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

Duan Rong accepted the document, and seeing the worried looks in Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi's eyes, he smiled and said, "It's alright."

Seeing Duan Rong so relaxed, Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi finally felt relieved.

Duan Rong handed the document to Xiao Yu, his eyes flickered, and he asked, "Has Ximen Kankan come over in the past two months?"

Xiao Yu said, "Yes, he came over. Didn't you ask him to write down the most important and urgent matters concerning the Nine Provinces Sects every half month and send them over? The latest one was sent over just a couple of days ago."

Duan Rong touched his nose. He had originally given Ximen Kankan those instructions, but in the past year or so, he had hardly looked at those formations.

He was so focused on his spiritual cultivation that he didn't really care much about the situation of the sects in the Nine Provinces.

In his previous life on Earth, he quite enjoyed reading about current affairs and listening to various analyses every day. But things are different now. He has already reached the Cave-Penetrating Realm, which means he can live for several hundred years. Moreover, if he reaches the Nascent Soul Realm in the future, he will have a lifespan of two thousand years.

The situation of sects in the Nine Provinces is constantly changing. Considering his lifespan of two thousand years, these things are nothing more than illusions and are not worth worrying about.

Moreover, above the Nascent Soul Realm lies the Primordial God Realm, where one can roam freely beyond the heavens and attain immortality. Why would he care about these mundane illusions?
Duan Rong said, "Bring me the memorial so I can take a look."

Xiao Yu then brought out a stack of documents, but Duan Rong only took the top two documents and glanced through them.

He wasn't looking at the two documents to understand the situation of the sects in the Nine Provinces; he just wanted to see if Zhu He was there. If Zhu He was, he could go over and ask him to prepare the three divine medicines so he could settle the score with Lin Youjian.

Last time, when he met with Ximen Kankan, he had already mentioned that he wanted to find Zhu He to adjust the divine medicine. Therefore, in both of these reports, Ximen Kankan specified the date of Zhu He's return and his guesses about his recent schedule.

Judging from what Ximen Kankan wrote, Zhu He has been in the sect recently.

Duan Ronghe looked at Xiao Yu and said, "I'm going out for a bit."

Xiao Yu's eyes flickered, and she said softly, "Yes, my husband. When will you return?"

Duan Rong said, "It should be soon." After saying that, he transformed into a black streak, whistling past Xiao Yu and flying out of the courtyard in an arc.

Xiao Yu turned around, but Duan Rong was already gone. She couldn't help but sigh. Each time Duan Rong left, sometimes it was more than ten days, sometimes several months. He spoke quickly, so Xiao Yu really didn't know how long it had been.

Duan Rong moved like a ghost through the misty clouds and soon arrived at a valley not far from Yunfu Peak.

He was hidden deep within the valley, concealed in the mist and clouds, a distance of only about ten feet from Yunfu Peak.

Suddenly, Duan Rong had a thought and released his divine sense, which enveloped the entire Yunfu Peak.

In an instant, he saw Zhu He in the room, flipping through documents.

With Duan Rong's current refined divine sense, he scanned the entire Yunfu Peak and no one could detect him, not even Zhu He.

The moment Duan Rong locked his divine sense onto Zhu He, his eyes widened slightly. Zhu He looked very tired, and his overall energy and spirit were not as good as before.

"It seems that the position of sect leader is not easy to hold!"

Duan Rong couldn't help but sigh, and his figure suddenly disappeared from the depths of the clouds. The next moment, he appeared like a ghost outside Zhu He's room.

None of the guards on Yunfu Peak could detect his presence.

If it weren't for the fear of frightening his old mentor, Duan Rong could have appeared directly in front of Zhu He. Of course, that would have been far too impolite; Zhu He was not only his master but also the sect leader, and proper etiquette had to be observed.

Duan Rong then knocked on the door.

Inside the room, Zhu He was staring intently at a document in his hand, his brows furrowed into a deep frown. He held the pen up for a long time, but couldn't write a single word.

Just then, he heard a knock on the door, so he put down his pen and casually said, "Come in."

Zhu He's voice sounded rather weary. At this hour, he guessed it was Wu Shidao knocking on the door.

But the next moment, the door to the room was closed properly, but a figure walked straight through the wall and slowly entered, like a ghost.

Zhu He was slightly taken aback. He saw Duan Rong standing not far away with a faint smile. Suddenly, Duan Rong bowed to him and said, "Disciple Duan Rong greets Master."

"You've reached the Cave-Nether Realm?!" Zhu He asked in astonishment.

Duan Rong had only been out of seclusion in the talisman array chamber for a little over two months, and very few people knew about it. Zhu He was busy with sect affairs and was unaware that Duan Rong had already reached the Cave-Ming Realm.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Yes. It was just accomplished two months ago."

Zhu He gave Duan Rong a strange look. The last time he saw Duan Rong was when Duan Rong had just come out of the God and Demon Ruins, which was only a year and two or three months ago.

Back then, Duan Rong was still at the first level of the Qi Cyclone Realm!

You've already reached the Cavern Realm!?

Zhu He had a kind of illusion, an illusion of time. It was as if he was so tired from being the sect leader that he had gotten the time wrong.

Zhu He said, "I remember, more than a year ago, when you had just come out of the Divine Demon Ruins, we met once. At that time, you were still at the first level of the Qi Cyclone Realm, right? If I remember correctly?"

Duan Rong said, "Master is not mistaken. At that time, I was indeed at the first level of the Qi Cyclone Realm."

Zhu He said, "So the Cave of Clarity has already been condensed?!"

Duan Rong said, "My understanding of the conception has long been perfect and unimpeded, so achieving the Qi Cyclone Realm is no longer an obstacle. In addition, with the continuous refinement of the essence blood of high-level Yuan Beasts, I have already reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm in half a year. In another half year, I will condense and achieve the Cave of Enlightenment in Mr. Chu's talisman array chamber."

Zhu He exclaimed in astonishment, "A mere six months to condense a Cave of Clarity?"

Duan Peng said, "Yes, Master."

With a thought, Zhu He sent his divine sense into Duan Rong's dantian.

With Duan Rong's current spiritual power, he could have completely blocked Zhu He's divine sense from entering his body, and could even have created a false image within his dantian. However, Duan Rong did not do that, but instead allowed Zhu He's divine sense to sweep across his dantian.

Zhu He was at the early stage of the Cave of Enlightenment Realm, and his Cave of Enlightenment Realm was flawed. Therefore, he could not sense the faintly surging vitality in Duan Rong's Cave of Enlightenment Realm.

Zhu He couldn't help but ask, "Is there any flaw in your condensed Cave of Darkness?"

Duan Rong said, "Master, what I have condensed is a growth-oriented Insightful Realm."

Zhu He laughed and said, "If your condensed Cave of Nether is flawed, then come back to Yunfu Peak and lend your master a hand. This past year or so, being the sect leader has been quite a headache for me!"

Duan Rong noticed Zhu He's exhaustion and said, "Master, why work so hard? You can easily delegate some tasks to Senior Sister Fan Hongjiao and Senior Brother Wu Shidao. You can just stay here on Yunfu Peak and govern without lifting a finger. Wouldn't that be more pleasant?"

Zhu He laughed and said, "I wish I could. Duan Rong, you have no idea!"

At this point, Zhu He suddenly lowered his voice and said, "In the fifty years that Sect Leader Chu has been in charge of the sect, the Taiyi Sect has been in utter chaos, both inside and out. If I don't intervene, I can't just watch it rot away; if I do intervene, it will inevitably affect the interests of some people. Finding the right balance is truly difficult!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong suddenly understood. Even when he was a disciple, he often felt that the sect's tens of thousands of years of history had become somewhat rotten. It seemed that Chu Qiushan's fifty years as sect leader had led to neglect of many matters, resulting in the chaos on the sect's periphery. Zhu He now intended to rectify these issues.

Duan Rong said, "Master has worked so hard for the sect; it is truly not easy."

Zhu He said, "By the way, you've come to see me, I'm afraid there's something you need? You haven't shown your face here for over a year, I guess you wouldn't come here without a reason."

Duan Rong laughed and said, "Master is indeed Master. You know what kind of shit I'm going to take just by sticking my butt out?"

Zhu He laughed and said, "Alright, stop joking. What is it?"

Duan Rong said, "Master, since you weren't here before, I went to Tianzhu Peak and borrowed three divine herbs: a Silver-edged Grass, a Purple Mist Flower, and a Soul Silk Grass. Now, two months have passed, and Lin Youjian is pressuring his disciple to return them!!"

Zhu He said, "You've got quite the nerve! Lin Youjian actually lent you three divine herbs?! Even if I went, she might not have been willing to lend them to me!"

Duan Rong said, "She certainly wouldn't lend it to her disciple. I borrowed it from Jiang Hanyan."

Zhu He gave Duan Rong a strange look and exclaimed, "No way, you've won over that little girl Jiang Hanyan too?!"

It's not surprising that Zhu He had this idea, after all, Duan Rong had managed to get Lü Qingzhu to be his concubine. And he even went so far as to commit suicide in the Dragon Fish Hall on the day of the arranged marriage. From then on, Zhu He greatly admired Duan Rong's abilities in this regard.

Duan Rong said, "Master, what are you thinking? We were in the ruins of gods and demons, and I did save her, so I just needed to find her for a quick fix. What are you thinking?"

"Oh, is this urgent? I see. I was overthinking it." Zhu He said, "The preparation of divine medicines in the sect has always been very strict. Currently, only Yunfu Peak has the authority to prepare divine medicines, and it requires my handwritten order."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly. It seemed that the policies in this regard had been changed after Zhu He took office.

Zhu He said, "But if you want to use them, let alone three, ten, or even twenty, I will arrange them for you."

Duan Rong said, "Master, that's not necessary. Three will do. I just need to pay off my debt."

Zhu He then wrote a document, affixed the sect's seal and his personal seal, and handed the document to Duan Rong, saying, "Take this document and go to your Senior Brother Wu; he will arrange it for you."

Duan Rong took the document, glanced at it, and said, "Thank you, Master."

Zhu He's expression immediately sharpened, and he said, "There is one more thing."

Duan Rong raised his head and asked, "Master, is there anything else?"

Zhu He said, "Logically speaking, now that you have condensed the Cave of Clarity and achieved the Cave of Clarity Realm, you should be entering the Elder Council and serving the sect."

Duan Rong said, "Ah, is that so?"

Zhu He glanced at him and said, "Of course, do you think it's easy for a sect to cultivate a Cave-Nether Realm expert?"

“However…” Zhu He changed the subject, saying, “You are someone close to the Ancestor, so you can exercise discretion. How about this, I’ll assign you the task of guarding the Lü family’s residence. As for the Elder Council meetings, we’ll treat them as your absences each time.”

Duan Rong smiled and said, "This job is good. It suits me."

Zhu He laughed and said, "You shameless fellow. As for the paperwork, I'll have Wu Shidao handle it for you later, so you don't need to worry about it."

"Thank you, Master." Duan Rong then bowed and said, "Master, then this disciple will take his leave. Please take good care of yourself and don't overwork yourself."

Zhu He's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "I know."

Duan Rong bowed again, and his figure suddenly vanished like a ghost.

Zhu He sighed deeply, then said as if to himself, "To have condensed a growth-oriented Insightful Realm before the age of twenty-five... I underestimated my disciple! Junior brother, it seems you're about to be surpassed!"

Zhu He felt a surge of joy when he thought of how Gu Daoling had been outshone by Duan Rong, and even the fatigue he felt from reading documents vanished instantly.

Duan Rong stood in the corridor outside Zhuhe Gate. With a thought, his divine sense once again enveloped the entire Yunfu Peak.

He instantly located Wu Shidao. Wu Shidao was in his room, hunched over his desk, writing furiously, seemingly drafting a memorial.

Duan Rong's figure vanished instantly, and when he reappeared, he was already standing at the door of Wu Shidao's room.

He knocked gently on the door.

A knocking sound came from the door, but Wu Shidao was engrossed in writing and seemed not to hear it.

Duan Rong raised an eyebrow and had no choice but to knock three more times.

At this moment, Wu Shidao finally put down his pen. He leaped and landed in front of the door. His face was ashen and ugly. He was about to open the door to see which official or the historian had come to knock on his door at the exact time he was writing his memorials. Was he deliberately trying to make things difficult for him?
Wu Shidao opened the door, but froze there.

Duan Rong stood outside the door, smiling at him.

Seeing Wu Shidao holding the door with both hands and looking astonished, Duan Rong couldn't help but laugh and said, "What? Senior Brother Wu? Have you forgotten your junior brother after more than a year? You're not even letting me in for a seat when we're at the door?"

Wu Shidao stepped aside and said, "Where? Where? Junior Brother, please come in!"

Duan Rong then went inside.

Wu Shidao quickly picked up the stack of documents from the coffee table and said, "Junior brother, please excuse my rudeness. I've been incredibly busy for the past year or so, and my room is a complete mess."

Duan Rong smiled and said, "It's alright. Senior Brother is the backbone of Yunfu Peak, so he naturally has to be busy."

Wu Shidao was usually clean and tidy, and his room was always neatly organized, but now it was a complete mess, with documents piled up on the tables, chairs, and even the bedside.

Wu Shidao tidied up the tea table and invited Duan Rong to sit down. He then poured Duan Rong a cup of tea from a pot he had just brewed not long ago and said with a smile, "Junior Brother, why haven't we seen you for the past year or so? Senior Sister Fan and I often talk about you. Especially Senior Sister Fan, every time she sees me, she mentions you a few times."

Duan Rong smiled and said, "I also miss Senior Sister Fan and Senior Brother Wu very much, but I know that Yunfu Peak is busy with many things, and as a free person, how could I disturb them?"

As Duan Rong was speaking, he suddenly felt a divine thought sweep into his dantian; that was none other than Wu Shidao's divine thought.

Duan Rong remained expressionless, and with a ripple of his divine sense, he concealed his dantian, giving Wu Shidao the illusion of being at the Qi Cyclone Realm.

Wu Shidao smiled slightly. It had been a long time since they last met, and his junior brother was still only at the first level of the Qi Cyclone Realm.

Seeing Wu Shidao's appearance, Duan Rong suddenly had a thought and used his Forty-Nine Transformations of Divine Soul to sense Wu Shidao's body.

This realization startled Duan Rong, and his previously calm expression changed drastically.

Wu Shidao thought that Duan Rong's expression changed because he had noticed that Wu Shidao was probing his dantian.

But Duan Rong's heart was churning with emotion because he sensed that Wu Shidao actually possessed a nightmare seed!
He's a puppet!? (End of Chapter)