My Simulated Road to Immortality

Chapter 356: 333: Life Eventually Comes to an End

Xi Men Yue hurriedly bowed in apology.

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, dismissed her apology with a wave of his hand. “Tian Du Hua Feather Pill can extend life by eight hundred years. The Fruit of Eternal Life can extend it by five hundred years. And the Rebirth Longevity Fruit by three hundred years.”

“These are extremely rare treasures. In the thousands of treasures I’ve encountered over the past 3,612 years, these are among the most valuable.”

“And yet, it is I, a dying man who is benefiting from them now.”

The Supreme Immortal Ji Cheng said with a hint of self-mockery.

“Together, they can add sixteen hundred years to the life of an ordinary cultivator.”

“But used on me…”

“Heh, heh. Can you guess how effective they are?”

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, asked.

Seeing Ji Cheng acting more approachable, Han Yi summoned up the courage to respond.

He was the first to guess, “Five hundred years?”

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, chuckled and shook his head.

“Two hundred years?” Xi Men Yue guessed.

Still, Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, shook his head.

“Twenty years?” Li Fan suddenly spoke up.

His guess was so outrageous that both Han Yi and Xi Men Yue turned to look at him.

“Although you are already quite bold, you still overestimated!” Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, laughed. He stretched out his right hand and held up one finger.

“Ten years.”

“That’s the final deadline I was able to negotiate.”

“And that’s counting all the longevity treasures bestowed by other cultivators.”

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, resumed speaking with a gloomy voice, laughing all the while.

Upon hearing his words, Li Fan and others were utterly shocked.

“How could this be?” Xi Men Yue asked in disbelief, “Could the results from the Tianxuan Mirror be mistaken?”

Li Fan and Han Yi looked intensely at Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, hoping to get some answers from him.

Ignoring their questions for the moment, Ji Cheng pointed at the tree in front of them and asked, “Do you know what kind of tree this is?”

After a moment of examination, both Han Yi and Xi Men Yue shook their heads, unable to recognize it.

Without hesitation, Li Fan said, “Azure Cloud Willow, an ordinary Spirit Tree. Apart from aesthetics, it has no other value.”

After all, his extensive study of “The Immortal Scripture of the Heavenly Physician” has not been in vain.

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, examined Li Fan in surprise with his cloudy eyes.

Then he asked again, “Then, do you know how long an Azure Cloud Willow can live?”

After some thought, Li Fan said, “An Azure Cloud Willow tree can live up to eight hundred years, which is rare. Anything above a thousand years is almost impossible.”

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, slowly nodded, “You’re correct.”

“This Azure Cloud Willow was planted when I initially broke through to the Unity-Path and was designated as the successor of the Defense Institute’s Commander.”

“That was over nine hundred years ago.”

“Back then, I was full of vigor, filled with ambition and aspirations.”

“I thought death was far from me. I thought I could advance further and achieve longevity.”

Ji Cheng shook his head.

“Such naiveté…” said the Immortal with a sigh, before returning to the main topic.

“Over the past hundred years, I’ve watched as my old companions age and approach death.”

“I’ve tried all kinds of ways to prolong their lives.”

“Green Wood Spirit Liquid, Immortal Soil Crystal Juice….”

“I’ve tried every kind of treasure.”

“But they only barely kept them from death.”

“Barely clinging to life…”

“It was then that I realized. Death, for us, is inevitable.”

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, once again looked up at the decaying Azure Cloud Willow.

“I just didn’t expect that the same fate would befall me so quickly.”

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, finished speaking and fell silent.

Li Fan and the others exchanged a glance. They dared not interrupt and waited silently.

After a long while, Ji Cheng spoke again, “When the end is near, aside from advancing further and undergoing a complete personal transformation, all other methods can only slightly delay the arrival of death.”

“Not to mention that the effect is greatly reduced, the more you struggle, the quicker similar methods will fail.”

“Just like the longevity treasures you handed over. I have taken too many items of similar effect before, hence the reduction of a lifespan increment of a thousand six hundred years to just ten years.”

“If fate wants you dead at the third hour of the night, it’s hard to hold onto you till the fifth.”

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal looked up at the sky. In his clouded eyes, a strange emotion flickered.

“But, ten years. That’s enough for me.”

The old man’s voice gradually lowered to a point where Li Fan and the others could no longer hear clearly.

“May I ask, Supreme Immortal, does this mean that these longevity treasures are not as precious as we imagined?” After a long pause, Han Yi couldn’t help but ask.

Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, looked at the three of them and let out a low laugh.

“The younger they are, the more precious they become.”

“The older they get, the less useful they become.”

“Do you understand?”

Upon hearing this, the three of them wore thoughtful expressions.

“Alright, it’s rare for me to talk so much when meeting such vibrant young people like you.”

“It’s time to give you your rewards.”

Without any visible action from Ji Cheng, three jade badges radiating a radiant seven-color glow, suddenly appeared and flew towards Li Fan and the others.

Li Fan received the badge, which was inscribed with intricate patterns surrounding a central character “法” (Law).

“This is the [Jade Tablet of Technique Presentation]. With this token, you may apply to use the Yan Fajue at the Immortal Alliance Headquarters’ Hall of Law Enforcement,” Ji Cheng explained to them.

As if reminded of something, Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, added, “Remember, each [Jade Tablet of Technique Presentation] only offers one application opportunity.”

“Once the application is made, it may take a long time before it’s your turn. Moreover, each derivation session is time-limited.”

“Don’t become too greedy and end up missing out.”

“Heh, back in the day…”

Ji Cheng’s voice faded until it was barely a whisper.

At that moment, the blue-robed cultivator who had led them inside quietly reappeared by their side.

“Let’s go.”

He transmitted to them.

Li Fan and the others put away the [Jade Tablet of Technique Presentation], and slowly exited the courtyard.

“Young man, I have some advice for you. Your jade tablet can only apply to derive techniques at the Nascent Soul level. If it is used for deriving cultivation-level techniques, it would be a bit of a waste.”

“Try getting the Yan Fajue to derive those techniques with special effects.”

“Though they are at the Nascent Soul level, they might have extraordinary effects.”

Just as Li Fan was about to step out of the courtyard, the voice of Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, suddenly sounded.

Li Fan turned his head to look back. Ji Cheng, the Supreme Immortal, was just as he had seen before, stroking the decaying Azure Cloud Willow.

His silhouette was bleak.

Li Fan saw an old man walking towards the end of life.

Pay a silent respect to him, Li Fan quietly left.