Chapter 1186: Don't you want me anymore?

“Look, look! The eighty-second lightning tribulation is here!” the disciples of Wendao Sect exclaimed.

“Quickly, add to the ‘Compendium of Lightning Tribulations’ that eighty-one lightning bolts aren’t the limit—there are more tribulations after that!”

This discovery completely shattered previous understanding of lightning tribulations, posing a significant challenge for all cultivators preparing for their ascension. Before, their focus was on surviving eighty-one lightning bolts. Now, they wondered if even more tribulations awaited them after the eighty-first.

A chorus of shouts erupted. “Who would have thought that Senior Brother Lu’s tribulation this time would feature not only new types of lightning, but also an unprecedented number of bolts!”

“Joining Wendao Sect was absolutely the right choice!”

Even the higher echelons of the Immortal Sect marveled, “He creates history with every tribulation; truly a favored one!”

Hearing the reactions around her, Yun Mengmeng’s heart swelled with delight.

Sensing the astonishing lightning tribulation at Tianmen Peak, Gan Tian recalled her own tribulation when she advanced to the Integration Stage and couldn’t help but sigh, “I’m not as good as Junior Brother.” Gan Tian merely sighed, not feeling defeated or dejected. This was the junior brother personally chosen and nurtured by Senior Sister; his talent was naturally exceptional, rendering any comparison unnecessary.

“Senior Sister, is he the person you’ve been searching for?” Gan Tian murmured to herself, suddenly recalling something Senior Sister had said happily during a casual conversation long ago: “I need someone to help me maintain my humanity, but alas, that person has not yet appeared.” These were Senior Sister’s exact words, spoken to Gan Tian alone.

The lightning tribulation continued. Lu Yang, his skin torn and body bleeding from the repeated strikes, remained silent.

“One hundred sixty… one hundred sixty-one… one hundred sixty-two… Oh my heavens, it’s finally over!”

As Lu Yang remained silent, the Wendao Sect disciples counted the lightning bolts for him, their awe growing with each tally. “Junior Brother Lu is truly defying the heavens; the number of bolts has literally doubled!”

The crowd erupted in excitement. Void Refinement cultivators, witnessing the sheer number of lightning bolts, felt a phantom ache in their own bodies as they envisioned their future tribulations. Surely *they* wouldn’t have to face one hundred sixty-two lightning bolts too?

“Whew, I finally made it through,” Lu Yang exhaled. Though he looked somewhat disheveled, his daoist robe torn to shreds like rags, he knew this was not the time to worry about appearances.

After the lightning tribulation, a silent, sweet dew descended from the heavens, nourishing Lu Yang’s battered body. Lu Yang’s wounds healed at a visible rate. He seemed completely reborn, his skin pristine and tender, without a single blemish.

“Integration Stage,” Lu Yang whispered to himself, naming his new cultivation realm.

“Second in Command, you did it!” After the tribulation, Yun Mengmeng was the first to rush forward and congratulate him, her smile even brighter than Lu Yang’s.

“Nephew Lu, excellent work.”

“Senior Brother, you’re incredible.”

“Sword Master Xuanyuan, have you recalled your past life memories?”

“Still no? I hope you remember soon.”

From the elders to the junior disciples, everyone came to Tianmen Peak to offer their congratulations. Lu Yang humbly accepted all the well wishes, except for Gu Junye’s. Lu Yang was well-liked within Wendao Sect; the well-wishing continued from day to night before the formalities were finally concluded.

“It seems even without me here, little Yangzi, you did quite well,” the Immortal Fairy said with a giggle, striking a pose that clearly screamed, “I’m the hero, come praise me!” Lu Yang found her quite perplexing.

“If you were here, Fairy, my tribulation would surely have gone even smoother.” As a subordinate, one should always agree with the superior, regardless of their actual thoughts.

As expected, these words made the Immortal Fairy beam even more brightly.

The final blessing came from Yun Zhi. “Well done.” Senior Sister was a woman of few words, but those four were enough to convey her approval.

“Then, Senior Sister, I’ll go consolidate my realm now.” Stabilizing one’s cultivation was the most crucial task after a breakthrough.

“Go.”

Lu Yang returned to his cave dwelling. Consolidating his realm was not new to him; he was familiar with the process: burn incense, sit still, calm his mind, and enter meditation.

This time, however, he found himself unable to enter meditation. Gu Junye’s words repeatedly flashed through his mind: “Sword Master Xuanyuan, have you recalled your past life memories?” and “Still no? I hope you remember soon.”

Why did those two phrases keep recurring? Had he forgotten his past life memories? No, he remembered them perfectly clearly. Was it because Gu Junye’s constant repetition had made him believe it himself? No, that wasn’t it either. Was he too excited from advancing to the Integration Stage to meditate? No, his mental state wasn’t so unstable. What was it then? Had he forgotten something crucial?

“No, my heavenly tribulation isn’t finished yet!” Lu Yang suddenly realized, his eyes flashing with insight. He finally understood the source of his unsettling feeling!

“The heavenly tribulation for breaking through to the Void Refinement stage is divided into two phases: first, the lightning tribulation, and second, the heart tribulation.” He had only passed the first phase. He was now unknowingly in the second!

“This is common knowledge in the cultivation world, something I’ve known all along! Why am I only remembering it now? That’s right—during a heart tribulation, certain memories are veiled, difficult to recall. Only when one realizes they’re in a heart tribulation do those memories resurface! I’m currently enduring the heart tribulation!”

“Little Yangzi, what’s wrong?” In the spiritual space, the Immortal Fairy lay on Lu Yang’s chest, gazing up at him with pitiful eyes. “Are you abandoning me?”

The Immortal Fairy’s large, watery eyes reflected Lu Yang’s pained, conflicted expression. Lu Yang felt immense reluctance, but he knew that if he didn’t break away now, he would sink deeper into the illusion, unable to escape. For instance, he now understood he was in an illusion, meaning the Immortal Fairy before him was a figment. Logically, he could treat her however he wished without consequence. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to do so, knowing that such actions might make him even more unwilling to leave the illusion.

He could not hesitate any longer.

“Fairy… we’ll meet in reality.”

“No!”

Lu Yang closed his eyes, no longer looking or thinking about the pitiful Immortal Fairy. He bit down hard on his tongue and fully activated the ‘Mind-Clarifying and Nature-Revealing Art,’ a cultivation method whose greatest strength was its ability to pierce illusions!

A speck of light pulsed on Lu Yang’s chest. As the ‘Mind-Clarifying and Nature-Revealing Art’ circulated, the light quickly expanded, illuminating the entire cave dwelling, and then enveloping the entire world.

CRACK—

The illusion shattered, and the heart tribulation concluded.

Lu Yang was still in his battered state, but the thunder had ceased, the sky cleared, and sweet dew descended to nourish his body. Feeling his body gradually return to normal, Lu Yang let out a contented smile.

“This is reality now.”

Just as in the illusion, the sweet dew healed Lu Yang’s body, leaving his skin as pristine and tender as a newborn’s. His cultivation realm, however, was vastly different from what he experienced in the illusion.

“Am I… at the Tribulation Transcending stage?”