Chapter 327
Chapter 327
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Rebirth Through Suicide
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"Damn it, this is shady as hell!"
In Jiangnan's Hidden Sword Villa, Lu Yang's immortal spirit true body clearly saw the dire straits his soul avatar had fallen into via the [String Puppet].
This was the crux of the second tribulation.
'According to the intelligence circulating nowadays, the second tribulation of the [Heaven of Non-existence] is utterly different from the first. This time, cultivators won't retain any memories from before.'
'Their past recollections will be sealed away, forcing them to fully immerse themselves in the role of an [Innate True Person]. Though those memories flood back the moment they exit the [Heaven of Non-existence]—as if it were all just a dream—this setup is obviously fishy no matter how you slice it!'
'Good thing I only sent in a soul avatar!'
Up to now, Lu Yang had never once let his main body's divine sense enter the [Heaven of Non-existence], precisely because of these nagging doubts. He wouldn't dare take risks lightly.
Mental corruption was secondary—what if the [Heaven of Non-existence] could lock onto him?
If his main body stepped in, the Innate True Person might notice right away: Huh? An immortal spirit? Let me take a peek.
Though the Innate True Person hadn't shown Golden Core True Lord-level might so far, and the [Heaven of Non-existence] was weaker than other fruits of the way, Lu Yang wouldn't bet on whether it had that power. No room for wishful thinking—so better to tough it out with a soul avatar.
'Besides, there are upsides to this approach.'
That was why Lu Yang was confident he had a solid shot at clearing the second tribulation. His main body could provide off-site support to the soul avatar!
Under normal circumstances, impossible.
Primal Saint Sect true persons had tried it long ago. Even soul avatars entering the [Heaven of Non-existence] got their links to the main body severed—no cheating allowed.
But Lu Yang was different.
'The [String Puppet] connection can't be cut by the [Heaven of Non-existence]!'
This thought energized him further. While keeping an eye on Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's battlefield, he focused intently, ready to speedrun the second tribulation!
"I've already perfected the early Foundation Establishment stage."
The soul avatar, now fully immersed in the [Innate True Person] identity, sighed.
"My innate divine ability is achieved, merit, fortune, Dao conduct—all accounted for."
"I've even obtained the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends."
Before it floated a shimmering ripple of water light—the [Ren Water]. In heaven as clouds, on earth as marshes, the ultimate yang water of the world.
Memory told it that refining this [Ren Water] would break it through to mid Foundation Establishment, advancing toward its ideals.
But the next instant, overwhelming gloom and long-suppressed despair crashed over it, darkening its expression.
"But... what's the point!"
With a flick, it shoved the [Ren Water] aside, face twisting savagely.
"My path is blocked! Even if I refine it, I can't attain fruition!"
Visions of the first tribulation surfaced.
The [Heaven-Earth Intercourse Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Grand Array], with its one hundred eight [Heavenly Maidens]. That battle had left him battered, on the brink of collapse.
It had also severed his path.
"My aspiration was the [Eternal Flowing Water], but now with a fourth-grade true qi Dao foundation, innately flawed—my peak this life is mere perfected Foundation Establishment!"
"And the Dao path brooks no regrets. I can't even restart cultivation."
"You beasts... you've gone too far!"
Where lay the road ahead?
This thought deepened the soul avatar's sorrow. Outside, Lu Yang's main body grasped the trial's challenge.
'Sink into it, fully embody the [Innate True Person]'s plight, then find the way out. Forge your Dao heart into a sword, sever all confusion and barriers to emerge victorious. No doubt, breaking it with one's own Dao heart yields massive gains in divine sense and temperament.'
Provided you didn't cheat like Lu Yang.
That said, Lu Yang felt no envy. Compared to marginal boosts in divine sense and mind, his personal safety came first.
With that, he activated the [String Puppet].
In his view, this trial was easy to crack. Even without the Innate True Person threat, his main body could breeze through it.
Because to him, it was child's play.
If he were trapped in such a tribulation, he wouldn't sorrow or rage. His instinct would spawn one simple thought:
'Why not cheat?'
Was it because he didn't want to?
Lu Yang tweaked that notion slightly, then implanted it into the soul avatar's mind, making it surge forth irresistibly.
"Start over... right!"
"It's just rebooting from scratch! If I kill myself and reincarnate five times, the reincarnations' power will cleanse my soul—I can start fresh!"
"I get it!"
Words barely out, the immersed [Innate True Person] soul avatar drew its law sword without hesitation, laid it across its neck, and slashed with dashing flair—
"Pfft!"
In the [Heaven of Non-existence], atop vast cloud seas.
The Innate True Person sat cross-legged on a cloud mass, countless rays of light before him—each reflecting a Foundation Establishment true person breaking tribulations within.
"Hm? Another one cleared the second tribulation?"
He snapped open his eyes, delight flickering in his brows, then fixed on one ray.
"And so quickly?"
Spotting Lu Yang's soul avatar within, surprise deepened.
"It's him... Did that True Lord behind him secretly guide him?"
Interest piqued, rare for him.
"How did he break it?"
He recalled his own despair at a hopeless path—near madness, endless ordeals before shattering illusions and reforging his Dao heart.
In his design, three ways to clear the second tribulation.
First, supreme: shatter with Dao heart. Hopeless path? Unwavering resolve presses on.
Second, middling: muddle through, breakthrough first, think later.
Third, worst: rot in mediocrity, accept averageness—no despair, no drive upward.
Any escaped the despair demon.
Yet he favored the first—cultivation scaled perilous peaks; without firm Dao heart or extremes, how to succeed?
Thus, he parted his lips, splitting his cheeks. His once immortal-boned visage turned grotesque and alien, swallowing the ray of Lu Yang's likeness whole. Moments later, sensing, his face grew odd:
"Suicide for reincarnation?"
"Isn't that a bit too extreme?"
He felt the soul avatar's mood then—not despair, not sloth, but genuine belief it was viable.
'If I attain fruition, original self or other selves—still me. If not, no difference between them.'
Gradually, the Innate True Person fell silent.
Long after, he stirred—with sudden laughter.
"Good! Excellent 'start over'! True Dao heart resolve, beyond mortals!"
Who under heaven feared not death? Feared not reincarnation?
Dao path no regrets—who could reboot?
Yet here one who treated reincarnation as nothing, craving only [restart]—mirroring him perfectly?
He schemed heavens, plotted years, became this neither-man-nor-ghost form, all for a self-preserving [restart] chance?
He was thus.
The other's reckless pursuit of [restart]—what resolve! Even the Innate True Person felt admiration.
"If fruition comes, I've learned from him!"