My Longevity Simulation

The effects of the Shape of Living Beings were even more miraculous than Li Fan had anticipated.

Looking at the young Daoist child kneeling before him, Li Fan attempted to perceive the exact nature of its life.

"'Granting Life...'"

He silently savored those two words.

By engraving the Shape of Living Beings onto the liquid longsword, Li Fan had created an existence similar to an artifact spirit. Moreover, an innate and extremely strong connection had naturally formed between him and his creation.

The "Great Master" the Daoist child spoke of was, in truth, its master and creator.

Li Fan vaguely sensed that with a single thought, he could erase the Daoist child's consciousness at will and restore the liquid longsword to its original state.

No matter how powerful the Daoist child became, so long as it could not break free from the constraints of the Shape of Living Beings, it would never escape the destiny of being a creation.

"The Shape of Living Beings truly contains endless mysteries. The only pity is that what it creates is a genuinely independent living being with its own consciousness. I cannot completely perceive every one of its thoughts."

"However, controlling it like a puppet is still entirely possible."

Having instantly understood the entire situation, Li Fan said calmly, "Rise."

With a casual point of his finger, he manipulated the Dao to create a set of robes to cover the Daoist child's body.

"Many thanks, Great Master, for bestowing these clothes!"

The Daoist child respectfully kowtowed once more before standing up as instructed.

"Attack me with your full strength."

"This..."

The young Daoist child hesitated briefly, but ultimately obeyed.

Its figure vanished in an instant.

In its place, torrential rain poured from the heavens.

A closer look revealed that every single raindrop was an icy sword radiating chilling sword intent.

The storm of sword rain surrounded Li Fan, intending to cut him into countless pieces.

The newly born Daoist child was a blank slate that knew only how to faithfully execute Li Fan's commands.

Now that it had begun attacking, it showed absolutely no restraint.

"Even with such immature intelligence, it can unleash so many pure and distinct sword intents. An ordinary cultivator would likely require hundreds or even thousands of years of tempering to reach such a level. Is this the innate advantage possessed by artifacts that have assumed human form..."

"Unfortunately, this liquid longsword is still only a world artifact. Its upper limit is no more than this."

Li Fan neither dodged nor defended.

He simply allowed the endless rain of swords to fall upon him.

Every sword qi appeared overwhelmingly powerful.

Yet each time it was about to touch Li Fan, it seemed to collide with some invisible barrier, erupting into dazzling golden light before silently dissipating.

Although the rain poured endlessly, not even the corner of Li Fan's robes became wet.

"Return!"

Li Fan's counterattack consisted of nothing more than a casual sweep of his sleeve.

The countless raindrops instantly gathered together.

He lightly flicked them with his finger, producing a crisp ringing sound.

The young Daoist child immediately reverted to its original form and tumbled awkwardly onto the ground.

"Many thanks, Great Master, for showing mercy."

"Great Master's divine might is unmatched beneath the heavens and invincible throughout the universe."

The Daoist child hurriedly climbed to its feet and instinctively knelt to flatter him.

"It has assumed human form."

"But its strength is still far from sufficient to block a blade for me."

"It still requires further strengthening."

Li Fan narrowed his eyes and had the Daoist child return to its original form once more.

After receiving the imprint of the Shape of Living Beings, the surface of the liquid longsword resembled flowing water, becoming noticeably more lively and spirited.

As for how to strengthen the sword, Li Fan had already formulated a plan.

His greatest strength lay in Immortal formations.

Naturally, the best method was Formation Refinement.

Golden source power essence surged forth.

Countless golden patterns transformed into individual formation units, all of which merged into the liquid longsword.

The moment the Immortal formation entered its body, the liquid longsword immediately seemed to boil violently.

Its entire surface rippled uncontrollably.

Ordinarily, a world-level artifact should never have been capable of enduring the vast and transcendent power of an Immortal formation.

However, what Li Fan engraved this time was the Xuanhuang Multitudinous Living Beings Grand Formation, a fusion of every Immortal formation he had mastered thus far.

As the formation continuously evolved, the powers of creation and destruction naturally circulated within it.

This was sufficient to preserve the liquid longsword from collapsing.

Furthermore, during the process of Formation Refinement, Li Fan also faintly sensed the influence of the Shape of Living Beings.

"The birth of intelligence has caused the liquid longsword itself to undergo a qualitative transformation. Otherwise, it might not even have survived the very first impact before the Immortal formation was fully engraved."

Golden light continued flashing.

Seven days later, Li Fan finally completed the engraving of the entire Xuanhuang Multitudinous Living Beings Grand Formation.

At this moment, what remained within the liquid longsword was merely something similar to the template of a True Immortal seal script character.

It was only the foundational framework of an immensely intricate formation.

To truly activate the formation and allow it to evolve, energy still had to be supplied.

If the liquid longsword relied solely upon its own power, it probably could not sustain the formation for even a short while before being completely drained dry by the Immortal formation.

As for source power essence, Li Fan had no intention of allowing the liquid longsword to use it.

After all, the elevation of Xuanhuang was imminent.

Every additional reserve of source power essence increased his chances of success. If this creation, which existed to block blades on his behalf, also had to compete with him for resources...

Would that not defeat its very purpose?

Of course, Li Fan had no intention of allowing the liquid longsword to become nothing more than an ornamental piece capable of activating the Immortal formation only briefly.

In truth, he already had an excellent idea.

"Energy."

"Infinite."

Li Fan raised his head toward the Star Sea and narrowed his eyes.

After making thorough preparations, twenty days later.

Within the empty star sea, the blue-robed young Daoist child continuously chanted an incantation.

What it recited was none other than the enhanced Taijia Divine Art from the Immortal Ark.

Meanwhile, Li Fan concealed himself in the distance and quietly observed.

That was right.

He intended to recreate the Immortal Ark's balancing of the Star Sea.

Only this time, it would not be Li Fan balancing the power of the Star Sea.

It would be the liquid longsword.

Admittedly, from previous experience, once one balanced the infinite power of the Star Sea, one would instead be assimilated by it.

One would become an existence similar to a Star Spirit.

However...

The liquid longsword contained the Shape of Living Beings.

The Shape of Living Beings had even given rise to the independent consciousness of this Darkest Star Sea itself.

Its level of existence undoubtedly surpassed that of the Star Sea.

As long as the Shape of Living Beings remained intact, then even if it transformed into a Star Spirit, its life and death would still remain under Li Fan's control with a single thought.

"A Star Spirit cannot defy the will of the Star Sea."

"A creation born from the Shape of Living Beings cannot defy the will of its creator."

"When these two laws come into conflict..."

"Let me see which one prevails."

The young Daoist child's chanting continued without pause.

It was as though it had practiced the technique millions of times, without the slightest trace of unfamiliarity.

Its performance was even more perfect than that of the vast majority of the Immortal Ark Elders.

The learning ability of an artifact spirit that had assumed human form truly far surpassed ordinary people.

Perhaps because it had already been forced to communicate with the Star Sea once through the Taijia Divine Art, the consciousness of the Star Sea seemed to have developed a slight resistance.

This time, it took nearly twice as long as before before the Star Sea consciousness finally descended.

A violet-gold vortex resembling an immeasurably deep eye once again appeared within the star sea.

The young Daoist child hesitated not at all.

Its brush danced like a dragon and serpent as the Character of [Equal] erupted forth.

The Star Sea's response remained exactly the same.

It accepted everything without rejection.

However, compared to the Immortal Ark Elders who had weathered thousands of years, this young Daoist child, which had existed for less than a month and whose experience was almost completely blank, clearly did not attract much of the Star Sea's interest.

Nevertheless, once the Character of Equal had been completed.

An endless torrent of Star Sea energy poured down from the void.

Bathed in starlight, the young Daoist child gradually transformed into a Star Spirit.

Its entire body shone with brilliant blue starlight, while constellations linked together throughout its body like a skeleton.

Suddenly, as if struck by the boundless power of the Star Sea, the hidden Shape of Living Beings pattern within the little Daoist child's body began to shine. It surfaced upon his body of its own accord.

Stimulated by an external force that was just barely worthy of being its opponent, the Shape of Living Beings finally revealed its true radiance.

It was a black that represented nothingness, yet within that darkness shimmered every brilliant color in existence.

Around the outermost edge of the pattern was a faint white glow that likewise represented nothingness.

A seven-colored black surrounded by a luminous white outline.

The moment this unforgettable and dazzling color appeared, it completely overwhelmed the blue radiance of the Star Sea.

Within the violet-gold vortex, a deafening roar erupted, countless times louder than the sound of wind and thunder.

Even Li Fan, watching from afar, could sense the Star Sea's fury from the violently surging vortex.

Furious though it was, the consciousness of the Star Sea did not act recklessly.

Its display was all thunder and little rain. The violet-gold vortex disappeared even faster than it had appeared.

As the Star Sea's threat vanished, the Shape of Living Beings concealed itself once more within the little Daoist child's body. Only the Star Spirit Dao Child remained standing blankly within the Star Sea.

'It succeeded?'

The process had gone even more smoothly than Li Fan had anticipated. He calmed his mind and sensed the connection between himself and the little Daoist child.

The authority of the Shape of Living Being's dominion still remained.

It had not disappeared under the influence of the true intent of the Star Sea's origin.

With a thought from Li Fan, the little Daoist child floated gracefully over, moving several times faster than before, and arrived before him.

"Many thanks, Great Master, for bestowing this fortune upon me!"

Li Fan quietly observed the Daoist child's brand new Star Spirit body.

Using the Shape of Living Being's power of dominion, Li Fan was able to peer through the dazzling starlight and clearly observe its internal structure.

Every point of light resembled a passage.

Each one led to an unknowable and mysterious place. That was the true source of the infinite star power.

Perhaps because it was simply too vast, exceeding Li Fan's ability to perceive, he could detect no unusual presence within it at all.

The restrictions imposed by the Star Sea's consciousness had not disappeared. They had merely been suppressed by the Shape of Living Beings, preventing them from affecting the little Daoist child for the time being.

Li Fan also vaguely sensed that, as endless star power continuously poured out through those passages, countless Star Sea laws were gradually integrating into and transforming the Daoist Child's sword body through the tempering of star power.

"It has not reached the level of an immortal artifact, but it is already a Supreme Sword."

"With infinite star power as its source, it can continuously drive an immortal formation at its maximum capacity without end."

Li Fan reached out and grasped the longsword, which instantly returned to its original form.

It was no longer liquid.

Instead, it surged with brilliant starlight, as though it were the boundless Star Sea itself.

Within the shifting radiance, countless worlds seemed to be born and perish.

Having personally forged such a divine weapon, even Li Fan could not suppress the excitement rising within his heart.

"I wonder if I can use this sword to draw upon the infinite power of the Star Sea?"

With a thought, an immense amount of star power surged from the blade.

However, this pure and primordial Star Sea power was fundamentally different from the spiritual energy cultivated by cultivators.

After entering Li Fan's body, not only could it not be absorbed or controlled, it instead rampaged like a flood, wreaking havoc throughout his body.

Li Fan frowned slightly and was forced to expel it.

"What a pity. However, there must exist cultivation techniques capable of converting Star Sea power for one's own use."

He could not help but think of the cultivators of the Taijia Realm, who had once dominated through the power of the Star Sea.

A moment later, Li Fan silently shook his head.

"I was thinking too narrowly. Even the infinite Star Sea must ultimately remain bound by the Shape of Living Beings."

"Pursuing nothing more than an increase in quantity..."

"Is ultimately the wrong path."

"Still, being able to create a Supreme realm existence so easily is undoubtedly a tremendous blessing for my current self."

If he possessed more than ten Supreme realm protectors, even if they were only Supreme realm artifact spirits, it would be enough for Li Fan to sweep across the Star Sea.

Thinking this, Li Fan prepared to repeat the process.

However, something unexpected happened.

The Shape of Living Beings...

Could no longer be imprinted onto any other object.

Although the pattern still remained perfectly clear within his mind, when the moment came, he found himself unable to engrave it.

"So there is such a restriction."

After several more attempts confirmed this limitation, Li Fan could only sigh in disappointment.

"I originally intended to use the Shape of Living Beings to create an army of artifact spirits, unify the Star Sea, and explore beyond the High Wall."

"After all, creations under complete control are far easier to use than cultivators."

"What a pity."

Li Fan shook his head and tossed the starlight sword into the air.

The little Daoist child transformed back into human form once more, lowered his head respectfully, and stood before Li Fan.

After pondering for a while, Li Fan said, "All things possess infinite measure, endless time, and ever-changing division. Now that you have obtained the infinite divine power of the Star Sea, you are forever free from mortal restraints and have transcended the mundane world."

"From this day onward, your name shall be..."

"Qiushui." [1]

The little Daoist child was stunned at first, unable to understand what Li Fan's words about infinity, eternity, and constant change had to do with the name Qiushui.

But the Great Master's words were absolute.

He immediately stopped thinking about it, happily knelt down, and kowtowed.

"Many thanks, Great Master, for bestowing this name!"

The moment he accepted the name Qiushui, the aura surrounding the little Dao child seemed to undergo an indescribable transformation.

He appeared even more like a naturally born living being.

As his creator, Li Fan instantly gained a trace of enlightenment.

If one day Qiushui could completely evolve into a true living being and escape the destiny of being merely a creation, then Li Fan would once again be able to imprint a new Shape of Living Beings.

Li Fan contemplated this realization for a long time, his expression becoming unreadable.

"Hmph."

"A pure creation is still preferable."

When he returned to the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan discovered that Tianyang had also awakened from his enlightenment.

Although he was merely a puppet assembled from various materials, he now possessed a faint aura of transcendence, ethereal and detached from the mortal world.

Compared to the True Immortals Li Fan had once seen, he was only half a step inferior.

Li Fan suspected that if Tianyang were to appear in the Xuanhuang Realm at this moment, countless cultivators would immediately kneel before him.

Afterward, Li Fan had Qiushui spar with Tianyang.

Qiushui possessed infinite star power to drive the Xuanhuang Multitudinous Living Beings Grand Formation. In theory, he should have been able to suppress Tianyang with ease.

However, Li Fan discovered that the immortal-grade illusion formation, which had trapped the Heavenly Doctor for such a long time, had very little effect on Tianyang.

Whenever Tianyang entered combat, he could ignore everything generated within the illusion.

Even the memories of transforming himself into the Dao in ages past failed to trouble him for long.

Instead, every illusion further tempered Tianyang's heart, making it even more perfect.

Bursting out from the storm of the All Things Return to Void Formation that Qiushui had hastily transformed into, Tianyang delivered a powerful punch directly into Qiushui's body.

...

[1]:- 秋水 (Qiū Shuǐ) translates literally to "Autumn Water."