Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 562: Next Time, This Shall Become Reality

At this moment, Lu Yang could only remain silent.

Like Hongtian, he lifted his gaze and looked toward Jiangnan, for it was from that very place that the sword light had cleaved through, shattering Hongtian’s final hope.

But it wasn’t just that. As Hongtian fell, the Manifested Tathāgata and the 【Heavenly Kingdom Supreme Law】 arrived immediately after—one directly seized Hongtian in his grasp, the other ensnared the 【Heavenly Fire】 in a net. As for the sword light that had severed hope, it was slowly drawing out a strand of sword intent from within Hongtian’s sea of consciousness.

‘So this was Jiangnan’s true purpose for acting.’

‘To claim the Titled Sword Intent?’

Lu Yang stared coldly at the unfolding scene, yet his mind involuntarily recalled the once‑settled 【White Chi Golden Nature】 and its corresponding innate talent:

‘Dragon‑Stripping Platform.’

At this point, Hongtian was undoubtedly just that. The Immortal Court had taken the 【Heavenly Fire】, the World-Honored One had taken his body, and the Jiangnan Sword Sect was peeling away his sword intent!

Seeking the Golden Body, only to be devoured by all.

Yet, amid the chill in his heart, Lu Yang also brimmed with doubts.

‘In the 【Pseudo‑History】, the region of Jiangnan still had True Lords, so unleashing such a sword light wasn’t unusual. But what about the present world? The present-day Sword Pavilion no longer has any True Lords!’

‘The True Lords of the Sword Pavilion hiding from the world is practically certain. After all, even in the previous life, when the Pavilion was breached by the Sacred Sect, no True Lords emerged. And unlike the Pure Land, the Pavilion doesn’t have external True Lords stationed there. So in that case—who in the present world’s Pavilion could unleash this sword?’

Real Person of Demon-Cleansing? Absolutely impossible!

Lu Yang couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard he thought. Yet since this scene had appeared in the 【Pseudo‑History】, he had to assume the worst:

It would appear in the present world too!

“Boom!”

Just then, a thunderous boom erupted from the direction of Jiangnan.

Lu Yang turned his eyes and saw a strand of Titled Sword Intent rising slowly. It was the counterpart of the Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing in the 【Pseudo‑History】, named Real Person Xuanwu.

But since the World-Honored One didn’t exist within the 【Pseudo‑History】, Real Person Xuanwu lacked a strand of the 【No‑Kill Sword Intent】, making him far weaker than the present world’s Real Person of Demon-Cleansing. Even so, he still swung his sword without hesitation—

One sword, fiercely cleaving toward his own sect!

“Impudence!”

In an instant, a cold snort echoed from the depths of the Jiangnan Sword Sect, and a wave of overwhelming power descended, directly suppressing the furious Real Person Xuanwu with a thunderous crash.

Lu Yang watched, his heart heavy.

‘Is this foreshadowing for me? That in the end, the Sword Pavilion will kick me when I’m down, and Real Person of Demon-Cleansing will act on my behalf—but only to accompany me in death.’

At this moment, he suddenly understood:

‘No wonder... No wonder the Founding Ancestor of the Sacred Sect helped me.’

Just look at this scene—the Dao Court, the Pure Land, and the Sword Pavilion all gained benefits in the 【Pseudo‑History】, feasting upon Hongtian. Only one faction wasn’t invited.

Damn it—the Sacred Sect was excluded!

How could the mighty Sacred Sect tolerate such a thing?

‘These three factions want to hog everything—meat and even soup, without leaving a drop for the Sacred Sect. That’s why the Founding Ancestor chose to help me!’

If I can’t have a share—

Then no one gets any!

‘In a certain sense, the Founding Ancestor of the Sacred Sect... might just be the strongest of the Four Dao Lords. So much so that the other Dao Lords would rather risk his interference than allow him to get even a shred of benefit. At the same time, this... is where my opportunity lies!’

Even now, Lu Yang had not given up. In fact, he was filled with anticipation:

‘Daoist Hongtian, your death... is splendid!’

Though Hongtian failed in seeking the Golden Body, he had already probed all the dangers—Manifested Tathāgata, Laws of the Immortal Kingdom, and the Sword Pavilion’s ambush—all were now exposed!

With this intelligence, strategies could be devised.

There was still hope!

As for the fortune he had lost using the 【Divination Drawing of Fate】 for Hongtian just now—Lu Yang no longer cared. To him now, fortune was optional.

After all, he already wielded dominion over the world. If he desired, he could easily mobilize the fortune of all under heaven for his own use. Whatever was spent on Hongtian—what of it? At most, it was just a matter of personal grievance, an emotional impulse.

But when it came time for his own pursuit of the Golden Body—

That would be the moment he gambled everything, giving it his all.

Meanwhile, above the firmament—

Hongtian’s figure reappeared. The staircase he had previously formed crumbled, his position plummeted, and he fell out of the Foundation Establishment realm, reemerging into reality.

But he no longer had the strength to worry about anything else.

He didn’t even have the strength to speak.

The 【Heavenly Fire】 had already been caught in the net—there was no escape. His sword intent had also been drawn out. His thoughts grew ever more blurred.

‘I’m going to die...’

Never before had he so clearly realized this. The means of the Manifested Tathāgata that imprisoned him were extraordinary—he couldn’t escape!

Not even reincarnation was possible!

At that moment, Manifested Tathāgata spoke:

“Amitabha. Daoist friend, if you enter my service now and become my Tathāgata Form, your life shall be spared. I will even take you to see the outer world.”

He laid bare Hongtian’s lifelong yearning.

Yet faced with such temptation, Hongtian only sneered, casting a disdainful glance at the Manifested Tathāgata:

“To be your puppet... and go to the outer world?”

How was that any different from trading one cage for another?

And so, his answer could only ever be one:

「I’d rather die!」

—Boom rumble—!

Casting one final glance at Lu Yang below, Hongtian’s soul exploded—shattering and scattering, igniting a brilliant flare of light across the heavens.

Yet like a candle snuffed by the wind, the fire vanished in an instant.

Only the Manifested Tathāgata remained suspended mid-air, Buddha-face composed, smile unwavering, without the slightest ripple:

「...Stubborn ignorance.」

With those words, he lowered his gaze to where Hongtian’s final line of sight had fallen—only to see a handful of scattered tribulation ashes.

At the ruins of Zouyu, Lu Yang’s true body opened his eyes.

But before he could react, a voice drifted through—gentle, calm, and even tinged with pity—so convincing that one could not help but believe:

“Lu Yang? Dou Huan? Young friend, are you listening?”

Lu Yang: 「...!?！？！」

Just that single sentence was enough to make Lu Yang’s expression collapse. A terror he hadn’t felt in ages surged into his heart.

‘He knows I’m here?’

‘The World-Honored One, he knows I’m inside this very 【Pseudo‑History】 right now!’

In that instant, every calculation and hope Lu Yang had for the future collapsed into a blank void—only slowly did thought return:

‘Am I... still me?’

‘No—wait. It was the Founding Ancestor of the Sacred Sect who brought me into this 【Pseudo‑History】. If the World-Honored One could catch me at will, what would be the point of me entering in the first place?’

Lu Yang clenched his teeth, trembling as he looked around.

No one suddenly appeared. His thoughts remained intact. At least—he had no urge to blurt out a “Yikes!” He was stunned, yes, but from fear, not control.

‘He wasn’t speaking to me directly—it was a broadcast to the whole world.’

‘That’s right... The World-Honored One can’t find me! He can only sense that I’m somewhere within this 【Pseudo‑History】, but not my exact location!’

Lu Yang let out a long breath.

Yet soon, a heavier weight crushed his heart:

‘But... if the World-Honored One has long known I’m here, he surely took precautions against me. Can anything I’ve seen still be trusted?’

The 【Pseudo‑History】 was no longer reliable!

Because Lu Yang couldn’t know whether the World-Honored One had secretly tampered with it.

Perhaps it was all true.

Perhaps it was half-truth, half-lie.

Perhaps... it was a fatal trap, meticulously crafted to mislead him!

Lu Yang gritted his teeth and once again manipulated a marionette, raising its head to face where the Manifested Tathāgata stood.

High above—

The Manifested Tathāgata wore a relaxed smile, which grew ever deeper, as if sensing Lu Yang’s gaze. He softly spoke:

「This time was just a rehearsal.」

「But next time—」

「It shall become reality.」