Chapter 333: Why Not Cheat?

"Damn it, so fucking dark!"

Jiangnan, Zangjian Manor, Lu Yang's immortal spirit body clearly saw through the 【Puppet Strings】 the dire predicament his division soul now faced.

This was precisely the challenge of the second tribulation.

"According to current intelligence, the second tribulation of the 【Wu You Tian】 is utterly different from the first; the cultivator will no longer retain past memories."

"They will be stripped of all former recollections, fully immersed in the identity of a 【Primordial True Person】; though after exiting the 【Wu You Tian】, their past memories will rapidly return, as if they had merely dreamed it—but this method is clearly flawed, in every way it raises red flags!"

"Thankfully, I sent only my division soul!"

Until now, Lu Yang had never let his main body's spiritual awareness enter the 【Wu You Tian】 even once, precisely because of his suspicions, so he dared not act rashly.

Spiritual contamination was secondary—what if the 【Wu You Tian】 could lock onto a person?

If my main body stepped into the 【Wu You Tian】, the Primordial True Person would immediately notice: Huh? There's an immortal spirit? Let me see what's going on here.

Although the Primordial True Person has never yet displayed the might of a Jin Dan True Lord, and the 【Wu You Tian】 is far weaker than other positions, Lu Yang would never gamble on whether the opponent possessed such power, nor would he entertain any侥幸; thus, he'd rather suffer the division soul.

"Besides, there are advantages to this."

This is why Lu Yang was certain he had a strong chance of breaking the second tribulation—because his main body could provide support from outside!

Normally, this would be impossible.

Long ago, True Persons from sacred sects had tried it, but even with a division soul entering the 【Wu You Tian】, the link to the main body was severed, making cheating impossible.

But Lu Yang was different.

"The 【Puppet Strings】 connection cannot be severed by the 【Wu You Tian】!"

Thinking of this, Lu Yang grew even more energized, keeping constant watch over the battlefield of the Dangmo True Person while focusing intently—he would swiftly break through the second tribulation!

"I've now reached the peak of Foundation Establishment."

At this moment, the division soul, fully immersed in the identity of the 【Primordial True Person】, still marveled: "My innate spiritual ability has been perfected; merit, fortune, and cultivation foundation are all complete."

"I've also obtained the Cheng Tian Gang and Di Sha."

Before it, shimmering water-light floated in the air—this was 【Ren Water】, which in heaven becomes clouds, on earth becomes marshes, the supreme yang among waters.

Memory told it that if it assimilated this 【Ren Water】, it could break through to Foundation Establishment mid-stage, advancing closer to its ideal goal—but the next instant, overwhelming sorrow and long-suppressed despair surged into its heart, darkening its expression further.

"But… what's the use!"

The next second, it violently shoved away the 【Ren Water】, its face twisted in fury: "My path is cut! Even if I assimilate it, I can never attain the fruit!"

The scene of the first tribulation surfaced in its mind.

The 【Heaven-Earth Interwoven Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Array】, one hundred and eight 【Celestial Maidens】—that battle had truly battered him to the brink, leaving him shattered and broken.

It had also severed his path.

"I originally aimed for 【Endless Flow】, but now my Foundation, built upon fourth-rank True Qi, is inherently flawed—my cultivation ceiling will forever be Foundation Establishment peak!"

"And yet, the Dao admits no regrets—I cannot even restart my cultivation."

"Monster! You've tormented me too much!"

Where was the path ahead?

Thinking of this, Lu Yang's division soul grew even more despondent; outside, Lu Yang's main body also perceived the challenge this tribulation posed.

"Sink into it, fully embody the 【Primordial True Person】's plight, then find the way out—using Dao-heart as sword, severing all confusion and obstruction—to finally break free. Undoubtedly, if one breaks this tribulation through one's own Dao-heart, the enhancement to spiritual awareness and mental fortitude will be immense."

Provided one does not cheat like Lu Yang.

Yet despite this, Lu Yang felt no envy—compared to slight gains in spiritual awareness and mental fortitude, his own safety was what he valued most.

Thinking of this, he immediately activated the 【Puppet Strings】.

In his view, this trial was easy to break—even without considering the Primordial True Person's threat, his main body entering would still have no trouble overcoming it.

Because this challenge meant nothing to him.

If he himself were trapped in such a tribulation, he would feel no sorrow, no rage—his instinct would only spark one simple thought:

"Why not cheat?"

Was it because he didn't want to?

Lu Yang slightly modified this thought and sent it into the division soul's consciousness, forcing it to uncontrollably surface the same idea.

"Start over. Of course!"

"It's nothing but starting again! If I kill myself, reincarnate five times, and cleanse my soul with reincarnation power, I can naturally begin anew!"

"I've understood!"

As the words fell, the division soul, embodying the 【Primordial True Person】, said nothing—immediately drew the law-sword at its waist, slashed it across its throat with effortless grace—

"Squelch!"

【Wu You Tian】, above the thick sea of clouds.

The Primordial True Person sat upon a cloud cluster, before him countless beams of light, each illuminating a Foundation Establishment True Person currently breaking through a tribulation within the 【Wu You Tian】.

"Huh? Another has broken the second tribulation?"

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, a look of delight crossing his brow, then fixed on one beam of light: "And the speed is astonishingly fast?"

Upon recognizing Lu Yang's division soul within the light, he was even more surprised: "It's this one… Could it be his behind-the-scenes True Lord secretly guided him?"

Thinking of this, the Primordial True Person felt a rare spark of interest.

"How did he break the tribulation?"

Recalling his own past, when he faced a hopeless path, he had nearly gone mad, enduring countless trials before finally shattering illusions and reshaping his Dao-heart.

In his mind, there were only three ways to break the second tribulation.

The first, the supreme method: break the tribulation with Dao-heart—even when the path ahead is hopeless, even in utter despair, one continues forward with unwavering resolve.

The second, the mediocre method: give up thinking, accept whatever comes, break through first and worry later.

The third, the worst method: surrender, accept mediocrity, feel no despair, and possess no drive to ascend further.

All three, in their own way, escape the heart-demon of despair.

Yet the True Person of Innate Origin still placed the first option foremost; after all, cultivation is climbing a treacherous peak. Without a firm Dao-heart, without embracing extremes, how can one attain the Dao?

At this thought, the True Person of Innate Origin opened his mouth, splitting the corners of his lips. His countenance, once resembling an immortal of ethereal grace, instantly twisted into a grotesque, monstrous visage. He swallowed the stream of light reflecting Lu Yang's form in one gulp, then sensed briefly, his expression gradually turning strange:

"Suicide, then? Is it to be reborn and start anew?"

"Is that not a bit too extreme?"

The True Person of Innate Origin could sense the emotions of Lu Yang's split soul at that moment: not despair, not giving up, but a genuine belief that this was a method to break the deadlock.

"If I attain the Right Fruit, the original self and the other self are ultimately me. If I do not attain the Right Fruit, the original self and the other self make little difference."

Gradually, the True Person of Innate Origin fell silent.

After a long while, he came to his senses, then burst into sudden laughter: "Excellent! Excellent indeed, to start from the beginning! Truly a firm Dao-heart, beyond what ordinary mortals can achieve!"

Looking across the world, who does not fear death? Who does not dread the cycle of reincarnation?

The path of the Dao is without regret; who can start over?

Yet there was this one person, treating reincarnation as nothing, seeking only 【to start over】. How similar was that to him now?

He had calculated the Heavenly Mechanisms to the utmost, plotted for many years, and become the man-and-ghost monstrosity he is now, all for the sake of an opportunity to preserve himself and 【start over】, did he not?

Even he was like this.

For the other to disregard everything, making a decision solely for 【to start over】—what immense willpower was that? Such a Dao-heart, even the True Person of Innate Origin could not help but feel a measure of admiration.

"If I attain the Right Fruit, in the end, it is I who have learned!"

(End of this chapter)