Chapter 1201: Breaking Through the Void Refinement Stage
As soon as Lu Yang returned to the Dao-Seeking Sect, he went straight to visit his good brother, Meng Jingzhou.
Upon arriving outside Meng Jingzhou’s cave abode, he saw several large pools dug in front of the entrance. The old horse stood on his hind legs with a shovel stuck to his hooves. He was still digging and filling the pits with ice, his movements swift and efficient.
“Where’s Old Meng?”
Lu Yang noticed one of the pools bubbling with steam. A red-skinned Meng Jingzhou popped his head out, jumped up, and plunged into the icy pool beside it.
The ice blocks in the pool melted at a visible rate, and it wasn’t long before the water was about to turn boiling hot again.
Seeing his good brother in distress, Lu Yang definitely wouldn’t kick him while he was down. He kindly cheered him on. “As the saying goes, the greater the pressure, the greater the pressure. Jiayou, Old Meng! I believe you can get through this! For matters like cultivation, you have to rely on your own efforts. I won’t keep you company then.”
With that, Lu Yang scurried off before Meng Jingzhou could start cursing.
Upon descending the mountain, Lu Yang noticed many unfamiliar disciples pointing at him and whispering among themselves. When he turned to look, they quickly fell silent and pretended not to have seen him.
Once his gaze shifted away, their chatter resumed.
“So that’s the legendary Senior Brother Lu Yang.”
“I joined the Dao-Seeking Sect to follow in Senior Brother Lu Yang’s footsteps. I finally got to see him in person today!”
“Have you heard? Senior Brother Lu Yang slew the Heartless Creed Leader, an ancient half-immortal!”
“Who hasn’t heard of that? The even crazier part is that the Heartless Creed Leader summoned the Fate Arbiter of the Great Qian Dynasty with his dying breath. That’s a true immortal, yet Senior Brother Lu Yang exchanged several blows with him without losing ground!”
“Moreover, Senior Brother Lu Yang never rests on his laurels. No matter how illustrious his achievements are outside, he always reports to Senior Brother Dai upon returning to the sect.”
“When Senior Brother Lu was at the Foundation Establishment Stage, he went undercover in the Everlasting Creed and brought it down. We’re also at the Foundation Establishment Stage, but we can only carry out trivial missions outside, and our toughest opponents are only at the Half-Step Golden Core Stage. Compared to Senior Brother Lu Yang, we fall far short.”
“When will we ever reach Senior Brother Lu Yang’s level?”
“Comparing yourself to Senior Brother Lu? Dream on.”
These were all newly recruited disciples. Lu Yang had spent most of his time in seclusion or away on missions, rarely showing himself at the foot of the mountain.
As such, once he appeared, those who had never seen him but had long heard his exploits secretly called their friends over. However, they were too timid to look at him directly, only stealing glances from behind.
Hearing the undisguised admiration from the junior disciples, Lu Yang simply smiled and shook his head, saying nothing.
~~~
Yun Mengmeng stood halfway up Heaven’s Gate Peak, watching curiously as her Second-in-Command measured the sect with his feet.
“Little He, the Second-in-Command has circled the sect several times already. Why hasn’t he come up the mountain?”
“He’s probably lost,” Qing He said with certainty.
As Qing He had said, the Dao-Seeking Sect was vast. Lu Yang finally ascended the mountain after passing by Heaven’s Gate Peak seven times.
In the following days, aside from playing with the Everlasting Immortal Fairy and Yun Mengmeng, attending the ribbon-cutting opening ceremony at the new Incarceration Peak, descending the mountain for some strolls, listening to Gan Tian’s tunes for cultivating the self, discussing Dreamlike Bubble Mirage filming techniques with Tao Yaoye, checking on Li Haoran’s cultivation progress, going for barbeque skewers with Meng Jingzhou at the barbeque shop, and writing letters to Man Gu, the zhuangyuan now serving as a county magistrate, Lu Yang focused on his cultivation.
Whether secular or secluded cultivators, cultivation required one to be free of distractions, and Lu Yang was no exception. That was why his progress was so swift.
“Void Refinement Stage, tempering oneself in the mundane world, tempering oneself through battles...”
Cultivation knew no time. Lu Yang had been in seclusion in his cave abode for six hours. During this period, he had only stepped out once to sample Yun Mengmeng’s new spirit dish.
Lu Yang sat in meditation, reviewing everything he had experienced since his advancement to the Void Refinement Stage.
“No, it’s not just what happened while I was at the Void Refinement Stage. Weren’t my earlier experiences also ways of tempering myself in the mundane world and through battles?”
A flash of enlightenment struck Lu Yang. He vaguely sensed the threshold to advancing past the Void Refinement Stage.
“To temper herself, Third Senior Sister Gan Tian ventured alone into the Demon Region at the Void Refinement Stage, battling against all manner of demons with wits and courage, making a name for herself.
“At the time, her cultivation realm was unstable, and she faced formidable foes far beyond her. That was both her crisis and her opportunity.
“How am I any different? Every time I go out, I encounter opponents of much higher cultivation realms... I’ve already walked Third Senior Sister’s path.”
At this realization, the “path” before Lu Yang grew clearer, as if it was close enough to touch, and his cultivation realm began to fluctuate wildly.
Thus, Lu Yang reached out.
The moment his hand touched that “path,” the rapid fluctuations ceased, like a long-distance runner crossing the finish line and finally gasping for breath, no longer needing to sprint desperately. He ran a couple of steps and stopped, panting heavily.
“Success!” Lu Yang’s eyes shone brighter than ever. This was the confidence that came from breaking through the Void Refinement Stage.
As long as I survive the heavenly tribulation, I’ll have successfully broken through the Void Refinement Stage!
Even without leaving his cave abode, Lu Yang could sense the lightning tribulation clouds gathering above.
“Your cultivation speed is pretty fast.” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy popped out of his mental space, clapping her hands in applause.
But she soon remembered something and had to leave immediately.
“Xiao Yangzi, do your best with the tribulation. This immortal has some matters to attend to, so I can’t accompany you.”
Lu Yang felt slightly uneasy. Immortal Fairy, if you leave, what if Senior Heaven Mandate Immortal doesn’t hold back when striking me?
But since she had business to attend to, he couldn’t ask her to stay. All he could do was say, “Alright.”
~~~
Atop the tribulation clouds above the Dao-Seeking Sect, arcs of lightning danced at the Heaven Mandate Immortal’s fingertips as he contemplated the strength of the heavenly tribulation to test Lu Yang with.
“This kid Lu Yang really cultivates fast.
“Should I use an ordinary lightning tribulation or one of the newer types I’ve been researching recently?”
The memory of Lu Yang’s last lightning tribulation made the Heaven Mandate Immortal ache all over.
Just as the Heaven Mandate Immortal was agonizing over the decision, a wisp of clear energy rose from below, reaching the tribulation clouds and turning into the Everlasting Immortal Fairy.
“Everlasting Immortal, why are you here?” The Heaven Mandate Immortal was surprised.
“Heaven Mandate, what kind of tribulation do you think Xiao Yangzi should face this time?” the Everlasting Immortal Fairy asked.
The Heaven Mandate Immortal opened his mouth to answer, only to see another wisp of clear energy ascend and turn into Yun Zhi.
Yun Zhi was slightly surprised to find the Everlasting Immortal Fairy here as well. She explained her purpose in coming. “Senior Heaven Mandate Immortal, what tribulation should Little Junior Brother face this time?”
The Heaven Mandate Immortal was at a loss for words.
He glanced at the Everlasting Immortal Fairy on his left, then at Yun Zhi on his right. He thought of his status as one of the Five Ancient Immortals and the progenitor of artifact refinement, imposing in all aspects and revered by all. He reminded himself of his steadfast Dao heart, which shouldn’t be swayed by external forces.
With all that in mind, he steeled his resolve and replied solemnly, “Whatever tribulation you say he should face, that’s what I’ll send down.”