Great Zhou, Ningzhou, Zhang Residence.
The day after the Ye family sent the letter.
Bathed in gentle sunlight, Zhang Yuge yawned, stretched lazily, and sat up.
He glanced at Zhang Qingyao beside him, still fast asleep, and gently tapped her cheek.
“Wake up, Zhang Qingyao. It’s time to get up.”
The girl frowned deeply, eyes filled with reluctance as she opened them—clearly, she hadn’t rested well last night.
“Go prepare breakfast for this young master.”
Saying this, Zhang Yuge got out of bed, dressed, and then opened the system panel that had awakened last night.
A semi-transparent pale blue interface appeared before his eyes; of course, only he could see the data on the panel.
Master: Zhang Yuge
Affiliation: Zhang Family, Great Zhou Dynasty
Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage, Level 2
Constitution: Pure Yang Constitution
Cultivation Method: Spirit Control Technique
Destiny Value: 100
Fortune Points: 20
Fortune Rank: Black
Currently Bound Sword Spirits: 0
System Shop: Not Opened
The attribute panel looked a bit underwhelming.
However, to Zhang Yuge’s surprise, he had just broken through from Qi Refining Stage Level 1 to Level 2.
“System, what exactly is Pure Yang Constitution?”
Zhang Yuge asked.
“Host possessing this constitution can endure prolonged battles without depletion and maximizes compatibility with dual cultivation techniques.”
Zhang Yuge was stunned.
He had assumed it was a rare cultivation constitution, but it turned out to be this.
At that moment, Zhang Qingyao groggily got out of bed.
But she lost her footing, her legs went weak, and she knelt down on the floor—she must have pushed herself too hard last night.
Uh… alright, I admit my stamina and energy are a bit on the excessive side.
Zhang Yuge helped the kneeling Zhang Qingyao up, letting her sit on the edge of the bed to rest for a while.
Lowering her head, her face flushed red, she dared not meet Zhang Yuge’s gaze.
“System, I want to check Zhang Qingyao’s attribute panel.”
“Host needs to bind the target first before viewing their attributes.”
“Bind what target? And what does ‘number of bound Sword Spirits’ mean?”
“This system, also called the Sword Deity System, can bind Sword Spirits to assist the host in cultivation. The system automatically converts the bound target’s innate talents, physique, and fortune blessings into Fortune Points, differentiating Fortune Ranks. The host can consume the bound target’s Fortune Points to obtain Destiny Value. By spending the corresponding amount of Destiny Value, the host can convert the bound target into a Sword Spirit maiden and acquire a Peerless Divine Sword.”
“Sword Spirit maiden? So it only binds females, not males?”
“Binding is possible for anyone, regardless of original gender or appearance. Once converted into a Sword Spirit, the target always becomes a young, beautiful female. Before conversion, the bound target’s cultivation is boosted, and the host receives one-tenth of their cultivation as a reward. After conversion, the Sword Spirit maiden’s cultivation increases, and the host gains half of that cultivation as a reward.”
Whoa, what kind of top-tier lazy cultivation system is this?
“System, so I don’t have to do anything? I just find some prodigies or geniuses to bind, and I can level up automatically?”
“If the bound target’s cultivation far exceeds the host’s, the binding success rate decreases, and failure is more likely. The host can synchronize the bound target’s cultivation insights, acquired techniques, and opportunities.”
Whoa, it can even sync all that?
If I just bind a whole bunch of promising young geniuses as investments, I can leech their cultivation and techniques, cultivating in bed.
“System, can I bind Zhang Qingyao as my Sword Spirit?”
“The host only needs to touch the target to initiate binding.”
Zhang Yuge gently placed his hand on Zhang Qingyao’s head.
She hesitated but dared not question him.
“Ding, binding in progress…”
“Binding complete. System current level: IV1. Number of Sword Spirits allowed to bind: 1. This number increases as the system levels up.”
“Current bound target: Zhang Qingyao, Name: Zhang Qingyao, Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage, Level 6
Constitution: Furnace Constitution of Peerless Quality, Techniques: Qingyang Sword Manual, Object, Manipulation Technique, Qi Concealment Technique, Fireball Technique…Fortune Points: 520, Fortune Rank: Green (from high to low: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, Black)”
A flood of information about Zhang Qingyao appeared in Zhang Yuge’s mind, leaving him slightly amazed.
Damn, Zhang Qingyao actually knows so many techniques, and I only have Spirit Control Technique learned just a few days ago from Yunlan Sect.
Oh wait, those techniques belong to Zhong Bailing; Zhang Qingyao might not actually use them.
But her Fortune Rank is as high as Green, with 520 points.
I only have 30 points, and mine is Black?
“Hey, system, why is Zhang Qingyao’s Fortune Rank so much higher than mine? What is the usual Fortune Rank for a normal person?”
“The average Fortune Rank for most people is Purple. Zhang Qingyao’s original Fortune Rank was higher, likely Yellow. But since the system has already bound the host, her current Fortune Rank is only Green.”
“Huh? Wait, what do you mean? You originally wanted to bind Zhang Qingyao? And you said her original Fortune Rank was Yellow… Could it be that she is a Fortune Child, a destined protagonist?”
“Yes. Zhang Qingyao is the protagonist of the dark rebirth fantasy novel Demonic Sword Lord. In his previous life, he was a spoiled and reckless youth, killed by the person he loved. After rebirth before his death, he bound this system and resolved to turn over a new leaf and cultivate diligently. He eventually succeeded in his revenge, wiped out the entire Zhong family, killed his own brother, defected from the Zhang family, and became the terrifying Demonic Sword Lord feared by all. The novel begins with Zhang Qingyao’s rebirth and system binding. But now the host has taken over the identity of the Zhang family’s second young master, changing the timeline and altering the original story.”
Zhang Yuge suddenly understood.
“So that’s it. Turns out Zhang Qingyao is actually a destined protagonist, and the system originally wanted to bind her but I snatched it first.”
Zhang Yuge looked at Zhang Qingyao, who dared not move after he touched her head.
He couldn’t associate her with that godlike, ruthless Demonic Sword Lord.
Oh no, I’ve been so harsh to her these past days.
She must hold a grudge.
She’s been silently bearing it all by my side—maybe she’s just waiting for a chance to stab me in the back?
The Sword Deity System seemed to sense Zhang Yuge’s worry.
“Host need not worry. Once converted into a Sword Spirit maiden, she will no longer be capable of harming the host.”
“Is that so? Then I can relax. Can I convert Zhang Qingyao now?”
“Ding, the shop is now open. If you want to convert a Sword Spirit, simply purchase the option from the shop.”
Zhang Yuge found the [Sword Spirit Transformation] option on the pale blue panel.
Currently, only Zhang Qingyao was available.
“Whoa, this is cheap? I thought converting Zhang Qingyao would cost a lot of Destiny Value, but it’s only 100?”
Zhang Yuge happened to have exactly 100 Destiny Value.
“This is a newbie discount for the first Sword Spirit transformation, so it only costs 100 Destiny Value. Subsequent transformations will cost anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands of Destiny Value.”
“Converting bound Sword Spirit…”
“Ding, Sword Spirit transformation complete. Host has obtained a Peerless Divine Sword ‘Panyan Jielü’.”
Zhang Yuge was eager to see what the new sword looked like.
But… nothing happened.
“System, where’s the sword? Didn’t you say you’d reward me with a sword?”
“Host, have you watched Guilty Crown?”
“I have. What… okay, you system really got me. I get it now.”
Zhang Yuge reached toward Zhang Qingyao’s chest.
Zhang Qingyao thought Zhang Yuge’s mood had flipped again and was frightened, her face turning pale.
If this happened again, her fragile body wouldn’t hold up.
“W-Wait! Young master, can we talk about this tonight? It really can’t be now…”
Zhang Yuge ignored her protests and softly called out:
“Draw your sword.”
Suddenly, Zhang Qingyao felt something inside her wanting to be pulled out, causing intense discomfort.
The girl floated in midair as a sword shimmering with green light slowly extracted itself from within her body.
“So this is ‘Panyan Jielü’?”
Zhang Yuge muttered to himself.
He gripped the hilt and pulled the green blade completely free from Zhang Qingyao’s chest.
“…”
Zhang Qingyao let out a moan that could be easily misunderstood, then collapsed weakly.
Zhang Yuge held the sword in one hand and caught her with the other, cradling her in his arms.
“Young master… why is this happening?”
What was happening far exceeded the girl’s understanding.
She had no idea why there was a sword hidden inside her body.