Chapter 310: Who the Hell Can Stop This Now
Chapter 310: Who the Hell Can Stop Him Now?
"Young master? Young master, wake up..."
A voice sounded in his ears. Lü Yang opened his eyes to see a stunningly beautiful woman in a red dress with a vermilion dot between her brows.
Looking around,
he saw pearl curtains, embroidered drapes, painted beams, and carved eaves. Light shimmered on golden floors, snow-white jade windows, and palaces that dazzled the eyes. The fragrant aroma intoxicated his senses.
Yet the next moment, memories that didn't belong to him surfaced in his mind:
"The Innate True Person had reached the peak of Qi Refining and was in secluded cultivation to break through to Foundation Establishment when he fell victim to the Saint Sect's schemes. They located his secluded cultivation site and shattered his true qi foundation."
"As a result, he was forced to establish his foundation with fourth-grade true qi, cutting off any path to further advancement."
"The Innate True Person sought Empty Attainment—partly because it benefited heaven and earth, but also likely because he had no hope left on the orthodox path..."
"This was the First Tribulation!"
Only then did Lü Yang snap back to reality and survey his surroundings. His current situation was identical to that of the Innate True Person back then, down to the intelligence he possessed.
'What a terrifying [Heaven of Non-Existence].'
Lü Yang was inwardly shaken. Had he not been controlling this avatar through [Puppet on Strings], he might never have discerned the illusory nature of the [Heaven of Non-Existence].
Everything before his eyes—what he saw, heard, even the fragrance in the air—felt utterly real. His own body, his cultivation—all of it. He was no longer at mid Foundation Establishment but at the peak of Qi Refining, clearly because the [Heaven of Non-Existence] demanded he assume the Innate True Person's identity to overcome this trial.
Any means beyond what this identity allowed were forbidden.
'...Given time, the [Heaven of Non-Existence] will inevitably expand wildly, becoming a Fruit Position that cultivators across the world flock to—one even True Lords cannot stop!'
Lü Yang instantly grasped the horror of the [Heaven of Non-Existence].
This was the First Tribulation, so he could only take the place of the Innate True Person at the peak of Qi Refining. But as time passed, the Innate True Person would progress!
'And once the Innate True Person's cultivation surpasses that of the tribulation-breaker, the latter can experience higher realms ahead of time!'
More importantly—Golden Core pursuit!
'The Innate True Person ultimately sought Golden Core attainment. If this is also one of the tribulations, it effectively offers Foundation Establishment True Persons a simulated trial for Golden Core pursuit!'
That alone would attract every Foundation Establishment True Person.
Moreover, according to the Innate True Person's account, overcoming each tribulation within the [Heaven of Non-Existence] granted a corresponding Divine Ability—an even greater temptation.
And the [Heaven of Non-Existence] carried no risk of death.
'The [Heaven of Non-Existence] is an illusory Fruit Position. Flesh-and-blood bodies cannot enter, nor can souls or divine sense—only consciousness can pass through.'
Thus, even if a cultivator failed to overcome a tribulation and died within the [Heaven of Non-Existence], the worst outcome would be a few days of mental fog and the loss of some merit and fortune—no life-threatening danger. With rewards far outweighing risks, who wouldn't be tempted?
Of course, there were drawbacks.
Time within the [Heaven of Non-Existence] flowed at the same rate as the outside world. Once a cultivator entered, their original body would be left completely defenseless.
'But as long as I only enter with avatars controlled by [Puppet on Strings], I can sever the connection when necessary to avoid this issue.'
With that thought, Lü Yang stepped down from the bed and glanced at the woman beside him. The Innate True Person's memories held no record of her—nor of this place at all.
In his memories, the Innate True Person had been in secluded cultivation preparing for Foundation Establishment when he suffered qi deviation. He closed his eyes, opened them again, and found himself here.
Yet while the Innate True Person didn't recognize this, Lü Yang did.
"The Innate True Person originally cultivated true qi to establish the [Void Mystic Sea Dao Foundation], but the Saint Sect's schemes forced him to settle for the [Sea Dao Foundation]."
Why was this?
Surveying the Saint Sect's methods, what technique could degrade a third-grade true qi by an entire rank, leaving even the Dao Foundation incomplete?
'《Mending Heaven True Scripture》!'
Lü Yang was thoroughly familiar with this third-grade true technique of the Saint Sect, rich in practical experience. He recognized it instantly.
"[Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Dragon Tiger Interplay Grand Formation], derived from the 《Mending Heaven True Scripture》, jointly deployed by one hundred and eight [Heavenly Maidens] playing pipas and guqins in revelry—ultimately causing one to lose themselves in passion, leading to a drastic drop in true qi grade..."
This was a superior formation.
Once activated, besides the one hundred and eight [Heavenly Maidens], there were distinctions between the formation's master and its targets—effectively allowing the master to plunder the targets.
The result: the targets' true qi grades plummeted.
The master reaped immense benefits, their true qi grade rising sharply.
Fortunately, Lü Yang understood this well.
With that in mind, Lü Yang surveyed his surroundings. What met his eyes was a city of women—beauties of all kinds flitting through the streets.
But Lü Yang knew this was merely an illusion.
Under the [Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Dragon Tiger Interplay Grand Formation], only the women were real. All other sights were false images designed to bewitch the senses.
Left to the formation's natural operation, Lü Yang would encounter countless romantic interests in this city, each with intricate stories that tugged at heartstrings—until he gradually sank into depravity, forgetting his past.
To break this formation, there were roughly three methods.
Either pass through the sea of flowers without touching a single petal—maintain control over essence, energy, and spirit, remain chaste, and walk out unaffected by the formation's illusions.
Or—kill his way out.
With a heart of iron, slaughter until the formation's foundation collapses in a storm of blood.
But Lü Yang chose neither, for he now bore the 'Innate True Person's' identity, limiting the techniques he could employ.
Such as the 《Mending Heaven True Scripture》.
Against this formation, the 《Mending Heaven True Scripture》 was the best counter. Had Lü Yang been able to use it, such a formation would crumble instantly.
Yet the rules of the [Heaven of Non-Existence] forbade it.
Similarly, resisting the formation's allure or fighting his way out was currently beyond his means.
Thus, he had only one option left.
'At this critical juncture, I must charge forward head-on!'
With that resolve, Lü Yang activated his superhuman state and barreled into the formation, startling the [Heavenly Maidens] maintaining it.
Yet they quickly steadied themselves.
Seeking death!
With one hundred and eight of them bolstered by the formation's power, taking turns to attack—what Qi Refining cultivator could withstand them?
But soon, they realized something was wrong.
Lü Yang grew stronger the more he fought!
One, two, ten, twenty... No matter how many [Heavenly Maidens] attacked, he effortlessly subdued them all!
By the end, the remaining [Heavenly Maidens] dared not approach him again.
To them, Lü Yang was no longer prey—he was a monstrous beast! Wherever he passed, screams followed!
Who the hell could stop him now?
On the other side, Lü Yang remained calm, his eyes even carrying a hint of disdain: "Is that all?"
I haven't even exerted myself, and you're already down?
As for why the Innate True Person had fallen here, suffering a drop in true qi grade, Lü Yang saw only one reason:
Incompetence!