Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 564: Underlying Currents Stirring

Within the Flying Snow Bedchamber, Lu Yang had sat cross-legged for a full day and night. The divination between his fingers never ceased, and his once handsome face visibly withered.

Amidst his originally jet-black hair, there were now traces of frosty white.

Such a sight was rare on a Foundation Establishment True Person.

Let alone on Lu Yang—one who stood at the very pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, the strongest below the Golden Core. For him to appear so haggard, it clearly showed the extent of his exhaustion.

For this entire day and night, he had attempted to deduce a way to break the impasse, but the result remained shrouded in darkness. Before absolute power, all his calculations seemed as futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot—entirely meaningless. Unless, of course, he gave up on the 【Heavenly Fire】, committed suicide to restart, and chose an ordinary Fruit Position to try again.

Undeniably, that would be a much easier path.

Lu Yang had even drafted a plan: upon restarting, he would choose 【Pomegranate Wood】, then gather various resources as a True Lord. Once fully prepared, he would return and attempt to verify the 【Heavenly Fire】 once more.

A very sound plan. If followed, apart from wasting a few extra pages of the 【Book of Hundred Lifetimes】, his chances of success would likely be greater than now.

Yet in the very next moment, Lu Yang severed all thoughts of restarting.

Indeed, verifying an ordinary Fruit Position was easier—but only a Supreme Fruit Position could be the cornerstone of a Nascent Soul. An ordinary Fruit Position was just a waste of time!

As for first becoming a True Lord and coming back later to verify the Supreme Fruit Position… there was no point. After all, no matter how prepared you were, could you truly suppress a Nascent Soul Dao Lord? In the end, it would still come down to a gamble on that sliver of survival. As long as one verified a Supreme Fruit Position, they would inevitably enter a Dao Lord’s field of view, and would inevitably face tribulation.

‘I cannot retreat!’

Lu Yang was resolute. This moment, this lifetime, was his greatest opportunity. His destiny aligned perfectly with the 【Heavenly Fire】—even in a desperate situation, he remained ambitious!

However, if he retreated and chose to restart—

Perhaps others wouldn’t know, but he knew clearly that his destiny would undoubtedly decline by then, and his odds of attaining the 【Heavenly Fire】 would be even lower!

Lu Yang rose to his feet, pacing toward the bedchamber’s grand door.

In the next instant, the world spun. Smoke and mist abruptly rose around him, and from within it, a familiar slender figure stepped forth. Her beautiful eyes locked directly onto Lu Yang.

”…Not bad. Very good.”

Seeing Lu Yang’s utterly exhausted appearance, True Lord Flying Snow instead smiled. Stunningly beautiful, yet carrying an unerasable gallant and heroic air.

Lu Yang gave a bitter smile at her words: ”This appearance of mine—how could it possibly be described as good?”

”It’s precisely this appearance that is good.”

True Lord Flying Snow nodded solemnly, her expression earnest: ”Because this is proof you haven’t given up on yourself. Exhaust every possibility and seek a way out.”

”As cultivators, we only fear no path ahead—why fear obstacles along the way?”

As her words fell, the mist surged once more.

When he came to, Lu Yang was already standing outside the bedchamber. Turning around, he saw the Flying Snow Bedchamber gradually vanishing into the clouds and mist.

A moment later, a streak of escaping light descended.

From within it stepped out Chong Guang. His gaze immediately fell on Lu Yang. He paused for a moment, then showed realization: ”…Does Fellow Daoist need anything?”

”…Nothing for now.”

After a brief silence, Lu Yang cupped his fists. ”Apologies for the laughable sight.”

Chong Guang waved it off, gazing at Lu Yang solemnly. ”You and I are fellow Daoists—no need for many words. I’ll wait for you to seek gold. Once youʼre done, I’ll ascend.”

This was not a case of heroes admiring each other, but purely a matter of interest.

Unlike Lu Yang, after the reversal of Earth Dust, Chong Guang had nearly a hundred percent certainty of attaining the 【Overturning Lamp Fire】. However, the root crisis remained unresolved.

【Angxiao】!

Even with True Lord Flying Snow, who had achieved Golden Core Late Stage, assisting him, facing 【Angxiao】 alone was still a huge struggle. But if another True Lord who had verified a Supreme Fruit Position were added, it would undoubtedly tilt the battle strength in their favor—safeguarding the hard-earned Dao Fruit.

So, both publicly and privately, Chong Guang earnestly hoped Lu Yang would succeed.

”…You are considerate, Fellow Daoist.”

As a True Person of the Sacred Sect, Lu Yang was only briefly startled before grasping Chong Guang’s implied meaning. While acknowledging it, a spark of flame also ignited within him.

‘Endless pondering gets me nowhere. Better to act—step by step.’

Lu Yang took a deep breath. After bidding Chong Guang farewell, he stepped into the cloud sea. Dark golden brilliance flowed around him as heaven and earth pushed him toward Jiangdong.

Without pause, he descended into the Tianwu Hall.

Of course, it should now be called the Huanming Hall.

Almost simultaneously, a streak of escaping light hurtled in. From within it emerged the alluring figure of Empress Xiao, her curvaceous silhouette graceful as ever. She wore a subtle smile:

”Youʼre back?”

Lu Yang nodded, casting a deep glance at Empress Xiao. The other party had long chosen to enter the Banner—for him, she was undoubtedly someone he could trust absolutely.

‘…Come with me. I’ve got a treasure to show you.’

The two stepped into the inner palace. Another day passed. When they emerged again, only Lu Yang remained—Empress Xiao stayed hidden deep in the palace, unseen for a long while.

At first, as someone second only to Lu Yang in the current Dao Court, Empress Xiao’s sudden disappearance might have caught the attention of Dao Court officials. But upon learning Lu Yang had returned and the two had spent a day inside the palace together, everyone immediately relaxed—it was perfectly normal.

Of course, some die-hard loyalists of the Tianwu royal family cursed in private:

”Adulterous pair!”

But regardless of reaction, no one cared about Empress Xiao’s disappearance anymore. Life resumed as usual. After all, a demon dragon being a bit vigorous was nothing strange.

Yet few expected—after that day, Lu Yang vanished.

He would appear once every year or two, and each time he emerged, he went straight to Empress Xiao’s bedchamber. Once their business was done, he vanished again. Empress Xiao would then rest for several months.

Just like that, ten years passed in a flash.

And during those ten years, the previously stable Dao Court finally began to be stirred by whispers—rumors that the false court’s demon dragon had little time left.

Naturally, the loyal cultivators of the Royal Guard Division would not allow such rumors to spread unchecked. Under Empress Xiao’s order—

”This is no mere rabble. A heavy hand is required!”— the Royal Guard Division expanded drastically across all of Jiangdong, suddenly becoming the largest department in the Dao Court.

However, the more fiercely it was suppressed, the more rampant the rumors became.

”I say, that demon dragon’s finished. And lately, haven’t you noticed the Fruit Position loosening? Don’t forget—the Emperor and the Three Dukes will return eventually!”

”That demon dragon is definitely trying to seek the Gold.”

”Don’t make me laugh. A mere demon dragon wanting to verify the 【Heavenly Fire】? Impossible!”

”Just courting death!”

”A shame, really. That demon dragon is actually quite gifted. But heʼs just too arrogant, unable to see his limits—insisting on verifying the 【Heavenly Fire】.”

The rumors quickly spread to Jiangnan, Jiangbei, and even overseas.

Thus, the Royal Guard Division expanded again. For a time, its number of spies even exceeded the Dao Court’s officials, sealing rumors throughout the world.

Only under such severe suppression did the rumors gradually die down.

Peace returned to the realm.

Yet beneath this surface calm, every Foundation Establishment True Person could sense the stirring of undercurrents. Those with extraordinary insight looked to the sky daily.

Because above that dome of heaven—

The “Emperor Huanming”, whom countless voices had condemned and claimed his reign was waning—

The 【Heavenly Fire】 that favored him had not dimmed in the slightest.

Instead, it shone brighter than ever before.