Spirit Transformation

"Oh, right, there's something else. The Heaven Mending Pavilion is opening its gates to accept disciples."

Yun Xi remembered the matter.

"The Heaven Mending Pavilion is still accepting disciples at a time like this?"

At those words, an odd look surfaced in Yun Ying's eyes.

The Heaven Mending Pavilion's Sacrificial Spirit had lived from ancient times until the present. It had once kindled divine fire, but that fire had gone out in a great battle. Unless something unexpected happened, its life would soon reach its end as well.

Many powers in the Great Wilderness knew this. They were merely waiting for the Heaven Mending Pavilion's Sacrificial Spirit to pass away before making their moves.

Under such circumstances, the Heaven Mending Pavilion's decision to accept disciples as usual was hardly wise. If they thought this could conceal the Sacrificial Spirit's condition, they could not have been more wrong.

"Yes. The condition of the Heaven Mending Pavilion's Sacrificial Spirit is no longer a secret. Several Primordial Sacred Mountains are already stirring restlessly. Once the Sacrificial Spirit passes away, the Heaven Mending Pavilion will be in danger."

Yun Xi nodded. The thought that this ancient legacy was about to be destroyed filled her with sorrow.

"The rise and fall of all things is a law of the Heavenly Dao. How could living beings defy it? Never mind the Heaven Mending Pavilion. Perhaps one day, our Heavenly God Mountain will also become a handful of yellow earth beneath this sky."

Yun Ying spoke softly.

"Ying, could you stop saying such frightening things? Our Heavenly God Mountain stands unshaken in the Desolate Region. How could it ever become a handful of yellow earth?"

Yun Xi rolled her eyes and countered.

"Beneath the Heavenly Dao, all living beings are ants. Unless they transcend it, a guillotine blade will always hang above their heads. Once that blade falls, no one will be innocent."

Yun Ying shook her head.

Hearing this, Yun Xi blinked, inexplicably chilled.

"All right, enough of these heavy topics. Ying, play the zither for me."

Yun Xi promptly ended that discussion.

Yun Ying glanced at her without saying anything. She gently raised her fair hand, and a flash of purple light swept past. The Purple Zither appeared on the table, glowing softly.

This zither, too, had been woven from purple bamboo. It had seven strings, and runes were branded onto its body. In other words, it was not merely an ordinary zither, but a precious artifact as well.

Ten slender, jade-like fingers descended and plucked the strings. Like the tinkling of a clear spring, beautiful music rippled outward.

Yun Xi was instantly immersed in it. She unconsciously closed her eyes and listened in silence. Aside from the sword, playing the zither was Yun Ying's greatest skill, and her mastery was exceptional.

Moreover, Yun Ying's music could not only cultivate the spirit, but even give form to the slaughter of the Sword Dao. She could truly be called a peerless master of both zither and sword.

The notes lingered in the air. Runes shone on the purple body of the zither, fluttering like fireflies and circling around her like dancing sprites.

A painted scroll unfurled in the air. Across its green earth, grass flourished and orioles flitted. Flowers blossomed like bamboo shoots after the rain, and colorful butterflies danced among them in a dazzling profusion of hues.

Then the music changed, and the scenery within the scroll changed with it. The green earth became a brilliant starry sky, and the flowers became countless stars glittering across the heavens.

Starlight streaked across the sky like rain. A resplendent meteor shower descended, breathtakingly beautiful.

Even with her eyes closed, Yun Xi could clearly see these scenes. The music echoed in her mind like a brush painting heaven and earth, guiding her through the world's magnificent vistas. Its wonder defied words.

When the piece ended, Yun Xi remained lost in it, unable to pull herself free. Only after a long while did she return to reality.

"Ying, the Hundred Broken Mountains will open soon. You'll go with me, won't you?"

Yun Xi winked at her.

"The Hundred Broken Mountains? Is there any need to go?"

Yun Ying asked in return.

"Of course there is! They say the Immortality Divine Spring, Sacred Medicine, and Heavenly Bones are inside. Unfortunately, only those under eighteen can enter."

Yun Xi nodded.

"Is there no other reason?"

Yun Ying looked at her, her deep eyes seeming to see straight into her heart.

"Oh, fine. I actually have a Treasure Map. The treasure it marks is in the Hundred Broken Mountains."

Yun Xi confessed honestly.

"I understand. I'll go with you, then."

Yun Ying nodded in agreement.

"Wonderful! I'll come find you when the time comes. Be ready!"

Seeing Yun Ying agree, Yun Xi beamed with delight, then turned and left.

As Yun Ying watched her departing figure, an almost imperceptible trace of tenderness flickered in her eyes. Although Yun Xi had been born before her, she actually regarded Yun Xi as her little sister.

In her previous life, she had been a man and a swordsmanship enthusiast-an utterly fanatical one. But cultivation did not exist in that world. After reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship, she had been unable to advance even half a step.

Bearing that regret, she had died despondently in her previous life. Never had she imagined she would receive a second life. Although her sex had changed, cultivation was possible in this world, so being male or female made no difference to her.

As long as she could cultivate and set foot upon the true Sword Dao, that was enough.

This time, she had opened her tenth Cave Heaven and reached the Cave Heaven Extremity. All she needed now was a little consolidation and refinement. Once she perfected her realm, she could break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Time slipped quietly past, and several months went by.

Yun Ying sat cross-legged beneath the Purple Bamboo Forest, ten Cave Heavens shining behind her. Compared with two months earlier, all ten now had the same dimensions, rather than the tenth alone being the largest.

Within the tenth Cave Heaven, the Purple Bamboo Sword rose and fell, runic light flowing over it. It received the cleansing baptism of heaven and earth's divine essence, and its spirituality grew ever stronger.

Suddenly, gentle spiritual light spread from Yun Ying's body, and an indescribable spirituality began to emerge.

Without a sound, Yun Ying stepped into the Spirit Transformation Realm.

"The Spirit Transformation Realm: flesh becoming spirit, reshaping the true self, and nurturing spirits within the Cave Heavens."

Yun Ying opened her eyes, her purple irises like gemstones.

She had now entered the first stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm: flesh becoming spirit. Cultivation at this stage involved tempering the flesh, fostering powerful spirituality, and becoming a spiritual embryo that transcended the mundane.

Ring!

A clear sword cry rang out. Densely packed runes appeared in the air, blazing with light. Each seemed cast from metal, gleaming coldly, with a terrifying sharpness flowing through it.

Every rune was shaped like a sword, brimming with austere sword intent. Threads of sword qi spread through the air, slicing open fine cracks.

These were Sword Dao Runes, unlike any other kind of rune. Even if the world held myriad runes, Yun Ying would choose only these. Her heart held nothing but the Sword Dao, and her devotion to it was utterly sincere.

The Sword Dao Runes circled Yun Ying, then descended toward her body!

Clang!

When the sword-shaped runes struck Yun Ying's body, dazzling sparks erupted, as though two pieces of divine iron had collided. The metallic clang was deafening.

One sword-shaped rune after another descended to brand itself onto Yun Ying's flesh, like meteors crashing into the earth. As the runes entered her body, the terrifying sharpness of the Sword Dao rampaged through it, baptizing her flesh.