In the study of Qin Manor.

The study was filled with piles of ancient tomes. The dense pile added up to more than ten thousand books. Even though Qin Yun"s study was large, the pile took up more than half the s.p.a.ce.

Qin Yun was sitting in front of a desk, carefully perusing a tome while checking for clues.

"Old Master, Miss Chen Shuang is here." Ah Gui"s voice sounded from outside.

"Xiao Shuang?" Qin Yun looked up and instructed, "Quickly let her in."

Soon after, a purple-dressed Chen Shuang flitted in. She was even carrying a basket. When she entered the study, she said with a smile, "Brother Yun, it"s almost the new year. I brought you some buns. I made them in my spare time."

"Thanks," said Qin Yun as he put down the book he was reading.

Chen Shuang looked at Qin Yun and carefully observed his complexion, expression, and the look in his eyes. Qin Yun now looked a lot more normal than he did a few months back.

She still clearly remembered the first time she met Qin Yun again after Yi Xiao was abducted. Back then, Qin Yun had the appearance of a crazy devil. He kept studying the numerous ancient tomes and ignored her while she spoke.

"At least Brother Yun seems to have settled down a bit."

"By the way, I went back to Magistress Mountain a few days ago. My sect helped me find some ancient tomes that have historical records." Chen Shuang took out a Cosmic Bag from her waist. The moment it opened, a large number of ancient tomes flew out and began piling up in a corner of the study. It looked like there were more than a thousand books.

"So many more again?" Qin Yun"s eyes lit up. "You already gave me a lot the last time."

"My magus lineage has existed since ancient times and has never been severed to this very day," said Chen Shuang with a smile. "In terms of historical records, perhaps only the G.o.dfiend lineage"s are comparable to ours. Magistress Mountain had the last batch of books to begin with. As for these twelve hundred books I brought, they were gathered from various locations my magus lineage had once settled in under the Magistress"s orders."

Qin Yun nodded and thanked her. "Xiao Shuang, you have really helped me a great deal."

"Has there been any news of Sister Yi?" asked Chen Shuang.

"Not yet." Qin Yun shook his head gently.

"Magistress said that your talent is among the greatest in this world"s history. With your strength, you will definitely be able to rescue Sister Yi," consoled Chen Shuang immediately.

"Yea." Qin Yun nodded slightly. "I also believe that Xiaoxiao and I will reunite."

After a short conversation, Chen Shuang bade him farewell and left.

Qin Yun turned to look at the ancient tomes that Chen Shuang had delivered. He could "see" the books" auras.

"Open!"

A vertical eye suddenly appeared in Qin Yun"s glabella.

This eye s.h.i.+mmered with lightning. It was none other than the Eye of Lightning!

When he first got it, he had prepared the divine power, Eye of Lightning, for his wife. But in this dire circ.u.mstance, Qin Yun chose to learn it himself! The Eye of Lightning was Ancestral Master Zhang"s strongest divine power. As for using it to kill enemies and weaken the lightning aspect of the Heavenly Punishments? These did not matter to Qin Yun at the moment. The Eye of Lightning was by no means inferior to the Buddhist school"s Heavenly Eye. He could discern humans, demons, the light from providence, karma… almost everything!

The divine power would be useful in his search for treasures, or even to seek out Yi Xiao.

Even if his Eye of Lightning were closed, his perception of auras far exceeded that of his Dharma Eyes. If he opened it, it was even more impressive!

"Oh?" Qin Yun looked at the books that numbered more than a thousand. Each tome had an aura but they were all ordinary.

"The Eye of Lightning did not discover anything special about these ancient tomes. That"s right. Opening the Heavenly Eye allows one to detect extraordinary ancient text… But those would rarely be distributed."

"I have gathered a ma.s.sive number of ancient books from the imperial government and the Daoist and Buddhist sacred lands, as well as the numerous top sects. That also includes what I got from the Dragon race and the commoners. Yet, I have only discovered three special ancient tomes. They contain a treasure map within and they even hid some heritage." Qin Yun shook his head. "There are few people who can learn divine powers like the Heavenly Eye after all. There will always be some that slip through the cracks."

Back when Qin Yun discovered that the tome hid a heritage, he found its treasure halo blinding! The light providence s.h.i.+ned on it was immense!

Later, he carefully investigated and found a golden piece of paper in the ancient tome. It contained a detailed heritage! It was a heritage that directed one straight to the peak of the third Firmament Essence Soul realm in talisman amulets. It also held records of three treasure lands. However, the heritage left behind was from an immortal at the second Firmament Essence Soul realm. His strength was inferior to Qin Yun"s current level so he was in no hurry to investigate the three treasure lands.

Now, he was preparing to spend half a year"s time to "roughly" browse through all the ancient tomes before he set off to travel the world.

As for studying the ancient tomes in detail, it would take too much time. He could slowly read them again while he traveled the world.

…

Qin Yun continued reading the books and without him realizing it, the sky had turned dark.

His parents and his brother, Qin An, had invited him to have dinner together. After all, it was new year"s eve! However, Qin Yun declined their invitation.

"Whoosh."

"Pa!"

There were fireworks shooting up into the sky in various spots of Grand Dominance City during the night of new year"s eve. There was also incessant crackling from the firecrackers.

Qin Yun walked out of the study as he looked up at the distant fireworks.

"It"s new year"s eve." Qin Yun looked at his surroundings, which were desolate and silent.

"Xiaoxiao. The transmission mark can"t sense you. Are you still in this world or have you been brought to another world?" Qin Yun looked into the starry sky as he spoke to himself.

He gazed at the starry sky blankly for a moment before he flipped his hand, producing a blurry divine sword. He walked out of the yard and closed his eyes as he began casting his sword arts.

Sword flashes lit up!

The numerous sword flashes were resplendent and dazzling, making for an extremely gorgeous scene.

Countless sword flashes rose up into the sky splendidly and were as blinding as the fireworks. They also manifested as one, streaking across the sky with a beautiful contour.

But after it was cast, the resplendent sword flash exuded a tinge of misery. The charms within it were changing. Under the essence of this misery, the void began to freeze. Qin Yun had not used any of his Dharmic powers. All he did was control the sword indifferently.

"Hahaha. Hahaha."

Qin Yun stopped and began laughing. Tears streamed down his face as he laughed. They were clearly lit up by the fireworks" illumination.

"Fireworks, Fireworks." Qin Yun murmured. "Xiaoxiao is pregnant. I even thought of creating a sword art to celebrate. This inspired me to create the sword art"s first move, Fireworks. But Xiaoxiao has been abducted. Now, Fireworks no longer has a celebratory feeling to it at all."

Back when he created the move, Qin Yun was filled with joy.

He and his wife looked forward to the birth of their daughter.

Under that state of mind, he began creating a new sword art. But he only managed to create one move before the sword art was destined to never be continued.

Even the charms originally found in Fireworks could not be demonstrated by Qin Yun anymore. He did not have that feeling of joyous antic.i.p.ation anymore. Fireworks changed completely as a result. The attack did not seem very different but its charms had experienced a qualitative change.

"The charms within Fireworks have changed," murmured Qin Yun. "Everything feels like a dream. I wonder when I will awaken from this dream."

…

In the fourth month of the year, Grand Dominance City began experiencing the summer heat.

However, Qin Yun left Grand Dominance City alone to travel of the world.

Old trees withered and sprouted again and again.

Years pa.s.sed one by one.

(End of Volume)