Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

To be fair, this wasn’t 【Ang Xiao】’s fault.

After all, it was hard for him to believe that his arrangement could be broken by a mere Foundation Establishment True Person. It was completely illogical—there was not even a theoretical possibility for that.

【Ang Xiao】pondered deeply and felt there was only one explanation:

‘The World-Honored One has descended, enlightened a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and then used him to disrupt my layout—this must be it! That’s the only explanation that makes sense.’

He even had the reasoning all thought out: his clone had entered the Pure Land, obtained an outsider fruit position there, and even seized the 【White Wax Gold】 Immortal Spirit of the Pure Land. Though in the end, the 【Dragon-and-Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva】 returned it, the 【White Wax Gold】 Immortal Spirit, unable to attain the Golden Fruition, had already died a sudden death by now.

Rounding up, this could be considered an offense to the Pure Land.

Could it be that the World-Honored One had seen through his schemes long ago, and had deliberately created a Foundation Establishment Buddha Child just to ensnare him?

If that was still just speculation—

Then what made him even more convinced was the current puppet manipulated by Lü Yang. The effect of the 【String-Pulled Puppet】 was very similar to the World-Honored One’s United Will of the Masses.

There was also that False Golden Fruition Method—didn’t the World-Honored One also have a False Dao Lord Method?

It all matched up. Everything aligned!

The more 【Ang Xiao】 thought about it, the more he felt his suspicion was justified.

If you’re not the World-Honored One, then who is?

That’s why, after much deliberation, he cautiously called out, tightening his focus, and carefully observing Lü Yang’s facial expressions with his divine sense.

But what kind of person was Lü Yang?

Relying on 【String-Pulled Puppet】 to control things remotely, none of his thoughts showed on his face. Not even his soul stirred in the slightest due to thought fluctuations.

Meanwhile, before 【Ang Xiao】 even finished speaking, Lü Yang had already sorted out his thoughts:

‘He’s misunderstood again and thinks I’m the World-Honored One?’

‘Yes, he must have grievances with the World-Honored One, and the World-Honored One is shameless enough to enlighten a Foundation Establishment just to deal with him—completely within reason.’

Thinking of this, Lü Yang suddenly smiled:

“Senior, you’ve misunderstood. I am not the World-Honored One.”

He did not go along with the tide and admit it—this wasn’t like when he impersonated Hong Yun. He had experience with Hong Yun and could impersonate flawlessly.

But impersonating the World-Honored One?

He knew nothing about a Dao Lord and couldn’t fake it. Forcing it would only result in 【Ang Xiao】 seeing through him, exposing everything.

Compared to that, being upfront about not being the World-Honored One would actually raise more suspicion.

After all, in all of Jiangxi—from Bodhisattvas to the common monks—everyone claimed they weren’t the World-Honored One. Yet at the crucial moment, the World-Honored One would just step in and say he was.

As expected, 【Ang Xiao】 fell into doubt.

But soon he accepted the reality: ‘No matter what, he could falsely wield 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 and reverse the Chen-Earth. He definitely grasped my weakness.’

Indeed, even though he had obtained 【Sand Within the Earth】 and 【White Wax Gold】, and could maintain late Golden Core cultivation with gold, earth, and wood elements even if Chen-Earth was reversed, his previously smooth cultivation path would become one of steep peaks and obstacles.

“.Fellow Daoist, if you have something to say, feel free to speak.”

【Ang Xiao】 sighed, promoting Lü Yang from “young friend” back to “fellow Daoist,” and yielded the initiative in their conversation.

Only then did Lü Yang raise his brows and speak softly:

“To be honest, I bear no malice toward you, Senior. Everything that happened before was a misunderstanding. Today, I brought you here mainly to discuss a deal.”

A deal?

【Ang Xiao】 remained unmoved, replying calmly: “Please speak.”

Lü Yang continued, “Actually, Senior already noticed that I seek to attain the 【Heavenly Fire Above】. Along the way, there are many obstacles, and I need your assistance.”

【Ang Xiao】: “.”

The World-Honored One wants to seize the 【Heavenly Fire Above】?

Not impossible! After all, the 【City Head Earth】 is still lying around in Jiangxi—what’s one more 【Heavenly Fire Above】? 【Ang Xiao】 could totally understand.

“How may I assist you?”  

“Simple.”

Lü Yang said softly, “As long as you’re willing to lend a hand at the critical moment. If I’m not wrong, you should still have one strike left, right?”

【Ang Xiao】 didn’t confirm nor deny it and changed the topic:

“Why should I help you?”

“Because of 【Overturning Lamp Fire】!” Lü Yang declared decisively. “If you assist me, I will help you deliver 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 into the Underworld.”

As soon as he said this, 【Ang Xiao】’s eyes subtly changed.

“.And how can I trust you?”

Faced with 【Ang Xiao】’s skepticism, Lü Yang merely smiled: “The point isn’t whether you trust me, Senior. The point is whether I can accomplish it.”

【Ang Xiao】 knew this too well. He himself was untrustworthy, so he understood that trust was the easiest thing in the world to break. If Lü Yang had spoken eloquently and offered all kinds of reasons to earn trust, he’d have rejected him without hesitation.

But Lü Yang did not.

He said just one thing—and it stirred 【Ang Xiao】’s heart: Can he deliver 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 into the Underworld? Undoubtedly, he could!

That was enough.

In the Holy Sect, profit was everything. As long as mutual benefit existed, cooperation could proceed—everything else was just maneuvering.

‘This person... is he from the Holy Sect?’

【Ang Xiao】 pondered but didn’t discard the idea that Lü Yang was the World-Honored One. On the contrary, he grew more suspicious, because only a seasoned True Lord like himself would know—

‘The World-Honored One once studied in the Holy Sect!’

Moreover, back in the day, the World-Honored One was well-connected. Except for the Sword Pavilion, he’d visited all Dao Courts of the Holy Sect—how else could he have earned the title of Evil Sect of the Pure Land?

Thinking of this, 【Ang Xiao】 had already made up his mind and smiled: “Alright, I agree, Fellow Daoist.”

On the other side, hearing 【Ang Xiao】’s agreement, Lü Yang didn’t show any joy. Instead, he sighed inwardly: ‘He has zero sincerity…’

A True Lord of the Holy Sect—anyone who trusts him is a fool!

While cursing him mentally, Lü Yang still revealed a sincere smile: “Then let’s cooperate happily. Please accept this token of goodwill from this junior.”

With that, he took out a jade slip:

“It contains intel on 【Everflowing Water】.”

Though he called it a gift, Lü Yang clutched the jade slip tightly with all five fingers, clearly showing no intention of handing it over directly—【Ang Xiao】 instantly understood.

“.What do you want, Fellow Daoist?”

“A Dao attainment in Ji-Earth, sufficient to refine the Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends.”

At that moment, Lü Yang finally revealed his true goal.

This so-called “deal” was just a smokescreen. What he truly wanted from 【Ang Xiao】 was the Dao attainment in Ji-Earth!

【Ang Xiao】 narrowed his eyes.

‘He exposed the false use of 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 just to intimidate me—and in the end, it was all to exchange for a Ji-Earth related Dao attainment?’

This made him all the more suspicious.

After all, if he were really a Foundation Establishment enlightened by the World-Honored One, he wouldn’t need any Dao attainments. Could he have guessed wrong? Or was it a feint?

That said, 【Ang Xiao】 quickly made up his mind: “Fine.”

Immediately after, he proactively split off a strand of divine sense, casually tossed it to Lü Yang, with a half-smile on his face, seemingly indifferent.

The reason was simple:

‘Since you know about my 【Obstruction of Knowledge and View】, are you not afraid that I’ve embedded traps in this Dao attainment, deliberately concealing parts to bait you?’

The Dao attainment—I’ve given it to you.

Do you dare to use it?