Recaps

After destroying the Filthy Blood Sect and becoming Director, Duan Rong infiltrated the Dharma Appearance Sect to obtain higher-level cultivation techniques from its statues. He returned to Taiyi Sect and began painting the Mountain Body Divine Statues, while Lü Yinlin ordered Chu Wushang to monitor his work.

• Duan Rong captured Shang Xiangyu and helped expose and destroy the Filthy Blood Sect, then received the Myriad Crow Separation Fire Scarf from Lü Yinlin as a reward.
• Zhu He appointed Duan Rong Director of the Judgment and Rectification Department, and Duan Rong refused Yang Yi’s resignation before arranging for Fan Hongjiao to oversee the department during his travels.
• Duan Rong used Jiang Hanyan’s intelligence to enter Xidu Prefecture disguised as a beggar, recruited Wang Xun’s help at Cunmu Hall, and took Zhu Shicheng’s identity for Yongning Temple’s assessment.
• After Wang Cheng reported his suspected proxy examination, Duan Rong and Shuiyue arranged his death, and Duan Rong passed the assessment and traveled with the admitted craftsmen to the Dharma Appearance Sect.
• Duan Rong joined Tang Xiong’s team, devoured the Artifact Spirits in Cave Three, and secretly entered the Mountain Body Great Statue Cave to obtain four more levels of Great Vajra Realm Mandala techniques.
• Duan Rong returned to Taiyi Sect and asked Zhu He and Chu Wushang to let him paint the four Mountain Body Divine Statues, hoping to explore a twenty-third level of the Garbha Sutra.
• With Wei Yan’s permission, Duan Rong commissioned hundreds of ritual implements and began painting the four statues, while Chu Wushang left the valley after Wei Yan said he wanted to be taken away sooner.

Duan Rong advanced from Late Cave Illumination Realm to the Nascent Soul Realm and took over as Taiyi Sect’s Old Ancestor. As the sect gained influence, he faced rumors and border tensions before joining the Miao Kuo Small Gathering, where negotiations over Taiyi Sect’s growing power continued.

• Duan Rong completed the Great Vajra Realm Mandala ritual, then devoured Idol Spirits in the Miao Village Deep Mountain and reached Late Cave Illumination Realm Perfection.
• Lü Yinlin explained how to form a Nascent Soul, and Duan Rong comprehended his Dao Body before Lü Yinlin activated Taiyi Sect’s Nascent Soul Formation Array.
• Duan Rong absorbed Essence Milk and Ten Thousand Years of Incense Idol Spirits, forming a Nascent Soul that Lü Yinlin confirmed had reached the Nascent Soul Realm Initial Stage.
• Duan Rong accepted Lü Yinlin’s position as Taiyi Sect Old Ancestor and took over his Nightmare Seed puppets, then revealed his Nascent Soul to Zhu He and Gu Daoling.
• Duan Rong approved Zhu He’s efforts to press Taiyi Sect’s border interests while cautioning him against a major conflict, and Zhuang Tairu confirmed Duan Rong’s Nascent Soul through a chess match.
• Jiang Hanyan visited Duan Rong at Lin Youjian’s urging, but Duan Rong refused to take her as a concubine and later sent her a letter explaining his choice.
• Ji Wuya invited Duan Rong and Lü Yinlin to the Miao Kuo Small Gathering, where Lü Yinlin explained that the gathering’s original purpose was to reinforce the Suppression Tower’s formation.
• Duan Rong and Zhu He attended the gathering, where Zhu He negotiated over Taiyi Sect’s growing power as Duan Rong learned about the Buddha Bone Relics in Huikong Zen Courtyard.