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

It turned out that Zhu He had appointed Fan Hongjiao as his general, ordering her to lead men to besiege the stronghold of the Longchang Escort Agency.

Fan Hongjiao arrested all the members of the escort agency, put them on her Cloud Feather Mad Eagle, and rushed back to the sect. She had just landed on the Eagle-Holding Platform of the Judgment Department when she ordered her men to wait there. She then jumped off the eagle's back to check on the prisoners' accommodations. As she walked to the dungeon entrance, she happened to see Duan Rong, which led to their conversation.

Fan Hongjiao looked at Duan Rong and laughed, "Forget it, Junior Brother, I'll settle this score with you later. First, tell me what to do with those Bloodstained Cult prisoners I captured?"

Duan Rong asked, "Which stronghold is Senior Sister besieging?"

Fan Hongjiao said, "Longchang Escort Agency."

Duan Rong asked, "How many people were arrested?"

Fan Hongjiao said, "There were over a hundred people. When I got there, I surrounded them and knocked them all unconscious, then captured them all."

Duan Rong couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement; this was indeed Fan Hongjiao's style of doing things.

The situation is different between a security escort agency and a mountain stronghold. While the stronghold is indeed entirely populated by members of the Filthy Blood Cult, many people in the security escort agency probably have no idea that their boss is a member of the Filthy Blood Cult. However, since Fan Hongjiao has already been captured, they can only detain her for now and then investigate her one by one.

Duan Rong was about to go into the dungeon to find Yang Yi when Yang Yi hurriedly stepped out of the dungeon, wiping the fine sweat from his forehead, and said, "Commander Duan, that scoundrel Shang Xiangyu has been put into a solitary cell for serious offenders. The other prisoners are also being put into the dungeon in groups of ten, as you instructed. Commander Duan, do you have any other instructions?"

Duan Rong smiled at Yang Yi. In fact, he knew that Yang Yi was hiding behind the dungeon door. He didn't even use his divine sense to investigate. After achieving the Cave-Ming Realm, his six senses were already far more acute than ordinary people. Although there were many voices in the dungeon, he could hear the rustling footsteps behind the dungeon door very clearly.

Duan Rong said, "Another batch of prisoners has arrived."

Yang Yi exclaimed in astonishment, "Another batch?"

Duan Rong said, "This batch and the previous batch should be detained separately to avoid confusion. The previous batch consisted entirely of members of the Filthy Blood Cult. But this batch needs to be screened."

Yang Yi's eyes flickered, and he said, "Your subordinate understands."

Duan Rong turned to Fan Hongjiao and said, "Senior Sister Fan, bring the prisoner over and hand him over to Steward Yang."

Fan Hongjiao agreed and headed towards the Eagle-Stopping Platform. Before long, a group of men escorted over a hundred people to the dungeon entrance. Fearing that the two groups might get mixed up, Yang Yi went into the dungeon and locked the first group in the innermost part, while Fan Hongjiao's group was locked in the outermost cells.

While Yang Yi was still busy, Lu Geng and Wang Yue arrived. Naturally, the two of them also destroyed a stronghold and captured some people.

When the fellow disciples met, they naturally started by catching up. However, Lu Geng and Wang Yue didn't dare to be as disrespectful as Fan Hongjiao. Upon seeing Duan Rong, they first bowed respectfully and addressed him as Elder Duan. Only after Duan Rong warmly patted their shoulders did their expressions naturally warm up.

While everyone was busy inside the dungeon, Zhu He transformed into a streak of black light, landed at the dungeon entrance, and slowly walked in.

When Fan Hongjiao and Lu Geng saw Zhu He enter, they respectfully clasped their hands and addressed him as "Master," while the guards immediately knelt down and called him "Paying respects to the Sect Master."

The scene was chaotic, and Zhu He didn't care much about etiquette. He glanced around and saw Duan Rong standing behind Fan Hongjiao and the others. He said in a deep voice, "Duan Rong, the Ancestor has ordered that you be in charge of this case of the Filthy Blood Sect. You can call upon all the personnel of the Inner History Department and the Judgment Department."

Although the dungeon was in complete disarray, Zhu He's voice, generated from the vibrations of his inner energy, resonated with considerable penetrating power throughout the dungeon.

Even Yang Yi, who was deep inside the dungeon, heard it very clearly.

Duan Rong took a step to the side and stood to Fan Hongjiao's side, then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhu He and said, "Yes. Duan Rong obeys."

Zhu He nodded, looked at Fan Hongjiao and Lu Geng, and said, "You all stay here and help Duan Rong. Put everything else aside for now, and we'll talk about it after this bloody case is over."

"Yes, Master," Fan Hongjiao and the others replied, clasping their hands in greeting.

Zhu He then left the dungeon of the Judgment and Clan Affairs Department, transforming into a black streak and shooting into the dark valley.

In the shadows not far from the dungeon, Yang Sixuan stood there, looking at the chaotic figures inside, his face grim.

After Zhu He left, Duan Rong smiled and looked at Fan Hongjiao, Lu Geng, and Wang Yue, saying, "I'd like to trouble you, senior brothers and sisters, to return to the Inner History Bureau and transfer some of your capable interrogation supervisors over. There are many prisoners here, and the upcoming interrogations will be a huge undertaking."

Fan Hongjiao, Lu Geng, and Wang Yue each govern a region within the Inner History Bureau. They know perfectly well who among their subordinates is capable and who is incompetent. It's better to let them select a group of people than to randomly grab some yourself.

Fan Hongjiao, Lu Geng, and Wang Yue all agreed and went. At this moment, Ximen Kankan and Shen Mizhi also arrived. When they saw the dungeon in such a mess, they were startled and wondered what had happened. They hurriedly asked Duan Rong.

Duan Rong told them about the case involving the Filthy Blood Cult.

Duan Rong said, "You two go over there and follow Steward Yang. He's short-handed right now."

Ximen Kankan and Shen Mizhi then went to find Yang Yi and helped him detain the prisoners in batches.

Although there were many prisoners, Yang Yi was a capable man. He knew the situation in the dungeon like the back of his hand, and he could clearly explain which group of prisoners was in which section. He was busy but not chaotic, running around everywhere. In less than an hour, he had settled a large number of prisoners in their cells.

When Yang Yi came to report to Duan Rong, Duan Rong had already had several tables set up in the open space inside the dungeon gate. He planned to handle the case in the dungeon for the next few days.

At this moment, Fan Hongjiao and some historians transferred from the Inner History Department, as well as a group of people from the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs appointed by Duan Rong, were all standing in front of the desk.

Under the dim yellow light, there were at least forty or fifty people.

Duan Rong divided these people into six teams, with Fan Hongjiao, Lu Geng, Wang Yue, Yang Yi, Ximen Kankan, and Shen Mizhi each leading one team. He then assigned the interrogation tasks to the six teams. Each person received their task and further subdivided it within their team.

Key figures naturally receive specific details. For example, Duan Rong handed Shang Xiangyu over to Yang Yi for interrogation.

Everyone went about their own business, which goes without saying, while Duan Rong sat at a table at the entrance of the dungeon, overseeing everything.

Not long after the task was assigned, Yang Yi suddenly walked over, covered in sweat, clutching his stomach, and said to Duan Rong, "Commander Duan, my stomach is a little uncomfortable. I'm going to the outhouse. I'll be right back."

Duan Rong glanced at Yang Yi and said, "Manager Yang, you must hurry back. We can't do without you here."

Yang Yi said, "Don't worry, Commander Duan. I'll be right back."

Duan Rong said, "Go."

Yang Yi immediately clutched his stomach and rushed out the door.

Duan Rong turned his head and looked at Yang Yi's somewhat comical back, and couldn't help but smile slightly. He naturally knew where Yang Yi was going.

Yang Yi left the dungeon and immediately disappeared into the shadows. He then used his movement skills to head towards the bamboo house where Yang Sixuan lived in seclusion.

Yang Sixuan stood in the shadows not far from the dungeon, his eyes fixed intently on the situation. As soon as Yang Yi leaped out of the dungeon, he saw him immediately, and then, in a flash, disappeared into the darkness.

Yang Yi was moving through the shadows. He was already very familiar with the terrain of the Judgment Bureau. He knew how to get to the bamboo building even with his eyes closed.

Just then, a figure suddenly called out from the darkness beside him, "Yang Yi." Yang Yi recognized the voice immediately; it was Yang Sixuan's voice.

Yang Yi paused, then clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the darkness and said, "Uncle, I was just about to come looking for you."

Yang Sixuan slowly emerged from the darkness. Although he was still in the shadows, Yang Yi could tell from the close proximity that his master's expression was not good.

Yang Sixuan said, "I just saw Zhu He go in too. What kind of big case is it that has caused such a commotion?"

Yang Yi said, "Zhu He went there to convey the ancestor's order."

"An ancestor's order?!" Yang Sixuan's eyes flickered slightly. An ordinary case would never have alarmed the ancestor.

"Yes, Uncle," Yang Yi said. "Fu Yi, the leader of the Filthy Blood Sect, has been captured."

"What!?" Yang Sixuan shouted almost in a loss of composure, which startled Yang Yi.

Yang Sixuan asked urgently, "Is the news accurate?"

Yang Yi said, “It should be true. I personally heard Fan Hongjiao mention this matter, and the Ancestor ordered Duan Rong to take charge of the case. He can mobilize all the personnel of the Inner History Department and the Judgment Department. He also arrested a large number of members of the Filthy Blood Cult and put them in the dungeon. These many things corroborate each other, so it should be true that Fu Yi was arrested.”

Yang Sixuan had calmed down by now. He pondered the matter and felt that it was probably true, but he still found it hard to accept that Duan Rong had captured Fu Yi so quickly. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Do you know where Fu Yi is being held?"

Yang Yi said, "I don't know, there aren't any in the dungeon."

Yang Sixuan chuckled and said, "Of course not in the dungeon. How could a dungeon hold him?"

Fu Yi has already condensed a blood infant, and his cultivation level is probably only able to be suppressed by the ancestor.

Yang Sixuan asked, "Who are those prisoners in the dungeon?"

Yang Yi naturally knew that his uncle was not asking about those ordinary people, so he only answered a few key questions, especially mentioning Shang Xiangyu and the place where the Filthy Blood Sect refined medicine.

"Shang Xiangyu?! A place for alchemy?!" Yang Sixuan was shocked upon hearing this.

He immediately sensed that if Duan Rong really caused Fu Yi to be captured this time, then Shang Xiangyu and the place where the medicine was made would probably be the key to breaking the deadlock.

Yang Sixuan also had a deep impression of the case of Shang Xiangyu's departure from the sect several years ago. After all, Shang Xiangyu's identity was special; he was the sect's pharmacist. Even for a sect, training a pharmacist required a considerable investment of time and effort.

Another important reason is that Yang Sixuan has been painstakingly tracking the Bloodstained Cult for many years and has several leads in his hands. During these decades of arduous pursuit, he could vaguely sense that Fu Yi was hiding behind them. He had also tried to destroy some strongholds, but ultimately found that the leads had all gone cold.

It was these experiences that allowed him to develop the theory of the three-tiered system of the Blood Cult.

However, in his decades of arduous searching, he never discovered that the Blood Filth Cult had any place for alchemy.

If Duan Rong found the place to refine medicine through Shang Xiangyu (a Chinese divination system).

This alchemy workshop is very likely part of the third layer of the Bloodstained Cult's system, the hidden system centered around Fu Yi.

If we follow this lead, we might actually find Fu Yi.

Yang Sixuan was, after all, the head of the Judgment Department of the Imperial Clan Court, and had studied the Filthy Blood Cult for decades. At this moment, based on just a few words, he had already deduced almost the whole process of Duan Rong's pursuit of the Filthy Blood Cult leader Fu Yi.

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Sixuan noticed a hint of urgency on Yang Yi's face and said, "You've been out for quite a while, go back first."

"Yes, Uncle." Yang Yi then moved and headed towards the dungeon.

Yang Sixuan stood in the darkness, her eyes flashing with deep contemplation.

Duan Rong was sitting at his desk, writing down some key details of the case on paper, preparing to scrutinize them to avoid any mistakes. Just then, a figure walked in through the dungeon door.

Duan Rong looked up and saw that it was none other than Yang Sixuan. He immediately put down his pen, stood up, clasped his hands in greeting to Yang Sixuan, and said, "Chief Yang, although a major case has occurred, it is already late. I was planning to have someone report to you first thing tomorrow morning, but I did not expect that the commotion would still be so great, disturbing you so late at night."

Duan Rong spoke politely and was very friendly. In fact, he greatly admired Yang Sixuan, especially Yang Sixuan's deduction about the three-tiered system of the Filthy Blood Cult. Duan Rong's recent investigation had personally verified the correctness of this theory.

Yang Sixuan's face was somewhat gloomy, but he just smiled faintly and said, "I heard that this time, Commander Duan not only destroyed several strongholds of the Blood Filth Sect, but also captured the sect's leader, Fu Yi?"

After much deliberation, Yang Sixuan became even more certain that the news of Fu Yi's arrest was not unfounded. He had painstakingly planned for decades, all for the sake of capturing Fu Yi.

Decades have passed, but nothing has been gained. In recent years, he has often felt that this matter is like a mirage, nothing more than his delusion.

But tonight, upon hearing that Fu Yi had been captured, how could he remain calm? After some thought, he couldn't help but come to Duan Rong to get to the bottom of things.

Duan Rong laughed and said, "I would never dare to claim credit for this matter. The capture of Fu Yi was personally orchestrated by the Ancestor. I was merely assisting him."

Yang Sixuan felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this. Although Duan Rong humbly declined, he had already admitted that Fu Yi, the leader of the Filthy Blood Sect, had indeed been captured.

Yang Sixuan took a breath before looking at Duan Rong and asking, "How did you manage to track down Fu Yi's hiding place, Commander Duan? Could you please tell me?"

Duan Rong looked at Yang Sixuan. He knew that Yang Sixuan had painstakingly studied the Filthy Blood Cult for decades in order to uncover the cult leader Fu Yi behind it. The so-called three-layer system theory of the Filthy Blood Cult was actually aimed at the last hidden system.

Unfortunately, despite decades of painstaking effort, he gained nothing, but by sheer chance, he stumbled upon Fu Yi's hiding place. Duan Rong admired Yang Sixuan's three-tiered system theory of the Filthy Blood Cult, and also lamented his decades of hard work. So, he made no attempt to hide anything and recounted in detail how he tracked down Fu Yi's location, especially when it came to Shang Xiangyu, where he explained it in more detail.

After listening, Yang Sixuan stood there and couldn't help but sigh, saying with a wry smile, "Commander Duan is indeed a lucky general."

Duan Rong laughed and said, "It was a coincidence. I just happened to run into Shang Xiangyu, and I had been a disciple under him, so I knew where he was. That's why, during the pursuit, I abandoned the patrolman of the Filthy Blood Sect and followed the clues of Shang Xiangyu. Who knew that in the end I would find Fu Yi's hiding place."

Yang Sixuan said, "In that case, it seems that the time has come and heaven and earth are working together."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered, and he said, "Actually, if we consider Yang Sizuo's theory about the three-tiered system of the Filthy Blood Sect, these three tiers are originally isolated from each other. Normally, even if there are clues, it would be impossible to penetrate these three tiers. However, this time, because Fu Yi was careless in his cultivation, his blood infant was damaged, so he ordered Shang Xiangyu to urgently refine a batch of blood food pills. Because of the urgency and the rarity of the medicinal materials, the usual methods of searching for medicinal materials could not gather these rare materials in a short time, so we had to search for these medicinal materials through the entire Filthy Blood Sect system."

"It was during this time that those medicinal herbs penetrated these three layers of the system. And I followed one of them, the Blood Spirit Mushroom, and found Shang Xiangyu, thus entering the third layer of the system."

Duan Rong was explaining the theoretical derivation, and Yang Sixuan was already engrossed in listening because Duan Rong was talking about his three-layer system theory.

Moreover, Duan Rong's account was extremely meticulous and captivating. He clearly explained how, by chance, he followed a Blood Spirit Mushroom, penetrated the isolated system, entered the hidden core, and finally found Fu Yi's hiding place.

Yang Sixuan then realized that Duan Rong had such a profound understanding of his three-tiered system theory. He had previously thought that Duan Rong's success was due to good fortune and the convergence of heaven and earth, but now he had to admit that not everyone could seize such luck.

If they were in each other's shoes, even he, could he really have tracked down Fu Yi's hiding place like Duan Rong did? (End of Chapter)