My Longevity Simulation - Chapter 854

Zhong Shentong, wielding the Seven-Colored Divine Light in one hand, was considered invincible within the same cultivation realm. He could even exhaust Senior Brother Zhang to death despite being at the same level.
The cultivation technique he practiced, “Life and Death Profound Art,” was an incredibly mysterious method. It was said that, at its deepest level, one could achieve a wondrous state where life and death coexisted, attaining a unique form of immortality.
Cultivating this technique awakened and infinitely magnified a cultivator’s instinctive fear of life and death.
Even someone like Zhong Shentong, who was inherently lazy and indifferent, would seemingly transform into a completely different person when faced with the threat of death, becoming highly motivated.
“According to the original trajectory of history, Zhong Shentong wouldn’t break through unless he was nearing his lifespan’s end.”
“Yet now, he has reached Foundation Establishment early…”
“What happened?”
The most severe period of the mutant Immortal-Mortal Miasma had already passed, so it was certain that Zhong Shentong wasn’t forced to break through because of it.
Li Fan immediately became intrigued.
However, since his true body was still in the process of devouring the Five Elements Grand Cave-Heaven, he couldn’t leave.Thus, to observe Zhong Shentong, his clone, Ji Shaoli, had to take action.
“He has just broken through to Foundation Establishment and has yet to comprehend the Seven-Colored Divine Light. With my Golden Core cultivation, handling him…”
“Shouldn’t be a problem.” Ji Shaoli silently pondered.
Still, to be safe, the clone made ample preparations.
In the realm between Foundation Establishment and Nascent Soul, as long as one had enough contribution points to equip themselves, they could disregard cultivation gaps and crush opponents effortlessly.
Not to mention, Ji Shaoli was already a whole realm above him. Thus, he wasn’t overly concerned.
Relying on gathered intelligence, Ji Shaoli used a teleportation formation to arrive at the northwestern border of Yongyun Prefecture, at a remote and desolate mountain.
On this mountain stood a somewhat dilapidated small temple, where Zhong Shentong had chosen to reside in seclusion.
“Originally, Zhong Shentong was just an ordinary old man. Although he had stumbled upon half a scroll of the ‘Life and Death Profound Art’ by chance, he was never able to make progress in cultivation. It wasn’t until he neared the end of his lifespan that, under immense pressure, he broke through his shackles and successfully stepped into the Qi Condensation realm.”
“After reaching Qi Condensation, he once again lacked motivation for cultivation and simply spent his remaining years in this small temple.”
“Logically, he should have only broken through again when his lifespan was about to run out. Yet now, he has advanced ahead of time…”
“What Foundation Establishment artifact did he use?”
Ji Shaoli concealed his presence, suppressing his aura as he observed from afar.
Inside the temple, besides Zhong Shentong, there was also an eight- or nine-year-old Daoist boy.
What was unusual was that, despite being able to perform mundane tasks with magic, Zhong Shentong insisted that the young boy complete them manually.
The Daoist boy was exceptionally good-looking, with a pair of large, bright eyes that seemed to speak, flashing with intelligence. Yet, he was diligent and obedient, completing chores efficiently and skillfully—his actions far too practiced for a mere child.
While the young Daoist boy managed everything neatly, Zhong Shentong merely sat by a pond in the temple’s backyard, fishing.
The Daoist boy called out several times without receiving a response and had no choice but to bring the prepared meal to Zhong Shentong.
“Master, it’s time to eat.” The young boy spoke in a soft, childlike voice.
“Shh, don’t scare away my fish.”
The Daoist boy pouted slightly and simply started eating on his own.
Only when the young Daoist boy was nearly finished did Zhong Shentong suddenly react.
“It’s hooked!”
He yanked the fishing rod sharply, but instead of a fish, what emerged was a green light orb.
Zhong Shentong looked disappointed but still reached his hand into the green light, rummaging through it.
After a moment, he pulled out what seemed to be a rusted disc-shaped magical artifact.
Zhong Shentong examined it briefly, shook his head, and casually tossed it to the Daoist boy.
The young boy, unfazed by this, caught it skillfully and asked, “Master, what is it this time?”
“A fire disc. It can produce open flames, so you won’t need to use talismans to start fires anymore.” Zhong Shentong lazily replied.
Then, putting away his fishing rod, he devoured his meal ravenously.
After reaching Foundation Establishment, cultivators no longer needed to eat like mortals.
Yet, Zhong Shentong seemed to enjoy the act of eating immensely, consuming his meal with great enthusiasm.
In just a short time, he swept the entire table clean.
“I’m going to take a nap. Unless it’s an absolute emergency, don’t disturb me.” Zhong Shentong instructed while humming a little tune.
“Got it, got it,” the young Daoist boy replied helplessly.
As the sound of deep breathing echoed from the small temple, the young Daoist boy finished clearing away all the kitchen waste and then turned back to the pond.
Out of nowhere, he pulled out a fishing rod and, imitating Zhong Shentong’s previous actions, cast his line into the water.
But after a long time, there was no movement at all.
The young Daoist boy couldn’t help feeling a little dejected.
“Master said that only those with true sincerity can fish up treasures from this pond. I’ve tried for years, yet I’ve never caught anything.”
“How frustrating…” Unwilling to give up, he cast his line again.
The result was the same—nothing but an empty hook.
Finally, he accepted defeat and left the pond, his head hanging low in disappointment.
Not long after—
Ji Shaoli slowly revealed himself.
“Interesting.” He gazed at the pond not far away, his expression unreadable.
After laying down a concealment technique around the area, he carefully examined the small pond before him.
Under his divine sense, it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary pond—
No deeper than a single zhang (approximately three meters), with a length and width of no more than three zhang.
The entire pond was clearly visible at a glance.
Aside from some small floating debris, there weren’t even any fish living in it.
If he hadn’t just witnessed Zhong Shentong fishing a green glowing orb out of this pond with his own eyes.
Ji Shaoli might have been completely fooled.
Since nothing seemed out of the ordinary, Ji Shaoli decided to take matters into his own hands. He flew directly into the water, attempting to uncover the pond’s mystery.
But…
Even after entering the water, it still felt no different from an ordinary pond!
After returning to shore, Ji Shaoli pondered for a moment before retrieving materials from his storage ring and crafting a fishing rod.
Mimicking the actions of the master and disciple from before, he cast his line into the water.
Sitting by the water’s edge, he held his breath and focused.
The fishing line flew out!
Yet, there was still no change.
Ji Shaoli sat there in silence for a long time, gradually feeling that something was amiss. He retracted the fishing rod.
“This pond clearly holds some hidden mystery. Yet, I can see it, but not perceive it…”
“Could it be that this pond only recognizes Zhong Shentong?”
After thinking for a while, Ji Shaoli dismissed the idea.
If that were the case, the young Daoist boy wouldn’t have attempted to fish from it.
“True sincerity…”
“What does it mean to have true sincerity?”
Fishing was not unfamiliar to Ji Shaoli.
Whether in his past life before crossing into this world or during his years as the Grand Preceptor of the Great Xuan Dynasty,
Whenever he was troubled, he would go fishing to clear his mind.
With an unshakable belief that he would never return empty-handed, he always stayed until a fish took the bait before heading back satisfied.
But ever since embarking on the path of cultivation, he had never indulged in such a relaxing activity again.
“True sincerity…”
A glimmer of understanding appeared in Ji Shaoli’s eyes.
This time, he sat by the pond once more.
He no longer focused on uncovering the pond’s secrets.
He simply wanted to fish—purely for the sake of fishing!
“Whoosh!”
With a solemn expression, Ji Shaoli cast his line.
In the next moment—
The scene before him changed drastically!
