Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍this very moment, the entire world was shaken!

Five ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍beams of golden-seeking light, five Fruit Positions, were simultaneously ignited in this instant, stirring the Foundation Establishment Realm as if trying to rip the entire realm apart.

And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that was not all.

Such ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a phenomenon even reached the highest layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm — the bottom of the Bitter Sea — where a brilliant glow reflected upon the sea surface.

“What’s ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍going on?”

“What ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍exactly has happened in the mortal world?”

“How could such a massive commotion arise from a group of junior cultivators? Even if someone is verifying 【Heavenly Fire】, it shouldn’t cause the Bitter Sea itself to react.”

At this moment, even the siege against Ancestor Tingyou halted. Those True Lords not participating in the siege all revealed themselves with expressions of surprise, gazing downward beneath the Bitter Sea, watching as five Fruit Positions responding to the radiant light appeared one by one. Gradually, their surprise turned to shock.

“How many?”

“Five! Five people are seeking the Golden Core! And all of them have exceedingly high chances... Five Foundation Establishment Perfected ones in the current world, all possessing the potential of True Lords?”

“No, not all... one is an outsider.”

“An outsider, yet still a True Lord. Isn’t that Tingyou also an outsider? And we still couldn’t deal with him. In the end, it comes down to the person.”

For a time, all the True Lords engaged in heated discussion.

Until a wild burst of laughter shattered the uproar:

“Hahahahaha!”

In an instant, the Bitter Sea churned. A celestial river cut across the sky, atop which stood a graceful silhouette, hands on hips, laughing toward the heavens:

“Excellent, excellent!”

“Unprecedented in history — the whole world seeking the Golden Core! Excellent! This dead pool can finally stir again, and just in time for the Millennium Catastrophe. What better moment to wage a good fight!”

Such an unmistakably individualistic style instantly made many True Lords retreat:

“That mad shrew...”

“Feixue, just let it go.”

“Don’t get involved with her. If she catches you looking too long, she’ll want to duel. If you get hurt, you could end up stuck in this Bitter Sea for another ten years!”

In that moment, all became silent.

Only Ancestor Tingyou remained, along with 【True Lord of Heaven-Bearing Virtue】 who had set up the formation to ambush him, and the Dao Court’s Emperor Jiayou and the Three Dukes.

At first, 【True Lord of Heaven-Bearing Virtue】 and the others hadn’t thought much of it. After all, when they besieged Ancestor Tingyou before, True Lord Feixue didn’t interfere. They assumed it would be the same this time and prepared to resume the siege — until, the very next second, they saw Feixue looking directly at them.

Then, True Lord Feixue spoke in a cool tone:

“Why aren’t you running?”

As soon as those words fell, 【True Lord of Heaven-Bearing Virtue】 and the others were stunned.

Before they could reply, Feixue’s words came out in a rapid-fire pace:

“You’re looking at me and not running — that means you’re not afraid of me. But I’m so strong. If you’re not afraid of me, that must mean you’re plotting against me. As upright cultivators, plotting against me clearly means you want to kill me.”

“Why do you want to kill me?”

“Then I’ll just kill you first!”

As her voice fell, True Lord Feixue erupted violently. The rolling celestial river instantly engulfed the still-confused 【True Lord of Heaven-Bearing Virtue】 and his group.

Only Ancestor Tingyou was left completely unharmed, along with a lingering echo:

“Ah?”

While the waves roared above the Bitter Sea, in the mortal world, with the rising of five beams of golden-seeking light, even the Manifested Tathāgata was shaken.

There were five of them! Where had five come from?

Before he could calculate the karma and uncover their identities, one of them had already revealed herself — a woman in luxurious robes.

“This Palace is Xiao Ru. I verify 【Seven-Star Heavens】 in Jiangxi.”

A solemn voice rang out in all directions, as she lifted her palms. Between ten slender fingers, a Dao Fruit was cradled before her chest as if it were the most precious of treasures.

Path of Incense Spirit!

Long before the True Lords of the world went into seclusion, Empress Xiao had been meticulously researching the Path of Incense Spirit. Back when he left the 【Pseudo-History】, the very first thing Lü Yang did upon finding her was to hand over the perfected Seven-Star Heavens, allowing her to meditate for ten years with added guidance — all to bring her to the threshold of the Golden Core.

Beyond that, for ten years, he had paved the path for her with all his might.

“It’s you...!?”

Almost at the same time, the Manifested Tathāgata abruptly looked up. With Empress Xiao’s open appearance and no more concealment of karma, the full story became clear:

‘Back then, the rumors that your fate was nearing its end and that the Pretender Court would fall — those were spread by you yourself? The Royal Guard Division, of course. Since then, they expanded wildly, spreading the Path of Incense Spirit. I thought you only did that to resist the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 banishing your aura...’

Who would have thought it was all to help Empress Xiao seek the Golden Core!

A Path of Incense Spirit spread across the world — was there any better ritual to verify 【Seven-Star Heavens】?

In nearly an instant, Empress Xiao succeeded!

“Rumble—!”

And in that very moment of her success, all Path of Incense Spirit cultivators across the realm underwent a qualitative leap, divinely empowered, no longer as frail as before!

“Now, counterattack!”

Above the firmament, Empress Xiao’s Dharma Body rose from the ground. Her cool and noble voice echoed throughout the heavens:

“Purge the traitors for His Majesty — all rebels shall be executed!”

In a flash, the tide turned!

One True Lord, even if only an outsider True Lord, was still a force like a mountain crushing eggs when empowering her subordinates to fight a bunch of Foundation Establishment cultivators — there was no suspense!

And as Empress Xiao verified 【Seven-Star Heavens】, the Path of Incense Spirit struck back against the Dao Court system. Lü Yang’s wavering dominion over the world immediately stabilized. This change caused the once-confident Manifested Tathāgata to twitch at the corners of his eyes and feel a growing sense of dread in his heart.

“No way... This isn’t right!”

“Seeking the Golden Core can’t be that simple — five bursts all at once? How could they coordinate it so perfectly to erupt on the same day?”

As he remained lost in thought—

In Jiangbei, atop Sacred Fire Cliff—

Chong Guang stood with hands behind his back, face filled with emotion. And above his head, all went smoothly: the position of 【Overturning Lamp Flame】 descended upon him!

“One must rely on oneself. But on the path of seeking the Dao, if you are alone, isn’t that too lonely?”

“A few more Daoist friends wouldn’t hurt.”

At that thought, Chong Guang smiled gently. Then he took a single step forward, and in an instant, 【Overturning Lamp Flame】 settled. The image of a True Lord spanned all across Jiangbei!

“Sage Sect’s Chong Guang verifies 【Overturning Lamp Flame】 in Jiangbei.”

“Scattered cultivators of Jiangbei, disciples of the Sage Sect, hear this — kill all Dao Court cultivators!”

Chong Guang’s voice roared across the land. Under the radiance of 【Overturning Lamp Flame】, all Sage Sect disciples went wild with joy and charged toward the Dao Court, screaming with excitement.

In a flash, the once-vast 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 lost both Jiangbei and Jiangxi, instantly shrinking. This caused the Manifested Tathāgata’s face to darken — his previous ability to resurrect at will was based entirely on the omnipresent 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】. But now, most of it had collapsed.

“Clang clang!”

A sword’s cry interrupted the Manifested Tathāgata’s thoughts. Everything had happened too fast — from five parties seeking gold to two succeeding, in just a few breaths!

And now, a third was moving!

‘Jiangnan... Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing!?’

The Manifested Tathāgata turned around in shock, finally feeling a loss of control over the situation — for of all places, Jiangnan was the least likely to produce someone seeking the Golden Core!

Especially Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing!

Wasn’t he supposed to be the sacrificial pawn used by the Sword Pavilion to falsely verify the 【Sword Dao Fruit Position】? His death was almost guaranteed. How could he be seeking the Golden Core?

‘Karma... changed? How... Why?’

This made no sense!