An experiment...
After ten thousand years of existence and a recent, full comprehension of the nature of the pure soul, Li Yuan felt an urge to explore possibilities he had never attempted before. He was like an artist who had mastered the basic techniques and was now ready to create more complex works.
"Before..." his consciousness reflected with an experimental tone, "I could create a consciousness body with my understandings of Body and Existence from within the Ganjing. What if I try something else?"
He had long mastered the understanding of Body—the concept of a temporary vessel for a life story, of healing resonance, of physical projection. The understanding of Existence was also deeply rooted—the concept of a foundation, the feeling of "being," stabilizing projections, and being "present with" others in a community.
The combination of the two had allowed Li Yuan to create the consciousness body of Li Qingshan, which could interact with the physical world for thirty years in Hexin. But now, with sixteen complete understandings and the unshakable stability of his pure soul, the possibilities for combinations had become far wider.
"My inner self has never wavered," Li Yuan acknowledged with a conviction that had been tested over ten millennia. "My thoughts have never faded. What if I add a third understanding?"
His choice fell upon Water—the earliest understanding he had ever achieved, born from his childhood curiosity about the flow of the river in Ziran Village. Water that flows, adapts, is gentle yet penetrating, yielding without breaking.
The Formation Process
Li Yuan began with a familiar foundation. The understanding of Body flowed into his consciousness, providing a template, a symbolic vessel, a basic form that could be filled with spiritual substance. It was not a body of flesh and and blood, but the concept of a body—the idea of a form that could contain consciousness and interact with reality.
"Body..." he whispered, and within his Ganjing, familiar energetic lines began to form—the outline of a human shape made of pure understanding.
Then the understanding of Existence joined, flowing like spiritual blood through the formed template. Existence ensured that this form was not just an internal projection, not just a shadow or an illusion, but something that was "acknowledged to exist" by the world. Something that had a presence, that could leave a trace, that could be felt by other consciousnesses.
"Existence..." and the body template began to solidify, becoming more substantial in the spiritual dimension, more... real.
But the third step was the most intriguing. The understanding of Water began to flow into the combination, giving meaningful substance to the formed body. It was not solid flesh, nor abstract energy, but water—water that had a true existence, water that could flow while still retaining its identity.
"Water..." and something extraordinary began to happen.
The Body of Water Existence (水存之身 – Shuǐ Cún Zhī Shēn)
Within Li Yuan's Ganjing, a new manifestation began to form. It was not a consciousness body like Li Qingshan's that resembled human flesh, but something entirely different—a body made of flowing water yet with the density of a real existence.
Its shape still resembled a human, but its substance was moving water—water that flowed in patterns that formed muscles, bones, and organs, yet retained its fluid nature. It was like a living water sculpture, like a river that had taken on a human form without losing its fundamental nature as a flow.
"Incredible..." Li Yuan observed his creation with awe. The Body of Water Existence had properties that an ordinary physical body could never possess.
The Properties of the Body of Water Existence
First, perfect fluidity. This body could move with a grace that a body of flesh could not achieve. Every movement was a flow, every step was a current that followed the path of least resistance. Li Yuan felt how this body could pass through narrow gaps, could flow through spaces that were impossible for a solid body to navigate.
Second, extraordinary adaptability. Like water that takes the shape of its container, this body could adapt to any environment. In a narrow space, it could condense itself. In an open space, it could expand. Its form was not rigid but responsive to situational needs.
Third, a real yet unique existence. Unlike pure Ganjing projections that could only be felt by spiritual consciousness, this body was "perceived as real" by the physical world. People could feel the pressure of its aura when it was present. Under certain conditions, they could even touch the water that formed its substance—though they could not injure or manipulate it like ordinary water.
Fourth, paradoxical resilience. Conventional physical attacks became ineffective. A sword that slashed would only part the flow of water, which would then immediately merge back together. A blunt blow would pass through its substance without having any impact. It was like attacking a river with a sword—futile and illogical.
Experimenting with Movement
Li Yuan began to experiment with the capabilities of his new body. He "stepped"—and his movement was like a wave rolling forward, smooth and unstoppable. He "raised his hand"—and the motion was like a waterfall flowing upwards, defying gravity through spiritual power.
"I can flow through even the smallest gap," he realized with experimental joy, "while still maintaining my integrity as a singular consciousness."
He tried to move at high speed—and his water body flowed like a rushing river, leaving a trail of shimmering ripples in the air before re-coalescing into a solid form.
Discovered Limitations
However, the experiment also revealed limitations. Although his inner self had never wavered and his thoughts had never faded, the Body of Water Existence required constant concentration to maintain. It was not an exhausting concentration, but a stable focus—like maintaining a song in your mind.
"In the Ganjing realm," Li Yuan realized, "this body still depends on my spiritual stability. If something were to shake the foundation of my understandings—even if it's almost impossible—the water could evaporate, it could lose its cohesion."
But given his spiritual stability that had been tested for ten thousand years, this limitation was more theoretical than practical.
A Vision of the Future
Li Yuan imagined the possible uses for this body. "An enemy's sword slashes, but it only parts the current. I smile—my body is no longer flesh, but the existence of water itself."
The Body of Water Existence opened up a way to interact with the world that was completely different from a conventional consciousness body. It could be present in places that were impossible to reach, could endure conditions that would destroy a physical body, and could move in ways that followed the principles of flow rather than solid mechanics.
Evolution from Simple to Complex
"From simple to complex," Li Yuan reflected on the evolution of his abilities:
Pure soul + Body → a shadow that can interact minimally.
Pure soul + Body + Existence → a consciousness body like Li Qingshan.
Pure soul + Body + Existence + Water → a truly existent liquid body, with unique abilities.
"And this is just the beginning," he realized with anticipation. "I have twelve other understandings that can be combined. How many body forms are possible? Body + Existence + Sky for unlimited mobility? Body + Existence + Stillness for an almost undetectable presence? Body + Existence + Oldest Breath for..."
The possibilities flowed in his consciousness like a river that had just found its delta, spreading in various directions with limitless potential.
The experiment with the Body of Water Existence had successfully surpassed expectations. Li Yuan now had a new way to interact with the world—a way that combined the flexibility of a pure soul with the interactive ability of a physical body, but without the conventional weaknesses of either.
His soul refused to disappear, his thoughts never faded, and now he had a form as fluid as water yet as solid as existence itself.
The journey of exploring new possibilities... has just begun on a very promising note.