Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

At the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds, within the Sacred Fire Cliff.

Chong Guang sat upright, watching Lü Yang manipulate a Qi Refining rogue cultivator using the 【String Puppet】 technique. Only then did he adopt a somewhat peer-level attitude.

“Fellow Daoist seeks a superior-grade spiritual treasure?”

“May the Acting Sect Master see clearly.”

Lü Yang nodded. Having decisively abandoned the harvest from the Li Clan of Sea Harvesting, his plan to have a celestial fetus clone roam the world had yet to materialize.

Unfortunately, both the Yun Clan’s ancestor and True Person Xiuxin were penniless—one from a declining family, the other a regular guest elder—neither carried a superior-grade spiritual treasure. Coupled with the perils in Jiangnan, Lü Yang cautiously considered seeking assistance from the familiar Primordial Saint Sect.

‘Quite courteous.’

Chong Guang’s expression shifted. Lü Yang’s demeanor was solemn, addressing him as Acting Sect Master, clearly positioning himself as a loyal subject of the Primordial Saint Sect.

However, Chong Guang didn’t believe such claims.

A loyal subject of the Primordial Saint Sect?

What a joke. Those words don’t belong together. Most likely, it’s just a stance to gain favor.

“I can agree to this, Fellow Daoist.”

Chong Guang’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, “But how can you assure me that you won’t go back on your word after receiving my favor?”

Chong Guang was always straightforward. Since Lü Yang had demonstrated methods even True Persons found hard to trace, he candidly voiced his concerns. This blend of cunning and magnanimity was something many True Persons of the Primordial Saint Sect lacked.

Therefore, Lü Yang responded just as straightforwardly, “Then I can tell the Acting Sect Master first.”

Upon hearing this, Chong Guang squinted his eyes, somewhat surprised, “Seems I’ve misjudged you. Aren’t you afraid I’ll break my promise?”

“Of course not.”

Lü Yang shook his head, “After all, it’s just a piece of information. If the Acting Sect Master breaks his word over this, I’ll see his true nature—still a gain.”

“. Hahaha!”

As the words fell, Chong Guang burst into laughter, his gaze towards Lü Yang showing appreciation for the first time, feeling a strong rapport.

Who exactly is this person?

That said, he didn’t pretend to be magnanimous by declining the offer but instead said with a half-smile, “Then please, Fellow Daoist, speak first.”

Feigning or truly magnanimous?

Facing Chong Guang’s scrutiny, Lü Yang calmly said, “The fragment of the cave heaven the Acting Sect Master seeks lies beneath the sea in Jiangnan’s Gantang Dao.”

As Lü Yang finished speaking, Chong Guang’s eyebrows slightly raised. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, began calculating. Although he didn’t get a direct result, he sensed a trace of causality. Looking at True Person Qingcheng Feixue, he saw her subtly nod.

‘. It’s real!’

While Jiangnan was obscure to Chong Guang, it wasn’t so to True Person Qingcheng Feixue. If she had no prior knowledge, she might have overlooked it.

However, now that Lü Yang had pointed out the causality.

If True Person Qingcheng Feixue still couldn’t detect the presence of the cave heaven fragment, she’d be too incompetent—and she clearly wasn’t.

‘Indeed, there are traces of a residual cave heaven.’

‘Seems to have been preserved accidentally, but it’s quite coincidental. I didn’t investigate further to avoid alerting other True Persons.’

After all, Jiangnan was the territory of the Sword Pavilion. As a True Person of the Primordial Saint Sect, minor actions in Jiangnan were acceptable. With deliberate concealment, she wouldn’t be discovered. But if she caused a commotion, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of the Sword Pavilion’s True Persons. Hence, True Person Qingcheng Feixue refrained from alarming anyone.

Even so, it was enough for Chong Guang to see Lü Yang in a new light.

After exchanging information with True Person Qingcheng Feixue, Chong Guang looked at Lü Yang again, curious, “How did you discover that cave heaven fragment?”

“I forgot,” Lü Yang grinned, “Just like the Acting Sect Master sometimes forgets things.”

Where’s my benefit!?

Upon hearing this, Chong Guang laughed, then waved his hand. A crimson sword light immediately descended into the hall, which he personally handed to Lü Yang.

“This is a rare gem among superior-grade spiritual treasures,” Chong Guang said solemnly, “I present this to Fellow Daoist in exchange for another piece of information.”

Lü Yang looked at the crimson magical sword Chong Guang handed over, feeling a bit speechless.

It was the 【Abhī Sword】!

‘Was this accidental? Or intentional?’

‘Is he assuming I don’t know the issues with the 【Abhī Sword】? This item is bait left by the Blood Demon True Person, specifically to lure scapegoats!’

However, the next moment, he realized.

‘Wait. He’s testing whether I know the lore of the 【Abhī Sword】, trying to gauge my standing in the Primordial Saint Sect and uncover my true identity?’

The Blood Demon True Person was a veteran in the Primordial Saint Sect, with a unique situation. With Daoist Hong Yun’s help, he faked his death and lived for five thousand years, outlasting some True Persons. As a result, few in the current Primordial Saint Sect knew about the Blood Demon True Person.

‘This might be a significant watershed!’

‘Knowing or not indicates one’s standing and identity in the Primordial Saint Sect.’

‘If I reveal knowledge of the Blood Demon True Person, he might narrow down his suspicions and more easily uncover my true identity.’

But that’s assuming I have a standing in the Primordial Saint Sect.

‘Unfortunately, in this lifetime, I’m a bona fide member of the Sword Pavilion. These attempts will ultimately be futile; they won’t uncover anything!’

Thinking this, Lü Yang calmly accepted the 【Abhī Sword】.

Although it still bore the causality left by the Blood Demon True Person, he didn’t mind.

After all, he now had the more handy 【Tribulation Wave】 and had long lost affection for the 【Abhī Sword】, so he didn’t plan to keep it.

‘Once I bring it back, I’ll melt it down to forge a celestial fetus clone!’

The transaction concluded satisfactorily, both parties pleased.

Afterward, True Person Qingcheng Feixue even personally escorted Lü Yang back to Jiangnan, then secretly observed from the sidelines.

Clearly, she intended to wait for the prey.

However, the cautious Lü Yang gave her no chance, never meeting his main body. Instead, he began forging a clone using the Abhī Sword on the spot.

From start to finish, the main body never appeared.

True Person Qingcheng Feixue waited for a long time but gained nothing. In the end, she could only pout, leaving a divine sense to reside there, while her main body returned to the Primordial Saint Sect.

“Chong Guang, can you guess who this person is?”

“Not sure.”

In the hall, Chong Guang rarely showed hesitation, “Judging by his reaction, he likely saw through my test but remained unfazed.”

“This suggests his cultivation is certainly not inferior to the Blood Demon True Person, and he has means to counter the Blood Demon True Person’s tribulation substitution technique, with methods to resolve its causality. To possess such abilities, he must at least be a Great True Person, possibly at the Foundation Establishment peak, or if we think bolder—”

He might be a Golden Core True Person!

The words abruptly stopped; Chong Guang didn’t continue. However, the implication was clear, and even True Person Qingcheng Feixue had similar suspicions.

“But these are secondary.”

At this point, Chong Guang rubbed his temples, somewhat troubled, “This mysterious fellow Daoist... indeed resembles a True Person of our Primordial Saint Sect, which makes things a bit tricky.”

“A cave heaven fragment... such valuable information, I suspect he might be playing both sides.”

“Turning around and selling the information to Hong Yun.”

Meanwhile, in another region north of the Yangtze.

“Hello, hello?”

Again using a Qi Refining rogue cultivator controlled by the 【String Puppet】 technique, Lü Yang stirred causality and transmitted a message, “Is Daoist Hong Yun there?”