Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

That said, Lü Yang’s original body could not return.

“This kind of task… better leave it to the clone!”

With a thought, Lü Yang instantly contacted his clone who was still in seclusion within the Sword Pavilion via the【Puppet on Strings】, and then pushed open the door of his meditation chamber.

The next moment, he rode a streak of escaping light and arrived at Extreme Heaven Cliff.

On the cliff, Daoist Dangmo was still sitting cross-legged as always, quietly gazing up at the sky above his head, as if in silent eye contact with someone unseen.

“Disciple greets Master.”

Lü Yang dispersed his sword light and saluted respectfully as soon as he landed.

Daoist Dangmo turned in response, and only then did Lü Yang, startled, see that in his hand he was holding the head of a woman, her features delicate and serene.

“Amitabha.”

The female head softly uttered a Buddhist chant, then smiled at Lü Yang, saying, “This humble nun is Jingguan. Greetings to you, little benefactor.”

‘Hiss!’

Lü Yang’s eye twitched at her words, and he drew a sharp breath. After all, the sight of Daoist Dangmo cradling a woman’s head was far too bizarre.

Yet, the head named Jingguan laughed, “Little benefactor, you are caught up in appearances. A head, a person—what difference does it make? It just looks strange, that’s all. But I see you are deeply connected to the Buddha’s path. If you one day join my Pure Land along with your master, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Before she finished speaking, Daoist Dangmo put her away.

“Apologies for the scene.”

Daoist Dangmo gave a wry smile. “She was the former Buddha Child of the Pure Land. I converse with her mainly to explore ways to rid you of your Buddhist karma.”

Upon hearing this, Lü Yang’s expression changed slightly.

“Buddhist karma!?”

“That’s right.” Daoist Dangmo nodded, a hint of helplessness on his face. “You’ve been marked by the Buddha Child and have unwittingly formed karmic ties with him.”

At this, Daoist Dangmo seemed to recall something from the past and spoke pensively, “The World-Honored One of the Pure Land was the last among the Lords of the Dao to emerge. He is the most worldly in conduct—capable of picking up and letting go—so he never hesitates to interact with the lowly.”

Though Daoist Dangmo’s words were tactful, Lü Yang instantly understood.

This was a roundabout way of saying the World-Honored One had no shame!

“In short, whenever the World-Honored One desires something from the mortal world, he sends down his divine manifestation to enlighten a Buddha Child. At such times, all sects give him face.”

‘Well, who would dare not to?’

Lü Yang wore an understanding look. It couldn’t be helped—Lords of the Dao were that domineering. If you didn’t give the World-Honored One face, he would give you the cold shoulder.

Daoist Dangmo continued, “When the divine manifestation descends, it’s like a stone tossed into a lake, stirring countless ripples. These ripples are the Buddhist karma, deeply linked to the Buddha Child. Some are good, some evil. But once tainted, they are hard to cleanse.”

The more he said, the uglier Lü Yang’s expression became.

But then, something clicked in Lü Yang’s mind: didn’t Daoist Dangmo just say that the woman’s head, calling herself “Jingguan,” was the former Buddha Child of the Pure Land?

Why was she in Daoist Dangmo’s possession?

Seeing Lü Yang’s change in expression, Daoist Dangmo didn’t hide the truth.

“She was my Buddhist karma once—a malignant one.”

“So we fought.”

“I won by a narrow margin, thus escaping the influence of that karma.”

Daoist Dangmo spoke lightly, then looked back at Lü Yang and said solemnly, “Now do you understand what I mean?”

Lü Yang nodded. “Master wants me to be wary of the Pure Land.”

“What good is being wary?” Daoist Dangmo sighed. “What I mean is—you’re too weak. Without even mastering sword intent, stop running around!”

Lü Yang: “…”

It was clear Daoist Dangmo had guessed his intentions. But since the earth vein pertained to the original body’s cultivation, no matter the risk, the clone had to go!

So Lü Yang shook his head decisively. “I must make this trip.”

Daoist Dangmo frowned. “Where to?”

“North of the River.”

Lü Yang answered openly, “I heard there’s an earth vein beneath Skull Mountain in the North, once the foundation of the Ancient Witch Ghost Path. I want to retrieve it.”

“Witch Ghost Path…”

Daoist Dangmo’s brows furrowed. As a direct descendant of the Ye Clan, he naturally knew the sordid tales of their ancestor from a millennium ago, which now filled him with doubt.

“What do you want that earth vein for?”

To cultivators, earth veins were like excrement—no one wanted to get involved. Even a trace of karmic entanglement could become a massive headache.

“I want it to aid in my cultivation.”

Lü Yang replied without hesitation, “Recently, I’ve been contemplating Master’s【Sword of No Killing】and have sensed something. That earth vein might help me make a breakthrough.”

“Really?” Daoist Dangmo looked skeptical.

“I never lie,” Lü Yang said sincerely. And he wasn’t lying—the earth vein beneath Skull Mountain could indeed help him advance.

Though where he would advance was another matter.

After a moment, Daoist Dangmo sighed. “Very well. Wait here.”

He then sat solemnly atop Extreme Heaven Cliff, formed a sword seal with his fingers, and bright golden light shone from his fingertips, manifesting countless radiant images.

『Mystic Virtue Blessed Land』!

This was no youthful imitation like the【Sky of Separation】—this was a true blessed land. Once revealed, it immediately exuded boundless mystical imagery.

Within the blessed land, scenes shifted until they showed the landscape of the eight-hundred-li Skull Mountain. Daoist Dangmo reached out, his hand entering the blessed land effortlessly, and pulled out a thread of yellow qi—undoubtedly the earth vein!

Lü Yang could hardly hide his awe at the sight.

Meanwhile, in Skull Mountain in the North…

Within the market town, whether disciples of the Saint Sect or itinerant cultivators, all looked up, faces mirroring Lü Yang’s stunned expression.

Because they saw a beam of light.

That light was unbearable to look at, yet reached down into Skull Mountain and grabbed the sprawling eight-hundred-li earth vein—ripping it right out!

The earth vein merged with the light… then vanished.

Almost at once, Daoist Dangmo withdrew the『Mystic Virtue Blessed Land』and casually tossed the now-miniaturized earth vein to Lü Yang.

“Go back into seclusion. Cultivate your sword intent as soon as possible.”

Lü Yang: “…”

Only today did he witness the true wonder of a【Blessed Land】!

If a blessed land could do this, what about a【Cave Heaven】? No wonder Cave Heavens were the foundation of Golden Core True Lords—no wonder they could oversee the world!

“Many thanks, Master!”

Lü Yang accepted the earth vein, but couldn’t help feeling awed.

‘No wonder the Ancient Witch Ghost Path was wiped out by a Golden Core True Lord’s sword from thousands of miles away. For a True Lord, a thousand miles is but a step!’

What was more terrifying—Daoist Dangmo just did something similar.

To seize an earth vein across thousands of miles, out of thin air—it might not be equivalent to wiping out a sect with one sword, but the power gap it showed was still despair-inducing.

‘And he’s so intent on me cultivating sword intent… does he have other motives?’

Returning to his meditation chamber, Lü Yang mused, but remained open-minded: ‘Forget it. The sword path clone was always expendable. If he wants it, I’ll give it.’

Daoist Dangmo had shown him grace.

Lü Yang didn’t consider himself a good person, but so long as it didn’t harm him, he didn’t mind repaying favors. Thus, he quickly let it go.

In the next second, Lü Yang stored the earth vein inside the Myriad Spirits Banner.

This supreme treasure could freely switch between his original body and clone via the【Heavenly Dominion Omnifaceted Incarnation Method】—the perfect delivery tool.

More importantly, it had been cleansed by the【Book of a Hundred Lifetimes】.

No cause, no effect—no one could trace it!

“Boom!”

At that moment, thunder rolled across the sky.

Lü Yang looked up and saw that the karmic fortune of this sword path clone was dissipating at a visible rate—until it completely vanished!

Yet he only sneered at the sight.

A sheer cliff, standing tall—free of desire, thus firm.

Karmic fate gone? A hundred lifetimes as swine or dog? I’m not even trying to stay here—what’s the point of docking my pay? Just a tantrum of impotence!

‘I love how you can’t stand me… yet can’t do anything about it!’

As this thought crossed his mind, the【Sword of No Killing】at his waist trembled, unsheathing three inches—and his struggling progress in sword intent suddenly showed advancement!