Storing their clothes in their storage bracelets and tying only a simple cloth around their waists, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong stepped into the spiritual spring together. The hot spring was a milky cyan-white, likely due to the sulfur content, and thick with rising steam. Even from the shore, one could hardly see anything clearly. Nevertheless, since there were others in the surrounding small pools, the two maintained a modicum of decorum.
As they approached the spring, they had already sensed that the density of spiritual energy was extraordinary. The moment they submerged themselves, Nie Shiyun felt a numbing tingle surge through his body, as if a light electric current were passing through him. While spiritual energy poured into his frame, there was also a subtle effect of body tempering.
No wonder Meiqiu had been yelping when he first jumped in; he shouldn't have been particularly afraid of the heat. Nie Shiyun reckoned the little fool had simply confused this peculiar tingling sensation with the heat.
However, this sensation was only particularly uncomfortable upon first entering the water. After soaking for a while, the body gradually adjusted. Instead, the tempering effect began to feel quite refreshing.
"Shiyun, in a few more years, after we leave the secret realm, you should be able to attempt the breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, right?"
Nie Shiyun gave a soft "mm" in affirmation. "Earlier, I felt as though my cultivation had hit a bottleneck. But strangely enough, ever since the illusion, it feels as if a lid has been nudged open. I can feel my cultivation rising again."
Zhai Bairong looked surprised. "I actually have a similar feeling."
The two looked at each other, both having assumed they were the only ones who had reaped such a benefit.
An illusion itself did not possess the property of boosting cultivation. On the contrary, many illusions were prone to throwing a cultivator’s Dao heart into chaos, which was detrimental to their progress. However, while the illusion array set by that ancient cultivator had been difficult to break, it held no malice. Nie Shiyun had journeyed back to the era where he had once grown up and ultimately relied on his own will to return to reality. It could be said that he had personally and thoroughly severed his ties to his "past life," making his Dao heart clearer than ever before.
As for Zhai Bairong, because the memories of the array’s master had been poured into his mind, he had indirectly witnessed a completely different world. His horizons had expanded to a degree far beyond what they were before. Although he hadn't gained as much as Nie Shiyun, he had still attained a level of enlightenment, causing his cultivation to rise accordingly.
"To have such a bizarre experience... there is surely no second person in this world like you. Before, I thought ascending to the Upper Realm was nothing but a pipe dream, but after seeing the place where you used to live, the Upper Realm doesn't seem like much anymore." Zhai Bairong was currently soaking in the spring water. As he leaned closer, the mist swirled around him, and his wet hair clung to the sides of his face. Though he was speaking very seriously, he looked a bit less solemn than usual.
"If your sect’s ancestor heard that, he’d probably be so angry he’d pass away in meditation on the spot," Nie Shiyun joked, moving closer to Zhai Bairong. Beneath the scalding spring water, their arms pressed tightly together. Although their conversation was shielded from the distant cultivators, Nie Shiyun quite enjoyed this atmosphere of leaning in to whisper secrets.
Zhai Bairong remembered something and pulled the drifting topic back. "Let's not get sidetracked. You must have felt it too—this hot spring has a body-tempering effect. Although most cultivators in the cultivation world don't care much for the physical body, you will have to face a tribulation to advance to the Nascent Soul stage later. You should take this opportunity to strengthen your physique; it will make things go more smoothly when the time comes."
Nie Shiyun recalled the heavenly tribulation he faced when reaching the Golden Core stage—the one that seemed intent on striking him dead inside his own room—and felt a mix of emotions. Now that he possessed the fragments of an immortal tool and his cultivation was actually leading the characters from the original book, putting him on the verge of becoming a Nascent Soul first, he didn't believe for a second that the heavens would let him off easily. The heavenly lightning would only be more ferocious than last time.
"That’s true. If I were to face it head-on, even if I stayed in this pool for a year or two, I’d likely still be in grave danger. However, I have my ways of cheating. As long as I can withstand a single bolt of lightning..." Nie Shiyun whispered into Zhai Bairong’s ear.
The heat of the spring made the tips of Zhai Bairong’s ears flush red. Moisture condensed into droplets that slid down his earlobes, only to be blown by the breath of Nie Shiyun’s words, dripping back into the pool.
Hearing Nie Shiyun describe how menacing the previous lightning tribulation had been, as if it were determined to kill him, Zhai Bairong felt a surge of panic in his heart despite knowing the other had a countermeasure.
"When you undergo the tribulation, it will likely be within the Cloud Clear Pavilion, right?"
Nie Shiyun nodded; that was his intention. Forming a Nascent Soul was a major event. Although the group from Cloud Clear Pavilion and Zhai Bairong could protect him within the secret realm, it was ultimately safer to return home and rely on Nie Li and his uncle.
"Then I won't be able to go..." Zhai Bairong said with a hint of regret.
"What? What!" Meiqiu came splashing over from a distance. Unlike the two men who still had cloths wrapped around their waists, if one looked from afar, they would see the bare bottom of a three-to-five-year-old child floating on the water's surface.
"We were saying that after this secret realm expedition ends, I’ll be returning to the Cloud Clear Pavilion for secluded cultivation to break through to the Nascent Soul stage."
"Cloud Clear Pavilion! I have some vague memories from when I was still in the egg, but it was only of your room..." Meiqiu reminisced, but he couldn't think of anything special.
"You might not necessarily like it. It's quite quiet there, and most of the disciples are honest people who only care about burying their heads in their work. But everyone is very kind. Also, there's a small town at the foot of the mountain; it's small but has everything you need. The spiritual food at the taverns there is delicious." Nie Shiyun hadn't been back for several months and missed it somewhat, describing it as he recalled.
"Spiritual food..." Meiqiu repeated with a longing gaze, as if he had only heard that one keyword.
The two knew Meiqiu was craving good food. Ever since he hatched, he had been eating and drinking his fill in Lingtian City. After entering the Cold Heaven Secret Realm, where would he find a tavern to buy food? It was hard to go from luxury to frugality; Meiqiu had spent this past month dreaming of braised trotters and ribs.
Nie Shiyun patted his wet head and promised that if there was a chance, he would hunt a few wild beasts in the wilderness and roast them for him.
The three of them soaked in the hot spring for several days, absorbing spiritual energy while meditating on the spot, until Qi Xuan’er and the others finally arrived.
Although the main purpose of coming to the Hot Spring Valley was to soak in the spiritual spring, the group consisted of both men and women. Nie Shiyun felt it wouldn't be appropriate to have everyone jump into the pool together to talk. Thus, he and Zhai Bairong put on their clothes and went ashore to speak in a nearby clearing.
"This is...?" Qi Xuan’er looked toward Zhai Bairong.
Almost forgetting he was still wearing a Disguise Pill, Zhai Bairong greeted the three in his normal voice. "It’s me. Fellow Daoists, it has been a long time."
Qi Miaohan had already been informed that she had fallen behind in the fight against Duan Mingyu’s group and had to be rescued by her younger sister, who was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. She felt quite embarrassed. Especially since returning to this place stirred up unpleasant memories, she appeared somewhat listless, merely greeting Zhai Bairong calmly.
The cultivators in the other pools sensed more people arriving from a distance and didn't think much of it at first. But when they saw a senior like Nie Shiyun go out to greet them, and then looked closer—good heavens, wasn't that Qi Miaohan of the Pinyin Pavilion? The male cultivators didn't dare stay and share the Hot Spring Valley with female cultivators. They quickly gathered their things and hurried away. They all planned to wander elsewhere for a while before coming back.
"Eh? Why is everyone leaving? There are only five of us, and there are so many pools here," Du Zhi asked in confusion as he watched the group of cultivators depart all at once as if they had planned it.
Qi Xuan’er said softly, "Perhaps they saw female cultivators arriving and wanted to avoid suspicion. I feel a bit bad for them..."
Du Zhi gave an "oh," and only after a few seconds did he snap out of it. They were here to soak in the spiritual spring! That meant they had to undress...
"Ah, ah, then indeed, it's better that they left," Du Zhi said, his face turning bright red.
"Why is there a child there? Is such a small child alone in this secret realm?" Qi Xuan’er’s sharp eyes spotted a toddler in the large central spring. Only his head was visible, and his face was flushed red from the heat. He looked very young, and she couldn't help but be surprised.
"Ah, that," Nie Shiyun didn't know how to explain and said vaguely, "He's with us."
Qi Xuan’er’s eyes widened. "Is he with you and Senior Brother Zhai?"
"You could say that."
Hearing Nie Shiyun say this, Qi Miaohan was stunned, her gaze darting back and forth between Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong. "Wh-when... no, I should ask, how did you manage that..."
"Stop right there. Nothing that ridiculous is happening," Nie Shiyun helplessly cut off her unrealistic imagination.
"Such a familiar aura. That child has a very friendly scent. It's like... like the feeling back in the Demon Race," Du Zhi sniffed with his nose and frowned.
"Fine, I'll just tell you the truth."
Nie Shiyun sighed. Meiqiu had previously said that Du Zhi couldn't hide his demonic qi well. Right now, Meiqiu was just frolicking in the pool, and his level of discretion was about the same.
After a brief explanation, the group approached the pool. Meiqiu was in a great mood when he heard Nie Shiyun was going to introduce him to his fellow disciples. Since his birth, he had only interacted with Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong. As a hatchling, he was still full of curiosity toward humans. He immediately swam cheerfully to the edge of the pool and looked up at them inquisitively.
"He's actually that crow spirit pet that saved you at the Great Cultivation Meet, Senior Brother?" Qi Xuan’er gasped, covering her mouth.
"Who's a crow! I'm a—glub glub glub—"
Nie Shiyun was quick with his hands, pushing Meiqiu down and pressing half his face into the water. "That's right. He can already transform, so don't call him a crow while he's in human form."
"My apologies," Qi Xuan’er nodded politely.
Meiqiu glared indignantly at Nie Shiyun, while Zhai Bairong gave him a look that suggested he should "just bear with it," not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
With no outsiders around, everyone stopped being so cautious. They gathered and chatted as they usually did. Qi Miaohan’s listless mood improved slightly through the conversation. Neither Nie Shiyun nor Zhai Bairong mentioned Duan Mingyu’s group for the time being, which made her feel much better. Du Zhi was especially excited to encounter another demon cultivator in human form after so long, and he and Meiqiu became fast friends within a few sentences.
"Traveling lately has been exhausting! Xuan’er and I are going to that pool over there. You lot better not peek!" Qi Miaohan finally regained her usual tone.
"Sister, they aren't that kind of people," Qi Xuan’er poked her helplessly.
Du Zhi hurriedly waved his hands in agreement. "Right, right, I won't! Miss Xuan’er, please rest assured."
Nie Shiyun waved them off. "You're overthinking it. Aside from the fact that my Dao companion is right here, why would I be interested in women?"
Zhai Bairong cleared his throat softly, not joining their conversation.
*Right, the one next to him is also a 'cut sleeve.'* Qi Miaohan had just said it in passing, but thinking about it now, the concentration of "cut sleeves" among the people she knew was simply too high. She really didn't know whether to be happy or worried.
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Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 80 | Tempering in the Spiritual Spring | Novela.app | Novela.app
