Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 594: Who is the bait, and who is the angler?

Outer Heavens Sea of Light, within the Void Daze Realm.

“Who are you!.”

The expression of the 【Lesser Yin Immortal Lord】 twisted with horror. He had not expected that someone would suddenly appear out of nowhere to intercept them in what was supposed to be the freely navigable Outer Heavens Sea of Light.

In an instant, he felt a chill spread through his entire body.

‘All that talk of inner conflict among the Immortal Pivot and demonic heads—itʼs all a trap! It was a deliberate setup to lure us in, aiming to strike preemptively before the millennium catastrophe.’

‘No, that’s not right. The internal conflict must be real. Those bald donkeys definitely intended to kill that True Lord of the Supreme Fruit Position. But they prepared for both outcomes—whether success or failure, they wouldn’t suffer. Those beasts probably planned for betrayal from the very start!’

The 【Lesser Yin Immortal Lord】’s guess hit the mark with terrifying precision.

‘The World-Honored One... truly remarkable!’

Gazing at the two 【Celestial Mansion】 Immortal Lords before her, True Lord Feixue’s face brimmed with emotion. Yet in her always-firm, beautiful eyes, deep dread emerged.

Just look at this calculation.

The best outcome would be for the Pure Land to successfully slay Lu Yang, with her arriving just a step too late, ensuring neither the 【Lesser Yin Immortal Lord】 nor the 【Flame-Treading Immortal Lord】 could escape.

A slightly worse result would be failing to kill Lu Yang, but still capturing both of them.

The worst scenario... was the present one. The Pure Land had lost one External Dao Bodhisattva. But honestly, that wasnʼt even much of a loss.

Yet no matter the outcome, it would benefit all parties. Saying it was collusion with Outer Heaven cultivators, it was still just another layer of scheming. No one had truly betrayed their faction’s interests. If all went smoothly, they would achieve their goal and leave no room for criticism.

If this grand setup had any flaw...

It was too weak.

One mid-stage Golden Core, two early-stage Golden Cores, and an External Daoist—such a formation was suitable for ordinary True Lords. But against Lu Yang? It was clearly not enough.

It also didn’t match the Immortal Pivot’s fine tradition of “bullying the weak with the strong.”

‘If it were me, I’d act personally—or at least bring a late-stage Golden Core True Lord to create an overwhelming advantage.’

‘.Huh!?’

At that thought, True Lord Feixue’s eyes suddenly gleamed with cold light. She abruptly looked up, staring far off toward the Sea of Light where the Immortal Pivot was.

‘Something’s wrong!’

If even she could think of this, how could the World-Honored One not?

Let alone that infamous shameless figure, known for never hesitating to overpower the weak with the strong. How could he send such a flimsy force against Lu Yang?

‘This lineup... was meant for me!’

In that moment, True Lord Feixue understood:

‘These two 【Celestial Mansion】 Immortal Lords may have been offered up to me, but they were also meant to tie me down, so I couldn’t interfere on the other side.’

In truth, even when Lu Yang had been fighting four at once and seemed in danger, True Lord Feixue had been observing in secret. She would never let him fall into real peril.

But now, in order to intercept the 【Lesser Yin Immortal Lord】 and the 【Flame-Treading Immortal Lord】, she had left.

And now... this was likely when Lu Yang faced his greatest danger!

The true killing game—was only just beginning!

At that realization, True Lord Feixue immediately began pondering—who could it be? 【Essence-Holding Treasure Lotus Bodhisattva】? Or did the World-Honored One personally step in as a substitute?

No, no, none of those were secure enough.

While a mid-stage Golden Core could suppress Lu Yang, killing him would be difficult. If he focused solely on escaping, he might succeed. Only a major True Lord could guarantee it.

And with the World-Honored One’s methods, would he ever leave room for uncertainty?

In this entire layout—who was the true bait? Who was the true fish? And who was the one holding the rod, fishing the pond, reaping the profits?

“.Ha!”

After a moment of silence, True Lord Feixue suddenly laughed aloud: “I actually underestimated you. Though you’re terminally ill, you do have what it takes to become a major True Lord!”

Outer Heavens Sea of Light.

Lu Yang held in hand the newly forged true treasure, “Banner of Enlightening the Righteous Dao,” still visibly surprised. “This treasure... the quality is unexpectedly high!”

He had always known the Myriad Spirits Banner was formidable. It was a growing-grade supreme treasure—its power entirely determined by the quality and number of the Banner Spirits within.

When he first obtained it, it had only been at the magical treasure level. Lu Yang thought it would soon be obsolete.

Just like the old days—with the Abyss Sword.

But as the Banner Spirits increased and his cultivation advanced, the Myriad Spirits Banner naturally evolved into a spiritual treasure, eventually even reaching superior spiritual treasure grade.

Lu Yang advanced—and it never fell behind.

And after Suo Huan, Empress Xiao, and Ancestor Tingyou all attained True Lordhood, its profundity peaked, vaguely transcending even the spiritual treasure class.

‘There’s no way Mu Changsheng made this himself.’

Lu Yang rubbed his chin. ‘As expected of a treasure meant to house the Fruit Position seedling—there’s probably interference from the Heavenly Lord, just like back when I forged the Tribulation Wave.’

That wave was only completed under the intervention of 【Soaring High】, and it remained powerful enough that Lu Yang still used it even now. The Myriad Spirits Banner likely followed a similar path. Otherwise, its exceeding tier and mystique would be hard to explain. There might even be hidden mechanisms left behind by the Heavenly Lord.

‘Of course, not this one I hold.’

After all, it had already been cleansed by the 【Book of a Hundred Lifetimes】, and now refined into a true treasure, thoroughly imbued with Lu Yang’s essence and mark.

As he pondered, Lu Yang suddenly looked up: ‘Strange... something’s off!’

How much time had passed?

By now, the Saint Sect should have realized something was wrong. Tongtian Hall ought to be reconnecting with him, guiding him back.

Why was there no response?

In a flash of realization born of his instincts as a Saint Sect True Lord, Lu Yang arrived at the same conclusion as True Lord Feixue:

‘Damn it, another World-Honored One wants me dead!’

In an instant, Lu Yang had the thought to leave the Sea of Light—but the next second, his expression darkened completely.

Because nothing happened.

The Outer Heavens Sea of Light operated via divine sense. As long as a coordinate was locked, one could traverse it in a single thought.

The only way to intercept someone mid-transit was through immense power or a divine ability capable of severing and sealing that path—leaving them trapped within the Sea of Light.

What kind of power was that? What kind of divine ability?

‘Late-stage Golden Core!’

Clearing his thoughts, Lu Yang let out a deep exhale. And then—as if to confirm his suspicion—a sound echoed from afar:

“Tok tok... tok.”

In the boundless Sea of Light, faint footsteps approached—steady, calm, like a great mountain walking unhurriedly.

The next second, the Sea of Light dimmed.

The newcomer stole away all light and color from this realm, turning it into a chaotic abyss. And he walked calmly across its surface.

Lu Yang looked—he wore plain clothes, with phoenix eyes and a dragon’s bearing, smiling frivolously like a wealthy young noble out on a countryside stroll.

A lavishly adorned sword hung at his waist. Though it emitted no spiritual aura, merely seeing it made Lu Yang’s divine sense ache like being pricked by needles.

This wasn’t something the newcomer did deliberately.

It was the natural reaction of Lu Yang’s divine sense upon brushing against him—like touching a sharpened blade and bleeding without intent.

“Hu!”

The man didn’t hide his karmic ties.

At that moment, Lu Yang instead grew calm, gazing at him with a strange, indescribable look.

“Didn’t expect... it would be you, Senior.”

Though he had never seen the man before, Lu Yang still deduced his identity.

The man had always been low-key. Even with Lu Yang’s ten lifetimes of experience, he had barely heard more than a few rumors.

Threatening the Dragon Lord, wielding sword overseas.

Only once had True Lord Feixue forced him to act, exposing his condition. Then news spread across the world that he was “terminally ill.”

Even 【Soaring High】 looked down on him.

Over time, no one paid him any attention anymore, thinking he was half-dead, no longer able to battle, unworthy of notice.

But now—he had appeared.

With a warm smile and graceful manners—yet his presence darkened all of Outer Heaven’s Sea of Light. Where was the sickness in him?

Lu Yang sighed deeply:

“.Sword Pavilion, 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】!”