If he truly could exchange all the remaining layers of auxiliary medicine at once, in just a few days, he could achieve the twelfth layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture.
After achieving the twelfth layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture, his spiritual power will break through to Level Thirteen.
Moreover, the Divine Soul Technique will become increasingly powerful as well.
With this by his side, he would be nearly unbeatable in the same realm, and his cultivation speed would reach a terrifying level.
This temptation is really too great!
Duan Rong clenched his fists, calming the agitation in his heart.
All of this is still just a plan, and a plan without a specific course of action is nothing more than wishful thinking.
To execute this plan, since Shang Xiangyu has confirmed he won’t return, the only obstacle is Pan Yong.
"Senior Brother! I didn’t expect, even with Master Shang gone, I’d still have to kill you!"
Duan Rong suddenly sighed, but his face remained expressionless, cold as ice.
If Shang Xiangyu doesn’t return, even if he doesn’t kill Pan Yong, Pan Yong will die.
Because Pan Yong has been infected by Shang Xiangyu’s Insect Gu; once the medicine pill is finished, the Insect Gu will attack, leaving him unable to live or die...
As for how he will use Shang Xiangyu’s Star Disc to exchange for the remaining layers of auxiliary medicine after Pan Yong’s death without leaving traces for others to find.
On this point, Duan Rong has already devised a perfect plan in his mind!
So, the key now is to remove the obstacle that is Pan Yong.
Duan Rong placed a stack of books back inside the stone bed, then closed the stone slab of the hidden compartment.
As he pressed down the stone slab, he distinctly heard a brief friction sound emanating from the stone pillow area on the stone bed.
Immediately, the stone slab on the hidden compartment tightly sealed with the surrounding stone, so well that it was impossible to detect without careful inspection.
Duan Rong extinguished the candle and put it back into its place, then glanced at the low black iron cabinet in the corner before walking out of Shang Xiangyu’s stone cave.
Upon leaving Shang Xiangyu’s stone cave, Duan Rong immediately returned to his own cave; he’d been awake all night, and then used too much mental energy, so now he’s exhausted.
Duan Rong went to the depths of his cave, lay down on the stone bed, and instantly fell into a deep sleep.
Duan Rong only slept for about two hours before he gradually woke up.
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, poured some fresh water from the black pottery jar into a bamboo tube, and drank it all down in one go.
Then, Duan Rong sat cross-legged on the stone bed, focusing his mind.
The True Qi inside his Dantian began circulating through his meridians.
A few breaths later, Duan Rong threw a Yang Pill into his mouth.
As the pill entered his mouth, a warm sensation spread within his stomach.
Duan Rong circulated True Qi to refine the medicinal power that seeped into his meridians from his stomach.
He had decided not to visit Xia Honghua for a few days.
He needed to be immersed in cultivation and quickly strengthen his True Qi.
Then he’ll find an opportunity to deal with Pan Yong as soon as possible.
As the saying goes, the longer the night, the more dangerous the dreams. Many things cannot wait.
In the following days, Duan Rong stayed inside his cave, focused solely on diligent cultivation, almost oblivious to the outside world.
Duan Rong devoted himself to cultivation every day, sustaining himself only with clear water; even the water inside the black pottery jar eventually ran out.
This kind of intense cultivation was absolutely impossible during the Inner Breath Realm.
Because inner breath is born from qi and blood, and if one lacks food, qi and blood decline, making cultivation like chasing a mirage.
However, the refinement of True Qi is completely different from inner breath.
It has no connection to the body’s qi and blood, and the residual medicinal power from pills can also nourish the body, so Duan Rong’s days with only clear water were harmless.
After a deep sleep, Duan Rong’s throat was dry, and only when he tried to pour water did he realize that the water in the black pottery jar was gone.
He rubbed sleep from his eyes and then grabbed the thin hemp rope attached to the handle of the black pottery jar and headed towards the cliffside water source.
Duan Rong reached the spring flowing along the cliff wall, first craning his neck to gulp down clear water.
After drinking his fill, Duan Rong burped, and using his hands, he splashed water on his face.
It’s worth mentioning that he hadn’t washed his face for several days.
After washing his face, he brushed his sleeves across his face to dry off the water and then lifted the black pottery jar and filled it under the running spring until it was full.
Duan Rong carried the black pottery jar back along the cliff wall.
As soon as he approached Shang Xiangyu’s stone cave, he suddenly saw a silhouette standing on the large platform outside the cave.
From the side, Duan Rong recognized the silhouette as someone familiar; after a few more steps, it was clear — it was Qin Lao from the Lower Courtyard.
Speaking of which, it’s this old fellow who tricked him into this mess.
When Duan Rong first arrived, he only knew the old man’s surname was Qin; over time, he learned the full name is Qin Yun.
Duan Rong approached the back of Qin Lao, not far away, and said with a chuckle, "Old Man Qin, what are you doing here?"
The old man was originally pacing back and forth there, and suddenly hearing the voice behind him, was startled. He turned around, saw Duan Rong’s appearance, and was so shocked he took half a step back, his face changing color.
Duan Rong’s face was scruffy with a beard, hair messy like tangled grass, clothes wrinkled, and his face wet, as if covered in dew overnight.
Being in the Taiyi Sect is the only reason this appearance isn’t mistaken for a beggar.