"Am I not human this time?"
Lu Yang frowned as he examined the nearby Yun Miaozhen and Yun Miaoqing.
He swept his divine sense over himself and quickly saw his current form.
He was a sword.
The sword body was ancient and engraved with numerous seal script characters, though they held no practical meaning and seemed merely decorative.
There were even jagged notches along the edge.
Undoubtedly, this was an ordinary sword embryo.
Yet, this very sword embryo had immediately caught the attention of Yun Miaozhen and Yun Miaoqing.
Naturally, it wasn't due to any concealed spiritual qualities; the sword's material and craftsmanship remained unchanged.
What truly made it different—
"Was me!"
Lu Yang withdrew his divine sense and finally understood his situation: "Because I, as an Immortal Spirit, was born within this sword embryo, it became unique."
"I haven't even been born yet!"
Immortal Spirits aren't formed instantly; they often require a long period of nurturing.
This time also marks when an Immortal Spirit develops self-awareness.
"However, my situation is special. As an Immortal Spirit, I developed self-awareness early on, but I haven't reached the point of being born. Perhaps, for Immortal Spirits, this is an unprecedented situation. Maybe I can artificially enhance my foundation before birth!"
An Immortal Spirit is born with the Foundation Establishment Realm.
However, with so many stages within Foundation Establishment, most Immortal Spirits are only at the early stage.
The stronger the foundation before birth, the stronger the Immortal Spirit's base.
The most powerful Immortal Spirits are even born at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
In such cases, they can immediately pursue the Golden Core stage upon birth.
With good fortune, they might become a True Lord from birth!
It's uncertain whether such an Immortal Spirit has ever appeared.
"After all, such an Immortal Spirit would likely have had to save the world in a previous life to deserve such a fate."
Born at the peak of Foundation Establishment—what immense foundation and fortune would that require?
And to remain undetected by cultivators during the nurturing period—it's practically a fantasy.
'Fortunately, I have a cheat!'
Compared to ordinary Immortal Spirits, Lu Yang also had a Dharma Body that could move freely.
With the blessing of the Tribulation Wave, he wasn't entirely without combat power.
"Although I didn't choose cultivation after restarting, and I'm currently only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment—the weakest kind, without even a natal divine ability—using this cultivation to support the [Heavenly Firmament's All-Encompassing Dharma Body], and with the enhancement of the [Tribulation Wave], I should be unmatched at the early stage of Foundation Establishment." 𐍂𝓪ΝÔ฿ÊⱾ
Unless someone else also possessed a semi-true treasure and had cultivated a second-grade true skill.
But if he really encountered such a favored child of heaven, he could simply avoid provoking them.
After all, Lu Yang wasn't someone who sought out fights.
"At the very least, with this Dharma Body, I can seek resources to nurture myself."
While Lu Yang was contemplating, elsewhere—
"Sister, why don't we try this sword embryo?"
Yun Miaoqing pointed at the sword embryo housing Lu Yang and whispered, "I feel this sword embryo is quite good. Once it's forged properly, it might be used to craft a flying sword."
As a Qi Refining disciple of the Sword Pavilion and a direct descendant of the Yun family, a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, she and her sister Yun Miaozhen had come to this [Sword-Hiding Villa] to select suitable sword embryos in preparation for future flying sword cultivation.
This was a privilege many ordinary disciples couldn't obtain.
"It is indeed an excellent sword embryo."
Facing her sister Yun Miaoqing's inquiry, Yun Miaozhen nodded calmly, "But choosing a sword embryo also depends on mutual compatibility."
"In other words, it's about fortune."
"I'll go first."
After speaking, Yun Miaozhen stepped forward and approached Lu Yang.
Yun Miaoqing wasn't surprised, as she was already accustomed to this.
After all, her sister had better talent.
It was said that in her previous life, she was a disciple of a Foundation Establishment True Person within the sect and had once cultivated to the peak of Qi Refining.
Unfortunately, she failed to break through to Foundation Establishment and was forced to reincarnate.
Although she no longer had memories of her past life, her background remained, and that Foundation Establishment True Person was still present.
In comparison, she herself was lacking in many aspects.
So she had long been used to yielding many things to her sister.
She even felt proud to have such a powerful sister with a profound background.
"Got it!"
Standing before Lu Yang, Yun Miaozhen formed hand seals with both hands.
A drop of fresh blood oozed from her fingertip.
She flicked it, and it landed on Lu Yang.
Lu Yang immediately felt a strange force invading the sword body.
"Is this... the Blood Sacrifice Technique?"
Lu Yang shook his head.
Clearly, Yun Miaozhen hadn't considered compatibility or fortune.
She intended to forcibly refine him using her own blood and mana.
"Truly the familiar style of the Sword Pavilion."
For someone so eager to possess his body, Lu Yang never showed any kindness.
With a thought, he directly refined Yun Miaozhen's blood.
The next moment, Yun Miaozhen's complexion turned slightly pale.
'How could this be!?'
This proud daughter of the Yun family looked at Lu Yang, her delicate brows furrowed in confusion.
Could it be that this sword embryo's quality exceeded her expectations?
Was it not something a Qi Refining disciple could refine?
Thinking of this, Yun Miaozhen shook her head and looked at Yun Miaoqing: "It seems our fortune isn't sufficient. This sword embryo is waiting for a more suitable master."
Yun Miaozhen didn't feel anything wrong with using the Blood Sacrifice Technique to refine the sword embryo.
The Blood Sacrifice Technique was taught to her by her master and was part of her background and fortune.
In comparison, Yun Miaoqing had nothing, so naturally, her fortune was inferior.
"I see. That's a pity."
Yun Miaoqing shook her head upon hearing this.
She gently touched Lu Yang's sword body with some reluctance.
This sword was so large; she actually quite liked it.
"Clang clang!"
The next moment, a scene that made Yun Miaozhen's pupils contract appeared:
That sword embryo, which she couldn't do anything with, suddenly trembled violently under Yun Miaoqing's touch.
It suddenly burst into dazzling sword light!
Immediately after, the sword embryo plunged into Yun Miaoqing's body!
"Ah—!"
Yun Miaoqing was completely unprepared.
As she watched the sword enter her body, a feeling of perfect harmony and unity of mind and spirit suddenly overwhelmed her.
When the sword light dimmed, the sword embryo had already disappeared.
Only the bewildered Yun Miaoqing remained, along with Yun Miaozhen, whose expression was stiff and still carried a trace of disbelief.
The two sisters looked at each other.
"Sister, this is..."
Yun Miaoqing spoke timidly, not daring to say it aloud.
Because no matter how one looked at it, it seemed she had obtained this fortune, while her sister hadn't.
Yun Miaoqing was hesitant to admit it, but subtly... she felt a bit delighted.
However, Yun Miaozhen quickly took a deep breath and regained her composure: "It seems this sword embryo is your opportunity. Keep it well and don't waste it."
"Okay!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Miaoqing immediately smiled.
This was the first time she had surpassed her sister and obtained something her sister couldn't.
It was hard not to be a little excited.
Yet, she didn't see that as she turned around, her sister Yun Miaozhen revealed a somewhat shadowy expression.
'Sword merging into the body, responding on its own—that's a Spiritual Sword Embryo!'
'If I could ask Master to refine this Spiritual Embryo into a flying sword, it might become a spiritual treasure, perhaps even usable until I reach Foundation Establishment!'
'Why did it choose Miaoqing? Is my fortune truly inferior to hers?'
'Impossible!'
Thinking of this, Yun Miaozhen immediately changed her perspective: 'Obtaining the sword's recognition doesn't count as fortune. Having the ability to keep it is the true fortune!'
With this in mind, Yun Miaozhen made up her mind.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang was residing in Yun Miaoqing's dantian, resonating with her qi, and smiled with satisfaction.
Then, he began to operate his cultivation method:
"补天真经!" (Mending Heaven True Scripture)