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

Duan Rong took Ayi back to Taiyi Sect.

The lush greenery and misty clouds of the Changliu Mountains present a completely different landscape from the terrifyingly overgrown trees and pervasive miasma of the Miao villages.

Duan Rong carried Ayi through the clouds. Ayi breathed in the rich, moist air; having grown up in the jungle, she was very sensitive to smells…

The two passed through valleys and clouds, landing on the hilltop of the Lü family residence.

Duan Rong arrived at Lü Zhongtang's courtyard first. On the way, he had already decided to hand Ayi over to Lü Qingzhu.

That morning, Lü Qingzhu had just come out of the meditation chamber. After having lunch with her family, she sat in the hall drinking tea in the afternoon.

She had just taken a few sips of tea when Duan Rong arrived at the entrance of the hall with Ayi.

Ayi looked around curiously, then suddenly stared intently at the colorful beam under the eaves.

She had never left the Miao village jungle before, and had only seen wooden houses built in the trees, but had never seen a house with such carved beams and painted rafters.

Before Duan Rong even stepped into the hall, Lü Qingzhu had already seen him. She stood up with a charming smile, curtsied, and said, "I thought my husband would be gone for another ten or eight years."

Duan Rong had just entered the hall when he said, "There has been a slight mishap in my cultivation."

Lü Qingzhu didn't ask what had happened, but simply brought over a cup of tea and said, "This is freshly picked pre-rain tea, my husband, please have a taste."

Duan Rong took it, sipped it twice, and indeed found it fragrant and delicious. He exclaimed, "Good tea!"

Duan Rong smiled at Lü Qingzhu, placed the teacup on the table, then turned to look at Ayi, who was standing there in a daze outside the door. He waved to Ayi, who understood and stepped into the hall.

When Duan Rong landed at the entrance of the hall, Lü Qingzhu noticed that Duan Rong had brought a pretty little girl with him. However, the little girl was dressed in animal skins and had a strange whip tied in her hair, making her attire quite peculiar.

Ayi stood there, looking at Lü Qingzhu warily, while Lü Qingzhu looked back at her curiously.

Duan Rong then introduced the situation to Lü Qingzhu.

In the jungles of the Miao village, he was searching for a medium to gain enlightenment when he encountered Ayi's people who were about to burn her alive. He intervened and saved her...

As the two were chatting, Shen'er peered into the hall from outside, his head bobbing. As soon as he poked his head out, Duan Rong and Lü Qingzhu noticed him.

But as soon as Shen'er peeked out, she was immediately drawn to Ayi, who was standing at the entrance of the hall, dressed in animal skins and with a bamboo basket tied around her waist.

He often frequented the Lü family mansion, and had never seen such strange attire before.

Out of curiosity, Shen'er stepped into the hall.

Duan Rong thought Shen'er was coming to see him, so he smiled and looked at Shen'er. But as soon as Shen'er stepped into the hall, she immediately pounced on the bamboo basket that Ayi was wearing on her waist.

Ayi was standing with her back to the entrance of the hall and didn't notice Shen'er coming in at all. In a moment of inattention, Shen'er opened the lid of the bamboo basket, and a colorful venomous snake immediately darted out and bit Shen'er's face.

Duan Rong and Lü Qingzhu were both watching; there was no way the poisonous snake could have bitten Shen'er.

The moment the venomous snake darted out of the bamboo basket, just as it was about to bite Shen'er's nose, it suddenly exploded into a bloody mess.

Duan Rong struck the venomous snake with a burst of law power, and at that moment, Lü Qingzhu flew over and picked up Shen'er. Some blood splattered on Shen'er's face, and she cried loudly in fright.

It wasn't until then that Ayi came to her senses. She turned her head and saw a headless snake dangling at the mouth of the bamboo basket. Looking at Shen'er, who was wailing loudly, Ayi knew that the child had touched her bamboo basket.

Ayi put the broken snake back into the bamboo basket, closed the lid, and stared stubbornly at Lü Qingzhu and Shen'er, who was crying loudly in her arms...

Although some unexpected events occurred, Ayi was brought back by Duan Rong after all. After coaxing Shen'er, Lü Qingzhu took Ayi to Li Baoyue's place. Firstly, she asked Li Baoyue to arrange accommodation for Ayi, and secondly, since Ayi was new to the area and couldn't speak the language, she asked Li Baoyue to teach her some simple tasks so that she could integrate into life in the mansion.

Duan Rong had not returned home for over a year. This time, he naturally had a good reunion with his family and they had a reunion dinner together that evening.

Ayi initially thought Duan Rong was a deity, and when she was brought here, she assumed it was the abode of a god. However, she gradually sensed something was amiss. Li Baoyue settled her in and even took her to the outhouse, demonstrating it to her herself in case she didn't understand. This left Ayi completely dumbfounded…

That night, Duan Rong slept alone in his room.

He lay on the dark bed, pondering the gains and losses of this spiritual practice.

On the positive side, his cultivation level naturally saw a breakthrough. He went out twice, each time for more than a year, totaling only three years, and yet he reached the mid-stage of the Cavern Realm. Such speed is naturally quite extraordinary.

However, he also encountered serious obstacles, and it's even uncertain whether he can continue down the path of devouring artifact spirits.

If he were to reverse the course and embark on the four-step path of enlightenment again, he would still need to find a medium for his own understanding!

Duan Rong couldn't help but sigh. After all the twists and turns, it seemed he had returned to where he started.

If he doesn't want to walk the path of the Four Steps of Cultivation, which is like crawling and struggling in an endless dark tunnel, he must find a way to continue to grow his spiritual power so that he can continue to devour higher-level idols.

But after the complete Womb Sutra, is there another method for cultivating spiritual power?

Duan Rong couldn't help but feel a little irritated. He turned over in bed, and as he turned to his side, he suddenly decided that he should ask the old ancestor Lü Yinlin about this problem directly tomorrow.

Lu Yinlin was, after all, an old monster who had lived for over a thousand years, and the patriarch of a sect, a top-tier existence in this realm. Perhaps he possessed, or at least should know, whether a more powerful soul cultivation technique than the Womb Treasury Scripture existed in this realm.

Another key question is, will he tell himself that?

In the darkness, Duan Rong's eyes shone like stars.

He felt that Lü Yinlin was very likely to tell him, because he had reached the mid-stage of the Cave Nether Realm in just three years. This speed was probably even more shocking to Lü Yinlin than when he had previously condensed and grown the Cave Nether Realm.

Because, judging from the speed at which he has reached the mid-stage of the Cave of Clarity Realm, it may not even take him a hundred years to reach the Nascent Soul Realm.

Once he reaches the Nascent Soul Realm, the Taiyi Sect will have two Nascent Soul Realm experts, making them a formidable force among the eight sects, comparable to the Qingyang Sect.

With the sect's prosperity, Lü Yinlin, as the sect's patriarch and one of the most powerful figures in this world, will have greater influence. This will greatly benefit his ability to acquire rare and precious materials, increase his number of elemental beasts, and seek breakthroughs in this world.

Therefore, Lü Yinlin would do everything in his power to help him grow. Having figured this out, Duan Rong finally fell asleep peacefully on his bed.

The next morning, after having breakfast, Duan Rong left the Lü family residence and headed to the deep valley where his ancestor Lü Yinlin lived in seclusion.

Chu Wushang was weaving bamboo baskets in front of the thatched hut when Duan Rong walked slowly over from not far away.

Chu Wushang paused, his eyes flickering slightly. It had been three years since Duan Rong had last visited this place.

Chu Wushang's divine sense suddenly swept over, passing through Duan Rong's dantian. He saw that the Dongming Cave in Duan Rong's dantian was still the same as when it had just been formed three years ago, with black light surging.

Duan Rong had mastered the twenty-second level of the Womb Treasury Sutra, and his control over his divine sense had reached an extremely delicate level. Just now, he used a trick formed by his divine sense to conceal Chu Wushang's investigation.

He had achieved the mid-stage of the Cave of Enlightenment realm, but he didn't want too many people to know.

Duan Rong walked up to Chu Wushang and bowed, saying, "It's been three years. How have you been, Mr. Chu?" Chu Wushang smiled, a rare occurrence, and said, "What? You've returned after three years of traveling?"

Duan Rong said, "I have something I'd like to see the Ancestor about. Is he in?"

Chu Wushang said, "Ancestor has been in the valley all this time, you may go now."

Duan Rong said, "Thank you, Mr. Chu."

Duan Rong left this place, passed through the withered forest, and entered the deep valley.

Standing at the entrance of the valley, Duan Rong looked at the tranquil valley, and a look of solemnity suddenly appeared in his eyes. When he first formed the Cave of Clarity, he vaguely sensed that there was something strange about this valley.

Now that he had reached the mid-stage of the Cave of Enlightenment Realm, he was certain that the entire valley was shrouded in a massive rune array.

The misty, withered forest at the valley entrance is merely a small part of the larger array that surrounds the entire valley.

Before achieving the Cave-Ming Realm, Duan Rong couldn't even sense the existence of this invisible array that enveloped the entire valley.

Even now, he could only vaguely sense that the eye of this great formation seemed to be the ancient pine tree in the valley, not far from the entrance of the cave of the ancestor Lü Yinlin.

Duan Rong walked slowly toward the entrance of the ancestral cave, his eyes fixed on the ancient pine tree.

Just as Duan Rong was about two zhang away from the old pine tree, a figure suddenly appeared in front of it. The figure looked at Duan Rong with shock and asked, "You've reached the mid-stage of the Cavern Realm?"

Duan Rong looked at Lü Yinlin, who had suddenly appeared, and slowly knelt down, clasped his hands and said, "Replying to the Ancestor, this disciple has indeed achieved the mid-stage of the Cave of Enlightenment Realm."

Lu Yinlin stood in front of the old pine tree, looking at Duan Rong, speechless for a long time.

He reached the mid-stage of the Cave of Clarity Realm in just three years.

Unheard of.

Lu Yinlin remained silent for a long time before saying, "There are extraordinary people and extraordinary stories in the world. Duan Rong, please stand up and let's talk."

Duan Rong then stood up.

Lu Yinlin bent down and walked under the old pine tree, sitting down in front of the stone table and chessboard. On the stone table was a game of chess that had not been touched for hundreds of years.

After Lü Yinlin sat down, he gestured for Duan Rong to sit opposite him.

Duan Rong clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This disciple dares not."

Lü Yinlin said, "Play a game with me."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly as he sat down opposite Lü Yinlin.

Lu Yinlin took out a basket of black and white chess pieces from under the stone table and began to play chess with Duan Rong.

Having mastered the art of chess by devouring the spirit of the artifact, Duan Rong began to play at a leisurely pace.

Lu Yinlin placed a white piece and asked softly, "What kind of medium are you trying to comprehend?"

Duan Rong said, "Miasma."

"Miasma!?" Lu Yinlin's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Duan Rong said, "Yes, Ancestor. In the Miao village forest south of Hongdu Prefecture, where there is no law or order, I was searching for a medium. One day, I suddenly felt something about the miasma rising in the forest, and the black light in the cave surged. I used this to comprehend the mystery, and I was able to often cause the black light in the cave to surge."

"Can this often cause?!" Lu Yinlin's voice trembled slightly.

So-called media outlets that generate seven or eight reports a month are considered competent. More than ten reports a month is already quite good. What exactly does this mean?

Although he found it strange, Lü Yinlin did not doubt Duan Rong's statement, because if he hadn't been able to attract attention, how could he have reached the mid-stage of the Cave of Enlightenment Realm in just three years?

Lu Yinlin sighed inwardly. He looked at Duan Rong, a hint of unfamiliarity rising in the depths of his eyes. He knew that this young man would surely surpass him in the future, and might even be able to rival the number one Spirit Foundation Master in the Nine Provinces.

Seeing that Lü Yinlin had been silent for a long time, Duan Rong tentatively asked, "Ancestor, besides the complete Womb Sutra, are there any other cultivation methods that can further enhance spiritual power?"

"Further enhance your spiritual power?!" Lü Yinlin gave Duan Rong a strange look. He didn't understand why Duan Rong wanted to further enhance his spiritual power. Wasn't his spiritual power sufficient after completing the entire Womb Sutra?
Lu Yinlin said, "Duan Rong! Spiritual power is merely an aid to the Dao, not the realm itself. There's no need to be too attached to it."

"Yes, Ancestor. This disciple understands... but..." Duan Rong said, "When this disciple is comprehending the medium, I have a feeling that after often comprehending it, there is a faint corresponding power of the laws within the mind, but I can't raise my mental strength to capture it, that feeling of powerlessness. After this happened many times, this disciple wondered if my mental strength was a bit insufficient?"

Lu Yinlin's eyes flickered slightly. Duan Rong's words made sense. If one were to comprehend the medium normally, mastering the entire Womb Treasury Sutra would naturally be sufficient. However, if one were like Duan Rong, frequently triggering a resonance between the Insightful Mind and the medium, and constantly needing to exert mental energy to comprehend and capture the subtle insights gained from the instantaneous surge of laws, then it was indeed possible that mental energy would be insufficient.

Lu Yinlin looked at Duan Rong as if he were a monster, and Duan Rong felt a chill run down his spine from Lu Yinlin's gaze.

Only then did Lu Yinlin's deep, resonant voice say, "As far as our sect is concerned, the Womb Treasury Scripture is the highest level of spiritual arts. As for the other sects in the Nine Provinces, apart from the Dharma Aspect Sect in the Western Regions, the spiritual arts of the other sects are actually from the same source as our Womb Treasury Scripture, and there is no difference in their level."

"From the same source?!" Duan Rong was shocked. This was the first time he had ever heard of such a claim.

The Fetal Treasury Scripture is the highest secret technique of the Taiyi Sect, and it is inherently very mysterious. The other sects are probably the same; their secret techniques of the soul are naturally difficult for outsiders to fathom.

But now Lü Yinlin actually said that, apart from the Faxiang Sect, the soul-binding secret techniques of all other sects are from the same source.

“That’s right,” said Lü Yinlin. “This all started tens of thousands of years ago when the various sects were founded. It was an era in which many masters emerged. The discovery of the ruins of gods and demons in various places, as well as the refining and absorption of the remnants of gods and demons wandering in the ancient battlefields of gods and demons, became the source of the earliest cultivation techniques in this world.”

"This divine soul technique was refined and absorbed from the remnants of gods and demons."

Duan Rong's eyes widened in astonishment. "It was refined and absorbed from the remnants of a god or demon's soul?!"

Lu Yinlin said, "This is a secret of this world. However, you'll find out sooner or later anyway, so I'll tell you about it now."

"Back then, the first person to refine and absorb the remnants of gods and demons on the ancient battlefield of gods and demons was Master Ci'en, a great monk of the Faxiang Sect." At this point, Lu Yinlin's eyes suddenly turned distant as he said, "Master Ci'en, through digesting and absorbing the remnants of gods and demons and combining them with Buddhist techniques, created a soul cultivation method suitable for the human race of this world."

"A soul cultivation technique suitable for humans?!" This was the first time Duan Rong had ever heard the word "human".

Lu Yinlin said, "That's right. The cultivation techniques contained within the remnant souls of gods and demons are those used by gods and demons. Humans cannot cultivate them. You should have seen the mountain-like remains of gods and demons within the ruins of gods and demons."

Duan Rong nodded and said, "This disciple greets you."

Lu Yinlin said, "The gods and demons are not only enormous in size, but their souls are also far superior to those of humans. The cultivation techniques of the gods and demons that cultivate the soul are naturally impossible for humans to directly cultivate."

Duan Rong's eyes gleamed with a hint of excitement as he said, "So, Master Ci'en of the Faxiang Sect created a divine and demonic secret technique that humans could cultivate, based on the divine and demonic techniques and combined with Buddhist techniques?"

Lü Yinlin said, “Exactly. The supreme Buddhist secret technique created by Master Ci'en is called the ‘Womb Realm Mandala.’ All the soul-binding secret techniques of various sects in the Nine Provinces originate from this. Therefore, the techniques of the soul, originating from the Western Regions, share the same source. This source is the ‘Womb Realm Mandala.’” (End of this chapter)