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

After leaving the secluded valley where Lü Yinlin lived, Duan Rong transformed into a streak of black light and flew into the depths of the vast mountains.

He landed in the dense forest of a desolate mountain peak in the wilderness.

The forest was covered with fallen leaves, and sunlight shone through the dense foliage, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Duan Rong walked slowly to a large rock, waved his hand, and all the fallen leaves and ash on the rock were gone, revealing the clean, rugged stone.

He sat cross-legged on the large rock and took out the Ten Thousand Crows Fire-Slaying Towel, which he had obtained from the ancestor Lü Yinlin, from his sleeve.

This item is quite wondrous, so to avoid any unforeseen complications, it's best to refine it as soon as possible.

Duan Rong placed the Ten Thousand Crows Fire-Slaying Towel between his knees, and with a thought, he infused it with a wisp of his divine sense.

The divine sense entered very easily, without any obstruction.

It seems that Lü Yinlin has already erased Fu Yi's divine sense from the Ten Thousand Crows Fire Scarf. This makes refining the item much easier for him.

Duan Rong then focused his mind and enveloped the Ten Thousand Crows Fire Scarf with a large mass of divine sense, beginning to repeatedly soak and refine it.

This item was, after all, a rare treasure. Even though Duan Rong had mastered the twenty-second level of the Womb Treasury Sutra and his divine sense was already quite powerful, he still spent a full day and night in this dense forest before he could completely refine it.

Duan Rong opened his eyes, his face showing undisguised fatigue.

Over the course of the past day and night, he had been continuously refining the Ten Thousand Crows Fire Scarf, which had greatly depleted his spiritual energy.

At this moment, in the dappled sunlight of the dense forest, the Ten Thousand Crows Fire Scarf floated about, occasionally fluttering around Duan Rong, appearing quite agile.

This object is connected to Duan Rong's divine sense, and once it is completely refined, it becomes quite close to Duan Rong.

Duan Rong looked at the Thousand Crows Fire Scarf that was circling around him and suddenly felt a sense of affection for it, like a pet. With a thought, the Thousand Crows Fire Scarf suddenly stopped and, like a bird returning to its nest, darted into his waist and burrowed under his clothes.

Duan Rong then took off his blue robe, folded it, and placed it on the large rock. At this moment, he was only wearing a pair of underpants, with a scarlet and black-dotted handkerchief tied around his waist. In the wilderness, this appearance was quite strange.

Duan Rong did this so that he could see the wonders of the Ten Thousand Crows Fire Scarf. After all, he had just refined the item, and to fully understand its characteristics, he needed to observe the many subtle changes it underwent when it displayed its wonders.

He jumped off the boulder and stepped onto the ground covered with withered leaves. With a thought, he sent a wisp of his divine sense into the Ten Thousand Crows Fire Scarf tied around his waist.

The next moment, the black crows on the scarlet cloak tied around his waist suddenly seemed to come alive and fluttered on the scarlet cloth.

Those dense black dots actually flew out of the scarlet handkerchief and began to crawl onto Duan Rong's abdomen, then spread along his abdomen...

In just a few breaths, the dense, black specks of crows, like ancient runes, swirled around Duan Rong's body. Only upon close inspection could one discern that they were actually black crows fluttering across his skin…

When the dense black dots covered Duan Rong's entire body, even his forehead and nose, the fluttering crows quieted down.

Those tiny black crows seemed to be imprinted on Duan Rong's skin, lifelike yet perfectly still.

The next moment, those black crows, which were the black spots all over Duan Rong's body, suddenly turned into small flames.

Dense flames ignited all over Duan Rong's body, as if burning out the full range of ordination scars.

The dense, scattered flames were extinguished in an instant. Duan Rong's nose twitched, and he let out a long sigh. Just a moment ago, he had felt an unbearable burning sensation all over his body, but thankfully it only lasted for a moment.

When he looked down, the black crows that had covered his entire body had vanished without a trace, as if burned away by flames.

"The Ten Thousand Crows' Fire Scarf!?" Duan Rong murmured, repeating the name of this treasure. At this moment, he seemed to finally understand the meaning of the name.

The black crows, consumed by the flames, melted onto his skin, enveloping him in a protective layer that could mimic the surrounding environment and conceal him from divine sense.

This treasure can only be detected by concealed divine sense, but cannot be directly viewed by concealed naked eyes.

Essentially, divine sense detection and direct visual observation are two completely different systems. Those black crows and the fire spirits can only react to divine sense.

Duan Rong was in a state of spiritual concealment at this time.

In other words, at this moment, when probed by divine sense, he was found to be completely empty.

With a thought, Duan Rong enveloped his surroundings with his divine sense, including himself. Then, under the probing of his divine sense, a strange scene unfolded.

Under the probing of divine sense, his entire body flickered like a ghost.

Duan Rong couldn't help but smile; he immediately understood why. His divine sense could see himself from the inside out, but from the outside in, it was concealed by the Ten Thousand Crows Fire Scarf.

Duan Rong immediately withdrew his divine sense. With another thought, he saw the black dots that had already merged into his skin reappear and then flutter up one by one.

The dense black dots, like ancient runes, flew along the skin back into the scarlet handkerchief at the waist.

In just a few breaths, the handkerchief returned to its original scarlet color, covered in black spots.

"This thing is truly wondrous; it is indeed a hidden artifact."

Duan Rong then had another thought, and another black dot flew out from the handkerchief, covering only the area in front of and behind his dantian. Then the fire ignited, and the black dot disappeared from the area in front of and behind his dantian as if it had been burned away.

This is another use for this object: it only covers the dantian area. This use allows one to conceal their cultivation level. No matter who it is, as long as they use their divine sense to probe the dantian, they will not be able to detect Duan Rong's cultivation level.

Of course, Duan Rong originally had the strength of a soul that had reached the twenty-second level of the Womb Treasury Sutra, which was enough to allow him to conceal his cultivation level in front of people whose souls were much weaker than his own.

But with this Ten Thousand Crows Fire Scarf, even in front of someone with a stronger divine soul, he can conceal his cultivation level. He can disguise himself as an ordinary person, or even someone of any cultivation level.

After thoroughly studying the Ten Thousand Crows Fire Scarf in that dense forest, Duan Rong left.

The bloody case had been completely resolved. A few days later, Zhu He summoned the sect elders to discuss the matter in the elders' courtyard.

Duan Rong naturally became the focus of the meeting.

The discovery of Fu Yi's hiding place and the annihilation of the Filthy Blood Cult all occurred within a year and a half of Duan Rong becoming the Deputy Director of the Judgment and Justice Division. Initially, Zhu He recommended Duan Rong for the position in the Elder Council, mentioning Duan Rong's expertise in solving cases, but the elders merely listened casually, considering it just a pretext for Zhu He to vie for power with Yang Sixuan.

In retrospect, what Zhu He said back then was not an exaggeration at all.

Because this is a genuine achievement!
Fu Yi and the Filthy Blood Cult have plagued Qingzhou for nearly two hundred years and have always been a major concern for the sects. But in these two hundred years, how many directors of the Judgment and Judgment Division have been replaced? Who has been able to achieve anything?

During the meeting that day, Yang Sixuan resigned from his position as head of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, and Zhu He accepted his resignation on behalf of the Council of Elders.

Zhu He immediately proposed in the Elders' Council that Duan Rong take over as the head of the Judgment Department of the Clan Court, and the elders of the sect naturally had no objections.

Such an extraordinary achievement, at the height of its fame, who could possibly have any objections?
With this, Zhu He completely consolidated the power he had established since taking over as sect leader. Marked by Yang Sixuan's resignation and Duan Rong's appointment as head of the Judgment and Clan Affairs Department, this was not merely a matter of taking control of the department; it also represented his authority as sect leader and the complete submission of the sect's elders.

In this way, when he tries to push for changes within the Elders' Council, he will face much less resistance. This is quite important for Zhu He.

After the meeting at the Elders' Council ended, Yang Sixuan returned to his bamboo house in the Iron Stone Peak valley. He had already begun packing his things, preparing to leave the area.

Yang Sixuan stroked the rather simple and unadorned table, smiled slightly, and said to himself, "Having lived here for decades, I do have some feelings for it."

Yang Sixuan stood up and glanced at the bamboo house. He had always been poor and had nothing of value. Now that he would no longer be the head of the Court of Judgment and Justice, those files and documents were useless to him.

The only things I wanted to take with me were a few ancient books and notes.

Yang Sixuan walked to the chest in the corner and began to search for the books he wanted to take with him. Just then, with the creaking sound of the bamboo steps, a figure stood at the door of the bamboo house.

Yang Yi walked in and saw Yang Sixuan rummaging through the trunks. He was about to speak when his throat tightened. He suppressed his sobs and said, "Uncle, I heard that you have resigned from your position as the head of the Elder Council?"

Yang Sixuan pulled out a book and placed it on the lid of another box next to her. Then she turned to look at Yang Yi and said with a smile, "You're quite well-informed."

Looking at Yang Sixuan's rare smile, Yang Yi felt a pang of pain in his heart and said, "Uncle, since you became the Chief, you have worked diligently and conscientiously. Others may not know, but I know it best. And you have devoted most of your energy to the Filthy Blood Sect..."

Yang Sixuan suddenly interrupted him, saying, "Yang Yi, are you speaking up for your uncle?"

Yang Yi was slightly taken aback, and said, "I feel sorry for my uncle."

As Yang Yi spoke, tears welled up in his eyes. In his view, Yang Sixuan had been forced to abdicate by Zhu He and Duan Rong.

Yang Sixuan laughed and said, "Silly boy, why are you crying?"

Yang Sixuan looked at Yang Yi, a rare look of affection appearing in his eyes, and said, "When your mother died, she entrusted you to me. It's a pity that your talent is limited, and you can't make much progress in martial arts. However, you have some talent in solving cases and handling affairs. This Judgment and Justice Division is just right for you. Your uncle is gone, so you must do your best here. In this life, if you can't climb a high mountain, climb a low one. Don't waste your life!"

Upon hearing Yang Sixuan's words, and recalling all the ways Yang Sixuan had nurtured him in the past, Yang Yi felt a tightness in his chest and was speechless for a moment.

Yang Sixuan said, "Yi'er, you don't need to worry about this. As the saying goes, 'Without official duties, one is carefree,' and your uncle should focus on his cultivation. Go and do your work. When you have time, go and visit your uncle. Once I leave, I will stay in the mountain in front of Iron Stone Peak where we came from. Do you still remember that place?"

Yang Yi said, "I still remember."

Yang Sixuan said, "Then you go ahead and get busy."

Yang Yi said, "Uncle, let me see you off."

Yang Sixuan said, "Stop being so wishy-washy. I heard that the dungeon has been stained with blood lately. The case is closed, but it still needs to be cleaned up. Don't waste my time here."

Yang Yi saw the determination in Yang Sixuan's eyes, sighed inwardly, and said, "Then I will go to the mountains to visit my uncle in a couple of days."

Yang Sixuan said, "You can come anytime you're free."

Yang Yi said, "Uncle, I'll take my leave now."

Yang Sixuan said, "Go."

After bowing deeply, Yang Yi left the bamboo building.

Yang Sixuan took a bundle, filled it with a few books, slung it over his shoulder, and walked out of the bamboo house. As he left, he gently closed the door and slowly descended the creaking bamboo steps.

Yang Sixuan looked like an old scholar hurrying on his way.

He walked a distance away, then looked back at the bamboo houses and woods in the valley. Suddenly, he felt a gentle breeze blowing, the bamboo leaves rustling, and the scenery was surprisingly beautiful.

A strange light flashed in Yang Sixuan's eyes. He had never noticed before how beautiful the bamboo house and bamboo forest were. Although he had lived here for decades, he had never been in the mood to appreciate the scenery. His mind was always preoccupied with solving cases and dealing with the Bloodstained Cult. Now, he realized that he had only been making trouble for himself.

Yang Sixuan seemed to understand something, but a bitter smile appeared on her lips...

Duan Rong was in his room in the Imperial Clan Court building. He had just become the head of the Imperial Clan Court, and many officials came to the Lü family residence to congratulate him and brought him many gifts and calling cards.

After Duan Rong returned, he instructed Ximen Kankan and Shen Mizhi to return all the gifts and visiting cards, while he himself returned to the pavilion of the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs with some frustration.

Previously, when he was the deputy director, he could simply walk away if he wanted. Now that he's the director, he needs to understand what the Judgment and Clan Affairs Department actually does on a daily basis, and then see how to arrange things so that he can walk away for another year or two without causing any chaos.

After all, he was already preparing to go to the Western Regions Faxiang Sect to find a technique to further enhance his spiritual power. He didn't know how long this journey would take, and he needed to make proper arrangements with the Judgment and Justice Division before he could leave with peace of mind.

Duan Rong was flipping through the entire year's case files of the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs when suddenly a person walked in slowly and knelt down at the door, saying, "Your subordinate Yang Yi greets the Chief Judge."

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong looked up and said, "It's Steward Yang. What is it? Please stand up and speak."

Yang Yi immediately stood up, took out a note from his sleeve, walked slowly over, placed the note in front of Duan Rong's desk, then stepped back two steps, clasped his hands and said, "This subordinate is foolish and feels that I am unworthy of the position of manager, and therefore I request to resign. Please grant me your permission."

Duan Rong frowned slightly and looked at the letter. He saw the words "Resignation" written on the cover.

Duan Rong took the resignation letter and stepped down from the desk, saying, "Brother Yang, I'll still call you Brother Yang. We've known each other since I was a disciple. We've known each other for many years now. I know you're upset about your uncle's abdication, but that's one thing at a time. I deeply respect your uncle's character, but I know even more the heart with which he nurtured you. I'm rejecting your resignation on behalf of your uncle."

As Duan Rong spoke, he tossed the cloak into Yang Yi's arms and strode away. (End of Chapter)