"Mm."
As Lu Yang activated the Mending Heaven True Scripture, Yun Miaoqing immediately sensed something amiss—a warm sensation spread from her lower abdomen.
In the next moment, the bottleneck that had troubled her for months—from the early to mid-stage of Qi Refining Level Three to Four—was effortlessly broken.
Yun Miaoqing looked at herself with surprise, then turned to her elder sister, Yun Miaozhen, who, although already at Qi Refining Level Six, was technically still in the mid-stage.
'I'm at the same level as Sister now?'
A surge of indescribable accomplishment filled her heart, prompting Yun Miaoqing to clutch her abdomen, while Yun Miaozhen's expression grew increasingly stiff.
'It must be the sword embryo!'
'Integrating with such a sword embryo and stimulating it with sword qi can break through bottlenecks. If I had obtained it, I would have reached the late stage of Qi Refining by now!'
Why wasn't it mine?
Yun Miaozhen lowered her gaze, quickly suppressing her negative emotions, and regained her composure: "Alright, since you've obtained the sword embryo, let's prepare to return."
Yun Miaoqing was taken aback: "Sister, haven't you found a suitable sword embryo yet?"
"I've already found one."
Yun Miaozhen shook her head calmly: "There's no time to lose. Let's head back first. This place isn't within the sect, and there's a risk of being attacked by the Demon Sect."
At the mention of the Demon Sect, Yun Miaoqing's expression turned tense.
For an ordinary disciple like her, the name of the Northern Jianghu's giant, the Primordial Saint Demon Sect, was quite intimidating.
Moreover, the Southern and Northern Jianghu had always been at odds, not just coexisting uneasily but practically being mortal enemies.
Lu Yang paid no attention to the changes in the outside world.
At this moment, he was still examining himself: "Interesting. This is the first time I've cultivated through dual cultivation instead of using the harvesting technique."
Obviously, he hadn't harvested Yun Miaoqing.
Although the Mending Heaven True Scripture was a demonic art, he had discussed it many times with Lady Ruo Xiang in his previous life, so he knew that this demonic art wasn't solely about harvesting.
Mending Heaven, as the name suggests, involves using one's own body to mend the deficiencies of heaven, gaining its favor.
Naturally, it can also be mutually beneficial.
At this moment, he and Yun Miaoqing shared such a relationship.
He used his Foundation Establishment Immortal Spirit status to accelerate Yun Miaoqing's cultivation, and ninety percent of her cultivation gains belonged to him.
"Unfortunately, Yun Miaoqing's cultivation is too weak."
Lu Yang shook his head.
To nourish himself effectively, Qi Refining was like a drop in the bucket; at the very least, it had to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Although even a drop in the bucket, Yun Miaozhen was actually better than Yun Miaoqing.
But Lu Yang didn't like her.
"I'm a good person, and good people naturally associate with good people. A slight difference in talent and cultivation doesn't matter to me."
Moreover, in Lu Yang's view, the talent gap between the Yun sisters wasn't significant.
At least not to the extent of Ancestor Ting You, whose abilities were beyond human compensation.
Yun Miaoqing actually had some talent; her aptitude wasn't too bad.
"Of course, more importantly, she has met me now!"
Lu Yang was fully confident that even with gradual progress and preserving potential, he could help Yun Miaoqing reach the peak of Qi Refining within ten years. ꭆＡ𝐍ՕꞖÈS
Then, he continued to examine himself.
As an Immortal Spirit, he hadn't finished nurturing himself yet.
In essence, he was a strand of Heavenly Gang Qi.
With a slight calculation, he deduced his origin.
"I am... transformed from Geng Metal Qi!"
Geng Metal, also known as [Shang Zhang], governs the authority of heaven and earth's killing force, overseeing human warfare.
In the heavens, it manifests as wind and frost; on earth, as metal and iron.
It is the yang aspect of metal.
"Truly fascinating."
Lu Yang was intrigued.
As an Immortal Spirit, his Dao foundation was naturally nurtured by heaven and earth.
Innately compatible with Geng Metal Qi, even his divine abilities stemmed from it.
"Immortal Spirit cultivation is entirely different from humans."
"Human cultivation involves first condensing one's life essence, then continuously collecting Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend energies, gathering four innate divine abilities, and finally challenging the Golden Core stage."
"However, Immortal Spirits are different. They start with innate divine abilities, gathering four innate divine abilities first, and then condensing their life essence."
"But most Immortal Spirits can't even reach the stage of condensing life essence—they either emerge prematurely or perish midway."
This imagery is quite profound.
"If we must compare, it's like a ten-month pregnancy. Immortal Spirits receive nourishment from heaven and earth, gather four innate divine abilities, and finally awaken their life essence, separating from the mother body."
During this process, the four innate divine abilities are bestowed by heaven and earth.
If the four bestowed innate abilities happen to align with a particular fruit position, and the life essence is awakened, one can directly begin seeking the Golden Core, aiming to occupy that fruit position.
In other words—
"Immortal Spirits are practically creations of heaven and earth, specifically designed to occupy fruit positions. Isn't there something suspicious behind this?"
Lu Yang pondered deeply, feeling a chill run down his spine.
Forget it; it's better not to delve too deeply.
With that thought, Lu Yang quickly refocused his mind and turned his attention to the divine ability forming within him.
This was a divine ability inherent to his Geng Metal Immortal Spirit nature, called [Master of Arms].
Lu Yang had seen Ye Guyue perform it before.
"[Master of Arms] is formed from the combination of Heavenly Gang [Geng Metal] and Earth Fiend [Shen Metal], both being the yang aspect of metal. Their union pushes the ferocity of metal to the extreme. [Master of Arms] thus emerges. This innate divine ability has both internal and external applications, corresponding to the transformations of Geng Metal in heaven and earth."
"Internally, it applies to [Arms], enhancing the power of weapons."
"Externally, it applies to [Transformation]; transformation signifies change. When activated, it can alter appearances, turning the tangible into the intangible, making it an excellent method for neutralizing divine abilities and magical treasures."
Lu Yang was meticulously comprehending his own mystical nature.
However, at that moment—
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Lu Yang opened his eyes, sensing a divine consciousness sweeping over Yun Miaoqing, directly entering her dantian and landing on him.
Fortunately, he had already protected himself with [Tribulation Wave].
With the mysterious support of [Clarity], all cause and effect were concealed, and heavenly secrets remained hidden.
Unless a Golden Core True Lord confronted him directly, no one could discern his origin.
From the outside, he appeared merely as a slightly peculiar sword embryo.
"Which Foundation Establishment cultivator is this?"
Initially startled, Lu Yang quickly calmed down upon sensing that the other's divine consciousness wasn't strong—merely at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.
"Newbie village bullying is still the best!"
"Let me see who's spying on me..."
Lu Yang was quite satisfied.
With a thought, the [Heavenly Firmament All-Encompassing Dharma Body] instantly manifested, swiftly following the other's divine consciousness.
Meanwhile, within the Hidden Sword Villa—
Yun Miaozhen casually dismissed Yun Miaoqing, instructing her to prepare the flying boat for their return to the Sword Pavilion.
Then, she entered a secluded pavilion within the villa.
Inside the pavilion, a woman in luxurious attire was leaning against the window.
"Disciple greets Master."
Yun Miaozhen respectfully stepped forward to salute.
This was the greatest fortune of her life and the karmic result of her previous life's foundation—a Foundation Establishment master!
Thanks to this, she had become the current favored daughter of the Yun family, entrusted with great expectations by the family's patriarch.
As long as she broke through to the late stage of Qi Refining, she would immediately be granted the Sword Pavilion's great divine abilities.
Subsequently, she had a promising path to becoming a true disciple and advancing to Foundation Establishment.
Her future was indeed bright.
"Rise."
The woman in luxurious attire gently raised her hand, her soft voice tinged with laziness.
Her name was [Xiu Xin], an esteemed guest of the Sword Pavilion from the Ye family's outer branch.
"Have you made up your mind?"
"Yes, Master, I have."
Yun Miaozhen replied solemnly: "I humbly request Master to cast a spell linking Miaoqing's fate with mine, so I can send her into the Demon Sect to aid her cultivation."