Duan Rong

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Duan Rong (段融)
Alias(es)	Potato — childhood nickname, given for his short stature and dark complexion 5
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Taiyi Sect; Cloud Floating Peak; formerly Yuan Shun Escort Agency 423 755
Occupation/Role	Taiyi Sect Old Ancestor; former Director of the Judgment and Rectification Department; former escort of the Yuan Shun Escort Agency 755 777
Status	Alive; has reached the Nascent Soul Realm 771
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
First Inner Breath circulation	17	Grasps the Entry Level Inner Power Cultivation Method after Xiao Zongting’s explanation.
Inner Breath Power	22	Combines qi and physical strength, producing explosive force capable of splitting stone and opening trees.
Inner Breath Realm, first level	30	Obtains the circulation experience through an Artifact Spirit and begins cultivating the second level.
Inner Breath Realm, second level	67	Breaks through after secretly practicing Cloud Serpent Step and integrating it with saber techniques.
Inner Breath Realm, third level	119	Begins the third-level circulation method with proficiency inherited through Artifact Spirit devouring.
Inner Breath Realm, third level—Minor Accomplishment	269	Enters the Ze Ying Assembly after recently reaching Minor Accomplishment.
Essence Qi Realm	436	Uses Primal Beast resources to cultivate and refine Heaven and Earth Essence Qi with unusually little waste.
Essence Qi Realm, fourth level	449	Reaches a level comparable to Lü Qingzhu’s, allowing him to neutralize her attacks without retreating.
Qi Cyclone Realm	500	Forms a Qi Cyclone after entering enlightenment through Gu Daoling’s calligraphy and the Mountain River Moon Shadow Saber.
Qi Cyclone Realm, second level	651	Refines a drop of high-grade Primal Beast essence blood over two months of seclusion.
Qi Cyclone Realm, fourth level—Great Perfection	657	Condenses a complete fourth-level Qi Cyclone.
Cave Illumination Realm	676	Comprehends all seventy-nine Laws of Power, condenses the Cave of Darkness in his Dantian, and tempers his body for five days.
Nascent Soul Realm	771	Returns to the Lü Family Estate after achieving the realm and reveals his Nascent Soul body to Lü Qingzhu.
Garbha Sutra—two levels; Mental Strength Level 3	172	Intensifies training after reconciling with Xiao Zongting.
Garbha Sutra, eleventh layer; Mental Strength Level 12	350	Can devour Artifact Spirits up to the Qi Cyclone Realm’s first level.
Garbha Sutra, twelfth layer	451	Gains two uses of the Divine Soul Illusion, Yinghuo, and can devour Artifact Spirits of the Qi Cyclone Realm’s second stage.
Garbha Sutra, fourteenth layer	688	Reaches the layer in two days, then replenishes his Tree Spirit Light Sea from ancient trees.
Garbha Sutra, sixteenth layer	689	Yinghuo evolves into a small-scale area attack.
Garbha Sutra, seventeenth layer	691	Achieves the layer in sixteen days in the Formation Secret Chamber.
Garbha Sutra, eighteenth layer	694	Reaches the layer in under five days and begins studying higher methods, including the Heart-Devouring Seed.
God and Demon Imprint	643	Acquires a God and Demon Imprint in the God and Demon Ruins, granting access to Mystical Power.
Bloodlight Divine Shadow Escape	650	Refines the Imprint and unlocks near-instantaneous teleportation at considerable Divine Soul cost.
Great Bright Flame	760	Develops an Esoteric Buddhist secret technique described as an absolute defense against cultivators of the same realm.

Background

Menial disciple and apprenticeship

Duan Rong was born into poverty in Wutong Alley. Both his parents had died, leaving him alone; his family home was empty and dilapidated, and he relied on modest savings while working as a menial disciple at the Yuan Shun Escort Agency 4 268.

He began in the Horse Stable under Old Sun, whose favorable view of Duan Rong’s diligence allowed him to take leave despite exceeding his allotted days off. Duan Rong used stable labor itself as training, integrating horse stance work, shifts of balance, and physical conditioning into his chores 4 6 7.

After distinguishing himself in the agency assessment with the Five Tigers Herd Sheep Saber, he signed an eight-year apprenticeship contract. Xiao Zongting then gave him the secret manual containing the Entry Level Inner Power Cultivation Method 14 17.

Rapid rise in Xiangu County

Duan Rong’s cultivation accelerated through his soul-transmigrated devouring spirit, which let him absorb Artifact Spirits and inherit their techniques or experience. He nevertheless remained dependent on medicine, food, and money to support his increasingly demanding training 19 22.

He defeated Li Chong through technique rather than brute strength, later killed four alley attackers in his first lethal battle, and was physically sickened by the experience 11 27. The incident established both his combat ability and his initial aversion to killing.

To finance medicine and cultivation, Duan Rong used his portraiture skill to operate a stall near Flower Shadow House. He deliberately limited his output to preserve scarcity, earned the favor of Hu Huanhuan, and used the proceeds for costly prescriptions and training resources 35 40 44.

Xiao Zongting arranged for Duan Rong to intern in the Second Escort Team under Xiao Yu. After helping rescue Ruan Jing from the Disordered Graves, Duan Rong was promoted early to full escort, awarded 1,000 taels for cultivation, and granted Willow Lodge as a residence 115 146 149.

Entry into the Taiyi Sect

Duan Rong entered the Taiyi Sect as a Registered Disciple after the Ze Ying Assembly and became a mentor-like figure to Xiao Yu, Xi Men Kan Kan, and Shen Mizhi. His concise advice repeatedly helped them improve their martial arts 290 356.

He advanced to Outer Sect Disciple by performing Cloud Cliff Traverse across a cable bridge, then later became an Inner Sect Disciple and joined Cloud Floating Peak as Zhu He’s direct disciple 356 417 423.

At Cloud Floating Peak, he continued cultivating the Garbha Sutra, exploring the Gloomy Dark Forest for Primal Beast resources, and devouring Artifact Spirits from weapons and cultivation manuals. His unconventional habit of selecting techniques through devouring led several fellow disciples to question whether he was a genius or a lunatic 424 436.

Sect affairs and higher cultivation

Duan Rong became involved in investigations and political conflicts within Divine Cloud Prefecture, using infiltration, disguise, Divine Sense, and strategic planning to dismantle enemy strongholds. His successes earned him a reputation as a formidable investigator and eventually the position of Director of the Judgment and Rectification Department 454 477 755.

After forming his Qi Cyclone, he gained the attention of the Taiyi Sect leadership. Lü Yinlin recognized Duan Rong’s unusual Empty Clarity Realm, chaotic Intent, and potential to reach the Nascent Soul Realm 500 517.

Duan Rong later condensed the Cave of Darkness through a self-deduced method using all seventy-nine Laws of Power. His advancement to the Cave Illumination Realm altered his temperament, leaving even those close to him sensing a growing distance beneath his outward politeness 676 679.

He ultimately achieved the Nascent Soul Realm in his early thirties. By then, Chu Wushang and others addressed him as an Old Ancestor, reflecting his exceptional standing within the Taiyi Sect 771 777.

Appearance

Duan Rong initially had a square face, dark complexion, bright eyes, and an unremarkable appearance that could disappear in a crowd. His eyes were repeatedly noted as his most striking feature, especially when he smiled 36 40.

• Initially short and dark-skinned, leading to his childhood nickname, “Potato” 5.
• His physique became taller, leaner, and markedly more muscular through sustained training 154 191.
• Later wore the green Daoist robe of a Taiyi Sect disciple, with neatly tied hair 324.
• His appearance could be radically altered through Disguise Technique and Bone Shrinking Skill 342 369 376.

Personality

Duan Rong is practical, observant, and highly conscious of status, resources, and social leverage. Having lived two lives and grown up without family, he treats cultivation as an opportunity that cannot be wasted; this drives his extreme training habits, financial discipline, and willingness to seek unconventional solutions 7 45 175.

He is calm under pressure and often uses polite speech, humor, or calculated flattery to defuse difficult situations. His composure before Luan Jingfu and his ability to conduct business with Hu Huanhuan reflect a maturity beyond his age 44 51.

Despite becoming increasingly capable of violence, Duan Rong does not take killing lightly. His first kills left him vomiting, and his aversion to needless killing later became one of the qualities Chu Wushang valued in him 27 683.

His self-discipline can become unhealthy obsession. He repeatedly neglects food, sleep, hygiene, and relationships during cultivation or study, causing Xiao Yu and Lü Qingzhu to fear that he has developed an inner demon 339 660.

Abilities & Skills

Artifact Spirit Devouring

Duan Rong possesses a devouring spirit that accompanied his soul transmigration. By reading and devouring Artifact Spirits, he can directly obtain martial arts experience, cultivation methods, technical knowledge, and other inherited abilities 19 318.

• Absorbed Artifact Spirits can grant familiarity with complex Inner Breath routes and techniques that would normally require years to learn 30 119.
• He deliberately avoids devouring conspicuous Artifact Spirits when doing so could expose his ability to Xiao Zongting or others 19.
• His capacity is restricted by Mental Strength; stronger Artifact Spirits cannot be devoured until his Garbha Sutra cultivation improves 424 451.
• He has used Artifact Spirits from weapons, secret manuals, medical tools, divine statues, trees, and crafted objects 174 350 673 761.

Saber Arts

Duan Rong’s foundation is the Five Tigers Herd Sheep Saber, but his fighting style later develops into an adaptable synthesis of numerous saber, sword, grappling, and movement arts 14 540 658.

• Defeated Li Chong by exploiting technique and timing instead of matching raw strength 11.
• Learns and applies the Yellow Springs Saber Technique, though he judges it insufficient against stronger opponents 76.
• Receives the incomplete Three Unnamed Forms from Xiao Zongting before a dangerous mission 140.
• Selects the Mountain River Moon Shadow Saber as his Qi Cyclone Realm Peerless Skill, drawn to its ever-changing reflections of mountains, rivers, stars, and moonlight 497.
• His Intent becomes strong enough to defeat Qi Cyclone Realm guard Zhao Yifu with a single slash while rescuing Xiao Yu 519.

Movement and Hidden Weapons

Duan Rong specializes in evasive movement, sudden positioning, and concealed attacks.

• Cloud Serpent Step — creates elusive afterimages and allows him to circle opponents or escape unfavorable engagements 67 134.
• Plum Blossom Needle Technique — acquired through devoured silver-needle Artifact Spirits; he can use poisoned needles with precision, including striking Liu Ao’s eyes after being wounded 30 134.
• Thousand Leaves Three Transformations — improves his hidden-weapon skill, enabling him to catch three incoming darts barehanded during the Ze Ying Assembly 272.
• Phosphorus crystal flying needles — later tested and approved by Lü Yinlin as part of his advanced combat arsenal 540.

Divine Sense and Mental Arts

The Garbha Sutra greatly expands Duan Rong’s Mental Strength, Divine Sense, and ability to perceive the internal state of opponents 114 172.

• Divine Sense can scan bodies, detect pursuers, locate hidden objects, and analyze an opponent’s movement in detail 160 283.
• Yinghuo is a Divine Soul Illusion that attacks a target’s Divine Sense by trapping it in an illusory realm 345.
• At the sixteenth Garbha Sutra layer, Yinghuo evolves into an area-effect illusion 689.
• He uses mental perception to control the refinement of Primal Beast essence blood with unusual precision, limiting damage to his Dantian and meridians 651.

Law of Power and Dao Body

After entering the Cave Illumination Realm, Duan Rong comprehends and applies Laws of Power rather than relying solely on conventional martial arts 676.

• Can use the Law of Power to craft objects, including a hairpin for Zhu Xiaoqi 680.
• Can break through or interact with barriers constructed from the Law of Power, as shown when retrieving secret manuals behind Chu Wushang’s spatial wall 676.
• His Dao Body manifests after the Law of Power within his Dantian is broken; although outwardly appearing cultivation-less, he can effortlessly destroy Cave Illumination Realm cultivators 767.

Mystical Powers

Duan Rong acquired a God and Demon Imprint in the God and Demon Ruins, granting him a Mystical Power beyond ordinary cultivation methods 643.

• Bloodlight Divine Shadow Escape — enables near-instantaneous repeated teleportation, marked by strange red light on his brow 650.
• The escape technique consumes a large amount of Divine Soul power and leaves him exhausted after use 650.
• Great Bright Flame — an Esoteric Buddhist defensive art recognized as an absolute defense against cultivators of the same realm 760.

Painting, Medicine, and Craft

Duan Rong’s noncombat abilities repeatedly support his cultivation and investigations.

• Portraiture and calligraphy — creates sought-after portraits, produces paintings that preserve the subject’s past appearance, and later teaches Ru Yi and his sons calligraphy 44 467 771.
• Medicine and poison arts — inherits medical knowledge through Artifact Spirits, treats Shen Ping, adjusts prescriptions, and studies the problem of medicinal absorption for martial artists 175 193.
• Alchemy — refines Righteous Yang Pills, reducing his cultivation expenses and earning Contribution Points 355.
• Disguise Technique — can create convincing Face Skins and combine them with Bone Shrinking Skill to impersonate others 342 369.

Equipment & Notable Items

• Frost Pattern Phosphorous Crystal Saber — saber selected from Cloud Floating Peak’s weapon cave; he initially lacked the Mental Strength to devour its Artifact Spirit 424 500.
• Phosphorus crystal flying needles — advanced concealed weapons later examined by Lü Yinlin 540.
• Phosphorus silk gloves — used during his bare-handed disarming of Lü Qingzhu 541.
• Five-Colored Ruyi Pearl — a mysterious pearl that emits a faint light beyond Duan Rong’s mental perception 650.
• Dew-Drinking Cicada — protective artifact given to him by Zhu He; Duan Rong later entrusted it to Xiao Yu for her protection 643 703.
• Xiao Baijiao’s embroidered sachet — a peach-blossom sachet given as a memento and retained after her death 63 83.

Relationships

• Old Sun — Stable manager and early supervisor. Old Sun valued Duan Rong’s work ethic and initially hoped he would remain as his helper if he failed the apprentice assessment 4 7.
• Yang Zhen — Childhood friend and county constable. Their bond endures into adulthood, developing into mutual respect as Yang Zhen recognizes Duan Rong as an equal 5 188.
• Xiao Zongting — Mentor and father figure who taught Duan Rong, arranged his escort internship, and treated him as more than an ordinary apprentice; Xiao Zongting was later killed by Ruan Fengshan 115 368.
• Xiao Baijiao — Xiao Zongting’s sickly younger daughter. She gave Duan Rong a sachet after he saved her life; her death devastated him, and Xiao Zongting believed they could have made a good marriage 63 83.
• Xiao Yu — Wife, former escort master, and Xiao Zongting’s eldest daughter. Duan Rong repeatedly risks himself to protect her, including infiltrating the Pagoda Forest to rescue her 115 519 541.
• Zhu Xiaoqi — Xiao family companion and close confidante. She tends to Duan Rong’s injuries and daily needs, and later shares an intimate relationship with him 64 680.
• Lü Qingzhu — Wife and fellow Taiyi Sect cultivator. Their relationship begins with rivalry and mutual testing, then develops into family life and shared children 541 703 771.
• Zhu He — Master at Cloud Floating Peak. Zhu He consistently provides Duan Rong with resources, techniques, protection, and political support 423 497 500.
• Lü Yinlin — Taiyi Sect Old Ancestor and mentor figure. He recognizes Duan Rong’s unusual Intent and guides his higher cultivation 517 540.
• Xi Men Kan Kan — Friend, sparring partner, and fellow disciple. Their relationship is marked by teasing, drinking, joint action, and mutual loyalty 152 190 356.
• Ruan Fengshan — Former head of the Yuan Shun Escort Agency. He rewarded Duan Rong’s rescue of Ruan Jing with promotion, money, and Willow Lodge, though their relationship later became entangled in the agency’s internal conflict 146 149 368.
• Chu Wushang — Elder mentor and trusted guide during Duan Rong’s higher cultivation. Chu Wushang values Duan Rong’s talent, restraint, and apparent purity of heart 673 683 777.

Notable Quotes

“Your life is only life to you. To others, it’s worthless. Pull yourself together; fear will only make you die faster!” 140

“I am not talented, but I have no intention of being a stepping stone on someone else’s path to enlightenment.” 449

Trivia

• Duan Rong’s childhood friend Yang Zhen was nicknamed “Black Pig,” but Duan Rong avoids using the name because he considers it too unpleasant 5.
• He claims never to have been drunk despite his heavy drinking capacity 496.
• He often views cultivation economics pragmatically, using portraiture, medicine refinement, and paid work to fund resources rather than relying solely on sect support 40 355.