Chapter 4.3
Although Sui Yuan’s mission is to keep the plot on track, making sure his strength corresponds with that of his acting character is also compulsory. Strength is not sothing you can obtain without working diligently towards it. Therefore, Sui Yuan is still required to go through various hardships to cultivate. In order not to neglect either the storyline or his cultivation, 5237 doesn’t hesitate to help him compile his scenes from the original text and create a titable which dictates in detail when he can focus on cultivating and when he has to go out and perform. The system is indeed worthy of being called his little helper.
According to 5237’s titable, Sui Yuan smoothly crosses the rather dull period preceding the main plot. He also makes headway with the female lead, renewing his existence over and over, imprinting himself in her mind. Gradually, he transitions from a Senior Martial Brother who is ’a stranger she has a good opinion of’ to a Senior Martial Brother she is ’familiar with and has a good opinion of’, successfully establishing his trustworthiness in her heart.
As for his cultivation, Sui Yuan did not slack in that departnt either, progressing from mid-level Core Formation stage to the peak of the Core Formation stage. Soon, he might just be able to break through to the initial-level Nascent Soul stage. Similarly, the female lead also advances at lightning speed thanks to her halo. Not long after entering the doors of the sect, she successfully breaks through to the Foundation Establishnt stage, then in the blink of an eye, continues onwards to initial Core Formation stage. This revelation of her innate talent draws the envy of her fellow disciples, and at the sa ti make others realise she is rather profitable - for example, the original Liu Minghui who began scheming on how to exploit her.
According to the plot, Liu Minghui starts to treat Shen Jiayi differently, from a common Junior Martial Sister to soone he has developed intentions towards. Hence, Sui Yuan also gradually changes his attitude towards her, becoming increasingly amiable and gentle, treating her with the utmost care. Presently, he has reached the level where she can’t help displaying her bashfulness every ti she catches sight of him. Sui Yuan feels that his ability in seducing woman has improved a lot!
While all this is happening, he also doesn’t forget to observe the various supporting male leads that have gathered around Shen Jiayi. Besides Xuan Ling, who he has eliminated as the potential male lead, everyone else present so far doesn’t have the slightest possibility to be the male lead. Because their cultivation level is not higher than the female lead, and the crux of the matter is they don’t wear white!
Sui Yuan feels he has beco rather jumpy as of late, always getting a little tense whenever he encounters soone wearing white robes. This is really not a good thing...
The Heavenly Cosmos sect that he and female lead are a part of has a brother sect called the Heavenly Elent sect. These two sects are located on the sa Distant Heavens mountain range, existing in mutual dependency and often compete against each other. Suffice to say, they have a rather complicated relationship.
In the middle of the Distant Heavens mountain range lies a wide, open plain christened the Eternal Bliss Heavenly Ground. Rumour has it that ten million years ago, during the initial establishnt of the Heavenly Cosmos sect and the Heavenly Elent sect, both founders expended a huge portion of their energy before Ascension to construct this plain. From then on, every sixty years, this Eternal Bliss Heavenly Ground bears witness to all Core Formation cultivators competing amongst themselves. This will allow disciples the rare opportunity to distinguish themselves, as well as blessing both sects with unending prosperity and a continued mutual relationship.
Shen Jiayi, who has just stepped into the initial-level Core Formation stage, will naturally be amongst the participants. As the original text describes it, she manages to grasp this rare opportunity and gained a great reward at the end of it.
Being at the peak of Core Formation stage, Sui Yuan is, of course, called to participate in this competition, especially since he possesses the highest cultivation level amongst the disciples. The sect leader’s succeeding disciple and Heavenly Cosmos sect’s Head Disciple, he is naturally summoned by his master ahead of schedule, warned repeatedly that he has to look after his Junior Martial Brothers and Sisters when they are in the Eternal Bliss Heavenly Ground. He must ensure they are not arrogant or hot-tempered, be prudent and cool-headed in all matters.
"This ti, Junior Brother Xuan Ling is ant to be our sect’s supervisor, in charge of preventing any mishaps that might occur during the tournant. However, you are also well aware of his temper. To tell the truth, Master is sowhat worried ah..." The sect leader strokes his beard and sighs. "If Junior Brother Xuan Ling doesn’t appear promptly when trouble arises, you must assist him in undertaking this responsibility. Our Heavenly Cosmos sect must learn from our previous failures and not commit the sa mistakes again!"
In the past, the Eternal Bliss Heavenly Ground was overrun by an evil sect, causing the two brother sects to lose quite a few of their Core Formation disciples in this disaster, consequently leading to them suffering a huge blow to their overall strength. It took both sects several hundred years to recover from that crisis and flourish again. Ever since that debacle, the two sects will send an Elder with high cultivation to act as the supervisors whenever the Eternal Bliss Heavenly Ground opens in order to prevent another tragedy from occurring.
Sui Yuan naturally doesn’t dare decline, rely bowing his head and accepting this responsibility. The sect leader’s expression doesn’t ease, however, and he continues prompting the youth to take special care of everyone’s safety, then generously handing over a few pills and charms. "Perhaps this is the last ti you can enter the grounds. Master hopes that you are able to grasp that rare chance and smoothly breakthrough to Nascent Soul stage."
"Disciple will try his best to et Master’s great expectations," Sui Yuan bows as he replies before withdrawing from the hall. He has his own preparations to make.
In this part of the plot, Sui Yuan doesn’t have many scenes, and none of them are all that important. The female lead was saved by a hero, but the hero isn’t him. In any case, even if he only plays a minor role in this section of the story, he still works conscientiously to do his part. As for Nascent Soul stage...according to the plot, Liu Minghui is a step too late, losing out to his ’old rival’. Therefore, the original Liu Minghui becos jealous of the other’s achievents and begins to sche, exploiting the female lead and centing his character as a villainous hypocrite who is willing to sacrifice the person he loves in the na of power.
With no major scenes to prepare for and no pressure of ascending to the Nascent Soul stage, Sui Yuan feels extrely relaxed and carefree, treating this trip down the mountain to the Eternal Bliss Heavenly Ground like a sightseeing vacation. Presently, the only tasks he needs to accomplish is to subdue a spirit pet that looks like a black cat.
Upon entering the grounds, Sui Yuan follows the description given in the script to find the exact spot where Liu Minghui ets the black cat. Allowing himself to be drawn into the spirit-land[1], he effortlessly dispels the illusions within, which are there to misdirect people. All the while, he keeps an eye and ear out for that black cat, waiting for it to walk right into a trap as it is ant to in the original text. Only, instead of a black cat, he has the misfortune of bumping into a white ’rabbit’, who proceeds to yell and cry for Sui Yuan to form a contract with it, allowing it to beco his spirit pet.
Confirming there isn’t ant to be a white rabbit spirit pet by Liu Minghui’s side, Sui Yuan can only refuse. But it’s a pity no matter how hard he tries to drive it away, that little creature tenaciously sticks to him, refusing to leave.
"...Why are you dead-set on following ?" Sui Yuan cries without tears, wanting to fall on his knees before it.
"Because I saw your heart as soon you entered the spirit-land! Your mind is pure and void of ill thoughts. I like it a lot." The rabbit (?[2]) opens its sparkling red eyes wide, long, upright ears twitching, it’s unrabbit-like, long, bushy tail wraps around Sui Yuan’s ankle like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. "If I form a contract with you, my cultivation will definitely increase swiftly!"
"A no is a no." Sui Yuan wants to extract his leg, but he can’t bear to hurt such a soft, fluffy and lovely creature. "My destined spirit pet is not you."
"Who is it?! Who is it?!" The rabbit cries out in alarm, fur standing on end, wishing it can imdiately find that ’destined spirit pet’ and duel it.
"...It’s a creature that looks like a black cat," Sui Yuan replies firmly.
The rabbit startles. "That’s impossible! A creature resembling a black cat... Are you talking about the Nightmare beast?! That thing is very detestable and is my natural nesis! That scoundrel will only follow one who has a scheming heart, willing to do absolutely anything to achieve their desires even if it ans harming innocents! It is completely incompatible with you!"
Sui Yuan: "......" He doesn’t know how to explain why that black beast is his ’destined spirit pet’. "In any case, my spirit pet should be the Nightmare beast, not you."
Although Sui Yuan is resolute, the rabbit remains unmoved, trying all ways to entice Sui Yuan’s approval by acting cute, showing how obedient and smart it is, comparing its noble and elegant self to that apathetic, ruthless rascal of a Nightmare beast. Most importantly, it emphasises how unsuitable the Nightmare beast is for Sui Yuan. Even if Sui Yuan manages to et the creature and gets down on his knees to beg for a contract, it wouldn’t even spare him a glance!
"......Then what should I do?" Sui Yuan’s shoulders droop, depressed. He can play an outstanding villain boss, but it is impossible for him to dye his heart black.
"...Why are you so set on having the Nightmare beast?" The rabbit is equally depressed. Never in its wildest dreams would it have imagined soone so compatible wants to avoid it so badly. No matter how it acts, the human remains steadfast in his decision.
"Because I cannot let a certain soone see that my spirit pet is a rabbit," Sui Yuan mumbles, face buried in his hand. It would be akin to sending a large signal to Zhao Xihe and yelling "I am actually Sui Yuan co catch ah hahaha...!!"
"I’m not a rabbit!" Said rabbit-like creature explodes in indignation. "I am a precious Crystal beast!"
"Ah, right, you are a Crystal beast." Sui Yuan nods, feeling that this na sounds very familiar. In the original text, who did it belong to again?
"If...if..." The Crystal beast’s eyes darts around nervously, struggling with itself for more than half a day before eventually locking gazes with Sui Yuan and stamrs, its pride fragnting bit by bit. "If you don’t want anyone to see my true form, I can use magic to transform my outer appearance so I look like the Nightmare beast..."
"Really?" Sui Yuan’s eyes light up. He was just racking his brain for ways to overco this big bug in the system and find ways to ensure the Nightmare beast will accept him.
"That’s right..." A woeful expression on its face, the Crystal beast reluctantly nods its head. "Therefore, you can make a contract with , can’t you?"
Sui Yuan agrees instantly. "Co, let’s form a contract."
Crystal beast: "...Yiyiyi...in the end, just how much do you dislike this Crystal beast’s appearance!"
Successfully establishing the contract and obtaining a false Nightmare beast, the disguised Crystal beast clings to its human, draping its body around Sui Yuan’s shoulder, black tail wrapping around his neck. It still appears rather gloomy, causing Sui Yuan’s heart to soften and rubs its head in sympathy.
Compelled to wear the form of its nesis, the Crystal beast’s glass heart has shattered to pieces. Fortunately, it acquired its long-desired wish by getting its paws on an extrely compatible master, and said new master’s gentle caress offers it enormous comfort.
Seeing the sticky Crystal beast attaching itself to Sui Yuan and acting like a spoiled child, 5237 sowhat envies it. It’s a pity this plump body is hard and smooth, unable to compare with the velvety soft fur. So this poor system can only display a haughty attitude as though it has never once thought about riding on its partner’s shoulder.
"In the original text, this Crystal beast does indeed belong to soone else." Incapable of being cute, 5237 decides to continue being the intelligent little helper. "The female lead’s master, Xuan Ling. Although he is a human iceberg, he has a weakness for furry, loveable and slightly dumb spirit pets and the like!"
Tilting his head to stare at the adorable spirit beast who is currently still attempting to build a more intimate relationship with its new master, Sui Yuan tries to imagine Xuan Ling with this cute little creature around his shoulders and can’t help finding it slightly hilarious.
"All right! Since you’ve settled the matter about spirit pets, we should leave the spirit-land. By now, the female lead has probably already t with trouble, so what cos next will be the hero saving the beauty. You should quickly show your face when that scene plays out," 5237 reminds him.
Nodding, Sui Yuan pats the Crystal beast on the head, hinting for it to bring them both out of the spirit-land.
The spirit pet is extrely unwilling, but it knows it cannot remain in the spirit-land for a lifeti. "It’s a pity that I wouldn’t be able to communicate directly with you like this once we co out of the spirit-land. But you will definitely be able to understand , right?"
"Un, I will." Sui Yuan nods, soothing its worries.
Satisfied, the beast’s whiskers tremble faintly before their surroundings disperse like mist and Sui Yuan’s feet lands on the lush green grass of the Eternal Bliss Heavenly Ground once more.
The black cat around his shoulders turns its head and emits a series of ows, only for Sui Yuan to return its stare silently. Three whole seconds pass before he shakes his head regretfully. "I can’t understand a single thing you are saying..."
Crystal beast: "......You scoundrel! You lied to !! QAQ"
Footnotes:
[1] Spirit-land (幻境): Which actually translates to "land of fantasy" or "fairyland" but I thought neither of it sounds fitting.
[2] It is not actually a rabbit, just that it looks like one, so SY calls it a rabbit. I imagine it to be sothing like this, sans the wings.
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