Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Lü ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yang did not remain immersed for long in the illusion of “sixty percent success rate,” because he was well aware that this moment’s feeling was nothing more than the moon’s reflection in water, a flower in the mirror.

‘Jiangbei ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and the overseas territories were merely nominally subdued.’

‘Such ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍subjugation only fulfilled the basic condition of 【Heavenly Fire】, without actual 【Rule】. The foundation was unstable, so the so-called sixty percent success was illusory.’

What ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did truly perfect pursuit of 【Heavenly Fire】 entail?

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍unification of the world, the convergence of vital energies into a single path, pure and flawless—pursuing gold under such conditions would be akin to ascending the throne: a matter of course, without any possibility of failure.

However, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as long as there remained a single region not unified, then to Lü Yang, this world bore mixed qi. Normally, this posed no issue, but during his gold attainment, the chaotic qi from these ununified regions would emerge to hinder him, disturbing his golden pursuit, cutting down his success rate by a whole thirty percent.

‘It seemed like sixty percent success.’

‘But without true unification, the chaotic qi first shaves off thirty percent, and without actual rule—just in name—that’s another thirty percent gone. The result? Less than thirty percent actual chance of success.’

Pursuing gold allowed for no shortcuts.

If he clung to a gambler’s mindset, and had been swept away by the illusion of myriad nations paying homage, the repeated cries of “Your Majesty,” then he would already be doomed.

That said, Lü Yang was still quite satisfied:

‘The issue of being only nominally in power without actual rule is easy to fix. The overseas side has the True Dragon Clan pushing hard, and Jiangbei only needs the Saint Sect to close its mountain gates.’

Of course, this was equivalent to slicing flesh off a True Lord. But for the overseas side, the True Dragon Clan would be more than willing, and on Chong Guang’s end, as a Saint Sect True Person, he cared even less. After all, it wasn’t his flesh being cut. When it came to generosity with others’ resources, the Saint Sect’s True Persons had always been extremely liberal.

Thus, the sixty percent success rate would only lose thirty percent—barely pushing it over forty percent.

‘If I take Jiangnan as well, the success rate will rise to eighty percent. Even without taking Jiangxi’s Pure Land, subtracting thirty percent still leaves over fifty percent chance.’

At that thought, Lü Yang cursed inwardly:

‘In other words, to prove 【Heavenly Fire】, you either succeed with one hundred percent certainty, or barely over fifty percent. What kind of damned system is this?!’

【Heavenly Fire】 was like this—what about 【Great Forest Wood】?

How did Ang Xiao do it back then?

He had spent ten lifetimes’ worth of accumulation, exhausting every last scheme to achieve his current level. Ang Xiao only had one shot—how did he make it?

As the saying went: minor matters call for major meetings, major matters for minor meetings.

The Proclamation Ceremony was for all to witness, to establish Lü Yang’s position in the Dao Court. Aside from that, some matters had to be discussed privately.

Inside Tianwu Hall.

“Thank you both for your efforts today.”

Lü Yang smiled slightly, cupping his hands toward Tian Qiu and Chong Guang. As the current “Radiant Emperor” of the Dao Court, it was already a great gesture for him to take the initiative to show respect.

Thus, Tian Qiu didn’t hesitate. Though he was Lü Yang’s elder, he promptly returned the gesture, even lowering his stance deliberately to show reverence. On the other side, Chong Guang, though his expression remained cold and unyielding, was no slower in his movements—he also returned Lü Yang’s courtesy.

At that moment, Empress Xiao emerged, carrying a wine jug in her hand.

“Pa!”

Opening the jug, the wine overflowed instantly. Lü Yang personally poured for everyone present, filling each cup to the brim. Then, he raised his own cup first:

“From this moment on, we are one.”

“You all understand—if you wish to pursue gold, I must first become a True Lord. With my protection, you can then succeed. This is mutual benefit.”

As for Empress Xiao, there was no need to elaborate—her pursuit of gold could only be sought through Lü Yang.

Tian Qiu, now chosen by Buddhist fate, could only rely on Lü Yang’s shelter.

Chong Guang? Even more so. Without Lü Yang’s impersonation of Overturning Lamp Fire to reverse the Earth of Stars, he had no hope of gold at all.

So, as Lü Yang’s words fell, all three raised their cups together and drained them in one go. Seeing this, Lü Yang’s smile deepened:

“Today is the happiest day.”

Soon, after several rounds of toasts, Chong Guang looked to Lü Yang and asked solemnly, “Now that the dynasty is proclaimed, the next step is Jiangnan, correct?”

 “Indeed.”

Lü Yang didn’t deny it. Both of them tacitly left Jiangxi for last. After all, the World-Honored One—those who knew, knew. It wasn’t a place ordinary folks could touch.

But Jiangnan wasn’t easy either. Its greatest obstacle was—

“Real Person of Demon-Cleansing, Ye Guangji.”

Chong Guang furrowed his brows: “That world’s number one Foundation Establishment—what’s your plan to handle him? Without solving him, Jiangnan is out of reach.”

“Don’t worry, I have a plan.”

After all, he didn’t actually need to do anything. With time, the Real Person of Demon-Cleansing would eventually explode with Pure Land. But this too had risks.

The reason was simple: that guy could stall.

‘In the previous life, he stalled for thirty years before finally heading to Pure Land for detonation. And if not for Real Person Quexie giving him a push, he could’ve stalled even longer.’

That was the problem—the longer it dragged, the stronger the True Lords’ connection to the current world became. Within the first ten years, perhaps their perception remained dull. But by the thirtieth year, aside from not burning their cave heavens to descend, most True Lords had basically regained full observation over the living world.

‘I can’t wait that long.’

‘If I want to prove 【Heavenly Fire】, I must ensure that no True Lord can interfere in the living world. Perhaps I should check in on Patriarch’s arrangements.’

Soon, the banquet ended.

After Tian Qiu and Chong Guang departed, Lü Yang returned to Kūnníng Palace with Empress Xiao in his arms, while also sinking his consciousness into the Myriad Spirits Banner.

Soon, he saw a glowing sphere.

This was the key left behind by Ancestor Tingyou. Through it, Lü Yang could enter the 【Everjoy Garden】 the patriarch had left him before his departure.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve always let 【Everjoy Garden】 run automatically.’

As Lü Yang reached toward the glowing sphere, he pondered, ‘So much time has passed—I wonder how far it has developed by now.’

The next second, Lü Yang’s vision shifted dramatically.

And then he froze.

“Rumble!”

Looking up at the sky, Lü Yang’s mouth fell open—above the firmament, the radiance of 【Heavenly Fire】 falling upon him abruptly surged by several magnitudes!

‘This feeling—is this Jiangnan?!’

At that thought, Lü Yang looked down at the glowing sphere in his hand. A flood of information streamed into his sea of consciousness, immediately revealing the cause of this sudden change:

‘It was the Patriarch!’

‘Of course. I never hid anything from the Patriarch. He knew of my True Dragon body, he knew about my deal with Chong Guang—so he already calculated that if I held the Dao Court, Jiangbei and the overseas lands would be essentially secured. The only question would be Jiangnan and Jiangxi, so he made arrangements.’

During this time, 【Everjoy Garden】 had only done one thing.

It had been frantically recruiting new members in Jiangnan. And because the exalted Sword Pavilion had adopted a laissez-faire policy toward Jiangnan, they had failed to notice a thing!

And not only that.

According to the Patriarch’s design, all the newcomers 【Everjoy Garden】 recruited were none other than the sect leaders and high-ranking members of the local sects across Jiangnan.

With that, the result was obvious:

‘Now, in Jiangnan—except for the Sword Pavilion—the rest of the region had already been covered by 【Everjoy Garden】, and had thus been acknowledged by 【Heavenly Fire】 as falling under my rule!’