Qin Yun knew very well that after the Lotus Seed of Fate was used, the ancient existences’ greed towards it would lessen relatively. After all, the Misty Rain Sword was of less use to them than the Lotus Seed of Fate! But even so… it was still a Connate Cardinal treasure! There were several perfected Great Dao experts, but many of them lacked Connate Cardinal treasures. So they decided to lay in wait, watching; it was just that their greed had reduced considerably.

Except for one!

It was someone Qin Yun had to be most careful of—the Fiend Ancestor who was at the Heavenly Dao realm.

“Yang Jian fused the Lotus Seed of Fate into his body; yet, the Fiend Ancestor wishes to have him killed to extract the Eye of Destruction. He has even once snuck up on Monkey Sun to refine him. He will similarly target my Misty Rain Sword.” Qin Yun knew this point. “In the Heavenly realm, I have Master to protect me, so the Fiend Ancestor can’t do a thing. But if I were to head to other Great Worlds… Master will not be able to help and the Fiend Ancestor would have means available to him.

“He can either send Fiend King Boxun and the rest, or make a request of those ancient existences that keep a low profile. It’s all very possible.

“So, unless I attain a perfected Great Dao, I cannot leave the Heavenly realm!”

Qin Yun secretly decided.

In the coming days, although there was strife in the external world, with many mighty figures coming to pay Qin Yun a visit, as well as seek his help, Qin Yun made a public announcement that he was “cultivating in seclusion and would not meet guests.”

He was indeed at home, studying the Misty Rain Sword in a bid to figure out the Sword Dao of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

…

Even so.

The perfected Great Dao was so close yet so far.

Qin Yun only felt that he was closer and closer, but he was just unable to break through. Finally, three hundred years after his battle with Taowu’s Bane avatar, he descended the mountain and continued his original plans. He immersed himself in the mortal and secular world in search of his Great Dao of Man.

******

Time quickly passed.

The Heavenly realm was so vast it appeared boundless. It had countless kingdoms and in one of the tiny kingdoms, the Southern Nation, there was a tiny city, Lin City. In Lin City, there was a rather famous sword gallery, named the Misty Rain Sword Gallery. It had been founded more than thirty years ago and there were numerous disciples who came under it.

Inside the Misty Rain Sword Gallery.

“Senior Sister.”

“Senior Sister.”

The men and women practicing their swordplay in the Sword Gallery shouted in unison. The ages of this group of disciples ranged from five to middle-aged. And at that moment, they were acting very reverent towards a red-robed woman.

Her name was Jin Yu, one of the three personal disciples of the Misty Rain Sword Gallery Lord. She had also cultivated to the Connate True Core realm and was rather famous in a small city like Lin City.

“Good.” Jin Yu knitted her brows slightly as she rapidly walked in.

“Senior Sister is usually all smiles. Why does it seem like she’s vexed over something?”

“All of you better give her some space. Don’t infuriate her.”

The ordinary disciples murmured in the gallery.

Jin Yu continued walking to the back of the gallery.

“Senior Sister.” A maidservant held a large plate of fruits and walked in, immediately greeting Jin Yu when she saw her.

“Xiaoqing, where’s Master?” asked Jin Yu.

“Inside,” said Xiaoqing with a smile.

Jin Yu nodded and walked in. The moment she entered the backyard, she saw a white-robed man lounging on a lounge chair as though he was asleep.

“Master,” Jin Yu shouted immediately upon entry.

“Oh?”

The white-robed man immediately woke up and took a glance at Jin Yu. He said in quite a disparaging tone, “Lass, can’t you let me have some sleep. Hey, hey, hey, Qing… I got you to buy some fruits, but it took you until now? I even fell asleep.”

“Old Master, there was none in the gallery, so I had to buy them. I already ran very quickly,” mumbled Xiaoqing. Following that, she placed the plate of fruits on a tiny table by the side.

“Hmm.”

The white-robed man was none other than Qin Yun. He felt that to figure out the Human Spirit, he had to immerse himself deeply in the mortal world. Therefore, he had opened a sword gallery and even took in disciples. He became a normal sword gallery master and had been at it for thirty years. He had even selected three promising ones among the numerous ordinary disciples. They were considered personal disciples of the gallery.

If the world were to learn that Sword Immortal Qin had personal disciples, it would probably quickly spread across the Three Realms.

But clearly, the Three Realms was unaware of it. His three personal disciples always believed that their master was only a relatively powerful mortal swordsman, one at the Connate Golden Core realm.

As for what Qin Yun demonstrated to his disciples, he limited it to sword arts that had yet to step into the Dao! However, his guidance of his disciples were much more brilliant. He was considered a master who was good at teaching disciples. For example, his eldest and second eldest disciples… appeared stronger than their master. They had condensed Essence Souls and had embarked on their journey towards immortality.

The third disciple, Jin Yu, was the youngest and was only at the Connate True Core realm.

As he was good at teaching, Master Qin’s reputation in Lin City was quite good. Many families sent their children to the Misty Rain Sword Gallery.

“These grapes are good. They are big and sweet enough.” Qin Yun was very happy as he ate the grapes.

“Old Master, I knew you would like them, so I picked them very meticulously,” Xiaoqing said happily.

“Xiaoqing, take your leave for now. I have something to discuss with Master,” said Jin Yu.

“Alright.” Xiaoqing immediately took her leave obediently.

“What is it? You don’t seem to be in a good mood today.” Qin Yun continued eating his grapes.

Jin Yu whispered, “Master, Eldest Senior Brother is heavily injured. He’s now hiding at my place, but his injuries are extremely grave and it’s worsening by the day.”

Qin Yun put down the grapes and immediately got up. “Let’s go. Lead the way.”

“Eldest Senior Brother forced me not to tell you,” whispered Jin Yu. “But, I really am out of ideas. If this continues, Eldest Senior Brother will be dead in less than half a month.”

“Your eldest senior brother is highly talented. He’s currently at the second firmament Essence Soul realm. How did he get those heavy injuries?” asked Qin Yun.

“I’m not sure either.” Jin Yu shook her head gently.

Qin Yun nodded.

Over the past thirty years, although he had recruited many disciples with three of them being personal disciples, his sword gallery was only at the mortal level. For instance, his eldest and second eldest disciples would enter immortal sects after they condensed an Essence Soul. They would occasionally contact him, but it was much less frequent.

After all, there was a difference between mortals and immortals. Immortals had long lifespans while mortals had short lifespans. Immortals had to suffer karma when dealing with mortals. For these reasons, it made those at the Essence Soul realm or higher have fewer interactions with mortals.

Soon, they arrived at Jin Yu’s Jin Residence.

They came into a room.

Seated cross-legged on the bed was a muscular man with thick brows and large eyes. Dharmic powers were emanating from his body, but there was a green devilish Dharmic power that lingered around him, causing his breathing to turn weak.

“Oh?” The man opened his eyes as he frowned slightly when he saw Jin Yu and Qin Yun enter.

“This junior sister of mine.” The man was helpless. He was at the Essence Soul realm, so he knew immediately the moment his master stepped into the Jin Residence.

“Master.”

The man immediately got off the bed and bowed. However, this affected the wound at his chest. He staggered a little, but still managed to bow respectfully, “Greetings Master.”

“Junior Sister, didn’t I tell you not to tell Master?” The man could not help but look at his junior sister. He whispered, “I will only be here for a few days and then I’ll leave silently. No one would have known about it.”

“Senior Brother, I can tell that your injuries are worsening by the day,” said Jin Yu worriedly.

“Tian Huang, are you worried of troubling me or implicating me?” said Qin Yun with a scoff.

The man wore a bitter expression as he said immediately, “Master, it’s really nothing. It’s just a minor injury.”

“If I’m not mistaken, you will not live past seven days with that injury of yours,” said Qin Yun coldly. “And the demonic aura on you… I have seen it before. It’s the Imperial Preceptor from our Southern Nation, right?”

The man was taken aback.

He never imagined that his master could identify the source.

“I wanted to rid us of evil by killing him, but I never expected the fiend’s strength to exceed my expectations. After the battle, I fled with heavy injuries and was unable to continue any further when I arrived at Lin City. So all I could do was temporarily stay at Junior Sister’s to stabilize my injuries,” said the man honestly. “I have also informed my sect. I believe the sect will send an Elder to receive me in a few days. They will be able to treat my wounds. Master, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“Eldest Senior Brother, you were the one who attempted the assassination of the Imperial Preceptor?” exclaimed Jin Yu. “No wonder they are searching everywhere. Our Lin City is being searched as well.”

“Don’t worry. Those mortals won’t be able to find me,” exhorted the man immediately. “However, Master, Junior Sister, you must not expose my presence here or it will implicate you. Junior Sister, you too! I already repeated numerous times not to tell anyone, but you still told Master.”

“Is Master an outsider?” said Jin Yu immediately. “And isn’t is because I’m worried for you?”

“Alright, from now on, don’t spread it any further! If the Imperial Preceptor were to learn of my presence here, it would be terrible,” said the man.