全程露脸东北老女

According to 5237’s timetable, 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 department 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 Establishment 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 same time 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 someone 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 time 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 become rather jumpy as of late, always getting a little tense whenever he encounters someone 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 Element sect. These two sects are located on the same 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 establishment of the Heavenly Cosmos sect and the Heavenly Element 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 time, Junior Brother Xuan Ling is meant to be our sect’s supervisor, in charge of preventing any mishaps that might occur during the tournament. However, you are also well aware of his temper. To tell the truth, Master is somewhat 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 same 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, merely 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 time 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 meet 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 becomes jealous of the other’s achievements and begins to scheme, exploiting the female lead and cementing his character as a villainous hypocrite who is willing to sacrifice the person he loves in the name of power.

With no major scenes to prepare for and no pressure of ascending to the Nascent Soul stage, Sui Yuan feels extremely 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 meets 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 meant 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 become his spirit pet.

Confirming there isn’t meant 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 me?" 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 immediately 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 nemesis! That scoundrel will only follow one who has a scheming heart, willing to do absolutely anything to achieve their desires even if it means 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 meet 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 someone 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 someone 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 come catch me 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 name 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 stammers, its pride fragmenting 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 overcome 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 me, can’t you?"

Sui Yuan agrees instantly. "Come, 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 nemesis, the Crystal beast’s glass heart has shattered to pieces. Fortunately, it acquired its long-desired wish by getting its paws on an extremely 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 somewhat 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 someone 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 met with trouble, so what comes 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 extremely unwilling, but it knows it cannot remain in the spirit-land for a lifetime. "It’s a pity that I wouldn’t be able to communicate directly with you like this once we come out of the spirit-land. But you will definitely be able to understand me, 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 meows, 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 me!! 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 something like this, sans the wings.