A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Ximen Kankan asked, "Why are you here?"

"You've become so arrogant now? With your attitude, you think I can't come?" Duan Rong said, and then casually sat down in the armchair behind the table next to him.

Ximen Kankan said, "Duan Rong, you're really turning the tables! Who's more arrogant, you or me? It's been a year since you came out of the Divine Demon Ruins. We only met once right after you came out, and how many times have I gone to your place in the past year? You've either been in seclusion or cultivating in your secret chamber. When have you ever come out to see me? I'm asking you, we've been friends for many years, have we even met in the past year? And you still have the nerve to say I'm arrogant!?"

As Ximen Kankan spoke, he gave Duan Rong a mournful look.

Duan Rong thought about it and realized that he hadn't actually seen Ximen Kankan in the past year. However, he would receive reports from him every now and then about the various situations of the Eight Sects of the Nine Provinces, but he had never actually met him.

Duan Rong coughed, sat up straighter, and said, "I've been quite busy with cultivation this past year!"

Ximen Kankan spat and said, "Bullshit! How can someone busy with cultivation have two kids in a year?"

"Alright," Duan Rong said, "Stop being so wishy-washy. I have something to ask you."

Ximen Kankan said, "I knew you wouldn't come over if there was nothing wrong. So, what's the matter?"

Duan Rong asked, "When will my master be at Yunfu Peak?"

Ximen Kankan smiled with a hint of schadenfreude and said, "What a coincidence! The sect leader just left the sect yesterday and said he wouldn't be back for another half a month."

"Really?" Duan Rong touched his nose with a hint of helplessness.

He knew that Zhu He would be very busy after becoming the sect leader, but the matter of preparing the divine medicine still required the sect leader's personal approval.

Seeing Duan Rong's somewhat helpless expression, Ximen Kankan knew that he really had something to ask Zhu He, so he said, "What is it? Tell me, maybe I can help you sort it out? I've been here for a long time and I'm in charge of specific tasks, so I know a lot about the Inner Secretariat."

Duan Rong smiled and said, "I want to prepare three kinds of divine medicine. Can you handle it?"

Ximen Kankan scratched his head and said, "This is really hard to handle. The sect is very strict about controlling the availability of divine medicines."

Duan Rong asked, "Are Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao here?"

Ximen Kankan said, "They're not here. They all have their own affairs to attend to, and they've rarely stayed at Yunfu Peak this past year."

Duan Rong nodded. Zhu He took over the sect, and Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao, as his confidants, naturally had to take charge on their own.

"Then I'll be going," Duan Rong said. "When will my master return to the sect? Remember to let me know."

Ximen Kankan said, "You really have the nerve! You haven't seen me for a year, and you're just leaving after asking about things?"

Duan Rong said, "Or what?"

Ximen Kankan said, "At least you have to treat me to a drink."

"I don't care," Duan Rong said, pointing to the mountain of documents piled on the desk behind Ximen Kankan, "but do you have the time?"

Since Zhu He took over the sect, many people from Yunfu Peak have been transferred to handle other affairs. The Inner Affairs Department was originally the sect's top department, with numerous and complex affairs. As capable people were gradually transferred away, those who remained naturally had more and more work to do. Ximen Kankan is also in charge of a large number of matters.

Ximen Kankan sighed and said, "I don't have time."

“That’s right,” Duan Rong said. He patted Ximen Kankan on the shoulder and said, “Next time you come to the Lü family mansion, I will definitely treat you to a drink.”

Ximen Kankan grinned and said, "I keep my word."

"Of course," Duan Rong said. "Then I'll be going."

"Hmm." Ximen Kankan looked at Duan Rong. Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen each other for a year, but he felt that Duan Rong's temperament seemed to have become somewhat aloof. His attitude towards people hadn't changed, but he exuded a cold and aloof aura from the bottom of his heart.

The next moment, Duan Rong walked to a wall in front of Ximen Kankan, then passed right through the wall and disappeared.

Ximen Kankan stared blankly at the spot where Duan Rong had disappeared, his mouth slightly agape.

Two breaths later, he suddenly came to his senses and exclaimed, "Wall-penetrating technique!?"

Ximen Kankan ran to the wall where Duan Rong's figure had disappeared, touched it, and realized it was a solid wall.

Just as Ximen Kankan was touching the wall with a surprised expression, a middle-aged servant with a pockmarked face pushed open the door and walked in. He was holding a booklet in his hand and looked at Ximen Kankan with a strange look in his eyes. He said, "Sir, this is the catalog for last month that you requested."

Ximen Kankan was stroking the wall when he heard this. He turned his head and glanced at the servant, saying, "Oh, put it on my desk."

The middle-aged attendant placed the booklet in his hand on the desk piled high with documents, then glanced at Ximen Kankan, who was stroking the wall. The attendant sensed that Ximen Kankan seemed to be looking for some kind of mechanism. He knew that if he actually found the location of the mechanism, it would be bad for him, so he lowered his head and hurriedly left.

Ximen Kankan's eyes flickered. Before this, he had only seen one person use the wall-penetrating technique, and that was Zhu He. But now Duan Rong could do it too.

Ximen Kankan suddenly remembered what Duan Rong had just said: that he had been quite busy with cultivation this year. He knew this wasn't an excuse from Duan Rong; Duan Rong was a man obsessed with asceticism, and his demeanor seemed to have changed as well.

"Could it be that Duan Rong, like the sect leader, has already reached the Cave-Nether Realm?!"

"Impossible! How could this be?! He's not even twenty-five years old yet!"

"But if not, why does he know how to walk through walls?!"

Ximen Kankan felt that his brother, who had come from Xiangu County with him, had soared higher and higher like an eagle, leaving him only a hazy, indistinct silhouette...

Duan Rong flashed out of the pavilion on Yunfu Peak like a ghost, transforming into a black beam of light and shooting into the valley filled with swirling clouds and mist.

With Zhu He absent, he had no way to access the sect's divine medicine. But he was unwilling to wait idly for half a month. Besides, what if Zhu He was delayed by other matters and didn't return after half a month?

Duan Rong wasn't going to wait, because he suddenly remembered that Jiang Hanyan and Guo Tian seemed to have also picked the three divine medicines that were used as supplementary cultivation medicines for the Fetal Treasury Scripture when they entered the ruins of gods and demons.

"Silver-edged grass? Purple mist flower? Soul silk grass?" Duan Rong repeated the three divine herbs, recalling the scene they had in the ruins of gods and demons a year ago.

He quickly confirmed that Jiang Hanyan had indeed picked those three miraculous herbs.

More importantly, Jiang Hanyan is Lin Youjian's only personally taught disciple, and Lin Youjian dotes on her immensely. Furthermore, Lin Youjian is the head of the sect's Office of Administration.

All of this indicates that Jiang Hanyan is not lacking in cultivation resources. Therefore, the divine herbs she collected from the ruins of gods and demons were likely not handed over to the sect in exchange for cultivation materials. After all, handing them over is easy, but getting them back is difficult; Zhu He is not an easy person to talk to.

Duan Rong decided to go and find Jiang Hanyan. He had done her a favor in the ruins of gods and demons, so he could borrow three divine herbs from her. He still had that much gratitude to owe her.

The black light that Duan Rong had transformed into suddenly drew an arc and turned towards the direction of Tianzhu Peak.

Tianzhu Peak is a solitary peak, towering thousands of feet high and extremely steep. At the summit stands a pavilion, with painted beams and carved pillars, five stories high. As the wind blows, the wind chimes at its four corners emit a clear and melodious sound.

When Duan Rong was more than ten zhang away from Tianzhu Peak, he suddenly stopped and slowly flew towards the summit.

It was extremely easy for him to avoid the eyes and ears of the guards on Tianzhu Peak. Just now, when he went in and out of Yunfu Peak, the guards did not notice him at all.

After all, he had already reached the Cave-Ming Realm and mastered the power of the laws. He could act this way on Yunfu Peak because Zhu He was his master, and most of the elders on Yunfu Peak knew him.

But if he were to enter Tianzhu Peak in this way, that would be a different matter entirely. Calling him a thief is a minor matter; there are quite a few female disciples on Tianzhu Peak.

Duan Rong slowly flew to within a few feet of Tianzhu Peak, where two divine senses crossed and swept towards him.

He flew to the summit, but instead of heading directly to the pavilion, he stood gracefully on a pine tree branch on the edge of the cliff.

Sure enough, not long after, two female disciples wielding long swords appeared and stopped not far from Duan Rong.

One of the women, who appeared slightly older and more mature, glanced at Duan Rong and asked in a rather unfriendly tone, "Who are you? Why are you trespassing on my Tianzhu Peak?"

Duan Rong said, "I am Duan Rong from Yunfu Peak. I have come to pay my respects to Senior Sister Jiang Hanyan. Please help me to inform her."

"Duan Rong of Yunfu Peak?!" Upon hearing this, the woman's eyes flickered slightly. She looked Duan Rong up and down again and said, "You are the personal disciple who followed the Ancestor in cultivation?"

When another pretty young woman heard the mature woman ask that question, she was startled and looked at the man who was standing gracefully on the tree with a surprised expression.

Duan Rong touched his nose and, under the two men's surprised gazes, said, "That's right, it's me. Please inform them."

"Qinghong, go." The slightly older and more mature woman glanced at the woman beside her and gave the order.

"Yes, Senior Sister." The beautiful woman then moved swiftly towards the ornately decorated pavilion.

Before long, two figures flew out one after the other.

Jiang Hanyan wore a moon-white shirt and a lush green skirt around her slender waist, flying towards them like a great eagle.

She landed a short distance away, looked at Duan Rong, smiled brightly, and said, "Brother Duan, it's truly a rare treat to have you here."

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Senior Sister Jiang, it's been a year since we last met. I hope you've been well."

Jiang Hanyan entered the sect earlier than Duan Rong and was also a few years older than him, so Duan Rong called her senior sister.

Jiang Hanyan said, "Brother Duan, Tianzhu Peak has always had excellent tea. Let's go inside and talk."

Duan Rong said, "Excellent!"

The two then used their abilities to fly into the pavilion.

Jiang Hanyan personally brewed tea and poured it for Duan Rong, saying, "This is a new tea from before the Qingming Festival. Brother Duan, please have a taste."

Duan Rong rose respectfully to accept the tea, sat down, took a small sip, and immediately felt a refreshing and fragrant sensation, his mouth watering. He couldn't help but praise, "Tianzhu Peak is a place of outstanding natural beauty, truly nurturing excellent tea!"

Jiang Hanyan smiled faintly and said, "My master has always loved tea, so he has put a lot of effort into planting and processing tea."

Duan Rong said, "Master Lin's style is exquisite and elegant."

Duan Rong took another sip of tea, then put down the tea set and greeted the master, saying, "To be honest, Senior Sister Jiang, I didn't come here without a reason."

Jiang Hanyan smiled and said, "Brother Duan, please feel free to speak. If I can help, I will do so without hesitation."

Jiang Hanyan said this while looking at Duan Rong; her eyes were clear, like autumn water rippling gently.

Duan Rong said, "I would like to borrow three divine herbs from my senior sister: one silver-edged grass, one purple mist flower, and one soul silk grass."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yanhan took a sip of tea and said, "I thought it was something serious. Brother Duan is being too polite. Don't talk about borrowing. If Brother Duan hadn't saved Hanyan in the ruins of gods and demons, I wouldn't have been able to bring those divine medicines out. Those divine medicines should have been a share for Brother Duan in the first place."

"Brother Duan, please sit for a moment. I will bring you the three divine herbs right away."

After Jiang Hanyan finished speaking, she stood up, bowed, and left.

Duan Rong was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected Jiang Hanyan to be so agreeable.

After Jiang Hanyan left, Duan Rong sat there sipping tea. He had just begun to savor the lingering flavor when Jiang Hanyan returned to her room.

Jiang Hanyan sat down at the table, placed three black jade boxes on it, and pushed them toward Duan Rong, saying, "Three divine herbs, Brother Duan, please take a look."

Duan Rong's divine sense penetrated the medicine, and it was indeed the three divine medicines he needed. He smiled and said, "These are the three medicines. Thank you, Senior Sister Jiang."

Jiang Hanyan smiled and said, "I am very happy that Brother Duan could come. It's just three divine medicines, Brother Duan, you don't need to worry about it."

"Hanyan, you're really generous!"

No sooner had Jiang Hanyan finished speaking than a clear and spirited female voice rang out in the room. Jiang Hanyan's expression changed drastically.

Duan Rong recognized the voice; it was Lin Youjian's voice.

As the sound rang out, a figure suddenly appeared not far away like a ghost; it was Lin Youjian, dressed in purple.

Lin Youjian is nearly two hundred years old, but time has not left any marks on her face; it has only honed her into a wise and composed demeanor.

She stood there, her demeanor elegant and refined, yet she possessed an imposing presence that commanded respect without anger.

Lin Youjian glanced at the three black jade boxes on the table, then looked at Duan Rong and said, "Boy, your master is the sect leader, and the Inner History Department is in charge of the entire sect's resource allocation. Why do you have to come to Tianzhu Peak to extort these three divine medicines? Are you taking advantage of my Hanyan's honesty?"

“Master. Brother Duan…” Jiang Hanyan’s face turned pale, and she wanted to explain, but she didn’t know how to say it.

Duan Rong said, "Senior Lin, I do indeed need these three miraculous medicines. But this is not an extortion, but a loan. I will definitely return them within two months."

"You talk a good game, but why should I believe you?!" Lin Youjian said, and with a flick of his hand, the three black jade boxes flew towards her.

Zhu He has been the sect leader for a year now, and Lin Youjian, as the director of the Office of Transmission, has had many disagreements with Zhu He. In the past few months, the resources allocated to Tianzhu Peak by the Office of Internal Affairs have begun to show uneven quality.

Lin Youjian was already harboring resentment, and today she happened to witness Duan Rong trying to take away her three divine medicines from Tianzhu Peak for free. She immediately intervened to stop him.

The three black jade boxes flew into the air. Lin Youjian was about to reach out and grab them when Duan Rong suddenly appeared, flicked his hand, and pressed the three black jade boxes back onto the table. He then looked at Lin Youjian and laughed, "Once something is lent out, it's like spilled water. How can you just take it back?"

Lin Youjian stared at Duan Rong in astonishment, because she had just used the power of law, but Duan Rong had forced it back down.

She then used her divine sense to scan Duan Rong's dantian, where she saw black light surging.

"It's Dongming!?"

"He's condensed his Netherworld Realm?!" (End of Chapter)