For the past year, both men had been preoccupied with thoughts of the other—one focused on ascending to the Upper Layer, the other on descending. Although their daily affairs had not been overly taxing, neither had been able to truly relax. Now that they were reunited, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong both felt a profound sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted from their shoulders.
After an indeterminate amount of time spent in each other's company, the two finally fell into a deep, peaceful sleep on the familiar bed within the spatial realm.
"It’s been a long time since I’ve woken up not knowing how many days have passed..." Nie Shiyun sighed, rubbing his eyes.
Zhai Bairong, looking uncharacteristically weary, did not rush to get up. He remained lying on his side, watching Nie Shiyun.
Earlier, Nie Shiyun had given a rough explanation regarding the repair of the Ascension Channel, but the myriad details of the past year could not be summarized in just a few sentences. Thus, they spoke of whatever came to mind, slowly filling in the blanks of the year they had spent apart.
Compared to Zhai Bairong, who had been working in a pill shop since leaving the Phoenix Clan, Nie Shiyun had far more stories to tell. From his final words to the members of the Cloud Clear Sect before his ascension, to his encounter with the Tiger Clan in the Lower Layer, his examinations upon reaching the Middle Layer, and his meeting with Madam Shang—the biological mother of the Immortal Garment’s original owner—Nie Shiyun recounted everything in detail.
"Actually, it wasn't anything special; I was just working the whole way. I didn't expect that after so many years of leisure, I would one day be so industrious," Nie Shiyun sighed with exaggerated drama.
Zhai Bairong smiled. "You seemed to enjoy yourself well enough."
"Is that so?" Nie Shiyun thought for a moment. "Perhaps I’d just been idle for too long. But after a year of busyness, I’ve had quite enough. Work for one year, rest for a hundred."
High-intensity work was acceptable as a temporary measure, but Nie Shiyun had no desire to keep it up year after year. Besides, his daily routine of cultivating and smithing to earn money had been driven by the urgency of finding his partner. Now that they were together, his motivation to work hard had vanished instantly.
"It’s fine for you to take a break. I can earn immortal crystals as well," Zhai Bairong said, gently stroking Nie Shiyun’s hair with a rhythmic, soothing motion.
"I know," Nie Shiyun replied with a meaningful smile.
Earlier, Zhai Bairong had mentioned how highly the pill shop owner valued him. Though he had glossed over it vaguely, Nie Shiyun had immediately caught the subtext and questioned him for a long time.
"What do you know now..." Zhai Bairong’s gaze drifted away.
"It’s only natural. If I were a young lady, I’d go to see you every day too," Nie Shiyun said with mock regret. "It’s a pity I wasn't there. I would have loved to see that sight with my own eyes."
In the cultivation world, Zhai Bairong was famous and held a high status. Even if female cultivators wanted to look at him, they usually lacked the courage to stare, let alone swarm around him to make small talk.
Recalling those scenes, Zhai Bairong felt embarrassed and helplessly urged Nie Shiyun to stop teasing him.
"Alright, alright, I won't mention it again." Nie Shiyun knew when to quit and stopped pestering him.
With the past accounted for, their conversation eventually turned toward their next move.
Nie Shiyun, now feeling entirely unburdened, suggested, "The Middle Layer is in such chaos, and according to you, the Upper Layer isn't easy to navigate either. Why don't we head back to the Lower Layer, find a remote town, and take a vacation? We can return once the heat dies down."
Zhai Bairong reminded him, "Have you completely forgotten about Xuan Yang?"
"How could I? But based on what you said, the kid is doing just fine, isn't he? His old man looks down on humans anyway; if I, his contractor, show up, I might just be 'disposed of.' It’s better if we cultivate for a while first so we have the confidence to face the Phoenix Clan." On this point, Nie Shiyun was quite pragmatic, not nearly as worried about Xuan Yang as Zhai Bairong was.
Zhai Bairong pondered for a moment. Although he remained concerned about Shen Yan in the Upper Layer and whether Xuan Yang was still in secluded cultivation, Nie Shiyun’s suggestion quickly tipped the scales in his heart toward his partner.
"Very well. I left a communication stone with Shen Yan before I set out. I’ll send word that I’ve reunited with you. If he isn't facing any immediate difficulties, we won't head to the Upper Layer for now."
Having successfully persuaded Zhai Bairong, Nie Shiyun pulled out the notes he had made previously and began considering which scenic location in the Lower Layer would be best for their temporary residence.
Taking advantage of the moment while Zhai Bairong contacted Shen Yan, Nie Shiyun also reached out to Madam Shang. Upon learning that Nie Shiyun was safe and had successfully reunited with his partner, Madam Shang felt greatly relieved. Although she wanted to scold him as an elder, she realized the deed was done and swallowed her reprimands.
When she heard that Nie Shiyun wanted to return to the Lower Layer to avoid the spotlight, she informed him that the Lan family had joined forces with other clans to strictly inspect everyone passing through the docks. Several Integration Stage cultivators could easily see through Nie Shiyun’s disguise even if he used a Disguise Pill, so it was best not to act rashly.
Nie Shiyun could tell Madam Shang was in a difficult position. He understood she wanted to help him find a temporary residence, but she feared the Shang family would be implicated if he were discovered.
If Zhai Bairong carried him out using the jade pendant space, there would naturally be no need to worry about disguises. However, this was a secret he could not reveal. Thus, he simply stated that his partner had a safe way out and told Madam Shang not to worry.
Hearing this, Madam Shang wasn't sure if Nie Shiyun was just comforting her or if he truly had a way, but she felt somewhat more at ease.
"She truly is a kind person. Once things settle down, we must visit her to express our gratitude," Zhai Bairong said. He had already heard the story of this senior from Nie Shiyun. Learning the history behind the Immortal Garment from the secret realm over a century ago left him feeling quite sentimental.
Nie Shiyun remained silent.
"What is it?" Zhai Bairong asked, noticing his sudden quietness.
"I’ve realized a problem," Nie Shiyun said, looking up at Zhai Bairong. "Originally, when I was going to the Upper Layer, Madam Shang used her connections to give me a ticket token directly, not immortal crystals."
Zhai Bairong also realized something and checked his storage space. "I’ve already spent all my savings on travel expenses and communication stones."
Nie Shiyun let out an "ah" and counted the immortal crystals he had won during the competition. They added up to just over ten thousand.
"..."
Now, even if they wanted to go to the Lower Layer, they couldn't afford it.
"Forget it, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it! At worst, I just won't go outside. With you carrying me around, it won't be much of an issue."
Glancing at Nie Shiyun, who was trying to be optimistic, Zhai Bairong felt worried for him instead. "The lifespans of those in the Upper Realm are much longer than those in the cultivation world. I saw that Ao Fan is determined to catch you; he won't give up easily. It will be too stifling for you to stay in the space forever."
"It can't be helped. But I considered the consequences before I made my move."
Nie Shiyun took out the shimmering dragon scale. This was the first time Zhai Bairong had seen it with his own eyes. Even in the Upper Layer, the Dragon Clan rarely wandered into human towns, let alone revealed their true forms. Feeling the immense spiritual energy contained within the small scale, Zhai Bairong took it and examined it with rare curiosity for a long time.
"While it’s normal for the repair of the channel to take several hundred years... after all, the cultivators in our world have a maximum lifespan of only about a thousand years," Nie Shiyun said softly. A Nascent Soul cultivator could live for a thousand years at most; his father, Nie Li, did not have many "several hundred years" left to wait.
Zhai Bairong nodded. "This cannot be rushed. Don't worry, I will help find a way as well."
Although the two were perfectly content as long as they were together, they couldn't help but feel a rare sense of nostalgia and sadness when thinking of their friends and family back in the cultivation world and the peaceful days in the Cloud Clear Sect.
The two discussed their options for a long time, eventually deciding to take things one step at a time.
Realizing that the fundamental reason they were being hunted like wolves was their insufficient cultivation, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong stayed within the space and began to cultivate day and night.
When they met, Nie Shiyun was already at the Great Circle of the Void Refinement Stage. Zhai Bairong, on the other hand, had only just broken through to the Void Refinement Stage before leaving the Upper Layer, with the help of acquaintances from the pill shop and Shen Yan. There was nearly an entire major stage of difference between them.
With the help of the spatial realm, Zhai Bairong finally had ample time to cultivate. Previously, he had to refine pills, work in the shop, and find time at night to cultivate; it had been no small feat to advance in less than a year. Now that he could focus entirely on secluded cultivation, his progress was explosive. He quickly jumped two minor realms, heading straight for the late stage of Void Refinement.
Nie Shiyun, whose cultivation was briefly in the lead, couldn't help but tease, "I almost forgot, my partner is a genius in everything from his face to his cultivation efficiency."
"You’re exaggerating," Zhai Bairong instinctively denied.
"Geniuses are never aware of it themselves." Seeing that Zhai Bairong wanted to say more, Nie Shiyun cut him off, joking that if he kept denying it, Nie would start to feel jealous of his natural talent.
Zhai Bairong glanced at him and simply said, "I won't argue with you about this." He rarely won any verbal sparring matches, so he had the self-awareness not to continue the discussion.
As for Nie Shiyun’s joke about being jealous, Zhai Bairong never worried about such a thing.
After all, this was the man who had pulled him out of his lowest point, genuinely rejoicing in his ability to stand on his own feet again.
Even when faced with talent superior to his own, Nie Shiyun would only say "I'm so envious" with an open heart, and then rely on his own efforts to catch up.
"It’s just the truth... mmph."
Nie Shiyun was mid-sentence when Zhai Bairong suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the lips, making him forget the rest of his words. Usually, unless the atmosphere was just right, Zhai Bairong rarely initiated such a sudden "attack."
Stunned for a moment, Nie Shiyun asked with a smile, "Oh? What’s this? Suddenly kissing me with such a gentle smile... does that mean you’re very satisfied with my praising skills?"
"It means I want you to talk a little less," Zhai Bairong pressed his lips together, though a smile inadvertently escaped from the corners of his mouth.
Meanwhile, outside the tranquil spatial realm, various towns were in an uproar due to newly received news.
"Have you heard? Five hundred thousand! That’s five hundred thousand immortal crystals!"
"Wasn't it two hundred thousand before? How did it more than double?"
The topic currently dominating the conversations of cultivators was, naturally, the recent incident at the Pinghe City Smithing Competition. After the event, the Lan family had quickly issued an order for Nie Shiyun’s capture. At the time, many cultivators had rushed to the vicinity of Pinghe City, hoping to make a fortune. After many days without a single lead, people speculated that Nie Shiyun had already left the city, and many dispersed.
However, just then, Nie Shiyun had suddenly reappeared in Pinghe City. He hadn't shown his true face, so he could only be identified as a suspicious individual. Furthermore, he had vanished again shortly after being discovered, with only a few cultivators having caught a glimpse of him. Once the news spread, opinions were divided. Some returned to Pinghe City to search, while others were certain it was a distraction by his companions and that Nie Shiyun had escaped long ago.
"The Lan family is certainly wealthy, spending so much over such a trivial matter. Just because he won once? Is it really necessary?" one cultivator sighed. He had followed the crowd to search for the man, but after several days of suspicious searching and coming up empty-handed, he had to bear the costs of travel and lodging in Pinghe City. Finding it a losing venture, he had quickly given up.
The person next to him was in a similar situation but had left Pinghe City only two days ago and knew a bit more. "The extra immortal crystals were added by Ao Fan himself! After all this time, the Lan family can't even catch a single rogue Void Refinement cultivator. I heard Ao Fan cursed the Lan family as useless and left the city to search other towns on his own."
"If you ask me, the Lan family’s relentless pursuit of Nie Shiyun is entirely at Ao Fan’s behest. Turning hostile just because a rogue cultivator won a competition hosted by their own family... the reputation this will bring is just too ugly..."
Hearing that Ao Fan had personally reached into his own pocket to increase the bounty, the group of cultivators was dumbfounded. "Ao Fan added it himself? He’s certainly rich, just a bit narrow-minded."
"I’ve heard that dragons love to collect gold, silver, jewels, and treasures from a young age. They don't even use them; they just pile them up in their caves."
The cultivators' conversation drifted further and further off-topic, gradually turning into a discussion about why dragons loved to hoard wealth and what the inside of their caves actually looked like.
Thanks to the fact that this place was quite far from Pinghe City, they didn't have to worry about Ao Fan finding out and holding a grudge. The cultivators gathered in the tea house spoke freely, and the atmosphere was very lively.
Behind them, a cultivator who had been sitting quietly alone took a sip of tea. His expression gave away nothing of his thoughts.
The waiter, watching from a distance and estimating that the guest's teapot was nearly empty, hurried over to refill it. He was used to interacting with all sorts of cultivators and usually dared to strike up a conversation even with seniors, but facing this particular guest, he found himself at a loss for words.
Having come to the tea house merely to gather information on recent events, Zhai Bairong felt he had heard enough for the day. He raised his hand and shook his head slightly, silently indicating he didn't need more tea.
Zhai Bairong stood up. Everything before him was also seen and heard by Nie Shiyun inside the spatial realm. However, they couldn't communicate there; it was better to wait until they returned to the inn.
"That Ao Fan added more immortal crystals. As the saying goes, money makes the mare go. Your situation has become even more troublesome."
As soon as he entered the jade pendant, Zhai Bairong spoke to Nie Shiyun. Seeing Nie Shiyun silently pondering something, he assumed he was starting to feel anxious. Regretting his words, he added, "But you heard them; many cultivators have already given up. Surely..."
"Bairong, listen to me. I’ve thought of something, but it requires some investigation... and I’ll definitely need your help," Nie Shiyun said suddenly.
"What is it?"
Zhai Bairong hadn't seen Nie Shiyun this serious in a long time. He was stunned for a moment, then quickly sat down beside him, signaling for him to continue.
Nie Shiyun’s first words were startling: "Why don't we earn those five hundred thousand immortal crystals ourselves?"
***
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Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 180 | Claiming the Bounty | Novela.app | Novela.app
