Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 503: Four Vaults of the Dao Canon, Selecting Dao Arts

Do not misunderstand — although Lu Yang was heading toward the harem, his heart harbored not a single wicked thought. It was purely because the destination lay within the harem.

This was entirely Emperor Jiayou’s doing.

Although Emperor Jiayou had three palaces, six courtyards, and three thousand concubines, he was wholeheartedly devoted to cultivation. Thus, he had many cultivation scriptures moved into the harem.

These included Daoist arts, scriptures, and the myriad techniques of immortal cultivation — an all-encompassing collection. Emperor Jiayou proudly named it the Four Vaults of the Dao Canon, claiming it encompassed all cultivation methods under heaven. Due to this hobby of his, many concubines in the harem followed suit.

From the empress above to the lesser concubines below,

all had read Daoist books from the Four Vaults of the Dao Canon. Some even developed unique insights into certain Dao texts to please Emperor Jiayou.

Of course, that was not important.

What mattered was the Daoist arts within the Four Vaults, which Lu Yang found intriguing. Now that he had taken control of the Tianwu Hall, it was the perfect time to delve into the Dao Canon.

Before long, Lu Yang arrived before the palace complex where the harem resided.

There, he saw a kind-faced eunuch waiting. Lu Yang immediately smiled and stepped forward with a cupped fist salute, saying, “Greetings, Daoist Friend An.”

“Lord Douhuan is too courteous.”

Eunuch An waved his hand upon hearing this and said sternly, “I heard that Lord Douhuan intends to enter the harem — this goes against regulations. Please conduct yourself with propriety.”

“What you say is true, Daoist Friend An.”

Lu Yang smiled. “However, I come this time to investigate a case. I suspect there is a spy from the Demonic Sect within Tianwu Hall, secretly sending out intelligence!”

“. . . What?”

As soon as he heard this, Eunuch An narrowed his eyes. “Lord Douhuan, one must not speak recklessly. The Inner Court is loyal only to His Majesty — how could we collude with the Demonic Sect?”

“Then all the more reason to investigate.”

With that, Lu Yang glanced around, then lowered his voice. “Daoist Friend . . . to be frank, the Crown Prince regards the Emperor’s assassination attempt with utmost seriousness. He even plans to remain in Tianwu Hall. If the Inner Court fully cooperates with the investigation, it would certainly ease His Highness’ mind.”

“This . . .”

Upon hearing this, Eunuch An furrowed his brows, his expression already beginning to soften. After all, these eunuchs of the Inner Court existed solely under the patronage of the Tianwu Royal House.

With Emperor Jiayou in seclusion, the Crown Prince Longxing was their true master.

If the master wanted an investigation, who could stop it?

Of course, Eunuch An could tell Lu Yang was using the investigation as a pretense to browse the Dao Canon for his own gain. But so what?

If one doesn’t seek personal gain, can they even be considered an official of the Dao Court?

Besides, he still needed Lu Yang to speak well of him before the Crown Prince.

With that thought, a smile blossomed on Eunuch An’s face. “So that’s how it is. Then please, my lord, proceed. You may investigate the harem as you please!”

“Many thanks, Daoist Friend An.”

Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction, then strode into the palace where the Four Vaults of the Dao Canon were kept. What entered his view was a magnificent sight.

The vast hall was completely filled with shelves of Daoist books, neatly categorized. The sheer quantity was even more exaggerated than the Manifest Law Pavilion of the Holy Sect!

‘That’s right — the Dao Court is the entirety of Jiangdong.’

In Jiangbei, beyond the Holy Sect, there were many large and small sects, each with their own hidden techniques. Their arts weren’t necessarily inferior to the Holy Sect’s.

But in Jiangdong, the Dao Court stood alone.

All Dao arts and divine abilities were under the rule of the Dao Court. Under such conditions, it was only natural that a Dao Canon built by the full might of the Dao Court would surpass that of the Holy Sect.

‘How should I choose?’

Lu Yang wore a contemplative look. Though he had fully completed Foundation Establishment, he wasn’t actually skilled in spell combat. Many times, he relied on mechanisms and stats to overwhelm his foes.

While merely through stats and mechanics, there were only a few cultivators under heaven who could best him, he hadn’t forgotten that in this world, there existed a Foundation Establishment True Person whose stats and mechanics surpassed his own. If he fought them with his current power, he would undoubtedly lose.

‘Demon-Suppressing Master. . .’

In his previous life, Lu Yang had never seen the Demon-Suppressing True Person go all out — he ended every opponent with a single sword strike.

After all, that man possessed two sword intents at the appellation level.

Besides the Demon-Suppressing True Person, only the True Lord of Rigid Form Dao-Preaching in the entire Sword Pavilion had comprehended a single appellation-level sword intent — and that one was a Golden Core Great True Lord!

‘That’s just broken!’

Lu Yang sighed. When it came to sword intent, the Demon-Suppressing True Person had reached the pinnacle. Lu Yang admitted he couldn’t compete, so he had to take another path.

‘If I can’t match in quality, then I’ll compete in quantity!’

He planned to choose several powerful Dao arts, then use Immortal Nation Dao Law to rapidly master them and thereby enhance his spell combat ability.

He had a plan in mind:

‘Right now, my five divine abilities include the innate 【Heavy Departure Imperial Decree Mountains and Seas Diagram】, and talents: 【Director of Fate】, 【Palace of Returning Origin】, 【Heaven and Earth Unite】, 【Coiling Dragon Root】.’

‘Setting aside the innate divine ability, among the talent divine arts, 【Director of Fate】 functions more as support — it mainly enhances the innate divine ability’s power. 【Palace of Returning Origin】 leans toward defense, containment, and suppression. 【Heaven and Earth Unite】 works with it to refine and subdue.’

‘As for 【Coiling Dragon Root】, its brilliance lies in healing injuries and dispelling baleful auras.’

This entire divine art system resembled the imagery of 【Heavenly Fire Above】 — focused on “healing” rather than direct combat.

Which made sense.

After all, the child of a noble family does not sit under the eaves; bloody combat is for generals. In the image of 【Heavenly Fire Above】, such deeds were considered beneath its status.

‘Still, there are exceptions.’

‘Even the Son of Heaven may personally lead the army — in times of peril, it all depends on whether the Dao arts resonate with the imagery and can fully express my stats.’

Lu Yang spread his divine sense and began scouring the Four Vaults of the Dao Canon. However, the entire Dao Canon was simply too massive. He couldn’t afford to skim every book — he had to examine each one carefully to determine its imagery and suitability, which consumed tremendous effort.

Only after a long while did he finally find two arts to his liking.

Noon Fire Dao Art: 【Beacon Watchtower Sun-Igniting Scroll】

Bing Fire Dao Art: 【Empyrean Light of the Yang Emperor Talisman】

‘Noon corresponds to beacons and watchtowers, so the 【Beacon Watchtower Sun-Igniting Scroll】 matches it perfectly. It commands military fire to defeat enemies head-on. The downside is that it’s too clunky.’

While extremely powerful, it lacked speed.

If he encountered an opponent skilled in evasion or catastrophe-dodging arts, they could easily escape, causing his vast mana to be wasted with no decisive blow.

‘The 【Empyrean Light of the Yang Emperor Talisman】 was chosen to address that shortcoming. It harnesses the mystique of Bing Fire — Bing is the sun, blazing at the zenith. Gazing upon it is like staring directly at high noon — instantly disrupting divine sense perception, making it hard to detect anything, let alone dodge my attacks.’

Even so, Lu Yang remained unsatisfied.

Though both Dao arts were excellent, they only tangentially aligned with the image of 【Heavenly Fire Above】. Relying on them to duel the Demon-Suppressing True Person was pure fantasy.

“What a pity — I’m unfamiliar with the Four Vaults of the Dao Canon.”

If someone had thoroughly read the entire Dao Canon, perhaps they could help him pick the ideal Dao art. But even among the harem concubines, few had achieved that.

Just then—

“Her Majesty the Empress arrives!”