracting his gaze, Li Fan vaguely sensed that as the law power of the Boundless Mirror merged into the Xuanhuang Realm, a qualitative transformation was brewing.

"The Dao of deduction from the Boundless Mirror does not currently exist within the Xuanhuang Realm. Once the Xuanhuang Realm fully absorbs and utilizes it..."

"A Heavenly Dao capable of foreseeing the future. Interesting."

The Heavenly Dao likely possessed records of nearly all events that had occurred or were occurring within the Xuanhuang Realm.

With such an enormous quantity of information supporting it, its ability to deduce the future might even surpass the Boundless Mirror at its peak.

"This is the highest realm of deduction mentioned in the Nine Volumes of Derivation of Heavens of the Taiyan Sect, replacing human calculations with the calculations of Heaven."

"For the Xuanhuang Realm, devouring Immortal Artifacts is not merely a matter of increasing strength. More importantly, it is the completion of its laws. With each Immortal Artifact it consumes, it moves one step closer to becoming a true Immortal Realm."

A sudden realization surfaced in Li Fan's mind.

...

Ten days later.

The Great Xuan Dao Lecture Platform.

Yin Shangren, Hundred Flowers, Qiao Gong, and Xu Ke had already arrived.

All were waiting for Li Fan's appearance.

Their determination to seek the Dao had ultimately overcome their fear of the unknown risks ahead.

"The last time we traveled to the center of the Star Sea and back, it took nearly a month and a half. This time we're heading to the foot of the High Wall. I wonder how long it will take," Qiao Gong remarked.

"The Holy Teacher said that the fringes of the Star Sea are even more dangerous. It would not be surprising if the round trip took several years," Hundred Flowers replied with a frown.

Yin Shangren smiled.

"Think positively. Perhaps we'll encounter some disaster along the way and never return."

Qiao Gong and Hundred Flowers were both speechless.

As they continued discussing, Li Fan's figure appeared upon the Dao Discussion Platform.

Rather than immediately leading them on the journey, he sat cross-legged with a solemn expression and began teaching the Dao.

This time, what Li Fan taught was the Sword Dao.

"There are three kinds of Swordsmen under Heaven."

"The lowest level tempers the will through forged steel and cultivates the body through sharp weapons. The heart is sharpened through the sword, and body and sword become one. Wielding the sword to slay enemies, body and sword unite."

"Above that, the sword in one's hand becomes the sword in one's heart. The sword in one's heart may become the sword in one's hand. Wherever the mind reaches, all things between Heaven and Earth may become swords."

"The highest realm is the realm of No Sword and No Self."

...

After introducing the distinction between the three realms, Li Fan began explaining each level in detail.

The cultivators below the platform gradually became captivated.

Even Qiao Gong and the others found themselves drawn into Li Fan's teachings, temporarily forgetting their mission to the edge of the Star Sea.

As Li Fan's lecture deepened, numerous phenomena appeared in the sky.

The usual manifestations that accompanied every lecture need not be mentioned.

The most striking spectacle was the countless swords flying in from every corner of Great Xuan.

Though all of them were merely ordinary mortal iron swords, they now flew through the air as if paying homage to a king and holy teacher.

Suspended in the sky, the swords slightly bent their blades in salute.

More and more swords gathered, blotting out the heavens and forming a vast forest of swords above the platform.

Tens of thousands of swords stood silently, seemingly listening to Li Fan's teachings as well.

"The hand holds no sword, and the heart contains none. Though form is absent, intent remains forever..."

Seven days later, Li Fan spoke his final sentence.

At that moment, countless flying swords cried out in unison, erupting with dazzling radiance.

When the sword light faded, the cultivators on the platform were astonished to discover that every single sword had vanished.

Most cultivators did not understand what had happened.

They assumed the swords had simply returned to where they came from.

Only a few cultivators with exceptional comprehension stared blankly into the sky, seemingly gaining some insight.

"No Sword, No Self. Yet sword intent endures forever..."

Xu Ke murmured to himself.

He opened his palm.

A phantom image of a long sword appeared above it.

The other three saw this scene, and their expressions grew slightly solemn.

Just as they were about to discuss it among themselves, they suddenly heard Li Fan's voice:

"The preparations are nearly complete. It is time to depart."

"You should understand that this journey carries uncertain life and death. Once we begin, there can be no turning back midway." Li Fan gave them one final confirmation.

Everyone nodded to show they understood.

"Sword..."

"Rise..."

A gentle breeze swept past.

The phantom of a Wooden Sword, enormous like a giant flying vessel, instantly enveloped Yin Shangren and the others.

Li Fan stood at the sword's tip and pointed forward into the void.

The surrounding scenery abruptly transformed.

Everything stretched into countless twisted lines that raced backward. Then the light merged together, changing into distorted colors of every kind.

The Wooden Sword phantom isolated Yin Shangren and the others from the bizarre and dazzling sights outside.

Although they could sense that the Wooden Sword was carrying them rapidly toward the depths of the Star Sea, those within the phantom felt no change in speed whatsoever.

Beyond the Wooden Sword phantom, the flowing lights suddenly darkened.

Colors vanished, leaving only twisted shadows.

Yin Shangren's expression changed slightly.

"We have already left the influence of the Immortal Ruins?"

The only response he received was the shocked expressions of the other three.

"Weren't we told the journey ahead would be filled with danger..." Qiao Gong said in a strange tone.

They could vaguely sense that the Wooden Sword phantom was charging recklessly through the star sea, advancing without hesitation.

Ignoring the hidden calamity powers concealed throughout the void, it continued accelerating and accelerating again, racing toward its destination.

"No sword, no self. No sword, no self..."

"The sword never truly exists in this world. Even the power of the calamity that destroyed the Star Sea can do nothing against something that does not exist." Xu Ke stared fixedly at the wooden sword phantom, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

At this moment, Li Fan's voice sounded once more.

"The fact that you chose to follow me deep into the starry sky has already proven your courage and conviction."

"You have all struggled greatly to survive until now. Unnecessary sacrifices should be avoided whenever possible."

"Holy Teacher..."

The four looked at Li Fan's figure standing at the sword tip, their expressions complicated.

Li Fan paid no attention to what they were thinking behind him.

He was currently comprehending this sword flight technique that had nearly reached the ultimate limit.

Ten days earlier, after helping the Xuanhuang Realm digest the Boundless Mirror, Li Fan had made a trip to the ruins of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The Wooden Sword at the center of the Sword Tomb seemed to have become different as a result of the transformation of the Xuanhuang Realm in this lifetime.

Compared to when Mr. Bai casually created it thousands of years ago, the Wooden Sword now seemed deeper and more profound, as if tempered by the passage of ages.

"No one knows exactly how many immortal artifacts the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm has devoured."

"Perhaps some fragments of law power among them have completed the Xuanhuang Sword Dao..."

Li Fan had sensed and examined this Wooden Sword both in the Fallen Immortal Realm and in reality.

The insights he obtained from it were never the same.

Especially now.

After personally coming into contact with immortal spirit qi and personally laying down a world-destroying immortal formation, Li Fan found himself developing entirely new understandings when looking at the wooden sword again.

"The more one knows, the more one can see within it."

"Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the projection of the Sword Dao descending into the Xuanhuang Realm has become somewhat more vivid."

Li Fan spent seven days comprehending the Dao within the Sword Tomb.

He did not take away the black sword from the tomb, allowing it to continue receiving the influence of the Wooden Sword.

After returning, he imparted all his insights through the Dao Lecture Platform.

In the end, they were condensed into a divine ability that now carried Yin Shangren and the others as it rapidly fled toward the frontier of the Star Sea.

This phantom of No Sword, No Self was not merely pure Sword Dao.

It also incorporated Li Fan's own experiences, including the Transformation of Truth and Falsehood, the Hidden World, Concealed Void restriction taught by the Heavenly Doctor, and the Golden Chains Across the Sky from the Floating Across Starry Sky Grand Formation.

Not only was it unimaginably fast, but it also existed between reality and illusion, nearly ignoring the residual power of True Immortal seal script scattered throughout the journey.

However, it had not truly reached the realm of transforming reality into illusion.

The Wooden Sword phantom would still be affected by remnants of True Immortal power to some degree.

It was simply that its speed was so great that it exceeded the speed at which the residual True Immortal power could exert its effects.

This created the illusion that it was charging recklessly forward without obstruction.

As the sword bearer, Li Fan could clearly sense that the energy maintaining the Wooden Sword phantom was being consumed at a tremendous rate.

Had he not used the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven and the Xuanhuang World-Destroying Transformation as his Dao Foundation, granting him an incomparably profound foundation comparable to several cultivation worlds in scale, he would never have been able to sustain it this long.

"Looking across the entire Xuanhuang Realm, aside from the Immortal Ancestor and the Heavenly Doctor, even the few Longevity Immortals of the Five Elders Association may not be able to wield this sword."

Watching the rapidly shifting starry sky and spacetime around him, Li Fan could not help feeling a trace of satisfaction.

With the enhancement of the Wooden Sword phantom, a journey that originally required more than half a year now needed only two or three days.

The destination was already visible in the distance.

After spotting several familiar relics floating within the dead star sea, Li Fan began slowing down.

"So this is the Sea of Relics the Holy Teacher spoke of?" Qiao Gong narrowed his eyes as he looked ahead.

"It should be a gathering place of items left behind from various cultivation worlds after their destruction." Hundred Flowers recognized some decorative objects among the ruins and explained them to the others.

Yin Shangren, meanwhile, had remained silent ever since arriving here.

From time to time he pressed his temple, his expression dark and uncertain.

The Wooden Sword phantom slowly moved through the Sea of Relics.

Before long, it had passed beyond the region.

Ahead of them, an even larger conglomeration of ruins suddenly entered their field of vision.

It almost filled their entire sight.

Even though it consisted only of ruins and wreckage, the piled corpses of countless worlds still filled everyone with waves of dread.

Deathly silence settled over the wooden sword phantom.

Then, all of a sudden, it came to a stop.

"Hm?"

The group snapped awake.

They saw Li Fan leave the phantom and begin constructing a formation in an empty region between the Sea of Relics and the Wall of Remnant Worlds.

Golden lines emerged one after another, seeming to come alive as they rapidly traced countless patterns through the air.

After shining briefly, they disappeared into the darkness.

Various items flew out from Li Fan's body and merged into the formation.

At a single glance, one could tell this formation was extraordinary.

Despite standing so close, none of them could sense the slightest fluctuation from it.

"Fellow Daoist Yin, what formation is this?" Qiao Gong asked in astonishment.

Yin Shangren shook his head.

Yet his gaze was not focused on Li Fan's formation.

Instead, it repeatedly drifted toward the distant Wall of Remnant Worlds.

Li Fan showed no intention of hiding anything.

The formation he was openly constructing before them was naturally the immortal formation he had recently learned from the original soul of Xuantian Sect Dharma King Ji Yuzhen.

An Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away.

Ji Yuzhen herself was not skilled in formations.

She had merely witnessed the Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away Formation several times while following the Xuantian King.

However, with the support of the Final Dissociation Disc, Li Fan was able to roughly reconstruct it.