Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍wind was calm and the waves were still.

As ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the voice of Daoist Hongtian fell, the entire realm seemed to descend into a state of silence. Immediately after, layered illusions emerged from the void.

Within ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Lonely Heart Island, Lü Yang smiled.

In ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the next second, a weave of black-gold iridescence gathered above his head, forming a divine phenomenon that corresponded precisely to the first divine ability of 【Heavenly Fire】:

‘【Emperor ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Commander of Fate】！’

This ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍divine ability manifested as an imperial crown, twelve beaded tassels, its jewels radiating light—making Lü Yang appear solemn and sacred, like a sovereign ruling over the world.

However, on the other side, Daoist Hongtian had also manifested the same divine ability. Crowned with the same regalia, luminous energy surged around the two of them. Very soon, images of pavilions, towers, palace gates, and red-tiled platforms emerged, with even the seawater below beginning to boil, steaming upward into great plumes of white mist.

‘【Guiyuan Palace】.’

The two divine abilities emerged in succession, corroding, clashing, birthing and extinguishing each other, circulating through cycles of creation and destruction—until finally, they both dissipated in turn, transforming into two threads of Profound Nether Primal Light.

‘【Union of Heaven and Earth】！’

Within those threads of light, one could vaguely see two towering ancient trees standing tall—dispersing calamity and resolving misfortune, ushering in fortune and avoiding doom. In a flick of a finger, countless karmic threads flowed through them.

‘【Coiling Dragon Roots】！’

These various divine manifestations wove together, directly blanketing the entire sea surrounding Lonely Heart Island.

Not until a long time later did these images collapse in a roar, revealing once again the two figures—yet the Lonely Heart Island and the surrounding sea had completely vanished.

“Rumble rumble rumble!”

Beneath their feet, all things and phenomena were gone. Only a vast, bottomless void remained—left behind by the evaporated seawater from the divine arts. Farther away, the surrounding sea poured back in, flooding the cavity and creating crashing waves that boomed loudly.

“Poor Dao is Hongtian.”

The Daoist cupped his hands with a gentle smile and said, “Fellow Daoist indeed also cultivates the path of 【Heavenly Fire】, same as Poor Dao. It brings me much joy.”

Then, he asked again, “May I dare ask your name, Fellow Daoist?”

“I am… Lü Yang.”

Lü Yang directly gave his real name. After all, this name held little karma, and even those who knew him would assume he had made it up on the spot.

More important to him was another matter:

‘This Hongtian… actually cultivates 【Heavenly Fire】 and not 【Overturning Lamp Fire】!’

After all, both Hongtian and Hong Yun were once True Lords of 【Overturning Lamp Fire】. Even if reincarnated, the divine abilities they had attained in the past shouldn’t have changed.

Why then had Hongtian’s divine path changed?

Compared to Hong Yun, what experiences had he gone through that were different?

‘And more importantly, he directly mentioned the outside world… Could it be he knows this place is a 【False History】? Who told him such a thing?’

【Soaring Sky】？

Lü Yang’s heart was filled with suspicion, but his face remained expressionless. He deliberately feigned ignorance and asked, “What outside world? Daoist Hongtian, what do you mean by that?”

Hearing this, Hongtian smiled even wider:

“So that’s how it is. It seems that in the outside world, Fellow Daoist must be a True Person of our Devil Sect.”

Lü Yang: “…”

Hongtian shook his head, speaking frankly, “You need not overthink it. The so-called ‘outside world’ is merely a conjecture Poor Dao formed through years of personal experience.”

“Back when I was still a True Lord of 【Overturning Lamp Fire】, I was killed by a mysterious True Lord who suddenly appeared. Before dying, I broke through his protective smoky mist and saw his true face—only to find he looked exactly like our sect’s own 【Lingxiao】, yet his fruit position, cultivation, and Dao path were completely different.”

“More importantly… he had attained the 【Great Forest Wood】.”

“And as far as I know, no one has ever achieved the Supreme Fruit Position. I began to wonder: where did this True Lord of 【Great Forest Wood】 come from…”

Hongtian was speaking with great enthusiasm, carrying on with a relaxed tone.

Lü Yang, meanwhile, silently sighed to himself: I knew it. This was all the fault of that wicked old thief of the Sacred Sect, 【Soaring Sky】!

“My final conclusion—was the outside world.”  

“Beyond men, there are always greater men. Beyond heaven, there are higher heavens. Clearly, there is another world outside this one. That mysterious True Lord from the past—and you, Fellow Daoist—must be from there!”

“Because the divine path of that mysterious one was 【Great Forest Wood】—a Supreme Fruit Position. To date, he’s the only one I’ve found from the outside world. So I surmised that perhaps only those who attain a Supreme Fruit Position can access the outer world. Thus, I resolved to shift my Dao path, and began pursuing 【Heavenly Fire】.”

At this point, Hongtian’s voice came to an abrupt stop.

The next second, he looked at Lü Yang and chuckled softly: “Fellow Daoist, do you know what others say when I tell them all this?”

Lü Yang: “…”

‘I slipped up!’

He had deliberately listened to so much—thinking it merely contained veiled info about 【Soaring Sky】—but it was clearly a trap!

Sure enough, Hongtian’s voice continued: “Either they’re impatient, or they brush me off. Not a single one responded with such calm composure as you have.”

As the words fell, Hongtian stared directly at Lü Yang:

“Before, I merely thought your karmic aura resembled that of the mysterious True Lord. But now… I believe I’ve guessed correctly.”

“What say you, Fellow Daoist? Do you not have anything you wish to say?”

As soon as he said that, Lü Yang stopped remaining silent.

Without a shred of hesitation, his figure vanished on the spot. He had no intention of further discussion—leaving Hongtian stunned.

The next moment, Hongtian sighed:

“Isn’t a normal person supposed to be stunned by my words and want to talk more? Running this fast… you really are a disciple of my Devil Sect.”

Before he could finish—

“Boom!”

High above the sky, 【Wall Earth】 erupted in brilliant radiance. A tremendous force descended, sealing the flow of energy, encompassing all phenomena—instantly locking down half the overseas realm.

Only after a long while did this mighty power begin to fade.

Daoist Hongtian looked on with regret. He had already summoned a True Lord as fast as he could—but the other party still escaped in the nick of time.

Clearly, very experienced.

But just as he thought all was lost and was about to depart, a voice drifted in faintly: “Daoist, now we can talk.”

“Hmm!?”

This time it was Hongtian’s turn to be surprised. Looking back, he saw the man who had previously visited Suolan—the 【Sea-Calming Envoy of the Immortal Court】—standing with hands behind his back, smiling faintly.

【Puppet on Strings】！

This person was, of course, the puppet Lü Yang had left behind before fleeing. Ensuring his own safety, he didn’t mind chatting with this alternate-timeline Hong Yun.

At the same time, he had figured out part of this Hongtian’s background.

‘I hadn’t realized earlier—the difference between this Hongtian and Hong Yun lies in the Heavenly Lord!’

In the current world, Hong Yun was favored by the Heavenly Lord, his fortune overwhelming. But in this segment of 【False History】, without a Dao Lord, there naturally could be no Heavenly Lord.

In other words——

‘Hong Yun was actually harmed by the Heavenly Lord!’

‘Or rather, his innate talent and potential were already one-in-a-billion—destined to be heaven’s favored son. Otherwise, the Heavenly Lord wouldn’t have chosen him.’

‘In theory, even without fortune’s blessings, Hong Yun could have become a True Lord on his own. But the Heavenly Lord’s blessings—stuffing everything into his mouth—left him untested, untempered, raised him into uselessness. Compared to the Hongtian before him, he was far inferior!’