Lu Yang was naturally oblivious to the events occurring outside the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness].
At this moment, he was immersed in the act of crushing weaklings.
Although the sea of clouds churned faster and faster, and the number of challengers walking out increased, to him, it was merely a matter of throwing out a few more palm strikes.
"Deciding to enter in my peak state back then was truly wise!"
"If my realm had fallen and I was only at Foundation Establishment Perfection right now, even a battle of attrition would have nearly exhausted me to death. How could it be this relaxed?"
During the fighting process, Lu Yang's thoughts became increasingly clear.
I understand. This trial of [The Mortal World] appears to be constant combat, but in reality, what it values isn't combat technique, but the cultivation of the Dao Heart.
With every enemy defeated, Lu Yang could feel his thoughts becoming more agile and his mind sharper. Many insights that were unclear during his usual enlightenment sessions now surfaced one after another, causing his spiritual inspiration to gush like a spring. The more enemies he killed, the stronger this feeling became.
What is the Dao Heart?
"The so-called Dao Heart is actually the 'Self'. Cultivating the Dao Heart is cultivating the 'Self'. The more steadfast the Dao Heart, the less likely the 'Self' is to be influenced."
Lu Yang's gaze gradually brightened.
So that's it! This is the method behind the World Honored One's [One Mind] technique! It's not possession, nor is it modifying memories, but directly rewriting a cultivator's Dao Heart!
If the Dao Heart changes, the 'Self' changes.
In other words—
As long as my Dao Heart reaches a realm that even the World Honored One cannot change, I can be immune to the World Honored One's influence and not worry about being assimilated by him!
At this thought, Lu Yang's originally somewhat casual expression instantly turned serious. His regard for the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness] and the trial of [The Mortal World] rose several levels. After all, possessing [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], the one he feared most was the World Honored One.
Yet, the World Honored One liked him the most.
Every few days, he would send down a distraction to trouble him, bullying the weak with the strong. Thus, a method to avoid the World Honored One's influence was extremely important to him!
However, there was no cultivation method for the Dao Heart.
Most people with steadfast Dao Hearts had experienced much and suffered the polishing of time, step by step elevating their own Dao Heart.
No, that's not right!
It's just that under normal circumstances there is no cultivation method... The World Honored One can rewrite Dao Hearts, and his Dao Heart is extremely strong, which proves he definitely has a cultivation method.
He just doesn't spread it!
Lu Yang felt this fit his stereotypical impression of the World Honored One perfectly.
After all, if everyone could cultivate their Dao Heart, and everyone's true self was steadfast so their Dao Heart couldn't be easily rewritten, wouldn't his [One Mind] be left in an awkward spot?
However... there aren't no exceptions.
Lu Yang calmed his mind, and enlightenment dawned: The [Supreme Imperial World]! That small world realm had actually already birthed the sprouts of a Dao Heart cultivation method.
The ten [Imperial Venerables] of the [Supreme Imperial World] relied on a chest full of hot blood and courage to fight against countless strong enemies. In the end, they reigned supreme over the world, thereby nurturing an Invincible Heart.
I didn't think much of it before, but thinking about it now... cultivators from a mere small world realm could actually withstand my blood, even turning it for their own use with themselves as the guide. This is actually quite incredible. It's likely related to that special Invincible Dao Heart cultivation method of the [Supreme Imperial World].
Of course, the [Supreme Imperial World] hadn't formed this kind of Dao Heart cultivation into a system yet.
But that wasn't a big problem. In the end, it was just constantly fighting cultivators and emerging victorious in a hundred battles to polish the Dao Heart. What difficulty was there in that for him?
"It's nothing more than challenging those above my level. Kill!"
With this thought, Lu Yang immediately threw himself body and soul into the battles of [The Mortal World]. One cultivator after another walked out of the cloud sea, only to be blasted apart by him.
And in this process, his sensation became increasingly clear.
Every time he defeated an opponent, a mass of formless substance would merge with him, making his mind increasingly steadfast, as if some leak was being patched.
"It really works!"
Lu Yang was pleasantly surprised. Clearly, [The Mortal World] also had the effect of catalyzing the Dao Heart. These formless substances were likely used to fill the gaps in the Dao Heart.
Suddenly, Lu Yang stood still.
"Dao Heart, True Self."
"Clarify the Dao, See the Self."
At this moment, a burst of enlightenment suddenly surged in his heart, as if a veil had been lifted. Everything became suddenly clear, and the throbbing of his spiritual perception was incredibly intense.
It's now!
The next second, three spiritual lights emerged around Lu Yang. They were the [Righteous Dao Banner], the [Tribulation Wave], and the [Yellow Court]—the three [True Treasures] he had painstakingly crafted.
"Although the three [True Treasures] are complete, I have never found a suitable method to integrate them to create my own [Dao-Seeking Immortal Method]. Before, I only had a general idea, which was to use the [Yellow Court] as the core, but I didn't understand specifically how to do it."
But now, he understood.
"The [Yellow Court] is created from my Grotto-Heaven. To harmonize with it, naturally, it must also be 'Me'. Better yet, it must be 'Me'!"
Therefore, the Dao Heart should be the guide!
"Cultivate the Dao Heart, stabilize the True Self. With a will as firm as steel that cannot be stolen, and a mind that ten thousand thoughts cannot disturb, only then can I link these three [True Treasures] and make them usable for me..."
In this instant, Lu Yang felt a rush of cold air shoot straight to his mind.
He seemed to be ascending, constantly climbing, until he escaped into an inexplicable place. During this process, countless distracting thoughts swarmed in, trying to pull him down.
"Hoo!"
Lu Yang exhaled deeply. His vision was dim; only the three [True Treasures] bloomed with spiritual light, linking into a ring. While severing the distracting thoughts, they also lifted him upward.
Boom!
He felt a roar in his ears, and his consciousness sea was turbulent. He seemed to see the principles of the Great Dao and received an imperial edict before falling back, tumbling into his body once more.
The next second, Lu Yang opened his eyes.
In front of him, the three [True Treasures] had already merged into one, transforming into a Great Dao Talisman held in his hands. A clear sensation was imprinted in the bottom of his heart.
[Dao Enlightenment and Self-Realization Immortal Method]!
Lu Yang murmured in a low voice, as if in a dream: "The [Dao-Seeking Immortal Method]... is done?"
If he restarted now and returned to the second anchor point, he could immediately use this method to uplift his Grotto-Heaven, making it take root in the Dao Fruit, never to fall, and achieve the mid-stage of the Golden Core!
It was this simple?
Lu Yang held the Great Dao Talisman in both hands, momentarily somewhat bewildered. It was a long time before he suddenly reacted, lifting his head to look at the surrounding environment.
...Where are the challengers?
He had just had an epiphany and immediately sat down to cultivate, ignoring the constantly appearing challengers. But looking now, the surroundings were actually empty.
The next second, he froze.
What was I thinking just now... Oh right, I was cultivating the [Dao-Seeking Immortal Method] and finally succeeded. I was just wondering why the challengers disappeared...
As Lu Yang thought about it, his brows gradually furrowed:
What was I thinking just now?
Oh right...
Rumble!
In an instant, the light of the [Dao Enlightenment and Self-Realization Immortal Method] in his palm shone brightly, causing Lu Yang, whose eyes were becoming increasingly dull and who was about to drool, to suddenly startle awake.
Immediately after came a bone-chilling cold.
Fuck me...
Puchi!
Lu Yang looked down, only to see that at some unknown point, a palm had already pierced through his chest. Terrifying spiritual power was destroying his dharma body.
Yet, whether it was the pain brought by the injury, the weakening of his own aura, or the depletion of spiritual power—he had forgotten everything out of thin air. He didn't even remember how long this process had lasted or how much time had passed. He only knew that when he came to his senses, he was already on the verge of death!
[Knowledge-Perception Barrier]!!!
[Sky-Shrouding]!!!
In an instant, Lu Yang figured out the situation: [Sky-Shrouding]... He also came here back then! And that old bastard was just like me.
He also came in with the cultivation of a Golden Core Perfected Lord back then!
To actually come in with the cultivation of a Golden Core Perfected Lord... what a shameless scoundrel, you fcking bastard!!!