My Longevity Simulation - Chapter 1242: Heavenly Dao as Nourishment

The power that originally served to protect the earth veins was devoured by the [Dao One] insects and instead transformed into nourishing sustenance.

At first only a fist-sized clump of black shadow appeared. In an instant it spread like thick ink dissolving in water, gradually dyeing the surging river of earth veins black.

What appeared even more eerie was that the black torrent eroded by the [Dao One] insects retained identical aura and energy fluctuations to the original yellow earth veins, differing only in color. Ordinary perception could not detect this mutation at all.

However, Wang Xuanba, who possessed his own clone within the [Dao One] swarm, could clearly sense the terrifying speed at which the swarm was strengthening and expanding.

Following the earth veins, it spread fiercely outward from Yueyang Prefecture as the center toward every region of the Xuanhuang Realm.

In addition to horizontal expansion, the [Dao One] insects also continued eroding downward along the dense, hanging roots of the massive tree in the vertical dimension.

“The wonders of creation truly reach this extent. If not for Master’s guidance, I would never have imagined that such a colossal tree was hidden beneath the Xuanhuang Realm.” Wang Xuanba sighed inwardly.

Through the images transmitted by the [Dao One] insects bodies, Wang Xuanba saw the originally dense but motionless roots begin to sway slightly, as if coming alive, once they were blackened.

A vast consciousness swept back and forth across the blackened sections. Compared with before, it now carried a trace of unease and uncertainty. Wang Xuanba knew this must be the consciousness of the Earth Vein Ancient Tree.

Yet it was destined to be futile. Before the mutated [Dao One] insects fully activated their complete insect transformation and merely lurked within, the Earth Vein Ancient Tree could not detect that its body had been infected.

“It clearly knows something is wrong with its body but cannot find the cause. As the condition worsens, the fear and despair in its heart accumulate. Attacking the mind first is indeed the superior strategy. Master’s plan is truly masterful.” A cold smile appeared on Wang Xuanba’s face. Sensing the moment was right, he issued a command in his mind.

The surging dark shadow swarm that had been rapidly expanding came to a complete halt in an instant. The [Dao One] insect swarm fell into deep slumber and lay dormant within the body of the Earth Vein Ancient Tree.

The yellow earth-vein power continued to wash over it, seemingly suppressing the shadow. Yet the black did not disappear; it simply settled at the bottom of the yellow.

Viewed from a macro perspective, it looked as though a dim spot had appeared within the Xuanhuang earth veins.

“Master said that the earth veins ultimately affect the countless living beings on the surface. Even the slightest change could cause mountains to collapse and the earth to crack. If handled improperly, it might even provoke hostility from the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao…”

Just moments ago, Wang Xuanba had indeed faintly sensed a disturbance in the will of heaven and earth. However, once the [Dao One] insect entered dormancy, that disturbance quickly vanished.

“Interesting.” Wang Xuanba narrowed his eyes and pondered in place for a moment.

Then, without pausing, he hurried toward the next earth-vein node. He intended to plant sixteen such black spots inside the body of the Xuanhuang Earth Vein Ancient Tree.

The plan proceeded smoothly.

Except for the final few instances, when the increasingly uneasy ancient tree instinctively triggered violent surges in the earth-vein currents and inflicted minor injuries on him, the rest of the swarm shadows were placed perfectly.

Even the Earth Vein Ancient Tree’s aware struggles proved completely useless. On the contrary, they caused the [Dao One] swarm to spread through the earth veins at an explosive rate, making those shadow spots noticeably larger than the others.

Half a month later, Wang Xuanba, having perfectly completed his mission, returned to the Holy Capital.

Inside the Holy Emperor’s hall, several of Li Ping’s disciples were already waiting in advance.

Wang Xuanba was somewhat surprised. These senior brothers and sisters had each been cultivating according to Master’s instructions and rarely had the chance to meet. Some he had never even seen in person and had only heard that Master had accepted such a disciple. He had not expected them all to gather together today.

“It seems Master is finally about to make a major move.” Wang Xuanba immediately grew excited.

He strode forward, knelt on one knee before the Holy Emperor, and reported the mission’s progress.

The Faceless Holy Emperor waved his hand lightly and helped Wang Xuanba to his feet.

“Well done.”

Rarely hearing words of praise from the Holy Emperor, Wang Xuanba could not help but raise his head proudly.

“With sixteen swarms of [Dao One] insects implanted, the Earth Vein Ancient Tree is doomed. Which of you will go on behalf of your master to subdue this tree?” Li Ping then asked calmly.

The six disciples below all responded in unison: “This disciple is willing to share Master’s burdens!”

Li Ping looked at these disciples who spoke from the heart and nodded in satisfaction.

The six disciples consisted of three males and three females.

They were Sun Erlang, Su Yuqing, Wang Xuanba, Lin Ling, Ou Shangtian, and Daoist Child Liuli.

The first five had been taken in and carefully trained by Li Ping for some time. Daoist Child Liuli, however, had been accepted on a sudden whim after Li Ping discovered the extraordinary nature of Cat Treasure.

Yet Li Ping harbored no ill intentions. He simply planned to nurture her and later exploit her special connection with the Fishing Pond to obtain more treasures from it. Li Ping’s thoughts were sincere, so he openly told her the truth. Daoist Child Liuli was also highly perceptive of people’s hearts. Once she sensed Li Ping’s honest intentions, she gradually accepted and grew accustomed to this master.

Zhong Shentong kept reminding her to obey the Holy Emperor’s commands faithfully. Coupled with occasional private lessons from Daoist Hundred Flowers, this little Daoist child’s progress became the fastest among all the disciples.

Incidentally, ever since arriving in the Holy Dynasty of Great Qi, Zhong Shentong had completely embraced the idle life he loved most. The continuously rising spiritual energy concentration in the Holy Dynasty allowed him to live comfortably for several more decades without breaking through his current realm, so he simply stopped cultivating altogether.

With the Holy Emperor’s special permission, he spent every day happily casting a line in the Fishing Pond. His days truly made others envious.

Returning to the scene inside the Holy Emperor’s hall, the disciples all looked eager upon receiving the Holy Emperor’s task.

Li Ping, however, had already made his decision.

“Lin Ling, you will go with Xuanba. If the ancient tree knows its place, then all is well. If it remains stubborn…”

Li Ping smiled faintly: “You may replace it.”

As the Spiritwood Realm incarnation, Lin Ling had been conquering other small worlds for the Holy Dynasty of Great Qi ever since Li Ping awakened her in this life. The tangible, almost solid killing intent that she did not conceal made her the most awe-inspiring among Li Ping’s six disciples.

The others raised no objections when Li Ping assigned the task to her.

The Faceless Holy Emperor passed a wheel-shaped treasure to Lin Ling through the air: “With this wheel, you can freely control the [Dao One] insects. Once the insects reach the critical stage, the Earth Vein Ancient Tree should have no room for resistance. Still, you must guard against it acting desperately…”

After giving a few final simple instructions, Li Ping watched Lin Ling and Wang Xuanba leave the Holy Emperor’s hall.

The hall fell quiet for a moment.

Ou Shangtian gathered his courage and asked: “Master, regarding the matter you mentioned earlier that you would entrust to me…”

Li Ping smiled slightly: “It will be soon. Just make your preparations.”

The remaining three disciples also turned their gazes toward him.

As Li Ping’s senior disciple, Sun Erlang had long assisted in managing the Holy Dynasty’s affairs both large and small. He knew his master had been planning for a long time, and this sudden action was certainly not limited to just this one matter.

“Erlang.” As expected, Li Ping spoke.

“This disciple is here.”

“Go on behalf of your master and make a trip to the Five Elders Association.”

Sun Erlang was instantly stunned.

He had imagined many possible conquests ahead, yet he had never anticipated that his master would send him to the Five Elders Association.

This name was extremely unfamiliar to the vast majority of people in the Holy Dynasty. Sun Erlang had only learned a little about it previously from Yi Shu of the Taiyan Sect.

“Ask them on my behalf whether they know about the events involving the Eastern Extremity Heavenly Sovereign back then.”

Li Ping transmitted an image into Sun Erlang’s mind.

“Eastern Extremity?” Sun Erlang had never heard this name before. But anyone titled Heavenly Sovereign was undoubtedly at the Longevity Immortal realm.

Therefore, after clearly seeing the image in his mind, even with his resolute mindset forged across two lifetimes, Sun Erlang could not help but tremble all over.

Li Ping paid no attention to Sun Erlang’s reaction and continued with his instructions: “The Five Elders Association is different from the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance. The power of the Heavenly Sovereigns covers the entire region, with each governing a separate territory. On this trip, head to the domain of the Truth Heavenly Sovereign. As for the other Heavenly Sovereigns, do not provoke them…”

Sun Erlang committed his master’s instructions firmly to heart.

Just like Lin Ling, before departing Sun Erlang also received a bestowed treasure.

“You already carry the Dao Deviation Stone, which is the greatest treasure of all. Relying on other external objects would instead lead you astray.” As Li Ping spoke, he slowly passed a radiant, crystalline stone to Sun Erlang.

Inside Sun Erlang’s sea of consciousness, the Dao Deviation Stone suddenly erupted with unprecedented blue light, followed by waves of greedy, restless intent surging forth like a flood.

The craving from his soul left Sun Erlang unable and unwilling to suppress it.

“Another Dao Deviation Stone? And its quality is even better than the one in my sea of consciousness! At the very least, it is mid-grade or higher.” Sun Erlang was overjoyed beyond measure.

Having spent a long time accompanying Yi Shu of the Taiyan Sect in the Holy Dynasty, Sun Erlang fully understood the priceless value of Dao Deviation Stones in this world. Only a few remained in existence, and nearly all were already claimed by other cultivators with profound fortune. Outsiders could search endlessly without success. Yet now, his master was able to present him with a mid-grade one…

Sun Erlang immediately kowtowed in gratitude for his master’s kindness.

The joy in his heart directly washed away the fear that had just arisen from the current state of the Eastern Extremity Heavenly Sovereign.

“Absorb it slowly. The sublimation of the Dao Deviation Stone will nourish and drive comprehensive improvement across all your abilities. Of course, if you wish to fully unleash the stone’s potential, you may need to pair it with another rare treasure.”

Li Ping’s majestic voice echoed through the hall: “The foundation of the Five Elders Association is the Ten Great Immortal Sects from back then. Though the name has perished, the substance remains, and it contains countless treasure vaults within. On this journey, you may invite Yi Shu of the Taiyan Sect to accompany you.”

“I shall obey Master’s command.” Sun Erlang nodded, stepped forward, and departed.

Among all the disciples, Li Ping held the deepest and most unique feelings toward Sun Erlang. This appointment was not only to borrow strength to strike at another but also because Li Ping had faintly sensed that Sun Erlang’s own opportunity lay there. This premonition was profoundly subtle, not derived from deduction based on sufficient known information, but more like the sudden intuitive guidance a cultivator receives right before a breakthrough.

Seeing that her senior brothers and sisters had all received treasures, Daoist Child Liuli could not help feeling full of anticipation. Her large eyes stared straight at Li Ping.

Su Yuqing, by contrast, showed the calmest reaction among everyone. Perhaps it was because the child in her womb had not yet been born.

Su Yuqing’s mind recalled the words her master had spoken to her earlier: “The fetus in your belly is in fact the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao of this small world.”

“This realm faces destruction, so it borrows your body to seek a slim chance of survival. However, even with the small world’s Heavenly Dao blessing you, you remain a mortal vessel whose body is far too frail. Even if you are fortunate enough to successfully give birth to this child, she will struggle to grow up, and you will die.”

“Unless you cultivate with me…”

From that day onward, Su Yuqing had followed Li Ping to the Holy Dynasty of Great Qi.

As her realm grew higher, the weakness in her original body gradually disappeared. The fetus in her womb also slept more peacefully.

Yet Master had said that the stronger her cultivation at the time of delivery, the greater her daughter’s future achievements would be. Maternal instinct drove Su Yuqing’s dedicated pursuit of cultivation to stand firmly first among the six disciples.

She harbored no particularly deep obsession with earning merits through warfare.

Li Ping’s divine sense locked onto the two disciples in the hall who had not yet received specific assignments and remained silent for a long time.

This made Daoist Child Liuli sense something. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her head, withdrawing her expectant gaze.

“You two are compatible in temperament. Being together will benefit each other. Moreover, because of your special constitutions, it is not advisable for you to come into frequent contact with killing intent…”

“I have recently opened a special small world. You two will come inside and help.”

Upon hearing this, Daoist Child Liuli immediately pulled a long face.

Perhaps because she had been raised by Zhong Shentong, her personality was extremely similar to his. Without external force compelling her, she tended to be quite lazy. Since Li Ping had accepted her as a disciple, he naturally intended to correct this bad habit.

After Ou Shangtian left, Liuli and Su Yuqing followed Li Ping to the newly opened small world.

“Master, it’s so dark here. Liuli is a little scared.” Liuli deliberately spoke with unclear enunciation, sounding pitiful.

This was not Liuli pretending to be miserable. This world truly differed from ordinary small worlds and contained not a trace of light. It was the special world that Li Ping, together with Tianyang and Xu Ke, had jointly created specifically for the You Clan people.

“Yuqing, aside from the darkness, have you sensed any other differences here?” Ignoring Liuli’s feigned pitiful act, Li Ping asked slowly.

Absolute pitch blackness and tranquil silence caused the activity of the fetus in Su Yuqing’s womb to decrease. It seems hypnotized and gradually fell into deep sleep.

Su Yuqing sensed the emotions transmitted by her daughter. After a moment she frowned and replied: “The Heavenly Dao of this small world… is not yet complete? Or rather, it simply does not exist?”

“It is merely a vast expanse of space. In this disciple’s view, it does not yet deserve to be called a world.”

Su Yuqing’s talent was indeed extraordinary; she sensed the anomaly here in mere moments.

Li Ping smiled: “You answered only half correctly. In the beginning, this place was not without a small world Heavenly Dao consciousness. Although extremely weak, it did exist.”

Su Yuqing was stunned. She was about to ask where the world’s Heavenly Dao had gone.

A golden cube suddenly appeared before her. Its dazzling radiance illuminated the entire dark small world.

Sensing the somewhat familiar aura within the cube, Su Yuqing instinctively felt an irrepressible trace of fear.

The fetus in her womb was startled awake and began to stir restlessly.

Because sealed inside this golden cube was a world Heavenly Dao consciousness identical in nature to her own!

“They all received gifts, so naturally you will not be left out.” Li Ping could naturally sense Su Yuqing’s fear.

“This place must remain under my absolute control and has no need for a world Heavenly Dao consciousness, so I stripped it away and sealed it.”

“I give it to you now.” Li Ping said calmly.