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

Duan Rong listened to Lü Yinlin's discourse, his eyes deep and gleaming.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “Ancestor, you mean that this second hurdle, using the origin of intent as a guide to comprehend the power of laws, is actually an extremely slow process. This is because not only are intents ever-changing, but the gate to laws is also a gate of infinite wonders. And the intent that a cultivator comprehends will only produce the light of the law when they find the corresponding gate to the law. This is what you mean by specific places and specific crops.”

Lü Yinlin nodded slightly and said, "That's exactly right."

Duan Rong continued, "The situation I'm talking about is that the essence of that realm can resonate with any gate of law, which is why it can emit the light of touching the law at any time."

Lü Yinlin stared blankly at Duan Rong.

Initially, he thought this problem was merely a theoretical hypothesis and pointless to explore. However, after his brief explanation, Duan Rong was able to grasp the problem to such an extent in such a short time.

It is evident that he has thoroughly grasped the relationship between the origin of artistic conception, the radiance of the law, and the power of the law. This profound understanding greatly benefited him in successfully breaking through the second barrier when he condensed his Insightful Awakening.

Lu Yinlin looked at Duan Rong with a warm expression and asked, "Are there any other questions?"

Duan Rong then asked some more questions, mostly focusing on the first hurdle: overcoming inner demons. Lü Yinlin answered them patiently one by one.

The two talked back and forth for more than three hours.

Duan Rong's doubts were completely resolved, and he felt a sense of clarity, as if the clouds had parted and the sun was shining through. At least regarding the three barriers to condensing the Cave of Enlightenment, he felt that he had fully grasped the theoretical details.

Duan Rong suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to Lü Yinlin again, respectfully saying, "Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Ancestor!"

Knowing that Duan Rong had vented all his pent-up feelings, Lü Yinlin asked, "Boy, when do you plan to begin condensing your Cave of Clarity?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong raised his head and replied, "This disciple plans to review the Ancestor's booklet several more times and digest the content of the Ancestor's explanation today. Moreover, my Great Perfection realm needs to be consolidated... In addition... Qingzhu is about to give birth. This disciple plans to go into seclusion to condense the Cave of Clarity after Qingzhu gives birth."

Lu Yinlin nodded and said, "You can decide the time yourself. But you should tell Chu Wushang the approximate time in advance so he can prepare the necessary things. Closing down your cultivation to condense your inner light is no small matter."

Duan Rong replied, "Yes, disciple understands."

Lü Yinlin said, "Yes, you may go. I would like to rest for a while."

"Yes, Ancestor! This disciple takes his leave!"

Duan Rong respectfully called out, kowtowed again, and then got up and left.

As he stepped out of the cave of his ancestor Lü Yinlin, his eyes lit up with a sudden clarity. The gains from this trip far exceeded his expectations.

Many theoretical doubts about the condensation of the cavern were resolved. More importantly, he was almost certain that the five-colored wish-fulfilling pearl emitted the light of the law of touch.

The touch of the law's light is neither a state of mind nor a law itself, but rather an intermediate state between the two. Therefore, it cannot be perceived by divine sense, but can be seen with the inner eye.

Moreover, he was certain that the Five-Colored Ruyi Pearl had begun to emit that light of touching the law even when it was still at the first level of the Qi Cyclone Realm. Although it was evil, it was not harmful.

That means that at that time, after he came out of the ruins of gods and demons, his original state of mind had almost reached a profound state of perfect harmony, and he could resonate with all the omnipresent gates of law. That is why he always emitted a faint light. Because he could resonate with any gate of law, he did not need to find a specific gate of law at the second checkpoint to emit the light of touching the law.

Having confirmed this, Duan Rong felt that of the three barriers to condensing the Cave of Enlightenment, the most difficult one for him was actually the first barrier, namely, breaking through his inner demons.

Of course, this hurdle is inherently difficult, and there are quite a few who are trapped by their inner demons and unable to break through for more than ten years.

Duan Rong emerged from the valley and took flight on the wind, heading towards the hilltop of the Lü family residence.

Once he enters seclusion and solidifies his inner energy, Duan Rong cannot be certain how long it will take for him to emerge.

The patriarch Lü Yinlin secluded himself for three years before emerging from seclusion.

Lu Yinlin estimated that he could condense the Cave-Ming Realm within a year, but that was Lu Yinlin's estimate; he himself had no confidence. Although theoretically, the second hurdle seemed to be no problem for him. Moreover, once he comprehended the highly growth-oriented power of the Laws, the third hurdle should not be a problem either.

However, these are all theoretical estimates. When one actually goes into seclusion to condense and meditate, any unexpected event could occur.

As Duan Rong was thinking this, he arrived at the hilltop of the Lü family residence. He transformed into a gentle breeze and landed at the entrance of Lü Zhongtang's residence.

He walked slowly into the courtyard. The gatekeeper already recognized him and immediately bowed and called out, "Lord Duan!"

Duan Rong gave a soft "hmm," then crossed the courtyard and headed straight for Lü Qingzhu's room.

He walked to the door of Lü Qingzhu's room and found that Xiao Yu was also there. The two were chatting about something and burst into laughter.

Duan Rong strode in and asked, "What are you two talking about? Why are you laughing so happily?"

Upon hearing this, the two turned their heads. Xiao Yu's eyes lit up, and she asked, "Husband, when did you get back?"

Duan Rong said, "I just got back. I was thinking of coming over to take Qingzhu's pulse."

Lü Qingzhu laughed and said, "You two came at just the right time, one after the other. One brought me freshly picked mountain fruits, and the other came to take my pulse. What do you call that? Birds of a feather flock together."

Duan Rong glanced at the bright red, juicy mountain fruits on the table and laughed, "Do you think she wanted to give away mountain fruits? With her cooking skills, that's all she can do."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu curled her lip and said, "Fine, husband, you expose my shortcomings in front of Qingzhu."

Lü Qingzhu smiled and said, "So that's why they stopped delivering the honey egg custard... Turns out you don't know how to make it, sister..."

"Who says I can't?! I'll bring it to you tomorrow," Xiao Yu said defiantly.

Duan Rong said, "Alright, I think we shouldn't send it. Xiao Qi is quite pregnant and still has to keep busy around the stove..."

"You told me to speak!?"

Before Duan Rong could finish speaking, Xiao Yu, unable to contain her anger, picked up a clean mountain fruit from the table and stuffed it into Duan Rong's mouth.

Duan Rong seized the opportunity, took a bite, and said, "Hmm, it's quite sweet. Your cooking skills aren't great, but you picked some pretty good mountain fruits."

Seeing Duan Rong's serious-sounding nonsense, Lü Qingzhu couldn't stop laughing.

Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at Duan Rong and said, "I'm leaving."

She walked to the door, then suddenly turned around, looked at Duan Rong, and asked, "Are you going back over there for dinner tonight?"

Duan Rong said, "No, I'll have a drink with my father-in-law tonight."

"Oh." Xiao Yu's eyes flickered, and she turned and left.

Duan Rong then sat down by the bed and began to take Lü Qingzhu's pulse. Lü Qingzhu lay on the bed with her large pregnant belly. Although she had difficulty moving, her face was filled with a happy smile.

Duan Rong took the pulse for a while, then raised his hand and smiled, "The pulse is quite good."

He gently stroked Lü Qingzhu's protruding belly and asked, "Are you feeling any discomfort?"

Lü Qingzhu said, "I just feel heavy, but I don't feel uncomfortable otherwise."

Most people would think that a big belly means a heavy body, but that's not the case. Do all obese people feel heavy?
Not necessarily. Feeling heavy is a sensation, but it actually indicates poor blood circulation.

"Really?" Duan Rong said, "Come, let me help you walk around the courtyard. After walking around, you won't feel so heavy."

Lü Qingzhu exclaimed happily, "Really?"

These past few days, Li Baoyue and the others have been keeping her still, afraid that it might harm the baby.

Duan Rong said, "Of course, it won't hurt to walk a little less."

Lü Qingzhu said, "Then I'll trouble you, my husband." Duan Rong then helped Lü Qingzhu to her feet and walked towards the door.

The two left the room, and Duan Rong carefully helped her walk towards the backyard. They had only taken a few steps when Li Baoyue's voice came from behind them. "Where are you going?"

Duan Rong said, "Let's go to the backyard."

Li Baoyue said, "She's heavily pregnant and about to give birth. Why are you taking her running around like that? You're such a foolish young man!"

As Li Baoyue spoke, she ran over, intending to help Lü Qingzhu back.

Duan Rong immediately stopped her, saying, "Aunt Yue, it's alright. With me here, it won't affect the pregnancy. A little walk will be good for both her and the baby."

Li Baoyue still looked worried when she heard this.

Duan Rong continued, "Aunt Yue, think about it, even a healthy person will become sickly if they stay in bed for too long. Not to mention, she is heavily pregnant. Moving around a little will help nourish her and the fetus."

Seeing that Duan Rong's words made sense, Li Baoyue finally stopped stopping them and let them go to the backyard.

After walking for a while in the backyard, Lü Qingzhu began to pant slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Duan Rong saw that she was almost out of breath, and since there was a stone pavilion nearby, he suddenly helped Lü Qingzhu to the pavilion and sat down.

Next to the pavilion is a pond full of lotus leaves, and a gentle breeze carries the faint fragrance of lotus leaves.

Lu Qingzhu sat on the crossbeam in the pavilion, leaning against a pillar and breathing slightly heavily.

Duan Rong asked, "Do you still feel heavy?"

Lü Qingzhu smiled slightly and said, "Although I'm tired, I feel much more relaxed."

Duan Rong said, "These days, I've come over every few days to help you walk around."

"Thank you, my husband." Lü Qingzhu smiled slightly, touching her belly, and said, "My husband, what do you think we should name this child in my belly?"

Duan Rong sat down beside Lü Qingzhu, looking at her with deep affection, and said, "Go ahead and speak."

Lü Qingzhu said, "I've thought of a few, but I'm not quite satisfied with any of them. You should tell me, my husband."

Duan Rong said, "What do you think of this name?"

Lü Qingzhu asked, "Which one?"

Suddenly, Duan Rong gestured and pulled a ball of clear water out of the pond.

The ball of clear water, suspended in the stone pavilion, suddenly split in two when Duan Rong pointed his finger, crashing into the pillar diagonally opposite Lü Qingzhu.

Immediately, two watermark-like characters appeared on the stone pillar.

“Si Shen…” Lü Qingzhu murmured, repeating it several times. “Si Shen, Si Shen, Duan Si Shen.”

Duan Rong looked at Lü Qingzhu and asked, "What do you think of this name?"

Lü Qingzhu said, "Husband, I like this name. It feels so warm and familiar when I call it."

Duan Rong said, "Then my son's name will be Si Shen."

"Good!" Lü Qingzhu stroked her belly, her eyes filled with loving affection. "Sishen, Shen'er..."

It was evening in the flower hall.

Duan Rong and Lü Zhongtang sat around the table.

Lü Qingzhu could no longer eat anything too greasy, so Li Baoyue prepared her meals separately.

Duan Rong and Lü Zhongtang barely ate any food, but they kept drinking together.

After drinking half a jar of wine, both of them were slightly tipsy.

Fueled by alcohol, Duan Rong suddenly said, "Father-in-law! I have something I want to discuss with you."

“Hey~” Lu Zhongtang said, “Duan Rong, let’s not stand on ceremony. Just tell me what’s on your mind.”

Duan Rong couldn't help but smile. Lü Zhongtang's personality had a touch of childlike innocence and playfulness; he was actually the kind of person who easily opened his heart to others. No wonder so many people urged him to compete for the position of sect leader; some genuinely felt that he was easy to manipulate.

Duan Rong said, "Father-in-law, it's like this. After Qingzhu gives birth to the child, I plan to begin my seclusion to condense my inner energy."

"You? You've entered seclusion and condensed your inner vision?"

A look of astonishment flashed across Lü Zhongtang's flushed face. "You've already reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm?"

Duan Rong nodded and said, "I went into seclusion a while ago and have already achieved the Great Perfection."

Lu Zhongtang's divine sense then swept over Duan Rong's dantian. He saw that within Duan Rong's dantian, the solidified qi vortex, like condensed ice silk, was still swirling on its own. It was the qi vortex of the Great Perfection Realm.

Lu Zhongtang asked, "Did the Ancestor agree to your seclusion to condense the Cave of Clarity?"

Duan Rong said, "It was arranged by the Ancestor."

Lu Zhongtang said, "You're only in your early twenties, yet you're already about to condense the Cave-Ming stage. You're truly a force to be reckoned with!"

Duan Rong said, "It's uncertain how long I'll be able to emerge from seclusion. I'll leave Qingzhu and her child in your care."

Lü Zhongtang said, "Don't worry about that. My daughter and grandson are my life, and I will take good care of them."

Duan Rong said, "And there's Zhu Xiaoqi and the child in her womb. When I went into seclusion, the child probably hadn't even been born yet. Father-in-law, I hope you can look after them."

Lu Zhongtang was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected that Duan Rong would entrust the child there to him as well.

Lu Zhongtang couldn't help but ask doubtfully, "Duan Rong, don't blame me for being nosy, but I've always wanted you to divorce Xiao Yu. How can you still entrust the child over there to my care?"

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Because I trust you."

Duan Rong lowered his head and said, "They will take care of their daily lives. If anything happens, father-in-law, please help them out for my sake."

Lu Zhongtang was slightly moved and said, "Okay, I agree."

Duan Rong then picked up the wine jar, poured two more bowls of wine, and said, "Father-in-law, I'll offer you another bowl."

Lu Zhongtang picked up his wine cup, clinked it with Duan Rong's, and said, "Duan Rong, you can focus on your seclusion and condense your inner energy. I guarantee that as long as you're within the Taiyi Sect, no one will be able to lay a finger on them."

After saying this, Lü Zhongtang tilted his head back and downed the wine in his bowl.

Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Lü Zhongtang.

In fact, even if he were to go into seclusion and condense his inner energy, Xiao Yu, Zhu Xiaoqi, and the others would still be safe. Firstly, they were staying in the Lü family mansion, where the guards were quite strong. Secondly, his master, Zhu He, was now the sect leader of the Taiyi Sect, and Ximen Kankan was on Yunfu Peak, so there was unlikely to be any sect-related issues causing them trouble.

Duan Rong's only concern was his father-in-law. He didn't think Lü Zhongtang would really do anything to them, but he was worried that after he went into seclusion, Lü Zhongtang would make things difficult for them because of what had happened before.

Therefore, his entrustment was actually intended to dispel the resentment in Lü Zhongtang's heart. (End of this chapter)