Chapter 333: Great Progress

Lu Yang was overjoyed to learn that his Eldest Senior Sister had affirmed twenty percent of the work he had painstakingly created.

It was rare for him to receive affirmation from his Eldest Senior Sister, and even if it was only twenty percent, it was still a valuable achievement and a promising start.

It was much better than his previous attempt, which had been completely rejected.

His efforts weren't in vain, considering he had spent over half a month diligently studying in the Scripture Pavilion, neglecting meals and sleep, followed by two more days of scratching his head while writing.

With twenty percent affirmation this time, and forty percent next time, he believed it wouldn't be long before he could write cultivation techniques on par with his Eldest Senior Sister's.

His future seemed incredibly bright!

Just as Lu Yang was about to modestly express his need to work harder, he heard his Eldest Senior Sister continue:

"As for the remaining twenty percent, you quoted sentences I wrote, so I won't be making any changes."

Lu Yang: "..."

"Eldest Senior Sister, next time you speak, could you not build up the suspense so much?"

In the spiritual space, Immortal Fairy was roaring with laughter, rolling on the bed, tears streaming down her face.

Seeing his junior brother's visible disappointment, Yun Zhi spoke up to comfort him, saying, "It's quite good; at least you can correctly quote sentences I wrote."

Lu Yang didn't feel comforted in the slightest.

Seeing that her junior brother was still downcast, Yun Zhi realized that she might not be very skilled at comforting others.

She recalled that during the Five Immortal Sects' competition, she had defeated all her opponents, becoming the undisputed champion. The sect masters, aiming to humble her and prevent her from becoming arrogant, then made a move against her under the guise of offering "guidance."

The outcome was self-evident: it was the sect masters themselves who received "guidance," as Yun Zhi utterly defeated them.

The sect masters felt humiliated to be defeated by a junior, and they were more frustrated than anything.

Seeing them gloomy and disheartened, Yun Zhi tried to comfort them, saying, "My cultivation realm is just a bit higher than yours. If I suppressed my realm to be the same as yours, I wouldn't be able to defeat you in a single move."

The sect masters' expressions soured even further.

Daoist Buyu, witnessing the sect masters' humiliation, gloated from the sidelines.

As Yun Zhi's master, he naturally knew his capable disciple's cultivation level was absolutely unbeatable; anyone who challenged her was bound to lose.

The sect masters glared at Daoist Buyu, thinking, "We can't defeat the disciple, but can we not defeat the master either?"

They swarmed him and gave Daoist Buyu a thorough beating.

Daoist Buyu feared no one in a one-on-one fight, but if they could gang up on him, why would anyone fight him alone?

The Immortal Sects' competition concluded with Daoist Buyu heavily wounded.

"Your understanding of cultivation techniques isn't yet thorough, so you're inevitably imitating others' methods. But those others don't truly grasp the techniques either; they merely think they understand everything, when in reality, they're still in a state of half-comprehension."

"As I told you at the beginning of your cultivation, the theme for the 'Bright Heart and True Self Cultivation Technique' was your idea, and you chose exceptionally well."

"Cultivators must focus not only on their cultivation realm but also on their state of mind. Upon reaching the Golden Core stage, they may encounter a mental demon tribulation, which is a significant hurdle for cultivators."

"Mental demons arise from the heart; attacking the mind is paramount, and it's almost impossible to defend against. Countless cultivators become stuck at this hurdle, their cultivation stagnating."

"Mental demons arise because there isn't a clear standard of judgment in one's heart. Faced with choices, you become indecisive, and even after choosing one path, you wonder about the other."

"If both your girlfriend and mother fall into a river simultaneously, and you struggle to choose whom to save, that's due to the absence of a clear standard of judgment. If you save your mother and your girlfriend drowns, you'll feel regret, and that regret will become fodder for a mental demon tribulation."

"Cultivating the 'Bright Heart and True Self Cultivation Technique' will help you clarify your true self and remain untroubled by mental demon tribulations."

Previously, Yun Zhi had only praised Lu Yang's choice of cultivation technique without explaining why. Now, seeing that he had formed his Golden Core—making him a remarkable figure in the outside world—she decided to reveal her thoughts to him.

Hearing this topic, Immortal Fairy also began explaining to Lu Yang, speaking concisely: "Simply put, you need to have a healthy, positive, and uplifting heart."

"If you're heartless and carefree, where would mental demon tribulations even come from?"

Lu Yang silently looked at Immortal Fairy, thinking to himself, "You don't seem like someone who has mental demons either."

"I'll revise your cultivation technique for you. I'll let you know when it's done." With these words, Eldest Senior Sister turned and walked into her cave dwelling.

After Eldest Senior Sister left, the puppet poked its head out, scrutinizing Lu Yang from head to toe. It shook its head, seemingly dissatisfied with his cultivation progress.

"Hey, it's you again!"

The puppet was an indispensable part of Lu Yang's cultivation journey. From the very beginning, it had received orders from Eldest Senior Sister to push Lu Yang's progress. During that period, Lu Yang was tormented by the puppet during the day and had nightmares about "Tofu Heavenly Venerate" at night, leading a truly miserable existence.

Previously, Lu Yang was at the Foundation Establishment stage and helpless against the puppet. Now, however, he was a powerful Golden Core cultivator, capable of fighting Nascent Soul cultivators, and could even serve as a revered family patriarch in the outside world.

Lu Yang knew the puppet could speak; it simply disdained conversing with him.

"I am not who I once was! Watch me defeat you today!"

Lu Yang's fighting spirit soared; he felt invincible, believing he could defeat a mere puppet with a flick of his hand!

The puppet provocatively beckoned, signaling Lu Yang to come closer.

Just as Lu Yang was about to make his move, the Invincible Pill issued a warning.

"This is an opponent you cannot defeat. To maintain your win rate, you can choose to either flee or commit suicide."

Lu Yang: "..."

"Fairy, what kind of 'Invincible Pill' is this? Ever since I formed my Golden Core, I haven't used it to defeat a single opponent!"

Lu Yang's only victory since forming his Golden Core was in a fight against Tao Yaoye, where the Invincible Pill had advised him to use the Lu Family's Arhat Fist.

Immortal Fairy spread her hands, saying, "You can't blame me for this. Back then, with the Invincible Pill's help, I could easily defeat Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators—no one, not even Immortal Ying Tian, could defeat me."

"Unlike you, all you encounter are Integration stage cultivators, or your senior brothers and sisters."

Lu Yang mused that being in a super sect wasn't always a good thing.

In an ordinary sect, if his senior brothers and sisters were to bully him or mock his humble background, Lu Yang could, in front of everyone, defeat late Golden Core cultivators with his early Golden Core cultivation, causing a sensation among the sect elders and master, who would then step forward to make him a core disciple.

But in the Dao Inquiring Sect, such a scenario was impossible.

Immortal Fairy hadn't told Lu Yang something important: the Invincible Pill had just instilled confidence in him, making him believe he could defeat the puppet, only to then warn him that he couldn't.

The positive and negative effects canceled each other out.

"It's not a big deal," Immortal Fairy muttered to herself.

Seeing that Lu Yang didn't accept the challenge, the puppet took the initiative to attack, and Lu Yang turned and ran.

Knowing he couldn't win, only a fool would engage in battle.

He didn't know the puppet's true level, but its speed was just slightly faster than his. Even though Lu Yang ran for his life, he couldn't outrun it.

Just as Lu Yang was about to give up, the Invincible Pill spun wildly, mobilizing his spiritual energy. Lu Yang then ran like the wind, his speed increasing exponentially.

"Seriously, this Invincible Pill is useless in combat, but why is it so effective when I'm escaping?"