Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 168 | The Path to Repair | Novela.app

Madam Shang accepted the items and insisted on paying Nie Shiyun for them. The sum she named was even higher than the price Nie Shiyun had originally intended to ask, which made him feel quite uneasy, and he repeatedly declined. "But aren't you saving up to go to the Upper Layer?" Madam Shang looked at him helplessly. "You clearly seem like a clever man, yet you are so stubborn about such matters." "Everyone has their own principles," Nie Shiyun said with a dry laugh. "I am very glad that a cultivator like you was the one who obtained this celestial garment..." Madam Shang said with relief. Nie Shiyun quickly told her she was overpraising him. Madam Shang continued, "One thing is one thing. You said it was thanks to this garment that you were able to ascend, so it is only right that it returns to its original owner. However, you are also the one who brought back the relics of my daughter, whom I have searched for so long, and you even gave me her portrait. I ought to thank you. How about this: I shall pay for your ferry ticket to the Upper Layer." Nie Shiyun was surprised. "This... isn't that even more expensive than the cost of the celestial garment itself?" Madam Shang smiled and said faintly, "Though we cannot compare to the main family in the Upper Layer, we are still one of the preeminent families here. We already have dealings with the family that operates the celestial ships. A single berth on a ship is truly nothing of consequence." *It’s good to be rich,* Nie Shiyun lamented inwardly. Since she had put it that way, he nodded in agreement. "Speaking of which, there is one more matter I wish to ask about." Madam Shang nodded. "Ask whatever you like. As long as I can help, I will tell you everything I know." "Does Senior know why the human race's Ascension Passages were closed, and how they might be repaired? I only heard rumors in the lower realm that a conflict between Divine Beasts in the Upper Layer thousands of years ago spilled over, destroying the formations," Nie Shiyun asked. "So you are curious about that. Actually, the cause wasn't anything special. Since ancient times, the Dragon and Phoenix clans have fought incessantly, and the White Tiger clan occasionally joins the fray. The Xuanwu clan mostly keeps to themselves, but that time they were caught in the crossfire. It was rare for them to lose their temper, but the result was a chaotic brawl between all four clans. The injuries and consequences took a thousand years to mend..." Madam Shang paused, frowning. "If a Rank 5 Array Master could be found, the Ascension Passages would not be difficult to repair. However, all the passages in the Upper Heaven Realm were established during the Primordial Era, completed through the cooperation of the human and beast races. The materials needed for repair... require a potent concentration of power from the four clans. I have heard that in ancient times, the relationship between humans and the four beasts was somewhat harmonious, but they have since drifted apart. Now, never mind asking for their help—it is already good enough if no conflicts arise." The so-called materials with a potent concentration of the four clans' power were all the most precious treasures of the beast race. For example, a Dragon's scale, or a certain amount of blood... Even Xuan Yang, whom Nie Shiyun had raised since childhood, would grumble for ages just to give up two feathers. One could only imagine that these pure-blooded Divine Beasts in the Upper Heaven Realm, who looked down on humans from their high perches, would never easily part with such things. Nie Shiyun said helplessly, "In these two thousand years, has no human ever tried to make an effort?" Madam Shang hesitated for a moment before saying tactfully, "You came from the lower realm, so you should know that the spiritual energy there is receding. In several centuries, only a few Deity Transformation cultivators manage to ascend. Without the Ascension Passages, the lives of humans in the Upper Heaven Realm haven't changed much in these two thousand years, so..." There were some ascended cultivators who had cared for their friends and family in the lower realm and had thus inquired about methods and conducted research. But for cultivators who had only recently ascended, the cost of repair was simply too high. After all, cultivation was ultimately a solitary journey for the individual. Many people simply severed their past ties, decided to forget the lower realm, and began new lives. "You said you are going to the Upper Layer to find your Dao companion, which means she is already here. Why are you still so obsessed with repairing the passage? You look so young; do you perhaps have offspring left in the lower realm?" Madam Shang asked, puzzled. However, based on her brief conversation and interaction with Nie Shiyun, she felt he didn't seem like the type of person who would leave a child behind to ascend alone. Nie Shiyun explained, "Ah, I have no children. My Dao companion is also male..." The number of same-sex unions in the Upper Heaven Realm was much lower, though not unheard of. Madam Shang quickly corrected herself, saying she had been careless. When she heard Nie Shiyun speak of how his mother had passed away because her cultivation could not break through, leaving his father alone, and how his father had encouraged Nie Shiyun not to worry about him and only strive for the heights, Madam Shang thought of her own child again and was overcome with sorrow. Nie Shiyun realized that family ties seemed to be Madam Shang's weakness. Whenever the topic grew slightly heavy, she couldn't help but mourn her deceased child. He quickly shifted to a lighter tone, talking about his juniors and martial sisters back at the Cloud Clear Pavilion, saying he also couldn't stop worrying about them. "That is good. Even within a sect, having a few family-like figures to look out for one another is a blessing. Unlike us in these great families—forget about caring for each other, we cannot even decide our own marriages or how to raise our children... Ah, my apologies. I am perhaps too emotional today and have said too much." Nie Shiyun shook his head. Madam Shang pursed her lips. It was clear she was quite conflicted, unsure of how to advise Nie Shiyun. "Although I truly wish to help you, this matter is simply too difficult. Even the elders of the main family in the Upper Layer cannot establish relations with the four Divine Beast clans, let alone us. Items from the Divine Beast clans might appear in auctions or trading houses once or twice every few centuries or even a millennium, but they are priceless and beyond reach..." In the eyes of most humans in the Upper Heaven Realm, this task was arduous, expensive, and thankless; even if it were accomplished after a thousand years, there would be no reward. Had he not known from the original story that this matter could be achieved, Nie Shiyun might have been discouraged by such harsh conditions. But since this matter involved the four Divine Beasts and he happened to have his connection with Xuan Yang, Nie Shiyun guessed that the starting point might lie in that direction. Not yet wishing to reveal his acquaintance with a Phoenix like Xuan Yang, he did not argue. Seeing his troubled expression, Madam Shang assumed he had been deterred by the difficulty. Thinking of how he was separated from his father, she spoke a few more words to comfort him. "In that case, I shall stop thinking about it for now," Nie Shiyun said with a smile. "It is good that you can think that way. It is getting late. From what you said earlier, you don't even have a place to stay. If you don't mind, you are welcome to stay with us long-term," Madam Shang said, glancing at the door. Through the paper windows, the sunlight had already begun to dim; they had actually chatted until nearly evening. Nie Shiyun still remembered Madam Shang's earlier remark about how one must be cautious in every action within a great family. He was, after all, a male cultivator with no relation to the Shang family; staying like this felt somewhat inappropriate. "If Senior intends for me to stay a few days longer, why not arrange a job for me? I don't want to be a freeloader," Nie Shiyun said. He knew that great families usually had their own Artifact Crafters and wouldn't easily hire outsiders. He didn't expect to actually do significant work; he just wanted to be an assistant to earn a place to sleep. Hearing him say this, Madam Shang's brow furrowed slightly. "You are the benefactor who brought my daughter's things to the Upper Heaven Realm. How could I possibly allow that?" Nie Shiyun didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Senior, you are truly overstating it. It was all a lucky coincidence..." The two discussed it for a long time. Nie Shiyun insisted that if Madam Shang just let him live idly as a guest until next year, he would go back to sleeping in a geothermal room. Madam Shang was already filled with gratitude, and seeing that he was even younger than her own son, she couldn't help but feel the helpless affection one has for a junior. She agreed to arrange for him to work in the artifact workshop. However, the several people working in the Shang family's artifact workshop in town were at least Rank 3 Artifact Crafters. Most of the others who did repair work were stationed at the suburban estate. Madam Shang said the environment there wasn't as good as here and felt quite apologetic. Nie Shiyun, however, was quite happy to hear it. The outskirts were quiet, and when he was free, it would be convenient to go hunting and gathering in the wild. It sounded much more relaxing than staying in the Shang family mansion amidst all the intrigue. He immediately expressed his desire to go there, telling Madam Shang she didn't need to give him special treatment—she could just act as if he didn't exist. If he truly ran into trouble, he would seek her help. "If you advance to a Rank 3 Artifact Crafter, I can clear a long-term position for you in the workshop here," Madam Shang said with a soft smile. "But seeing how anxious you are to find your partner, I suppose you wouldn't be willing to stay with the Shang family for long anyway?" Nie Shiyun gave a dry laugh. Working for a great family was a stable career; the workshops were spacious, there was a monthly salary, and the senior members of the family were generous with rewards. For an ordinary cultivator who had come alone from the lower layer to the middle layer, this might be a golden opportunity they wouldn't see in a hundred years, but he declined for the time being. "I thought as much." Madam Shang smiled helplessly and let him rest in the guest room for the day. At noon the next day, she would give him a letter of introduction. Once he reached the Shang family's suburban artifact workshop, he could enter simply by showing the letter and his Rank 2 Artifact Crafter credentials. Nie Shiyun followed a maid to the guest room to rest. After a few steps, he heard Madam Shang hurriedly calling two female cultivators inside. Before long, cries of surprise and sighs drifted out; they were likely servants who also knew of Madam Shang's loss. Since he had done all he could, the affairs of this mansion and how they chose to mourn were not Nie Shiyun's responsibility. He sighed softly and quickened his pace to catch up with the maid. The Shang family's guest rooms were of excellent quality, rivaling the luxury suites in an inn. Moreover, because Madam Shang was a Celestial Weaver, she paid particular attention to the fabrics in the residence. Lying down, he felt the touch of a quilt that seemed as light as nothing, as a faint fragrance and spiritual energy surged up together. It was a bit pathetic to think about... but for the first time in several months, Nie Shiyun was sleeping in a bed outside of the jade pendant space. For once, he didn't go into the jade to cultivate. Nie Shiyun leisurely enjoyed the luxury guest room for a night, and the next day, he quietly left the Shang residence without lingering, carrying the letter of introduction the maid had delivered early that morning. Not long after he left, Madam Shang had intended to accompany him when he set out, thinking that this would make the other Artifact Crafters take this temporary outsider more seriously. However, after washing up and coming out, she heard from a servant that Nie Shiyun had already slipped away on his own. Madam Shang didn't know whether to laugh or cry; she understood that this junior simply didn't like receiving special treatment, so she abandoned the idea of using the back door to have the person in charge there look after him. "Madam, please look at this list. There are too many people; it will exhaust you! Why don't we do as before and just pick a few who arrived first..." The maid who had been responsible for receiving outsiders at the front gate yesterday came into Madam Shang's room, troubled as she brought a large pile of visiting cards received yesterday. Every single one was a request for her to custom-make a garment. Madam Shang's tone was light. "It is no matter. I have just advanced to a Rank 4 Celestial Weaver and feel as though I have energy to spare. It is the beginning of the year; don't all the young ladies hope to wear new clothes to show off a bit?" The maid watched as she took all the visiting cards and began to examine them one by one. Surprised, she said, "Madam is in a very good mood today... Oh, is this one newly spun by Madam? It's so beautiful." Without turning her head, Madam Shang knew what she was talking about. That celestial garment, spun by her own hands long ago and recently repaired by her own hands, was hanging by the wardrobe in her room. At this moment, the noon sunlight filtered in, casting a faint glow over the purple silk and gauze. "It's not newly spun; it's craftsmanship from a long time ago. My mood is good today, so I brought it out to let it catch some sun." Madam Shang smiled as she flipped through the cards, chatting with the oblivious maid and listening to her vivid description of how the front gate had been packed to bursting with female cultivators yesterday... --- | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 仙织师 | Celestial Weaver | A profession focused on weaving spiritual fabrics and garments. | | 炼器师 | Artifact Crafter | A profession focused on forging magical tools and weapons. | | 飞升通道 | Ascension Passage | The pathway between different realms or layers of existence. | | 神兽 | Divine Beast | Mythical creatures of great power (Dragon, Phoenix, etc.). | | 龙族 | Dragon Clan | One of the four major Divine Beast clans. | | 凤族 | Phoenix Clan | One of the four major Divine Beast clans. | | 白虎一族 | White Tiger Clan | One of the four major Divine Beast clans. | | 玄武一族 | Xuanwu Clan | The Black Tortoise clan; one of the four major Divine Beast clans. | | 阵法师 | Array Master | A specialist in creating and repairing magical formations/arrays. | | 魂灯 | Soul Lamp | A lamp linked to a person's life force; it extinguishes upon their death. | | 仙船 | Celestial Ship | A magical vessel used for travel between layers or long distances. | | 别院 | Suburban Estate / Villa | A secondary residence or facility located outside the main city. |