Quinn Shepherd felt as if he’d returned to the days in Oldridge Village, with Village Chief personally sparring with him and guiding him through the true essence of sword Dao.
Mastering Sword Twenty was extremely difficult. Quinn was a sword Dao expert, but even with a grandmaster like Village Chief teaching him, he had to rediscover sword Dao from the ground up.
He was like a sword novice just starting out, following the aged Village Chief to learn the sword. Both held longswords, each move simple and clear, the sword techniques the most basic forms—plain, unadorned, and straightforward.
"Since you went to Heavenly Court, you’ve neglected the tempering of your sword Dao and sword heart. Your mind is scattered."
Village Chief taught with full concentration, saying, "The dazzling world of Heavenly Court broadened your horizons, but it also clouded your sword heart and stalled your sword Dao."
The old and the young emptied their minds, living a simple, pure life for more than ten days. Besides practicing sword, Quinn would sit with Village Chief, each breathing in sync with their own divine sword.
They didn’t activate any cultivation arts—just sensed the spirit within their swords, resonating with them.
On this day, Quinn felt his Sword Pill breathing with him—when he inhaled, the Sword Pill seemed to inhale and slowly expand; when he exhaled, it seemed to exhale and slowly contract.
With each breath, he felt as if his vital energy was flowing into the Sword Pill.
Not only did his vital energy flow into the Sword Pill—even his divine sense seemed inseparable from it.
Even his Primordial Spirit now seemed to treat the Sword Pill as part of his own body.
Village Chief was quite satisfied and said, "Now you’re ready to learn Sword Twenty."
And so, Quinn mastered Sword Twenty.
Sword Twenty is an exceptionally powerful foundational sword form. It’s more like a mental technique, requiring you to infuse your vital energy, divine sense, and Primordial Spirit into the sword to enhance its might. Because of this, it can be used with any sword technique.
In other words, this move can even be applied to basic sword forms like Sword Nineteen!
However, mastering Sword Twenty doesn’t guarantee you can perform it—because the requirements to execute this foundational form are even stricter. You must comprehend the Sword Domain!
Although Quinn learned the move from Village Chief, he hadn’t yet cultivated a Sword Domain, so he still couldn’t unleash it.
"The Sword Domain is the realm of sword Dao. To grasp it, you need a deeper understanding of sword Dao. You can’t force it yet."
Village Chief said, "Keep your sword heart pure, and you’ll eventually perceive your own Sword Domain. I’ve only just reached its threshold myself. Your sword Dao foundation is solid, and you’re diligent—better than my own talent. You’ll definitely surpass me in the future, though you’re a bit too restless."
During these ten-plus days, Quinn gained much and was full of emotion. Then, tossing Village Chief’s teachings aside, he ran off outside the capital to help Grandpa Blind and the Mute Smith with micro-forging.
"Where are Crippled Joe and Grandpa Mark?" Quinn asked.
"Crippled Joe is dragging Ethan Lan all over, tomb-raiding in the Origin World ruins and wandering the heavens. Grandpa Mark isn't the Buddha anymore—he's worried about them, so he tags along to keep Crippled Joe from being too reckless and leaving traces behind."
Grandpa Blind said, "Grandpa Mark used to be a divine constable—he's caught Crippled Joe several times before. With him around, Crippled Joe won't get into real trouble. A master thief and a master cop working together? They're unbeatable—even if they rob the Heavenly Emperor's vault, he won't ever trace it back to them."
Quinn was dumbfounded, left speechless.
So now the cop's in cahoots with the thief?
Grandpa Blind and the Mute Smith shooed him away, saying, "Empress Lynn of Yanxiu has already sent people looking for you. She wants you back at the Imperial Preceptor's Manor. Go on, don't hold up our era-making work! Come back in a few years—by then we'll have perfected our own Heaven Palaces!"
Quinn had no choice but to say his goodbyes and head for his residence, thinking, "I really should visit Lynn—I promised her I'd come back in a year to keep her safe, then asked the Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Evan to tell her I'd gone to Heavenly Court. I've been a pretty irresponsible Imperial Preceptor, haven't I?"
He returned to the Imperial Preceptor's Manor, and before he even stepped inside, he spotted a white cat crouched at the corner of the street.
Quinn paused to take a closer look. The cat's fur was pure white, not a speck of color on it. It lazily licked its paw, glanced at him twice, and then slunk off into the shadows.
Quinn frowned slightly, then stepped into the manor.
Dragon-Qilin hurried over, looking absolutely exhausted. He wailed, "Cult Master, you're finally back!"
Quinn grinned. "Fat Dragon, didn't Sister Yan give you any spirit pills?"
Dragon-Qilin shook his head and whispered, "I've actually been eating well these past few days. Cult Master, Elaina Cloud and Liana Flowersoul came, and they even swore sisterhood with the Empress, the God-Queen, and Grace Gongsun. They didn't wish for the same birthday, just the same death day."
Quinn was surprised. "Elaina Cloud showed up again? And brought Liana Flowersoul with her?"
He couldn't help but get a headache. He stopped and asked, "Those two little troublemakers haven't caused any chaos lately, have they?"
"Not really—just a lot of scheming and plotting."
Dragon-Qilin said, "Cloud Minister came by once, but when he saw what was going on, he got so scared he left immediately."
"Cloud Minister really has no sense of loyalty! He could've at least dragged his sister away!"
Quinn mused, "Liana Flowersoul is the Empress, Elaina Cloud is Madam Yuanmu—those two little vixens showing up here, it'd be best if they both died together. Lynn, the God-Queen, and Grace Gongsun can't die, but those two sisters have to go on the same day! Last time I used Earth Mother; who should I use this time? Too bad Logan Cross isn't here. And that white cat... it looks just like Little Seven, Consort Yana's spy cat from Heavenly Court..."
Just as he was thinking, Empress Lynn of Yanxiu's voice rang out with a laugh: "The Imperial Preceptor is back!"
Quinn stepped forward and bowed. "Your servant greets Your Majesty."
Empress Lynn quickly took both his hands and smiled. "Imperial Preceptor, you've worked so hard outside. You've been back in the capital for almost a month and haven't had time to come home. That's my fault—I haven't let you rest."
Her words carried a hint of reproach, subtly blaming Quinn for not visiting her sooner.
Led by her, Quinn walked into the courtyard, smiling. "Your Majesty, I've only just found my footing in Heavenly Court. The journey was rough and hard to describe. Now that I'm back, the closer I get to those I care about, the more timid I feel. That's why I was late coming home."
Empress Lynn looked at him, her eyes reddening. "I understand."
Inside the manor, Grace Gongsun walked over holding a watering can. Empress Lynn quickly let go of Quinn's hand. Grace poured a little water on Quinn's head, seriously inspecting it, and sighed when she saw he hadn't sprouted yet.
Quinn was used to her antics. He laughed, "Grace, I brought you something good this time—it's called Primal Essence. I'll water you with it later."
Grace Gongsun was delighted.
Empress Lynn glanced over and smiled. "Did you bring me any treasures, Imperial Preceptor?"
"The vast universe, the endless rivers and mountains—that's what I brought you, Your Majesty."
Empress Lynn laughed, her eyes bright with joy.
The laughter echoed through the courtyard, warm and bright, chasing away the gloom that had hung over Quinn's heart.
He looked at the people around him, feeling both comforted and guilty. The closer he got to home, the more fear and hesitation welled up inside him.
But at this moment, surrounded by warmth and laughter, he finally felt like he had come home.
He smiled, a little sheepish, and joined the others in the courtyard, letting the worries of the outside world fade away for a while.
For now, the battles and schemes of gods and demons could wait. Here, he was just Quinn Shepherd, returning home at last.
(End of Chapter 1067)