Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 554: Another Me

Overseas, Lonely Heart Island.

Lu Yang’s original body had long since escaped to the vast heavens. With his current cultivation, although he still could not match a True Lord, it was enough to hide and protect himself.

At the level he was now—a Foundation Establishment True Person—he already had the qualifications to be looked upon favorably by Golden Core True Lords. He would no longer be regarded as an ant. After all, even Golden Core True Lords might not have reached the peak of Foundation Establishment before achieving the Golden Core. That state was rare and unattainable by will alone.

Only a single 【String Puppet】 was left behind at the original spot.

Yet staring at it, Daoist Hongtian remained silent for a long while. He silently calculated within his sleeve, and only after a long time did a trace of amazement surface on his face.

‘Can’t calculate it!’

He recognized this figure manipulated by Lu Yang—【Sea-Calming Envoy of the Immortal Court】—and knew the man had a clean background. This behavior clearly indicated he had been refined into a puppet.

But if that was truly the case, the karmic ties should have been immense.

After all, this involved life and death, and the man was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Unless a True Lord had acted, how could one refine someone into a puppet without leaving the slightest karmic imprint?

Yet Lu Yang had done it.

Thinking of this, he raised his head again and looked toward the 【Wall Earth】 in the heavens above. He tilted his head slightly, and then his expression turned to disappointment.

Even the True Lord couldn’t calculate it?

“Amazing.”

Hongtian let out a sigh and finally gave up on the idea of capturing this “outsider” alive. Instead, he spread his hand: “May fellow Daoist come inside for a talk.”

As his words fell, light shimmered in the palm of Daoist Hongtian’s hand. Within the light stood a miniature palace, which expanded with the wind. When Lu Yang looked closely, he saw flowing imagery upon it: “concealing form, obscuring body, severing inside from outside”—clearly it corresponded to the fruit position treasure of 【Wall Earth】.

“This is the 【Hidden Mechanism Hall】.”

Hongtian gave a faint smile and gestured with an open hand: “So long as we speak within the hall, no one can divine our conversation, nor will any karma be left behind.”

“Good.”

Lu Yang nodded at those words, then strode boldly inside. Seeing this, Hongtian also summoned his light and entered the 【Hidden Mechanism Hall】.

“Rumble!”

The moment both entered, the palace gates shut, and the imagery within turned. It was as though a whole new world had opened, severing all ties with the outer world in an instant.

Almost simultaneously, Hongtian had already formed a seal before his chest. Countless divine powers and illusions surged within him, enveloping even his eyes in radiance. His tightly closed mouth emitted a celestial glow, yet not a trace of energy leaked outward. Only when he approached Lu Yang did he suddenly open his mouth:

“Awaken!”

This single thunderous word burst from Hongtian’s mouth, truly ear-splitting—a head-clearing strike—almost enough to dispel any soul-controlling method.

Yet upon Lu Yang, it had no effect at all:

“Fellow Daoist, what’s the point?”

Hongtian fell silent at once, then flicked his sleeve as though nothing had happened. He smiled lightly and said, “Merely giving it a try. Fellow Daoist’s methods are indeed extraordinary.”

Though he spoke thus, the dread in Hongtian’s heart toward Lu Yang had surged to its peak.

Know this—this 【Hidden Mechanism Hall】 was no ordinary place. With the mysteries of 【Wall Earth】, it cut off all inner and outer connections, nearly severing any long-distance control methods.

He had assumed that Lu Yang and the 【Sea-Calming Envoy of the Immortal Court】 had only recently met. Even if he had refined the man into a puppet, it shouldn’t have been beyond remedy. That’s why he purposely brought out the 【Hidden Mechanism Hall】 to try breaking the puppet spell—but the outcome proved it was all for nothing.

‘Still not beaten enough by the World-Honored One!’

Lu Yang chuckled and shook his head:

‘This is just because the 【Pseudo-History】 lacks Pure Lands. If it were the present world, he’d already be kneeling and shouting “World-Honored One above!”’

“Please, sit.”

With a wave of his sleeve, Hongtian invited Lu Yang to sit. As their eyes met, a strange feeling suddenly arose within him:

‘This person… is very much like me.’

Same divine powers, same cultivation.

With that thought, Hongtian’s mind stirred slightly, and he said in a deep voice, “Fellow Daoist Lu hails from the outer world, yet you risked danger to meet me. For what purpose?”

Lu Yang grinned broadly: “My intention is the same as yours.”

The same goal!?

In an instant, Hongtian’s expression darkened. If he had a goal, it could only be to attain 【Heavenly Fire】. The other’s goal was the same?

Then that made him a Dao rival!

But the next moment, Hongtian regained his calm, frowning deeply: “That’s not right… Fellow Daoist holds no killing intent toward me. My seeking the Golden Core wouldn’t hinder you?”

In the present world, Hong Yun had a secret method for sensing fortune and misfortune—that was how he survived five thousand years unscathed. In the 【Pseudo-History】, Hongtian was no different. Relying on that perception, he sensed that Lu Yang bore him no killing intent—at least not at this moment. That greatly surprised him.

After all, to cultivators, Dao rivals were to be eliminated without hesitation.

But Lu Yang’s attitude was entirely different.

‘The outer world… what kind of world is it? What is its connection to this one? To know that, this man before me is likely the greatest clue.’

At the same time, Lu Yang also sat upright in solemnity.

Hongtian thought Lu Yang resembled himself—but from Lu Yang’s perspective, wasn’t Hongtian the same? Perhaps even more so.

‘Just now, when Hongtian tried to unravel the 【String Puppet】, the method he used… seemed like sword intent?’

At that thought, Lu Yang’s eyes narrowed. Without moving a muscle, a sharp aura surged from his body, impossible to describe.

“Clang! Clang!”

The sound of swords echoed like waves, flooding the entire 【Hidden Mechanism Hall】. And under Lu Yang’s deliberate pressure, even within Hongtian’s body, a sword cry echoed!

Two sword intents, as if on opposite sides of a mirror, rose slowly from both men. One was like refined steel—tempered endlessly, only growing stronger, seemingly indestructible. The other was like candlelight—though faint, it could pierce through all shadows.

For a moment, both fell silent.

‘Exactly the same. Even the goal is to attain 【Heavenly Fire】. Am I the model? Did this outsider come here for me?’

Hongtian lowered his eyes, thoughts racing wildly.

Meanwhile, Lu Yang’s face also sank. After a pause, he softly asked:

“Fellow Daoist seeks to attain 【Heavenly Fire】—how are your preparations?”

“【Heavenly Fire】 governs the world—how close are you to it?”

“What chance of success in forming the Golden Core?”

Facing Lu Yang’s questions, Hongtian frowned slightly, but didn’t hide anything. After all, 【Heavenly Fire】 was a rightful and honorable fruit position.

“As of now, I’d say ninety percent.”

Hongtian recited calmly: “I am now National Preceptor of the Immortal Court. This time, in seeking 【Heavenly Fire】, I’ve gained the support of His Majesty and the Three Dukes. From the Jiangnan Sword Sect, True Person Xuanwu—my friend—has promised to aid me. And I’ve just secured an agreement with the overseas dragon clan as well.”

At this point, his tone bore a trace of pride.

He had once tried to attain 【Heavenly Fire】. That time, he failed for not ruling the world. This time, he had prepared for every possibility.

In theory, he would not fail.

The so-called ten percent chance of failure was only because of the extreme difficulty of 【Heavenly Fire】 as a supreme fruit position. He didn’t dare claim complete certainty.

But in the next second, he saw Lu Yang shake his head gravely:

“Though fellow Daoist has a ninety percent chance… I fear it’s certain death!”

As those words fell, Lu Yang’s expression grew even more solemn. In his heart, he muttered:

‘This Hongtian… is practically another me from the 【Pseudo-History】!’