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

Chapter 527 Yang Sixuan's Helplessness

Duan Rong and Yang Yi arrived at the mountain where the Judgment and Justice Department was located, and chatted as they walked.

They were old acquaintances. They started interacting when Duan Rong was still a disciple, and later they would often meet for various reasons.

To be honest, the two were quite compatible in temperament and had a pleasant chat along the way.

Reaching a fork in the mountain path, Duan Rong's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Hey, Brother Yang, aren't we taking people to the dungeon or the main hall to ask for confessions? Which way does this path lead?"

Yang Yi turned at the fork in the road and suddenly walked along a small path that seemed to lead to some mountain valley.

Yang Yi smiled and said, "Chief Yang lives in the bamboo house in that mountain valley. He wants to personally question your statement."

Duan Rong glanced at the shady mountain hollow and said, "This mountain is so big, why did Chief Yang choose such a cold and secluded place to stay?"

Yang Yi said, "The Commander prefers quiet."

Duan Rong followed Yang Yi along the path and turned into the mountain valley.

In that mountain valley, there was indeed a patch of tall bamboo, as well as many pine and cypress trees, and a two-story bamboo building stood there conspicuously.

Yang Yi led Duan Rong up the creaking stairs to the entrance of the bamboo house.

Yang Yi stood at the doorway, clasped his hands respectfully, and said, "Commander, Duan Rong has arrived."

Inside the room, Yang Sixuan, who was sitting at a table, raised his eyelids and said, "Let him in."

Yang Yi glanced at Duan Rong and said, "Brother Duan, you may go in."

Duan Rong nodded and slowly stepped into the bamboo house, while Yang Yi clasped his hands in farewell and left.

Yang Sixuan was sitting at his desk, flipping through the files. After returning to the Judgment and Justice Department from Wuliang Cliff, he had reviewed the information on Xiao Qiwu's case again, and all the doubts once again pointed to Duan Rong.

Yang Sixuan put down the newly bound dossier in his hand, looked up at Duan Rong, and said, "Junior Nephew Duan, this Xiao Qiwu case is quite important, as it relates to the whereabouts of our sect's sacred artifact, the God-Slaying Whip. I have no choice but to trouble you to make another trip!"

Duan Rong said, "Chief Yang, there's no need to be so polite. If you have any questions, just ask me, and I will answer them to the best of my knowledge."

"That's good." Yang Sixuan smiled, gestured to Duan Rong, and said, "Nephew Duan, please sit down and let's talk. I may have quite a few questions."

"Alright," Duan Rong said, already sitting down in a chair not far from Yang Sixuan.

"Nephew Duan, you stayed in the Wanxiang Cave for a full five days. During those five days, was it true that no one entered the Wanxiang Cave?" Yang Sixuan asked abruptly as soon as Duan Rong sat down.

Duan Rong said, "No one has gone in!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Sixuan stared at Duan Rong with a flickering gaze, and after a moment, asked in a deep voice, "Is that so?"

Duan Rong smiled faintly and said, "What? Does Chief Yang have other clues and find out that someone went into Wanxiang Cave during the five days I was imprisoned?"

Yang Sixuan remained unmoved and did not answer Duan Rong's question. A single piece of evidence is insufficient; the gray hair found in the cave was not enough to prove anything.

Seeing that Yang Sixuan hadn't spoken for a long time, Duan Rong suddenly said, "Didn't Chief Yang say that you would ask a lot of questions? You just asked me one question, didn't you?"

As Duan Rong spoke, he smiled innocently at Yang Sixuan, as if to say, "If you don't ask, I'm leaving."

Yang Sixuan said, "Of course! But I don't think I'll get any information by asking like this. How about we try a different approach?"

"Another way?!" Duan Rong's heart clenched.

Just then, ripples of space appeared faintly above Yang Sixuan's head. Almost simultaneously, Yang Sixuan, sitting in his chair, appeared before Duan Rong like a ghost.

The moment Yang Sixuan appeared, his right hand pressed down on Duan Rong's head.

As Yang Sixuan pressed his right hand down on Duan Rong's head, a giant hand suddenly appeared in the sky above Duan Rong's spiritual sea of ​​consciousness.

The palm, like a dark cloud, pressed down on the clear, glassy body seated cross-legged in the center of the sky...

Yang Sixuan looked at Duan Rong expressionlessly.

He used the Yin-Cold Hand and the Divine Illumination Seal on Duan Rong.

He knew that Duan Rong's identity was sensitive, but all the clues in the Xiao Qiwu case were more or less related to Duan Rong. To solve the mystery of the case, Duan Rong was obviously the breakthrough point.

The Divine Illumination Seal will cause slight damage to the soul, but it is much less severe than that caused by the God-Slaying Whip. Duan Rong was unharmed after taking three blows from the God-Slaying Whip, which shows that the Divine Illumination Seal would not truly harm him.

Yang Sixuan's face suddenly twitched.

Within the sea of ​​spiritual consciousness, the palm, as dark as a black cloud, was about to press down on the head of the clear and pure glass body, but suddenly, the clear and pure glass body was surrounded by colorful light spots.

The shimmering, flowing light actually blocked the dark, cloud-like palm, preventing it from striking down.

At that very moment, three jet-black shuttles suddenly spun rapidly, shooting towards the dark, cloud-like hand in a crisscrossing pattern. They collided and exploded, blasting a large hole in the palm of the dark, cloud-like hand...

"Soul-piercing daggers!? Three of them!"

Yang Sixuan's face was filled with astonishment. "You've only been a personal disciple for less than a year, how could you possibly form a Soul Thorn of this level?!"

Yang Sixuan was shocked, not only because Duan Rong had broken his Divine Illumination Seal. The power unleashed by the collision of those three Divine Soul Spikes was at least ten layers of the Womb Treasury Sutra!

This kid is only in his early twenties. Even if he started practicing from the womb, it's impossible for him to have reached more than ten levels of the Fetal Treasury Scripture. Besides, where did he get his technique from?
"Where did you obtain the Fetal Treasury Sutra practice method?"

Duan Rong gave a cold laugh and stood up abruptly, much to Yang Sixuan's astonishment.

"Chief Yang, I only agree to cooperate with your investigation into the Xiao Qiwu case. As for the Womb Sutra, I have nothing to say!"

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he was about to leave the bamboo house.

Yang Sixuan's face shifted between light and shadow, then his eyes suddenly turned cold as he shouted, "Nephew Duan, the Womb Sutra concerns the secrets of our sect. If you don't explain this clearly, you may not be able to leave my Judgment Division!"

Suddenly, an invisible ripple appeared in front of Duan Rong, like water shimmering, and then vanished on its own.

Duan Rong's eyes flickered, and he stopped there, knowing that he was already surrounded by the spatial barrier.

Afterwards, Yang Sixuan imprisoned Duan Rong in the dungeon of the Court of Judgment. Then, he immediately went to see the sect leader, Chu Qiushan, about the matter.

The sect's patriarch, Lü Yinlin, lived in a secluded valley.

Chu Wushang entered the deep valley and went straight into Lü Yinlin's cave.

Lu Yinlin was flipping through an ancient book on chess endgames when he heard Chu Wushang's words. Suddenly, he frowned and said, "Yang Sixuan used the Divine Illumination Seal on Duan Rong?"

Chu Wushang replied, "Yes."

Lu Yinlin asked, "When did this happen?"

Chu Wushang said, "Just recently, they said they wanted Duan Rong to go to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs to question Xiao Qiwu about his confession. In Yang Sixuan's secluded bamboo house, he used the Divine Illumination Seal on Duan Rong. But Duan Rong used the Divine Soul Pierce to break it."

A flash of anger crossed Lü Yinlin's face. He suddenly looked at Chu Wushang and instructed, "Chu Wushang, I am about to give you an order. Listen carefully!"

Seeing that Lü Yinlin spoke solemnly, Chu Wushang immediately clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This old servant obeys!"

Lu Yinlin said, "Take good care of Duan Rong for me, and don't let anyone hurt him."

Upon hearing this, Chu Wushang's expression faltered slightly.

Lu Yinlin was known for his cold-heartedness, and Chu Wushang was momentarily puzzled as to why he was so devoted to Duan Rong.

“If anything happens to him, you don’t need to come see me anymore,” Lü Yinlin’s voice rang out softly.

Chu Wushang's heart clenched slightly, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. The ancestor's words that he didn't need to come to see him meant that he should end his own life.

Chu Wushang's voice trembled slightly as he said, "Don't worry, Ancestor!" He wasn't afraid; he was shocked by Duan Rong's position in the Ancestor's heart.

After Chu Wushang finished speaking, he gave a slight bow and then turned and left the cave.

Regardless of why Lü Yinlin asked him to protect Duan Rong, Lü Yinlin's expression and tone had already been imprinted in Chu Wushang's mind.

If he cannot protect Duan Rong, he will have no choice but to end his own life. This is no empty talk!
Yang Sixuan had just returned from Chu Qiushan's place when he saw a figure standing in front of his bamboo house.

Yang Sixuan's eyes flickered. No one from the Court of Judicial Review dared to trespass here without cause, and they even stood with their hands behind their backs in front of his bamboo house.

Yang Sixuan transformed into a streak of black light and landed in front of the bamboo house, glancing sideways and coldly asking, "Who goes there?"

The man stood with his hands behind his back in front of a bamboo grove, watching the bamboo shadows swaying in the breeze. He turned around when he heard the words.

Yang Sixuan's expression changed in surprise. "Mr. Chu!?"

He never expected that Chu Wushang would come directly to the Court of Judgment.

Chu Wushang represented the sect's patriarch, Lü Yinlin. Lü Yinlin had not paid attention to the sect's mundane affairs for many years, and he rarely interfered in the matters of the Sect Affairs Division. Even if there were any issues, Chu Qiushan would report to Lü Yinlin.

It is quite rare for Chu Wushang to visit so suddenly!
Chu Wushang looked at Yang Sixuan and asked, "Is Duan Rong imprisoned in the dungeon of the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs?"

Yang Sixuan's eyes narrowed, and he said, "Yes!"

Chu Wushang coldly said, "Release him."

Yang Sixuan said, "This boy is suspected of stealing our sect's supreme martial art, the Womb Treasury Scripture..."

"None of your business!" Before Yang Sixuan could finish speaking, Chu Wushang interrupted her.

Chu Wushang looked at him expressionlessly and said, "Also, Chief Yang! From now on, if you want to interrogate Duan Rong again, you must ask me first. Understand?"

Yang Sixuan stood there, staring at Chu Wushang.

His heart was in turmoil. Chu Wushang wouldn't interfere with the Imperial Clan Court's handling of cases without cause; there was probably more to it than met the eye…

Yang Sixuan suddenly clasped his hands in a respectful salute and said, "I understand!"

Seeing that Yang Sixuan had spoken, Chu Wushang said nothing more and transformed into a streak of black light and disappeared.

Yang Sixuan stood in front of the rustling bamboo forest, looking at the spot where Chu Wushang's figure had disappeared, her eyes flashing.

Duan Rong had just been imprisoned in the dungeon of the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs for less than half an hour, and before he could even sit down properly, Yang Yi, with a smile on his face, invited him out.

Duan Rong stepped out of the dungeon, looked at Yang Yi, and joked, "Brother Yang, I've been to this dungeon twice in the past month. I guess I'm a regular here now?"

Yang Yi said, "Brother Duan, in my opinion, it's best to avoid places like this!"

"Really?" Duan Rong said, "I think this place is quite nice. It provides food and lodging, and it's also quite secluded. It would be good for seclusion here. If I stay here for a year or two, I might even break through my cultivation level."

Yang Yi said, "Brother Duan, you jest. Who would seclude themselves in a dungeon for cultivation?"

Duan Rong laughed and said, "Hahaha... It's all up to human effort."

Yang Yi escorted Duan Rong away from the Judgment Bureau. As he watched Duan Rong ride the wind and soar into the clouds, a complex expression appeared in Yang Yi's eyes.

Not long ago, his second uncle, Yang Sixuan, had summoned him and not only made him release Duan Rong, but also told him that all investigations related to Duan Rong had been terminated.

He didn't ask Yang Sixuan why.

Because if Yang Sixuan needed him to know why, he would tell him; if he didn't tell him, it meant he didn't need to know.

But having followed Yang Sixuan for many years, he had already discerned many things from Yang Sixuan's expression just now.

The Xiao Qiwu case reached a stalemate due to Duan Rong's withdrawal and Shen Tu Ying's lack of cooperation.

Later, the case simply hung there, and no one bothered to pursue it anymore.

Yang Yi knew that Yang Sixuan's attitude meant that he planned to submit a case file a month later and hastily close the case as an unsolved cold case.

After leaving the dungeon of the Court of Judgment, Duan Rong returned to the mountain where Shang Xiangyu lived. That night, he had dinner with Xiao Yu and the others, a rare occurrence, and instead of returning to the deep valley, he stayed on the mountain. That night, in the cave, Duan Rong and Xiao Yu engaged in a passionate lovemaking session.

"What's wrong with you today?!" Xiao Yu pulled the animal skin blanket over herself and glared at Duan Rong in the darkness.

Duan Rong rested his right hand behind his head and remained silent.

He was replaying the events of the day in his mind.

Yang Sixuan only kept him in the dungeon for half an hour before releasing him.

This is definitely not his style; someone must have forced him.

Who is it?
Is it Zhu He?
Impossible! He's only been locked up for half an hour. Even if Zhu He got the news that quickly, he couldn't possibly suppress Yang Sixuan.

Yang Sixuan only listens to Chu Qiushan.

The only person capable of suppressing Yang Sixuan besides Chu Qiushan...

A name was about to emerge in Duan Rong's mind!

This matter was most likely intervened by the patriarch Lü Yinlin!

He suddenly remembered what Lü Yinlin had said after his practice session that night in the deep valley: "With this kind of dedicated training, you will surely reach the Cave-Nether Realm within three years!"

Duan Rong was actually unaware of what it truly meant to enter the Cave Nether Realm within three years.

Previously, he thought that there were countless cultivators in the Dongming Realm within the Taiyi Sect, and that it wouldn't be anything special for someone to enter the Dongming Realm within three years.

But now it seems that this is not the case; Lü Yinlin was indeed nurturing him as a promising talent.

A few days later, Shen Mizhi brought Zhu Xiaoqi back to the sect.

When Zhu Xiaoqi reached the top of the mountain and saw Xiao Yu, she was overjoyed. Duan Rong was also there at the time. After her initial joy, Zhu Xiaoqi immediately pouted and began to complain to Xiao Yu about Duan Rong's faults.

“Miss, look at him. He left me all alone at Shenyun Mansion for over two months without even asking about me. Even cats and dogs aren't treated this coldly…”

As Zhu Xiaoqi spoke, she suddenly burst into tears, feeling deeply aggrieved.

While wiping away Zhu Xiaoqi's tears, Xiao Yu comforted her, "He has his reasons. Didn't he bring you here as soon as the matter was settled?"

Zhu Xiaoqi pouted and said, "Miss, you're always siding with him."

As Zhu Xiaoqi spoke, she gave Duan Rong a wronged look.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Little Seven, it's my fault for making you suffer. But there was a reason for it. Once you're settled, I'll have Xiao Yu explain things to you properly."

After Duan Rong sent Shen Mizhi to Shenyun Mansion to pick up Zhu Xiaoqi, he told Xiao Yu the whole story of Zhu Xiaoqi and Yang Zhen. Xiao Yu naturally knew the whole story.

After settling Zhu Xiaoqi in, Xiao Yu told her that evening how Duan Rong had abducted her from the Pagoda Forest, violating the sect's ironclad rules, and how she had been struck unconscious by three blows of the God-Slaying Whip at Wuliang Cliff.

When Zhu Xiaoqi heard that Duan Rong had suffered so much to save Xiao Yu, she completely forgave him for his neglect of her.

Zhu Xiaoqi wiped away her tears and murmured, "Our son-in-law is a man with a conscience after all."

After Zhu Xiaoqi arrived at the mountain, he took over the responsibility of providing meals for everyone. From then on, Duan Rong often came to the mountain to drink a bowl of Zhu Xiaoqi's delicious soup. Zhu Xiaoqi, of course, served him with utmost care.

(End of this chapter)