Yunqing Pavilion did not have as many members as the major sects, but this proved to be an advantage when it came to traveling light. While others were still busy conducting headcounts, Yunqing Pavilion had already set out on their return journey.
After nearly three and a half years, Nie Shiyun returned to the long-absent peaks of Yunqing Pavilion.
Having already learned through communication crystals that every disciple had returned safely and unharmed, the members of the sect had come out early to greet them. Even the Sect Leader, Nie Mingde, who rarely made public appearances, waited with a face full of joy.
"It is good that everyone has returned safely."
Nie Xing'an breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the familiar faces he hadn't seen in three years.
Nie Li couldn't help but step forward, patting Nie Shiyun on the shoulder with a look of profound emotion. "During the previous Great Cultivation Meet, you made a name for Yunqing Pavilion. I expect the number of cultivators seeking you out for artifact forging will soon catch up to mine!"
Nie Shiyun smiled. "I still have a long way to go."
"Always so modest," Nie Li laughed until his eyes crinkled. He wasn't just praising his own child out of bias; for a cultivator with dual spiritual roots to reach the Golden Core stage before the skeletal age of forty was remarkable, and his artifact-forging skills were arguably the best among his peers. It would be difficult for anyone *not* to praise him.
Yunqing Pavilion shed its usual tranquility to hold a welcome-back banquet for the returning cultivators. It also served as an opportunity for everyone to share information regarding the secret realm with the sect.
At the celebratory feast, Nie Xing'an first accompanied the Sect Leader to chat with the disciples. Once the atmosphere had warmed up, he quietly slipped away from the crowd and approached Nie Shiyun, who was sitting alone, resting and eating.
"Cousin, I assume everything went smoothly?"
"More or less," Nie Shiyun nodded with a smile.
Nie Xing'an noticed a black mass on the empty chair next to Nie Shiyun. Looking closer, he saw it was the spirit pet Nie Shiyun had revealed once during the Great Cultivation Meet. At the moment, it was holding a braised pork hock and devouring it greedily.
"This little fellow likes eating spiritual food?" Nie Xing'an asked, slightly surprised. Generally, spirit pets preferred medicinal herbs or crystals rich in spiritual energy. While spiritual food contained energy, it was usually a negligible amount.
"He is... a bit special," Nie Shiyun could only explain it that way. Furthermore, while Qi Xuan'er and Qi Miaohan already knew that Meiqiu could take human form, Nie Xing'an did not. He considered finding an opportunity to inform him.
"I don't know if I'm overthinking it, but Junior Sister Qi Xuan'er and Du Zhi... are they...?" Nie Xing'an cleared his throat and asked tactfully.
Nie Shiyun wore an "as expected" expression. "You noticed? It truly couldn't be more obvious. However, those two are still young and easily embarrassed. Let's wait for them to go public on their own."
Nie Xing'an nodded. "You're right. Though, perhaps in a few days, even Father and the others will be able to tell."
Indeed. Nie Shiyun looked at the two in the distance, interacting intimately and blushing from time to time. Unless Nie Li and the others were blind, how could any observant person fail to see it?
The two sat together and discussed topics common among peers, chatting about the recent state of Yunqing Pavilion. Nie Xing'an mentioned that since the Great Cultivation Meet, the sect's reputation had grown significantly. The number of cultivators from other sects paying visits had increased, as had the number of disciples wishing to join. However, his father had not recruited everyone indiscriminately; he still screened them carefully as before, ensuring they were suitable talents before accepting them.
Despite this, the sect had expanded considerably. Overall, Yunqing Pavilion was in an upward phase, flourishing.
"We were used to the quiet. Suddenly gaining a bit of fame feels a little unfamiliar," Nie Xing'an laughed. "Of course, Father and the others are happy nonetheless. Though they never say it aloud, no one wants the family legacy to end with our generation."
Nie Shiyun sipped his spiritual wine, nodding slowly. After a moment, something occurred to him, and he said, "In that case, perhaps our Yunqing Pavilion is about to become even more lively."
Nie Xing'an was stunned and turned his head. "How so?"
Nie Shiyun set down his wine cup and said in a low voice, "I haven't mentioned this to Father and the others yet. But once I finish handling the matters at hand, I will enter seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage."
Hearing this, Nie Xing'an was both shocked and delighted. He knew that while Nie Shiyun often performed extraordinary feats, he would not take risks lightly. Since he intended to enter seclusion for a breakthrough, it meant he was ninety-nine percent certain of success. Thinking back to the return from the Misty Secret Realm, he had personally witnessed this cousin advance to the Golden Core stage within the sect. Now, only a few years later, the man was already about to form his Nascent Soul. His cultivation efficiency was truly unlike ordinary people.
"Then I shall congratulate you in advance and wish you every success."
Nie Shiyun nodded his thanks.
That night, Yunqing Pavilion was exceptionally lively. Meiqiu finally got to eat his fill to his heart's content before lazily crawling back into the jade pendant to rest. By the time the disciples gradually dispersed and returned to their respective quarters, the night was deep. Nie Shiyun looked up at the bright moon in the sky, feeling the gentle, cool breeze around him was very comfortable. Although he had gradually grown accustomed to living in the secret realm, three years of bitter winter had been quite an ordeal.
He returned to the courtyard he hadn't entered in a long time, finding the rooms as clean and tidy as when he had left. Likely, Nie Li had ordered people to clean it regularly. Nie Shiyun sat on the edge of the bed, feeling a slight pang of guilt as he recalled the gratified look in Nie Li's eyes upon his return.
He had no parents in his original world, so he didn't find it awkward to call Nie Li "Father." Conversely, he had replaced Nie Li's original son, "Nie Shiyun," and was enjoying the affection of this old father who doted on his child with all his heart—of course, this was a secret he would never reveal until the day he died.
Although he could be said to have brought glory to the sect through his cultivation, the time he spent with Nie Li was pitifully short. Since arriving in the cultivation world, he had entered the Misty Secret Realm shortly after, then traveled alone to Flower City. He hadn't rested for more than a few days after returning before rushing off to the Great Cultivation Meet, and then entered the Cold Sky Secret Realm without even returning home...
Nie Shiyun made a silent resolution in his heart: once everything stabilized, he would stay at Yunqing Pavilion for a long period.
After resting for a short while, he got up and headed to Nie Li's residence.
Seeing that Nie Shiyun had made a special point to visit right after his return, Nie Li was naturally comforted. The two brewed tea and sat in the room chatting about everything under the sun. Nie Shiyun recounted his experiences of opening a shop in the secret realm. As Nie Li listened, he felt proud of Nie Shiyun's shrewdness and capability, yet also a bit amused—why did this child of his love doing business so much?
"By the way," Nie Shiyun cleared his throat, "Father, I also came to report that I have a Dao companion."
Nie Li wasn't surprised. Nie Shiyun's cultivation was currently at the forefront of his peers, and he was a master at forging and making money; those wishing to throw themselves at him probably already formed a line from the sect gates to the bottom of the mountain. However, in his eyes as a father, ever since Nie Shiyun had blindly fallen for Duan Mingyu that one time, he seemed to have lost much interest in matters of love. He wondered which sect's cultivator had caught his eye.
Seeing Nie Li's questioning gaze, Nie Shiyun hesitated for a moment but decided to announce it later. "The situation is actually a bit complicated. It's better to wait until he can visit next time, and then I'll bring him over to introduce him to you."
In recent years, Nie Shiyun had always been sensible in his actions. Nie Li was at ease and nodded his agreement.
He thought this was the most important matter Nie Shiyun had come for, but unexpectedly, a bombshell was immediately dropped on him.
"Father. I have one more thing I wish to ask."
Seeing Nie Shiyun's expression turn serious, Nie Li couldn't help but hold his breath.
Seeing Nie Li signal for him to continue, Nie Shiyun said solemnly, "During this trip to the secret realm, I obtained something. It is of great importance. I ask Father to set up a barrier to prevent eavesdropping."
Though Nie Li didn't know what could possibly make Nie Shiyun so cautious within his own sect, he did as requested.
Seeing him take it seriously, Nie Shiyun felt relieved. He actually had a rough idea of where the sect's secret manuals were kept based on the original story. After all, at the very beginning of the tale, Duan Mingyu had accidentally stumbled into Yunqing Pavilion's forbidden grounds. Due to his Heavenly Yin Physique and good memory, he had memorized a forging manual that he didn't understand at the time, later informing the blacksmith in his harem, Du Zhi.
But if one didn't count his unexpected feelings for Zhai Bairong, the person Nie Shiyun trusted most in the cultivation world was Nie Li.
He didn't want to leave any hidden dangers that might cause his own family at Yunqing Pavilion to misunderstand. On the other hand, he also wanted to probe a bit; in the original novel, the news that Yunqing Pavilion possessed a manual for immortal artifacts had leaked, eventually leading to the sect's massacre. With Nie Shiyun here in this life, he would certainly not let that happen.
"Speak," Nie Li said.
Sitting opposite him, Nie Shiyun took a deep breath and asked, "Does our sect possess any records or texts on how to repair immortal artifacts?"
"..."
Nie Li was stunned for a long time, his eyes widening. Even within the layers of barriers, he instinctively lowered his voice. "Shiyun. You couldn't have... obtained an immortal artifact..."
Nie Shiyun was silent for a moment before giving a small nod.
Nie Li's first reaction was that Nie Shiyun was mistaken. No immortal artifact had appeared in the world for over a thousand years; how could he have obtained one? But Nie Shiyun didn't look like he was faking, and Nie Li understood his current level of artifact forging, so he naturally didn't dare treat it as a joke.
Nie Shiyun took out the immortal robe. Only then, under the weight of the shock and after a brief inspection, did Nie Li hurriedly tell Nie Shiyun to put it away.
"Never, never take it out again! Do you understand?" Nie Li looked even more nervous than Nie Shiyun himself. "Also, this matter must absolutely not be told to anyone. One must always be wary of others. Not just outsiders—even your cousin and your uncle must be kept in the dark."
"I understand."
Although Zhai Bairong knew, Nie Li was unaware of the complexities between Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong. Nie Shiyun felt that explaining the situation now would only cause more confusion, so he kept the fact that Zhai Bairong was also in the know a secret.
"The kind of text you mentioned... our sect does indeed have it. It's just that the manual requires a Deity Transformation cultivation to comprehend. Our sect hasn't had an ancestor at the Deity Transformation stage for a long time, let alone any cultivators with the wild ambition to ascend. That item has been shelved for hundreds of years," Nie Li finally calmed down and explained to Nie Shiyun. "You can take it and slowly gain enlightenment from it. Just be sure to keep it safe."
Nie Shiyun was startled. He only wanted to see the remnant first and, based on the warnings from the original story, have the sect strengthen its security. He hadn't expected Nie Li to want to hand the item directly to him for safekeeping.
If it were on his person and something happened—if it were lost or exposed to outsiders—the blame would fall on Nie Li. Although he knew Nie Li had doted on his child in the original story to the point of the original host being spoiled beyond reason, Nie Shiyun couldn't help but marvel at how this indulgence was somewhat lacking in principle.
Nie Shiyun declined Nie Li's kindness, saying he only needed to inspect it once and record its contents into his divine sense to ponder later. If he truly took it out, he would instead have to live in fear every day.
Nie Li felt what he said made sense and agreed, saying he would make arrangements in a couple of days for Shiyun to accompany him to see it.
Having reported two major events in a row, Nie Li's old heart was feeling a bit strained. He intended to take a few sips of tea to calm his nerves, only to hear Nie Shiyun continue: "There is one more thing. Actually, I felt some time ago that I had reached the stage where I could attempt to form my Nascent Soul, but I didn't dare to be overconfident while in the secret realm. Now that I've returned to Yunqing Pavilion, I must trouble Father and Uncle to protect my dharma during the process."
"Cough, cough cough..." Nie Li didn't manage to swallow his tea and nearly choked.
"Take it slow," Nie Shiyun said with concern.
"You are indeed at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, but isn't this a bit too fast? Advancing to the Nascent Soul stage cannot be rushed. You are still so young; it would be more secure to stabilize for a few more years and do it all at once when you are certain."
Nie Shiyun smiled wryly. "I reached the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage several years ago. I have been stabilizing my cultivation all along, and I also had the opportunity to temper my body in the secret realm... It sounds a bit immodest, but I am actually ninety-nine percent certain of the advancement. I only need the sect's protection to provide that final bit of support."
Seeing Nie Li dumbfounded, Nie Shiyun added sincerely, "I will not take risks. Father, you needn't worry."
After a long while, Nie Li nodded. Since Nie Shiyun had spoken with such confidence, he was naturally at ease. It was just that he had learned too much news in one night and hadn't quite processed it all. Nie Li had always believed that Nie Shiyun would surpass his predecessors, but he hadn't expected this day to come so quickly. Soon, his son would be so successful that he would feel inferior by comparison.
***
