This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

Li Daoxuan's life after returning was very regular. Every day he would either give lectures to Gu Jiantang and Ban Yin or row a small boat to fish in Tianshui Marsh.

And so, half a year passed.

One day, six months later, Li Daoxuan suddenly said to Gu Jiantang and Ban Yin:

"I have a deep feeling and need to go into seclusion for a while."

"You two should stay on the island for a year and a half, or three to five years at most. If you wish to travel, remember to bring the jade talisman I gave you."

After saying that, Li Daoxuan's figure turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared.

Gu Jiantang and Ban Yin then realized that Li Daoxuan had already begun his seclusion, and this was merely a projection of his primordial spirit.

On Qingming Island, spring reigns all year round, as if the changing seasons are imperceptible.

Gu Jiantang became increasingly proficient in Qi cultivation and often went into seclusion.

However, his seclusion usually lasts only three to five days.

Ban Yin is different. He is a mythical beast who attained enlightenment by consuming the essence of the sun and moon. He only cultivates around midnight and sunrise each day.

So Ban Yin spends most of his time wandering around the island.

He didn't find it boring, and from time to time he would transform into human form and go to Tianshui Town to buy some flowers, herbs and medicinal seeds to plant on the island.

They would also capture some ordinary beasts and bring them to the island to raise.

Hopefully, one or two of these mortal beasts will one day be able to develop intelligence.

One day, Ban Yin was playing in the water when he suddenly sensed the aura of a strange beast.

They then chased after it to investigate and found a terrifying giant crocodile floating and sinking in the swamp.

Ban Yin was startled and turned to run away.

After running a long way, they discovered that the giant crocodile had not chased them.

So he mustered his courage and went back to observe the giant crocodile from a distance.

He would run away as soon as the giant crocodile made a move.

After a while, they had a lot of fun and enjoyed themselves.

As time went on, he became less afraid.

Ban Yin noticed that the giant crocodile didn't seem to intend to attack him; in fact, it looked at him with a hint of awe.

And so, he became friends with the giant crocodile, and would go to play with it whenever he had free time.

Ban Yin was quite sensible. Although he was simple and naive, he knew the principle that the Dharma should not be passed on lightly. He did not reveal the Taoist techniques taught by his master and grandmaster just because he was playing with the giant crocodile.

However, the giant crocodile was not entirely useless; it seemed to know some Taoist breathing techniques.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Life on the island is peaceful and carefree.

Time passes so quickly that people don't even notice it, and three years have already gone by without them realizing it.

Three years in the Xuanhuang Great World is fifteen years in the Jingming Cave Heaven.

Fifteen years have passed, and Qingxu Mountain within the Jingming Cave Heaven is now vastly different.

Those disciples who were just beginning their studies have now grown up and are capable of standing on their own.

They were once young Taoist novices, but now they are highly respected Taoist masters.

Judging by the time, Qingfeng is already over seventy years old.

His face also showed many signs of aging.

He looks like a middle-aged man in his forties.

Having led the Jingming Cave Heaven Dao Sect for decades, Qingfeng had long since developed an imposing aura that commanded respect without anger.

Qingxu Mountain today is quite different from usual.

Behind Qingxu Mountain, beyond that heavenly ladder, lies another world—the Taiyi Qingming Heaven, created by Li Daoxuan using the precious Jade Capital Mountain.

After decades of continuously drawing spiritual energy from the Xuanhuang Great World and nourishing it with the spiritual veins formed by Lingxi, the spiritual energy density within the Taiyi Qingming Heaven is now comparable to that of some ordinary areas within the Xuanhuang Great World.

However, due to the suppression of the Heavenly and Earthly Rules in the Jingming Cave, even with spiritual energy, cultivation is still extremely difficult.

At this moment, in the square in front of the White Jade Palace in the center of Jade Palace Mountain, all seventy-two second-generation direct disciples from various peaks of the Jingming Cave Heaven gathered together.

Standing quietly in the square, I don't know what I'm waiting for.

The gates of Baiyujing remained tightly shut, and the two sect leaders and their senior uncles seemed to be discussing something inside.

Most of the second-generation disciples looked on with curiosity and couldn't help but whisper among themselves:

"Senior brother, what important matter has occurred today? Why haven't the two sect leaders and Dao Lord Uncle come out yet?"

"I don't know either. I just received a decree early this morning, instructing us to wait quietly in front of Baiyujing."

"I've heard that the sect leader may be ascending to the Xuanhuang Great World. Before he leaves, he will probably decide on the next sect leader."

"Nonsense! The leader of our Daoist sect is appointed by the Dao Ancestor and certified by Heaven and Earth. It cannot be passed on to someone at will. Only if the Dao Ancestor strips the leader of his position will a new leader be born..."

"That makes sense, but if the two sect leaders ascend to immortality, shouldn't there be a leader for our Qingxu Mountain and all the disciples of the Daoist sects throughout the world?"

......

There was a lot of discussion among the crowd.

However, many disciples remained calm and composed, as still as a mountain.

Wang Jingshu's eldest disciple was indeed one of them.

If I count the years, I'm actually almost forty.

As the only second-generation disciple of the Yiru Peak lineage founded by Wang Jingshu, Zhen Huan has always been quite special in Qingxu Mountain.

In his early years, he was truly mentally closed off and had little reaction to anything except practicing swordsmanship.

After Jinghong Daojun ascended to heaven, he was the only one left on the vast Yiru Peak, and he truly spent more than ten years cultivating alone on the mountain.

Finally, one day, a sword aura shot into the sky from Yiru Peak, attracting the attention of the entire Qingxu Mountain.

Afterwards, Zhen Huan went to Yujing Mountain to bid farewell to his master and elders, and took a long sword made of peach wood from the mountain to travel.

From that day on, a legend of a peach wood sword immortal began to circulate in the martial arts world of Jingming Cave.

The name of the Taoist Master Zhen Huan is becoming more and more famous in the martial arts world. Some people say that he is the only person who can be called a sword immortal after the Sword Immortal Jing Hong.

A peach wood sword, slaying evil spirits, eliminating wickedness, saving people from fire and water, and benefiting all people.

After traveling around the mountains for more than ten years, he actually returned to Qingxu Mountain. He had changed from his previous closed-minded appearance to a calm and generous one, clearly a Taoist master.

From some unknown day onwards, no one called him that nickname "Sword Fool" anymore.

Nowadays at Qingxu Mountain, apart from the two senior disciples under Qingfeng and Mingyue, everyone who sees him calls him "Senior Brother Huanzhen".

Zhen, who used to ignore everyone, would now return the greeting formally when someone greeted him.

Many second-generation disciples in the square were discussing the matter, with many speculating whether the position of leader of the sect would fall to Zhen Huan after the two sect leaders ascended to heaven.

After all, in terms of strength, he is definitely the leader among the second-generation disciples.

Even Yunzhen, the senior disciple personally taught by the headmaster, was clearly slightly inferior.

Thinking of this, some of the more astute disciples couldn't help but step forward and bow to Zhao Huanzhen, saying:

"Brother Zhen Huan, everyone says today is the day the sect leader will appoint the next leader of the Daoist sect. It seems this position is definitely yours..."

He actually glanced at the disciple, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Are you very concerned about this position?"

The sycophantic disciple was taken aback upon hearing this, and his face turned somewhat embarrassed.

He still spoke frankly:

"How could you and I possibly discuss the position of leader of the Daoist sect? Even after the sect leader ascends, there's still Uncle-Master Qian Yuan. Even if all the other masters ascend, it's not up to you and me to decide..."

"Don't talk nonsense again..."