Chapter 258: The Yun Sisters, Twin Flowers

"So this time, I'm not human?"

Scrutinizing Yun Yun Miaozhen and Yun Miaoqing, who stood close at hand, Lu Yang frowned tightly; sweeping his spiritual sense over himself, he quickly perceived his current form.

He was a sword.

The sword body was archaic, etched with numerous seal-script characters that held no practical meaning, seeming merely decorative, and even bearing serrated notches.

Undoubtedly, this was just an ordinary sword embryo; yet precisely such a sword embryo had suddenly captured the attention of Yun Yun Miaozhen and Yun Miaoqing. This was naturally not due to any spiritual object hiding its brilliance; the sword's own material and marvels remained unchanged. What truly made it different was—

"It is me!"

Lu Yang withdrew his spiritual sense, finally understanding his situation: "Because I, as a sword spirit, was born within this sword embryo, it has become different."

"I have not yet been born!"

A sword spirit does not form in an instant; it often requires a long period of nurturing, which is simultaneously the time during which the sword spirit develops self-awareness.

"However, my situation is special. As a sword spirit, I awakened self-awareness far too early, yet I have not reached the stage where I can emerge into the world. For a sword spirit, this is likely a unique occurrence unseen throughout the ages. Perhaps I can artificially increase my foundational strength before emerging!"

Sword spirits are born at Foundation Establishment.

Yet Foundation Establishment comprises many realms; most sword spirits are merely at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment upon emergence. The stronger one's foundation before emerging, the stronger the sword spirit's foundation will be.

The strongest sword spirits might even emerge at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment.

In such a case, one could entirely attempt to seek the Golden Core immediately upon emergence. With good fortune, success would mean being born a True Person! Though it remains unknown whether such a sword spirit has ever appeared.

"After all, such a sword spirit would likely require having saved the world in a previous life to receive such treatment."

To be born at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment—what immense foundation, what tremendous fortune would that require? Furthermore, one must avoid being detected by cultivators during the nurturing period; it sounds utterly preposterous.

'Fortunately, I have a cheat!'

Compared to ordinary sword spirits, Lu Yang also possessed a Dharma Body capable of moving freely, bolstered by the Waves of Tribulation, so he was not truly devoid of combat power.

"Although after restarting I did not choose to retain my cultivation base, and I am now merely at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment—the weakest kind at that, lacking even an Innate Divine Ability—using this cultivation base to sustain the 【Qian Tian Zong She Wan Xiang Fa Shen】, further bolstered by the 【Waves of Tribulation】, there should be no opponent at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment."

Unless someone, like him, also possessed a semi-true treasure and had cultivated a Second Grade True Art.

However, if he truly encountered such a favored child of heaven, he could simply keep a low profile and avoid provoking them; after all, he, Lu Yang, was not the type to seek bravery through fighting.

"At least with this Dharma Body, I can fully assist myself in seeking resources to nurture my own being."

Just as Lu Yang was pondering, on the other side—

"Sister, why don't we try testing this sword embryo?"

Yun Miaoqing pointed at the sword embryo hosting Lu Yang and whispered, "I feel this sword embryo is quite excellent; once properly forged in the future, it might be used to refine a flying sword."

As a Qi Refining disciple of the Jiange, and furthermore a direct descendant of the Yun family, a Foundation Establishment immortal clan, she and her sister Yun Yun Miaozhen had come to this 【Cangjianshanzhuang】 specifically to select a suitable sword embryo, preparing for future cultivation of flying sword techniques—a privilege many ordinary disciples could never obtain.

"Indeed, it is a superior sword embryo."

Facing her sister Yun Miaoqing's inquiry, Yun Yun Miaozhen nodded with a calm expression: "However, selecting a sword embryo also depends on whether the mutual compatibility is suitable."

"In other words, it depends on fortune."

"I shall go first."

Having spoken, Yun Yun Miaozhen stepped forward directly, arriving before Lu Yang. Seeing this, Yun Miaoqing was not surprised; after all, she had long grown accustomed to it.

After all, her sister's talent surpassed her own, and it was said that in her previous life, she had been a disciple of a Foundation Establishment True Person within the sect, having once reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. Unfortunately, she failed her breakthrough to Foundation Establishment and was forced to reincarnate. Although she now lacked memories of her past life, her roots remained, and that Foundation Establishment True Person still existed.

Compared to that, she herself was far inferior.

Thus, she had long grown accustomed to yielding many things to her sister, even feeling immensely proud to have such a formidable sister with profound roots.

"... ocus!"

Standing before Lu Yang, Yun Yun Miaozhen formed hand seals with both hands; a drop of fresh blood oozed from her fingertips, which she then flicked with a bent finger, causing it to land upon Lu Yang.

Lu Yang immediately felt a strange force invade the sword body.

"Is this... the Blood Sacrifice Technique?"

Lu Yang shook his head; clearly, Yun Yun Miaozhen had no intention of checking fortune or compatibility but instead planned to forcibly refine him using her own essence blood and magic power.

"Truly the familiar style of the Jiange."

Toward those who coveted his body, Lu Yang never showed any kindness; with a thought, he directly refined Yun Yun Miaozhen's essence blood.

The next second, Yun Yun Miaozhen's face turned slightly pale.

'How could this be!?'

At this moment, this favored daughter of the Yun family looked at Lu Yang, her delicate brows slightly furrowed in confusion. Could it be that the quality of this sword embryo exceeded her imagination?

Was it beyond what a Qi Refining disciple could refine?

Thinking thus, Yun Yun Miaozhen shook her head and looked toward Yun Miaoqing: "It seems our fortune is insufficient; this sword embryo awaits a more suitable sword master."

Regarding her act of using the Blood Sacrifice Technique to refine the sword embryo, Yun Yun Miaozhen felt nothing was wrong. The Blood Sacrifice Technique had been transmitted to her by her master; it was inherently her root, part of her fortune. In comparison, Yun Miaoqing possessed nothing, so naturally, her fortune was inferior.

"Is that so? What a pity..."

Seeing this, Yun Miaoqing shook her head, reluctantly stroking Lu Yang's precious sword. This sword appeared so magnificent; she actually quite favored and liked it...

"Clang! Clang!"

The next second, a scene that made Yun Yun Miaozhen's pupils contract sharply appeared:

The very sword embryo she had found helpless actually trembled and rang violently under her sister Yun Miaoqing's touch, suddenly erupting with dazzling sword light!

Immediately afterward, this sword embryo plunged into Yun Miaoqing's body!

"Ah—!"

Yun Miaoqing was completely unprepared; watching the sword body insert itself into her, a feeling of perfect blend and unity of mind and spirit suddenly swept over her heart.

Once the sword light dimmed, the sword embryo had vanished.

Only Yun Miaoqing, looking utterly bewildered, and Yun Yun Miaozhen, with a stiff expression still retaining traces of disbelief, remained. The pair of sisters stared at each other.

"Sister, this is..."

Yun Miaoqing said timidly, not daring to finish her sentence, because no matter how one looked at it, it seemed she had obtained this fortune while her sister had not.

Yun Miaoqing did not quite dare to admit it, but subtly... she felt a bit pleased.

However, soon Yun Yun Miaozhen took a deep breath and regained her composure: "It seems this sword embryo is your opportunity; keep it well and do not waste it."

"Understood!"

Hearing this, Yun Miaoqing immediately broke into a smile. This was the first time she had ever bested her sister, obtaining something her sister could not, so she inevitably felt somewhat excited.

However, she did not see that as she turned her back, her sister Yun Yun Miaozhen behind her revealed a somewhat gloomy expression.

'The sword merged into the body, responding spontaneously—that is a spiritual sword embryo!'

'If I request Master to act and refine this spiritual embryo into a flying sword, it might become a magic treasure, even sufficient for me to use until Foundation Establishment!'

'Why would it choose Miaoqing? Could it truly be that my fortune is inferior to hers?'

'Impossible!'

Thinking thus, Yun Yun Miaozhen immediately changed her mind: 'A precious sword acknowledging a master does not count as fortune; having the ability to protect it is the true fortune!'

Thinking thus, Yun Yun Miaozhen immediately made up her mind.

On the other side, Lu Yang resided within Yun Miaoqing's dantian, resonating with her qi mechanism; smiling with satisfaction, he then began to circulate his cultivation method:

"Bu Tian Zhen Jing!"

(End of Chapter)