Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 515: True Method

Heavenly Wu Hall, Kūnníng Palace.

Lu Yang and Empress Xiao were discussing the Dao, and what met the eye was a succession of magical divine lights that swiftly transformed into a magnificent and dazzling sea of flowers spreading in all directions.

A subtle floral fragrance drifted through the vast palace, refreshing the heart and mind, mixed with the sound of clear springs like mountain streams. As time passed, the sea of flowers gradually converged toward the center, ultimately transforming into a single immortal blossom, slowly blooming, radiating a brilliance too dazzling to behold.

【Glazed Myriad-Wonders Immortal Blossom】！

This was a soil-based Dao technique from the Four Vault Dao Repository, perfectly attuned to Empress Xiao’s divine ability 【Hundred Flowers Palace】. It was a method she had painstakingly chosen and cultivated.

The function of the Dao technique was simple.

So long as one immersed their spirit within the immortal blossom, the speed of refining Metal Nature would greatly increase, compressing what would normally take a year or two into merely a day or two.

Back when the Jiayou Emperor was still Crown Prince, it was by relying on this Dao technique that Empress Xiao had gained his favor. However, the same 【Glazed Myriad-Wonders Immortal Blossom】 that had once worked flawlessly on the Jiayou Emperor now appeared unsustainable when faced with Lu Yang’s plundering.

‘After all, what he cultivates is the Supreme Fruit Position.’

Though both were refining Metal Nature, with the Jiayou Emperor, she had only needed to circulate the Dao technique a few times to help him succeed. Yet Lu Yang still failed to refine it.

It wasn’t until she had exhausted all her power, and even the divine ability 【Hundred Flowers Palace】 fell into languor, her entire body drained of strength, that Lu Yang barely refined a single strand of Metal Nature—seemingly toying with her deliberately, leaving her both satisfied and resentful, reduced to begging him repeatedly.

What satisfied her was that she hadn’t misjudged him.

After all, Metal Nature that was so difficult to refine signaled a remarkably solid foundation. The likelihood of successfully attaining Gold in the future was high—and that would benefit her as well.

What she resented—was simply that it was too exhausting.

It was only because Empress Xiao’s cultivation was high and her Dao attainment deep that, even after such intense depletion and with her divine ability weakened, a single day of rest was enough for her to recover.

Only then could she maintain a pace of once per day with Lu Yang. Otherwise, her 【Hundred Flowers Palace】 would have long been utterly ravaged by Lu Yang’s relentless practice over the past few days.

Meanwhile, Lu Yang paid no heed to the resentful gaze of Empress Xiao.

At this moment, his entire focus was on cultivation. He inwardly observed his soul, looking at the golden light coiling around it like a small dragon, satisfaction spreading across his face:

‘A single strand of Metal Nature.’

“The so-called Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things. Metal Nature too bears such meaning—three threads form a strand, and three strands form a single Dao.”

Over the past month, he had slept nightly on the Dragon Bed, diligently cultivating without cease. Only now, with Empress Xiao’s assistance, had he finally refined a strand of Metal Nature. From now on, every further thread of Metal Nature could be fused into it, continually strengthening it until it reached the standard sufficient to support a Blessed Land.

‘But the drawback of a growing Metal Nature is not negligible.’

Lu Yang gazed at the strand of Metal Nature he had refined, and in a moment of trance, he seemed to see a vast mountain-sea world—with himself as the very consciousness of that world.

Flowers, birds, fish, insects; grass, trees, stones.

Flying beasts and wild animals; wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.

All things moved in harmony and order, drawing his soul ever closer to the so-called “Heavenly Dao”, viewing all things as straw dogs, no longer touched by the world of mortals.

“Mm~~”

A moan of pain mixed with inexplicable joy, like a great bell and gong, snapped Lu Yang’s mind back to the present. The warmth from the figure in his arms made him return to himself.

‘This is the influence of Metal Nature.’

Lu Yang frowned slightly. As Metal Nature accumulated, humanity would gradually be suppressed, eventually leading to madness—the closer one got to attaining Gold, the more intense this effect became.

‘Fortunately, my will is strong.’

Lu Yang let out a deep breath, tightened his embrace around Empress Xiao, and fiercely reclaimed the humanity he had just momentarily lost. Only then did he relax.

“.By the way, Empress.”

Looking at Empress Xiao, now completely drained of strength, Lu Yang spoke softly, “It seems the Four Vault Dao Repository does not contain the inheritance of 【Heavenly Flame】.”

“Still calling me Empress?”

Empress Xiao parted her red lips slightly, her beautiful eyes seemingly spinning silk as she stared directly at Lu Yang. “My name is Xiao Ru. Fellow Daoist, from now on, you may call me by name.”

Lu Yang chuckled at her words: “I still prefer calling you Empress.”

“You tease~”

Empress Xiao feigned embarrassment and anger, her jade hand gently patting Lu Yang’s chest, then smoothly sliding down, while answering his question:

“Of course it isn’t included. After all, long ago when the Dao Court was reformed under Heavenly Wu, the lineage of 【Heavenly Flame】 had already vanished without a trace. Only two remnants of that illustrious inheritance remain in the world today. One of them escaped overseas amidst chaos, eventually falling into the hands of the old Dragon Lord of the True Dragon clan.”

“Unfortunately, that inheritance was incomplete.”

At this point, Empress Xiao shook her head. “But precisely because of that, it could fall into the old Dragon Lord’s hands. If it were complete, it never would have ended up overseas.”

“And the second one?” Lu Yang asked with curiosity.

“The second one should be in Jiangbei, in the hands of the current descendants of the Zouyu line. After all, the Zouyu Royal Clan once had a certain interest in 【Heavenly Flame】.”

Empress Xiao spoke fluently and confidently.

She had thoroughly read the entire Four Vault Dao Repository, which contained not only cultivation techniques and spells, but also a vast array of Daoist texts, unofficial histories, and secret lore. At this moment, she was naturally speaking as if reciting from memory.

Lu Yang’s mind immediately grew active as he listened.

‘Descendants of Zouyu... that would be a branch of the Saint Sect? In that case, I might be able to plot something. I’m just lacking the corresponding True Method for 【Heavenly Flame】 right now.’

True Method—a supreme technique forged from Metal Nature.

Ever since refining Metal Nature, this had been on Lu Yang’s agenda. After all, if he could acquire a True Method that matched his nature, the enhancement would be immense.

Unfortunately, the inheritance of 【Heavenly Flame】 had long been severed.

And the 《Heaven’s Radiance Blazing Dragon Chapters》 given by the old Dragon Lord lacked this portion. Lu Yang had been troubled over it, but now found a lead thanks to Empress Xiao.

“Speaking of which, what are your plans moving forward?”

Empress Xiao’s eyes burned with intensity: “You are not yet a True Lord, and thus cannot formally ascend the throne. You can only temporarily assume the Provisional Imperial Court through the rank of 【As If I Were Present】.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Lu Yang chuckled lightly: “Even a usurping court still bears some blessings. In this era where True Lords remain in seclusion, it’s hardly any different from a legitimate imperial rule.”

Empress Xiao frowned slightly: “Even so, you must achieve some great accomplishment to gain recognition from the 【Immortal Nation Dao Law】. Internal strife alone won’t suffice. The original Heavenly Wu Ancestor wasn’t ordinary—he offered a living sacrifice of an Outer Dao True Lord to be acknowledged.”

“Even if a Provisional Court doesn’t require something that extreme, it’s still not easy—”

“No matter. I’m prepared.”

Lu Yang shook his head and turned his gaze toward Jiangbei and the overseas direction. “Achievements... the greatest of all is territorial expansion. It seems the time has come.”

Overseas, the Four Seas Gate Dragon Palace.