After entering seclusion, Wang Wei did not immediately break through. He first ensured that the recent rise in cultivation did not affect his foundation. And in the process, he also began to light up the remaining spirit particles.

With many Soul Increasing Pills and the soul strength stored inside his Three Immortal Soul, the process did not take as long as expected. So, in just a few dozens of years, he lit up all 1.269 trillion spirit particles.

And once he finished with that, he condensed his Spirit Flower. The power Ancestor Wucheng left in his body activated to purify Wang Wei’s soul, but it could not find any impurities, so it left.

Then, a transparent lotus appeared above his Divine Altar where the Three Flowers Crown existed. The lotus contained 12 petals, meaning it was a Grade 1 Spirit Flower.

Then, Wang Wei checked his ability and was quite satisfied with it; it can come in handy–even in this trial.

The Spirit Flower filled in the final spot of the crown. However, the five jewels on it were still dimmed. Luckily, it was not for long. All of Wang Wei-s five Zhang Organs suddenly glow different colors like a rainbow.

Then, each color lit up the five jewels. Once the process ended, Wang Wei felt the crown’s power baptizing his entire body, soul, and energy.

His foundation was now more perfect than ever, and he even felt his cultivation and fleshly body talent slightly elevated, not to mention his general strength.

‘Is this the state of Three Flowers Gather on A Crown, Five Qi Towards the Origin? How fascinating!’

He could feel this secret technique would give him a lot of help in his future cultivation path. So, he nodded in satisfaction.

‘Alright, now, let’s break through.”

As he closed his eyes to cultivate, Wang Wei found himself in his Sea of Consciousness with a table with tea in front of him. And sitting opposite Wang Wei was a pale-looking version of himself with an eerie atmosphere.

“Not happy to see me?” asked the Heart Devil._{ᴘᴀ ᴅᴀ n ᴏ ᴠʟ<}

/sub>

“What do you think?”

“Well, it does not matter. If you can leave here intact, this should be the last time we meet.”

After entering the Void Shattering Realm, cultivators will still have Heart Demon, but they will not be so obvious and show up in a physical form. Instead, they will show up in the form of constant doubts or a drastic and sudden change in personality.

It is similar to what happened to Wang Wei after killing someone for the first time, but even more severe.

“What do you want to talk about this time?” gestured Wang Wei.

“Oh, so many things, but today’s theme is once again your hypocrisy,” replied the Heart Devil in a slightly flamboyant voice. “Tell me, why didn’t you take Heavenly Dao’s deal?”

“What do you mean?”

“After grandma’s death, you have personally witnessed what death and departure can do to your remaining family. And yet, when Heavenly Dao showed you a way to pass the trial and live, you rejected it without hesitation: all because of your selfish desire to control one of the Supreme Daos.”

The Heart Devil paused momentarily before waving his hand to display a picture: it was one of a beautiful young woman crying in the middle of the night.

‘Mom,’ thought Wang Wei as he looked at it.

“This poor woman has spent countless nights crying alone, thinking she might lose her son right after losing her mother. What’s worse is that there is nothing she could do about it, nothing she can do to help.

“But you can, couldn’t you? All you had to do is use an Innate Treasure to use Fate Laws, and all the trial’s trouble would have been avoided, and this poor woman does not have to suffer like this.” _{pᴀda nᴏvel<}

/sub>

“I have found a way to pass the trial,” gestured Wang Wei with blood-shed eyes. Luckily he could not talk. Otherwise, his voice would be very hoarse right about now.

“But you don’t know for sure if it would work or if you will have enough time to succeed. So, why not take the easier and already available method; the method guaranteed to succeed?”

Wang Wei looked in a daze at the crying recording of his mother. After an unknown amount of time, he sighed before shaking his head:

“I have decided to pursue the path of being free and unfettered. And I would rather die than cut off my path forward.”

This was why he did not use the other methods that Heavenly Dao showed him. If he did, he knew he would never achieve the ultimate freedom he desired.

“So, you are choosing yourself over your parents? I thought you loved them dearly; how hypocritical.”

“I do love them more than anything in the world. And I know they would understand.”

“I’m sure this is what you say to yourself so you can sleep peacefully.”

“Humans are inherently complex individuals, not to mention cultivators with their god-like powers,” wrote Wang Wei as he took a sip of his tea. “So, it is possible to be selfish and love someone else simultaneously.

“I love my parents and would not hesitate to sacrifice my life for them if the situation arrives. However, I also have dreams and ambitions; dreams that I will also not hesitate to place my life on the line for.”

“All I’m hearing are excuses,” replied the Heart Devil with a sneer.

“Okay, then, let’s look at the situation logically. If I did settle and choose survival over my ambitions. Then, what do you think will happen in the future when I’m confronted with the absolute truth that I cannot become free and unfettered?” _{ρꪖꪕᦔꪖ-ꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ<}

/sub>

The devil did not answer.

“I’ll tell you,” continued Wang Wei. “I’ll grow bitter, blaming my family for ruining my future–even though it was my choice. How do you think the dynamic amongst us would be then?”

“Or, you could simply accept the result and move on with your life,” replied the Heart Devil.

“Since you know better than anyone else, what do you think is the most likely possibility?”

“So, you have no qualm about making your family go through the same pain that you went through?”

“You’re dodging my questions. Furthermore, I could flip your argument against you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t the fact that you and my family’s desire for me to take the easy way out proof that none of you have faith that I can pass this trial perfectly?”

“We are talking about a probability of less than 0.00000001% percent if not more; it is understandable,” replied the Heart Devil.

“My mother and father taught me never to take the easy way–especially when it comes to cultivation. Isn’t it the reason that she wanted to sacrifice themselves with that Formation instead of encouraging me to use the Innate Treasure or control a Lesser Fate Dao? They know of my ambitions and support me heartily.”

The Heart Devil squinted his eyes at Wang Wei.

ραꪒⅆα ꪒꪫꪥꫀꪶ “It often bothers me how easy it is for cultivators to sacrifice their lives for anything; it’s like they have no fear of death.”

“In this world of demons, gods, and immortals, death is not the scariest thing. What is truly terrifying is losing yourself in this long journey called cultivation.”

“I understand that notion, but as a person from Earth, shouldn’t you be different? Shouldn’t you have some fears of death?”

“I have lived in this world for over 4000 years; it is normal for me to be assimilated in some ways,” replied Wang Wei.

“Maybe for the dying aspect, but about the other element: regret. As a person who died before, you should understand how painful it is to be full of regrets. In your childhood, the issue plagued you constantly.

“You kept thinking about your family back on Earth, your friends, and what your life would have been like. You thought of everything you never had a chance to see or do.

“And one of the driving forces behind your desire to become free and unfettered is to correct all these regrets, not to have any of them anymore. So, you’re telling me this has changed? If you die in this trial, will you not have any regrets? That you can accept passing a second time, full of remorse?”

Wang Wei looked in the distance before writing: “Of course, I’ll have regrets, maybe even more than in my first life.”

“Then why not take the easy path of survival?”

“Because in the future, I would be even more remorseful.”

The Heart Devil understood his meaning. Most people cannot pinpoint when their lives deviated from their desired outcomes. However, Wang Wei will be able to if he makes that decision.

So from now on, he will live the rest of his life thinking and reminiscing about that single moment in time when he made the wrong choice, the choice that shattered his dreams.

This level of remorse is enough to drive most men insane, twisting their minds and personality. And with Wang Wei’s talent, intelligence, and possible achievement in the cultivation journey, who knew what he would do in his madness.

“So, that’s it? You’re really choosing an uncertain path because of possible future remorse?”

Wang Wei smiled before replying: “I am. Honestly, I believe in myself that I will succeed.”

The Heart Devil paused for a moment before muttering: “Maybe, you’re right. After all, in the darkest time when you had no hope and death came knocking at your door, you never gave up.

“Even I have to admire your conviction.”

“Is that a compliment? From you all of all parole?”

“What can I say, this is my last appearance, and I’m feeling a little emotional,” replied the Heart Devil, who began dissipating slowly.

“One last piece of advice. Watch out for your recent paranoia. Although it has not reached the point of becoming a Heart Devil, you’re treading on thin lines.”

“Thank you, and I will.”

“Well, it was nice to meet you.”

“Unfortunately, I cannot say the same. But, you were quite useful.”

“Hahaha, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

The moment the Heart Devil disappeared, Wang Wei felt the weight of the world lifted from his shoulder; his mind and spirit reached an unprecedented peak.

He was ready to attack the next realm.

(AN: Someone gave a 500 coins gift, so here is an extra chapter.)