Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 603 Fellow Daoist Jing, please save me! I am the eldest son of the Heavenly Emperor!

This strange beast with the body of a tiger and the head of a human seems to have caught your scent.

A low growl pierced the air, and it abruptly changed direction, lunging straight at you.

You frowned slightly. Even though you had completely concealed your presence, you wondered how the beast had pinpointed your location so quickly.

The situation is critical. This beast has already reached the Golden Core stage of the Great Dao, and it is definitely not something we can confront head-on at the moment.

Without hesitation, you moved swiftly, and the Sword Escape Technique was activated.

The sword light enveloped him like clouds of smoke, moving with the speed of wind and lightning.

In the blink of an eye, you have traversed countless mountains and arrived at the entrance to the herb garden.

Looking up, a chill ran through me—the path I had taken was gone. Towering stone pillars surrounded the area like a cage, and the exit that had once been there had been silently sealed off.

At this moment, you are completely trapped in this world.

The strange beast relentlessly pursued them; though its running speed appeared extremely slow, it arrived in the blink of an eye.

[You knew inwardly that you were in a bad situation, like being trapped in a cage by this strange beast, forced to fight like a caged animal.]

[If we use all our means and fight to the death, we might be able to defeat it both ways—but this beast is strange in every way, able to break through the restrictions of this world, and like a leech, it locks onto your aura.]

[You repeatedly circulated the "Seven Treasures Mystic Appearance Book," your body sometimes transforming into two forms: a magnificent peacock, sometimes a purple-gold celestial ant, attempting to disrupt its pursuit.]

No matter how it changed, the beast's gaze remained fixed, like a nail, relentlessly pursuing its prey.

You soar through the air to escape, but it follows you like a shadow.

In just a few breaths, that enormous shadow once again loomed over your back.

[Your mind raced, and suddenly a flash of inspiration struck you: Could it be... the Divine Fruit of Emperor Wu?]

[If there's any difference from before, it's only in this one aspect.]

[Regarding this matter... it's your decision!]

1. Return to Langya Heavenly Realm. (Hint: This may be beneficial for the future.)
2. Stay where you are. (Hint: This may have consequences for the future.)
3. Fight this beast. (Hint: This may have implications for the future.)
4. Predict the next possible scenario. (0/2)

5. Participate personally. (0/3)

The great cauldron resounded, releasing rays of light, and the inscription on it slowly froze.

Yu Ke looked at the options above.

He thought to himself, "It seems that after entering the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury, I'll be facing more and more life-or-death crises."

Yu Ke made his choice without hesitation.

1. Return to Langya Heavenly Realm. (Hint: This may be beneficial for the future.)
[You made your decision, and your sword-escape technique was suddenly activated. Your figure transformed into a streak of light, rushing straight towards the collapsed and burning Langya Heavenly Realm.]

The entire celestial realm resembled a floating, fiery island, burning fiercely in the void.

Within a dozen or so breaths, you've entered it. Looking around, your brow furrows involuntarily—the once paradise has been razed to the ground, a scene of devastation, with only scorched earth and craters remaining. Even the towering ancient trees have been burned to ashes.

Your gaze shifts sharply to where the Divine Tree of the Imperial House once stood, where a humanoid cocoon of light, shimmering with seven colors, floats silently, faintly emanating an extraordinary aura.

You already have some guesses in your mind.

Just then, another angry roar rose from behind; the strange beast had caught up again!

"This is never going to end!"

[You moved swiftly, using your escape technique once more, and sped towards the location where the Imperial Tree had originally been.]

[In a short while, you landed beside the seven-colored cocoon of light.]

You turn around and look up, only to see that the strange beast with the body of a tiger and the head of a human has stopped in the distance, no longer approaching. Its eyes reveal a hint of fear, and it hesitates, seemingly afraid to step into this area.

It seems your guess was correct; the problem indeed lies with items related to the Imperial Tree.

You turn your gaze back to the enormous, multicolored cocoon of light before you, where light and shadow shift and intertwine, seemingly enveloping some kind of being.

[It must be Danling who obtained the Emperor Tree sapling, right?]

Just as your thoughts were turning, an anxious voice suddenly came from within the cocoon of light.

"Fellow Daoist Jing, please save me!"

A chill ran through you; that voice was unmistakably Dan Ling's.

[But the composed and aloof Danling I remembered was now filled with unprecedented anxiety, fear, and even a hint of despair.]

You instantly retreated several feet, your eyes gleaming with a jade-like light as you tried to see through the seven-colored cocoon of light, but you still couldn't discern its true nature.

With heightened wariness, you tentatively asked in a soft voice, "Is it... Princess Danling?"

A response immediately came from within the cocoon of light: "It is me, it is me!"

You didn't let up, continuing to press: "Does Your Highness know... who I am?"

"How could I not know? Fellow Daoist Jing, you just blasted me with lightning magic."

[You felt a slight stirring in your heart. Judging from his words and tone, it was undoubtedly Dan Ling. However, he didn't address you as "Fellow Daoist Jing" just now. Wasn't that a bit too intimate?]

[You find it increasingly strange: Danling just received the Divine Tree sapling, and should be overjoyed at her newfound treasure. How could she have fallen into such a predicament so quickly, even frantically seeking help?]

Just as you were about to speak, a completely different voice emanated from the humanoid cocoon of light—hoarse and somber, as if it had been sealed away for a thousand years and was now ringing out again:

"Your clan... I advise you to leave immediately."

"This is a matter concerning the gods..."

You frowned; the voice was cold and ancient, definitely not that of a Danling.

Just then, Danling's urgent voice rang out again.

"Fellow Daoist Jing, you only need to break through this cocoon of light!"

"After this is accomplished, I will repay you with the secrets of the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury. I can show you the location of two immortal herbs and another supreme treasure!"

You couldn't help but be surprised. There were two more elixirs of immortality and another supreme treasure in the Heavenly Emperor's treasury?

[For the son of the Heavenly Emperor to call it a supreme treasure, it must be extraordinary, no less than the divine treasures of the Nine Gates of the righteous path.]

[From within the seven-colored cocoon of light, another voice rang out.]

"Your clan... leave immediately. That enlightened beast outside is our clan's divine beast; I can command it to clear a path for you."

"Otherwise... once its ferocity is fully unleashed, you will surely lose your life here in vain."

You turn to look at the distant, bizarre beast with the body of a tiger and the head of a human, possessing nine faces; it is growling and lingering on the outskirts.

[It seems this beast is indeed the Enlightened Beast, as recorded in the Daoist Canon. But if it's said to be the divine beast of the Langya clan… you've never seen any related records.] [But how can there be another person inside the cocoon of light, claiming to be from the Langya clan?]

[From within the cocoon of light came Dan Ling's slightly mocking voice: "Hmph, what divine beast of the Langya Clan? It's only because of that benevolent one that the Langya Clan was able to reside in the Heavenly Realm and obtain two immortal herbs... and now they want to keep them for themselves!"]

He then turned to you and said, "Fellow Daoist Jing, there's no need to worry. The duty of the Enlightened Beast is to guard the Divine Tree of the Imperial House; it has no connection with the Langya Clan."

"It's because you carry the aura of the Divine Fruit of the Imperial House that it has been locking onto you all this way."

[Your expression remained calm, but inwardly you longed to deliver another "Demon-Slaying Thunder" to Danling—he clearly knew the inside story, yet he didn't utter a word when you went to retrieve the Divine Fruit of the Imperial House.]

[At the same time, you also secretly noticed that Danling was very secretive when mentioning "that person" several times, not even daring to call him by his name directly. You wondered how revered he was in ancient times.]

Danling seemed to sense your dissatisfaction in your silence and hurriedly explained, "Fellow Daoist Jing, please don't blame me for not informing you about the Enlightened Beast beforehand; it's just that I didn't know it would appear either."

"This beast feeds on the Divine Fruit of the Imperial House, and it is precisely because you, fellow Daoist, carry the scent of the fruit that it is relentlessly pursuing you."

"This enlightened beast could not possibly have survived for such a long time; it had long since died. Only because the Divine Tree of the Imperial House still exists has its physical body and a trace of its consciousness been preserved. Therefore, it is not considered a truly living being, and thus it has been able to break through the limitations of this place!"

You can't help but ask, "Then why doesn't it dare to approach this place?"

[Dan Ling hesitated slightly, but finally answered, "Before 'that person' left, he left behind a method for the Langya clan to enslave the Enlightened Beasts."]

"Although this beast only retains a remnant of its consciousness, it still senses and fears the aura of the Langya Clan... perhaps that's why it dares not approach."

[Another somber voice rang out, "So, you should know, beings of the lower race, that I can control this Enlightened Beast, and that if you wish to leave this place, I also know the method to do so."]

"Leave immediately."

"Ten Divine Fruits of the Imperial House—this is a blessing that even the gods could hardly hope for."

[You hesitated for a moment, then turned to Danling and asked, "Your Highness Danling, please be frank. Otherwise, I truly dare not act rashly."]

Although you have some guesses in your heart, you still don't understand what exactly happened inside the seven-colored cocoon of light—why were there two voices, one of which even claimed to be from the Langya clan?

[Dan Ling remained silent for a moment, then, as if having made up her mind, said in a deep voice, "Since Fellow Daoist Jing has asked about this matter, and it concerns my life and safety... I have no choice but to tell you the truth."]

Your expression turned serious. "I'd like to hear the details."

The somber voice coldly interrupted: "My brother, even if he wanted to save you, what right does he have to break through the Dharma Realm formed by the Divine Tree of the Imperial House?"

"It's nothing but wishful thinking... Your existence will ultimately be perpetuated by my parasitic life."

Danling, however, had regained her composure, and her tone once again held a hint of her former haughty air: "I only need a sliver of hope to survive."

The voice sounded like a cold laugh, and then there was no further response.

[Danling continued, "Fellow Daoist Jing, I originally intended to fuse with the Emperor's Tree to forge an unparalleled foundation for my Dao. However, I never expected that the Langya Clan had already devoured the entire tree. What was sent to the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury was merely a withered shell, its form gone and its spirit lost."]

"No wonder Father was able to obtain the Langya clan's divine artifact so easily."

"Although the Imperial Tree can flower and bear fruit, it is ultimately... a dead tree."

"A dead tree?!" You were shocked, but your face remained impassive—especially since the voice had just referred to Danling as "younger brother," and you seemed lost in thought.

[Danling's voice continued: "The Langya clan was originally a kind of insect that parasitized the Langya Divine Tree. Because of their supernatural abilities and the guidance of 'that person,' they gradually grew into an ancient great clan..."]

"It seems that the Diwu Tree was already parasitized by the Langya Clan, drained of its divinity, and died. They even hid the insect eggs in the core of the divine tree, where they remained dormant for a long time. Only when I began to merge with the Diwu Tree did these insect eggs gradually awaken."

"And what emerged from these insect eggs... was none other than my elder brother, my father's eldest son."

"My process of merging with the Emperor Tree was actually a process of being parasitized and assimilated by the Langya Clan; this is their clan's innate divine ability."

"That is precisely why I have no choice but to beg Fellow Daoist Jing for your help!"

[Upon hearing this, your gaze remained calm, but your heart skipped a beat. The Daoist scriptures did indeed record that the Heavenly Emperor's eldest son was from the Langya clan.]

In other words, Danling had only survived to this day thanks to the Huangquan clan's talent for possession, but this time, by fusing with the Emperor's Tree, she was secretly manipulated by her elder brother and used as a stepping stone.

Neither of them is easy to deal with!

Danling's voice came again, "I implore Fellow Daoist Jing to save me! If Danling manages to escape this predicament, I will obey any request from Fellow Daoist Jing."

"Danling swears an oath by the Heavenly Dao, and by the River of Oblivion in the Yellow Springs!"

Another voice coldly mocked, "Foolish younger brother...you've disgraced the divine race."

"How could a mere lower-class clan, an ant, possibly break through the magical realm created by the Divine Tree of the Imperial House?"

"What wishful thinking! Become nourishment for me and the Divine Tree of Lang."

Dan Ling ignored him, only repeating, "Please, Fellow Daoist Jing, save me!"

Your expression is calm and composed, but your heart is in turmoil. Outside, a powerful beast at the Golden Core stage of the Great Dao is watching you intently; this place is heavily sealed off, making escape difficult.

Should we risk everything to save Danling, or seek another way? The choice is yours!

1. Refuse Danling's offer. (Hint: There is a possibility of encountering danger.)
2. Ignore it and leave as soon as possible. (Note: This may have future consequences.)
3. I agree with this. (Hint: It may be beneficial in the future.)
4. Perform a simulation once. (0/2)

5. Participate personally. (0/3)

The great cauldron struck, revealing a radiant glow, and the characters that appeared on it slowly froze.

Yu Ke saw that the option that had just been triggered was being triggered again.

Each trigger is crucial to the future.

Based on the five options and prompts above, Yu Ke makes the choice directly.

3. I agree with this. (Hint: It may be beneficial in the future.)
Once you've made up your mind, don't hesitate any longer.

"Your Highness Danling, how do we break through this cocoon of light?"

Upon hearing this, Danling's voice immediately revealed a hint of overjoyed delight. Although he knew that with your current cultivation level, breaking through the Emperor's Tree's Dharma Realm would be as difficult as ascending to heaven, he had ultimately grasped a glimmer of hope.

"Fellow Daoist Jing, you only need to attack this cocoon of light from the outside with all your might!"

[You quickly considered your options. The most powerful weapon you possessed was the stone tablet you received as a gift when you met the enigmatic and immortal Emperor in the Chen Kingdom—the Eastern Divine Tablet.]

This item does not need to be stored in a storage bag, but rather nurtured deep within the divine sea using the "Four Extremes Divine Path Treasure Control Method".

[With a slight thought, six divine lights intertwined and emerged from your sea of ​​consciousness, instantly condensing into a mysterious three-inch-tall stele.]

[The left hand is outstretched, revealing a stone tablet.]

Though only three inches in size, the small stele seems to bear the weight of eternity, standing silently amidst the ever-flowing primordial chaos, exuding a vast and ancient aura.

[Within the cocoon of light, two voices rang out almost simultaneously, filled with shock and disbelief:]

"The Eastern Divine Stele!?"

(End of this chapter)