...

This 'Lu Qing' was gentle and refined. He spoke his second sentence, "Dare I ask you, since you have already attained longevity and have the blessing of fated opportunity by your side, why worry about external matters? You could easily go into the mortal world and stir up a storm. Such methods are clean and efficient, just as I said before: once the Heavenly Tribulation of longevity arises, with the protection of fated opportunity, you will surely pass through it safely."

His expression was elegant, and as he spoke these words, it was like walking in a spring breeze—unhurried and calm. He simply stated it slowly, and listening to it, one naturally felt there was a certain logic to it.

Lu Qing saw a few 'Lu Qings' nearby who were not firm, and they subconsciously nodded along with this statement.

Clearly, their thoughts were not much different from this 'Lu Qing'.

After this agreement, they immediately vanished just like the cold and arrogant 'Lu Qing' from before, but the fragments of spiritual light from those who disappeared fell onto this refined 'Lu Qing'.

It was visibly apparent that this discussion was also a tribulation that killed without drawing blood.

Lu Qing listened to this 'me' who was like a refined scholar speaking slowly, praised the other party's demeanor, and at the same time saw the changes in those few wavering 'mes'.

These heart-apes were all thoughts arising from his original mind since he began to cultivation; they were also himself, but since Lu Qing's true self was here, these were merely stirred-up miscellaneous thoughts.

However, in this Heart-Ape and Wild-Horse Tribulation, the power these miscellaneous thoughts could exert originated from the Dao Heart.

Lu Qing gradually realized why those who traveled further in Cultivation had firmer minds and were more persistent in their own Dao.

The questioning of the Dao Heart during the Golden Core stage—the questions asked by the true self and the other selves—pointed directly to the original heart.

It was as if whatever was written or possessed on a blank sheet of paper could be seen clearly at a glance. Even if one wanted to use some spell to deceive oneself, one could not deceive the true self or the Dao self.

Where the Dao resides, the heart resides. Deceiving the other selves is possible, but deceiving the Dao self is not.

He did not ponder for long, simply smiling and saying, "If one day, longevity is gone, and fated opportunity is gone, how should you conduct yourself? Is your Cultivation, is your confidence in acting as you please, based on things outside of your true self?"

He asked a rhetorical question in return.

The refined 'Lu Qing's' face was slightly stunned, but he was clearly more determined in his thoughts than the previous one. He did not immediately dissipate but pondered for a moment.

He said, "Me, why do you think this way? If it were so, why would there be concepts like Aptitude, Comprehension, fated opportunity, and Qi Fortune? In the past, didn't you also agree that they are where your fated opportunity lies? Since they are fated opportunity, how can one speak of losing them, and how can one speak of them being outside the true self? They should be my possessions."

His lips moved. As he spoke each sentence, the pause before the next became almost non-existent. He continued to speak fluently and gently, his tone carrying an unquestionable self-confidence—this was the true foundation of this refined 'me'.

They are things that belong to me, and they are also a part of me; how can one speak of losing them, or them being external?

Lu Qing heard this philosophy and understood where this 'Lu Qing' before him held his thoughts.

The smile on his face did not change in the slightest; he simply circled a single character.

"Steady."

"This character, it's very familiar, isn't it?"

Lu Qing did not answer that previous question immediately.

The refined 'Lu Qing' nodded.

"My Dao is no different from yours," he said again.

If one ignored that this was an instance of Transcending Tribulation, the scene might even be considered quite harmonious. But the essence was here; such warmth and harmony contained a measure of ruthlessness within.

The Dao is here; the true self is unique. Everything outside the true self is an obstacle to the Dao.

"Between the original heart and fated opportunity, what is the proportion in the Dao?"

The refined 'Lu Qing' answered without hesitation, "Naturally, the original heart is paramount, and fated opportunity is secondary."

"Good."

Lu Qing maintained his smile, his pupils swirling with a luster of memory, "Then I shall answer your previous statement: between you and me, there is indeed a difference."

"To tell the truth, with fated opportunity in hand and longevity also present, if I were not here, I would also feel that what you said makes sense. However," he pointed to that character and said, "my path did not begin because of them. Do you still remember? Their arrival was three days later."

The refined 'Lu Qing's' originally gentle and harmonious expression instantly became somewhat stagnant.

Lu Qing could not help but recall the memories of his past in the mortal world. He had rarely looked back at them, occasionally having the illusion of treating three days as one, but at this moment, looking back, it was all vividly before his eyes.

An ordinary youth, struggling to survive the most dangerous three days on the journey as a refugee—not one day. In his eyes, the scenes of those three days seemed no different from the days that followed as a refugee. A mere three days, how fleeting! In the life of a Cultivator, that was a time shorter than the life of a mayfly born in the morning and dead by night.

But in those three days, there was already a heart that had broken through the dust, bright like a shining pearl, and like a seedling in the soil, waiting for future growth.

"Where my original heart resides, that is'Steady'. My heart sprouted first, and they came later. If I were to abandon my original heart because I felt I had confidence and support due to their arrival, would that not be abandoning the root to pursue the tip?"

"...Yes," the refined 'Lu Qing's' expression suddenly became complex.

"According to you, the true self is me, and fated opportunity is also me. But since the Dao Heart and true self are paramount, to abandon the original heart because of this small part! Then, should the next step be to abandon the Dao self? And the next step after that, to abandon the Great Dao and enter the Lesser Dao!"

Each sentence was faster and heavier than the last. Clearly, the youth's tone did not carry a heavy weight, but even the bystanders felt their spirits captured, feeling a grand Grand Momentum shining through their thoughts.

Their expressions and demeanor could not help but be dazed by the questioning.

The refined 'Lu Qing' remained silent for a long time.

Lu Qing looked at him and said, "This is your path, not my Dao. To me, it is the function of a Dharma Treasure. The character'Steady' takes precedence; it is driven by my original heart and Dao Heart."

Lu Qing also spoke with great satisfaction. The words he had spoken in the past and the thoughts he had held within were now spoken aloud, making Lu Qing's mind feel much clearer, extremely transparent and refreshed.

That's right, what I have said in the past about longevity and keeping a low profile—it was not because I had it first that I held this thought.

Because the Averting Misfortune skill had been a great help to Lu Qing in the first two years, it had caused Lu Qing to unconsciously deceive himself in that layer of memory, thinking that he had the skill by his side as soon as he arrived here. Confusing it to this extent also shattered that layer of time barrier for Lu Qing.

The true self is the true self; the two must not be confused.

Lu Qing's pupils flashed with increasingly spiritual light.

The refined 'Lu Qing' before him sighed, bowed deeply, and with no other thoughts, said, "Fellow Daoist."

Just two words, with nothing more to say, yet they were as heavy as a thousand jun. Lu Qing returned the courtesy.

In an instant, His entire being turned into nothingness, dissipating within the Spirit Platform of his spirit and mind.

After the second 'me' walked out, yet another 'me' appeared.

...