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

Yu Dai observed the painting for a long time, his eyes filled with fascination. He turned his head and looked at Tang Xiong with astonishment, asking, "There is such a wonderful painting in the world. I, Yu Dai, used to think I knew painting, but today I see that I am blind. Who is the master of this painting? I, Yu Dai, am willing to be his disciple."

Tang Xiong was stunned for a moment when he heard Yu Dai's words.

Judging from Yu Dai's expression, he knew that Duan Rong's painting of a lady had pleased Yu Dai. However, the extent to which Yu Dai praised it still greatly surprised him.

Tang Xiong's eyes flickered slightly, and he thought to himself: Could it be that the master truly possesses such skill?!

The art of calligraphy and painting, in truth, is but a minor and insignificant art. However, reaching a level of mastery that transcends the ordinary is extremely difficult.

"Brother Tang Xiong, I'm asking you a question." Yu Dai was still in a daze, so he continued, "Where did this painting come from, and who painted it?"

Tang Xiong laughed and said, "I came across this painting by chance. I know that you, Master Yudai, are quite fond of collecting paintings of ladies. I was strolling around the antique market in Xidu Prefecture the other day when I saw one. Although it had no signature or seal, I thought it was quite good, even with my crude eye. So I got it and told you to take a look."

"It's more than just good!!" Yu Dai said, "With this painting here, all my other collections have become trash."

Tang Xiong was taken aback again upon hearing this, and couldn't help but look at the painting of the lady, wondering to himself, "Is this thing really that good?"

Yu Dai said, "Brother Tang Xiong, you are a lucky man! You only went to the antique market in Xidu Prefecture and you came across such a rare treasure."

Tang Xiong laughed and said, "It's not that I'm lucky, it's that you're lucky, Master. Think about it, if you hadn't been collecting these paintings of ladies, I would never have even considered getting them. Such a fine piece is only truly appreciated when it's with you, Master, so that it doesn't go to waste. Since you like it, please keep it."

Yu Dai laughed and said, "How could I accept such a generous gift from Brother Tang Xiong for no reason?"

Although Yu Dai said this, he gripped the painting of the lady even tighter with his hands, and his gaze toward the painting was as if he were looking at a forbidden possession.

Tang Xiong said, "Master, you are being too polite. If this painting were in the hands of someone like me, it would be a waste. How could you bear to let such a precious treasure go to waste? If you keep it, Master, you can take it out and admire it when you have time. Not only will it amuse you, but the person in the painting will also feel as if they have found a confidant and will no longer be lonely."

Yu Dai laughed and said, "That shows your character. Brother Tang Xiong, I didn't expect you to be such a thoughtful person."

The phrase "a person with good intentions" carries a double meaning when used here.

Tang Xiong laughed and said, "This is all thanks to the influence of the Master. Although I am not an expert in painting, I can still understand it to some extent."

"The word 'considerate' is used well!" Yu Dai praised. "The people in this painting should be viewed with a considerate eye. Come, Brother Tang Xiong, let me offer you a cup of tea instead of wine."

As Yu Dai spoke, he rolled up the painting, put it aside, poured two cups of tea, and drank them with Tang Xiong.

Afterwards, the two chatted about some interesting things that had happened recently while drinking tea.

Seeing that the time was right, Tang Xiong said, "Master, there's one spot for my team among the new recruits. Remember to assign me a capable person."

Yu Dai laughed and said, "That's nothing. Even if you hadn't asked, I would have given you the best. Among this batch of newcomers, there's one named Zhu Shicheng, who's only in his early twenties. He's the youngest of them all. You didn't see him make that Buddha head, did you? It was truly a masterpiece. He ranked first on the list, far surpassing the second place. Is it a good idea to give him to you?"

Tang Xiong smiled, stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you so much, Master. I have no way to repay you."

Yu Dai laughed and said, "Get lost, it's such a trivial matter, why are you making such a fuss?"

The two of them burst into laughter as they talked.

Seeing that it was getting late, Tang Xiong drank two more cups and then got up to say goodbye. Yu Dai personally saw him out.

After Tang Xiong left, Yu Dai returned to his room, bolted the door, took out the painting of a lady again, and gazed at it for half the night on the brightly lit table before reluctantly going to sleep.

As he lay down, pressing his head against the pillow, he murmured to himself, "How could there be such a brush in the world, capable of painting such a person? It's truly unimaginable..."

After seven days of training, Duan Rong was naturally assigned to Tang Xiong's team.

This kind of thing is nothing unusual, and nobody paid any attention to it.

That day, Tang Xiong took Duan Rong to the workshop where their team usually worked.

When Tang Xiong led him in, everyone's eyes turned to them. They were all aware that a new person was coming today, but they were still somewhat surprised to see Duan Rong so young.

Tang Xiong looked at everyone and said with a smile, "This young man is Zhu Shicheng, and he's new to our team. Don't let his young age fool you; he's ranked first on the list."

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but scrutinize Duan Rong again.

Tang Xiong looked at one of them and said, "Luo Xian, you take him under your wing. Teach him the rules."

A middle-aged man with a fair complexion stood up with a smile and said, "Captain Tang, don't worry, leave it to me."

Tang Xiong looked at Duan Rong and said, "Shicheng, you go over there. Luo Xian is not only experienced but also kind. If you don't understand something, ask him for advice."

"Yes, Captain Tang." Duan Rong replied, then walked towards Luo Xian, cupped his fists and said, "Senior Luo, please take care of me."

Luo Xian patted his hand gently and said, "Now that you're in our team, we're family. Come on, sit down."

Luo Xian pulled up a stool for him, and Duan Rong sat down next to Luo Xian.

On the long, large table in front of me were various kinds of ritual implements, both new and old.

Luo Xian said, "The work these past few days has been to repair and maintain this batch of ritual implements. These are common ritual implements used in religious ceremonies. You should see them often in the workshops in Xidu Prefecture, right?"

Duan Rong said, "I have seen all of these things before."

Luo Xian said, "It's actually very simple. Just wipe off the dust. If any of the painted paint has chipped off, just touch it up. Can you do that?"

Duan Rong said, "I can do it."

Luo Xian said, "Then you give it a try."

As Luo Xian spoke, he took a magical artifact and handed it to Duan Rong, and also gave Duan Rong the lacquer brush he used.

Duan Rong was already skilled, so doing such a small job was naturally no problem for him.

Upon seeing Duan Rong's technique, Luo Xian's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "As expected of the top scorer. This technique is truly skillful. He doesn't seem like a young man, but rather like an old craftsman."

The surrounding craftsmen also noticed Duan Rong's technique and developed a certain liking for him. Duan Rong also had an honest appearance, clearly someone who was reliable and hardworking.

Duan Rong got the hang of things quickly, which made Luo Xian feel relaxed and at ease. Naturally, the more he looked at Duan Rong, the more pleasing he became.

Duan Rong sat there, working at a leisurely pace, his speed no less than that of the old craftsmen. He picked up a vajra, wiped off the dust, examined it carefully, and repaired two peeling paint spots. Just as he was about to put it back, a thought struck him. He pretended to hold a paint brush and move it around while thinking to himself, "Reading the spirit of the artifact."

The next moment, a data panel with a faint glow appeared before his eyes.

Object: Painted Vajra
Spirit Rank: Rank 7

Absorption requirements: Host's mental strength is at level seven (met).
Devouring effect: Fourth level of Golden Bell Shield True Qi Realm
Duan Rong looked at the data panel before him, his eyes narrowing slightly. This Golden Bell Shield was clearly a martial art practiced by the Buddhist school, but it was only at the fourth level of the True Qi Realm. A martial art at the fourth level of the True Qi Realm held no appeal for Duan Rong, but he was still somewhat curious about Buddhist techniques, and thought to himself, "Absorb!"

As the data panel in front of him crumbled, Duan Rong put the vajra in his hand aside and picked up another magical artifact...

After a day's work, the craftsmen stretched and stood up. Maintaining and caring for these ritual implements was originally a very easy task, and for these old craftsmen, doing this work was almost like resting.

Just as everyone stood up, Tang Xiong walked in, stood at the door, looked at Duan Rong, and said, "Shicheng, I've already had your room prepared. It's right next to mine. Come, let me show you."

Upon seeing this, the craftsmen all looked at Duan Rong with strange expressions. When had they ever seen Captain Tang personally arrange a room for the newcomer, especially one next to his own?

Who is this person?!

Duan Rong walked over with a calm expression and said, "Thank you, Captain Tang."

The two then left the workshop.

A murmur rippled through the workshop.

Tang Xiong led Duan Rong to a room. This room was much smaller than Tang Xiong's, but it was still a private room. Moreover, everything was new and quite clean.

Tang Xiong originally wanted to chat with Duan Rong for a bit, but then he noticed that a few craftsmen, perhaps out of curiosity, had also come over to see Duan Rong's new room.

Tang Xiong could only say a few words and then left.

After Tang Xiong left, the craftsmen came in, praising Duan Rong's room while trying to elicit information about his relationship with Captain Tang. Duan Rong evaded their questions.

It was already dinnertime, but he had no appetite at all. Back there, everyone was huddled together, and it would have been awkward to skip dinner; that would have seemed too strange.

Now that he has his own room, he can stay here and do whatever he wants.

Duan Rong didn't turn on the lights, but lay in the dimly lit room. He had actually devoured quite a few artifact spirits while working today, and now that he had nothing to do, he decided to take a nap to digest them.

About two or three hours later, I opened my eyes in complete darkness.

After getting up, I suddenly felt thirsty, so I went to the table, poured myself a glass of water, took a sip, and found that it was brewed jasmine tea.

In the darkness, Duan Rong couldn't help but smile slightly. "Tang Xiong is quite thorough in his work."

After drinking a cup of jasmine tea to soothe her throat, she sat cross-legged on the bed again.

Duan Rong suddenly sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his qi. After only a few breaths, a faint golden light appeared around him in the darkness. In particular, his face was covered with a layer of gold powder as his true qi surged.

Duan Rong let out a long sigh of relief. The golden light around him dissipated, and his expression returned to normal. In the darkness, a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.

The technique he just used was the Golden Bell Shield, the fourth level of the True Qi Realm.

"The techniques of the Faxiang Sect are truly bizarre and wondrous. A martial arts technique that focuses on physical training has actually reached such a level."

Duan Rong had to admit that, at least at the True Qi Realm level, the Dharma Aspect Sect's techniques absolutely crushed the Taiyi Sect. A glimpse into the whole reveals the Dharma Aspect Sect's unfathomable depths.

No wonder that for tens of thousands of years, it has dominated the Western Regions, and no sect has dared to venture westward into Yongzhou.

Whether in terms of techniques, region, or culture, the Western Regions Faxiang School is one world, while the other seven schools are another.

The Dharma Aspect Sect's dominance over the Taiyi Sect is not merely limited to the True Qi Realm. The difference is simply too great; even at the True Qi Realm, the Taiyi Sect's techniques would likely be defeated in less than ten moves.

Duan Rong's assertive judgment was by no means intended to boost the morale of others while diminishing his own.

He has devoured countless Taiyi Sect techniques, both at the True Qi Realm and the Yuan Qi Realm. In terms of the breadth and depth of his knowledge of these techniques, even the past patriarchs of the Taiyi Sect probably cannot compare to him.

Moreover, in the work he did today, he absorbed a lot of the Buddhist techniques of the Faxiang School. Comparing the two, the conclusion is obvious.

While the Taiyi Sect is definitely not weak among the other seven sects, it seems quite weak compared to the Faxiang Sect.

It is clear that the Faxiang School is not on the same level as the other seven schools.

No wonder the Dharma Aspect Sect not only has a genius like Master Lingji, but also two powerful figures at the Nascent Soul stage.

In terms of truly top-tier existence, the Dharma Aspect Sect is also on a different level from other sects.

Previously, Duan Rong had only heard about or knew about this gap, but today, after devouring the spirits of those magical artifacts, he truly felt the terror of the Dharma Aspect Sect.

As for that Golden Bell Shield technique just now, to Duan Rong's knowledge, no martial art at the True Qi Realm level could break through its hard, unyielding nature. With just this one technique, one could roam freely in the mortal world.

The fact that both Duan Rong and Tang Xiong came from Cunmu Hall was quickly discovered by the curious craftsmen. They now had a small reason to talk about Tang Xiong's special treatment of Duan Rong, and thus became even more enthusiastic towards Duan Rong.

After spending a few days there, everyone got to know each other well. Duan Rong was approachable, quick and efficient at his work, and his work was excellent; everyone liked him.

That evening, after things quieted down outside, Duan Rong left his room and went to Tang Xiong's room next door, gently knocking on the door.

The door opened, and Tang Xiong, seeing that it was Duan Rong, let him in.

Tang Xiong closed the door and was about to bow to Duan Rong, but Duan Rong grabbed him and said, "From now on, this is completely unnecessary. It's inconvenient to bow here in the Faxiang Sect. If someone sees us, it will be hard to explain."

"Yes, sir," Tang Xiong replied.

Duan Rong said, "Does our team only do the repair and maintenance of magic tools all year round?"

Tang Xiong said, "That's not it. There are many craftsmen in the sect, and the repair and maintenance of magical artifacts is just one part of it. The work in the sect is also assigned to each team by Yu Dai. Because I have a good relationship with him, I often get assigned some dangerous tasks, but I can't overdo it. Yu Dai will know how to handle the balance."

Duan Rong nodded and asked, "What kinds of work does the sect do?"

Duan Rong wanted to use these jobs to see what aspects of the Faxiang School he could come into contact with by working as a craftsman.

Tang Xiong said, "There is indeed a booklet. It lists everything very clearly. Please wait a moment, sir, and I will get it for you to see."

A short while later, Tang Xiong pulled out a yellowed booklet and respectfully presented it to Duan Rong.

Duan Rong answered it and looked at it by the light.

Tang Xiong said, "Although it's an old booklet, haven't the tasks within the sect changed much over the years? They're still mostly the same few categories."

Duan Rong was flipping through the booklet when he suddenly saw the words "Statues of the Four Great Vidyarajas," and his heart tightened immediately. (End of Chapter)