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

Duan Rong walked into the depths of the cave and saw Lü Yinlin sitting by the stone table, looking at him intently.

Duan Rong then prostrated himself before Lü Yinlin in accordance with the proper etiquette of this realm.

"Disciple pays respects to the Ancestor!"

Normally, as soon as he knelt down, Lü Yinlin would immediately tell him to get up, but today, as he knelt there, Lü Yinlin remained silent for a long time.

Lu Yinlin didn't speak, and he didn't dare to move, so he could only kneel there for a long time, his mind filled with speculation.

Lu Yinlin kept a straight face, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. His divine sense had already penetrated Duan Rong's dantian, observing the Dongming that was entrenched there.

The interior of the Cave of Darkness is the space of the Eye of Law, filled with the power of law, and divine sense cannot enter.

Although his divine sense could not penetrate it, the black light surging around the cave still shocked Lü Yinlin quite a bit.

Because this was absolutely the most vibrant cave he had ever seen in his life.

It not only far surpasses Chu Wushang and Gu Daoling, but is also far better than the Cave of Darkness he condensed back then.

Chu Wushang was not yet able to sense the vitality surging within the black light and the profound depths of the cave, but Lü Yinlin, who had reached the Nascent Soul Realm, could already faintly sense a certain abundant vitality surging behind it.

Such a powerful vitality in the Cave of Darkness was indeed unprecedented in his life. As long as this vitality could be properly protected and continuously deepened, there was little doubt that it would condense into a nascent soul.

To be honest, Lü Yinlin has always been quite proud of his talent, but the Cave of Darkness that Duan Rong has condensed is obviously far better than his back then. More importantly, Duan Rong is not even twenty-five years old yet.

Looking across the entire land, at this age, only Master Lingji of the Western Regions Dharma Aspect Sect is capable of advancing to the Cave-Ming Realm.

Moreover, it is such a vibrant and dynamic cavern.

Lu Yinlin stared blankly at Duan Rong, who was kneeling on the ground, and forgot to tell him to get up.

After several breaths, Lü Yinlin finally came to his senses, smiled, and got up. He then personally went over and helped Duan Rong up.

"Come on, Duan Rong, get up quickly."

Duan Rong knelt for a long time, feeling uneasy, when suddenly Lü Yinlin helped him up. Moreover, Lü Yinlin, who usually had a cold and hard expression, was now smiling like a flower, quite warmly.

Duan Rong was momentarily stunned.

Lu Yinlin said, "I have quite a lot to tell you today. Come, sit down. No need for formalities."

"Yes, ancestor!"

Although Duan Rong saw Lü Yinlin say this, he still did not dare to act rashly. He still respectfully clasped his hands and said that he waited until Lü Yinlin sat back down at the stone table before he respectfully walked over and sat down.

Lu Yinlin looked at Duan Rong, unable to hide the joy in his eyes.

In his eyes, Duan Rong would eventually reach the Nascent Soul realm, and with his talent, he might reach it in less than a hundred years. At that time, the Taiyi Sect would have two Nascent Soul realm experts, which would greatly increase its strength.

Suddenly, Lü Yinlin reached into a pile of documents and bamboo slips on the other side of the stone table and pulled out a section of bamboo tube.

The bamboo tube was as thick as a person's arm, with a hole the size of a thumb drilled in one end.

Lu Yinlin pushed the bamboo tube in front of Duan Rong. Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly, wondering what was inside the bamboo tube.

Lu Yinlin said, "This bamboo tube contains the complete secret manual of the Womb Sutra, which is considered the sect's highest secret technique."

Duan Rong's previously puzzled eyes suddenly narrowed. He really hadn't expected that this inconspicuous bamboo tube contained the complete secret manual of the Womb Sutra.

This has always been something he's been longing for.

Duan Rong stood up, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "Thank you for bestowing the Dharma upon me, Ancestor!"

Lu Yinlin gestured for him to sit down and continued, "Those who have condensed a growth-oriented Cavern will be bestowed with the complete manual of the Embryo Treasury Scripture by the sect. This is a common practice. Because as long as a growth-oriented Cavern is condensed, theoretically, they all have the opportunity to reach the Nascent Soul Realm."

"Although experts at the Cave-Penetrating Realm are the backbone of a sect, only experts at the Nascent Soul Realm are the foundation for a sect's enduring prosperity."

“Duan Rong!” A complex emotion suddenly surged in Lü Yinlin’s eyes, and he said in a deep voice, “I am already 1,800 years old. All told, I only have a mere 200 years of life left. You are the fifth person to hand over the complete Womb Sutra to me.”

“Among the four people in front of you, there was a traitor.” Lu Yinlin’s face suddenly turned cold as he said this.

Duan Rong's brow twitched; he already knew who Lü Yinlin was referring to.

The person Lü Yinlin was referring to must be Fu Yi, the founder of the Filthy Blood Sect. This man was once Lü Yinlin's beloved disciple, but he unfortunately practiced the evil Filthy Blood Divine Art. Moreover, it is rumored that he even condensed a blood infant through practicing the Filthy Blood Divine Art.

Although it is not as powerful as a Nascent Soul cultivator, because it has condensed a Blood Infant, its lifespan is also double that of a Cave-Dark Realm cultivator, reaching a full two thousand years.

No wonder Fu Yining was willing to betray his sect to cultivate this evil technique. The temptation of two thousand years of lifespan was simply too great!

“Let’s not mention that scoundrel,” Lü Yinlin said. “Of the other three, only Gu Daoling, Chu Wushang, and Chu Qiushan still acknowledge me as their ancestor.”

At this point, Lü Yinlin couldn't help but sigh and said, "In the entire Taiyi Sect, there are only a handful of such people."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly. Originally, only Gu Daoling, Chu Wushang, and Chu Qiushan in the entire Taiyi Sect had condensed the growth potential of the Cave Netherworld.

Lu Yinlin glanced at Duan Rong and said, "Do you know how to cultivate after reaching the Cave-Ming Realm?"

Duan Rong's expression froze. In fact, he had already had this question when he was looking through Lü Yinlin's notebook yesterday. In his earlier years, he had read through the Daoist Canon, but he had never seen any record of the cultivation methods of the Cave-Ming Realm. In fact, there was not a single word about this in those notebooks and unofficial histories.

Duan Rong said, "This disciple believes that the cultivation of the Cave-Nether Realm should focus on deepening the power of the laws. But I really don't know the specifics. I hope the Ancestor can enlighten me."

Lu Yinlin nodded approvingly and said, "You have insight to see that we should start by deepening the power of the laws. But how should we start? And how should we begin?"

Duan Rong looked at Lü Yinlin expectantly and said, "This disciple would like to hear the details."

Lü Yinlin smiled and said, "Four words: No fixed rule." "No fixed rule!?"

Upon hearing these four words, Duan Rong felt as if he had been struck by lightning, completely stunned. He couldn't help but give Lü Yinlin a strange look.

Lu Yinlin didn't take Duan Rong's reaction seriously and continued, "Actually, once you reach the Cave-Ming Realm, the cultivation methods for condensing a long-lasting Cave-Ming and condensing a flawed Cave-Ming are completely different."

"Any flawed Cave of Enlightenment has a maximum limit of the mid-Cave of Enlightenment Realm. Only Cave of Enlightenment with growth potential has the possibility of condensing a Nascent Soul."

"Now we will only talk about the cultivation method of growth-oriented insight."

Duan Rong couldn't help but think to himself, "Didn't they say there are no fixed rules?"
Lu Yinlin suddenly changed the subject, looking at Duan Rong and asking, "When you were in seclusion with Chu Wushang, did you notice what he often did?"

Duan Rong's eyes flickered, and he said, "I remember, Mr. Chu was always weaving bamboo baskets."

“That’s right.” Lü Yinlin nodded and said, “Do you know what he’s doing weaving bamboo baskets?”

Duan Rong's heart skipped a beat. This had always been a question in his mind. He simply couldn't believe that Chu Wushang would be weaving bamboo baskets to pass the time for no reason. Moreover, Ancestor Lü Yinlin was clearly talking about cultivation, so how did the conversation turn to Chu Wushang weaving bamboo baskets?

Duan Rong replied, "This disciple does not know."

Lü Yinlin said, "He is cultivating."

"Cultivation!?"

Duan Rong's eyes widened in surprise, then his gaze shifted as he asked, "May I ask, Ancestor, are the bamboo strips that Mr. Chu used to weave the baskets somewhat special?"

Duan Rong simply couldn't understand how a powerful expert at the Cavern Realm, who had comprehended the power of laws, could cultivate by weaving bamboo baskets. How could this be?!
If that's the case, wouldn't all those old farmers in the fields who weave mats and sell shoes be practicing cultivation?

Lü Yinlin smiled and said, "Nothing special. Just ordinary bamboo strips."

"Ordinary bamboo strips?"

“Yes,” Lü Yinlin said, “Moreover, Chu Wushang particularly enjoys walking. For him, walking is also a form of cultivation.”

"Walking is also a form of cultivation?!" Duan Rong was already somewhat confused. He suddenly asked, "Ancestor, didn't you just say that there are no fixed methods for cultivation in the Cave of Clarity Realm?"

Lü Yinlin said, "There is no fixed method, but there is a medium."

“There are no fixed rules, but there are mediums!?” Duan Rong blinked, staring blankly at Lü Yinlin.

Lu Yinlin said, "The cultivation of the Cave-Ming Realm is contained in these eight words."

Duan Rong said, "These eight characters are too profound for this disciple to comprehend. I hope the Ancestor can explain them."

Lu Yinlin said, “Whether it’s walking or weaving bamboo baskets, for Chu Wushang, they are all mediums for his cultivation. This is called having a medium. But that is only his medium! In this vast land of Kyushu, no one uses the same medium, hence the term ‘no fixed method.’”

Duan Rong pondered Lü Yinlin's words, a deep, cold glint in his eyes.

Lu Yinlin paused for a moment, seemingly wanting Duan Rong to digest the information.

A few breaths later, Duan Rong suddenly looked up at Lü Yinlin and asked, "May I ask, Ancestor, what is the medium for cultivation? What is the function of the medium?"

Lu Yinlin said, "The medium refers to that thing from which you can feel the faint surge of the power of the laws. By comprehending this thing, you can deepen your power of the laws; this is the medium."

"That thing that senses the faint surge of the power of laws..." Duan Rong murmured, repeating Lü Yinlin's words, as if he had gained some insight.

Seeing that Duan Rong seemed to have digested the information, Lü Yinlin continued, "The subtle surge of the law power that each person can sense is different. The process of finding the medium through which one can sense the law power is called 'investigating things'."

"Investigate things!?" Duan Rong, who was still deep in thought, suddenly looked up at Lü Yinlin upon hearing these two words.

Lu Yinlin said, "That's right, investigating things. The cultivation of the Cave-Ming Realm starts with investigating things. Through investigating things, you find the medium through which you can feel the power of the laws, and then you repeatedly comprehend it and settle down. Only then can you be considered to have entered the cultivation stage."

"Investigation of things!? Medium!? Cultivation!?" Duan Rong's eyes were once again filled with confusion, because what Lü Yinlin said was truly profound and novel to him, especially the word "investigation of things," which Lü Yinlin clearly interpreted as having a completely different meaning from his previous life on Blue Star.

Lu Yinlin continued, "Gu Daoling, Chu Wushang, and Chu Qiushan. Gu Daoling and Chu Wushang have both identified their mediums and have cultivated them for many years. Gu Daoling uses astronomical observation as his medium. Chu Wushang uses walking and weaving bamboo baskets as his mediums."

"Especially Gu Daoling, who has already broken through once and achieved the late stage of the Cave of Enlightenment Realm. But Chu Qiushan, after many years of wasting time, still cannot find his own medium, so he is the most tormented of the three."

Duan Rong suddenly asked, "Sect Leader Chu, has he still not found his medium?"

Lu Yinlin said, "Do you think he cares about being the sect leader? He has also achieved the growth potential of the Cave of Enlightenment and has the opportunity to condense his Nascent Soul. It's just a pity that he has traveled the world for more than 20 years and still cannot find his own medium. He wanted to use the trivial matters of the mortal world to experience things and temper his mind, so he became the sect leader, but unfortunately he still wasted his time and gained nothing."

Duan Rong was secretly surprised: Chu Qiushan had become the leader of the Taiyi Sect in order to find his medium.

Duan Rong asked, "Ancestor, you just mentioned traveling the world and experiencing things to temper one's mind. Are these ways to find one's own means?"

Lu Yinlin said, “Yes, these all count as investigating things. Investigating things means deeply feeling a certain phenomenon and whether you can sense the surge of a law within it. If you can sense it, you can try to delve deeper. If, in the process of deep contemplation, you feel the deepening and growth of the law you have comprehended, then that is your medium.”

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong seemed to finally understand and couldn't help but sigh, "The cultivation method of the Cave of Clarity Realm is indeed peculiar."

Lu Yinlin said, "In fact, the cultivation of the many realms before the Qi Cyclone Realm is the same, except that they all use martial arts as a medium. For example, in the Qi Cyclone Realm, the so-called understanding of intent is based on the corresponding martial arts and is deepened. Sword intent must be understood in sword techniques. Saber intent must be understood in saber techniques."

"Upon reaching the Cavern Realm, this constraint is broken. This also explains that the power of laws is a higher level of power than the realm of intent, because it is less bound by form. Therefore, there are no fixed rules."

Duan Rong nodded. At first, he found it difficult to understand, but after careful consideration and with Lü Yinlin's patient explanation and elaboration, he gradually gained some insight. At this moment, he suddenly asked, "Ancestor, you just mentioned breaking through the ginseng. May I ask, Ancestor, what is breaking through the ginseng?"

Lu Yinlin did mention breaking through the shackles earlier. When he talked about Gu Daoling, he mentioned that Gu Daoling broke through the shackles once before achieving the late stage of the Cave of Clarity Realm.

In his mind, Duan Rong had already outlined a general order for the cultivation of the Cave of Clarity Realm: investigating things, using mediums, comprehending, and breaking through.

He had a general understanding of the first three processes, but he was very curious about what exactly "breaking through the barrier" meant.
Lu Yinlin pondered for a moment, clearly realizing that this question was not easy to answer.

Seeing Lü Yinlin pondering, Duan Rong further inquired, "This disciple wishes to ask, how exactly did Uncle-Master Gu Daoling break through the barrier and advance to the late stage of the Cave-Ming Realm?" (End of Chapter)