Chapter 289: The Yun Sisters
"This time, I'm not human?"
Examining Yun Miaozhen and Yun Miaoqing standing right before him, Lü Yang frowned deeply. He swept his divine sense over himself and quickly saw his current form.
He was a sword.
The blade appeared ancient, inscribed with numerous seal script characters that held no substantive meaning—merely decorative, even featuring jagged, serrated gaps.
Undoubtedly, this was an ordinary sword embryo. Yet this very sword embryo instantly drew the attention of both Yun Miaozhen and Yun Miaoqing. Naturally, it wasn't due to some spiritual artifact concealing its brilliance—the sword's material and inherent qualities remained unchanged. What truly made it different was—
"It's me!"
Lü Yang withdrew his divine sense, finally understanding his situation: "Because I, as an immortal spirit, was born from this sword embryo, it has become unique."
"I haven't even been born yet!"
Immortal spirits aren't formed in an instant; they typically require a prolonged period of nurturing, during which they gradually develop self-awareness.
"But my circumstances are special. As an immortal spirit, I've already gained self-awareness early on, though I haven't reached the stage where I can manifest. For an immortal spirit, this is likely an unprecedented situation. Perhaps I can artificially enhance my own foundation before manifestation!"
An immortal spirit is inherently at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Yet Foundation Establishment has many sub-stages. Most immortal spirits are only at the early Foundation Establishment stage. The stronger the foundation before manifestation, the greater the immortal spirit's potential.
The most powerful immortal spirits can emerge at the perfected Foundation Establishment stage.
In such cases, they could immediately pursue Golden Core formation upon birth. With luck, they'd become innate True Lords! Though it's unclear whether such immortal spirits have ever existed.
"After all, an immortal spirit like that would probably require having saved the world in a past life to deserve such treatment."
An innate perfected Foundation Establishment—what kind of foundation and fortune would that require? And to avoid detection by cultivators during the nurturing period—it's practically a fantasy.
'Fortunately, I have cheats!'
Compared to ordinary immortal spirits, Lü Yang still had a dharma body that could move freely, empowered by Tribulation Wave, granting him some combat capability.
"Although after restarting without selecting cultivation, I'm now only at early Foundation Establishment—the weakest kind, without even a life essence divine ability—using this cultivation to sustain the [Heavenly Dao Comprehensive Manifestation Dharma Body] and empowered by [Tribulation Wave], I should have no rivals among early Foundation Establishment cultivators."
Unless someone else also possessed a semi-true treasure and cultivated a second-grade true art like him.
But if he truly encountered such a heaven-defying prodigy, he could simply avoid confrontation. After all, Lü Yang wasn't the type to seek unnecessary conflict.
"At least with this dharma body, I can gather resources to nurture myself."
As Lü Yang pondered, on the other side...
"Sister, why don't we test this sword embryo?"
Yun Miaoqing pointed at the sword embryo hosting Lü Yang and whispered, "I feel this embryo is quite good. Once properly forged, it might be suitable for crafting a flying sword."
As Qi Refining disciples of the Sword Pavilion and direct descendants of the Foundation Establishment immortal family Yun Clan, she and her sister Yun Miaozhen had come to this Hidden Sword Manor specifically to select suitable sword embryos in preparation for future flying sword cultivation—a privilege many ordinary disciples couldn't obtain.
"It is indeed a fine sword embryo."
Facing her younger sister's question, Yun Miaozhen nodded impassively. "But selecting a sword embryo also depends on compatibility."
"In other words, it's about fortune."
"I'll go first."
With that, Yun Miaozhen stepped forward directly, approaching Lü Yang. Yun Miaoqing wasn't surprised, having long grown accustomed to this.
After all, her sister's talent surpassed hers, and rumors said she had been a disciple of a Foundation Establishment True Person in her past life, having cultivated to Qi Refining perfection. Unfortunately, she failed her Foundation Establishment breakthrough and was forced to reincarnate. Though she'd lost memories of her past life, her roots remained, as did that Foundation Establishment True Person.
In comparison, Yun Miaoqing fell far short.
Thus, she'd long grown used to yielding many things to her sister, even feeling proud of having such a deeply rooted, formidable elder sister.
"...Mark!"
Standing before Lü Yang, Yun Miaozhen formed hand seals, a drop of blood seeping from her fingertip. With a flick, it landed on Lü Yang.
Lü Yang immediately sensed a strange force invading the sword body.
"This is... a blood sacrifice technique?"
Lü Yang shook his head (metaphorically). Clearly, Yun Miaozhen had no intention of testing fortune compatibility—she planned to forcibly refine him using her own vital blood and magic power.
"Such familiar Sword Pavilion behavior..."
For those who coveted his form, Lü Yang never showed kindness. With a thought, he directly refined Yun Miaozhen's vital blood.
The next moment, Yun Miaozhen's face paled slightly.
'How could this be!?'
The Yun Clan's heaven-favored daughter now looked at Lü Yang with furrowed brows, puzzled. Could this sword embryo's quality exceed her expectations?
Was it beyond what a Qi Refining disciple could refine?
Thinking this, Yun Miaozhen shook her head and turned to Yun Miaoqing: "It seems our fortune is insufficient. This sword embryo awaits a more suitable master."
She felt no guilt about using blood sacrifice to refine the sword embryo—the technique had been passed down by her master, part of her roots and fortune. In comparison, Yun Miaoqing had nothing, naturally inferior in fortune.
"That's too bad..."
Yun Miaoqing sighed regretfully, reluctantly stroking Lü Yang's sword form. She'd actually grown quite fond of this large blade...
"Clang! Clang!"
The next moment, something happened that made Yun Miaozhen's pupils constrict violently:
The sword embryo that had resisted her efforts now trembled intensely under Yun Miaoqing's touch, suddenly erupting with dazzling sword light!
Then, the sword embryo plunged into Yun Miaoqing's body!
"Ah—!"
Completely unprepared, Yun Miaoqing watched as the sword entered her body. A sensation of perfect harmony and unity suddenly overwhelmed her mind.
When the sword light faded, the sword embryo had vanished.
Only a bewildered Yun Miaoqing remained, facing her elder sister whose stiff expression still held traces of disbelief.
"Sister, this is..."
Yun Miaoqing spoke timidly, not daring to voice the obvious—that she had obtained this fortune while her sister failed.
She didn't quite dare acknowledge it, yet secretly... it felt exhilarating.
However, Yun Miaozhen soon took a deep breath and regained composure: "It seems this sword embryo is your destiny. Cherish it well; don't waste it."
"Okay!"
Yun Miaoqing immediately brightened, smiling—this was the first time she'd surpassed her sister, obtaining something her elder sister couldn't. Naturally, she felt excited.
Yet she failed to notice the shadow that crossed Yun Miaozhen's face as she turned away.
'A sword merging with the body, responding spontaneously—that's a spiritual sword embryo!'
'If Master were to refine this spiritual embryo into a flying sword, it could become a spiritual treasure—perhaps even sufficient for my use until Foundation Establishment!'
'Why would it choose Miaoqing? Is my fortune truly inferior to hers?'
'Impossible!'
With this thought, Yun Miaozhen immediately changed her perspective: 'Gaining recognition from a precious sword isn't true fortune—the ability to protect it is!'
Having reached this conclusion, Yun Miaozhen made up her mind.
Meanwhile, Lü Yang resided within Yun Miaoqing's dantian, their energies resonating. Satisfied, he smiled and began circulating his technique:
"Mending Heaven True Classic!"