Seeking the Flying Sword Path

Qin Yun’s family of three were happily chatting by the lake now that they were finally together.

But they soon found themselves entertaining others when a cloud flew over from the distance. On it were Daoist Divine Firmament and Patriarch Bai.

"Oh?" Qin Yun looked up.

The fat Patriarch Bai looked over from afar as his eyes lit up. He could clearly see that Qin Yun had already attained the Essence Soul realm. He laughed boisterously from midair. "Hahaha, Brother Qin Yun, congratulations. You have finally condensed an Essence Soul."

He and Daoist Divine Firmament landed together.

"Congratulations!" Daoist Divine Firmament said with a smile as well. "Since you have condensed an Essence Soul, it appears you have successfully created a Sword Immortal Dharmic formulation."

"I was only able to save my daughter because I successfully created the Dharmic formulation." Qin Yun smiled as he said to his daughter, "Yiyi, quick greet Senior Bai and Senior Zhang."

Yiyi immediately bowed. "Greetings Senior Bai and Senior Zhang, I’m Qin Yiyi. I have long heard from my father about the two Skyimmortals of my homeworld, the Great Chang world."

"I can’t compare with the two of them. They are both elite figures of the Three Realms," Patriarch Bai said with a smile.

Daoist Divine Firmament smiled helplessly before he looked at Qin Yun. "Qin Yun, since you successfully created a Dharmic formulation, did the Dao Ancestor take you in as a disciple? If he hasn’t, I can report this matter to Master for you."

"Senior Brother Yellow-robed has already reported it. The Dao Ancestor descended right after and took me in as a disciple on the spot," said Qin Yun.

Daoist Divine Firmament understood.

"Impressive." Patriarch Bai gave his envious praise.

"What is the Dao Ancestor like?" Yi Xiao asked out of curiosity.

"Mom, I was beside Dad when the Dao Ancestor descended," said Qin Yiyi. "He looks rather amiable and did not seem to emit even the slightest pressure. But he also felt... extremely distant, like it’s impossible to touch him."

"Back when the Dao Ancestor descended as an avatar, I had the chance to listen to him preach the Dao," said Patriarch Bai with a sigh. "Just seeing him is truly an unforgettable experience."

"Master is rather attentive to every disciple," said Daoist Divine Firmament as he looked at Qin Yun. "Qin Yun, since Master has taken you in as a disciple, you should head for Green Touring Palace as soon as possible."

"Yes. I just brought Yiyi back. I plan on heading to Green Touring Palace immediately." Qin Yun nodded.

"Remember," Daoist Divine Firmament said solemnly, "Your initial meeting with Master at Green Touring Palace is the first and only time Master will preach the Dao to you on a one-on-one basis! You have to cherish this singular opportunity. If there’s anything you aren’t certain of, make sure to ask! After this opportunity, you will probably not have another chance to hear the Dao personally unless you can become a Golden Immortal."

"The personal preaching of the Dao only happens once?" Qin Yun was puzzled.

"Just once!"

Daoist Divine Firmament nodded to emphasize the point. "Master has many disciples. Other than his most beloved disciples, the rest are treated equally."

"However, for one of the Daoism’s Three Pure Ones to personally preach the Dao to you in detail is a dream come true for any cultivator, even if it is just once," said Daoist Divine Firmament with a smile. "Besides, there are many other opportunities available in Green Touring Palace. The achievements of a disciple will rely on their own skills."

"There are tens of thousands of Green Touring Palace disciples. Though they share the same master, these disciples vary greatly in strength. The weak ones are only third firmament Skyimmortals. The strong ones are in no way lacking even when compared to Almighty Gods Gonggong or Zhurong. There are even some who dare to spar with the Dao or Buddhist Ancestors and manage to escape with their lives," said Daoist Divine Firmament wistfully.

Qin Yun was rather alarmed hearing this story.

Although he knew little of the legends of the Three Realms, he did know that there were a few existences that were only second to the Dao and Buddhist Ancestors in the Three Realms. For example, the Almighty Gods Zhurong, Gonggong, or the Ancestral Dragon. In the Ancestral Dragon’s case, he was originally a Chaos Godfiend. He had established the dragon lineage and became the Dragon race’s first ancestor. It was a testament to its powerful bloodline.

And yet among the Green Touring Palace disciples, there were apparently some who could match Almighty Gods Gongong and Zhurong.

"I wonder how far my cultivation can go in the future," thought Qin Yun.

...

Qin Yun stuck around to chat a little longer.

"It’s about time," he said as he got up. "Yiyi, I know you just came back but I have to head for Green Touring Palace now."

"Dad, don’t mind us. Mom and I have lots to talk about," Qin Yiyi said. After reuniting with her parents, she decided to take on the name ’Qin Yiyi.’

"Go ahead. The both of us are in no rush," said Yi Xiao with a smile. Her husband was heading to Green Touring Palace for cultivation. She was happy for her husband, and proud that he acquired such a rare opportunity.

"I see." Qin Yun nodded.

"My second Essence Soul is cultivating in the Myriad Dharma Pool. I won’t be able to receive you." Daoist Divine Firmament looked at Qin Yun. "However, Master should have arranged for a Dao Child to greet you. Everything will be arranged nicely for you."

"I’ll be leaving first, then."

Qin Yun infused his Dharmic powers into the disciple mark in his palm. He could sense a distant spot.

He triggered it.

The Green Touring Palace immediately sent down its powers.

A blurry light enveloped Qin Yun as he gave his family one last smile before vanishing.

"Green Touring Palace." Patriarch Bai sighed as he watched this scene. "Just think, Brother Qin Yun was once an itinerant cultivator. Now that he has entered the Green Touring Palace, he will likely soar from this moment forth."

Daoist Divine Firmament smiled while stroking his beard. "Green Touring Palace only provides the opportunity. What one attains in the future depends on how they use it."

******

Having activated the disciple mark, Qin Yun could sense a wave from infinite space envelop him.

"Whoosh."

He was instantly teleported.

When he could see an actual world again, he found himself on a mysterious ground with a lingering white fog around him. There were contiguous complexes all around and the most opulent palace he had ever seen... he had sensed this all through his disciple mark earlier but seeing it was different. On the palace doors were the huge words ’Green Touring Palace.’

"Are you Senior Brother Qin Yun?" A Dao Child came forward to receive him with a smile.

"Yes." Qin Yun looked at the Dao Child. He did not look human nor was he a demon. He actually resembled a Guardian General or Yellow-scarved Strongman.

"Senior Brother, please follow me," said the Dao Child with a smile. "I’ll bring you to meet Master."

"Sorry for troubling you."

Qin Yun followed the Dao Child.

The Dao residence transcended the ordinary space-time of the Three Realms. Even mighty figures like Golden Immortals and Buddhas could not find it. Only people permitted by Numinous Treasure Dao Ancestor could enter!

"Haha, Junior Brother. Have a taste of my Dharma treasure!"

"I have cultivated in thirteen Dharma spells. Senior Brother, you have not been able to crack even half of them." A human and demon were sparring a distance away. There were other fellow disciples watching by the side as well.

The might produced by their exchange was stunning. Their strength was beyond even Wuli Jiushou.

Qin Yun estimated them to have strength at the eighth or ninth Skyimmortal realm.

"There are quite a number of disciples that stay here in Green Touring Palace frequently. After all, this area has many places that are suitable for cultivation. There are also countless manuals that can be read at any time," explained the Dao Child with a smile. "Usually, the disciples will have Dao exchanges and sparring matches."

"I see." Qin Yun nodded.

The disciples had also noticed Qin Yun.

"He seems to be new."

"Who is he?"

"No idea."

The disciples discussed among themselves but none of them knew about Qin Yun.

Moments later.

The Dao Child brought Qin Yun to Green Touring Palace’s main palace.

"Senior Brother, please follow me in." Qin Yun followed behind the Dao Child.

The main palace was wide like the starry cosmos. Its ends were hardly discernible.

A black-haired elder sat cross-legged on a floating cloud. His aura was mighty and, unlike his avatar, his true body made Qin Yun feel like he was standing in the full light of a burning sun that emitted boundless rays. Even if his aura had been converged, the natural aura that existed left Qin Yun stifled by the disparity that stemmed from life’s natural order.

"Master, Qin Yun is here." The Dao Child bowed politely. Numinous Treasure Dao Ancestor nodded gently as the Dao Child took his leave.

"Greetings Master." Qin Yun said with a kneel.

"Stand up," said Numinous Treasure Dao Ancestor with a smile.

Qin Yun stood up.

"You cultivate in the Sword Dao and you created a brand new sword immortal lineage. Your lineage is still very weak, as you only just created it up to the Essence Soul realm. I hope the lineage you create can exceed the Grand Supreme sword immortal lineage in the future," said Numinous Treasure Dao Ancestor.

"I will do my best," said Qin Yun politely. He knew that such a goal was extremely far-reaching.

The Grand Supreme sword immortal lineage had two Golden Immortal realm sword immortals who had forged a name for themselves.

In contrast, he had only just barely created an Essence Soul Dharmic formulation.

"These are just my hopes for you. How far you can go is up to you," said Numinous Treasure Dao Ancestor. "Now, I will showcase the Sword Dao to you. How much you understand and remember will depend on your perceptivity."

"Yes." Qin Yun focused his eyes.