Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

In the Outer Heavens Sea of Light, Lu Yang’s figure kept shifting.

Here, the method of “escape” differed from that within the Realm Heaven, for the Outer Heavens Sea of Light had no “distance”, and naturally, no concept of escape.

It was more akin to a calculation.

When Lu Yang activated his divine sense, preparing to head toward a certain point in the Outer Heavens Sea of Light, his physical body would vanish, entering a state where he could not be observed.

Only after determining an anchor point would his figure descend from the void, directly landing at the location corresponding to the anchor. During this process, he could not interfere with others, nor could others interfere with him. At first glance, this seemed ideal, but this special state could not be maintained for long.

If prolonged, he would become disconnected from the Outer Heavens Sea of Light.

The result would be akin to banishment—though not dead, he would be unable to interact with the Outer Heavens Sea of Light, entering a state of neither life nor death.

By then, Lu Yang would have no choice but to abandon thought altogether.

At this moment, Lu Yang was in such a state. The heavens and earth around him were utterly void and obscure, while he continuously calculated with his fingers, anchoring a destination to head toward.

At the same time, he still had the capacity to observe his surroundings.

‘So similar... too similar.’

Lu Yang was shocked, only because the obscure void he was in now looked nearly identical to the space he found himself in every time before 【Book of a Hundred Lifetimes】 reopened!

All equally chaotic and formless.

All equally solitary.

All equally unable to interfere with others.

For a moment, Lu Yang’s thoughts began to scatter, and he couldn’t help but contemplate the origins of the 【Book of a Hundred Lifetimes】—whether it was connected to the scene before him.

‘...Hm. No, that’s not right.’

Lu Yang’s pupils shrank, suddenly regaining clarity. With a sweep of his divine sense, he noticed the blood scar at his neck had unknowingly widened by an entire circle!

【Throne-Seizing Sword Intent】!

This sword intent, having landed on Lu Yang, could not be removed in a short time. It forced Lu Yang to endure it with great effort, yet it still shook his soul and thoughts!

Under such a state, his time to remain in this void would be drastically shortened.

‘Can’t hold on.’

The next moment, Lu Yang anchored his position and exited the void. All around him, vast swaths of 【Yin-Yang Genesis Light of Life and Death】 surged forth, slightly shaking his vision—

“Clang clang!”

Within the boiling 【Yin-Yang Genesis Light of Life and Death】, a sword light devoid of any aura quietly re-locked onto Lu Yang’s dharma body.

This time, it slashed at his waist.

Yet just as it was about to strike Lu Yang, with the fluttering of the Banner of Enlightening the Righteous Dao behind him, a subtle and profound power emerged.

The Banner of Enlightening the Righteous Dao, newly gained second divine ability:

【Enlightenment】!

In an instant, the sword light, once brimming with murderous intent, inexplicably paused. Its aura was exposed, and 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 appeared, astonishment flickering in his eyes:

“A righteous cultivator must not kill indiscriminately.”

The surprise lasted only a fleeting instant. The next second, 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 snapped back to clarity, his expression shifting slightly, a trace of apprehension surfacing in his gaze.

What the hell was that!

Just in that brief moment, he actually felt that, as a righteous cultivator, he ought to lead by example. The world was so beautiful, how could he kill the innocent recklessly?

Such powerful brainwashing!

【Heavenly Flame Above】 shouldn’t have that kind of implication, right? Rather, this seemed more like something refined by Lu Yang, highlighting the subtlety of his personal Dao.

On the other side, Lu Yang also wore a look of surprise.

‘It actually worked?’

To be honest, although the Banner of Enlightening the Righteous Dao gained many divine traits after advancing to a true treasure, he didn’t think any would be effective against 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】.

Late-stage Golden Core, a Grand True Lord.

Just those few words, and the corresponding gap in rank, were enough to crush him. Like striking a stone with an egg—utterly pointless.

Yet the opponent was affected.

Why?

In that instant, Lu Yang’s eyes lit up:

“...I understand now!”

He looked at 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】, a smile surfacing on his face: “You are not a Grand True Lord right now! You’ve lowered your rank, which is why you can act freely!”

This was the only explanation.

Ever since their encounter, he had been harboring a doubt: clearly, 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 should have been immobilized due to a misalignment in his fruit position.

How had he suddenly appeared?

Could it have all been an act before?

Impossible. If even True Lord Feixue had been deceived, that he could accept—but could 【Ang Xiao】 have been fooled? That would be absurd.

Lu Yang trusted 【Ang Xiao】 deeply.

So he was certain: there was indeed something wrong with 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】. He just hadn’t known what method was used to suppress the issue.

Now he knew.

‘Lowering his rank, refraining from using Grand True Lord-level combat power… at this point, he should be a First-Grade True Lord, about the same level as True Lord Feixue before her breakthrough.’

‘My chance... lies here!’

If it truly were a late-stage Golden Core Grand True Lord, simply applying the divine power rank pressure onto Lu Yang would’ve forced him to restart.

In the next second, Lu Yang’s figure vanished.

He once more fled back into the void, re-anchoring his position, while 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 gave a soft chuckle and also entered the void.

Both were calculating—Lu Yang was calculating his target anchor, while 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 was calculating Lu Yang’s destination. In the unseen realm, Lu Yang could distinctly feel himself being locked onto by the other, like a throat being strangled.

Moments later, Lu Yang once again emerged in the Outer Heavens Sea of Light.

Almost simultaneously, 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】’s figure also manifested—and what chilled Lu Yang was that this time, the other’s proximity was significantly closer!

‘How many chances are left?’

‘Five... no, three. At most, three more. If I appear again in the Outer Heavens Sea of Light, he’ll be right at my side!’

At that point, not even immortals could save him.

“Fellow Daoist Lü, why flee in such haste? In truth, I merely wish to exchange insights on sword Dao with you. I have no intention of taking your life.”

“You understand my situation too—it concerns my path to Dao. How could I treat it as a joke?”

“There’s no need to suspect deception. As someone from the Sword Pavilion, no True Lord of the Sword Pavilion would tarnish their Dao path by deceiving others.”

【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】’s voice drifted over faintly.

‘Sword bastard!’

Lu Yang cursed internally but gave no reply.

‘Mustn’t answer. Replying would establish karma. The opponent could exploit that to accelerate the locking process!’

The next moment, sword light struck again.

Forced inscription: 【All Attacks Invalid】!

Lu Yang did not hesitate, once more activating the 【Heavenly Inscription Seal】, unleashing the little remaining mana, which even made him feel slightly fatigued.

Fatigue—something almost unheard of for a True Lord!

Even Empress Xiao, who had once been slaughtered by him into disarray, could now fight him to a draw after becoming a True Lord.

“Clatter clatter!”

Having withstood the sword strike, Lu Yang fled once more—yet his heart was heavy, his instincts screaming that he might not survive the third time.

After all, he had just carved a bloody path out of a siege and was gravely wounded. By contrast, 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 had conserved his energy, was at higher cultivation, and even launched a sneak attack upon appearing. That Lu Yang had lasted this long was already thanks to the power of 【Heavenly Flame Above】.

The third time… death was certain!

‘What now?’

Standing in the void, Lu Yang’s expression remained calm, but his mind raced: ‘At this point, I may have to risk everything... If I die, I’ll just restart.’