Gemini

The sun and moon were reversed, going through cycles.

The stars were scattered across the night sky once again, like a ghostly face full of countless eyes, staring straight at the human world.

"Yao, come out for dinner!"

Having just returned home, Ning Ming called out and placed the dishes on the table.

Before long, a young girl with somewhat disheveled hair and wearing plain white silk clothes walked out from the inner room.

She seemed to have just woken up, letting out a yawn while rubbing her eyes. "Brother, you're back?"

"Mm. Did you sleep well today?"

Ning Ming looked at the young girl's body with concern.

Like the other children in the village, Ning Yao also had an innate "defect".

Although she looked normal on the outside, Ning Yao was nocturnal, sleeping during the day and only waking at night.

Moreover, Ning Yao had been physically weak and sickly since she was little, always appearing undernourished. Her hair was somewhat yellowed, her face lacked a healthy flush, and her skin was as pale as snow.

"You went to the village chief's place to cultivate today, right? You were clearly scared unconscious last night..."

While eating, Ning Yao suddenly glanced at the youth, noticing his change.

In just an afternoon, the muscles on Ning Ming's forearms had become visible, streamlined, seemingly brimming with vigorous strength.

This was the profound intricacy of cultivation. With normal exercise, it would probably take at least a month to achieve such muscularity.

"I wasn't scared unconscious last night. Also, take a look at this."

Ning Ming smiled to reveal his fair teeth. He raised his right arm and flexed his biceps.

"You've gotten a lot stronger, huh..."

Ning Yao pondered for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. "Then farming will probably be a lot easier for you now."

Ning Ming's forehead darkened instantly.

His sister's thought process was always so novel...

Ning Ming felt like an utter fool. He quickly lowered his right arm, "It's not just that I've gotten stronger. Besides, am I cultivating just to make farming easier?"

"Isn't it so you can live an easier life?"

Ning Yao retorted, then added, "Oh, after you get stronger, you can also gain people's admiration and find a beautiful wife more easily."

Ning Ming was too lazy to banter with his sister. He turned around and entered the room, closing the door behind him, "Don't come in later."

"Why not?"

The young girl sat on a small wooden stool, swinging her slender fair legs to and fro. Her skin lacked any hair or fuzz, smoothed like jade, the faint blue veins even visible.

Not waiting for Ning Ming to respond, Ning Yao answered her own question, "Oh, I understand. You're going to do something inside that isn't suitable for others to see."

Inside the room.

Ning Ming staggered.

What did she mean by things not suitable for others to see?!

He didn't dwell on it too much either. His sister had an eccentric personality from being awake at night and asleep during the day all year round while home alone.

Taking out the Essence Condensing Incense gifted by Aunt Willow,

Ning Ming didn't know how precious this item was. But since it could aid cultivation, it would surely have to be put to use.

"It's a pity there's no Longevity Lantern."

Next, Ning Ming sighed.

If there was a Longevity Lantern, as long as he exuded any inauspicious energy, the lantern flame would undergo changes. That way, as long as his mind wasn't too muddled, he could notice it early on.

"Yao, if something happens to me later, remember to immediately go find Uncle Lin."

Suddenly remembering something, Ning Ming gave a reminder while dragging the small bed to the left to block the door.

"What accident?"

Outside, Ning Yao's chopsticks paused while eating, "Are you going to cultivate into a monster? Are you going to pee your pants too?"

"It hasn't happened yet! Also, deviation wouldn't be peeing your pants!!!"

Ning Ming broke out in cold sweat, unhappy with his sister's tone.

Was this fortune or ominousness? No one could say for sure yet before even starting.

The instant Ning Ming lit the Essence Condensing Incense,

he immediately smelled a faint fragrance, his state of mind becoming much calmer, as if entering meditation.

"This item really does benefit cultivation."

Slightly delighted, Ning Ming then closed his eyes, his spirit sinking into his sea of consciousness.

That piece of black stone was suspended in his mind...

With a stir of mental intent, Ning Ming drew forth a set of cultivation methods for the Celestial Orphan Star[Twins] from within it.

According to what Aunt Willow said, in ancient times when the stars weren't contaminated, [Twins] was originally a supreme divine ability of the astral projection, only that now it had become a horrifying forbidden technique of cultivation.

Right then, Ning Ming was given a shock, actually sensing another brand new stellar power within this black stone!

It wasn't the previous deathly chill of Yellow Springs, but rather an emerald green energy, brimming with exuberant vitality.

"Could this be the stellar power of the Celestial Orphan Star?!"

Ning Ming was greatly astonished, stunned by the strangeness of this piece of black stone.

Since it was cultivating the supernatural ability of the Celestial Orphan Star, it naturally needed the stellar power of the Celestial Orphan Star.

Ning Ming suppressed his thoughts and quickly guided this energy, circulating it along his inner meridians.

In a flash, this emerald stellar power gushed into his meridians like streams, bursting open some hidden meridians.

"Ngh..."

Next, Ning Ming immediately felt enormous pain. That energy was like teeth ripping into his meridians, very uncomfortable.

"Slow it down a little."

Recalling Li Grandpa's advice during the day, Ning Ming didn't dare seek swift progress and could only undergo slow cultivation amidst the agony.

Time gradually trickled by...

The dead of night, deathly still in the village without a hint of sound, only occasional frightening noises coming from outside the village, as if things existed within the darkness.

Outer room.

After finishing her meal, Ning Yao didn't do anything else either, only curiously staring at the wooden door, wondering what her brother could be up to inside.

...

After some unknown amount of time had passed.

That piece of black stone could no longer exude any emerald energy, as if the Celestial Orphan Star stellar power contained within had been completely consumed.

Right then, Ning Ming's mind gave a fierce shudder.

It was like something had cracked open in his head, giving off splintering sounds. His own spiritual sense seemed to split into two parts.

At this moment, it was as if he could draw a circle with one hand while drawing a square with the other, truly achieving doing two things at once.

"Split personality?"

Greatly astonished, before Ning Ming could think much, that portion of his spiritual sense was pulled out from his body!

"Not good!"

Ning Ming paled in fright, clearly aware that this was likely [Twins]!

He forcefully opened his eyes.

Then he was shocked stiff by what he saw before him.

Only to see, right in front of him actually stood an identical-looking youth in light colored silk brocade robes!

Within the silent room.

Two completely identical youths, one sitting cross-legged, one standing.

It was like the mirror image had stepped out, inconceivable, giving off a kind of eerie terrifying atmosphere at the same time.

The other party stood in place, his eyes very lively, seemingly possessing awareness, directly gazing at Ning Ming.

It split...He had really split out another body...

Ning Ming felt somewhat alarmed. Yet soon he also relaxed.

No matter what this split body was like, at least he himself was currently very normal, his thoughts undergoing no changes whatsoever.

"So this is [Twins]?"

Next, Ning Ming grew curious again, looking at this youth identical to himself, faintly perceiving the connection between them.

And neither had they, like the previous Man in Green Robes, started attacking upon sight as if having met their father's killer...

It would appear this was not actually a terrifying forbidden technique!

"Bro? Are you done? I'm coming in, oh."

Right then, Ning Yao's voice suddenly sounded from outside.

"Don't come in!"

"Come in!"

Ning Ming had just finished speaking when he stiffened fiercely, staring fixedly at his other self.

Outside the room.

Ning Yao was also frozen in place.

What was going on here? Why were there two of her brother's voices?

Realizing something bad, Ning Yao hurriedly got to her feet, looking towards the door, "Bro, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm fine!"

"I've had an accident!"

Almost instantly, Ning Ming and his other self spoke out simultaneously, their tones identical yet carrying completely opposite meanings.

"I..."

Ning Ming immediately widened his eyes.

He looked at that youth identical to himself, as if looking at something unimaginable.

And to his doom, the other was looking back in the exact same way, full of astonishment.

Outside.

Ning Yao was even more frightened. "Bro, should I go find Uncle Lin or not?"

"Don't go!"

"Hurry and find Uncle Lin!"

Two directly opposite voices came out from the room.

In that moment, Ning Yao froze completely on the spot, temporarily at a loss over what to do.