Unable to find any trace of Xuan Yang and Shen Yan, the Phoenix female cultivator returned to her clan in fear and trepidation to report her failure.
The Phoenix Emperor lost his temper at his subordinates, but upon hearing that Xuan Yang had advanced with remarkable ease, he felt that his son indeed possessed exceptional talent and had not shamed him. Gradually, his anger subsided.
"Should we go looking for Nie Shiyun and the other?" the female cultivator asked tentatively. Since Xuan Yang had gone to chase after Nie Shiyun, finding the latter would inevitably lead them to the former.
The Phoenix Emperor waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it. Two years ago, there were reports of two consecutive Great Ascension lightning tribulations in the South Sea, which is quite rare. I thought it might be some rising stars from the beast clans, but no one could find any results. Thinking back now, it was likely those two."
He had long heard that Nie Shiyun had secured a connection with the White Tiger clan, and the Phoenix Emperor had assumed they would go there to advance. He hadn't expected that despite having such a powerful backer, the two wouldn't cling to them, instead choosing to find some remote corner to break through on their own.
Speaking of the White Tiger clan—even though the Phoenix Emperor himself had introduced Nie Shiyun to them—the White Tigers were, after all, a clan second only to the Dragons and Phoenixes. The fact that Nie Shiyun had actually gained prestige in their eyes made the Phoenix Emperor feel a mix of pride for not being embarrassed by his recommendation and a slight, lingering annoyance.
"They are already at the Great Ascension stage..." the female cultivator murmured. She didn't know much about Nie Shiyun, but it was common knowledge within the Phoenix clan that Zhai Bairong had arrived in the Upper Realm with only a Deity Transformation cultivation. At that time, even she, an Integration stage cultivator, stood several heads taller than him. How had he become a senior to her in the blink of an eye?
She felt bewildered. Why did it seem as though their cultivation and advancement were as natural as eating and drinking, while she had made no progress for decades? Was there something wrong with her?
The Phoenix Emperor snorted coldly. "Nie Shiyun dabbles in all sorts of messy, distracted arts, yet he could advance to Great Ascension so quickly. Xuan Yang’s talent is so superior; it seems he simply hasn't been practicing diligently. He spends all his days being led astray by that human, which is why his progress is so sluggish."
"Young Master Xuan Yang is already very impressive. He is still young, after all," the female cultivator said, feeling so inferior she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself.
Furthermore, from what she had seen, she didn't think the human was "leading" their young master anywhere. On the contrary, it was their young master who clung to the other like a persistent burr, showing no sense of shame whatsoever.
But she didn't dare say that aloud. She had already lost her bonus; if she didn't watch her tongue, she feared her salary for the next few years would vanish as well.
"Achoo!" Xuan Yang rubbed his arm and let out a boisterous sneeze toward the aisle, his spray reaching a meter away.
Shen Yan moved his body away imperceptibly, his expression of disgust plain to see.
Opposite them, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong were long accustomed to this. They didn't even blink, leisurely sipping their tea.
"Shen Yan, you’re hurting my feelings," Xuan Yang said, realizing his behavior was a bit embarrassing. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth in a clumsy attempt to cover it up, his actions completely contradictory.
Fortunately, there weren't many people in the restaurant. His sneeze hadn't hit anyone else, so the distant customers at least didn't come over to beat him up.
The four of them had reunited just that morning.
The Upper Realm was vast, and finding someone was no easy task. After leaving home, Xuan Yang and Shen Yan had no clear direction. They asked at pharmacies to no avail and then paid a visit to the White Tiger clan.
Xuan Yang’s status was quite useful; the White Tiger clan treated him with great hospitality. They informed him that Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong had sold them Grade Four pills and mentioned that the clan had intended to assist them in their advancement to the Great Ascension stage. However, the two had declined, saying they already had a place in mind, and departed.
Xuan Yang’s eyes rolled as he figured this was just a casual excuse Nie Shiyun had used. The two of them certainly wouldn't go to the Phoenix clan, and they didn't know anyone else in the upper echelons of the Upper Realm. They likely just didn't want to put all their eggs in one basket or let the White Tiger clan feel that they relied on them for everything.
"Oh, I probably know where they went. They might not be in this area anymore," Xuan Yang said casually.
The speaker was careless, but the listener was attentive. Since Xuan Yang and Senior Jin had seemed to be on very good terms last time, the White Tiger clan assumed Nie Shiyun and Senior Jin also shared a solid friendship. In their hearts, Nie Shiyun’s status rose another notch.
After bidding farewell to the White Tiger clan, Xuan Yang and Shen Yan were still uncertain. They heard that Senior Jin had visited the Dragon clan to freeload for a while before quietly departing and disappearing again. Xuan Yang didn't think he would find Nie Shiyun at the Black Tortoise’s manor either, but he decided to try his luck and headed south anyway.
Shen Yan wondered how Xuan Yang expected to find two people among so many towns, vast wildernesses, and high mountains.
As it turned out, Xuan Yang actually found them.
After Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong advanced, their immortal crystals had been completely spent. When they ran out of money, they had to earn it, and Xuan Yang was intimately familiar with their handiwork. By inquiring at trading houses, weapon shops, and pill stores along the way, he was bound to find a trace.
Xuan Yang didn't bother with areas that were too desolate or too bustling. He knew Zhai Bairong liked peace, but Nie Shiyun was the type who found it inconvenient to be too far from a town. Therefore, they usually settled in quiet spots within reach of the bustle.
Shen Yan’s eyelid twitched. He had forgotten—Xuan Yang was a professional at finding people. Back when Shen Yan had been scurrying all over the world, Xuan Yang had somehow managed to dig him out even if he was three feet underground.
It was annoying when it happened to oneself, but quite convenient when looking for others.
Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong hadn't intentionally hidden their tracks, so Xuan Yang smoothly made his way to their new home.
No one was at the cave dwelling. Xuan Yang planned to ask around the nearby town, only to be told that the owner of the dwelling and his partner were often busy and rarely at home. The informant suggested Xuan Yang check the seaside; he might run into them there.
Seeing that they had sold quite a few items along the way, Xuan Yang felt a rare pang of sympathy for them. He knew the wealth required to prepare for the Great Ascension stage was not to be underestimated. After all, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong were currently two people without any background; they had to look after themselves while also establishing the Yunqing Pavilion...
However, this rare moment of "filial piety" vanished the moment he saw them.
By the shore of Fengyu City along the South Sea, Xuan Yang finally found Nie Shiyun. Nie Shiyun was wearing a straw hat and chewing on a twig like a peasant, sitting there fishing.
"You..." Xuan Yang was speechless.
"Shiyun, Xuan Yang and Shen Yan are here." Zhai Bairong heard their footsteps and looked back, showing no surprise. His tone made it sound as if Xuan Yang still lived next door and had just dropped by for a visit.
"Wait, keep your voices down..." Nie Shiyun’s hand jerked, and the fish escaped. He looked regretful as he pulled in his rod. "Yo, you guys are here."
Seeing him turn around and give a lighthearted greeting, Xuan Yang said indignantly, "Don't 'yo' me! I thought you guys were living a hard life after moving to avoid harassment. I rushed all this way to find you, and as expected, I was overthinking it!"
Indeed, how could Nie Shiyun ever live a hard life? Even if the whole world was suffering, Nie Shiyun would find a way to enjoy himself.
Nie Shiyun rubbed his nose and said candidly, "We haven't neglected our cultivation or money-making. This is just a bit of leisure amidst the work."
Xuan Yang looked at Zhai Bairong. If Nie Shiyun fishing could be called leisure, what was Zhai Bairong doing?
He was doing nothing. He just sat there quietly watching Nie Shiyun fish. Whether he was looking at the line, the rod, or simply Nie Shiyun’s face was unclear, but he was certainly focused. This was indeed quite idle.
Xuan Yang huffed twice, noncommittal.
Shen Yan’s interaction with the two was much more normal. He greeted them and noted that this wasn't the place for a conversation.
"Want to come sit at our place?" Nie Shiyun habitually stowed his fishing rod and basket into his spatial storage and made a casual suggestion.
Shen Yan was about to say that as guests, they would naturally follow the hosts' lead. However, before he could speak, he was drowned out by Xuan Yang’s exaggerated voice: "No, no, I don't want to go to your house. I'm hungry. Let's go to a restaurant."
"That works too," Zhai Bairong immediately agreed.
Nie Shiyun nodded to Zhai Bairong. "The usual place then. You three go ahead; I'll drop the fish off at home and then catch up."
Xuan Yang was speechless. It had been several years since they last met, yet he felt they were less important than a basket of fish.
With Zhai Bairong leading the way, the three walked along the small path toward the town. Shen Yan looked at Xuan Yang, his expression seemingly asking: *Why are you so resistant to going to Nie Shiyun’s dwelling? You seem so repulsed—are you really that hungry?*
Xuan Yang, having no filter, saw his meaning and said bluntly, "Didn't we visit them before? This time we came unannounced. Those two definitely haven't cleaned up the inside of the cave. I don't want to see the aftermath of their wanton behavior..."
"If you're hungry, talk less," Zhai Bairong said calmly from the front. He didn't scold him, but he pointedly signaled for him to shut up.
"Did I see any less of it in the past? Now that I'm this age, I really don't want to see it anymore..." Compared to Nie Shiyun, Xuan Yang was still a bit afraid of Zhai Bairong getting angry. His voice grew smaller and smaller until he dared not speak further.
A few seconds later, Shen Yan realized what they were talking about, and his face grew uncharacteristically warm.
In the past, although he understood such matters of passion, he had no personal interest in them and never gave them much thought. But ever since he had been with Xuan Yang, whenever he saw Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong, he couldn't help but associate them with those same activities.
He had lived with the two for a considerable time. Nie Shiyun was quite unconventional in his daily life, but what Zhai Bairong was like in those moments was something an outsider like him could never imagine.
According to Xuan Yang’s descriptions, they had been very "wanton" in private since he was a child—which was when Shen Yan had first met them. By comparison, Xuan Yang considered himself quite restrained. At the time, Shen Yan, who was often so exhausted in bed that he couldn't lift a finger, hadn't thought much of it, but in his heart, he didn't believe it. He felt Xuan Yang was already excessively wanton; otherwise, he wouldn't find himself staring blankly as the sun rose outside.
Zhai Bairong remained silent, and no one could tell what he was thinking.
He led the way with an expressionless face. Hearing Xuan Yang finally shut his mouth, his ears finally stopped burning.
He had said long ago that even if Xuan Yang was small, they should avoid doing certain things around him. Nie Shiyun never took it seriously, feeling that as long as they weren't caught in the act, it wasn't a big deal. Zhai Bairong reflected that since that other world was completely different from this cultivation world, and because he always indulged the other man, he hadn't made too many demands of Nie Shiyun.
Now look at the result—Xuan Yang would remember these things for a long time.
By the time Nie Shiyun arrived at the restaurant, he felt the atmosphere between Zhai Bairong and Shen Yan was a bit awkward. Xuan Yang, on the other hand, was already so hungry that he was snacking on melon seeds while waiting for the food.
He blinked, silently asking Zhai Bairong what was wrong.
Zhai Bairong gave him a helpless glance, signaling "we'll talk when we get back."
Nie Shiyun was slightly stunned. It was a rare sight to receive a look of reproach from Zhai Bairong; this was quite novel. However, he could tell from the look that it wasn't anything serious. Nie Shiyun smiled at him, feeling relieved.
The four of them hadn't met for several years, and all had advanced by one stage in cultivation, which was a joyous occasion worth celebrating. This meal served as a very casual celebratory banquet.
Xuan Yang sneezing because the Phoenix Emperor was grumbling about him behind his back was just a side note. After they had their fill of food and wine, Nie Shiyun began to discuss their future plans.
The White Tiger clan had shown goodwill previously. He had accepted it but hadn't rushed to choose a site for their sect, intending to wait until he had more cultivation to back himself up. The Integration stage was a bit insufficient in the upper echelons, but now that both he and Zhai Bairong had become Great Ascension cultivators, it was justifiable whether they were negotiating business or establishing their own sect.
It had been agreed long ago that many matters would be handled by Xuan Yang and Shen Yan. After Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong emerged from seclusion, they hadn't been in a hurry. They built a small cottage in this pleasant southern climate, vacationing while refining their techniques.
After inquiring about the prices and airs of array masters, Nie Shiyun abandoned the idea of hiring outside help. He knew that repairing the teleportation array would ultimately depend on himself. Thus, last year, he had made a trip to the Middle Realm and visited Madam Shang.
The two had become Great Ascension cultivators in just a few short years, allowing them to stand on equal footing with the main members of the Shang family. Madam Shang was incredibly surprised. Seeing the various pills and treasures they brought as gifts for her, she felt very gratified, saying her eyes truly hadn't deceived her back then.
Logically, several decades had passed since the smithing competition, which wasn't that long. Fortunately, after Ao Fan returned to the Dragon clan, he had been placed under house arrest and didn't dare cause any more trouble, so Nie Shiyun’s past issues had been completely put to rest. He and Zhai Bairong collected a variety of ancient texts in the Middle Realm, revisited old haunts, and then returned to the Upper Realm.
High-level texts were hard to come by, but sometimes high-level arrays or pill formulas could be mastered through accumulated insight or by synthesizing various knowledge. Since it was difficult to find a way to request high-level formulas for the time being, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong had immersed themselves in Grade Three and even Grade Two texts, studying them like hungry wolves. In the end, they benefited immensely.
"It seems you spent a long time studying again..." Xuan Yang said sheepishly. Roughly calculating, Nie Shiyun wasn't actually much younger than those thousand-year-old monsters now.
"You're welcome to join us anytime," Nie Shiyun said warmly.
All of them knew the wonders of the Space; there was no need to state it explicitly.
Xuan Yang politely declined. His backside really couldn't stay glued to a chair. He probably wouldn't be able to work as hard as Nie Shiyun in this lifetime.
***
