Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

That said, Lü Yang had no intention of continuing the conversation with 【Ang Xiao】.

After all, this wasn’t his first exchange with 【Ang Xiao】. He was well aware that when facing such a deviously cunning ancient Initial Saint, the more one said, the more likely one was to make a mistake.

‘Better to bait him first!’

‘After all, I still don’t have the leverage to deal with 【Ang Xiao】. The balance of power is unequal. Now is not the best time for me to speak with him.’

The best time would be after settling the matter of Hong Yun.

Only then, with the Golden Nature of Great Fortune in hand and able to assume the guise of Overturning Lamp Fire at any moment, could he truly stand face to face with 【Ang Xiao】 and negotiate terms.

With that thought, Lü Yang no longer gave 【Ang Xiao】 the chance to speak. He directly activated a divine ability to seal the fragment of the cave heaven in his hand, then threw it into the Myriad Spirits Banner, thereby cutting off contact with 【Ang Xiao】’s true body. With Ancestor Tingyou watching over it, he had no fear of mishaps.

This, too, was thanks to True Lord Qingcheng Feixue.

Had she not shattered the entire cave heaven, making it difficult for 【Ang Xiao】 to exert further might, he might not have captured him so easily.

“.Mm.”

At that moment, Lü Yang’s heart suddenly stirred.

Jiangdong, Capital of Tianwu.

Lü Yang’s true body opened his eyes. In the next second, he left his cave dwelling and descended atop the firmament, just as a eunuch in a brocade robe walked toward him.

“Lord Duhuan, apologies for disturbing your seclusion.”

“Not at all!” Lü Yang’s expression turned solemn. He quickly stepped forward and saluted. “Thank you, Daoist Friend An, for making the trip. Is there another imperial edict from His Majesty?”

“Indeed.”

Eunuch An smiled gently, appearing quite amiable. After all, Lü Yang had addressed him as Daoist Friend An from the outset. Though he politely said it wasn’t necessary, he still appreciated it and wished Lü Yang would call him that more often. With this exchange of pleasantries, he didn’t mind leaking a little information:

“It’s actually good news.”

“A few days ago, the Directorate of Astronomy confirmed the location of the Realm Heaven you submitted. His Majesty intends to personally retrieve it.”

“This visit is to invite Lord Duhuan to accompany him.”

Invite me to accompany him?

Lü Yang’s heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained steady. He immediately responded, “It is my wish!”

Seeing this, Eunuch An smiled ambiguously. “His Majesty has taken note of Lord Duhuan’s loyalty. Do not disappoint him.”

What did that mean?

Lü Yang narrowed his eyes slightly. Though things had gone smoothly in this life so far, the lessons from his previous life kept him vigilant.

Had a flaw been noticed?

Impossible. His current identity was obtained through 【Seizing the Nest of Another】. With the Fruitional Rank of the Book of a Hundred Lives, how could Emperor Jiayou see through it?

‘If that’s the case… then only the clone could have been exposed! Could it be that my secretly refined clone sent to Jiangbei has been discovered by Emperor Jiayou?’

Lü Yang pondered, uncertain. After all, the existence of the 【Immortal Nation Dao Law】 meant the Dao Court’s control over Jiangdong was beyond extreme. Even if the clone had been exposed, it wasn’t unacceptable. The question was—did Emperor Jiayou know more?

After all, he’d done quite a few things in Jiangbei.

Contending for Great Fortune, capturing Ang Xiao—neither were ordinary feats. If Emperor Jiayou had seen all that, he’d certainly suspect his identity.

‘I haven’t sensed the gaze of a Golden Core.’

‘But he is a True Lord. If he truly poured his power into surveillance and used divine abilities, I might not notice. I shouldn’t overestimate myself.’

After much thought, Lü Yang calmed himself.

Ultimately, he leaned toward the belief that Emperor Jiayou didn’t know, because just now, he had checked the state of 【Not Beneath Others】 when facing Jiayou.

It still shone brightly!

A talent judged by the 【Book of a Hundred Lives】 needed no questioning—it could be trusted completely.

‘【Not Beneath Others】 remains bright. That means Emperor Jiayou still values me. Perhaps he harbors suspicion, but not yet to the level of mistrust.’

With that, Lü Yang became confident:

‘The clone was likely exposed, but Emperor Jiayou probably doesn’t know the details—only that I sent one out of Jiangdong, but not what I did with it.’

With that judgment made, the remaining decisions were easy.

Tianwu Hall.

A Dao platform stood above all of Jiuzhou, its layers of curtains concealing a towering figure—Emperor Jiayou, seated in meditation.

Lü Yang strode into the grand hall.

In the next moment, the palace doors shut heavily, the surrounding auras severed. An invisible pressure surged like a tide, instantly falling upon Lü Yang.

Then, a leisurely sigh sounded in his ears:

“Body trained to be crane-like, scriptures studied beneath a thousand pines.

I seek the Dao with no more questions—clouds in the sky, water in the jar.”

As the voice faded, the curtains drew open. Lü Yang, for the first time, truly saw Emperor Jiayou—sovereign of the countless cultivators and commoners of Jiangdong.

And at that moment, Emperor Jiayou was also looking at him:

“Duhuan, beloved subject.”

His voice was calm, devoid of emotion, yet resonated like a grand bell throughout the hall: “Do you think you are the cloud—or the water?”

Without hesitation, Lü Yang bowed. “It is all as Your Majesty wills. If Your Majesty desires me to be a cloud, then I am the cloud. If Your Majesty wishes me to be water, then I am the water.”

“Hahahaha.”

Emperor Jiayou laughed loudly, though his eyes held no mirth. He said softly, “It seems beloved subject has gained much during seclusion.”

“Your Majesty sees clearly.”

Lü Yang nodded, wearing an honest and sincere expression. He spoke openly, “In recent days, I sent a clone overseas to meet with the Dragon Monarch, expressing Your Majesty’s grace. The Dragon Monarch was greatly moved and urged me to faithfully serve in return for Your Majesty’s favor.”

Hearing this, Emperor Jiayou was momentarily stunned.

Just as Lü Yang suspected, the emperor had indeed known about the clone leaving Jiangdong and had planned to use it to test his loyalty.

But before he could act, Lü Yang had already confessed voluntarily.

In the next moment, a genuine smile flickered in Emperor Jiayou’s eyes. He found Lü Yang increasingly pleasing. This was what it meant to be a loyal subject!

To hide nothing was the greatest loyalty!

Moreover, Lü Yang’s words carried a subtle implication:

The Dragon Monarch’s own grandson needed to send a clone overseas just to get in touch.

What did that suggest?

That the True Dragon Clan had played it smart—leaving no secret means of contact that could evade the 【Immortal Nation Dao Law】. That pleased Emperor Jiayou even more.

Still, his tone remained steady:

“You are the Dragon Monarch’s own grandson, yet you call him ‘Dragon Monarch’—isn’t that too distant?”

“Your Majesty is mistaken!” Lü Yang shook his head gravely. “In official matters, titles must be used properly. How can we let blood ties blur responsibilities?”

Emperor Jiayou was again moved and nodded.

“If the True Dragon Clan has submitted to Jiangdong and serves with loyalty, there will naturally be a place for them to share the nation’s fate. The Dragon Monarch sees matters clearly. You may rise.”

“Thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace.”

Lü Yang stood up, clenching his right fist, looking solemn: “Loyalty!”

Though Emperor Jiayou concealed it well, seeing the ever-brightening light of 【Not Beneath Others】, Lü Yang knew—he had passed this trial.

In the next moment, Emperor Jiayou suddenly asked:

“Speaking of which, I heard you’ve been in contact with quite a few demon cultivators, even founding an organization called 【One-Heart Society】. What is your aim?”

Lü Yang remained calm and answered steadily:

“Demon cultivators are wild and hard to tame. Though graced by Your Majesty, they think only of themselves and not the nation.”

“I founded the 【One-Heart Society】 precisely to teach them how to wholeheartedly repay Your Majesty’s grace—to encircle Your Majesty like stars around the moon!”

Emperor Jiayou: “.”

Good servant!

He twitched the corner of his mouth slightly, then rose with a wave of his sleeve: “Enough. I intend to travel beyond the heavens to retrieve the Realm Heaven you mentioned.”

“You shall accompany me.”

In the next instant, Lü Yang saw the light of 【Not Beneath Others】 suddenly blaze brilliantly. If he were to betray now, the talent bonus might rise to fifty percent!