Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Lately, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the days had not been going well for the True Dragon Clan.

To ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍be exact, it was Tianqiu who was having a rough time, while the other True Dragons outside were each extremely excited, believing that the era of the True Dragons was finally arriving.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍all, with the four Dao Lords no longer intervening in worldly matters and the True Sovereigns in seclusion, the True Dragon Clan had unified the seas beyond the continent. In terms of the Foundation Establishment stage, they were by no means weaker than the four major powers inland. Some of the more radical True Dragons had even begun chanting slogans, claiming they would seize this opportunity to charge back into the mainland and wash away the humiliation of having once fled overseas.

However, ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Tianqiu remained calm.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍decisively suppressed all radical rhetoric. Some stubborn ones were even executed by him directly. After spending a year or two, he finally stabilized the situation.

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was only the external reason.

The true internal cause lay in Tianqiu’s own sensitivity to karmic threads. In recent days, during cultivation, he would often be struck by an inexplicable thought:

『Hm! What if I took a walk through Jiangxi?』

The first time that notion surfaced, Tianqiu had nearly stepped out the door. Fortunately, he had been in closed-door cultivation within a secret chamber left to him by the Old Dragon Monarch at the time.

At the last moment, the residual might of the Old Dragon Monarch roused him awake.

Only after that did Tianqiu search through the clan’s Dao Repository and finally understand what was happening: this was Buddhist karma. That damned World-Honored One had cast his calculations upon him!

『Tch.』

Inside the secret chamber, Tianqiu sighed as he looked at the intelligence report sent from Jiangxi. It clearly stated that the World-Honored One had descended a manifestation of his Dharma Form and had enlightened a Buddha-Child named Guangming.

What was he to do?

After much thought, Tianqiu concluded that his only option was likely to accelerate the True Dragon Clan’s dominion over the seas, to seize enough resources for himself in pursuit of Gold Formation.

As long as he could take the lead in attaining the【Heavenly River Water】, perhaps he still had a chance to escape this damned Buddhist karma.

Or perhaps—

『...The Dao Court.』

Tianqiu raised his head and looked in the direction of Jiangdong:『Before Father went into seclusion, he once said, if things truly became desperate, perhaps we could consider turning to Jiangdong.』

At the time, he had thought it preposterous and dismissed it outright. After all, he knew clearly the sort of transactions his clan had with the Dao Court—those sent there were all cannon fodder. What would be the point in turning to them? Yet now, truly cornered, Tianqiu once again recalled the Old Dragon Monarch’s parting words.

『Perhaps it’s worth a try?』

『I remember that group of True Dragons sent to Jiangdong... the leader was that child Duhuan, wasn’t it? Maybe he’s already gained some standing in the Dao Court.』

『Just not sure whether it’s high enough... or enough to protect me.』

At that thought, Tianqiu chuckled and shook his head: “What am I thinking? Even if his standing were sky-high, the Dao Court would never oppose the World-Honored One for my sake.”

—Unless it was the Heavenly Child of the Dao Court.

“Well, if I were to die at the hands of a Buddhist cultivator, the True Dragon Clan would likely not escape annihilation either. Might as well secretly send some to Jiangdong—to preserve the bloodline, at least.”

While Tianqiu was deep in thought, suddenly, a sound came from outside the secret chamber’s doors. Stepping out, he saw that it was his beloved younger sister【Suiling】, who wore an odd expression and said, “Brother, dragons from Jiangdong have arrived. A lot of them... but they all seem a bit crazy.”

“...What?”

Tianqiu tilted his head, not quite understanding what Suiling meant. Crazy? What kind of joke was that? True Dragons were born at the Foundation Establishment stage—how could they possibly go mad?

“Let’s take a look.”

Tianqiu transformed into human form and strolled out. Soon, he heard an extremely exasperated voice from afar: “Uncle, Second Uncle, Eldest Cousin, Second Cousin, Third Uncle, Cousin... we really aren’t lying, the Dao Court now belongs to our Dragon Clan! We’ve come to bring you all back to enjoy life!”

Tianqiu: “？？？”

They really had gone mad?

Tianqiu’s expression turned stern. He stepped forward quickly and looked toward the man surrounded by a group of True Dragons. In an instant, he recognized the man:

“Du’an? What’s going on—do you still recognize me?”

The man called Du’an immediately lit up with joy: “Your Highness! You’re finally here. Lord Duhuan said to deliver this personally to you.”

With that, he took out a fragment.

Tianqiu’s pupils shrank upon seeing it—he knew that fragment all too well. It was none other than the treasured【Commanding Sea Conch】the Old Dragon Monarch had spent years refining!

『So Duhuan really sent him?』

And from the man’s appearance, he didn’t seem to have suffered any damage to his spiritual consciousness. Yet the nonsense he spouted—what did he mean by “the Dao Court belongs to our Dragon Clan”?

『...Very well.』

Tianqiu wasn’t panicked. He was, after all, at Peak Foundation Establishment! His cultivation of【Heavenly River Water】was a supreme fruit position. Although his injuries had impaired his full combat potential, when it came to deducing karma and causality, he still possessed considerable insight. Tracing back cause and effect was a simple task.

At that thought, Tianqiu made a quick calculation:【No abnormalities detected】

The hell? They’re claiming the Dao Court belongs to us, and there are no abnormalities? This had to be protected by karmic means. There must be some huge conspiracy behind it.

Growing uneasy, Tianqiu calculated again:

【Truly no abnormalities.】

Heck! The heavens must be upside down! I’m a dignified Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator—second only to True Lords—and I still can’t deduce this cause and effect? I refuse to believe it.

Keep calculating!

At that moment, Tianqiu activated his spiritual power. Divine abilities surged around him as he sought to trace the cause and effect—only to discover that the direction seemed... wrong?

『Why is it going upwards?』

Tianqiu looked up, only to see, on the starless heavenly dome, a flame-like starlight suddenly ignite. It glared down at him like an eye.

【Celestial Fire】?

Not good!

Tianqiu’s expression changed drastically. But no matter how fast he reacted, he could not outrun a Fruit Position’s speed. A streak of celestial fire ignited on his body, instantly engulfing him from head to toe.

A long while passed before Tianqiu finally extinguished the celestial fire. Though it hadn’t killed him, he was left scorched and covered in ash, his clothes and magical items reduced to tattered scraps. His face was utterly charred—yet his eyes were full of ecstasy:

『Fruit Position Favor! It’s the Fruit Position’s favor!』

As the crown prince of the True Dragon Clan, Tianqiu was no fool. He immediately understood: this scene was caused because he had touched upon some taboo.

『To incur a backlash from the【Celestial Fire】... I must have calculated the one favored by it.』

『And in the current world, only Duhuan cultivates【Celestial Fire】.』

『But to receive such favor from the【Celestial Fire】, one must perfectly align with its will... then—does that mean the Dao Court really has become ours?』

At this realization, Tianqiu’s eyes widened. For a long while, he couldn’t utter a single word.

Even though his rational mind had already deduced the logic and reached an undeniable conclusion, his emotions still struggled to accept it.

How did he pull it off?

In the next moment, Tianqiu suddenly snapped back to reality: Who cares how he did it? The important thing was—Duhuan had done it! He and the Dragon Clan were saved!

“What are you all still standing around for?”

With that thought, Tianqiu whipped around and shouted at the other True Dragons with authority: “Pack your things. At once. The entire clan will follow me to Jiangdong!”

“To Jiangdong?”

On the side, Suiling asked curiously: “To see Duhuan?”

“Mind your words!”

Tianqiu’s voice suddenly rose, his expression deadly serious as he stared at Suiling: “You all better get your attitudes straight—the one we’re going to see now should be referred to as【His Majesty】!”