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

“Alright, Junior Brother Duan,” Lü Yinlin said. “However, to take over these Nightmare Seed puppets, we need to refine the Nightmare Seeds deep within their souls. This refining process can only be carried out with the help of my natal nascent soul. Because those Nightmare Seeds were originally planted by me. If I am not present and forcibly refine them, those Nightmare Seed puppets will all die with their souls shattered.”

Duan Rong nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Brother Lü."

Duan Rong himself had already mastered the Soul-Devouring Seed technique of the twenty-second level of the Fetal Treasury Sutra, so he naturally knew that what Lü Yinlin said was true.

Moreover, at this moment, he also fully understood why those Nightmare Seed puppets were sitting outside Lü Yinlin's cave, because the Nightmare Seeds in their souls were to be refined one by one.

This refining process is equivalent to making those Nightmare Seeds re-establish their master. They originally recognized Lü Yinlin as their master, but now they recognize Duan Rong as their master.

Lu Yinlin said, "Junior brother, if you are ready, we can begin now."

Duan Rong said, "I have already mastered the Soul-Devouring Technique of the Heart-Eating Seed, and I am no stranger to refining Nightmare Seeds. Senior Brother, you can begin at any time."

"Alright." Lü Yinlin grabbed, and another futon flew from the corner, landing not far from his original futon. Duan Rong and Lü Yinlin each sat cross-legged on their respective futons.

After the two sat down cross-legged, Lü Yinlin had a thought. He saw one of the dozens of people sitting in the shadows outside the cave entrance stand up from the dark shadows of the old pine tree and walk stiffly into Lü Yinlin's cave.

As footsteps echoed in the stillness, a figure entered the cave. Duan Rong glanced at him and his brow twitched. The person who entered was none other than Wu Shidao.

At this moment, Wu Shidao's eyes were vacant, his limbs were stiff, and even the way he walked gave people a strange feeling.

His condition was clearly different from when he was on Yunfu Peak. Duan Rong knew that this was caused by the surge of Nightmare Seeds filling his soul. In fact, in his normal state, these Nightmare Seed puppets were unaware that they were puppets.

In their daily lives, their Nightmare Seeds are in a state of atrophy, hidden deep within their souls. However, these Nightmare Seeds are controlled by Lü Yinlin. With a single thought from Lü Yinlin, the Nightmare Seeds will shift from their atrophied state to a surging state, and in an instant, the Nightmare Seed puppets will become stiff slaves.

With a blank expression, Wu Shidao walked to a spot not far from where Lü Yinlin and Duan Rong were sitting cross-legged and stood there.

Lu Yinlin turned to look at Duan Rong and said, "Junior brother, let's refine this person first."

"Okay, senior brother."

Immediately, their natal nascent souls appeared above their heads, like two crystal statues. Duan Rong's statue shone with a faint golden light, while Lü Yinlin's was completely clear, with a faint glow emanating from it.

Both Nascent Soul beings had their eyes slightly open and their expressions were solemn.

The next moment, under the mental control of Duan Rong and Lü Yinlin, both of their natal nascent souls flew away from their heads and hovered in front of and behind Wu Shidao.

Duan Rong's natal nascent soul hovered about three feet behind Wu Shidao's back, while Lü Yinlin's natal nascent soul hovered about three feet above Wu Shidao's chest.

Wu Shidao's face was stiff, and he ignored the two Nascent Soul bodies. His eyes were empty, as if they were nothingness.

At this moment, Lu Yinlin's main body, the Nascent Soul, suddenly formed hand seals and began chanting incantations. In an instant, Wu Shidao's body trembled like a leaf, but his face remained blank and lifeless, making him look very strange.

After trembling for a while, extreme pain welled up in Wu Shidao's eyes, but the pain was mixed with blankness, just like the painful expression frozen on the face of a dead person.

At this moment, Duan Rong's natal nascent soul also began to make hand seals and chant incantations. Moreover, with the murmured incantations, Duan Rong's natal nascent soul and Lü Yinlin's natal nascent soul began to circle around Wu Shidao's body, and the circles became faster and faster, dazzling the eyes.

The pain in Wu Shidao's eyes grew more intense, and his body trembled more violently. His state of blankness and madness was like that of a demon possessing him.

Just then, the two Nascent Souls that were rapidly circling around him suddenly stopped, and the murmuring incantations disappeared from the cave.

Wu Shidao's body had stopped trembling, and the pain in his eyes was receding like a tide...

At this moment, the positions of the two Nascent Souls in front of and behind him had been reversed.

The refining process was over, but Wu Shidao still stood there with a blank expression. However, the Nightmare Seed deep within his soul had already recognized Duan Rong as its master.

The two Nascent Soul cultivators returned to the tops of Duan Rong and Lü Yinlin, respectively.

Lu Yinlin glanced at Duan Rong and said, "Junior brother, tell him to wait at the entrance of the valley. Chu Wushang will take him out of the valley."

After the refining process was completed, Lü Yinlin could no longer control the Nightmare Seed within Wu Shidao's soul. The Nightmare Seed only recognized one master, Duan Rong.

"Okay." Duan Rong responded, and with a thought, he gave Wu Shidao the order to wait at the entrance of the valley.

Wu Shidao then turned around stiffly, walked out of the cave, and stood there blankly at the entrance of the valley.

This was the first time Duan Rong had controlled a Nightmare Seed puppet, because the Nightmare Seed within Wu Shidao's soul was in a surging state and could directly communicate with Duan Rong's soul, even though the distance was a hundred miles.

Beyond a hundred miles, the Nightmare Seed will automatically enter a state of shrinkage.

After Wu Shidao left, Lü Yinlin had a thought, and another of the dozens of Nightmare Seed puppets outside the cave entered.

The one who entered this time was actually a female disciple from Tianzhu Peak. Duan Rong had seen this female disciple before; she was one of the two female guards when he first arrived at Tianzhu Peak.

The woman was originally quite attractive, but at this moment her body was stiff and her eyes were vacant. She walked in with strange steps, giving people only a strange sense of horror.

Duan Rong and Lü Yinlin were both Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, and they had also mastered all the Divine Soul Techniques of the Fetal Treasury Scripture. Therefore, the process of refining the Nightmare Seed was exceptionally smooth and fast.

In fact, this process was simply Lü Yinlin guiding Duan Rong's soul to infect the puppet's nightmare seed.

The Nightmare Spawn does not reject the intrusion of a soul that has recognized its master, but other souls cannot intrude upon it. Once it discovers an intruding soul and cannot resist it, the Nightmare Spawn will self-destruct. The puppet's soul will also shatter due to the Nightmare Spawn's self-destruction.

Because the refining process was very quick, the dozens of Nightmare Seed puppets were all refined before dawn. Chu Wushang was already waiting at the entrance of the valley and escorted them out of the valley one by one.

Lu Yinlin had over a hundred Nightmare Seed puppets within his sect. The refining and handover process took three full days to complete.

At this point, Duan Rong controlled hundreds of Nightmare Seed puppets on various peaks within the Taiyi Sect, and many of them held important positions.

At this moment, he finally understood what it felt like for Lü Yinlin to live in seclusion in the valley while controlling the entire sect.

The Nightmare Seed surged, not only controlling the puppet's body and movements, but also sensing its every thought, even when it was in a withered state. Duan Rong could then access these thoughts and store them within his own soul with a mere thought.

Duan Rong felt a chill run down his spine. The ancestors of the Taiyi Sect had used this method to transform the entire sect into an even larger puppet through the Nightmare Seed Puppet.

Not only must we completely control this sect, but we must also maintain its vitality...

If Lan Ruoshui, the founder of the Taiyi Sect, had such a true intention in creating the Soul Devouring Seed Technique, then his thoughts are truly terrifying.

Duan Rong sensed a hint of madness in this soul technique.

Lu Yinlin looked at him and smiled, "Junior brother, do you know what the most important task of being a sect's patriarch is?"

Duan Rong asked, "What is it?" Lü Yinlin replied, "Find out good talents and cultivate the next generation of sect founders. Once you've cultivated them, you'll be free. Don't end up like me, with only five hundred years left to live."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered, as if he had remembered something, and he said, "I think my martial uncle Gu Daoling is quite good."

Lu Yinlin laughed and said, "That's your problem. Gu Daoling is indeed talented and has potential, but the path he's taken is too steep."

Duan Rong understood what Lü Yinlin meant. He meant that it would be more difficult for Gu Daoling to condense his Nascent Soul than for others because he had chosen the most difficult path.

On this day, Chu Wushang suddenly came to Yunfu Peak to see Zhu He.

Chu Wushang's sudden visit startled Zhu He, as Chu Wushang rarely sought out members of the sect on his own initiative; his visits were usually at the behest of the sect's patriarch.

Zhu He clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to Chu Wushang, saying, "We have just picked some pre-rain tea on Yunfu Peak. Now that Mr. Chu has arrived, it's a good opportunity for him to taste it."

"I won't drink the tea," Chu Wushang said. "I'm here to deliver the ancestor's order. A meeting will be held in the Elder Council in two days. The ancestor will be present in person. Have someone pass the message to the elders of each peak."

"Yes, Mr. Chu." Zhu He's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, but his mind was in turmoil. As far as he knew, the patriarch had not attended the Elder Council meeting for hundreds of years. Why did he suddenly come to the Elder Council this time? Could it be that something major had happened?

Zhu He couldn't help but ponder whether he had experienced any fatigue during his years as sect leader. He suddenly glanced at Chu Wushang and asked, "Mr. Chu, what brings the Ancestor to the Elders' Council?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Wushang gave Zhu He a strange look.

Zhu He felt a jolt in his heart, deeply regretting that he shouldn't have asked that question.

Chu Wushang coldly replied, "How would I know the ancestor's intentions? I'll take my leave."

After Chu Wushang finished speaking, he flew out of the room like a ghost, turning into a streak of black light and disappearing.

Zhu He then summoned Wu Shidao and ordered him to send people to each peak to convey the message. He himself sat in his room, repeatedly pondering the various major events of the past few years, trying to figure out why the patriarch had come to the Elders' Council.

Two days later.

Cuiwei Peak, Elders' Court, Council Hall.

Early in the morning, the council hall was filled with elders from all the peaks. In the past, there were always people absent from the elders' council meetings for various reasons. But this time, the hall was the most full it had ever been.

After all, it was the patriarch who was coming to the Elders' Council.

This was the first time in hundreds of years that the patriarch had attended the Elder Council meeting. No matter how arrogant these people were, how much they disliked Zhu He, or how openly or secretly they disagreed with Zhu He's arrangements, they dared not be absent when Lü Yinlin was coming.

Although the patriarch of the Taiyi Sect lived in seclusion in a deep valley and did not concern himself with worldly affairs, all the elders of the sect understood that Lü Yinlin was the true leader of the Taiyi Sect!
But they didn't know that today was the day the Taiyi Sect was changing its rule.

Zhu He sat there, his face pale and with faint bruises under his eyes, clearly deeply worried. The seat next to Zhu He was empty; below the sect leader was actually the seat of the head of the Judgment and Justice Department.

The head of the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs is none other than Duan Rong. However, since Duan Rong took office as the head of the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs, he has never attended a meeting of the Elder Council. Therefore, the seat below Zhu He has been empty in the Elder Council for many years.

At this moment, the elders from all the peaks couldn't help but glance at the empty seat next to Zhu He. Many were wondering if Duan Rong would attend the Elder Council meeting, given that these patriarchs were supposed to be present.

Inside the council hall, the largest seat was the seat of the sect's patriarch. For hundreds of years, that seat had remained empty, but the carved patterns on the huge back of the seat were always kept clean and spotless.

Just then, Duan Rong suddenly walked in.

The eyes of the elders from all the peaks immediately focused on him.

Ignoring everyone's gaze, Duan Rong slowly walked to Zhu He's side and sat down.

Zhu He glanced at him and whispered, "Duan boy, I went to the Lü family mansion to look for you twice these past two days, but you weren't there either time."

Duan Rong said, "I have been busy these past two days and am not at the Lü family residence."

Zhu He leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Do you know why the Ancestor came to the Elder Council today?"

Duan Rong touched his nose and didn't say anything.

Zhu He looked at Duan Rong's expression and his heart stirred, because he felt that Duan Rong seemed to know something and wanted to ask again. Just then, a wisp of green smoke suddenly hovered around the old ancestor's carved throne.

After circling for a while, the smoke dissipated, revealing Lü Yinlin's figure.

All the elders, including the sect leader Zhu He, rose from their seats and knelt prostrate on the ground beside them, shouting, "Disciple XX pays homage to the Ancestor!"

Duan Rong was also mingling in the crowd, kneeling beside Zhu He.

Lu Yinlin's voice was deep and powerful as he said, "Get up, everyone. Take your seats."

"Yes, Ancestor." The voices of the crowd echoed in the council hall, like a mountain shout.

The elders of each peak then took their seats, but everyone's mind was racing, speculating about the patriarch's sudden visit to the Elders' Council. Some even glanced at Zhu He with gloating eyes, making Zhu He even more uneasy.

Since he is the sect leader and the patriarch is coming in person, it must be a big event, and it's probably not a good thing.

Zhu He sat there as if on pins and needles.

After everyone was seated, Lü Yinlin surveyed them with a deep gaze, then suddenly spoke: "Three months ago, in the valley where I lived in seclusion, there was an unusual phenomenon of heaven and earth. This phenomenon stretched for hundreds of miles along the Changliu Mountains. I believe all of you here have seen it, haven't you?"

Zhu He said, "We all saw it. Mr. Chu has already told us that it was the Ancestor practicing in the valley, and told us not to make a fuss and just to keep our disciples in check."

Zhu He was the sect leader, so naturally he was the one to answer the patriarch's questions.

Lu Yinlin's face was gloomy as he said, "That was because I made him lie."

"Lying!?" The elders present were all shocked.

Lu Yinlin said, "The strange phenomenon that day was not because I was practicing martial arts, but because someone condensed a nascent soul within the sect's Nascent Soul Formation Formation Formation in the valley."

"A nascent soul has been formed!?"

"Who?!"

"Who has condensed a Nascent Soul?!"

Lu Yinlin's words were like a ladle of cold water poured into a pot of hot oil, immediately igniting a flurry of discussion in the council hall. The news that someone had condensed a Nascent Soul was simply too shocking. (End of Chapter)