Chapter 280: Great Accomplishment Realm

Early in the morning, the yamen runners guarding the East City Gate were shrinking their necks against the cold wind...

At this hour, there were not many people entering or leaving the gate, just a sparse few now and then.

Most were women from poor families, carrying baskets to dig for some newly sprouted wild vegetables in the mountains. After all, it was the time between the old harvest and the new, and some families living on the edge had already run out of grain.

Not far from the city gate, in a small teahouse by the alley entrance, Xie Daohan wore casual clothes and a felt hat that covered most of his face.

He had ordered a pot of tea and a dish of peanuts, drinking slowly while glancing from time to time at the runners at the city gate.

He was not supervising these gate guards; he did not have the leisure for that. He was sitting here waiting for Duan Rong to enter the city!

He was not only waiting here himself, but had also instructed Yang Zhen to go to Liu Lu every day to look for Duan Rong, to prevent Duan Rong from returning to the city through another gate!

Although Xie Daohan was investigating Duan Rong, he did not want to expose the matter until he had obtained ironclad evidence to convict him!

After all, Duan Rong already held a scholarly honor, and this was a sensitive time of public announcements. Although he had locked onto Duan Rong based on experience and clues, all of this was his own deduction; without physical evidence, it was all empty talk.

If he could not bite down hard enough to finish Duan Rong off, he might very well be countered by the other party on the spot.

His top priority now was to obtain physical evidence that could convict Duan Rong, and Xie Daohan deduced that this evidence was very likely on Duan Rong's person.

If it was not on Duan Rong, he was prepared to quietly erase Duan Rong from this world!

After all, the case had been over for more than half a year; it was not impossible that Duan Rong had cleaned up all the traces.

As a powerhouse of the True Qi Realm, killing a Martial Artist like Duan Rong, who was at the Great Success Realm of the Inner Breath Realm, could be said to be a death upon meeting. As long as Xie Daohan was careful and did not alert others, he was confident he could do it!

If he could not bring Duan Rong to justice, he did not mind avenging Xie Lei in another way!

Just as Xie Daohan was sitting in the teahouse with his felt hat drooping, drinking tea, a fast horse from the Office of Transmission whistled past the East City Gate.

Xie Daohan raised his eyes to look at the rank badge on the chest of the courier riding the black steed, his gaze flickering.

That was a ranked military officer.

Although the couriers of the Office of Transmission were for delivering official documents, documents that could go through the Office of Transmission system were generally not routine ones!

Xie Daohan frowned and muttered, "With people from the Office of Transmission here, I'm afraid something big has happened again, right?"

Xie Daohan's eyelids twitched, and a bad premonition flashed through his heart.

Inside a cave on Wild Boar Mountain, Duan Rong sat cross-legged in the pitch-black depths of the cave.

He sat alone in the darkness, having not lit a lamp.

The moment Duan Rong sat cross-legged, he used a unique breathing method to hit the turning point of his breath and entered his Lingming Sea of Consciousness.

At this moment, Duan Rong was standing in the center of the Black Earth within his Lingming Sea of Consciousness!

He looked up at the Cangqiong above his head, like a pilgrim looking up at his deity!

This sense of clean holiness had arisen naturally in his heart from the moment Duan Rong looked up at the Cangqiong!

At this time, in the center of the endless Cangqiong, three star bodies were suspended; they were quiet, peaceful, shining brightly, and reflecting one another!

The milky-white star body from the first layer of achievement, the crimson star body from the second layer, and the third star body, which stood in a horn-like formation with them, was the star body he had refined and condensed when he achieved the third layer of the Womb Treasury Sutra.

This star body was translucent, like a large oval block of ice, only in the middle of this oval ice block was a faint phantom of a toad...

The milky-white star body, the crimson star body, and the toad phantom star body—Duan Rong looked up with focused eyes, his gaze lingering on the toad phantom for a long time...

Duan Rong looked up for a long time until he was completely familiar with the faint connection between the three star bodies and his own Divine Soul.

Only then did Duan Rong suddenly turn his head to look at the blood-red light "hiding" on the edge of the horizon.

This main body of the Filthy Blood Divine Art lurking within his Lingming Sea of Consciousness had always been a thorn in Duan Rong's side!

The Womb Treasury Sutra could restrain the Filthy Blood Divine Art; now that he had achieved the third layer of the Womb Treasury Sutra, its power should be even greater. He wanted to try and see if he could use the power of the third layer of the Womb Treasury Sutra to get rid of this blood-red light!

Duan Rong's thoughts moved; he wanted to use his newly achieved Soul Technique—Divine Soul Wave—to attack that blood-red light and see what effect it would have.

Following the urging of Duan Rong's thoughts, the three suspended star bodies in the center of the endless Cangqiong suddenly began to rotate rapidly around each other!

The three star bodies rotated rapidly in some irregular way, gradually becoming dazzling...

As they rotated, circles of spatial ripples rippled out within the Lingming Sea of Consciousness!

Duan Rong's thoughts moved, and those spatial ripples instantly gathered in one direction, the ripples dense like wavelets, layering one upon another as they went...

That direction was exactly the direction where the blood-red light of the Filthy Blood Divine Art was located...

The ripples surged past, but the blood-red light continued to squirm and roll as if there were no reaction at all...

Duan Rong reacted slightly and understood: the Divine Soul Wave could not attack the existence within his own Sea of Consciousness...

The Sea of Consciousness was the main body to which the Divine Soul Wave was attached; it could only be emitted from within the Sea of Consciousness to attack external creatures with Divine Souls.

Once Duan Rong understood this point, he put away the Divine Soul Wave and began to try other methods...

About an hour later, Duan Rong exhaled a breath of turbid air and withdrew from the Lingming Sea of Consciousness. His forehead was covered in sweat, and in the darkness, his eyes were even more listless...

He had tried every method he could think of, but he still had no way to deal with that blood-red light...

That blood-red light had accidentally sneaked into his Sea of Consciousness because he had devoured an Artifact Spirit.

But, once it had sneaked in, how could it be so easily removed?

The Lingming Sea of Consciousness was the origin of his heart and body!

As the saying goes, it is easy to defeat the bandits in the mountains, but difficult to defeat the bandits in one's heart!

Duan Rong wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, stood up from the stone bed, and walked slowly to the cave entrance.

The mountain wind blew, and Duan Rong felt a coolness brushing his face. Although the spring chill was biting, the valley under the cliff was illuminated by the spring sun, shining with a warm, faint light.

Duan Rong shielded his eyes with his hand and glanced at the sun overhead, estimating it to be about noon. His stomach also began to rumble; it seemed his "temple of the five internal organs" was urging him to offer a sacrifice.

Duan Rong exerted his body, leaping up the cliff wall like a swallow skimming the water.

A few breaths later, he arrived at the side of the stream in the valley. There were a few small fish swimming in the stream. Duan Rong shook his head as he watched; the fish were fat in autumn, but now it was early spring just after the thaw, and after a winter, the fish in the rivers and streams were all skinny and lacked any oil.

Just then, a yellow shadow flashed in the forest. Duan Rong's heart stirred, and he suddenly released his Divine Sense to sweep over.

After achieving the third layer of the Womb Treasury Sutra, the coverage of Duan Rong's first Divine Soul Technique had climbed from a radius of 100 meters to a radius of 150 meters.

Duan Rong's Divine Sense swept over, and he smiled slightly; the yellow shadow was a mountain deer foraging in the forest, eating moss and tender grass.

Duan Rong exerted his body and dashed into the forest as fast as a ghost. The mountain deer saw the forest leaves whistling and was startled, wanting to run, but Duan Rong was already close. With a flash of cold light, the Ox-Tail Saber in his hand severed the mountain deer's head.

Duan Rong's elbow jolted, and the bloodstains on the Ox-Tail Saber were all shaken off. He returned the saber to its sheath, grabbed the mountain deer's two hind legs, hoisted it onto his back, and walked slowly to the stream.

At the stream, Duan Rong gutted the mountain deer, skinned and cleaned it, and divided the venison into several large chunks.

It was early spring, and the temperature in the mountains was even colder, so the venison would not easily spoil. Duan Rong placed most of the venison at the entrance of a cave on the cliff face to air-dry, taking only one front leg to roast on a large rock by the stream...

Flames swirled, and the clear fragrance of pine branches smoked the tender venison; the surface of the deer leg was already roasted to a charred yellow, sizzling with oil...

Duan Rong took the deer leg off the fire, sliced off the surface layer, placed it on the large white rock by his feet, and then put the remaining deer leg back on the fire to roast...

Duan Rong pinched up the roasted venison from the large white rock and put it into his mouth; it was charred and fragrant on one side and tender on the other. Duan Rong's cheeks bulged as he chewed vigorously, the aroma suddenly rising, and Duan Rong narrowed his eyes in enjoyment...

After eating the venison, Duan Rong scooped up stream water to drink, glancing sideways at the swimming fish, which were wandering leisurely in the bright spring light—a truly pleasing sight...

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Duan Rong had gnawed the deer's front leg down to the bone. He rubbed his round, bulging belly, lay down on the shimmering large white rock, and began to doze off...

Duan Rong slept for less than an hour before waking up leisurely. He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, picked the sleep from his eyes, and squatted by the stream to wash his face with the cool early spring water. He looked up at the early spring mountain scenery and suddenly smiled with a warm expression.

The next moment, Duan Rong suddenly leaped up like an ape, and with a *shhh* sound, drew the Ox-Tail Saber from his waist. Cold light flashed as he began to perform the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber on the large rock by the stream.

Duan Rong had come to Wild Boar Mountain for seclusion; besides practicing the third level of the Womb Treasury Sutra, he also wanted to attempt a breakthrough in the final layer of the Inner Breath Realm that had trapped him for so long: the Great Perfection.

After pondering for this period, Duan Rong already had ideas in his mind.

Breaking through to this Inner Breath Realm Great Perfection should be related to the strength of one's Mental Power.

And after he achieved the third level of the Womb Treasury Sutra, his Mental Power had ascended to another level; now was the perfect time to break through to the Great Perfection realm!

Duan Rong had no one to consult regarding the method for breaking through to the Great Perfection realm; he could only grope for it himself!

He decided to use the most clumsy method: to incessantly hone his saber technique!

Duan Rong believed that since the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber had been improved by Xiao Zongting over many years and had reached a certain balance in all aspects, this saber technique was clearly the most suitable for attempting to break through to the Great Perfection realm!

He only needed to go a step further, to break through one more layer in the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber, which had already reached the Micro-Perception Realm!

By the stream in the valley, Duan Rong practiced the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber, one set after another!

The sun had already begun to set, but his figure was still flashing, turning, and shifting on the large rock by the stream, with Blade Shadows flickering!

The sun had already sunk in the west, and the veil of night spread through the valley...

Duan Rong pursed his lips, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, but he did not stop.

Deeply immersed in the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber, which he was already intimately familiar with, he performed it move by move...

The sun had set, the cold moon had not yet risen, and the valley was pitch black without a glimmer of light, save for the murmuring water in the stream, which occasionally flashed with a few streaks of dark, cold ripples...

In the darkness, Duan Rong's figure was desolate as he danced with his blade!

His eyes were bright, having already adapted to the dark environment. Moreover, having practiced for several hours, he was very clear about the grooves and textures of the large rock beneath his feet; in the darkness, even without using Divine Sense Envelopment, he walked as if on flat ground!

Several hours passed, and Duan Rong did not get faster; instead, he began to practice slower and slower. It was not that he was tired, but rather that the more he practiced, the less he understood these moves.

He had previously thought he had completely understood this saber technique, and that he had fully grasped the intention behind every design—even those of the predecessor who created this martial art and Xiao Zongting who improved it!

However, here by the stream in the valley, in this vast dark night, after his Mental Power breakthrough and practicing this saber technique for several more hours, Duan Rong had new feelings!

The blade seemed to be more than just a blade. The wind, the light, and the shadows were all parts of the blade.

Where the blade danced, heaven, earth, and the blade were one!

The air, the wind, even the moisture in the wind, and the fragrance of the wild mountains—as the blade edge swept past, they were all friends of the blade edge...

Duan Rong suddenly closed his eyes in the darkness!

His saber momentum remained as usual, still performing move by move!

Duan Rong suddenly opened another eye in the darkness; it was an eye belonging to the blade. He seemed to be able to feel every delicate strand of wind brushing past the blade, even more clearly than the feeling of it brushing against the pores of his skin...

Duan Rong closed his eyes and immersed himself in a state of emptiness. When he suddenly opened his eyes, the morning sun had already risen from the eastern mountain, and golden radiance spilled into the valley...

Duan Rong was suddenly startled, his whole body feeling as if it had been struck by electricity. He had actually practiced for an entire night in a state of emptiness, yet in his perception, only a few breaths had passed...

The moment Duan Rong opened his eyes, he felt a sharp pain in his Divine Soul!

Duan Rong understood that his Divine Soul was overly fatigued, and he had not noticed it while immersed in the state of emptiness.

After the sharp pain, Duan Rong's head felt numb. Daring not to delay any longer, he exerted his movement technique and darted into the cave, collapsed onto the stone bed deep inside, and fell fast asleep.

Inside the flower hall in the back courtyard of the County Government Office.

On the table in the flower hall, a simple meal with wine was set out, with only Shen Yanliu and Tang Wanhong sitting opposite each other!

Since Shen Yanliu took charge of Xiangu County, this was the first time Tang Wanhong had stepped into the back courtyard of the County Office.

Usually, when there was something to do, Shen Yanliu would go to Guyue Studio to find him, but today, Shen Yanliu had Clerk Qin go directly to Guyue Studio to summon Tang Wanhong.

Tang Wanhong had been startled, thinking some major disaster had occurred!

He had rushed over in a hurry, only to find it was a great joyous occasion.

Tang Wanhong picked up a cup of wine and glanced at a document on the desk not far away!

Tang Wanhong knew that it was from the Office of Transmission, just delivered this morning. That document was Shen Yanliu's promotion order!

This year was the political assessment year, and the two months of the first and second lunar months were basically enough to complete the assessment.

Before the new year, Shen Yanliu had concluded the Filthy Blood Case and hurriedly sent the case file to the prefecture, just to avoid missing the political assessment.

It seemed that the usual bribery and gift-giving had not been in vain; the promotion order had arrived just after the political assessment. In this regard, one had to say it was Tang Wanhong's credit!

Shen Yanliu had been promoted to Surveillance Commissioner of Ruyang Prefecture, to take office immediately!

The Surveillance Commissioner was in charge of the criminal justice of a prefecture, which could be said to be holding great power. Shen Yanliu was usually composed, but at this moment, he was a bit carried away and could not hide his joy.

Tang Wanhong raised his cup and said, "Master, this is truly a double blessing! The young lady has just been promoted to a Sect Registered Disciple, and you have received a promotion; it is truly a joyous and congratulatory event. I toast you, Master!"

Shen Yanliu laughed and said, "Wanhong! You have contributed! Come, let us drink to this together!"

(End of chapter)