Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 98 | A New Nascent Soul's Visitors | Novela.app

After forming his Nascent Soul, Nie Shiyun spent a month resting quietly in his cave dwelling in the back mountain, tidying up the space. During this time, he first further stabilized his cultivation. Secondly, he spent a considerable amount of time repairing the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover, which had been battered and scarred by the lightning tribulation. After ascending to the Nascent Soul stage, Nie Shiyun clearly felt that his artifact-refining skills, which had been hovering at the same level for a long time, had also made a breakthrough. After some meticulous refining, the quality of the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover actually improved rather than diminished, much to his pleasant surprise. Meiqiu also gradually mastered the intensity of the Phoenix Essence Fire. He accompanied Nie Shiyun, treating it as practice, and helped refine some miscellaneous defensive magical tools. Although they wouldn't be needed for the time being, Nie Shiyun felt a bit empty after his years of accumulated belongings had vanished in a puff of smoke during the tribulation. He decided to prepare some stock just in case. In the cultivation world, many cultivators lived with nothing but the clothes on their backs year-round. Someone like Nie Shiyun, who desperately hoarded goods in his storage bracelet, was a rare exception. A month was enough time for news in the cultivation world to reach the ends of the earth. In truth, back during the Great Cultivation Meet, many sects had already turned their eyes toward Nie Shiyun. However, no one expected that Nie Shiyun, who was still at the Golden Core stage then, would enter the Hantian Secret Realm and, within a month of returning to Yunqing Pavilion, successfully transition into a Nascent Soul. The situation of the Yunqing Pavilion sect was somewhat unique. While it wasn't considered a major sect, many cultivators frequently did business with them and dared not slight them. However, to say that people held Yunqing Pavilion in high regard would also be inaccurate. Nie Mingde and Nie Li, the two Nascent Soul cultivators, rarely appeared in the public eye, and their cultivation progress after reaching the Nascent Soul stage had been mediocre. Most of the younger disciples were hardworking but unremarkable. If one had to describe the state of Yunqing Pavilion in recent years, it would be "stagnant." However, some keen individuals realized that the situation was likely about to change. Yunqing Pavilion did not have particularly close ties with any of the four major sects and was a family of artifact refiners; this was perhaps a perfect opportunity to establish good relations. It was normal for a cultivator to remain in seclusion for several months to recover after a breakthrough. Nie Shiyun enjoyed the peace of the back mountain cave, but the front mountain's threshold had long since been worn down by visiting cultivators. Nie Mingde instructed Nie Xing'an to handle these matters on his behalf, and so Nie Xing'an began a life of busy coordination. "Senior Brother, we've come to see you." Qi Xuan'er knocked on the door of the cave dwelling. Du Zhi had come to visit along with her. They had originally worried about disturbing Nie Shiyun, but Nie Li told them that Nie Shiyun wasn't truly in seclusion but merely resting in the back mountain, so the two of them came to visit. "Come in." Du Zhi happily sized up the now-ascended Nie Shiyun and said, "As expected of Senior Nie! Honestly, even from a distance, I was stunned by the lightning tribulation you crossed. Are you really alright?" Nie Shiyun smiled and invited him and Qi Xuan'er to sit down. "I've mostly recovered. I didn't pay much attention to the outside situation while in the cave. Was the lightning tribulation really that imposing when seen from the front mountain?" "Imposing doesn't even cover it! It looked... it looked like it was going to split our entire mountain in half!" Du Zhi patted his chest, still feeling a lingering fear. Qi Xuan'er nodded. "Although the commotion when Senior Brother reached the Golden Core stage was extraordinary, everyone was still frightened this time. Fortunately, everything went smoothly." "It's just my fate; I can't escape it. Don't worry, it certainly won't be this terrifying when you two advance," Nie Shiyun said with a wry smile. The few of them sat and talked for a while. When they mentioned that Nie Xing'an was working around the clock, Nie Shiyun couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for his cousin. However, Qi Xuan'er said that Nie Xing'an didn't seem to find it tedious. He patiently socialized with everyone and kept the gift lists neatly organized. She heard he had even verbally settled several large business deals during this period. It was no wonder both her master and the Pavilion Master said he was steady and capable of handling responsibilities. "My cousin has always been reliable in his work," Nie Shiyun nodded. Speaking of the cultivators who had been visiting the front mountain one after another, Du Zhi showed a look of novelty. "So many people have really come! Although it's not a sea of people like the Great Cultivation Meet, the stream of visiting cultivators hasn't stopped. Senior Nie is famous now." "You don't need to envy me. I believe it won't be long before you also reach the Nascent Soul stage." Nie Shiyun wasn't just flattering him. Although Du Zhi had benefited from Duan Mingyu's protagonist halo in the original book, his own innate qualities were there; otherwise, he wouldn't have become a member of the harem. Now, his cultivation speed might be a bit slower than in the original story, but reaching the Nascent Soul stage was only a matter of time. Looking across the juniors in the sect, Nie Shiyun hadn't seen many great prospects. As for those who would join Yunqing Pavilion in the future, he didn't have the energy to check each person's character. Looking around, the most reliable junior in the sect after himself was Du Zhi. Although Du Zhi had only recently arrived at Yunqing Pavilion, his heart was tied to Qi Xuan'er, and he liked the friendly atmosphere among the people here, giving him a strong sense of belonging. "Then I'll take your auspicious words to heart!" Du Zhi chuckled and scratched his head, not bothering with false modesty. "Pinyin Pavilion has also sent people," Qi Xuan'er said, covering her mouth with a smile. "But they have a longer journey. My sister said she specifically stuffed many small gifts into the hands of the visiting cultivators, considering them her personal gifts to you." Nie Shiyun was somewhat surprised. Qi Miaohan actually didn't use this as an excuse to come and have some fun? Hearing his confusion, Qi Xuan'er also showed a puzzled expression. "Indeed, I heard that Sister went into seclusion as soon as she returned this time. Your breakthrough was so loud that she specifically came out once she heard, just to send you gifts. But after sending me a message to congratulate you, she went right back into seclusion." "The sun must be rising from the west," Nie Shiyun remarked, quite amazed. He hadn't expected Qi Miaohan to truly settle her temperament and devote herself to cultivation. He wondered if the two brushes with danger in the secret realm had brought her significant psychological pressure. The people from Pinyin Pavilion were still on their way. Nie Shiyun hadn't expected the four major sects to give him such face. Once Pinyin Pavilion arrived, he certainly couldn't keep hiding in the back mountain for peace; he would have to personally receive them to show his sincerity. Nie Shiyun recalled that shortly after he finished his advancement, he had sent word to Zhai Bairong. The other party had quickly replied with congratulations but mentioned nothing else. Nie Shiyun didn't know what the situation was on that end, so he didn't ask much, waiting for Zhai Bairong to handle his own affairs before taking the initiative to contact him. Two months after his advancement, Nie Shiyun finally ended his seclusion and returned to the sect in the front mountain. Nie Xing'an had only found time to visit him once before, and after a brief congratulation, he had been busy to the point of exhaustion in the front mountain. Now, seeing the man himself finally coming to share the workload, he let out a long sigh of relief. "I've troubled you, Cousin," Nie Shiyun said gratefully. "It's no big deal. Most of the sect's affairs have gradually been handed over to me over the years anyway," Nie Xing'an shook his head and continued, "But it is time for you to make an appearance. I don't know if Junior Sister Xuan'er and the others told you, but three of the four major sects have made moves. They might arrive in the next few days. It would seem a bit disrespectful if you didn't show yourself." "Oh? Qi Miaohan contacted her, that I know. Who are the other two?" Nie Shiyun asked. "Yingyue Sect and Chiyan Cliff," Nie Xing'an said. Nie Shiyun was stunned. He had thought Chiyan Cliff was the least likely to make a move. Nie Xing'an said helplessly, "After what happened before, my father and I don't have a good impression of Chiyan Cliff. But their position is what it is, and we can't afford to let them lose too much face." Seeing Nie Xing'an's troubled expression, Nie Shiyun comforted him in turn. "I understand that. Don't worry, I'm not actually angry about that incident. We'll just receive them normally when the time comes." About three to five days later, the people from Chiyan Cliff arrived. Regardless of the distance, it was unexpected that Chiyan Cliff would be the first to arrive. As Nie Shiyun had said before, he had to give them some face, so he naturally went to greet them in person. Nie Shiyun had put himself in Chiyan Cliff's shoes and understood their reasoning to some extent. Previously, Xu Yehua had offended him at the Great Cultivation Meet. Chiyan Cliff had only scolded Xu Yehua because they felt he had embarrassed the sect; it had nothing to do with Nie Shiyun himself. But the situation was different now. Among the younger generation, Nie Shiyun was actually the first to reach the Nascent Soul stage. His status was no longer the same. While becoming close friends was impossible, Chiyan Cliff perhaps wanted to use this opportunity to formally apologize to Nie Shiyun. Regardless of what they thought privately, they at least made a full show of it on the surface. Just as he expected, the congratulatory gifts Chiyan Cliff sent were quite generous in quantity, but there was nothing truly precious. The lead cultivator of the visit was an elder who was neither high nor low in the sect's hierarchy. He wasn't good at much, but he certainly knew how to put on a smiling face. In terms of seniority, Nie Shiyun was still a junior, so he had to follow along and fake a smile, maintaining a peaceful facade and indicating that he held no grudges and that the past grievances with Xu Yehua were wiped clean. Although Nie Shiyun didn't know the specifics of Chiyan Cliff's internal situation, he could guess that Xu Yehua's life was definitely not easy lately. First, Nie Shiyun had taken the lead and rapidly reached the Nascent Soul stage, and then his own sect had condescended to apologize because of him. Perhaps at this moment, Xu Yehua was grinding his teeth and swallowing his bitterness. Despite the slightly awkward relationship, Chiyan Cliff's prestige was still there. They had come from so far away; one couldn't just take the gifts and tell them to get lost. Nie Xing'an arranged accommodations for the visitors in the outer chambers and personally led them on a tour of the sect. However, Yunqing Pavilion was truly too small; they reached the end after just two laps. They had no choice but to arrange some entertainment related to artifact refining, and both sides spent several days exchanging hollow pleasantries, fully aware of the insincerity. "This is harder than a business dinner with clients..." Nie Shiyun sighed deeply. "What?" Nie Xing'an was completely confused. Privately, Nie Shiyun would occasionally say things he didn't understand, and he had gradually grown used to it. "Nothing." After a few days, Nie Shiyun finally lost his patience. "Generally speaking, would they linger this long without leaving? Is the food at our Yunqing Pavilion particularly delicious or something?" Nie Xing'an thought for a moment and shook his head. "It has been a bit long. We've fulfilled all the etiquette. I reckon they should mention leaving in the next day or two..." With the people from Chiyan Cliff refusing to leave, Nie Shiyun always felt a thorn in his side and remained warily on guard even at night. However, as it turned out, the food at Yunqing Pavilion wasn't anything special. What Chiyan Cliff was waiting for wasn't anything within Yunqing Pavilion, but rather another of the four major sects that was also visiting—the Yingyue Sect. Clearly, Pinyin Pavilion had been the first to send word that they were on their way, yet they were the last to arrive. Nie Shiyun couldn't help but lament that living far away was truly a disadvantage. Because of the days spent dealing with the people from Chiyan Cliff, Nie Shiyun looked weary. When he heard a Yunqing Pavilion disciple report that the people from the Yingyue Sect had arrived, he expected more of the same routine. But when he reached the gates of Yunqing Pavilion, his eyes lit up. "Why are you here?" Standing opposite him, Zhai Bairong had been maintaining a shallow smile in front of outsiders, but the moment he saw Nie Shiyun's astonished expression, it transformed into a genuine smile. "Am I not allowed to come?" "I couldn't ask for more. But why didn't you say anything to me?" Nie Shiyun hadn't expected Zhai Bairong to be able to come. Looking around, Duan Mingyu was also absent from the visiting party. This was easily the most delightful news in recent days. Nie Shiyun walked directly toward Zhai Bairong, appearing extremely close. Seeing his manner, Nie Xing'an cleared his throat and proactively walked over to the others from the Yingyue Sect. He greeted the Yingyue Sect elder who had come with Zhai Bairong, preparing to take him and the other disciples to their lodgings to rest. "Ah, my apologies, Senior. I've been negligent," Nie Shiyun finally remembered to give a greeting. "Not at all, not at all." The Nascent Soul cultivator from the Yingyue Sect waved his hand hurriedly. He was only about a hundred years older than Nie Shiyun, and in terms of cultivation, he wasn't actually much higher. He had known before coming that the person Qu Zhanmeng had truly sent was Zhai Bairong; he himself was merely a figurehead with the title of elder. After a few words at the gate, Nie Shiyun didn't know what Zhai Bairong had told his sect, so he didn't say anything proactively. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the other man. Understanding his meaning, Zhai Bairong took a step closer and said generously, "Let's go to your room to talk." Seeing that not a single person from the Yingyue Sect looked shocked—they only kept casting careful glances out of the corners of their eyes—Nie Shiyun roughly knew that their relationship was no secret. He nodded naturally and, with an air of intimacy, led him directly toward the cave dwelling in the back mountain. "My cousin wants to catch up on old times. We will sit down and talk in detail with everyone this evening. For now, please follow me this way," Nie Xing'an said respectfully to the others. The people from the Yingyue Sect all nodded quietly. Watching the disappearing backs of Zhai Bairong and Nie Shiyun, they couldn't have been more aware that they were merely here to make up the numbers. *** | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 凤凰精火 | Phoenix Essence Fire | A high-level fire used by Meiqiu. | | 映月派 | Yingyue Sect | One of the four major sects; Zhai Bairong's sect. | | 赤岩崖 | Chiyan Cliff | One of the four major sects; Xu Yehua's sect. | | 曲旃蒙 | Qu Zhanmeng | The leader of the Yingyue Sect. | | 虚与委蛇 | Exchanging hollow pleasantries | An idiom meaning to socialize insincerely or play along with someone. | | 咬碎了牙往肚子里咽 | Grinding one's teeth and swallowing the bitterness | An idiom for enduring humiliation or suffering in silence. |