Chapter 1378: Autumn Water Enters the Star Sea
The effect of the Form of Life was even more wondrous than Li Fan had anticipated.
Looking at the young acolyte kneeling before him, Li Fan tried to perceive its specific life form.
"Bestowing life..." he murmured, savoring the words.
By inscribing the Form of Life onto the liquid longsword, Li Fan had created an existence akin to a "weapon spirit." And between him and his creation, a powerful, intrinsic connection had formed.
The "Great Master" the acolyte spoke of was, in truth, its master and sovereign.
Li Fan felt a faint certainty that with a single thought, he could erase the acolyte's consciousness, causing the liquid longsword to revert to its original state.
No matter how powerful the acolyte became, as long as it could not break the shackles of the [Form of Life], it could never escape its destiny as a creation.
"The Form of Life is truly profound. The only pity is that it creates a genuinely independent being with its own consciousness. I cannot fully perceive its every thought."
Having quickly grasped the situation, Li Fan said calmly, "Rise."
With a casual flick of his finger, he prompted the acolyte to conjure a set of clothes to cover its body.
"Thank you for the clothes, Great Master!" The acolyte kowtowed respectfully once more before rising as commanded.
"Attack me with your full strength."
"This..." The young acolyte hesitated for a moment but ultimately obeyed.
The young acolyte's figure vanished in an instant.
In its place, a torrential downpour descended from the sky.
Upon closer inspection, every single raindrop was a sword, shimmering with a chilling aura.
A storm of swords swirled around Li Fan, threatening to tear him to shreds.
The newly born acolyte was a complete blank slate, knowing only to faithfully execute Li Fan's commands.
In this attack, it held nothing back.
"Even a nascent consciousness can unleash such a multitude of pure, distinct sword intents. A cultivator would likely need millennia of training to reach such a state. Is this the innate advantage of a weapon taking human form...?"
"Unfortunately, this liquid longsword is still just a realm-class artifact, so its potential is limited."
Li Fan neither dodged nor evaded, allowing the thousands of sword-raindrops to fall upon him.
Each streak of sword energy, though seemingly formidable, would erupt in a dazzling golden light just before it touched him, as if striking an invisible barrier, before dissipating into nothingness.
Despite the downpour, not even the hem of Li Fan's robes was dampened.
"Gather!"
Li Fan's counterattack was merely a wave of his sleeve. He gathered the thousands of raindrops, then flicked his finger, producing a crisp chime.
The young acolyte instantly reverted to its sword form, tumbling wretchedly to the ground.
"Thank you for your mercy, Great Master!"
"Great Master's divine might is supreme, unrivaled in all the universe!"
The young acolyte scrambled to its feet and instinctively dropped to its knees, showering him with praise.
"It has taken form, yes. But its strength is nowhere near enough to act as my shield."
"It needs to be strengthened further."
Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly as he had the young acolyte change back into its original form.
After being imprinted with the Form of Life, the surface of the liquid longsword rippled like living water, appearing much more agile and spirited.
As for how to strengthen the sword before him, Li Fan already had a plan in mind.
His own power was rooted in immortal arrays. The best method, naturally, was [Array Refining].
Source Power Essence surged forth. Golden patterns transformed into individual array units, all of them merging into the liquid longsword.
As the immortal arrays entered its body, the liquid longsword instantly began to roil as if boiling, its surface shaking violently.
As a mere realm-class artifact, it should not have been able to withstand the vast, transcendent power of an immortal array. However, what Li Fan was inscribing was the grand array of [Confusion, Myriad Beings of Xuanhuang], which integrated every immortal array he had mastered to date.
The array's evolution generated its own cycle of life and death, a force sufficient to protect the liquid longsword and prevent its annihilation.
Of course, during the Array Refining process, Li Fan also faintly perceived the effect of the [Form of Life].
"The birth of its consciousness has caused some kind of qualitative change in the liquid longsword itself. Otherwise, it might not have been able to withstand the initial impact before the immortal array was fully inscribed."
Golden light flickered unceasingly. After seven days, Li Fan finally finished inscribing the entire Myriad Beings of Xuanhuang Grand Array.
What he had left in the liquid longsword was akin to a template for a True Immortal Script character. It was merely a foundational array structure, like a complex machine waiting to be assembled; activating and evolving the array would still require an injection of energy.
If it relied solely on its own power, the liquid longsword would likely be drained dry by the array's requirements in mere moments.
As for the Source Power Essence, Li Fan had no intention of letting the liquid longsword use it.
After all, the sublimation of the Xuanhuang Realm was imminent, and every extra bit of Source Power Essence in his reserves increased his chances of success.
If this creation meant to be his shield also had to compete with him for resources...
...wouldn't that defeat the entire purpose?
But Li Fan wasn't about to let the liquid longsword become a mere decoration, only capable of powering the immortal array for a few moments. In fact, a brilliant idea had already taken shape in his mind.
"Energy. Infinite."
Li Fan looked up at the Star Sea, his eyes narrowing.
After twenty days of preparation.
In the empty Star Sea, the small acolyte in blue robes was chanting.
What it was chanting was none other than the enhanced Immortal Boat version of the Taijia Divine Art.
Meanwhile, Li Fan remained hidden far away, observing in secret.
That's right—he wanted to replicate the Immortal Boat's "equalization" of the Star Sea. Only this time, the one equalizing the power of the Star Sea wouldn't be Li Fan, but the liquid longsword!
Indeed, from his previous experience, he knew that by trying to equalize with the infinite Star Sea, one would instead be assimilated by it.
Becoming a Star Spirit-like entity.
But...
...the liquid longsword had the [Form of Life] inscribed within it!
The Form of Life had even brought about the birth of an independent consciousness in this Darkest Star Sea. Its status was surely above that of the Star Sea itself.
As long as the Form of Life remained unbroken, even if it became a Star Spirit, its life and death would still be subject to Li Fan's will.
"A Star Spirit cannot defy the will of the Star Sea."
"A creation of the Form of Life cannot defy the will of its creator."
"When these two principles conflict..."
"...let's see which one comes out on top!"
The young acolyte's chanting continued for a long time without rest. It was as if it had practiced ten million times, without a hint of unfamiliarity. Its performance was even more perfect than that of most of the Immortal Boat elders.
The learning ability of a weapon spirit in human form was indeed far beyond that of an ordinary person.
But perhaps because it had already been forced to communicate via the Taijia Divine Art once before, the Star Sea's consciousness seemed to have developed some "resistance." This time, it took almost twice as long to summon it.
A violet-gold vortex, like a profound eye, appeared once again in the Star Sea.
Without the slightest hesitation, the young acolyte's movements were fluid and powerful as it unleashed the [Equalize] character art with a thunderous roar.
The Star Sea's reaction was, as before, to welcome all comers.
However, compared to the Immortal Boat elders, who had weathered thousands of years of trials, this young acolyte—born less than a month ago, with experiences as blank as a fresh sheet of paper—didn't seem to arouse much of the Star Sea's interest.
But regardless, the [Equalize] character was formed.
An infinite amount of Star Sea energy poured down from the void.
Tempered by the starlight, the young acolyte gradually transformed into the likeness of a Star Spirit—a figure of shimmering blue light, with constellations connecting like a skeletal frame.
Suddenly, as if struck by the infinite power of the Star Sea, the hidden pattern of the Form of Life within the acolyte's body inexplicably began to shine, materializing on its surface.
Stimulated by the collision with an external force just barely strong enough to be considered an opponent, the Form of Life finally unleashed its true radiance.
It was a blackness that represented the void, yet it shimmered with all the myriad colors of the world.
The outermost edge of the pattern was veiled in a faint white light that also represented the void.
An iridescent black, fringed with a fluorescent glow.
This dazzling, unforgettable color completely overwhelmed the blue of the Star Sea the moment it appeared.
From within the violet-gold vortex, a deafening roar erupted, ten million times louder than thunder and storms.
Even Li Fan, spying from a great distance, could feel the Star Sea's fury in the violently churning vortex.
But fury was one thing.
The Star Sea's consciousness would not act on impulse.
Like all thunder and no rain, the violet-gold vortex vanished even faster than it had appeared.
The threat of the Star Sea disappeared, and the Form of Life receded back into the acolyte's body. All that remained was the Star Spirit acolyte, standing dazedly in the Star Sea.
"It worked?"
The process had been easier than he had anticipated. Li Fan calmed his mind and sensed his connection with the young acolyte.
The sovereign power of the Form of Life indeed still existed.
It had not been erased by the influence of the Star Sea's fundamental truth.
With a thought from Li Fan, the young acolyte's figure gracefully flew over, moving several times faster than before, and arrived in front of him.
"Thank you for this great fortune, Great Master!"
Li Fan quietly observed the acolyte's new Star Spirit body.
Using the sovereign power of the Form of Life, Li Fan was able to see through the endless, brilliant starlight and perceive the details within.
Every point of light was like a channel.
A channel leading to an unknowable, mysterious place—the true source of the infinite star power.
Perhaps because it was too vast, exceeding the limits of his perception, Li Fan couldn't sense any unusual presence within it.
The restrictions of the Star Sea's consciousness had not vanished. They were merely suppressed by the Form of Life, temporarily unable to affect the young acolyte.
Li Fan also faintly sensed that as endless star power gushed from the channels, tempering its body, countless laws of the Star Sea were slowly integrating into and transforming the acolyte's sword-body.
"Though it hasn't reached the level of an immortal artifact, it is now a sword of the Supreme level."
"With infinite star power as its source, it can power the immortal array at maximum capacity, keeping it running indefinitely."
Li Fan reached out and grasped the longsword, which had instantly reverted to its original form.
It was no longer liquid. Instead, it was a surge of brilliant starlight, like the endless Star Sea itself.
Within the play of light and shadow, countless worlds seemed to be born and perish.
Having forged such a potent weapon with his own hands, Li Fan felt a rare surge of excitement.
"I wonder if I can use this sword to call upon the infinite power of the Star Sea?"
With a thought, a massive amount of star power surged out from the sword's blade.
But this raw, pure power of the Star Sea was not the same as the spiritual energy cultivated by cultivators.
After rushing into Li Fan's body, not only could it not be absorbed and utilized...
...it rampaged through him like a flood, wreaking havoc.
Li Fan frowned slightly and was forced to expel it from his body.
"A pity. However, there must be a cultivation method that can convert the Star Sea's power for one's own use." Li Fan couldn't help but think of the cultivators from the Taijia Realm, who had once wielded the power of the Star Sea.
A moment later, however, Li Fan shook his head to himself. "I'm getting muddled. Even with the infinity of the Star Sea, it is still ultimately bound by the Form of Life."
"Pursuing a quantity that cannot be qualitatively changed..."
"...is ultimately a misguided path."
"But to be able to forge a Supreme-level existence so easily is an absolutely wonderful thing for me right now."
If he had a dozen or so Supreme-level guardians, even if they were just Supreme-level weapon spirits, it would be enough for Li Fan to sweep through the Star Sea.
With this in mind, Li Fan was about to repeat the process.
However, something happened that left Li Fan stunned.
The Form of Life...
...he could no longer imprint it onto any other object!
Although he still remembered the pattern perfectly in his mind, when it came time to act, he found himself unable to inscribe it.
"So, there's this kind of restriction."
After a few more attempts confirmed that the restriction was real, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"I was originally hoping to use the Form of Life to create an army of weapon spirits, unify the Star Sea, and explore what lies beyond the Wall."
"After all, a completely controlled creation is so much more convenient to use than a cultivator."
"What a pity."
Li Fan shook his head and sighed, then tossed the starlight longsword from his hand.
The young acolyte once again transformed into its human form, standing before Li Fan with its head bowed and eyes lowered.
Li Fan contemplated aloud, "All things possess infinite quantity, endless time, and ever-changing forms. Now, you have attained the infinite divine power of the Star Sea. From this day forward, you are free from mortal shackles, having transcended the material world."
"From now on, your name shall be..."
"...[Autumn Water]!"
Hearing this, the young acolyte was initially stunned, not understanding what the "infinity, endlessness, and inconstancy" Li Fan spoke of had to do with the name "Autumn Water."
But the Great Master's words were commands.
The young acolyte immediately stopped thinking about it and kowtowed joyfully. "Thank you for granting me a name, Great Master!"
After accepting the name [Autumn Water], the aura around the young acolyte seemed to undergo a subtle, inexplicable change.
It seemed more like a naturally born living being.
As its creator, a sliver of understanding instantly dawned in Li Fan's mind.
If one day, the acolyte Autumn Water could completely evolve into a true living being and escape its fate as a creation...
...then Li Fan would be able to once again imprint a new Form of Life.
Li Fan pondered this for a long time, his expression unreadable.
"Hmph."
"A pure creation is better, after all."
When he returned to the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan found that Tianyang had also awakened from his enlightenment.
Though it was merely a puppet assembled from various materials, it now possessed a trace of transcendent, ethereal grace.
It was only a fraction inferior to the True Immortals Li Fan had seen.
Li Fan suspected that if Tianyang were to appear in the Xuanhuang Realm now, countless cultivators would probably fall to their knees and worship him on the spot.
Next, Li Fan had Autumn Water and Tianyang spar with each other.
Autumn Water had infinite star power to drive the Myriad Beings of Xuanhuang Grand Array, so in theory, it should have a clear advantage over Tianyang.
But Li Fan discovered that the immortal-level illusion array, which had trapped the Heavenly Doctor for so long, had little effect on Tianyang.
Once in a combat state, Tianyang was consistently able to ignore everything the illusionary realm produced.
Even the past events of the Body Transformation Dao could no longer trouble him much.
Instead, the trials of the illusion array only served to sharpen and perfect Tianyang's heart.
Leaping out of the storm of the rapidly shifting All Things Return to Void Grand Array conjured by Autumn Water, Tianyang landed a heavy punch on Autumn Water's body.
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