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

After finishing these tasks, Lü Yinlin returned to his cave.

Duan Rong remained seated beneath the ancient, verdant pine tree, motionless, as if in deep meditation.

The cocoon within his dantian shimmered with a milky-white halo, and something seemed to be wriggling inside...

This is the final step in condensing the nascent soul, which is to allow the nascent primordial spirit in the cocoon to gradually grow into a nascent soul. This process usually takes about half a year.

Almost every morning, Lü Yinlin would come to see Duan Rong, then take out a bottle full of Yuanru (a type of primordial milk) and feed him a drop of it.

The pure primordial energy contained within the primordial milk is beneficial to Duan Rong's condensation and growth into a nascent soul.

That day, Lü Yinlin was sitting in his cave when he suddenly sent out a telepathic message, which flew out of the valley and arrived at Chu Wushang's place.

Chu Wushang received a telepathic message from the ancestor Lü Yinlin and then walked into the valley.

As soon as Chu Wushang entered the valley, he saw Duan Rong sitting cross-legged under the ancient pine tree, his face serene, like an old monk in meditation.

Chu Wushang's eyes flickered slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Duan Rong.

At this time, nearly a month had passed since the strange phenomenon that shocked the Changliu Mountains for hundreds of miles that day.

Over the past month, various rumors have been circulating both inside and outside the sect.

That day, the patriarch Lü Yinlin sent a telepathic message to Chu Wushang, but did not tell him the whole story. He only asked him to instruct the elders to restrain their respective disciples.

Chu Wushang himself had never seen the unusual phenomenon of condensing a nascent soul, and thought that the ancestor was really cultivating some kind of technique. However, when he came in, he saw Duan Rong sitting cross-legged under the ancient pine tree, as if he were an old monk in meditation. He couldn't help but think of some rumors he had heard recently.

There is a rumor that the strange phenomenon that shocked hundreds of miles of the Changliu Mountains that day was caused by someone forming a Nascent Soul.

When Chu Wushang first heard this rumor, he thought it was absurd and unbelievable, like a daydream.

Ancestor Lü Yinlin was already a Nascent Soul cultivator more than a thousand years ago, so he wasn't the one who formed his Nascent Soul. As for the others, Chu Wushang couldn't even imagine who could condense a Nascent Soul.

But when he saw Duan Rong sitting cross-legged under the tree, his brow twitched. At that moment, he suddenly thought, could it be that Duan Rong was the one who condensed the Nascent Soul?

The astonishing phenomenon that shook hundreds of miles of the Changliu Mountains that day wasn't caused by the ancestor cultivating some kind of technique, but rather by Duan Rong condensing his Nascent Soul. Upon realizing this, Chu Wushang was filled with shock, even staggering in his steps.

With a dazed expression, he walked past Duan Rong, who was sitting cross-legged under the ancient pine tree, and entered Lü Yinlin's cave.

As soon as Lü Yinlin saw him enter the cave, he asked, "In the past month, have there been any rumors circulating within the sect?"

Chu Wushang said, "Reporting to the Ancestor, there are rumors that the strange phenomenon that day was someone condensing a Nascent Soul."

Lü Yinlin hummed in agreement and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Chu Wushang lowered his head slightly and said, "Some people say that you, Ancestor, have gone into qi deviation and lost control of your cultivation."

Lu Yinlin snorted and said, "These rumors are nothing to worry about. Apart from the rumors within the sect, this matter has caused quite a stir. After all, an unusual phenomenon has occurred, and it stretches for hundreds of miles across the Changliu Mountains. I'm afraid other sects in the Nine Provinces will also be discussing this matter in the streets. Find someone to investigate and report any rumors in a timely manner."

"Yes, Ancestor," Chu Wushang replied.

Lu Yinlin's expression was somewhat solemn. Once Duan Rong condensed his Nascent Soul, the Taiyi Sect would have two Nascent Soul cultivators. This matter would likely stir up a storm among the sects of the Nine Provinces, and various forces would inevitably clash in the process.

However, Lü Yinlin himself had a limited lifespan and really did not want to get involved in such struggles and disputes anymore.

He had already made up his mind that once Duan Rong's cultivation level stabilized, he would hand over the position of sect patriarch to Duan Rong, so that he could relieve himself of this heavy burden and attend to his own affairs.

Chu Wushang stood there for a long time. Although he saw that Lü Yinlin's expression was somewhat uncertain, he couldn't help but ask, "Ancestor, was the strange phenomenon that day really about someone forming a Nascent Soul?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Yinlin glanced at him and asked, "When you entered the valley, did you see Duan Rong sitting under that ancient pine tree?"

Chu Wushang said, "I saw it."

Lu Yinlin said, "He had already reached the late-stage Great Perfection of the Cave-Ming Realm, did you know that?"

Chu Wushang was stunned. Lu Yinlin had asked him two questions in a row, and the answer was already obvious: Duan Rong was condensing his nascent soul!
Although he had vaguely guessed it when he entered the valley, the shock he felt when he heard the ancestor say it in person was still like being struck by lightning.

Chu Wushang stood there motionless for a long time before he finally reacted, bowed to Lü Yinlin, and said, "This subordinate takes his leave."

Chu Wushang turned around and walked out of the cave in a daze.

He stood at the entrance of the cave, looking at Duan Rong sitting cross-legged under the old pine tree.

This seemingly unremarkable fellow was only at the Qi Cyclone Realm a few years ago. He only advanced to the Cave Clarity Realm a few years ago! And this is already the Nascent Soul Formation.

Once Duan Rong condenses his Nascent Soul, he will be on the same level as Lü Yinlin.

He is not only a sect patriarch, but also one of the most outstanding figures in the entire Nine Provinces. His lifespan will also reach the two thousand-year mark.

All of this had always been an unattainable dream for Chu Wushang. He had cultivated diligently for over two hundred years, yet he was still only at the mid-stage of the Cave of Enlightenment Realm.

But Duan Rong was only in his early thirties, yet he had already condensed his Nascent Soul.

"There really are monsters in this world!" Chu Wushang sighed, and finally walked past Duan Rong, leaving the valley without looking back.

From that moment on, Duan Rong was no longer on the same level as him; the distance between them was as great as a mountain.

For the next month, Chu Wushang investigated the rumors and gossip circulating in Kyushu City about the unusual phenomena that day, and would occasionally enter the valley to report to Lü Yinlin.

Duan Rong always sat cross-legged under the old pine tree, his posture and position never changing.

In fact, various rumors about this matter have been circulating throughout Kyushu for quite some time. This is rather strange, as almost two months have passed since then.

How could something like this have such a long lifespan in the public sphere?

Chu Wushang reported to the patriarch Lü Yinlin several times, and with Lü Yinlin's guidance, he finally understood the undercurrents behind this matter.

The extraordinary celestial phenomenon that day stretched for hundreds of miles along the Changliu Mountains. Once such news reached the various sects of the Nine Provinces, the high-ranking members of the other sects would surely be shaken.

This unusual phenomenon in the heavens and earth is very similar to the condensation of a nascent soul.

These rumors have persisted for so long, and they are being pushed forward by powerful sects across the Nine Provinces. They are trying to test the Taiyi Sect's reaction with various versions of these rumors.

Moreover, two months have passed, and the investigations by the other sects in Kyushu have probably already begun.

Unfortunately, no matter how much they investigate, they probably won't be able to trace it back to Duan Rong.

Because Duan Rong was virtually unknown a few years ago, he hadn't attracted the attention of the other sects. They would only focus their investigations on people like Gu Daoling and Chu Wushang, and would soon discover that neither Gu Daoling nor Chu Wushang had condensed their Nascent Souls. By then, the rumors would probably have gradually dissipated.

As Lu Yinlin had predicted, after only half a month, all the rumors suddenly disappeared completely from the streets and alleys.

Duan Rong had been sitting under that ancient pine tree in the valley for three whole months. That morning, Lü Yinlin once again stepped out of his cave. He glanced at Duan Rong, then released his divine sense into Duan Rong's dantian. He saw that the cocoon, which was shimmering with a milky white light, seemed to have grown even larger.

With a flick of his wrist, Lü Yinlin grasped the bottle containing the Yuan Milk in his hand, preparing to feed Duan Rong a drop of it.

Just then, the light membrane of the cocoon in Duan Rong's dantian, which was shimmering with a milky white light, began to peel away layer by layer, just like corn husks being unraveled.

Once the light membrane peels off, it dissipates and disappears.

As the layers of light membrane faded away, a naked infant, covered in glass and shimmering with a faint golden light, sat cross-legged inside.

The infant's eyes were closed, its little hands were in a meditative posture, and its appearance was 90% similar to Duan Rong's.

At this moment, Duan Rong suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes shining like the bright moon. He laughed heartily and suddenly recited: "All delusions and illusions have faded away, a desolate dream has passed through the vast void. Ancestor, Duan Rong has achieved the Nascent Soul Realm!"

Lu Yinlin stood there, clutching the bottle containing the primordial milk, his body shivering. Normally, it takes at least six months to develop a Nascent Soul, but Duan Rong completed it in three months, including the month he initially condensed his nascent primordial spirit.

In reality, it only took Duan Rong two months to grow from a nascent primordial spirit to a nascent soul.

Lü Yinlin was very surprised, because he really couldn't understand how the time could be shortened to such an extent.

Even if people have different talents, the growth from the initial stage of the primordial spirit to the nascent soul has nothing to do with talent at all!

It's just like people. Whether you're a genius or a fool, it takes fourteen years for you to grow from two to sixteen years old.

Why?
Why was Duan Rong able to complete it in just two months?

Lu Yinlin suddenly said, "Duan Rong, let this old man see your Nascent Soul."

Lu Yinlin's divine sense only detected the peeling of the light membrane from the cocoon, while the nascent soul itself possessed naturally strong divine sense and was inherently resistant to divine sense probing.

Therefore, after the light membrane was completely peeled away, Lü Yinlin's divine sense only detected a void.

"Alright!" Duan Rong responded, urging the thought to proceed.

The next moment, his nascent soul appeared above his head.

The nascent soul sat cross-legged on Duan Rong's head, clenching its two small fists, glaring at Lü Yinlin with a slightly angry look in its eyes.

The nascent soul had just taken shape and was more familiar with the environment inside the dantian, where it was most comfortable to stay. Clearly, the little guy was quite dissatisfied with Lü Yinlin for summoning him out.

Lu Yinlin stared at the nascent soul, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes. The nascent soul looked remarkably like Duan Rong, and was incredibly lifelike, its body covered in crystal, with a faint golden light emanating from it.

The moment Lü Yinlin saw the Nascent Soul, he knew that although Duan Rong had only used two months, the Nascent Soul itself had already reached the early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, without any loss whatsoever.

Lu Yinlin originally wanted to ask Duan Rong how he did it, but he swallowed the words back.

If you really want to ask, there are too many questions to ask.

Previously, Duan Rong, who was at the mountain statue of the sect, suddenly used the supreme secret technique of the Faxiang Sect—the Great Bright Flame. Lü Yinlin had been trying to ask Duan Rong about this matter, but had not been able to.

The last time was supposed to be an opportunity to ask, but as soon as Duan Rong returned to the sect, he achieved the late-stage Great Perfection of the Cave-Ming Realm and immediately asked about condensing the Nascent Soul.

Lu Yinlin was surprised that Duan Rong had achieved the late-stage Great Perfection of the Cave-Ming Realm in such a short time. In comparison, the matter of the Great Bright Flame was nothing.

At this moment, a faint golden light rippled on the nascent soul's body, leading Lü Yinlin to suspect that this was related to Duan Rong's cultivation of Buddhist techniques.

As for why Duan Rong achieved the Nascent Soul Realm in just two months, Lü Yinlin didn't want to ask any further.

Because Duan Rong is now on the same level as him, and Lü Yinlin has already planned to pass on the position of sect patriarch to Duan Rong. From now on, he will only focus on increasing his lifespan and breaking through his cultivation level, hoping to extend his lifespan for the last five hundred years.

As for how Duan Rong will manage the Taiyi Sect, that's not his business. Why bother with things that have been handed over?

"Alright. Take the Nascent Soul. I have something to tell you," said Lü Yinlin.

Duan Rong replied, "Yes, Ancestor."

Although Duan Rong had now reached the early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, making him no different from Lü Yinlin in terms of cultivation level, he still respectfully addressed Lü Yinlin as Ancestor. This wasn't just Duan Rong being polite; he was genuinely grateful to Lü Yinlin at that moment.

Lu Yinlin not only taught him without holding anything back, but also personally presided over the sect's Nascent Soul Formation Array to help him condense his Nascent Soul.

Duan Rong could tell from Lü Yinlin's expression what he was wondering about. He had clearly been surprised that Lü Yinlin had reached the early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm in just two months.

This was actually thanks to the spirits of the five ancient statues that had been burning incense for ten thousand years, which he had devoured in the deep mountains of the Miao village before he returned to his sect.

Over the past two months, the spirits of the five ancient statues, which had been devoured and digested over millennia, have been nourishing the growth of the nascent soul within my dantian.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to reach the early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm in just two months.

However, he couldn't tell Lü Yinlin about devouring the artifact spirit; if Lü Yinlin asked, he would have no choice but to lie.

However, Lü Yinlin did not discuss this matter with him. Instead, he flipped his hand and suddenly grabbed a booklet made of animal hide. He glanced at him, handed it to him, and said, "This booklet contains some of the secrets of the Nascent Soul Realm, as well as the method of refining seed characters. You have already reached the early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm. You can figure it out on your own and soon you will be able to figure it out as well. The contents of this booklet are just some reminders to save you some time."

Duan Rong reached out and accepted it, saying respectfully, "Thank you, Ancestor."

Lu Yinlin said, "Come to this valley again at midnight three days from now. I have something to tell you then."

Duan Rong said, "Okay."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of curiosity in his gaze. What was it that required them to wait until midnight three days later to discuss it?

Lü Yinlin said, "Remember, do not stand me up at midnight three days from now."

Duan Rong said, "Don't worry, Ancestor. This disciple wouldn't dare."

Seeing that Duan Rong still referred to himself as a disciple, Lü Yinlin nodded and said, "You may go now. Also, keep your achievement of the early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm a secret for now, and do not tell anyone."

Duan Rong replied, "Yes. This disciple takes his leave."

Lu Yinlin hummed in agreement, and Duan Rong put away the booklet, turned around, and left.

Lu Yinlin stood there, watching Duan Rong walk out of the valley. He couldn't help but smile and muttered to himself, "In a few more days, I'll have completed my task. Duan boy, from now on, the heavy burden of the sect will be yours to carry. I've carried it for over a thousand years; finally, I can rest." (End of Chapter)