Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

With the final divine power expanding, Lü Yang’s figure began to blur, yet the halo behind him suddenly enlarged countless times.

Countless web-like patterns spread out from the halo as the center.

Then they twisted.

This time, when facing the Dao technique cast by Ancestor Tingyou, Lü Yang did not dodge again, but let it fall freely. The distorted radiance devoured all things.

In the next second, Ancestor Tingyou abruptly halted his movement. His eyes flashed with surprise as he looked at Lü Yang, then glanced around.

Without a doubt, Lü Yang was unharmed.

His Dao technique had failed not because it missed, but because the damage that should have taken effect had been transferred.

Transferred to where?

In an instant, Ancestor Tingyou felt the incense flame on his body violently dissipate. A strong and formless wrath suddenly locked onto his qi.

“‘Heavenly Punishment’!?”

A flash of realization surfaced in Ancestor Tingyou’s expression. When he looked at Lü Yang again, admiration finally appeared in his eyes, and he even took the initiative to retract his magic power.

“...I’ve lost.”

Ancestor Tingyou chuckled freely, while Lü Yang solemnly cupped his hands.

“Not at all, Ancestor was gracious.”

【With the World】 — as the name suggested, this divine power bound oneself to the heavens and earth, transferring any harm received to the world itself.

Just now, that was exactly what happened with Ancestor Tingyou’s Dao technique. All the damage was redirected by Lü Yang — and it was redirected straight into the ley lines of the Seven Luminaries Heaven.

The result: having damaged the ley lines, Ancestor Tingyou immediately drew the hostility of the Seven Luminaries Heaven, causing his incense power to show signs of collapse.

If Lü Yang hadn’t suppressed the follow-up changes from the Seven Luminaries Heaven...

At this moment, Ancestor Tingyou would probably have already lost his incense support and fallen from late Foundation Establishment cultivation. That was why he admitted defeat so readily.

And this was just within the Seven Luminaries Heaven.

‘After all, 【With the World】 isn’t just limited to the Seven Luminaries Heaven — it works across all realms. Even in remote wastelands, it remains usable.’

With the divine power active, Lü Yang was practically a humanoid ley line.

Any injuries could be directly redirected to the world, thereby invoking heavenly punishment. But since he transferred the wounds, the world had no reason to punish him.

Naturally, it could only punish his enemies.

‘This divine power is designed to force the world to stand on my side and help me fight my enemies. Truly, it disgusts the enemy and disgusts the heavens too...’

Too wicked — I like it!

Lü Yang smiled faintly and withdrew 【With the World】. The white jade radiance behind him also receded, now hovering behind his head like an unremarkable full moon.

“Ancestor, how strong do you think I am now?”

Upon hearing this, Ancestor Tingyou pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“Quite impressive already. Power aside, your divine powers are particularly tricky, which makes you hard to fight.”

His words were very tactful.

Lü Yang raised an eyebrow. He caught the implication: “Power aside” — did that mean his actual power was still lacking?

“Well, I wouldn’t say weak.”

Seeing his reaction, Ancestor Tingyou quickly added,

“Among late Foundation Establishment cultivators not from the Four Great Powers, your current strength is about on par.”

“Even if I were back to peak strength, I’d only be slightly stronger than you.”

Lü Yang nodded thoughtfully, then curiously asked,

“What exactly am I lacking?”

“You’re lacking in Dao techniques.”

Ancestor Tingyou explained,

“As far as I know, the Four Great Powers all possess Dao techniques specially prepared for late Foundation Establishment cultivators. These require refining with Metal Attribute to master.”

“Your 【Sword Intent】 is one of them.”

Such was the advantage of prestigious sects.

In contrast, minor sects lacked true inheritances and the accumulation of countless years. Even with high talent, one could at most reach Ancestor Tingyou’s level.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang frowned again.

“I’ve already refined 【Sword Intent】 now, but I don’t feel that it enhances me all that dramatically. It’s strong, yes, but not overwhelming...”

“【Sword Intent】 is just the foundation.”

Ancestor Tingyou shook his head.

“Do you have a sword technique that can fully unleash it? Sword technique is the key — that’s why sword cultivators have unmatched battle power.”

It had to be said: 【Sword Intent】 wasn’t exclusive to sword cultivators.

Take Lü Yang, for instance — his true self wasn’t even a sword cultivator, yet he still formed Sword Intent.

At its core, it was simply an extreme application of soul and spiritual consciousness.

Of course, that was just for now.

Once the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion truly established the 【Sword Dao Position】, under its influence, 【Sword Intent】 would become exclusive to sword cultivators.

“In short, you still have room to improve.”

Ancestor Tingyou poured a bucket of cold water on Lü Yang, then comforted,

“Still, your divine powers are so underhanded, I doubt anyone will want to fight you anyway.”

“Besides, the outcome of magical duels doesn’t matter much.”

Saying this, Ancestor Tingyou sighed,

“Take me for example — I’m not good at fighting, but that shortcoming can be made up by higher realm.”

Lü Yang: “...”

Ancestor Tingyou not good at fighting?

What kind of joke was that?

But he quickly realized — his eyes lit up.

Indeed, when raw power was lacking, realm made up for it. In cultivation, realm always came first!

Struggle in magic? Better to struggle in Dao attainment!

“...【Yama Palace】?”

Pseudo-Golden Position Method!

The thought barely formed when Lü Yang immediately waved his sleeve, summoning the ones he had refined into Banner Spirits — Grand Ancestor Yan, the Capital City God, and Mother Wusheng — in turn.

Next came the Master of Mending Heaven Peak, Dragon Maiden Sui Ling, and Guardian Deity Su Nu.

As well as Long Yue and Ancestor Tingyou.

All eight could be empowered via the Incense God Path to attain the status of perfected Foundation Establishment.

Together with Lü Yang himself — that made nine!

The conditions for 【Yama Palace】 were met!

With that realization, Lü Yang eagerly rubbed his hands.

“Don’t get too excited just yet.”

Seeing his reaction, Ancestor Tingyou couldn’t help but say helplessly,

“【Yama Palace】 itself doesn’t point to any Fruit Position. How do you think it imitates the Golden Position?”

These words instantly sobered Lü Yang.

‘...That’s right.’

He hadn’t questioned it before, but now that he thought about it — the way 【Yama Palace】 faked the Golden Position was odd.

Just gathering nine perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators was enough?

No Fruit Position needed?

But without even a Fruit Position — how could it be called a pseudo-holding?

“The key lies in the Metal Attribute.”

Ancestor Tingyou explained:

“In my deduction, 【Yama Palace】 is essentially very similar to the ‘Heaven Collapse’ method during Qi Refining.”

“Heaven Collapse...”

Lü Yang quickly recalled it. The so-called Heaven Collapse was a killer move used by Qi Refining cultivators — after ascending to Foundation Establishment, they would suddenly fall, weaponizing the dimensional drop.

Ancestor Tingyou had even used it on him before. He’d only survived thanks to 【Has Some Tricks】.

“【Yama Palace】 works similarly.”

“Its principle is to elevate oneself to a height comparable to a Fruit Position, allowing 【Yama Palace】 to exert power akin to a Fruit Position.”

“It’s essentially the same process as seeking the Golden Core.”

“Which is why it requires the Metal Attribute.”

At this point, Ancestor Tingyou finally revealed the biggest limitation of 【Yama Palace】:

“Each time you cast 【Yama Palace】, it’s equivalent to one attempt at Golden Core formation.”

“Forming the Golden Core consumes Metal Attribute.”

“In other words, to allow 【Yama Palace】 to simulate a Golden Position, you must consume Metal Attribute. Once it’s exhausted, 【Yama Palace】 will collapse along with it!”