Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

True Lord Qingcheng Feixue did not deliver these words via transmission, but—as was her style—openly and righteously declared them to the entire world.

In that instant, the four domains of the world all rippled with Qi fluctuations.

【Soil on the Rooftop】 and 【Fire in the Furnace】.

What did that mean?

【True Lord of Rigid Form Dao-Preaching】 had attained 【Gold in the Sand】, taking 【Soil on the Rooftop】 and 【Fire in the Furnace】, forming a Three-Line Union, and ultimately achieving the Late-stage Golden Core Realm.

This was common knowledge—yet now, uttered with such scorn by True Lord Qingcheng Feixue, it instantly evoked suspicion among all the True Lords under heaven. Could there be an issue with such an attainment? But hadn’t there been no signs in earlier years? It was only recently that 【True Lord of Rigid Form Dao-Preaching】 had secluded himself from the world.

“Silence!”

The ones who reacted the most strongly, naturally, were the two True Lords of Sword Pavilion who cultivated 【Soil on the Rooftop】 and 【Fire in the Furnace】. At this moment, both shouted in reprimand.

Each of the two had a Dao title.

One was called 【True Lord Gai Shuang Ling Feng】, and the other was 【True Lord Teng Guang Ye Hui】. Now both took action—sword cries roared across heaven and earth.

“Hmph.”

True Lord Qingcheng Feixue, however, sneered at the sight. Sword Intent might be a killing weapon at the Foundation Establishment stage, but to her level, it was of little threat.

Unless a 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】 had emerged—only when Sword Intent was bolstered by Fruitional Power and transformed into something miraculous—would she consider it worth a second glance. Otherwise, it was merely a mundane technique. What truly gave her pause was a divine sense hidden within the sword cries, faintly locking onto her from deep within Sword Pavilion—biding its time.

‘You want to forcefully kill me?’

A surge of intense danger washed over her heart, yet True Lord Qingcheng Feixue showed not a trace of panic. On the contrary, she curled her lips in eagerness.

“Come and try!”

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

A sky-filling burst of 【World-Cleansing Light】 exploded, as if a sun had ignited in the heavens, instantly suppressing the resounding sword cries.

“Madwoman! Deranged hag!”

At that moment, all the True Lords of Sword Pavilion cursed inwardly. 【True Lord Cheng Tian Zheng De】 even quietly used 【Wall Earth】 to make himself less noticeable.

But just then—

“Clang! Clang!”

At last, a sword cry rang out from the depths of Sword Pavilion. In an instant, within every True Lord’s sea of consciousness, a sword shadow appeared naturally.

It was a sword of pure golden hue, yet covered in dense, fine cracks.

【Sword Intent】!

And a true treasure refined from a Heaven-and-Earth Fruitional Rank!

In her heart, True Lord Qingcheng Feixue subconsciously recalled its name: 『Divine Qi Sword of Heavenly Talisman, Rigid Radiance, Advancing Spirit Mastery』. ‘That old fossil is getting serious!’

The Sword Intent on its edge was known as 【Champion Seizing】!

A Sword Intent in no way inferior to the 【No Killing Sword Intent】 of the Demon-Suppressing True Person—now unleashed under the full power of a Late-stage Golden Core True Lord—burst forth with peerless might!

Almost simultaneously, in the heavens above, the Fruitional Light of 【Gold in the Sand】 blazed bright.

“Slash!”

That ultimate sword strike—fully charged and accompanied by a crisp shout—whipped the heavens, darkening even celestial light.

All was illusion.

Throughout heaven and earth, there was only that one sword edge slashing forth from the depths of Sword Pavilion—blindingly bright, dazzling to the extreme, and faster than thought!

By the time you saw it, it had already struck.

Puchi!

The long blade pierced air; the sword light entered the body. The 【World-Cleansing Light】 unleashed by True Lord Qingcheng Feixue was, in that moment, like paper, easily shredded.

A second later, her graceful figure was split at the waist. Boundless Sword Qi, Fruitional imagery, and Sword Intent poured out in torrents, ready to utterly annihilate True Lord Qingcheng Feixue—but what greeted them instead was loud laughter and a burst of dazzling blood light!

She had resolutely self-detonated!

The erupting blood light mixed with the 【World-Cleansing Light】, pushing that imagery to its limit, nullifying the sword’s power, and extinguishing all visions.

Immediately afterward, a soul plunged into the 【Netherworld】.

One second later, in the Jiangbei region, a baby girl was born. As soon as her eyes opened, she reclaimed her Fruitional Rank and matured instantly—still bearing the appearance of True Lord Qingcheng Feixue!

“Hahahaha!”

True Lord Qingcheng Feixue laughed toward the heavens. On her delicate jade-like face, countless cracks spread with each laugh, from which faint golden light shone through.

A sword from a True Lord—and not just any sword, but one long-prepared and murderous—could not be escaped merely by self-detonation. Especially that 【Champion Seizing Sword Intent】—as the name implied, it had the power to claim first place and dominate. Anyone struck by it would forever be overshadowed by its wielder.

Its effect was akin to a 【Weakling’s Mark】.

With the Sword Intent clinging to her, she was marked. From now on, in any confrontation with its wielder, her divine abilities could only be exerted at most to thirty percent. In terms of imagery, defeat was certain!

“But... that was your only sword.”

Her smile turned cold. Though she had been slain once and marked by the Sword Intent, her Cave Heaven was intact, and her combat strength remained undiminished.

‘Compared to me, you’re not the same!’

True Lord Qingcheng Feixue stood proud, gazing toward Sword Pavilion like she was staring at a sick tiger—both cautious and eager for more.

‘To forcibly wield a True Lord’s power... for him, it must have added injury to injury. He concealed it well, likely borrowing the imagery of 【Wall Earth】. Hard to gauge his exact state... better not push too hard. If truly cornered, it would be counterproductive.’

With that thought, True Lord Qingcheng Feixue withdrew her divine powers.

‘In any case, the purpose of this trip has been achieved. I’ve already destroyed that Cave Heaven fragment belonging to Hong Yun. Hm? Did I forget something?’

Her movements suddenly paused.

Her beautiful eyes blinked, a hint of doubt flickering within. No matter how she pondered, nothing came to mind—as if it were all just her imagination.

In Gantang Path, a faint light lay deeply buried underground, having evaded the cleansing of the 【World-Cleansing Light】. It remained hidden right under the noses of the True Lords.

“Whew… that was close.”

【Ang Xiao】 let out a breath of relief.

He had taken advantage of this great battle to use 【Obstruction of Knowledge and View】 to preserve this final fragment of the Cave Heaven—ensuring his connection to the present world was not severed.

Next, 【Ang Xiao】 stroked his chin, admiration flickering in his eyes: “...Interesting. That shrew’s cultivation was far greater than I expected. She even saw through that old undead thing from Sword Pavilion. Good thing she hasn’t discovered me—otherwise, there’d be endless trouble.”

Before the grand goal was achieved, he absolutely could not be exposed.

With that, he glanced once more toward Sword Pavilion, then sneered: “【Gold in the Sand】... hmph. That level of cultivation reaching Late-stage Golden Core? Consider him lucky!”

What True Lord Qingcheng Feixue could see, he naturally saw as well.

Why was 【True Lord of Rigid Form Dao-Preaching】 in such poor condition, unable to act? Because when he broke through to the Late-stage Golden Core, he used 【Fire in the Furnace】 and 【Soil on the Rooftop】!

‘【Gold in the Sand】 and 【Fire in the Furnace】—that’s a good match.’

‘However, the problem is that 【Soil on the Rooftop】 is countered by 【Fire in the Furnace】—a most ominous pairing. To seek Late-stage power through this? The lack of hidden dangers would be the true oddity!’

Ultimately, it came down to insufficient Dao understanding.

He had seen the synergy between 【Gold in the Sand】 and 【Fire in the Furnace】, but failed to see that 【Soil on the Rooftop】 was restrained by the latter—resulting in self-sabotage.

To reach the Late stage, he likely relied on some supreme treasure.

But that was all. Not only had he left behind a great hidden danger, but his Dao path was blocked. Now he was trapped within Sword Pavilion, practically reclusive.

“In the end, still no match for me!”

【Ang Xiao】 laughed proudly. By reversing 【Star-Earth】 to achieve Five-Elemental Perfection, attaining the Supreme Fruitional Rank to break into the Late-stage Golden Core—this was his proudest accomplishment.

Heroes of the world? Who could rival him?

None were worth mentioning.

The next moment, a divine sense from 【Ang Xiao】 took root. The fragment of Cave Heaven preserved with great effort via 【Obstruction of Knowledge and View】 was suddenly gripped tightly by a large hand.

Lü Yang sighed in awe: “As expected of Senior Ang Xiao… he really had it.”

【Ang Xiao】: “...???”