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

Jiang Hanyan followed Duan Rong to the depths of the dungeon.

After days of interrogation, the dungeon reeked of blood, and faint, pitiful groans could be heard from time to time in the dim light…

Duan Rong led Jiang Hanyan into a prison cell.

The depths of the prison were quite dark, with only a lantern hanging at the entrance. Inside the cell was a charcoal brazier containing a red-hot branding iron. By the dim light, Jiang Hanyan could vaguely see three people tied to a wooden frame in the cell, along with various instruments of torture.

Jiang Hanyan's eyes flickered slightly. She didn't know why Duan Rong had brought her here, but since they had come to this cell, it must be related to these three people. Thinking of this, Jiang Hanyan looked at Duan Rong and asked, "Brother Duan, who are these three people?"

Duan Rong did not answer. Instead, he took down the lantern from the cell door, carried it, and slowly walked to the person in the middle of the shadows deep inside the cell. He held the lantern to the side of the person's face and said, "Senior Sister Jiang, take a close look. Do you recognize this person?"

Although the lantern light was dim, it was quite close at this moment, illuminating a somewhat aged face. The person had been in the darkness for some time and had adapted to the environment. The sudden closeness of the light made him squint.

Jiang Hanyan's expression changed drastically when she saw that face.

Her gaze swept over the birthmark under the man's right eye and the general shape of his face.

Jiang Hanyan felt a jolt of electricity run through her body, her lips trembled, and she stammered, "It's... Meng Zongqiu..."

When Meng Zongqiu heard someone call his name, he was slightly taken aback, because he hadn't used that name for over ten years. He looked at Duan Rong and Jiang Hanyan in front of him and smiled strangely, saying, "Meng Zongqiu?! I suppose you've mistaken me for someone else."

Jiang Hanyan glared at him with terrifying eyes and said, "The hatred for killing my father and abusing my mother is as deep as the sea. Even if you turn to ashes, I will not mistake you."

Upon hearing this, Meng Zongqiu remained unmoved. He had killed countless people in his life, and he had no intention of leaving this dungeon alive. He only wanted to suffer less, but he never expected to encounter his mortal enemy. He naturally did not recognize this woman, but the tangible hatred in her eyes was unmistakable.

Meng Zongqiu remained silent.

Jiang Hanyan walked over, picked up the lantern from Duan Rong's hand, and shone it on the people on either side of Meng Zongqiu. She saw that one was Wu Mingfu and the other was Li Tang.

Jiang Hanyan gave a strange smile and said, "I dream about the three of you every day, but I never thought you would all be here today."

Duan Rong walked slowly to the cell door, turned around and said, "Senior Sister Jiang, come out with me for a moment."

Jiang Hanyan was still immersed in the excitement of wanting revenge when she heard Duan Rong call her. She was slightly startled and came back to her senses. She then picked up her lantern and walked to the prison cell door.

Duan Rong stood there, looking at Jiang Hanyan, and said, "I saw these three by chance during the capture of the Filthy Blood Cult members. I recognized them because I had seen them before in your illusory soul realm of obsession within the ruins of gods and demons."

Jiang Hanyan's voice trembled slightly as she said, "Heaven have mercy, such a strange thing still happens."

Duan Rong said, "These three can be left to Senior Sister Jiang to handle. The Filthy Blood Cult members have been interrogating people in the dungeon these past few days, and quite a few have died. So, Senior Sister Jiang, you don't need to hold back. Whether you cut off their hands or feet, or skin them alive, you can vent your frustrations."

When Jiang Hanyan heard the words "severed limbs," "skinned," and "tenderly dismembered," her face twitched. The hatred that had been accumulating in her heart for many years was indeed too deep.

Duan Rong continued, "I have only one request. Before they die, Senior Sister needs to extract information about the Filthy Blood Cult from them."

As Duan Rong spoke, he pulled out paper and pen for interrogation from his sleeve and handed them to Jiang Hanyan.

Jiang Hanyan reached out and took it, saying, "Brother Duan, rest assured. I often interrogate criminals in the Office of Transmission and I am quite skilled in this art. As long as the intelligence is not uncovered, I will never let them die."

There was a chilling undertone in Jiang Hanyan's words.

Duan Rong said, "Then I'll leave things here to my senior sister."

Jiang Hanyan said, "Okay."

Duan Rong then walked towards the entrance of the dungeon.

Jiang Hanyan watched Duan Rong walk away. For some reason, her eyes were filled with tears, but her tearful gaze was full of murderous intent.

She walked out of the dimly lit prison cell carrying a lantern...

More than an hour later, Jiang Hanyan walked out of the dimly lit cell. She felt her legs were weak. The joy of avenging her great enemy had faded, and now her heart felt like it had a huge hole, a terrifying emptiness.

Carrying a lantern, she staggered out of the dungeon corridor.

Duan Rong, who was writing documents at his desk, got up and went to greet her as soon as he saw her come out.

Jiang Hanyan handed Duan Rong a piece of paper stained with blood and covered in messy handwriting, saying, "The intelligence has all been dug out."

Duan Rong took it and said, "Senior Sister, thank you for your hard work."

Jiang Hanyan stared blankly at Duan Rong, as if it took her a long time to understand the meaning behind his words. Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes, and she knelt down before Duan Rong.

Seeing that she was about to kneel, Duan Rong pulled her back. But Jiang Hanyan still knelt on the ground, and said with a sob in her voice, "Brother Duan's kindness is so great that even if I were to repay it with my own efforts, I could never do so."

Duan Rong said, "We have a history. I also know your obsession. This chance encounter with these three people is probably fate. Senior Sister, there's no need to thank me."

Jiang Hanyan smiled and said, "Brother Duan picked them very cleanly."

Jiang Hanyan immediately suppressed her smile, her expression turning solemn. She said, "Though it is the will of Heaven, it is also a matter of human affairs. Brother Duan speaks so lightly, but this favor is immense. Brother Duan, if you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. I will risk my life to accompany you, even in the face of danger."

As Jiang Hanyan spoke, she looked at Duan Rong with a gleam in her eyes.

Duan Rong touched his nose, avoiding Jiang Hanyan's gaze, and laughed, "It's no big deal. Didn't I borrow three divine herbs from you last time? When have I ever been polite to you?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hanyan smiled and said, "That's a trivial matter, Brother Duan, why bother mentioning it?"

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Senior Sister Jiang must be tired too. You should go back and rest early. I still need to send people to arrest more people based on the information you've gathered."

Jiang Hanyan said, "Then I'll take my leave. Although this case is significant, Brother Duan, you should also take care to rest."

Jiang Hanyan bowed respectfully, then turned and left the dungeon.

Duan Rong then took the information that Jiang Hanyan had interrogated, refined and categorized it, and dispatched men to various places to arrest people.

Then he went deep into the dungeon and came to the cell where Meng Zongqiu and the other two had been imprisoned.

Upon entering the cell, a strong, pungent smell of blood filled the air.

Duan Rong didn't use his divine sense; it would be too clear, and he was afraid he'd vomit. He held up his lantern and shone it slightly, revealing three piles of bloody, mangled flesh. Without being told, it was impossible to tell they were human. Duan Rong immediately left the cell and ordered his men to clean it up.

This major case, which nearly destroyed the Blood Cult, finally came to a close after more than half a month.

The dungeon was already overflowing with filth and blood, emitting a pungent stench. Later, Yang Yi obtained sulfur powder and sprinkled it in the dungeon every day to suppress the disgusting smell. Everyone involved in the case, from the Inner History Department to the Court of Judicial Review, was exhausted and overwhelmed.

When the case was settled, Duan Rong's case file was completed on the same day.

He took the dossier to Yunfu Peak and handed it to Zhu He.

Zhu He flipped through the files, looked up at Duan Rong whose face was covered in grease, and laughed, "Commander Duan, you've worked hard this time. I'm envious of such a great achievement."

Duan Rong said, "Master, don't joke. This was originally meant for you."

Zhu He said, "Originally, that was naturally your thought, and I didn't doubt it. But now that Fu Yi has been captured and the Filthy Blood Sect is almost destroyed, things have developed far beyond your original intentions."

As Zhu He spoke, he picked up the dossier that Duan Rong had written, stood up, and said, "Let's go, you come with me to see the Ancestor. The outcome of the case needs to be reported to him first. As the person in charge, you will have to answer many questions from the Ancestor on the spot."

Duan Rong nodded and followed Zhu He, flying out of Yunfu Peak and heading towards the deep valley where the ancestor lived in seclusion.

This time, Zhu He met Lü Yinlin.

Inside Lü Yinlin's cave dwelling, Zhu He reported the results of the trial to Lü Yinlin.

There were five Dharma Masters at the main altar; three were captured, and two are still at large. Countless other branches and sub-alliances in various prefectures were destroyed.

Lu Yinlin nodded and said, "With Fu Yi gone, the Filthy Blood Sect has lost its soul. Even if there are still some remnants, they will not be unable to cause trouble. In the future, they will only be minor troubles."

Zhu He said, "What the Ancestor said is absolutely right. After this defeat, the Filthy Blood Sect is no longer a threat."

Lu Yinlin said, "I am already aware of this matter. As for the rest, you can preside over the Elder Council meeting to discuss and decide. There is no need to ask me again."

“Yes, Ancestor,” Zhu He replied.

Lu Yinlin said, "Sect Leader Zhu, you may step down."

"Yes, disciple takes his leave." Zhu He clasped his hands and stepped back.

Duan Rong also bowed and stepped back, preparing to leave with Zhu He.

At this moment, Lü Yinlin said, "Duan Rong, wait a moment."

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong froze.

Zhu He glanced at Duan Rong's profile, took a step back, and then turned and left the cave.

After Zhu He left the cave, Lü Yinlin looked at Duan Rong and said, "I have been very busy for the past half month. And I know that you, who are presiding over this case, must also be very busy, so I have not called you over."

Duan Rong said, "I am the deputy director of the Court of Judicial Review, and it is my duty to handle such important cases."

Lu Yinlin said, "Over the years, there have been countless heads of the Judgment and Justice Division. I can't even remember some of their names anymore. With so many people in charge, they all seem to have some skill, but they have accomplished nothing against the Bloodstained Sect. Even that Yang Sixuan, his style is somewhat decent, but he is just as useless."

Duan Rong's lips moved slightly. He naturally knew that Yang Sixuan was no ordinary person, but many things are a matter of timing and fate. Although he knew this in his heart, he couldn't openly contradict the patriarch, so he had to keep quiet.

Lu Yinlin said, "Fu Yi and his Filthy Blood Cult have been a major threat to our Taiyi Sect for many years, and it has been difficult to eradicate them. Today, we have been able to sweep them away and completely quell this threat. Duan Rong, you have made a great contribution."

Duan Rong said, "This disciple has been trained by the Ancestor and the sect, and what I have done is only my duty. I dare not take credit for it."

“A merit is a merit. There’s no need for hesitation.” Lü Yinlin smiled and said, “Speak. What do you want? As long as it’s within my power, I will reward you.”

Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly. He had already thought of something, so he clasped his hands and said, "Is what you say true, Ancestor? As long as it can be done, you will reward your disciple?"

Lü Yinlin said, "Boy, who do you think you are? What do you mean by 'is this true'?"

Duan Rong said, "It was my fault for being so rude. However, I do have something I desire. If you would be so kind as to bestow it upon me, I would be moved to tears and would repay your kindness by weaving grass into a ring."

Lu Yinlin said, "Why are you being so slick with your words today?! Tell me, what do you want?"

Duan Rong said, "Ancestor, when we went to the valley to besiege Fu Yi that day, we discovered that this person was able to resist divine sense detection. I suspect that this person must possess a rare treasure to have such a miraculous ability."

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he clasped his hands in a fist and bowed his head, his gaze fixed on the ground.

Upon hearing this, Lü Yinlin's face twitched involuntarily. He hadn't expected Duan Rong to ask for this item so readily, and he felt a pang of regret.

He had naturally already obtained that rare treasure from Fu Yi.

That item could even evade his divine sense detection. It was precisely because of this item that Fu Yi was able to remain hidden in Qingzhou for many years without being discovered.

To be honest, Lü Yinlin was already a Nascent Soul cultivator, and ordinary magic treasures were of little use to him. But this particular item was surprisingly useful to him.

Moreover, Lü Yinlin hadn't expected that Duan Rong could so confidently guess that Fu Yi's ability to remain undetected by divine sense stemmed from possessing a rare treasure, rather than from the wondrous nature of the blood infant.

A look of intense struggle and pain flashed across Lü Yinlin's eyes, but he still gritted his teeth, pulled something from his sleeve, and with a flash of red, tossed it to Duan Rong, saying, "Here you go! Catch it!"

Duan Rong reached out and grabbed the red shadow in front of him, then stared intently at his hand.

It was a scarlet handkerchief, its base color a vivid, almost blood-red hue, covered with countless tiny black dots—upon closer inspection, they turned out to be crows…

The crows were so densely packed that they seemed to be flying through a sea of ​​blood. The deep black and the vivid scarlet created an extreme contrast.

Duan Rong stared at the object before him, his eyes flashing with a deep, unsettling light. He wasn't just guessing; after absorbing the spirits of the items within Fu Yi's cave, a wealth of information converged, and he already knew Fu Yi possessed this treasure.

This treasure is called the "Ten Thousand Crows' Fire Scarf". Over the years, Fu Yi has kept it tied to his waist at all times in order to escape the detection of divine sense.

Having obtained this item, his journey to the Faxiang Sect to find a method to further enhance his spiritual power will be much safer.

"Duan Rong, you may step down now. I am tired," Lü Yinlin's voice drifted over leisurely.

"Yes, Ancestor. This disciple takes his leave." Duan Rong put on the Ten Thousand Crows Fire-Stripped Handkerchief and left the cave.

After Duan Rong left, Lü Yinlin sat there somewhat dejectedly, took a sip of water, and said, "That kid really knows how to take what he wants. He took my favorite thing as soon as he opened his mouth."

At that moment, a strange female voice came from the shadows behind Lü Yinlin: "Being too proud will only lead to suffering. Why didn't you just tell him you didn't have any?"

Lu Yinlin turned his head and saw a blood-red infant emerge from the shadows, looking at him with affection. (End of Chapter)