Entering the Hantian Secret Realm might have felt somewhat novel at first, but traveling day and night through a world of endless white for several days only served to make one dizzy and bleary-eyed.
The snow falling from the sky never ceased, drifting down in a continuous veil. Nie Shiyun traveled in fits and starts; whenever he spotted a forest or scenery that differed from the flat plains, he would descend from his flying sword to investigate. However, after several identical results, it was inevitable that his spirits would begin to flag.
The Hantian Secret Realm was indeed more perilous than the previous Misty Secret Realm. Each time Nie Shiyun landed to enter a forest, he was met with attacks from Heaven-rank demonic beasts almost every single time. Having already reached the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, he was but a single step away from the Nascent Soul stage, so he naturally did not take these beasts seriously. After a few encounters, he simply summoned Meiqiu to let him practice, so as not to let the bird become a "little flower vase" who possessed cultivation but no combat skill.
During their days of travel, Meiqiu had stabilized at the early Spirit Stage. Dealing with demonic beasts a tier lower than himself was more than manageable. However, he tended to overdo it; the moment he engaged, he would release his Phoenix True Fire with full force, melting all the accumulated snow in a small area into water and revealing the parched earth beneath—soil that perhaps had not seen the light of day for hundreds or even thousands of years. Nie Shiyun hurriedly told him to take it easy; otherwise, they would leave a trail of scorched earth wherever they went. If they actually found the entrance to the treasure site, wouldn't they be leaving a trail of clues for outsiders to follow?
Meiqiu, currently in his avian form, flapped his wings and circled around, grumbling that Nie Shiyun was too fussy. Either he was told to rest quietly, or he was summoned only to be scolded for doing too much.
Nie Shiyun picked up the essence left behind by the dead demonic beast and skillfully tossed it into the Chaos Space.
He wondered if the space's threshold increased the more he cultivated. Ever since Nie Shiyun had used pills to meditatively reach the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, any spiritual treasures or medicinal herbs he threw into the space felt like small pebbles sinking into the vast ocean, yielding no perceptible progress in his cultivation.
Since Meiqiu had cleared a patch of empty ground for him, and having traveled for several days straight, Nie Shiyun sat down to consume a few pills and circulate his spiritual power to recover.
"Someone's coming," Meiqiu, standing on Nie Shiyun's shoulder to keep watch, suddenly called out.
Nie Shiyun's divine sense had already detected someone's approach, but because it was only a Foundation Establishment junior, he hadn't paid it much mind.
"So it is Senior Nie!"
The newcomer approached somewhat cautiously. Upon seeing Nie Shiyun's face clearly, he bowed respectfully.
Nie Shiyun glanced at him. He didn't recognize the man, and judging by his clothing, he wasn't a disciple of the Yunqing Sect. He likely just knew Nie Shiyun from the previous Grand Cultivation Meet.
Sure enough, the man introduced himself—he was a rogue cultivator. Since entering the secret realm, far from finding any opportunities, he had encountered demonic beasts whose cultivation exceeded his own. He had suffered heavy losses and lost his storage bracelet while fleeing for his life. Wandering aimlessly, he had happened upon a Golden Core senior and thus emboldened himself to try and "cling to a powerful thigh."
Nie Shiyun had important matters to attend to and naturally could not bring along a stranger who would only be a burden, so he refused the man immediately. However, seeing the man's sincere attitude, he casually tossed him a bottle containing some spare Fire Yang Pills. As for whether the man could survive, that would depend on his own luck.
"Thank you! Thank you, Senior!" The rogue cultivator hurriedly caught the bottle, and the hope that had been extinguished was rekindled.
Nie Shiyun nodded. By now, his spiritual power was replenished. He summoned his flying sword and vanished in the blink of an eye.
"Hey, you're famous now. Even a random junior you meet on the road knows you," Meiqiu said to Nie Shiyun. Seeing his contracted partner become famous made him feel quite pleased as well.
Nie Shiyun, however, only felt a headache coming on. He hadn't expected that after the Grand Cultivation Meet, he would become as well-known as the protagonist's group, being recognized so easily. After thinking for a moment, he took a Face-Changing Pill and disguised his cultivation to look like a cultivator who had just entered the Golden Core stage. This way, he shouldn't encounter any more people trying to strike up a conversation or curry favor.
This move was indeed effective. Later on the road, he encountered other cultivators once or twice, but when their divine senses swept over him, they did not come over to disturb him. Nie Shiyun was very satisfied with this and continued to wander around in his disguised form.
Nie Shiyun had been somewhat worried that his luck would be poor and that Duan Mingyu would stumble upon the treasure site first. However, with Zhai Bairong gathering information, he heard that Duan Mingyu's luck this time wasn't very good either. He had yet to reunite with the others, which put Nie Shiyun much more at ease.
Shortly after entering the secret realm, Duan Mingyu had indeed encountered several cultivators. But whether it was his "everyone-loves-me" constitution acting up or if he had truly met some lecherous devils, the other party had actually harbored ill intentions toward him.
In the original novel, this would have been impossible. But the current Duan Mingyu was no longer a single-attribute spirit root cultivator, and he had been ruthlessly beaten by Qi Miaohan at the Grand Cultivation Meet, leaving others with the impression that he was a mere "embroidery pillow"—pretty but useless. Passersby who previously had the lust but lacked the courage, seeing him alone, could no longer control their thoughts. According to Zhai Bairong, Duan Mingyu had sent messages through his communication crystals multiple times to ask for help, and since entering the secret realm, he seemed to have been constantly fleeing in a panic, looking quite pathetic and aggrieved.
Zhai Bairong, of course, only offered perfunctory responses and had no intention of seeking him out. Instead, he relayed the information to Nie Shiyun to set his mind at rest.
Thinking about it, these variables were actually caused by the flapping of various butterfly wings after he had intervened in the plot. Nie Shiyun still didn't believe that Duan Mingyu would truly fall into misfortune; this situation was bound to be temporary. He did not become careless because of this, but simply kept the situation in mind.
To his delight, about a month after entering the secret realm, while he was routinely communicating with Zhai Bairong about the scenery he had passed, he mentioned that he had just gone by a large patch of Rhodiola, next to which was a river that had been frozen solid. Zhai Bairong, surprised, told him to stop, saying that he had passed a similar place a few days ago.
Nie Shiyun felt a surge of joy. Although Rhodiola and rivers were not unique to one location, the combination of the two suggested they might not be far from each other.
Zhai Bairong was thankful that no blizzards had blown through these past few days and the weather was relatively clear; he remembered clearly which direction he had come from. Thus, he told Nie Shiyun not to move too far while he hurried back to see if they were talking about the same spot.
Meeting up was also a priority, so Nie Shiyun did not rush. He immediately agreed. Estimating that even if they could truly meet, it would take Zhai Bairong a few days to return, he didn't just wait in place. Instead, he explored within a one-mile radius and killed a few demonic beasts before finding a slightly hidden cedar forest to settle down and rest.
After advancing to the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, his cultivation no longer increased. Although Nie Shiyun was now far ahead of his peers, he still remained vigilant in times of peace, seizing every moment to cultivate. The scene of being pushed into a corner by Xu Yehua during the Grand Cultivation Meet was still fresh in his mind. Now, knowing that Zhai Bairong's situation was difficult, Nie Shiyun had already included the possibility of a future confrontation with a Nascent Soul cultivator in his plans, which required even more cultivation to support.
He cultivated intently for two days when he was suddenly interrupted—Meiqiu emerged from the jade pendant without any warning.
"Why are you..."
Nie Shiyun was about to ask why he had been complaining about wanting to rest a few days ago, only to come rushing out so recklessly now. He looked up and saw that the Meiqiu before him was in the form of a complete human child.
Before leaving Lingtian City, Nie Shiyun had bought a set of clothes for Meiqiu in advance. He had thought it would take at least a year or two before they could be used, but he hadn't expected Meiqiu to actually figure out the secrets of shapeshifting on his own.
"I succeeded! Look!" Meiqiu was wearing a small red Daoist robe, bouncing around joyfully in the snow. Although he had planned to put on a profound and mysterious act while inside the jade pendant, the moment he saw Nie Shiyun's surprised expression upon coming outside, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Nie Shiyun turned Meiqiu over and back again, much like spinning a small top. Indeed, there was no tail showing, nor were there any organs that still looked like a bird or beast; before him was a genuine human appearance.
"Very impressive."
Rarely receiving such straightforward praise, Meiqiu spun around in place with joy. Having obtained a complete human body, the first thing he did was—roll around in the snow. Nie Shiyun's attempt to stop him failed. He watched as Meiqiu's body temperature rose due to over-excitement, melting the snow on the ground where he rolled completely away.
"..."
*Forget it, let him be,* Nie Shiyun thought helplessly.
Suddenly, Nie Shiyun felt a chill of yin energy behind him. He narrowed his eyes, sensing that the newcomers were still some distance away. Thus, he did not alert them but pretended to be completely unaware, continuing to watch Meiqiu play.
Nie Shiyun used his divine sense and discovered that there was more than one person—there were four. The one with the highest cultivation was at the early Golden Core stage, while the other three were Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Nie Shiyun sighed in his heart. If he didn't take the Face-Changing Pill, he would be recognized and pestered by people trying to get close. If he did take it, he would be treated as a soft target by those who didn't know any better. It truly wasn't easy.
This time, Meiqiu was too excited to notice the anomaly and was still running in the snow. Perhaps because Meiqiu was bundled up thickly after shapeshifting, looking like a little ball, he lacked any sense of threat. The enemies didn't even bother to probe his cultivation, assuming it was just a Golden Core cultivator resting with a child who was likely only at the Qi Condensation stage.
"Forgive the offense!"
A sharp sword qi shot straight toward Nie Shiyun's vital point.
"...!" Only then did Meiqiu snap out of it from the snow and look up.
What use was a sneak attack from a Foundation Establishment cultivator against Nie Shiyun? The man's sword qi, laced with killing intent, pierced through a tree trunk. The tall pine tree slowly toppled over, stirring up a circle of "snow dust" that permeated the air with a dull thud as it hit the ground.
"How exactly do you intend to offend me?"
Nie Shiyun's voice appeared behind that cultivator. The man's pupils shrank; not only had his full-strength strike missed, but he hadn't even sensed when the opponent had moved behind him.
"This person... something's wrong!" he immediately shouted as he tried to flee.
"He's just a lone Golden Core cultivator, what are you making such a fuss about?" a somber, gloomy voice rang out. He leaped to Nie Shiyun's side, waving a flag-like magical treasure. Instantly, shrill ghostly wails accompanied by a yin wind emerged from the banner.
With just this one move, Nie Shiyun knew this person must be from the Soul-Summoning Valley. A few years ago, during the conflict between Lingfeng Mountain and the Soul-Summoning Valley, he had gone south to enjoy some peace and quiet, so he had never faced a Soul-Summoning Valley cultivator. He didn't feel any pressure facing this object now; he was just curious and wanted to exchange a few more moves to get a feel for it.
Nie Shiyun waved his sleeve to summon a defensive treasure. He didn't counterattack, allowing the opponent to strike, as he carefully felt the so-called "Soul Refining Technique" unique to the demonic sects. Seeing this, the opposing cultivator showed a smile of impending victory, thinking he had the upper hand.
After a few moves, Nie Shiyun was somewhat disappointed. Not only was his opponent's eyesight poor, but these yin souls were merely the spirits of ordinary people without physical forms; their power felt like a light drizzle to a cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage. The other cultivator, who had failed his initial strike, was trying to flank him, but after failing several times, his swordplay had become erratic from nerves.
From the corner of his eye, Nie Shiyun noticed the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators also holding banners; they were likely also from the Soul-Summoning Valley. One of them intended to seize Meiqiu, but was called out by the Golden Core cultivator: "One person is enough to deal with a child! Come over here and help finish this fellow off quickly!"
Nie Shiyun turned his head to glance over and couldn't help but shed a metaphorical tear for the cultivator assigned to deal with the "child" alone. The Soul-Summoning Valley practiced the refinement and manipulation of souls, which was incredibly sinister, while the Phoenix lineage was a being of extreme Yang, regarded as an auspicious bird. Meiqiu didn't know how to hold back; he wondered how many moves the opponent could block.
"You still have time to worry about your kid? Worry about yourself first!" The Golden Core cultivator from the Soul-Summoning Valley laughed mockingly.
However, he soon found himself unable to laugh.
"Big brother, what... what is that thing!?"
Nie Shiyun summoned the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover. The entirely golden body of the cover was shaped like a large bell, and the traveling dragons coiled upon it spat out refined fire as spiritual power was injected. Anyone could see that this was a top-tier, first-grade spiritual tool.
The leading Golden Core cultivator looked at Nie Shiyun in shock and suspicion. "How can you use such a top-quality magical treasure!?"
Hiding one's true strength was only necessary before a threatening opponent. These people wouldn't survive the day, so it didn't matter if they saw. Nie Shiyun no longer hid his cultivation, releasing the spiritual sense of the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage. The people opposite him were naturally struck with terror and regret, turning around in a hurry to escape.
Using the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover for the first time in earnest, it felt much more effortless than when he had first obtained it. If he advanced to the Nascent Soul stage in the future, it would surely be even more natural to use.
The Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover flew before the Soul-Summoning Valley Foundation Establishment cultivator, covering him with the speed of a thunderbolt and killing him easily, his body turning to ash.
The other two turned pale, realizing they couldn't run. They immediately began to beg for mercy, saying Nie Shiyun could have whatever he wanted and that they would offer up everything in their storage spaces.
"I want that banner in your hand," Nie Shiyun said. He had never refined or repaired a banner before and was quite curious.
"It's yours, it's yours." The cultivator immediately put down the magical treasure.
Nie Shiyun said in surprise, "I will take it myself, of course. There's no need for you to go to such trouble."
The man gritted his teeth, realizing that Nie Shiyun had no intention of letting him go. In a desperate struggle to escape, he pulled his sword-wielding companion in front of him to block Nie Shiyun and leaped onto his flying sword in a pathetic state.
As he turned, he saw that on the other side they had forgotten, the "Qi Condensation child" was brushing off his sleeves while his other lackey was howling in a raging fire. Before he could even figure out how it had all happened, his vision went black. Though his surroundings were scorching hot, a chill rose from his heart, and he was completely obliterated just like his subordinate.
The last person could no longer even move, standing frozen in place. Seeing Nie Shiyun turn toward him, he explained frantically, "I—I'm not with them! These demonic cultivators from the Soul-Summoning Valley forced me. I had no choice but to pretend to be with them. I—I am a cultivator from the Yingyue Sect... Ah!"
The man suddenly let out a sharp cry.
Nie Shiyun was startled. Sensing something, he turned his head.
"You say you are a cultivator from the Yingyue Sect." Zhai Bairong descended from his flying sword, walking over unhurriedly.
"Senior Brother Zhai! Quick, save me, I'm being framed by this person..."
The cultivator showed a look of wild joy, just about to twist the truth and bite back at Nie Shiyun, when his body, which was rushing forward, suddenly stiffened. He looked down and saw, with a dazed expression, that what had pierced through his chest was none other than Zhai Bairong's Star-Moon Spirit Wood Sword.
He slowly sank to his knees, his face still wearing a look of disbelief until the moment of death.
"Am I really that easy to recognize?" Nie Shiyun said helplessly. He was still in his disguised state from the Face-Changing Pill.
"You've brought out the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover. How could I not recognize you?"
Zhai Bairong smiled, his expression full of gentleness, completely devoid of the cold, decisive aura he had shown when striking just now.
***
