"Our boy gave us a fresh life, right big sister?" Inside Anna's mind, a cold but lovely voice resonated.
Anna's lips curved into a knowing smirk as the voice reached her thoughts. She wasn't taken aback by the unexpected presence of the voice; she was all too familiar with its source.
With a subtle smile playing on her lips, Anna responded to the internal voice with a sense of familiarity, "Ah, Grace, it seems you've awakened. And indeed, he has granted us a new beginning. The hope of recovering from your ailment faded as you slumbered in my consciousness, and now that you're back in health, it still feels like a monumental dream." Anna's words were thoughtful as she recollected the recent events and emotions.
"Anna, you're absolutely right. But dwelling on the past serves us no purpose at this moment. Instead, we should wholeheartedly dedicate ourselves to our cultivation, supporting our son's path in the days to come!" Grace's voice echoed within Anna's thoughts, laced with a delighted tone.
Her smile was akin to that of an ice-cold goddess breaking into a grin after centuries, radiating pure joy and anticipation. Her eyes sparkled with a renewed enthusiasm, adding to the magic of the moment.
Her poised demeanor only heightened the beauty of the scene, infusing the air with an infectious energy that left those around her feeling uplifted and elated. It was a sight of true elegance.
'You haven't smiled this radiantly in so long, Grace. Seeing you like this again fills my heart with happiness!' Anna's internal musings were directed at Grace.
The last time Grace had worn such a genuine smile was during Yuan's sixth birthday celebration. Witnessing her partner's smile once more stirred a sense of contentment within Anna's own heart. Grace's consciousness had slipped into a deep slumber within Anna's mind following her illness.
"I've been dormant for quite some time. Now, let me take over. It's been too long, and I yearn to hold my precious son again! Over the years, only I know how much I've missed him!" Grace's eagerness to reunite with her son was palpable.
After all, Yuan was born from the combined essences of both Anna and Grace, who shared the same physical vessel. Yuan was undeniably her child, and her maternal instincts toward him were profound.
Observing Grace's somewhat childlike excitement, Anna could only shake her head with a fond smile. She sighed good-naturedly, realizing it was futile to resist, and relinquished control of the body to Grace. She understood the depths of Grace's emotions all too well.
As Grace assumed command, Anna's compassionate and affectionate demeanor shifted, replaced by a slightly cooler yet equally graceful air. In that moment, Grace's essence became Anna.
Much like Anna before her, Grace rose gracefully from her seated position, moving her limbs in a manner reminiscent of someone reacquainting themselves with their body after a prolonged rest.
"Cultivation... It's truly remarkable. I can sense the flow of profound energy within every fiber of this body. Simply astonishing!" Grace marveled aloud, her movements fluid. The knowledge gleaned from the "Heavenly Twin Heart Manual" left her awestruck.
Standing nearby, Emma observed the shift in Grace's countenance, a perplexed expression taking hold. Unable to resist her curiosity, she tentatively inquired, "Mistress, are you alright? You seem a bit different from before..."
Turning to face the source of the voice, Grace met Emma's gaze. A playful glint danced in her eyes.
"Oh, fear not. This is nothing new. Anna and I merely switch places within this body. As you may recall, I am currently Grace." Anna's response was directed solely at Emma, revealing the unique duality of her personality, known only to Grace and herself, and kept secret from everyone else, including her birth parents.
'Huh? Mistress Grace?... But Young Master mentioned that after cultivation, they could become separate individuals. Is that true?' Emma pondered to herself when she recognized the person before her as the true "Grace," her other half, and not Anna.
"But the Young Master said that you two could separate after..." Emma began to voice her thoughts.
Grace swiftly interrupted, cutting off Emma's sentence, "Say no more! While it's true that our Young Master mentioned the possibility of us becoming distinct entities, our current cultivation foundation is insufficient for such a separation. To achieve that, we need to advance to the next realm."
"I understand now..." Emma nodded, comprehension dawning. As a cultivator herself, she grasped the nuances of their situation.
"Dinner is ready!!" Lily's call echoed from the kitchen, breaking their conversation.
"Let's have dinner first, Emma. We can continue our cultivation afterward. Agreed?" Grace's expression remained composed as she suggested.
"Of course, Mistress!" Emma readily concurred.
Together, they left the room, making their way to the dining area where a warm meal awaited them.
—
In his room, Yuan's gaze rested upon the dragon egg resting atop his bed. He contemplated the best spot for it, ensuring its safety.
"Do you have any idea about the hatching time of the egg, Nora? I don't have a suitable hiding place for it!" Yuan inquired, seeking guidance.
[Normally, considering Xi Meili's cultivation level, it should take around a month for the egg to hatch. However, you can also expedite the process by having her enter your body, reducing the hatching time by half.] Nora provided the information he needed.
'Still, I've come across this concept in novels before... How could I have overlooked such an obvious solution? I can be so dense sometimes!' Yuan inwardly mused, recalling the very same concept from the novels he had read.
"Why don't you stay within my body until you hatch, Xi Meili?" Yuan murmured gently as he affectionately touched the egg.
Almost immediately, the egg emitted a radiant golden light and then gracefully merged into Yuan's body. He experienced a sensation of warmth as the golden light permeated his form, soon centering around his chest area.
After this, Yuan stored the Blue Jade Sword back into the system. The taxing process of achieving a breakthrough to the Spirit Warrior realm had caused him to break into a sweat, prompting him to remove his damp clothing.
Knowing that showers were not a customary practice in this world, Yuan headed for a bath to refresh himself and cleanse the sweat off his body.
[Host! I suggest you consider purchasing a Body Refining Pill from the System Shop. This pill will cleanse your body of impurities and significantly enhance your cultivation speed.] Nora recommended, outlining the advantages of this type of medicine for his cultivation journey.
"Purchase it!" Yuan exclaimed, his decision made after recalling the names of the cultivation pills and their remarkable effects, as described by Nora.
[Certainly, Host.] Nora's response was swift.
A pill featuring three undulating lines and emitting a sweet scent materialized in Yuan's hand. Its appearance was a murky brown, somewhat resembling mud. To ensure stability while ingesting the pill, Yuan settled into a lotus position on the bathroom floor.
*gulp*
As the pill took effect, his body warmed up, and a refreshing chill, even fresher than breaking through in cultivation, coursed through him. It felt as if he were experiencing rebirth.
"What an invigorating sensation... Wait, what in the world?" Yuan's eyes flew open, and he was greeted by a pungent smell akin to rotten eggs assaulting his nostrils.
"What's this odor? It smells like... oh goodness, it's repulsive!" Observing his body covered in a thick layer of black, viscous goo, Yuan's stomach churned, and he fought the urge to retch.
'Hold on, is this the impurities they were talking about?' He deduced that the murky substance resembled the sludge he had seen in manga and novels from his previous life, concluding that one of them had likely touched on the same concept.
"Given how similar this is to some of the manga and novels back in my old world, and the mana manipulation... so sticky! And now, to endure this awful stench," Yuan muttered as he took a handful of the substance, squishing it between his fingers.
[Indeed, Host, those are impurities! I recommend you clean up; it's quite unpleasant to look at!] Nora's voice chimed in immediately.
Yuan headed straight for the bathroom to wash off the goo. However, he encountered a problem: soap was a missing commodity in this world. He was left with no alternative but to meticulously cleanse every inch of his body, vigorously scrubbing away the remnants of the foul odor. He emerged from the bath, employing Qi to swiftly dry his body after confirming the stench had dissipated completely.
Leaving the bathroom, he changed into fresh attire and tamed his disheveled hair before the mirror. The transformation was astonishing.
"Am I imagining things or is this real?" Yuan marveled, staring at his reflection. The mirror now showcased a striking young man, his features remarkably handsome and appealing.
"Ouch! This is indeed real... It's really me... Hahaha!" He couldn't help but chuckle, exhilarated by his newfound appearance.
The pill had worked wonders, enhancing his attractiveness. His complexion had lightened, his skin turned smoother and more radiant than a young woman's, and he even appeared slightly taller, his body less bulky. With this face, combined with the profound aura he exuded, he held the power to captivate any woman within moments.
"I've turned quite the looker now. I wonder how the ladies will react to this change." Yuan envisioned the amused expressions they'd wear upon seeing his transformation; the thought brought him great amusement.
"Host, you've undergone quite the transformation in appearance! I'm eager to see how the girls will react to your newfound charm," Nora complimented, her words tinged with curiosity.
"Thanks, Nora!" Yuan responded appreciatively.
"Dinner is ready!"
Lily's voice resonated through the air, signaling that dinner was prepared. Yuan was taken aback by how swiftly time had flown by. He mumbled his observation before exiting the room, making his way to the dining area for the evening meal.
******
As Yuan entered the dining room, his attention was drawn to Anna, Lily, and Emma, who were seated at the table, waiting for him. His gaze shifted toward his mother, Anna, who was now displaying an unfamiliar demeanor. Unlike the usually cheerful Anna, she appeared somewhat reserved and devoid of her usual expressions.
'It can only mean one thing – she's Anna's other half.' Yuan deduced upon seeing the change in Anna's demeanor. He examined their auras, both of which resonated with the Spirit Apprentice realm.
"Oh, it looks like the two of you have successfully become cultivators. This is fantastic!" Yuan exclaimed as he approached them.
"Oh, Yuan..." Lily began to speak but was rendered speechless as she gazed upon him, her words caught in amazement and astonishment.
His newly transformed appearance left them all in awe. Yuan's extraordinary handsomeness seemed to emanate from every facet of his being. His strong jawline, intense eyes, and impeccably styled hair created a magnetic presence that rendered them utterly speechless.
They found themselves staring, utterly captivated by his striking beauty. It was a level of handsomeness they had never encountered before, a sight forever etched in their minds.
'Wow, he's so handsome! Young Master has become incredibly handsome, but how?' Emma's thoughts raced as her heart quickened, snapping her out of her daze, her cheeks flushing.
"Yuan, is that really you? How did you become so handsome? What happened?" Anna inquired, her hands cupping his face as she showered him with questions.
Upon looking at the others, Yuan saw them nodding in agreement with his mother's sentiments, confirming that they were all thinking the same thing. The situation had spiraled into a rather bewildering one, and he wasn't entirely sure how to navigate it.
"Well, it's simply that I used a pill to cleanse my body of impurities after my breakthrough to the Spirit Warrior realm. As you can see, this is the result!" Yuan openly explained, as he had already planned to share the details once they achieved the warrior realm.
"Promise me, Little Yuan, you'll give me one of those pills!" Lily pouted playfully, her eyes big and hopeful, making a request for the pills.
'How adorable,' Yuan thought.
"Will you deny me one?" His mother's voice, laced with a hint of pouting, reached his ears as she embraced him from behind.
An involuntary shiver ran down his spine as a surge of excitement coursed through him, feeling the pressure of her chest against his back.
"After all of you have advanced to the warrior realm, I'll distribute the pills. This pill can only be used by cultivators of the warrior realm. So, wait until you've reached that stage," Yuan explained the restriction of the pills, leaving them a bit disappointed but with no choice but to work diligently towards the warrior realm.
With that settled, they all took their seats and began to partake in the evening meal.