Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Within Jiangnan’s Sword Pavilion lay the Piercing-Earth Abyss.

As the name implied, this place and the Extreme Heaven Cliff stood at two opposite ends—one piercing straight into the heavens, reaching the azure vault of the sky, while the other delved deep into the earth’s crust, forming an abyss of yin fiends and baleful miasma.

Yet precisely because of that, this was also a superb place for cultivation.

Those who secluded themselves here refined their swords with the Earth Fiend Fire, refined their swords upon the bodies of sinister demonic entities—each day was a struggle between life and death. Those who could not reach Foundation Establishment could not withstand the fiendfire and the yin demons, and thus were not even qualified to enter this place.

As for the deepest depths of the Piercing-Earth Abyss, it had once been—just like the summit of Extreme Heaven Cliff—the Dao arena of a True Lord of the Sword Pavilion.

After the True Lords of the Pavilion had all gone into seclusion, just as the Demon-Suppressing True Person guarded the Extreme Heaven Cliff, the Piercing-Earth Abyss also gained a new master—

the Evil-Banishing True Person of the Sword Pavilion.

“——Boom rumble rumble!”

At that moment, within the depths of the abyss, rolling fiendfire surged. Fire gathered into thunder, thunder and flame interwove, illuminating the pitch-dark abyss until it seemed as bright as day.

Thunderous detonations echoed unceasingly.

After a long while, out from the layers of thunderfire finally stepped a man in a blue robe, his sharply chiseled face filled with solemn gravity.

His entire person bore no trace of luxury—he wore no adornments, not even a spiritual treasure. Only by observing him through divine sense could one perceive the sword intent soaring from his body, faintly resonating with the very abyss itself.

At a glance, it was as if what stood there was not a man, but a treasured sword forged from flowing flame.

“Amitābha.”

Just then, from within the fiendfire suddenly sounded a deep and melodious Buddhist chant. A glow of Buddha’s light dispersed the yin demons, and from within walked a shaven-headed monk in training—

Bodhisattva Guang Ming!

This was, of course, not his true body, nor even comparable to the incarnation he once left overseas—merely a thought condensed into an image. At this moment, he smiled faintly toward the Evil-Banishing True Person and said:

“Congratulations to Benefactor Quexie—your Sword Intent has taken another step forward.”

“……Still not enough.”

Faced with Bodhisattva Guang Ming’s praise, the Evil-Banishing True Person merely shook his head. “My 【Sword Intent】 can never reach perfection… How did he manage it?”

Bodhisattva Guang Ming naturally understood—the “he” in question referred to none other than the Demon-Suppressing True Person.

Within the long history of the Sword Pavilion’s innumerable sword cultivators, only the Demon-Suppressing True Person had added the words 【No-Kill】 before his own Sword Intent. Only those who truly understood the essence of the Sword Dao knew what an unfathomable achievement that was.

“The foundation of the Sword Dao was personally established by the Patriarch.”

“Afterward, it was presided over by the 【True Lord of Preaching in Firm Form】, who named this method of tempering one’s soul and will to the extreme as 【Sword Intent】, giving it a title.”

Do not underestimate that title.

In truth, it was also a symbol, and since it originated from a late Golden Core True Lord, the name 【Sword Intent】 had since carried the weight of Mount Tai itself.

Otherwise—since there existed Sword Intent, why was there no Blade Intent, Spear Intent, or Arrow Intent?

Those were merely different weapons—the essence remained the same.

But ever since the name 【Sword Intent】 was established, all other intents vanished.

From that time onward, all sword cultivators’ comprehension became forever confined within the framework of 【Sword Intent】—

like chess pieces trapped upon the board, never able to become true players.

In the end, they only laid more bricks for the eventual formation of the 【Sword Dao Fruit Position】.

And yet—the Demon-Suppressing True Person was an exception.

Though he had not escaped the framework of 【Sword Intent】, he refined and transformed it, creating the 【No-Kill Sword Intent】, thus walking a path of his own.

If not for that, why would the Sword Pavilion hold him in such esteem?

“Benefactor need not worry.”

Bodhisattva Guang Ming chuckled lightly. “This humble monk came to congratulate you. I have brought something that will resolve one of the troubles that has long burdened your heart.”

“Oh?”

The Evil-Banishing True Person raised an eyebrow, then pinched his fingers to divine. In an instant, he understood. “Yun Qingchuan… he truly succeeded in returning?”

Yun Qingchuan—the Ancestor of the Yun Clan.

Previously, following Bodhisattva Guang Ming’s guidance, he had journeyed to the Secret Realm of Law Refinement to seek the Innate True Person Mu Changsheng, hoping to obtain the Method of Consciousness Separation.

In the next instant, Bodhisattva Guang Ming waved his hand casually. A newborn infant appeared in his palm, its entire body shrouded in spiritual radiance. Though it was but a baby, its face bore traces of ancient age—

it was none other than the Yun Clan’s Ancestor, who had already awakened to the Mystery of the Womb.

“Greetings, True Person.”

The Yun Clan’s Ancestor showed a hopeful expression, then refined his divine sense into a Dao book and offered it to the Evil-Banishing True Person. “This old man did not fail his mission.”

“Well done.”

The Evil-Banishing True Person accepted it calmly, yet did not immediately open it. Instead, he turned toward Bodhisattva Guang Ming. “Master, you know well that this is not what I seek.”

Now that the Demon-Suppressing True Person was stationed in Jiangnan, Bodhisattva Guang Ming’s true body dared not enter. Yet he still met him secretly—surely not merely for a method of separating consciousness?

What he sought… was Bodhisattva Guang Ming’s Buddha Affinity!

Since the path of 【White Wax Gold】 had been blocked, he wished to contend for another opportunity to attain gold through Buddhist fate!

Just like the King of Southern Suppression, Wu Taian, of the Dao Court.

Thus, ever since their first meeting, he had repeatedly hinted to Bodhisattva Guang Ming that he was willing to become his chosen disciple within Jiangnan.

Yet Bodhisattva Guang Ming always pretended ignorance.

This time was no different. Facing the Evil-Banishing True Person’s gaze, Bodhisattva Guang Ming pressed his palms together.

“Buddha affinity has its destined number. Benefactor must not force it.”

‘Heh—what a joke. You, worthy of it?’

A cultivator who practiced 【White Wax Gold】, whose Dao path had been severed by Angxiao due to the influence of Chen Earth, wanted to become my disciple? What utter delusion!

“……Forget it.”

The Evil-Banishing True Person sighed softly. He too understood how dire his current situation was.

Only then did he place his attention upon the Method of Consciousness Separation before him.

“This thing… I won’t be using it yet.”

“Should Master be willing to assist me, I still wish to fight once more.”

Having spoken, the Evil-Banishing True Person abruptly raised his head. His gaze pierced through countless layers of obstruction, falling upon the Extreme Heaven Cliff—yet he dared not look directly at the figure upon its summit.

‘Demon-Suppressing… how many days can you still suppress it?’

Both at the peak of Foundation Establishment, he too could see the fortune surrounding the Demon-Suppressing True Person. In his eyes, that man was about to attempt Seeking Gold within the next few days.

This matter—was no longer his to control.

The Method of Consciousness Separation was only a contingency.

After all, to use it would mean completely giving up this grand era of Seeking Gold. Unless he had reached true desperation, how could he resign himself to that?

‘Moreover—the 【Sword Dao Fruit Position】… I may yet have hope!’

‘With my Sword Intent, if I turn fully toward the Sword Path, I will surely achieve great success! As long as the Demon-Suppressing True Person can sacrifice himself to prove it—no, he must prove it!’

Watching the shifting expression of the Evil-Banishing True Person, Bodhisattva Guang Ming softly intoned another Buddhist chant.

At this point, there was nothing more he needed to say.

Human desire was like a boulder rolling down a mountain—once it began, it could never stop. He merely needed to give it a gentle push… and then sit back and watch the show.

Extreme Heaven Cliff.

Lü Yang’s Sword Dao incarnation walked out from the ancestral hall. Through the Yun Clan Ancestor, the schemes of Bodhisattva Guang Ming and the Evil-Banishing True Person were naturally all within his grasp.

‘So that’s how it is!’

‘Not only Angxiao’s machinations, but also Bodhisattva Guang Ming’s schemes—they’ve joined forces with True Persons within the Sword Pavilion to strike at the Demon-Suppressing True Person!’

At that thought, Lü Yang immediately activated his escape light, flying straight toward the summit of Extreme Heaven Cliff—

toward the secluded chamber of the Demon-Suppressing True Person.

“Master! I have something to report!”

“There are bad people in the Sword Pavilion!”

(End of this Chapter)