My Simulated Road to Immortality

Li Fan quietly assessed his surroundings.

After the Azure Abyss Pearl shattered and dissipated, it seemed as if an invisible, massive boulder had plummeted into the rift valley.

The undulating and labyrinthine currents of the Star Sea Depression carried ripples on their surface.

An inexplicable aura surged within them, bringing with it an unspeakable vitality to this place.

It seemed as if the complete dissipation of the Azure Abyss Pearl had triggered something.

Li Fan vaguely sensed that the rift valley here had somehow changed.

"It seems that for ten thousand years, the Azure Abyss Pearl has been continuously releasing its energy to the outside world. It was nearing its limit, on the verge of being utterly drained."

"Our nearing it was merely the final push." Li Fan sighed.

Mo Rubing also noticed this and his previously excited and slightly uncontrolled expression gradually relaxed.

He looked back over the entire rift valley and seemed to suddenly understand its significance: It accumulated life force, waiting for the right moment to trigger an action that could lead to the Star Sea's complete revival!

"Such exquisite engineering could surely not be a natural formation of the Star Sea. Not to mention there was the Azure Abyss Pearl serving as the primer for this life force..." Mo Rubing's thoughts raced.

"Could this be the doing of Xuanyuan Big Brother? But when exactly was it set up?"

"The Azure Abyss Pearl, being Xuanyuan Big Brother's most treasured possession, has never left his side. Yet it was lying here... while Xuanyuan Big Brother disappeared within that inexplicable pond."

Mo Rubing's expression was one of surprise and uncertainty.

"This matter is indeed very strange." Li Fan nodded and said, "Either, on the day when King of Mystic Sky was ambushed, he didn't disappear right away but fell into a deep sleep due to severe injuries. Only after waking up later did he arrange the layout of this rift valley. Perhaps the pond in the Xuanhuang World is connected to a crevice here."

"Or, before King of Mystic Sky was attacked, he had already handed over the Azure Abyss Pearl to someone else. Over the years, this person has been carrying out various plans related to the revival of the Star Sea on his behalf..."

"That's impossible!" Before Li Fan could finish, Mo Rubing interrupted him subconsciously.

Li Fan gazed at Mo Rubing with a meaningful look: "Brother Mo, could you tell me which of the Twelve Law Kings King of Mystic Sky trusted the most?"

"Don't give me an answer about treating everyone equally. Affection and estrangement are the principles of Tao, which even Saints can't avoid."

Mo Rubing's face stiffened, and he halted mid-speech.

Then, he actually closed his eyes, using it as a cover to mask the unrest in his heart.

But ultimately, Mo Rubing could not evade the question: "I think if Xuanyuan Big Brother really trusted someone the most, it had to be Xing Wuque."

"Xing Wuque..."

Information about this Law King flashed through Li Fan's Spirit Consciousness.

All limbs severed, facial features destroyed, forever wearing a bronze fang mask, and he almost never conversed with others.

"In Mystic Sky Sect, apart from Xuanyuan Big Brother, no one knows Xing Wuque's true identity. As you previously said, affection and estrangement exist. Us twelve Law Kings are also divided into small groups because of our relations."

"Sun Xingwang and Sikong Lin often accompany each other, speaking words others cannot understand; Gongye Tianzong and Tianxing Ke frequently converse joyfully, toasting each other; Luo Yichen, Nie Daniang, Ji Yuzhen, and San Niangzi always have endless whispers..."

"But Xing Wuque alone always keeps his distance from other Law Kings and never initiates contact with anyone in the sect. When he appears, he's always solitary. Yet every mission assigned to him is executed flawlessly, with utmost efficiency," Mo Rubing said, his face showing a hint of nostalgia.

"It's as if he was a machine that had cut off his passions and desires, living not for himself."

"That might be precisely why Xuanyuan Big Brother trusted him the most."

"Moreover, it seems that on the day of the incident, Xing Wuque was indeed not within the sect." Mo Rubing frowned.

Li Fan nodded slightly: "If it were really Xing Wuque who took the Azure Abyss Pearl back then, he must have been carrying out King of Mystic Sky's tasks all these years. Brother Mo, do you have any way of contacting this Law King?"

Mo Rubing shook his head: "Xing Wuque has always been in direct contact only with Xuanyuan Big Brother. However..."

Seemingly suddenly recalling something, Mo Rubing looked back at where the Azure Abyss Pearl had dissipated.

"I wonder, could the [Manifest] Technique still be used on the Azure Abyss Pearl? That would certainly trace the vine to find the melon..."

"The Azure Abyss Pearl is an Immortal Instrument, I'm afraid True Immortal Seal Characters would be of no use on it. Besides, it has already disappeared." Li Fan pointed at the surrounding ripples that were still undulating continuously.

"Disappearance doesn't mean nonexistence. Even among the treasures Xuanyuan Big Brother obtained from the Immortal World, the Azure Abyss Pearl is one of the most precious. How could it so easily vanish completely?"

"The Azure Abyss Pearl has not vanished but has transformed into vitality in some unique form, existing within this dark river..." Mo Rubing said resolutely, reclaiming the demeanor of one of the Twelve Law Kings from days gone by: "Just directly apply the Manifest Technique to this endless dark river of vitality!"

Li Fan re-contemplated the boundless dark river of the rift and gradually understood.

Gathering his focus, he solemnly composed the [Manifest] character midair. As the profoundly mysterious character took shape, it merged into the dark river like ink.

The echoing ripples were soon disrupted in their regular rhythm.

It was as if an unrelated and completely independent fluctuation had arisen.

Li Fan and Mo Rubing, keeping pace with the direction of the fluctuation, hurried forward.