Chapter 1272: Fabricating the Deduction Jade
One after another, fabricated versions of Sun Luyao flickered into existence, only to be destroyed moments later.
Throughout this process, Li Fan gradually developed his own unique insights into the nature of [Creation].
“Senior...”
Just before the last vestiges of the copied Sun Luyao's divine sense were consumed, a voice—timid and hesitant, yet laced with a hidden thread of greed—sounded once more within the Sun family's hidden chamber.
It was a near-perfect mimicry of Sun Luyao's own mannerisms and speech.
Even Li Fan, its creator, could scarcely tell the difference.
But this was merely a surface-level resemblance.
Li Fan knew perfectly well.
The newborn Sun Luyao acted entirely based on the response parameters Li Fan had set; it possessed no capacity for independent thought.
Furthermore, this created entity of consciousness had not been acknowledged by the immortal artifact, the Immeasurable Mirror.
In the perception of the Immeasurable Mirror, they were two entirely distinct beings.
“The Fabrication, Hundred States of Sentient Beings array merely creates the diverse temperaments of living beings.”
“But to truly create life from nothing requires other methods.” Confirming this, Li Fan shook his head with a touch of regret.
This did not mean, however, that Li Fan had gained nothing.
Within the Final Dissociation Disc, nestled in his true self's sea of consciousness...
...a consciousness—or rather, a virtual personality brought into being by the fabrication array—was slowly taking shape.
Li Fan's parameters for it were singular and straightforward.
Its primary directive was to increase the efficiency of deducing and analyzing formations. It would be tireless, unceasing.
Previously, although Li Fan controlled the wondrous Final Dissociation Disc, unleashing its full potential required not only the enhancement of a Dao Transformation Stone but also a significant portion of his own mental energy to personally oversee its operations.
With a mechanized, fabricated personality, Li Fan could surely free up a portion of that energy for other tasks.
“In essence, this is almost equivalent to the legendary practice of bestowing a spirit upon an immortal artifact. It simply uses a clever workaround to achieve a slightly less potent result.”
“Looking at the bigger picture, this isn't limited to the Dissociation Disc. Any wondrous item or magic treasure could be operated in this manner.”
“It requires almost no resources, yet it can significantly enhance an item's... well, 'power' might not be the right word. But it will certainly make it more user-friendly. And it can be customized and tailored to specific needs.”
“In a way, this is another form of the [Array Refining] technique.”
While Li Fan was lost in thought, the fabricated personality within the Final Dissociation Disc officially manifested.
Its appearance was modeled after the cultivator Li Fan found most capable and efficient during his hundred reincarnations: Gao Yuan.
Li Fan had once served as the acting master of Ten Thousand Immortals Island, and Gao Yuan's ability to read situations and his unwavering loyalty had left a deep, positive impression on him.
Finding the man's demeanor agreeable, Li Fan had modeled the fabricated personality after him.
As for the fate of the real Gao Yuan...
...Li Fan couldn't care less.
“Master, how may I be of service?” Gao Yuan inquired with the utmost respect.
“Organize the data on all existing immortal-grade grand arrays. Deduce the connections between them and identify their shared foundational units.”
“Using that as a foundation, begin a systematic process of deduction to improve all formations in the Xuanhuang Realm. All results are to be recorded and preserved.”
“Simultaneously, attempt to discover potential methods for self-advancement...”
Li Fan issued a cascade of commands.
The Final Dissociation Disc paused for a fleeting moment before resuming its rapid operation.
It now operated with a greater sense of order and structure than before.
Li Fan could see the fabricated personality's feedback, manifested as concrete data.
He could see, for instance, the percentage of the Final Dissociation Disc's processing power allocated to each task, along with an estimated time of completion.
Once a task was complete, the fabricated personality would automatically compile the results, awaiting Li Fan's review.
“So much more efficient than before.”
The mental strain vanished from his mind, yet the Disc's deduction efficiency had not only remained stable but had actually increased.
“This is the overwhelming advantage of methodology from the Immortal World.”
“Before, I was like someone holding a firearm but only knowing how to use it as a club.”
“And all of this is the fruit of personally exploring the formations of the Immortal World and gaining these new insights...”
As this thought crossed his mind, Li Fan's focus shifted. He looked over at the Deduction Jade, who was sprawled listlessly across the long table.
“Come to think of it, this little one's situation is quite similar to my own before I made this breakthrough.”
“But security here is tight. I haven't found a way to approach her privately.”
Li Fan cast an imperceptible glance toward Zhang Xu and Hua Yueye, the two Dao Integration guardians, his mind already formulating a plan.
Fortune favors the bold, as they say. Within a few days, the perfect opportunity presented itself to Li Fan.
“A session with the Deduction Jade?”
“Isn't that a privilege we're only granted after a full century of guard duty? Why is this being arranged now?”
Li Fan asked, his expression puzzled as he faced the elder from the Law Enforcement Hall, Zhao Shihuan.
Zhao Shihuan smiled. “Your Sun family has rendered great service to the Immortal Alliance. After a joint resolution by Chief Xu Yuanxian and the entire council of elders of the Law Enforcement Hall, your term of guard duty will be reduced from three hundred years to two hundred.”
“However, the associated benefits and merits will not be diminished. You can rest assured of that.”
Li Fan then recalled the assurances Sun Luyuan had given him during his last visit.
“It seems Xu Yuanxian wasn't just placating him this time.”
Zhao Shihuan continued, “Since this is rather sudden, if you feel you aren't prepared, Brother Sun, you can save this session for a later date.”
“I came today simply to inform you of this.”
Compared to his demeanor with Zhang Xu and Hua Yueye, Zhao Shihuan's attitude toward Li Fan was noticeably more courteous. After all, the Chief Elder himself had put in a good word for him, suggesting his future position in the Law Enforcement Hall would be anything but low. It was only natural to build a good rapport in advance.
“Then I thank you, Elder Zhao...” Li Fan considered for a moment before replying in a measured tone. “I've recently had a flash of inspiration, so I'd like to use this opportunity now.”
Zhao Shihuan nodded.
Under the envious gazes of the other two guardians, Li Fan left his post and drifted over to the Deduction Jade, who appeared as a small girl.
The Deduction Jade glared at the great villain before her, the one who constantly pressured and exploited her. Her cheeks puffed out in a frustrated pout.
“I'm already working hard enough, why do I have to...” the Deduction Jade began to grumble, but her complaint died in her throat when she met Li Fan's stern gaze.
It seemed Li Fan's conditioning of the Deduction Jade over this period had produced some results.
Still, she maintained a defiant facade, her eyes wide as she stared daggers at Li Fan.
Seeing this exchange, the others in the deduction space couldn't help but chuckle.
A lighthearted mood filled the air.
They were all colleagues, after all; there was no need for undue caution. The other guardians watched on with amusement, ready for a good show.
“Alright, alright, you win,” the Deduction Jade sighed. “Just tell me what you want.”
She slumped onto the long table, speaking with an air of resignation.
Li Fan expertly caught the sheet of paper that flew toward him, and characters quickly materialized upon its surface.
The moment the last character appeared, Li Fan acted without a shred of hesitation.
With a single thought, the paper transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the Deduction Jade.
The entire sequence was executed with a fluid grace, as if rehearsed countless times.
At first, the Deduction Jade remained listless. But soon, her expression changed as if she had discovered something, and a jolt of energy ran through her.
Her chubby little hand slammed the table. “What is this nonsense?” she muttered. “This is so difficult!”
The characters on the table scattered in an instant from the force of her blow.
“Just a moment,” the Deduction Jade told Li Fan.
Then, the massive sphere of light and characters above her head began to spin rapidly, as if struggling with a difficult deduction.
Li Fan, meanwhile, took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the two Dao Integration cultivators, Zhang Xu and Hua Yueye.
“My term has been reduced by a century, but for some reason, I have a feeling this isn't necessarily a good thing,” Li Fan remarked with a puzzled sigh. “When I imagine leaving this place, I feel a strange sense of reluctance.”
Zhang Xu chuckled. “I know exactly why that is. Past Dao Integration guardians from my Zhang family have felt the same apprehension upon leaving. When you stay in one place for too long, a sense of dependency is inevitable. Not even our level of cultivation can make us immune to such sentiments.”
Hua Yueye agreed. “Indeed. After several centuries, the world outside has changed. It can be daunting to face it...”
The three of them conversed amiably, their eyes occasionally flicking over to the Deduction Jade.
And this time, it truly seemed that the Deduction Jade's complaints were justified; the target technique was proving to be quite difficult.
The time it was taking far exceeded that of a typical Dao Integration-level technique.
“It seems Brother Sun is on the verge of a great breakthrough,” Zhang Xu commented, a hint of envy in his voice.
Li Fan didn't deny it. “The loss of my wife, the birth of my son... too many things have happened recently...”
After taking half again the allotted time, the Deduction Jade finally completed the deduction.
“Alright, it's done. Take it.”
Perhaps due to the exertion, her attitude was much improved, lacking its usual harshness.
Li Fan nodded, accepted the paper, and committed its contents to memory.
Then, with a slight bow, he returned to his post, his expression unchanged.
“According to the regulations, you may now rest for two hours,” Zhang Xu announced.
“She seems exhausted,” Li Fan suggested. “Why not give her an extra hour? After all, this was an unscheduled deduction performed on my behalf.”
Zhang Xu and Hua Yueye exchanged a look and nodded in agreement.
Granting a colleague a small favor, well within the scope of their authority, was a simple matter.
“Didn't take you for the considerate type,” the Deduction Jade muttered under her breath.
Without another word, not even a thank you, she flopped onto the table and fell fast asleep.
Li Fan's expression remained serene as he reviewed the technique the Deduction Jade had produced.
“Simulated Sentient Beings Art.”
The technique's effect was essentially the same as the [Fabrication, Hundred States of Sentient Beings] grand array.
In fact, having been converted into a cultivation technique, its efficacy was slightly diminished.
But the technique itself was not Li Fan's goal.
He had merely used this opportunity, under the watchful eyes of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, to pass the method for creating a fabricated personality on to the Deduction Jade.
And the Deduction Jade was not a fool.
Realizing that this method could be of immense use to her, she had proactively helped conceal Li Fan's subterfuge.
Three hours later, Zhang Xu appeared punctually beside the Deduction Jade. He conjured a bronze gong and roused the sleeping girl.
Afterward, the Deduction Jade seemed to once again immerse herself in her endless work.
In truth, however, a change was quietly taking place.
Inside the Deduction Jade's sphere of light, a figure was slowly forming.
The little girl cupped her chin in her hands, her face alight with excitement as she stared ahead.
“Yes, yes, yes! I can't believe this method actually works.”
“I've tried splitting myself before to get help with my work, but it never did any good.”
“This changes everything...”
The Deduction Jade's eyes were wide with anticipation.
Before long, the fabricated personality officially materialized.
“Ah!”
The Deduction Jade's shriek echoed throughout the sphere of light.
“Why is it you?!”
The little girl instinctively recoiled from the fabricated personality.
The reason was simple...
For some reason, despite her intention to model it after the most handsome face she could imagine...
...the finished product that appeared before her was the spitting image of Li Fan—or rather, Sun Ang!
“Master, how may I be of service?”
The personality, a perfect replica of Li Fan, paid no mind to the Deduction Jade's exaggerated reaction, asking in a mechanical, respectful tone.
“Huh?”
The Deduction Jade mustered her courage and cautiously approached to test it.
When she found that the fabricated personality was perfectly obedient, doing whatever she commanded, her courage instantly returned.
She began ordering it around without ceremony. “Help me deduce these techniques!”
“And don't ever stop!”
“I've already built up a backlog of about ten years' worth of work. I want you to get that up to at least fifty!”
As the little girl spoke, her eyes sparkled, already lost in daydreams of a wonderful future.
“A ten-year backlog...”
“What do you mean by that?”
Just then, a curious voice suddenly cut in. It was Li Fan.
The joyous expression on the Deduction Jade's face froze solid.
“You!” She pointed a chubby finger at the fabricated personality, her face a mask of disbelief.
“How is this possible? How can you have a will of your own? You're supposed to be just a mechanical version of me...”
“It's just a trivial little back door I included,” Li Fan explained, adopting a perfectly polite posture.
“Don't worry, the fabricated personality truly has no will of its own,” Li Fan said slowly. “I have simply taken temporary control of it to facilitate our conversation.”
“What do you want?” Tears welled in the Deduction Jade's large eyes, and she adopted a pitiful, vulnerable expression.
“I'm warning you, don't try anything funny! I'll scream for help!”
Li Fan completely ignored her clumsy attempt at acting.
He simply returned to the topic of the “ten-year backlog.”
“Ah, I see now,” he mused. “The time it actually takes you to complete each deduction is slightly less than the time you pretend it takes.”
“With each task, you save up a little extra time. That is your backlog.”
...
As Li Fan continued to speak, the color slowly drained from the Deduction Jade's face.
“To think you've accumulated so much without anyone noticing.”
“And you need a total of fifty years...”
“This goes far beyond mere laziness.”
Li Fan stared intently at the Deduction Jade.
“What exactly do you want?”
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