Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 561: The Butterfly in the Spiderweb

Hongtian did not recognize the World-Honored One.

After all, in the 【Pseudo‑History】, the World-Honored One had attained the Dao and immediately ascended, leaving no records whatsoever. Naturally, Hongtian had no way of knowing the origins of this figure.

But that did not stop him from understanding the current situation.

‘This person... is the final hurdle in my quest for gold! Just like the mysterious True Lord from the past, he comes from the outside world. No matter what, as long as I kill him, I can attain gold.’

In that instant, Hongtian was struck with inspiration.

The 【True Method of Correct Positional Shifting of Kan and Li】 was activated by him, 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 transformed into 【Heavenly Fire】, and with a lift of his hand, a manifestation appeared at once:

‘【Stripping】!’

Almost simultaneously, the manifested body of the World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, moved. All forty-eight thousand arms extended, wisdom-eyes in the palms opening wide, illuminating the great cosmos.

In that instant of illusion, Hongtian locked eyes with those forty-eight thousand wisdom-eyes, and within them, he seemed to see a magnificent world: forty-eight thousand lotus thrones bearing seated Bodhisattvas, Buddhas, Arhats, Vajras, all reciting scriptures in unison. There were also temples, Zen forests, stupa pagodas—an endless sight.

【Jambudvīpa Saha Blessed Realm】!

In a flash, Hongtian 【Stripped】 countless temples and pagodas from this grand blessed realm—but the Buddha’s light before him did not dim in the slightest.

“Still a Pseudo‑Possession in the end.”

The manifested body of the Tathāgata smiled gently, showing no resistance at all: “The fruit of Pseudo‑Possession cannot fully harness the profound mysteries—stripping also has its limits.”

“How much can you strip?”

“I have the Jambudvīpa Saha World, with forty-eight thousand lotus platforms, three thousand disciples, and countless devotees—all prepared for you. Take all you will.”

As he spoke, He continued forward.

The next moment, a blaze erupted, coalescing into a law:

【Those stripped by me shall suffer great punishment】

In an instant, the manifested Tathāgata walking toward Hongtian shuddered violently, and the flawless, dustless golden body of sixteen feet was instantly engulfed by heavenly light and flowing fire.

Punishment by Heavenly Fire!

Yet even so, the Tathāgata remained utterly unmoved. He simply pressed the Buddha light to his chest as forty-eight thousand arms simultaneously formed distinct mudras:

“All things are perfectly complete; there is only joy and no suffering.”

As the words fell, the Tathāgataʼs form suddenly turned ethereal. Then, with a single step forward, lotus flowers bloomed beneath his feet, spreading far and wide toward Hongtian.

Moments later, the Tathāgata stepped upon the blooming lotuses, effortlessly escaping the punishment of Heavenly Fire, revealing the mystery of evading disaster and calamity. The flames pursued, but were blocked by the lotus blooms beneath him, thus left far behind.

‘Ultra-ultra model!’

Lu Yang stared, dumbfounded—this wasn’t some Fruit Position mystery, nor a mere manifestation, but the purest of Daoist techniques!

‘Without relying on Fruit Position, can one still do this?’

‘No, no—that’s not the key. The key lies in that 【Jambudvīpa Saha Blessed Realm】... For a Golden Core True Lord, a Blessed Realm is the true foundation!’

In that moment, Lu Yang’s mind was devoid of all distractions.

His eyes were fixed solely on the descending manifested body of the World-Honored One, intent on discerning all his methods—to prepare for the future confrontation in the real world.

On the other side, Hongtian’s expression remained calm.

It was undeniable that the descent of the Tathāgata broke all conventions. Absolute power shattered all schemes, trapping Hongtian in a deadly crisis.

Although the World-Honored One’s descent and fishing expedition was shameless, it was undoubtedly effective.

Even so, Hongtian, like Lu Yang, held no distracting thoughts. He still clearly and precisely grasped the most important matter at hand:

‘To attain【Heavenly Fire】!’

Resisting the Tathāgata’s manifestation was merely a means, not the end. His goal from the beginning had been to attain gold—he must not lose sight of that.

In that instant, Hongtian made a decision.

He chose not to respond!

If the Tathāgata wished to kill him, so be it. Let’s see if he could be slain faster, or if he could attain 【Heavenly Fire】 first. It was a gamble for that sliver of survival!

In an instant, the world of manifestations flipped.

Amidst the vast Foundation Establishment realm, Buddha light, Fruit Positions, Heavenly Fire—countless images swirled into a blur, until only a single glimmer of golden light forged ahead through it all.

Hongtian’s golden nature!

At that moment, he had forsaken everything—his dharma body, his Pseudo‑Possession of the Blessed Realm. Only five divine abilities bore his golden nature forward, aiming to soar into the 【Heavenly Fire】!

Almost simultaneously, two True Lords of Yama Dao—【Long Flowing Water】 and 【Wall Earth】—burst forth with blinding brilliance. Sparing no effort, they reversed from defense to offense, intertwining palatial illusions into a gluttonous maw that directly swallowed the manifested Tathāgata along with four Fruit Positions!

In an instant, all fell silent!

【Roadside Earth】, 【Flatland Wood】, 【Gilded Gold】, 【Great Relay Earth】, and even the manifested Tathāgata—all vanished, leaving only a sky clear as jade.

They’d gone all out!

Clearly, Hongtian’s self-sacrificing move had pushed the two True Lords of Yama Dao to do the same. Above the firmament, two blazing fire trails burst forth with characters:

【Those who seek to escape shall suffer great punishment】

【Those who see the Lord and do not kneel shall suffer great punishment】

With these two laws descending, Heavenly Fire blazed magnificently—the Heavenly Emperor of the Immortal Court, the Three Dukes, and four True Lords all groaned in unison as flames ignited upon them.

Meanwhile, the manifested Tathāgata also frowned.

He could withstand the two Heavenly Fire punishments, but doing so would lower his condition, making it hard to instantly break through the blockade of the two Yama Dao True Lords.

However—

“If it’s only one Heavenly Fire punishment, then it’s not a big problem.”

In the next moment, the manifested Tathāgata bent his knees without hesitation and dropped to them with a thunderous crash—kneeling toward Hongtian!

Such a dignity‑forsaking, face‑discarding act stunned even Hongtian—but simultaneously, the Tathāgata, kneeling, had already shattered the blockade!

The process was extremely brief—like lightning.

After all, the two Yama Dao True Lords were already fighting two against five. Even while risking severe injury, they could only hold for a blink.

In the next second, the palace collapsed.

“Boom!”

【Wall Earth】 and 【Long Flowing Water】ʼs brilliance dimmed instantly, utterly defeated, forced to stare wide-eyed in Hongtian’s direction.

Could he succeed?

Was there hope?

At that moment, Lu Yang below was also gazing skyward. As a cultivator of 【Heavenly Fire】 at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, his judgment was razor-sharp:

‘...Just a little short!’

Almost simultaneously, Hongtian reached the same conclusion.

There was no time to attain it! In the instant before he could enter the【Heavenly Fire】, the Tathāgata would arrive and grasp him—refining him in an instant!

What to do?

Hongtian’s thoughts raced. Countless ideas flashed through his mind, searching for a solution—but none came. Until, a voice sounded:

“Keep going—gamble it all!”

Lu Yang had spoken.

In that instant, Hongtian’s hesitation turned into resolve. Ignoring the pursuing Tathāgata behind him, he flew madly toward the 【Heavenly Fire】.

Elsewhere, at the Zouyu Ruins—

Lu Yang’s true body looked up calmly. A golden talent silently unfurled, extracting all the fortune he’d accumulated over the years.

Golden Talent · Fortune Beyond the Corners!

Golden Talent · Fate-Lot Draw!

The former separates good fortune; the latter draws fate-lots. Lu Yang could not intervene directly—only these golden talents could subtly interfere.

In the next instant, golden light flared!

【Lesser Fortune】!

Though not a sure-win Great Fortune, it bought Hongtian a sliver of life. On his pursuit path, the Tathāgata suddenly encountered a delay.

That momentary hindrance came from the lingering images left by the two Yama Dao True Lords—just “coincidentally” slowing the Tathāgata for an instant.

But that instant... was enough!

In that moment, Hongtian soared like a bird breaking from its cage, wings outstretched—

“Zheng!”

—Only for a sword light to rise gently from Jiangnan, severing everything.

The flying bird’s wings shattered, and Hongtian’s qi plummeted. He turned back in bewilderment—only to see the vast net woven by the【Heavenly Kingdom Supreme Law】falling upon him.

And he... was the butterfly in the spiderweb.