One Sun Luyao after another was fabricated and then destroyed.
Throughout this process, Li Fan gradually developed his own unique insights into "Creation."
"Senior..."
Just before the replicated remnant thoughts of Sun Luyao were about to be completely exhausted, a cringing yet subtly greedy voice echoed once more within the subterranean secret chamber of the Sun Clan.
It was virtually identical to Sun Luyao's mannerisms and speech.
Even Li Fan, the creator, could hardly tell the difference.
Yet it was merely a surface facade.
Li Fan knew full well that this newborn Sun Luyao operated entirely according to predefined responses programmed by Li Fan, without any active thought process.
It was far too removed from genuine life.
Furthermore, this created thought-entity had not received the recognition of the immortal artifact, the Boundless Mirror.
In other words, in the perception of the Boundless Mirror, they were completely different entities.
"Simulating the Multitudes of Living Beings only creates the varied dispositions of living beings.
"To truly create life out of nothing, other means are required." After confirming this, Li Fan shook his head with some regret.
However, this did not mean Li Fan had gained nothing.
Within the sea of consciousness of Li Fan's true self, inside the Terminal Dissociation Disc, a consciousness—or rather, a virtual persona brought forth through the simulation array—was slowly taking shape.
Li Fan's configuration for it was very singular: maximizing the efficiency of array deduction and analysis was its primary duty, tireless and never-ending.
Before this, although Li Fan possessed the wondrous item known as the Terminal Dissociation Disc, bringing out its maximum efficiency not only required the amplification of the Dao Assimilation Stone, but also demanded that Li Fan personally preside over it, diverting a large portion of his energy.
With a mechanized virtual persona, Li Fan would surely be able to liberate some of his focus.
"In truth, this is almost equivalent to the legendary spiritual endowing of immortal artifacts. It simply uses a clever workaround to achieve a slightly inferior result.
"Taking a longer view, this doesn't just apply to the Dissociation Disc. Any wondrous item or dharma treasure could be operated this way.
"With almost zero cost, it can vastly improve an artifact's... power is hard to say, but it will certainly become much easier to handle. What's more, it can be customized and conditioned according to one's own needs.
"In a certain sense, this is an alternative technique of formation refining."
While Li Fan was lost in thought, the simulated persona of the Terminal Dissociation Disc formally manifested into shape.
Its appearance was that of the cultivator Li Fan had found most convenient to order around across his hundreds of reincarnations: Gao Yuan.
Li Fan had once served as acting island master of Wanxian Island, and Gao Yuan's skill in discerning emotions and his dutiful diligence had left a favorable impression on him.
Finding the look pleasing, he modeled the simulated persona after him.
As for how the real Gao Yuan was faring now...
Li Fan did not care.
"Master, how may I serve you?" Gao Yuan said with deep respect.
"Organize the existing data on immortal-grade grand arrays, deduce the connections between them, and determine their shared basic array units.
"Using this as a foundation, perform unified improvements and deductions on the arrays of the Xuanhuang Realm. All results must be recorded and preserved.
"At the same time, attempt to find possible methods for self-advancement..."
Li Fan issued a series of orders.
The Terminal Dissociation Disc froze completely for a fraction of an instant. Then, it resumed operating at high speed.
Compared to before, it appeared far more orderly and systematic.
Li Fan could see the simulated persona's feedback materialized in data form, such as the proportion of computing power allocated by the Terminal Dissociation Disc to each task and the estimated remaining time until completion.
Once a task yielded results, the simulated persona would automatically organize the findings, awaiting Li Fan's inspection.
"It's vastly more useful than before."
The burden in his mind was swept clear, yet the Disc's deduction efficiency rose instead of falling.
"This is the methodological crushing power from the Immortal Realm.
"Before, I was like someone holding a firearm and using it only to bludgeon.
"And all of this is the reward gained from personally exploring Immortal Realm arrays and deriving insights..."
At this thought, Li Fan's train of thought paused slightly, and he looked at the listless Yanfa Jue sprawled across the long desk.
"Speaking of which, this little thing's situation is quite similar to mine earlier.
"However, security here is tight, and I haven't found a way to contact her alone."
Li Fan cast an imperceptible glance at the two Dao Integration garrisons, Zhang Xu and Hua Yueye, while turning over plans in his mind.
Just when one is sleepy, a pillow is offered. Within a few days, an ideal opportunity presented itself to Li Fan.
"Request Yanfa Jue to deduce a technique?
"Isn't this a benefit granted only after we complete a full century of garrison duty? How can it be arranged now?"
Li Fan looked at Zhao Shihuan, the Protector Hall elder before him, asking with a puzzled expression.
Zhao Shihuan smiled. "Your Sun Clan has rendered service to the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. Following a joint resolution by Chief Xu and all members of the Protector Hall Council of Elders, your garrison term will be reduced from three hundred years to two hundred.
"However, the corresponding benefits and merit points will not be diminished. Rest assured on that."
Only then did Li Fan recall Sun Luyuan's promise when he came to visit earlier.
"It seems Xu Yuanxuan didn't fool him this time."
Zhao Shihuan continued, "After all, this came rather abruptly. If you feel unprepared, Brother Sun, you may also reserve this opportunity to view the method and use it later on.
"I came this time simply to notify you in advance."
Compared to his attitude toward Zhang Xu and Hua Yueye, Zhao Shihuan was noticeably more courteous to Li Fan. After all, the chief elder had personally put in a word for him; his future standing in the Protector Hall would certainly not be low. It was only natural to foster good relations beforehand.
"Then many thanks, Elder Zhao..." After a moment's contemplation, Li Fan said in a deep voice, "I have recently felt some inspiration, so I plan to use this deduction opportunity right away."
Zhao Shihuan nodded.
Under the somewhat envious gazes of the other two garrisons, Li Fan rose from his garrison seat and drifted over to the little girl, Yanfa Jue.
Yanfa Jue glared at the arch-nemesis who had frequently squeezed and hurried her, her cheeks puffing up in anger.
"I'm already working hard enough, why do I have to..." Yanfa Jue began to grumble, but caught Li Fan's stern gaze, swallowing the rest of her words back down.
It seemed Li Fan's conditioning of Yanfa Jue over this period had produced some effect.
Even so, Yanfa Jue still looked defiant on the surface, her eyes wide as she glared fiercely at Li Fan.
Seeing this, the other beings in the Method Derivation Space could not help but chuckle.
For a time, a cheerful atmosphere filled the air.
After all, they were all on the same side, so there was no need for superfluous wariness. The other garrisons simply watched in amusement.
"Fine, fine, I give up. Just state your request already," Yanfa Jue said, sprawling limply across the long desk as if resigning herself to fate.
Li Fan smoothly took the flying sheet of white paper as characters rapidly surfaced upon it.
The moment the final character appeared, Li Fan did not hesitate in the slightest.
With a shift of thought, the white paper transformed into a streak of light and flew before Yanfa Jue.
The entire sequence was done in one flowing motion, as if rehearsed countless times.
At first, Yanfa Jue remained sluggish. But soon, she seemed to notice something, and her spirits rallied.
Her chubby little hand slapped the desk abruptly as she mumbled, "What kind of mess is this? It's so hard!"
Under her blow, the characters on the desk instantly scattered in all directions.
"Wait a moment," Yanfa Jue said to Li Fan.
Next, the giant orb of glowing characters above her head spun rapidly, appearing to strain under the deduction.
Li Fan took the opportunity to chat casually with the two Dao Integration cultivators, Zhang Xu and Hua Yueye.
"Although my garrison term has been shortened by a hundred years, for some reason, I faintly feel that this might not be a good thing. In fact, when I imagine leaving in the future, a sense of reluctance even arises in my heart," Li Fan remarked with a touch of perplexity.
Zhang Xu smiled. "I happen to know why that is. Past Dao Integration garrisons of our Zhang Clan also experienced this mixed anxiety upon leaving. When one stays in one place for too long, it is inevitable to develop an attachment. Even with our Dao Integration cultivation, we are not immune to it."
Hua Yueye agreed as well. "Indeed. After several centuries, the outside world changes so much that it actually makes one somewhat fearful of stepping back into it..."
The three conversed warmly, only occasionally casting a glance at Yanfa Jue.
This time, just as Yanfa Jue had complained, deducing the target technique truly seemed rather difficult.
The time spent had already far exceeded what an ordinary Dao Integration technique required.
"It seems Brother Sun will reap quite a harvest this time," Zhang Xu remarked with envy.
Li Fan did not deny it. "My beloved wife perished, and I became a father. Too much has happened lately..."
Exceeding the scheduled time by half, Yanfa Jue finally concluded the technique's deduction.
"Done. Take it."
Perhaps due to overexertion, Yanfa Jue's attitude had softened considerably, losing its previous hostility.
Li Fan nodded, received the white paper, and memorized the contents firmly in his mind.
He then cupped his hands in salute and returned to his garrison seat with an impassive expression.
"According to regulations, you may rest for two double-hours," Zhang Xu said.
"She looks somewhat exhausted; why not add another double-hour? After all, this was an extra deduction scheduled on short notice for my sake," Li Fan suggested.
Zhang Xu and Hua Yueye exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
Within the scope of their authority, there was no harm in granting a colleague a small favor.
"I didn't realize you were actually pretty decent," Yanfa Jue whispered.
Without offering any words of gratitude, she slumped face-first onto the long desk and fell into a deep slumber.
Li Fan's gaze was calm as he reviewed the technique Yanfa Jue had deduced in his mind.
"Simulated Sentient Beings Technique."
The effect of the technique was virtually the same as the grand array Simulating the Multitudes of Living Beings.
In fact, because it had been converted into a cultivation method, its efficacy was slightly diminished.
Yet Li Fan's goal had never been this technique.
He had merely seized the chance to transmit the method for creating a virtual persona to Yanfa Jue right under the scrutiny of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
And Yanfa Jue was by no means foolish.
Once she realized this method could be of immense use to her, she had proactively taken action to cover for Li Fan's stealthy deed.
Three double-hours later, Zhang Xu appeared beside Yanfa Jue right on time, conjuring a brass gong to wake the little girl.
Following that, Yanfa Jue appeared to immerse herself once again in the endless work of method derivation.
In reality, however, changes were quietly unfolding beneath the surface.
Inside the glowing orb of Yanfa Jue, a figure was slowly forming.
The little girl rested her chin on both hands, gazing forward with excitement written across her face.
"Good, good, good! To think this method really works!
"I tried splitting off another self to do the chores before, but it was totally useless.
"I'm saved now..."
Yanfa Jue's eyes were wide, brimming with anticipation.
Before long, the simulated persona formally appeared.
"Aaaahhhh!"
Yanfa Jue's shriek echoed through the entire interior of the glowing orb.
"Why is it youuuuu?!"
The little girl instinctively backed far away from the simulated persona.
All because...
For some reason, even though she had crafted it according to the most handsome face she could imagine in her mind, the finished product that appeared before her was the actual appearance of Li Fan—which was to say, Sun Ang!
"Master, how may I serve you?"
The simulated persona that looked exactly like Li Fan raised no objection to Yanfa Jue's exaggerated reaction, asking mechanically and respectfully.
"Huh?"
Only then did Yanfa Jue gather her courage, stepping closer to test it out.
Finding that this simulated persona was utterly obedient and did whatever it was told, her courage instantly surged.
She commanded without hesitation, "Help me deduce cultivation techniques!
"Never stop!
"Right now, I have saved up about ten years' worth of stockpile. You must build it up to at least fifty years!"
As the little girl spoke, her eyes sparkled, seemingly already dreaming of a wonderful life ahead.
"Ten years' worth of stockpile...
"What does that mean?"
Right then, Li Fan's curious voice abruptly rang out.
It instantly froze the expression on Yanfa Jue's face.
"You!" She pointed her chubby little finger at the simulated persona, her face full of disbelief.
"How is this possible? How could you possess sentience? You're clearly just a mechanized other me..."
"Nothing more than a trivial backdoor," Li Fan explained, striking a very polite posture.
"Do not worry, a simulated persona indeed cannot possess thoughts of its own. It is like this now only because I have temporarily taken over the persona to facilitate communicating with you," Li Fan said slowly.
"What do you want?" Yanfa Jue's large eyes seemed to glisten with tears, looking utterly pitiful.
"I'm warning you, don't try anything funny! I'm going to scream for help!"
Li Fan completely disregarded Yanfa Jue's clumsy acting.
He simply steered the topic back to that "ten-year stockpile."
"Ah! I see. In truth, the time it takes for you to finish deducing a technique is slightly less than what you show on the outside.
"Every time you finish a deduction task, you save a little bit of spare time. That is your stockpile."
...
As Li Fan spoke, Yanfa Jue's face gradually grew pale.
"To think you accumulated so much without anyone noticing.
"You need fifty years in total, do you?
"This has already exceeded the realm of slacking off."
Li Fan stared straight at Yanfa Jue.
"What exactly are you planning to do?"
Chapter 1272