Chapter 310
Chapter 310
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: The Five Tribulations of Non-Existence
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As soon as the words fell, the Innate Perfected Being's voice rumbled like waves of muffled thunder, echoing through the clouds.
Immediately after, Lu Yang let out a deep breath.
It was because in the instant the Innate Perfected Being's words ended, countless memories surfaced in his mind.
These memories did not belong to him.
They had appeared "out of thin air." He could even detect the eerie sensation of them burrowing out bit by bit from his mind, being recalled by him.
These memories were the rules of the [Heaven of Non-Existence].
"[Heaven of Non-Existence] contains five scenes in total, each corresponding to one of the tribulations the Innate Perfected Being encountered five thousand years ago."
"It was precisely because of these five tribulations that the Innate Perfected Being was ultimately halted at Foundation Establishment."
"The so-called 'breaking through the tribulations' means for me to enter the [Heaven of Non-Existence] and, assuming the identity of the 'Innate Perfected Being,' resolve the scenes corresponding to those five tribulations."
"Breaking one tribulation grants one Divine Ability."
"Breaking all five tribulations allows one to seize control of the [Heaven of Non-Existence]!"
Realization dawned in Lu Yang's heart. All the talk of breaking tribulations and grasping the position was mere facade—the true essence was that this was a cultivation method tied to the [Heaven of Non-Existence] position!
*'Positions elevated to the heavens are upheld by the cultivators below!'*
Lu Yang immediately recalled the nature of positions: *'Without cultivators to uphold it, a position's power remains unchanged, yet it becomes secluded from the world, impossible to attain.'*
*Just like the [Heaven of Non-Existence] in its current state—no one cultivating it, not yet fully consummated!*
With this thought, Lu Yang looked toward the Innate Perfected Being, shock overwhelming him. The True Lord Clear Clarity Flying Snow had personally stated that such ethereal vacancies were impossible to claim.
Yet from the look of things, the [Heaven of Non-Existence] possessed nearly every trait of a true position!
How had he accomplished this?
With nothing more than a [Long Flowing Water]? Or by channeling partial power through Dao Karma? If it were so straightforward to claim in emptiness, why had no one ever succeeded?
Moreover, the Innate Perfected Being's emptiness claim was unique. In his previous life, Lu Yang had heard True Lord Clear Clarity Flying Snow explain that even claiming a first-grade true merit in emptiness was fundamentally plundering from external sources, not conjuring from void. But the Innate Perfected Being's [Heaven of Non-Existence] was genuine creation ex nihilo!
"Your reputation is well-deserved, fellow Daoist."
With this in mind, Lu Yang cupped his hands in admiration.
He then probed, "Worthy of being the incarnation of the Millennial Great Tribulation's karma."
"Oh?"
The Innate Perfected Being, who had been quite nonchalant, arched his brows.
"Tribulation karma incarnation... So that's your view, fellow Daoist?"
"This is what a True Lord from my sect said."
"Oh, then it makes sense."
At that, the Innate Perfected Being sneered coldly.
"A swarm of vermin—selfish, profit-grubbing wretches of no benefit to heaven and earth. It's only natural they'd slander me so."
Lu Yang's brows twitched faintly.
Slander? So the 'tribulation karma incarnation' claim was false?
The next moment, the Innate Perfected Being turned to him.
"Do you know what the Millennial Great Tribulation truly is?"
"This junior has some guesses."
Lu Yang cupped his hands.
"My guess is that the Millennial Great Tribulation is the calamity of warfare between this realm and the many outer realm-heavens."
"Ho!"
The Innate Perfected Being nodded.
"To deduce that much means the power behind you truly has a True Lord presiding."
At these words, Lu Yang cursed inwardly.
No wonder the sudden questioning—it was a probe to confirm if a True Lord truly backed him.
"The notion of warfare is close enough."
The Innate Perfected Being continued.
"The so-called Millennial Great Tribulation is indeed the calamity of realm-heaven wars: our realm's True Lords jointly waging conquest to shatter other realms and devour their positions—a grand battle."
"This was originally a fine endeavor."
"Devouring other realm-heavens' positions would elevate our heaven and earth's own positions ceaselessly, with the True Lords' strengths rising in tandem."
"Yet... True Lords are selfish profit-seekers!"
Here, resentment seeped into the Innate Perfected Being's tone.
"They realized the spoils of realm-heaven conquest need not merge into heaven and earth."
"Instead of integrating the resources seized from realm-heaven conquests into heaven and earth, they funneled them into their own cavern-heavens. This kept their cavern-heavens from ever falling, allowing them to monopolize the positions entirely. The outcome? Gains from every realm-heaven war are pocketed by these True Lords!"
"Integrating into heaven and earth would strengthen the positions—and thus them as well."
"Utter vermin!"
With a sweep of his sleeve, the Innate Perfected Being declared, "How can heaven and earth prosper amid such vermin?"
"..."
Lu Yang remained silent.
Though the Innate Perfected Being spoke with fervent indignation, sounding persuasive at first blush, deeper reflection only bolstered Lu Yang's approval of the True Lords' actions. The reason was straightforward.
Golden Core True Lords enjoyed but a millennium's lifespan. Free of fetal enigma, they could reincarnate endlessly for a twisted longevity, yet they were no eternal position lords.
For them, what point in merging gains into positions? Greater strength availed naught without extended life. Fatten the position as one might—upon lifespan's end and position's loss, should another claim it first, all would be for nought.
A life's cultivation, wedding garb for others.
Who would endure it?
By contrast, channeling realm-heaven spoils into one's cavern-heaven profited the True Lord immensely, though it shortchanged heaven-earth positions!
*'No wonder... I'd misunderstood before!'*
*'I thought second-grade true merits fused other realms' positions into one's own. Now I see: into one's cavern-heaven!'*
*'Hence mid Golden Core's hallmark: the unfalling cavern-heaven!'*
Enlightenment struck Lu Yang, along with conjectures on True Lord cultivation. Positions might sustain their rank for True Lords.
But they were no foundation!
A True Lord's foundation remained forever their own cavern-heaven!
This realization drew Lu Yang's gaze back to the Innate Perfected Being.
"Forgive this junior's dullness. This is True Lord secrets—how does it concern senior?"
"Because I differ from them."
The Innate Perfected Being spoke plainly.
"With True Lords hoarding realm-heaven conquest spoils, heaven and earth needed another to aid it—and I am that one."
"The 'tribulation karma incarnation' tale is half-right, half-wrong. Yet I bear heaven-earth's partial empowerment and merit—that's why the True Lords struck!"
"Realm-heaven spoils already theirs alone, how tolerate another share?"
"Thus they schemed an ambush, stalling me at Foundation Establishment. Even in realm-heaven wars, I could claim only Foundation Establishment spoils."
"Other realms' positions? Still theirs alone."
Lu Yang got it at once.
*Damn, insidious bastards!*
Here, the Innate Perfected Being smacked his palm.
"One clan's True Lord was worst of all! That vile Primal Saint Sect..."
He glanced at Lu Yang.
"You're not of the Primal Saint Sect, are you, fellow Daoist?"
"Of course not."
Lu Yang severed ties without pause, utterly frank.
"I am a Sword Pavilion disciple! The righteous path's current vanguard—how associate with fiends?"
"Ah, so."
The Innate Perfected Being nodded, glancing other ways. He'd posed this to not just Lu Yang, but all entrants.
Answers varied.
[Soaring Empyrean] cut ties like Lu Yang.
"Though once of the Demonic Sect, I found its perils intolerable and long ago rebelled."
True Lord Clear Clarity Flying Snow, hands on hips, guffawed.
"Right! This old lady is the Saint Sect's True Lord!"
"What of it?"
His gaze withdrew, the Innate Perfected Being serene.
"Be it so or not, this is our first encounter—perhaps our last."
*After all, next we'd meet only after you break the five tribulations.*
*Then, you and I shall discourse on the Dao.*
His words ended, his form faded silently. Clouds parted, mists dispersed. Lu Yang sensed his floating body plunge sharply.
Boom!
The next instant, Lu Yang lost consciousness.