Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

At that moment, accompanied by a thunderous boom, throughout all under heaven, every mortal and Foundation Establishment cultivator alike was suddenly overwhelmed with an uncontrollable wave of sorrow.

Heaven and earth wept blood—myriad beings mourned as one!

Immediately after, all Foundation Establishment True Persons raised their heads in shock, staring upward past the Foundation Establishment realm to the boundless land of the Bitter Sea, where a small section suddenly began to collapse.

The collapsing area shimmered with myriad illusionary colors, intertwining to sketch out a miraculous sight of densely branched trees and stately pavilions. Gazing upon it, one would behold a lush forest, an undulating sea of woods. Yet as it crumbled further, what should have been flourishing branches and leaves rapidly withered away.

And at the center of that kaleidoscopic vision—stood a single figure.

“—No!”

A shrill roar of fury burst from the mouth of the Dao Court’s Grand Preceptor, filled with despair and bitter resentment.

Why me?

What enmity do I have with you?

I have nothing to do with the Pure Land!

It was Emperor Jiayou who bore a grudge with you in the Dao Court—it was his wife you slept with, not mine. What does this have to do with me? I was even glad to see it happen!

Yet somehow… it’s me who dies!

I’m innocent!

The Grand Preceptor’s terror wasn’t without reason, for the Dao Court’s Three Dukes, though they were Golden Core True Lords, had a fundamental difference from other Golden Core cultivators:

They lacked Gold Nature!

In the Dao Court, except for the royal bloodline of Tianwu, all cultivation was derived from official positions. Even upon achieving consummation in Foundation Establishment, the Gold Nature they condensed was still tied to this system!

Their Gold Nature was bound to their official status—not their soul! Let alone the fact that the Three Dukes’ Cave Heavens didn’t belong to them either, but were likewise linked to their positions. Now that the Cave Heaven had collapsed, both their official titles and Gold Nature had been reclaimed by the 【Immortal Kingdom Dao Law】. He, like any other cultivator, would now reincarnate through samsara!

How could he possibly accept this?

He still harbored ambition—he had hoped to seize this opportunity to restore the former prestige of the Three Dukes in court, to break through to mid-stage Golden Core, to reclaim the power of the former Grand Preceptor.

And in the end… he died so inexplicably?

I was just here to join the excitement, assuming that with seven True Lords, and Dao Court allied with the Pure Land, it would be a crushing victory—I could just coast in the rear!

Yet in the end… I was the one who died!

Truly, I refuse to accept this!

But no matter how deep the resentment, at this moment it was all no more than the wails of a defeated dog. Amid the collapse of the Cave Heaven, the Grand Preceptor’s soul had no power to resist.

“Boom!”

With one final deafening crash, the Grand Preceptor’s soul was helplessly drawn away by the Underworld, while the falling Cave Heaven was suddenly wrapped in another immense force—

【Immortal Kingdom Dao Law】!

Normally, when a True Lord perished and their Cave Heaven fell from the Bitter Sea, it would shatter instantly, its fragments dispersing into the world.

Yet this time, Lü Yang saw it clearly—the Dao Court Grand Preceptor’s Cave Heaven didn’t disintegrate. Instead, in the crucial instant, it was retrieved by the 【Immortal Kingdom Dao Law】. Should it be restored in the future, and a new consummate Foundation Establishment cultivator take residence, perhaps it might once again ascend into a Fruit Position.

‘How interesting.’

Lü Yang stroked his chin, finally understanding the operational structure of the Dao Court’s Three Dukes. Compared to other Golden Core True Lords, Dao Court True Lords truly had it tougher.

‘Or rather, this is precisely the nature of the Four Great Factions.’

‘The stronger the power, the more demanding it becomes for those beneath it.’

‘The Pure Land is self-explanatory, with the World-Honored One in his groove. The Dao Court is somewhat better, but still harsh. The Sword Pavilion is only strict toward outsiders—only the Saint Sect embraces all rivers.’

Thinking to this point, Lü Yang couldn’t help but sigh—

After circling around, is this wretched place actually the best among them all?

Where’s the justice?

Just then, another deafening rumble echoed across the firmament, followed by Emperor Jiayou’s enraged roar: “Old Dragon! You dare block my Dao Path!”

The Grand Preceptor was dead!

The Dao Court’s Grand Preceptor had held the Fruit Position of 【Flatland Wood】—a key position in Jiayou’s plan to advance to late-stage Golden Core!

Among the Dao Court’s four Fruit Positions: 【Roadside Earth】, 【Relay Station Earth】, 【Flatland Wood】, 【Gold Leaf Gold】, some were duplicates. With 【Flatland Wood】 gone, only two Earths and one Gold remained—it couldn’t form a tri-element. What would Jiayou use now to advance?

In that instant, Emperor Jiayou went mad.

Even when he learned that Lü Yang and Empress Xiao were entangled, he hadn’t lost his mind like this. But now, abandoning all caution, he sought to drive Old Dragon Lord away at any cost.

Yet faced with such frenzy, the Old Dragon Lord only sneered:

“So you do know your Dao Path has been severed. Then do you think I should fear you anymore? Going mad? If madness solved problems, I’d have gone mad long ago!”

And who was Old Dragon Lord?

You could call him cowardly or timid—but none could deny, he was the one who had led the Dragon Clan to endure all these years. How could he not see through Jiayou’s little ploy?

Jiayou wasn’t mad—

He was afraid!

The Grand Preceptor had perished—he feared that the Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian would follow. Once he became completely alone, he would be the next to die!

What appeared like madness—was actually a desperate bid to flee!

At this thought, Old Dragon Lord burst into laughter: “No need to pretend anymore, Jiayou. Today, this old man will block your path—there’s nowhere for you to run!”

At the same time—over Jiangxi.

Lü Yang stood with hands behind his back, surrounded by floating manifestations of intent, one Dao rule after another emerging to firmly suppress the Dao Court’s remaining Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian.

The tide had turned!

Lü Yang sneered inwardly: ‘So this is all the Dao Court amounts to?’

Aside from Jiayou, the Three Dukes were nothing to fear. The Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian were slightly stronger than the Grand Preceptor—but not by much. None of them were formidable True Lords.

To compare them properly—they belonged at the same table as the 【True Lord of Supreme Virtue Upholding Heaven】!

As for the Pure Land—the 【Essence-Holding Treasure Lotus Bodhisattva】 and the other Bodhisattva had already been sent into seclusion by Lü Yang. As long as he did not withdraw the mysterious power, they would not return.

Of the seven True Lords who had arrived with such pomp and momentum—only one remained!

Yet Lü Yang’s face didn’t relax—instead, it grew more solemn. For in this battle, he had already spent nearly all his available tactics.

【Heavenly Inscription Seal】 had been used to seal the two Bodhisattvas in seclusion and to protect himself.

The “Deprivation” intent had been subdued by the 【Essence-Holding Treasure Lotus Bodhisattva】. The 【Punishment of Heavenly Fire】 had already been used to suppress the Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian and could not be used again.

Compared to him—the 【Essence-Holding Treasure Lotus Bodhisattva】 had not yet revealed her full power.

Lü Yang’s expression turned cold. His ascended soul sense constantly warned him—he could clearly perceive the intense danger radiating from her.

If there was any advantage on his side—it was numbers.

Though he had to divide his attention to suppress the two Bodhisattvas and the Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian, with Ancestor Tingyou and Suohuan assisting him, it was still three against one. The advantage remained his!

But in the next moment, Lü Yang’s expression changed.

For a strange radiance began to emerge from the body of the 【Essence-Holding Treasure Lotus Bodhisattva】—a light he had never seen before. Her once seductive smile turned into a cold, emotionless stare:

“...Remarkable.”

“You have yet to refine a True Treasure, and you’ve not even formed a system of your own. Yet with just the Fruit Position’s intent and mystery, you’ve come this far.”

“I admit, the Supreme Fruit Position is indeed powerful... but not invincible!”

“In the end, you’ve only recently broken through.”

The 【Essence-Holding Treasure Lotus Bodhisattva】’s voice grew even icier: “Lacking Dao attainment, relying entirely on the Fruit Position’s power—do you truly believe I have no way to deal with you?”

As her words fell, the mysterious radiance on her body fully materialized. Within that light, three True Treasures she had refined appeared in full:

【Essence-Holding Treasure Lotus Chalice】,

【Qi-Subduing Spirit-Calming Hairpin】,

【Four Noble Truths True Dharma Wheel】—

Together, they merged into a complex, resplendent sigil.

“—Amitabha.”

At her solemn chant, everyone turned to look—whether it was Emperor Jiayou and Old Dragon Lord still locked in battle, or those from the Saint Sect and Sword Pavilion in the distance—

Without exception, all cast their gaze over:

“How unexpected… under such circumstances in the Pure Land, with the World-Honored One present, someone still managed to master the Immortal Dao Method?”

“Good, good… it seems the ending is still unwritten.”

“There remains... a twist in fate!”