"Damn it, so insidious!"
In the southern region, at the Hidden Sword Manor, Lu Yang's Celestial Spirit body clearly saw the predicament his soul fragment had fallen into through the [String Puppet].
This was also the crux of the second tribulation.
'According to current reports, the second tribulation in [Void Heaven] is completely different from the first. This time, cultivators do not retain their past memories.'
'Their past identities are veiled, and they genuinely integrate into the identity of a [Innate True Person]. Although their memories will quickly return after leaving [Void Heaven]—as if waking from a dream—this setup clearly has issues no matter how one looks at it!'
'Fortunately... I only sent in a soul fragment!'
So far, Lu Yang had never let his main body's divine sense enter [Void Heaven] due to suspicions and a reluctance to act recklessly.
The risk of mental contamination was secondary. What if [Void Heaven] could lock onto a person?
If his main body entered [Void Heaven] first, and the Innate True Person immediately sensed: "Huh? There's a Celestial Spirit here? Let me have a look..."
Even though no Innate True Person had yet demonstrated the might of a Golden Core True Lord, and [Void Heaven] was significantly weaker compared to other realms, Lu Yang wouldn't gamble on whether the other party had such strength. He wouldn't entertain any lucky thoughts—better to let the soul fragment suffer.
'Besides, there's a benefit to this approach.'
This was why Lu Yang was so confident he could break through the second tribulation—because his main body could support the soul fragment from outside!
Ordinarily, this would be impossible.
Many True Persons of the Sacred Sect had tried; even sending in a soul fragment to [Void Heaven] would sever its connection with the main body, making cheating unfeasible.
But Lu Yang was different.
'The connection of the [String Puppet] cannot be cut off by [Void Heaven]!'
With this thought, Lu Yang grew even more energized. While monitoring the battlefield where Daoist Dangmo was engaged, he concentrated fully. He intended to blitz through the second tribulation!
"I've already reached the peak of early Foundation Establishment."
At this moment, the soul fragment that had fully integrated into the identity of the [Innate True Person] sighed with emotion: "My innate divine ability is accomplished. Merit, fortune, and cultivation are all intact." 𝐫Ά₦Ô₿ĚṤ
"I even obtained the Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend powers."
Before it floated a shimmering mass of waterlight—this was [Ren Water], the most yang and pure water under heaven, manifesting as clouds in the sky and marshes on the ground.
Memory told it that refining this [Ren Water] would allow a breakthrough to mid-Foundation Establishment, bringing it closer to its ideal goal. But in the next second, a massive wave of sorrow and long-suppressed despair surged forth, darkening its expression.
"But... what's the point?"
The next second, he flung away the [Ren Water] before him, face twisted with fury: "My path is broken! Even if I refine it, I can't attain fruition!"
The scenes from the first tribulation came to mind.
[Heaven and Earth Clashing Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Grand Formation], one hundred and eight [Heavenly Maidens]—that battle had left him utterly broken and scarred.
And it had severed his path forward.
"My original intent was in [Endless Flowing Water], but now, with a fourth-grade True Qi foundation flawed from the start, my highest cultivation this life will be Foundation Establishment perfection!"
"Worse, with a path of no regrets, I can't even start over."
"Bastards... this is too much!"
Where lay the path forward?
At this, Lu Yang's soul fragment grew even more disheartened, and outside, his main body realized the true difficulty of this tribulation.
'To be fully immersed, truly taking on the plight of an [Innate True Person], and then to find a way out—only by wielding the Dao heart as a sword to sever all confusion and obstacles can one break the tribulation.'
Undoubtedly, breaking this tribulation with one's Dao heart would significantly enhance both spirit and temperament.
Provided you don't cheat like Lu Yang.
Still, Lu Yang felt no envy. Compared to some growth in spirit and temperament, his own safety was what he valued most.
With that, he activated the [String Puppet].
In his view, this tribulation was actually easy to break. Even ignoring the threat of the Innate True Person, his main body entering it would also be confident in breaking through.
Because to him, this difficulty was trivial.
If he were caught in such a tribulation, he wouldn't feel sorrow or rage. His instincts would produce just one simple thought:
'Why not cheat?'
Was it out of reluctance?
Lu Yang slightly modified this thought, then transmitted it into the soul fragment's consciousness, prompting the same idea to irresistibly emerge.
"Start over. That's it!"
"It's just a matter of beginning again! As long as I commit suicide and reincarnate five times, my soul will be purified through the power of reincarnation, and I'll be able to start anew!"
"I've got it!"
With those words, the soul fragment, fully immersed as the [Innate True Person], didn't hesitate. He drew the magical sword from his waist and, with a bold swipe across his neck—
"Splurt!"
In [Void Heaven], above layers of cloud seas.
The Innate True Person sat serenely on a cloud, countless streaks of light before him, each representing a Foundation Establishment cultivator undergoing tribulation within [Void Heaven].
"Hm? Someone else has broken through the second tribulation?"
Suddenly, he opened his eyes, a pleased expression flashing across his brows. He looked toward one of the streaks: "And at such speed?"
Upon recognizing Lu Yang's soul fragment in the light, he was even more surprised: "It's this one... Could it be a covert directive from the True Lord behind him?"
Intrigued, the Innate True Person grew more interested.
"How did he break through the tribulation?"
Back then, facing a hopeless dead end, he had nearly gone mad, enduring countless trials to finally pierce the fog and rebuild his Dao heart.
In his view, there were only three ways to break the second tribulation.
The first, the supreme method, was to use the Dao heart to overcome the tribulation. Even when all seemed lost, one pressed forward with unwavering determination.
The second, a middling approach, was to muddle through—abandon thought and push ahead.
The third and worst was to give up, accepting one's mediocrity without a trace of despair or any drive to improve.
Regardless of method, all counted as escaping the inner demons of despair.
Yet, he still ranked the first method highest—for cultivation was like climbing a perilous peak. Without a firm Dao heart and extreme resolve, how could one attain the Dao?
At that moment, the Innate True Person opened his mouth wide, the corners splitting grotesquely, his formerly celestial visage transforming into something monstrous. He swallowed the light bearing Lu Yang's image. After a moment of sensing, his expression grew increasingly strange:
"Suicide to reincarnate and start over?"
"Isn't that a bit extreme?"
The Innate True Person could feel the soul fragment's emotions—it wasn't despair, nor apathy, but a true belief that this was a viable solution.
"If I attain true fruition, whether true self or other self, it is still me. If I do not, then there's no difference between them..."
Gradually, the Innate True Person fell into silence.
After a long while, he came to his senses and suddenly burst out laughing: "Good! What a fine 'start over'! Truly a firm Dao heart, not something ordinary men could achieve!"
In this world, who isn't afraid of death? Who isn't wary of reincarnation?
With a path of no regrets, who can begin again?
And yet, here was someone who viewed reincarnation as nothing, seeking only to [start over]—so much like himself.
He had calculated everything, plotted for years, and become this twisted form, all for a chance to retain himself and [start over].
If even he would go so far—
How much greater was this one's resolve, who cared for nothing but to start again? Even the Innate True Person couldn't help but feel a sliver of respect for such a Dao heart.
"If he attains fruition, then indeed, I have been taught."