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

Duan Rong remained in that state for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before slowly rising from the futon.

He stood there, and as the vortex of energy within his dantian swirled, its icy tail connecting with the surrounding天地元气 (heaven and earth energy), a strange sensation began to emerge...

Duan Rong discovered that he could perceive the subtle airflow within this space with remarkable clarity.

Within this enclosed space, the air was flowing with his breath. The flow of air and the permeation of the primordial energy of heaven and earth are actually two different flows, but at this moment, through the permeation of the primordial energy of heaven and earth, he could clearly perceive the flow of air.

It's an indescribable feeling, a perception of the overall and subtle intertwined aspects of the surrounding environment. A sufficient amount of subtlety constitutes this overall wholeness.

This perception is different from spiritual exploration. Spiritual exploration requires concentration of the mind, but this perception from the dantian's energy vortex is like the six senses and the five senses; it is a natural perception, a constantly present perception.

In that instant, Duan Rong suddenly understood something.

That's why the so-called Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm is the highest level of martial arts in the world.

Once you pass this hurdle, the next step is the power of laws in the Cave of Enlightenment Realm, which is no longer related to martial arts.

It wasn't until he himself achieved Dzogchen, until he stood here at this moment, that he truly understood the difference.

The Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm is the highest level of martial arts in the world, not only because the understanding of the artistic conception has reached its deepest depth.

Unless one's understanding of the artistic conception reaches a certain depth, it is impossible to condense the vortex of the Great Perfection realm.

However, there is another point: after reaching the Great Perfection realm, the connection between the Qi vortex in the dantian and the surrounding environment's primordial Qi can enter a state of delicate insight, thus forming a perception that is both holistic and subtle.

With this perception, any martial art becomes even more powerful.

Because of this perception, one can see even the smallest details.

Suddenly, Duan Rong had a thought, and with a flip of his hands, the phosphorescent gloves were already in his hands, gleaming with a faint silver light.

Suddenly, he moved with ghostly speed, his hands flashing out like a silver streak. In the instant he struck, he reversed his position, his right hand reaching to his side like a monkey trying to catch the moon's reflection…

Duan Rong unleashed move after move, his figure flashing like silver water within the confines of the small room.

About half an incense stick later, he suddenly stopped his move and stood still. At this moment, Duan Rong stood there, his eyes gleaming with a restrained light. The moves he had just made kept replaying in his mind like a shadow...

He had just used a set of ordinary grappling techniques. But Duan Rong knew very well that this was the most brilliant martial arts performance he had ever shown in his life.

In fact, with his level of martial arts prowess, he had already mastered all kinds of skills.

Whether it's sword, knife, grappling, or leg techniques, he can make all those routines evolve from the realm of his understanding, without any constraints, and they are all dynamic moves.

Even so, it was still not as impressive as the grappling technique he had just used.

Because the grappling technique he just used had an added element: it contained aura.

Because of the presence of breath, the moves are no longer just living moves, but have become a living thing, as if they have life.

The surrounding air currents and the pervasive energy of heaven and earth are like water, just as the techniques that move within this air and energy are like fish living in water. From this perspective, the so-called understanding of artistic conception, no matter how profound, is merely an understanding of the fish itself. However, a fish out of water is lifeless. Only a fish in water is lively and unpredictable.

"Any strike in martial arts, no matter how ordinary or exquisite, is closely related to the surrounding airflow and the permeation of the earth's energy."

"They were originally one."

"The highest peak of martial arts in the world is to understand this wholeness. Starting from this wholeness, any martial art is formless."

"The formless is also the myriad forms. Because any strike must correspond to the current flow of energy, and as soon as the strike is delivered, the flow of energy will change because of this strike. That is to say, the strike you deliver is transforming into another strike the moment it is delivered, because the flow of energy has changed."

"And if it is a fight between two people, the complexity of the changes in breathing will increase exponentially."

"One strike can produce a myriad of effects."

At this moment, the pinnacle of martial arts in the world made Duan Rong's heart tremble.

"Unfortunately, the highest peak of martial arts in this world is nothing more than a garden path leading to the power of laws."

Duan Rong sighed softly, and with a flick of his wrist, the phosphorescent gloves that shimmered with silver light disappeared. He slowly walked out of the cultivation chamber.

As Duan Rong emerged from the artificial hill at the entrance to the cultivation chamber, the bright sunlight was dazzling. He glanced up at the direction of the sun; it was just past noon.

In the past, he would emerge from the secret chamber every six days, and this had been the case for the past five or six months. Xiao Yu and Lü Qingzhu had naturally become aware of this pattern. Duan Rong had also always followed this rule without fail.

But this time, he achieved the Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm on the fifth day. Judging from that pattern, he emerged a day early.

He didn't go to Lü Qingzhu's courtyard, but went straight back to his own.

Upon entering the courtyard, one could see Shen Mizhi practicing her swordplay in the sunlight-drenched space, the sword flashing in the distance.

After Duan Rong achieved the Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm, he could walk almost silently. With his lightness skill and keen insight into the aura, he could almost blend into the environment.

Therefore, Shen Mizhi did not notice Duan Rong entering the courtyard at all.

He suddenly coughed lightly, and Shen Mizhi was startled. The sword light reversed, and she realized that Duan Rong was standing not far away.

Duan Rong glanced at Shen Mizhi and saw that her forehead was glistening with a layer of fine sweat. "Your swordsmanship has changed quite a bit in terms of training method compared to before."

Shen Mizhi said, "Miss Qingzhu gave me some guidance, and I have gained some new insights. These days, I have gradually integrated them into my understanding."

"So it was she who guided you," Duan Rong said with a smile. "The sword path is correct, but what about your true heart?"

"Your true self?" Shen Mizhi was slightly taken aback.

Duan Rong said, "Your original sword path originated from your own heart, and it can be said to have its own vitality. I never instruct you on specific sword moves, but only tell you a vague idea. It's not that I'm unwilling to tell you, but that I'm giving you room to grow. Qingzhu's teaching method can feed dogs, but it won't cultivate sword intent."

Shen Mizhi stood there, a chill running down her spine. Although she had just practiced the routine more than ten times and was drenched in sweat, she had always thought that Lü Qingzhu taught better than Duan Rong because she taught more meticulously. Unlike Duan Rong, who would spend months, even half a year, pondering over just a single, seemingly unrelated sentence.

But over the past five or six months, she gradually began to realize something. Lü Qingzhu was indeed very generous and taught everything she knew, but she was teaching her own things.

She explained it in great detail and even demonstrated it to Shen Mizhi herself. Shen Mizhi felt that her understanding of swordsmanship was more profound, so she began to practice according to her teachings.

But over the past five or six months, she often felt increasingly awkward in her matches. Cognitively, Lü Qingzhu was clearly teaching her a better fighting style, but she kept feeling increasingly uncomfortable. Today, Duan Rong finally saw through her mistake in a single sentence.

No matter how good Lü Qingzhu's fighting style or how superb her swordsmanship, it is still hers.

Just like Duan Rong's immediate question: Where is your true self?

“Lv Qingzhu’s playing style and my playing style are incompatible in some details, which is because we have different mindsets.”

"He saw through Duan Rong's intentions with his sword."

Shen Mizhi stared blankly at Duan Rong. Duan Rong, however, said, "Go brew a pot of tea."

After he finished speaking, he slowly walked up to the hall.

Shen Mizhi watched Duan Rong's retreating figure, her eyes flickered slightly, and then sheathed her sword and went to the kitchen to make tea.

In the past, making tea was the job of Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi, and she rarely interfered.

But it was just past noon. After they had lunch, Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi were taking a nap, and only she was practicing her sword in the courtyard.

Duan Rong sat in the hall and roughly calculated the time. Because he was preoccupied with trivial matters, it took him more than six months to achieve the Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm.

It's alright, though.

Having achieved the Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm, the next step is to consolidate this realm and prepare for advancing to the Cavern Realm.

Before that, he needed to see the patriarch Lü Yinlin, not only to learn how to advance to the Cave Nether Realm, but also to consult Lü Yinlin.

He also wanted to ask Lü Yinlin about the undetectable, eerie light emanating from the Five-Colored Ruyi Pearl, which was the source of his artistic conception.

After all, as far as he knew, that essence of the realm was a crucial link in condensing the Cave of Enlightenment. If he could not fully understand the strange and evil nature of the Five-Colored Wish-Fulfilling Pearl and rashly enter seclusion to condense the Cave of Enlightenment, he might encounter an unpredictable and treacherous situation at a critical juncture.

That would be more than just a failure to condense the Cavern; it could very well mean perishing within the Cavern itself... After all, it's hard to predict what that light actually is.

For safety's sake, we can only ask Lü Yinlin.

Duan Rong sat in the hall for a long time before Shen Mizhi brought up the teapot and teacups on a tray.

She placed the tray on the tea table beside Duan Rong, intending to make him tea, but seeing her awkwardness, Duan Rong said, "You go ahead. I'll do it myself."

"Oh." Seeing that Duan Rong wouldn't let her brew it, Shen Mizhi straightened up and walked out.

Shen Mizhi sat on the stone steps in the courtyard, sorting out her thoughts on practicing swordsmanship over the past five or six months. Thanks to Duan Rong's reminder, her thinking had clearly been adjusted.

Her original idea was to focus on Lü Qingzhu's teaching methods, that is, to repeatedly refine her own routines in order to achieve the same level as Lü Qingzhu.

Now she felt that she should focus on her own sword style, and as for what Lü Qingzhu taught her, she would integrate it if she could, and discard the parts that she couldn't without any regret.

After sorting out her thoughts, Lü Qingzhu suddenly leaped up the stone steps like a cat. In mid-air, she drew her long sword with a whoosh and began practicing her moves again in the courtyard.

Duan Rong sat in the hall, sipping tea while watching Shen Mizhi's figure rise and fall in the courtyard.

At this moment, Shen Mizhi's sword aura was subtly different from before.

Shen Mizhi's swordplay was full of murderous intent, while Lü Qingzhu's swordplay was cold and agile.

As the saying goes, ice and charcoal cannot be kept in the same container for long.

Although Lü Qingzhu was quite skilled in martial arts, she was not like Duan Rong, who was well-versed in various martial arts styles and had the insight to see through the differences in sword techniques.

After finishing his cup of tea, Duan Rong stood up. He had been cultivating diligently in the secret chamber day and night for five days and was indeed quite thirsty. After drinking a cup of tea, he felt much better.

Duan Rong walked out of the hall and stood there by himself. Shen Mizhi had just finished a routine and turned to look at Duan Rong, hoping that he would give her some more pointers.

But Duan Rong suddenly soared up like a great eagle, skimming over the rooftops and flying into the layers of clouds and mist in the valley...

Shen Mizhi wiped the fine sweat from her forehead. With a change of perspective, she realized that the previous routine she had just encountered was quite different.

She thought about it and realized that since Duan Rong hadn't said anything, it must mean that she had practiced correctly.

As she was thinking this, she was about to practice again when she saw Xiao Yu yawning as she walked out of the inner room. Xiao Yu immediately noticed the teapot and teacups on the table in the hall. She turned her head and saw Shen Mizhi standing in the courtyard not far from the hall, holding a sword.

Xiao Yu pointed to the tea on the tea table, looked at Shen Mizhi in the courtyard, and asked, "Who came? Did you make the tea?"

Shen Mizhi said, "Duan Rong is back."

Xiao Yu exclaimed in astonishment, "Husband?!"

She ran out of the hall, looked around, and asked, "Where is everyone?"

Shen Mizhi said, "They've left again."

Xiao Yu asked, "Where did you go?"

Shen Mizhi said, "I don't know."

Xiao Yu's eyes flickered. She quickly calculated the time; today was only the fifth day, and Duan Rong should not leave the cultivation chamber until tomorrow.

She couldn't help but roll her eyes at Shen Mizhi in the courtyard, and said, "Nonsense. Tomorrow is the day he's supposed to leave the cultivation chamber. Why would he be back today?"

"How would I know?" Shen Mizhi said, "If you don't believe me, fine."

After Shen Mizhi finished speaking, she ignored Xiao Yu and started practicing her routine in the courtyard.

Xiao Yu walked over and touched the teapot. The teapot was still hot. She stood there, watching Shen Mizhi's figure rise and fall in the courtyard, and suddenly became suspicious.

If Duan Rong hadn't returned, Shen Mizhi wouldn't be here making tea out of the blue, given her obsession with martial arts. Besides, there's hardly anyone in their courtyard usually; only Ximen Kankan occasionally brings over news from within and outside the sect. For Ximen Kankan to expect Shen Mizhi to make him tea is simply a pipe dream. (End of Chapter)