The Innkeeper

"Actually, I have a dozen or so plans and proposals regarding how to face this situation, but we really need to sit and talk through which one of them to implement. After all, the plan that is most ideal for me is not necessarily the most ideal plan for you," said the doppelganger Lex.

Real-Lex suddenly understood why his doppelganger wanted him to get some rest first. This might take a while. The one benefit, at least, was that the doppelganger seemed to have spoken the truth about the flow of time. His connection to Jack wasn’t cut off, which is why he could sense that the entire time he had been here, not a second had passed for Jack.

Although, he could not help but wonder if that was a feature of this place in general, or if his doppelganger had made it so for their meeting.

The doppelganger took a seat, laying his cane beside him as he took a deep puff from his pipe.

"The most effective and practical solution I have is to affect your time, and make it so that the Dao Body tribulation will occur after the Nexus event. However, if I do that, the tribulation will only become more difficult for you to overcome. On the surface, that’s a good thing for me because you’ll have completed most of your end of the bargain, and if you die I won’t need to fulfil my end.

"However, I am a being of honor. I would not compromise you for my own personal gain if we have a standing agreement. That is why I said, make yourself comfortable. Relax, recover, and once you’re in the right frame of mind, we can tackle this issue properly. Maybe we can even figure out why your Dao Body tribulation came early."

Lex did not respond, though he had a pretty decent idea of why it came early. He hadn’t noticed at first, but ever since his Dao Body reached 51% he’d noticed how it was making itself apparent in his spirit and soul. The issue with his Dao Intentions hadn’t occurred, mainly because he was living as a necklace and not as a proper human, so he hadn’t been relying on his tenet.

More important than that, however, was the fact that the Dao Body and his Primordial aura seemed to be in perfect harmony. Since it was, in fact, his entire being that was being converted, he theorized that his Dao Body and Primordial aura were fusing.

At this point, he didn’t even want to call it Dao Body anymore - calling it Primordial Dao Being might be more accurate. But this was firmly heading into unfamiliar territory, and it would be best not to make claims he did not even understand.

The point was that Lex suspected that it was the Primordial nature of his Dao Body which had triggered a premature Dao Body tribulation. Since it was already here, it was more important to figure out what he’d be facing rather than dwelling on the how or why.

"Do you know what I can expect in a Dao Body tribulation? And what delaying it will do it to?" the real Lex asked.

In truth, he’d done his own research on the topic, but it couldn’t hurt to ask. This fake version of himself seemed quite knowledgeable, at least based on the number of books in the library.

"In truth, a Dao Body tribulation is actually not so frightening," doppelganger-Lex said. "Although Dao Bodies are not common, based on the records I’ve read, most don’t face any serious issues in their first 10 or 20 Dao Body tribulations. Considering that these tribulations come at fixed internals until the Dao Body is complete, I think Dao Body tribulations are more like check marks to be able to determine how great your progress is. The truly difficult trial is the Fate tribulation you will face as your Dao Body moves from 99% to 100%."

All of this was something Lex already knew, but he couldn’t take the information at face value because his situation was unique. While others may face a relatively safe tribulation, he had no way of knowing how difficult his own would be.

"The specific details, as far as I know, of the Dao Body tribulation are quite interesting actually. The recipients of the tribulation all live through the same scene which many historians think is a recreation of a certain, significant event. There are no records of the event, though.

"All in all, you’ll be faced with a behemoth of a race that is no longer known, and during your first tribulation it will strike you once. During your second, it will strike you twice, and so on and so forth. If your Dao Body is sufficiently strong, you’ll survive, or else you’ll die, for that creature’s every strike carries with it a subtle Dao aura.

"While in theory this is easy and straightforward, it’s an extremely time consuming process, not only because of the grave injuries you’re likely to carry afterwards, but also because of the feedback from the tribulation. Being occupied for years or even decades afterwards is completely normal."

Lex looked at his doppelganger, and was tempted to ask some personal questions, but then decided against it. The copy had already told him it was best for Lex to know as little about him as possible, so it wouldn’t do to ask questions. Otherwise he was going to ask if the copy really didn’t know about the event that happens in the tribulations.

After all, he seemed to be very old, and have some kind of relation with time.

But, for his own health, he moved on. Others may have a safe tribulation, but the same could not be said for himself. Delaying it might really be the best option, but...

"How much more dangerous will the tribulation be if it’s delayed?" the real Lex asked.

The doppelganger puffed for a while without answering, as if he too were calculating the result.

"Depends on the amount of time. Considering we’d be delaying it for months, I think the tribulation would become absolutely lethal. That is why I have other suggestions prepared as well."

Lex, however, was not intimidated by the news.

"You said the tribulation is a test for how developed the Dao Body is. What percentage do you think is safe for the first tribulation if it’s delayed?"

While Lex remained relaxed, the doppelganger was not. In fact, the very same anxiety he had mentioned earlier began to return as he regretted even mentioning delaying the tribulation. That was only meant to be a bad example to make other alternatives look good, so why was Lex focusing all his attention on it?

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!