719 - My Longevity Simulation

Chapter 719: Rebirth and the Skyward Ascent "The world changes too quickly. We, relics of the past, struggle to keep pace," Nan Gong Shi Rong sighed, gazing at the '14' countdown displayed on the sky's screen. Xu Bai, standing behind him, chuckled softly, "There's no need to worry, my lord. Who could have anticipated the sudden emergence of a Heaven-Reversing Immortal without any warning signs?" "The mystery shrouds him completely; not a single clue unveils his beginnings. It's hard to fathom," Xu Bai mused, his tone carrying a shade of awe. Nan Gong Shi Rong nodded slightly, "That's why the outside world speculates that this 'Rebirth Immortal' is likely an ancient cultivator who survived the Great Catastrophe." "Much like you," Nan Gong Shi Rong remarked, casting a sideways glance at Xu Bai. Xu Bai lowered his head in contemplation, "An ancient cultivator, perhaps..." The true identity of this 'Rebirth Immortal' intrigued cultivators across the realm. Yet, despite extensive efforts to uncover any information, nothing surfaced about him. Given the limited number of Immortal Ascension cultivators within the Celestial Alliance, each one has been scrutinized carefully, but none matches his profile. Thus, it's highly probable that this newly ascended immortal hails from ancient times, having long observed the principles of heaven in obscurity, only achieving true ascension recently. As for the idea that the 'Rebirth Immortal' is associated with the Five Elders Society... Their recent actions have disproved such theories. Initially, they officially congratulated the birth of the new immortal. Subsequently, they swiftly recalled all cultivators engaged in friendly visits within the Celestial Alliance's territories, and their forces near the borders withdrew. Clearly, the emergence of this new immortal is regarded with caution by the Five Elders Society. "Lord of the City, do you think under the 'Rebirth Immortal's' protection, fallen cultivators can truly be resurrected?" Xu Bai pondered aloud after a long silence. "I'm skeptical," Nan Gong Shi Rong shook his head. "Though the might of an Immortal is awe-inspiring, the concept of 'resurrection' remains too fantastical. Even if it were possible, certain conditions would likely need to be met. For instance, if a cultivator's body and soul have been completely obliterated... not even the legendary Grand Supreme Immortal might be able to restore them." "However, all will be revealed once the fourteen days pass. We need only wait patiently," he concluded. Xu Bai redirected his gaze toward the sky, focusing on the publicly visible countdown. The numbers, simultaneously black and white, drifted serenely across the sky. As per the official statement from the Celestial Alliance, these diminishing numbers symbolize the 'Rebirth Immortal's' process of defying natural order. When the countdown reaches zero, the cycle of life and death within the Xuanhuang Realm shall be inverted, ushering in an era where all can be revived. "Let's see what methods this 'Rebirth Immortal' employs," Xu Bai murmured, narrowing his eyes as he gently fanned himself with a folding fan. Meanwhile, as the countdown in the Xuanhuang Realm's sky continued to decrease, a challenger against the natural order, Lan Yu, refused to resign to his fate. Undaunted, he not only sustained but increased the rewards for longevity-extending artifacts, even offering his cultivation method, the 'Heavenly Sphere Feather Transformation Technique', as a prize. Lan Yu appeared to be desperately stalling for time against his impending doom. Yet, the Rebirth Immortal seemed unwilling to let him escape his fate. On the day the countdown dwindled to 'one', peculiar phenomena indicating the fall of a cultivator appeared silently, yet abruptly, over Source State. "Integration-Stage Cultivator Lan Yu, devoted to the path..." Unlike the universal grief Li Fan had witnessed in past lives, perhaps because Lan Yu aspired to overturn the realm's principles, anomalies akin to those seen in new method cultivators graced the sky. As this vision emerged, before those in Source State could comprehend it, the countdown above the Xuanhuang Realm transformed into a spiraling vortex of black and white, swiftly descending upon Source State. Concealing Lan Yu's falling anomaly, the countdown shifted from 'one' to zero in an instant. The entire Xuanhuang Realm quaked slightly as if a wondrous change was unfolding. When the sky cleared, every cultivator discerned, in the heavens above the realm, an ancient, solemn residence. The "Hall of Rebirth." The three characters emblazoned on the hall's plaque stood distinctly visible. To all who beheld the Hall of Rebirth, knowledge of the 'Rebirth Immortal's' resurrection technique appeared naturally in their minds. Under the Hall of Rebirth's influence, a fragment of true spirit from each fallen cultivator would be drawn into the hall upon their demise. After eighteen years of cyclical progress, this true spirit, bearing the memories of the deceased, could return to the world. If a prepared body awaited the spirit, it could directly inhabit it. In cases of sudden death with no arrangements, the true spirit would inhabit a newly born entity in the Xuanhuang Realm. ... Upon understanding the intricacies of the Hall of Rebirth, the Xuanhuang Realm's cultivators burst into commotion. They hadn't expected such resurrection to be real. Yet the manner of this rebirth exceeded their capacity to accept. The instincts of survival and propagation are inherent to humanity. When the path of cultivation offers no hope, dreams are often pinned on future generations. However, under the Hall of Rebirth's dictates, a family’s cherished newborn might potentially be embodied by a fallen cultivator from eighteen years past. How is this different from possession? Who can assure that resuscitated cultivators harbor no vendettas against their previous kin? Raising a child painstakingly, only for them to turn against their own parents—is this the fate that awaits? The prospect of everything a person has saved benefiting an "outsider" feels utterly absurd. The Hall of Rebirth's operation starkly conflicted with contemporary ethical standards among cultivators. The denizens of the Xuanhuang Realm found it impossible to reconcile with. Fortunately, a more comprehensive explanation from the Celestial Alliance soon followed. Within the Hall of Rebirth, a true spirit retains the memories of its prior life. However, emotions such as love, hatred, or resentment are cleansed. Reflecting on past experiences would feel akin to dreaming, devoid of emotional attachment. Moreover, when a true spirit returns to life, it doesn’t seize a body outright; rather, it merges with it. The essence of life essentially remains unchanged, simply acquiring memories from a "previous life." ... Despite lingering resistance, awareness of the great change rendered it beyond challenge—the principles of an immortal must be obeyed. Whether willing or otherwise, the cultivators had no choice but to begrudgingly accept it. Thus, intense debates about "rebirth" and "resurrection" gradually emerged across the Xuanhuang Realm.