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

When Duan Rong saw him suddenly appear, which frightened Shen'er and Qian'er so much that they cried loudly, he immediately started making funny gestures to amuse the two children.

He first imitated the way Zhu Bajie walked, deliberately pretending to have a big belly, and touching his non-existent belly as he walked.

Upon seeing his novel and amusing appearance, the two children immediately stopped crying and turned their bright eyes to him.

At this moment, Duan Rong suddenly put his hands behind his back, leaned forward, and imitated a rooster spinning in circles, clucking as he did so.

This not only made the two children laugh, but Xiao Yu and Li Baoyue also burst into laughter.

Shen'er, who was already half a year old, was laughing heartily. As he laughed, he kicked his little legs wildly, and Li Baoyue had to hold him tightly.

Duan Rong amused the two children, then walked over and hugged Shen'er and Qian'er. Looking at the two exquisitely beautiful children, he was immediately filled with joy.

Both children were also watching intently the guy who was holding them.

Li Baoyue laughed and said, "He's definitely my own child. Look how well-behaved he is when I hold him. He doesn't fuss at all."

Shen'er was a little older, and seemingly out of curiosity, he reached out his little hand and touched Duan Rong's face. Duan Rong turned his face and kissed the little hand. Shen'er smiled happily and then kicked his legs wildly again.

That sudden kick startled Li Baoyue, who immediately wrapped her arms around Shen'er to protect her, shouting, "Be careful!"

"It's alright, he won't fall," Duan Rong said. Not to mention that he had already reached the Cave-Ming Realm, even with his previous grappling skills that integrated various schools of thought, he could hold Shen'er up with one hand and prevent him from falling no matter how much he kicked.

Duan Rong teased the two children for a while, then handed them over to Xiao Yu and Li Baoyue.

The two children were unhappy when they were separated from Duan Rong and started crying again. Shen'er even stretched out her hand and looked at Duan Rong with pleading eyes.

Xiao Yu and Li Baoyue took the wave drum and spun it around, which finally drew their attention away from them.

Duan Rong glanced at the courtyard, then turned to Li Baoyue and asked, "Aren't Father-in-law and Qingzhu here?"

Li Baoyue shoved the rattle into Shen'er's hands and said, "Hey, it seems the Elders' Council wants to discuss something. They called him over this morning, and he hasn't come back yet."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly. After all, Lü Zhongtang was still an elder of the Elder Council. Decisions on important matters within the sect weren't solely decided by the sect leader; they required the approval of the Elder Council. It seemed that during his six months of seclusion, the political landscape of the world had likely undergone some changes.

However, Duan Rong no longer cared about these things. He had been focused on his cultivation before, and now that he had reached the Cave of Enlightenment Realm, his mind was even more indifferent.

"Where is Qingzhu?" Duan Rong asked.

Li Baoyue smiled and said, "Qingzhu has been practicing diligently in the secret room for the past two or three months."

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Is that so?"

Li Baoyue said, "Qingzhu said that she has fallen too far behind in her cultivation over the past year and needs to work hard to catch up."

Duan Rong said, "Then I'll go see her."

“Go ahead.” Li Baoyue reached for her waist and said, “I’ll give you the key.”

"No need for a key." Duan Rong said, about to leave, when he turned his head and saw Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu's eyes clearly dimmed slightly.

Duan Rong reached out and touched Xiao Yu's face, then vanished like a ghost.

The next moment, as if he had used a wall-penetrating technique, he silently walked out from the stone wall of the cultivation chamber.

Lu Qingzhu sat cross-legged on a futon not far away, cultivating her inner energy.

With Duan Rong's current cultivation level at the Cave-Ming Realm, even if he stood there, Lü Qingzhu would definitely not be able to detect him.

His body had been tempered by the power of the laws, and had been penetrated and integrated by the power of the laws, so he could completely blend into the surrounding environment.

Not only can it pass through walls, but it can even transform into some kind of object in its surroundings.

Of course, limited by the types of laws they comprehend, ordinary cultivators at the Cavern Realm can only manifest one kind of physical form, such as stone, tree, or cloud.

However, Duan Rong comprehended the power of seventy-nine laws, which means he could transform into seventy-nine different forms, or you could say seventy-nine transformations.

But these so-called seventy-nine transformations are nothing but a smokescreen.

For cultivators of the same level in the Cave of Enlightenment Realm, this change is meaningless, because once they reach the Cave of Enlightenment Realm, they perceive the laws, not physical phenomena.

Even when it takes the form of a physical object, the surge of that law power still exists and cannot escape the keen perception of a cultivator in the Cave of Enlightenment Realm.

In front of cultivators below the Cave Realm, they have no need to use such a trick.

Once you cross the threshold of the Cave of Enlightenment, you will be transformed from an ordinary person into a saint. From then on, all those below the Cave of Enlightenment are like ants, which can be destroyed with a snap of the fingers. Why bother with this illusion?

Unless a cultivator at the Cavern Realm travels the world, experiencing various events and cultivating their mind, they might occasionally use this illusion technique in the mortal realm of the Nine Provinces, transforming into some kind of object to avoid some complicated and trivial matters.

Duan Rong stood there, looking at Lü Qingzhu. He knew Lü Qingzhu's condition very well and knew that now was not the time to disturb her.

He stared intently at Lü Qingzhu's features.

After giving birth, her temperament underwent a subtle change. Her face used to be like an ice sculpture, beautiful yet cold. Now, that coldness remained, but there was a faint gentleness in her eyes and brows.

"Green Bamboo."

When Duan Rong saw that Lü Qingzhu had finished her round of Qi cultivation, he called out to her.

Lu Qingzhu sat there cross-legged, just about to complete another cycle of Qi circulation, when she heard Duan Rong call her. Her brows furrowed, and she thought she was having too much of a longing and was having fantasies.

But the voice was so clear and real that she couldn't help but stop her breathing and look up.

Upon closer inspection, she saw Duan Rong sitting in front of a stone wall not far away, smiling as he looked at her.

"Husband!?" Lü Qingzhu was stunned for a moment, seemingly unable to believe her eyes.

Duan Rong laughed and said, "Qingzhu, it seems that the hidden injury in your dantian has been completely healed. Such intense cultivation has had no effect on your dantian at all."

Like Duan Rong, Lü Qingzhu also used the essence blood of high-level elemental beasts to refine her cultivation.

Refining the essence and blood of high-level elemental beasts puts more pressure on the dantian than normal cultivation. The fact that Lü Qingzhu can refine the essence and blood of high-level elemental beasts for cultivation shows that the hidden injuries in her dantian have been completely healed.

Lu Qingzhu said, "The one-year period has passed, and the dantian is no longer obstructed."

As she spoke, she stood up and walked towards Duan Rong, her eyes fixed on him.

She walked up to Duan Rong and was about to bow when Duan Rong helped her up and embraced her.

Lu Qingzhu nestled on Duan Rong's shoulder, inhaling his familiar scent, and softly asked, "Husband, when did you emerge from seclusion?"

Duan Rong stroked Lü Qingzhu's black hair and said, "She just came out of seclusion this afternoon."

Lu Qingzhu asked, "My husband has already reached the Cave of Enlightenment Realm?"

Duan Rong said, "Yes. It's done."

Lu Qingzhu breathed a sigh of relief, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally calmed down.

Because Duan Rong only went into seclusion for half a year before emerging. Lü Qingzhu knew that condensing the Cave of Clarity wouldn't happen so quickly, and she was somewhat worried that there was a problem with condensing the Cave of Clarity, causing him to emerge from seclusion prematurely.

She smiled and said, "Then I will also cultivate diligently and strive to achieve the Dongming stage as soon as possible, so that I can be a long-lasting Daoist couple with my husband." Duan Rong smiled slightly and said, "With your talent, achieving the Dongming stage is not a problem."

Lü Qingzhu had already grasped Duan Rong's hand and slightly closed her eyes.

This is also why Lü Qingzhu could tolerate Xiao Yu. She knew that she and Duan Rong would both reach the Cave-Ming Realm sooner or later.

Although they cannot live forever, the lifespan of those in the Cave of Clarity Realm is already approaching the thousand-year mark. As for Xiao Yu, due to limitations in talent, he has not even broken through to the Yuan Qi Realm, and his lifespan of a hundred years is already rare.

She and Duan Rong were the true long-term Daoist partners; Xiao Yu only had a temporary title.

Duan Rong was also deeply moved. Although he felt a sense of kinship towards Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi, after achieving the Cave-Ming Realm, he could clearly feel that this kinship was fading. To the point that when he saw Xiao Yu just now, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity and distance.

Duan Rong and Lü Qingzhu stayed in the cultivation chamber for a while before leaving.

When they emerged from the secret room, it was already evening. Dusk enveloped the courtyard, and lanterns were lit everywhere.

Lü Zhongtang had already returned from the Elders' Council. Meanwhile, a banquet had been prepared in the main hall to welcome Duan Rong back from his seclusion.

As soon as Duan Rong and Lü Qingzhu returned, they were led to the flower hall by the steward Han Cheng.

Lü Zhongtang, Li Baoyue, and Xiao Yu were already seated there. Lü Zhongtang's expression seemed somewhat gloomy, as if he were deep in thought.

When Xiao Yu saw Duan Rong and Lü Qingzhu enter together, their expressions calm and gentle, her heart ached.

Upon seeing Duan Rong, Lü Zhongtang immediately scanned him with his divine sense and saw that within Duan Rong's dantian, there was clearly a deep and dark cavern filled with surging black light.

Lu Zhongtang was slightly startled, then smiled and stood up, saying, "My dear son-in-law, I've missed you terribly these past six months! We must have a good drink together today."

When Lü Zhongtang returned from Cuiwei Peak, he had just heard from Li Baoyue that Duan Rong had emerged from seclusion, and he immediately became suspicious.

He had never heard of someone condensing a Cavern Realm in just six months. He had originally thought that Duan Rong might have failed to condense it, or perhaps even given up after failing at the first hurdle of overcoming his inner demons. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to emerge from seclusion so quickly!

But upon closer inspection, Duan Rong had actually succeeded in condensing the Cave of Clarity.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Father-in-law, I have also missed you very much. I have been away for the past six months, and I am grateful for your care of Xiao Yu and the others."

As Duan Rong spoke, he glanced at Xiao Yu. He had just returned when he saw Xiao Yu carrying Qian'er over for a visit, which showed that the two families got along very well. This meant that Lü Zhongtang had kept his promise and had not made things difficult for Xiao Yu and the others.

Lü Zhongtang laughed and said, "We're family, so let's not speak like strangers."

At this point, everyone took their seats and began chatting about everyday matters. Li Baoyue started talking about some funny stories about Shen'er and Qian'er, and Xiao Yu and Lü Zhongtang would occasionally chime in. Only Lü Qingzhu just sat there quietly and didn't say a word.

After chatting for a while, the hot dishes were served.

Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly. Among the people serving the dishes, besides a few maids, Zhu Xiaoqi was also present.

Zhu Xiaoqi was asked by Li Baoyue to come and help.

She was originally busy in the kitchen and didn't need to serve the dishes at all, but when she knew Duan Rong had returned, she brought up a few dishes herself.

Zhu Xiaoqi carried the dishes in and her eyes met Duan Rong's. She lowered her head and quietly served the dishes before taking the empty tray and leaving.

At this moment, Duan Rong noticed that the sour mushroom soup was placed not far in front of him.

Zhu Xiaoqi's status was different from Xiao Yu's. After all, she was a maid, and she couldn't sit at the table at such a formal family banquet. She placed the sour mushroom soup in front of Duan Rong, and that was her only presence.

During the meal, they chatted about other things.

Duan Rong didn't eat a single bite of food, not even a drop of the sour mushroom soup. He only drank a few cups of wine with Lü Zhongtang, and even then, he didn't drink much.

In fact, after achieving the Cave-Ming Realm, Duan Rong's entire demeanor had changed. You might not notice it at first glance, but if you sit with him for a while, you will gradually feel the faint sense of aloofness emanating from him.

Li Baoyue and Xiao Yu felt it most clearly. Duan Rong would agree with whatever Li Baoyue said, but Li Baoyue could still sense the indifference in Duan Rong's eyes from his faint smile.

Lü Qingzhu could naturally sense it too, but she was naturally cold-tempered and felt that Duan Rong's temperament was more compatible with her.

After the banquet, Lü Zhongtang invited Duan Rong to his study for tea.

After checking on Shen'er, Lü Qingzhu returned to her secret chamber to cultivate. Lü Qingzhu had secretly made up her mind that since Duan Rong had already condensed his Cave of Enlightenment, she also needed to intensify her cultivation.

Lu Zhongtang took a sip of tea, looked at Duan Rong, and said, "You haven't seen the Ancestor since you came out of seclusion, have you?"

Duan Rong replied, "I haven't seen him yet."

Lu Zhongtang said, "Hurry up and go, don't delay."

Duan Rong replied, "Yes, Father-in-law. I will go tomorrow."

Lü Zhongtang nodded. He knew that in the heart of the ancestor Lü Yinlin, the obsession with the so-called Lü bloodline had faded considerably, but Duan Rong was different. He had condensed the Cave-Ming realm in just half a year, and he was not even twenty-five years old. Lü Zhongtang was very clear about what this meant.

Afterwards, Duan Rong asked Lü Zhongtang about his visit to the Elders' Council that day to discuss sect affairs.

Lü Zhongtang sighed and said, "It's nothing more than completely terminating the alliance with the Tianyan Sect and eradicating the Filthy Blood Sect within Qingzhou. These are all old news. The Filthy Blood Sect discusses this every year, but we still don't have a single clue as to where their headquarters is."

Duan Rong didn't care much about these matters, but after chatting for a few minutes, he took his leave.

Seeing that Shen'er was fast asleep, Li Baoyue instructed her personal maid to watch over her while she went into the study.

Lu Zhongtang looked up at her and said, "Is Shen'er asleep?"

Li Baoyue said, "I've gone to sleep."

Lü Zhongtang asked, "Where is Qingzhu?"

Li Baoyue said, "After coaxing Shen'er, she went back to her secret chamber to cultivate."

Lü Zhongtang nodded.

Li Baoyue suddenly asked, "Did you notice it?"

"What?" Lü Zhongtang took a sip of tea.

Li Baoyue said, "Although the son-in-law's attitude is still the same when he comes back this time, there is a kind of aloofness and indifference in his bones. He used to be such a warm and humane person."

Lu Zhongtang sneered and said, "What do you know?"

Li Baoyue rolled her eyes at him and said, "You think you know anything?"

Lu Zhongtang said, "Duan Rong condensed the Cave-Ming stage in just half a year, and he's not even twenty-five years old yet. He can be considered the number one person in the Taiyi Sect in a thousand years. Even in the entire Nine Provinces, in a thousand years, only the Spirit Foundation Master of the Faxiang Sect can slightly surpass him. But who is that Spirit Foundation Master?!"

Li Baoyue was slightly taken aback, her eyes showing surprise. "So, so..."

Before she could say no, Lü Zhongtang already understood what she meant and said, "Yes, Duan Rong has a high probability of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm and becoming the next ancestor of the sect."

"The son-in-law is going to become the next ancestor?!" Li Baoyue felt a chill run down her spine.

Lu Zhongtang glanced at her and said, "Think about how the patriarch treated me. I'm practically his only living bloodline, yet I'm not summoned, I don't even have the right to pay my respects to him. Those in power are naturally indifferent to ordinary people. That's the subtle aloofness that Duan Rong exudes." (End of Chapter)