Chapter 309: The Secret of the Millennium Calamity!
As the words fell, the Innate True Person's voice echoed like muffled thunder through the clouds.
Immediately after, Lü Yang took a deep breath—for the moment the Innate True Person's voice faded, numerous memories surfaced in his mind.
These memories did not belong to him.
They had "appeared out of thin air," and he could even sense the eerie sensation of them gradually emerging from his mind, being recalled piece by piece.
These memories were the rules of the [Heaven of Non-Existence].
"[Heaven of Non-Existence] contains five scenarios, each corresponding to a tribulation the Innate True Person encountered five thousand years ago."
"It was precisely these five tribulations that ultimately halted the Innate True Person at Foundation Establishment."
"Breaking through the tribulations means entering [Heaven of Non-Existence] and resolving the five scenarios corresponding to those tribulations while assuming the identity of the 'Innate True Person.'"
"Resolve one tribulation, gain one Divine Ability."
"Resolve all five, and you shall command [Heaven of Non-Existence]!"
Lü Yang suddenly understood—talk of breaking tribulations and commanding Fruit Positions was superficial. The true essence lay in the fact that this was a cultivation method corresponding to the Fruit Position of [Heaven of Non-Existence]!
'Fruit Positions are elevated high above, upheld by countless cultivators below!'
Lü Yang immediately recalled the nature of Fruit Positions: 'Without cultivators upholding them, though the Fruit Position's power remains unchanged, it will withdraw from the world, becoming difficult to Achieve.'
'Just like [Heaven of Non-Existence] now—no one cultivates it, and it has yet to reach true perfection!'
At this thought, Lü Yang couldn't help but glance at the Innate True Person, his heart filled with awe. True Lord Qingcheng Feixue had once personally stated that Empty Attainment was illusory.
Yet judging by appearances, [Heaven of Non-Existence] possessed nearly all the characteristics of a Fruit Position!
How had he accomplished this?
With just a [Flowing Water]? Or by borrowing part of the Dao Calamity's power... If Empty Attainment were so simple, why had no one succeeded before?
Moreover, the Innate True Person's Empty Attainment was different. Lü Yang recalled True Lord Qingcheng Feixue's words from his past life—even Empty Attainment of first-grade True Arts essentially involved plundering from external sources rather than creating from nothing. Yet the Innate True Person's [Heaven of Non-Existence] was truly conjured out of thin air!
"Fellow Daoist lives up to his reputation."
With this in mind, Lü Yang clasped his hands in admiration before tentatively remarking, "Truly worthy of being the incarnation of the millennium calamity's tribulation fortune."
"...Oh?"
At these words, the previously composed Innate True Person raised his eyebrows. "Tribulation fortune incarnation... So that's how Fellow Daoist sees it?"
"This was spoken by a True Lord from my sect."
"Ah, then it's no surprise."
Here, the Innate True Person gave a cold laugh. "A bunch of vermin—selfish individuals who contribute nothing to heaven and earth. It's only natural they'd slander me like this."
Lü Yang's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Slander? So the tribulation fortune incarnation was false?
The next moment, the Innate True Person looked at him and continued, "Do you know what the millennium calamity truly is?"
"This junior has some guesses." Lü Yang cupped his hands. "I suspect the millennium calamity refers to wars between our realm and numerous celestial realms beyond."
"...Hah!"
The Innate True Person nodded. "To deduce this much, it seems your faction indeed has a True Lord overseeing it."
Hearing this, Lü Yang inwardly cursed.
No wonder he suddenly asked—this was a test to confirm whether Lü Yang truly had a True Lord backing him!
"Your speculation about war is mostly correct."
The Innate True Person continued:
"The so-called millennium calamity is indeed a war between realms—a great battle where the True Lords of our realm launch campaigns to conquer celestial realms and seize their Fruit Positions."
"This should have been a good thing."
"After all, by absorbing the Fruit Positions of other realms, the Fruit Positions of our own heaven and earth would continuously strengthen, and the True Lords' power would rise accordingly."
"However... the True Lords are all selfish individuals!"
Here, a trace of resentment seeped into the Innate True Person's voice. "They discovered that the spoils of war from celestial realms didn't need to be integrated into heaven and earth."
"Instead of merging the resources seized from conquered realms into heaven and earth, they chose to absorb them into their own Cave Heavens, ensuring their Cave Heavens would never fall and allowing them to monopolize the Fruit Positions entirely. The result? Every harvest from celestial realm wars was hoarded by these True Lords!"
"Even though integrating them into heaven and earth would strengthen the Fruit Positions—and thereby themselves—they refused."
"Utter vermin!" With a flick of his sleeve, the Innate True Person spat, "How can heaven and earth prosper with such parasites?"
"..." Lü Yang remained silent.
Though the Innate True Person spoke with righteous indignation and his words sounded reasonable at first glance, upon closer consideration, Lü Yang found himself agreeing more with the True Lords' actions.
The reason was simple.
Golden Core True Lords only lived for a thousand years. Though they could reincarnate without encountering the Fetal Mystery—a form of alternate longevity—they were not eternal masters of their Fruit Positions.
So what meaning did integrating gains into the Fruit Position hold for a True Lord? What did becoming stronger matter? It didn't extend their lifespan. Even if they nurtured their Fruit Positions to perfection, once they died of old age and fell from their positions, what if someone else seized them first? Wouldn't that mean all their efforts had merely paved the way for others?
A lifetime of cultivation, all for someone else's benefit.
Who could accept that?
In contrast, absorbing the spoils of celestial realm wars into their own Cave Heavens might have been a loss for heaven and earth's Fruit Positions, but for the True Lords themselves, it was an immense gain!
'No wonder... I misunderstood before!'
'I previously thought second-grade True Arts involved merging other realms' Fruit Positions into one's own. Now it seems they were absorbed into one's Cave Heaven instead!'
'That's why the hallmark of mid-stage Golden Core is the Unfalling Cave Heaven!'
Lü Yang instantly grasped the truth and formed a conjecture about True Lords' cultivation: For True Lords, Fruit Positions might be crucial for maintaining their status.
But they were not the foundation!
The True Lords' foundation always lay in their own Cave Heavens!
With this realization, Lü Yang turned back to the Innate True Person. "Forgive this junior's ignorance, but this matter concerns True Lords' secrets. What does it have to do with you, Senior?"
"Because I am different from them."
The Innate True Person spoke plainly. "When the True Lords hoarded the spoils of celestial realm wars, heaven and earth naturally needed another to act on its behalf—and that person was me."
"The claim of being a tribulation fortune incarnation is half-true, half-false, but I did indeed receive some blessings from heaven and earth, bearing virtue... which is why the True Lords struck!"
"After monopolizing the gains from celestial realms, how could they tolerate another mouth to feed?"
"So they schemed against me, halting me at Foundation Establishment. That way, even if I participated in celestial realm wars, I could only take resources suitable for Foundation Establishment."
"As for the Fruit Positions of conquered realms, they remained the True Lords' exclusive spoils."
Lü Yang finally understood.
Damn, how sinister!
At this point, the Innate True Person suddenly clenched his fist. "Among them, one sect's True Lord was the most despicable! That damned Primordial Saint Sect..."
He then glanced at Lü Yang. "Fellow Daoist wouldn't happen to be from the Primordial Saint Sect, would you?"
"Of course not."
Lü Yang didn't hesitate, decisively severing ties as he declared with utter sincerity, "I am a disciple of the Sword Pavilion! The current leader of the righteous path—how could I consort with demons?"
"Is that so..."
The Innate True Person nodded, then glanced in other directions. He hadn't just asked Lü Yang this question—he had posed it to everyone who entered.
The answers varied.
[Ang Xiao], like Lü Yang, chose to cut ties: "Though I was once of the Demon Sect, I deeply sensed its wickedness and have long since defected."
Meanwhile, True Lord Qingcheng Feixue planted her hands on her hips and laughed heartily:
"Correct! This old lady is a True Lord of the Saint Sect!"
"What are you going to do about it?"
Withdrawing his gaze, the Innate True Person remained calm. "...Whether you are or not, this is our first meeting—and perhaps our last."
'After all, the next time we meet will be after Fellow Daoist breaks through the five tribulations.'
'Then, we shall discuss the Dao together.'
As his voice faded, his figure quietly dissipated. The clouds parted, and Lü Yang felt his previously weightless body suddenly plummet downward.
"Boom!"
The next moment, Lü Yang lost consciousness.