Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 572: Snow Clears, Sky Brightens—The Dao I Engrave!

As Lu Yang’s voice rang out, the golden light seeking a Fruit Position over the seas finally revealed its true form, exposing the figure within.

It was a figure that did not shine brilliantly.

Not as imposing as Chong Guang, nor as upright as the Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing, and lacking the grace of Empress Xiao—it was utterly ordinary, even slightly hunched in a way that seemed humble.

Yet he still stood there.

Of the four corners seeking the Golden Fruit, his path had been the hardest—Dao attainment, cultivation, metal nature—each was a hurdle. And still, in the end, he stood tenaciously.

Humble, but never giving up.

Stooped, but never insignificant.

And above his head, a Blessed Land had already opened to the Foundation Establishment Realm, nearing the Bitter Sea, echoing with a distant Fruit Position, drawing step by step ever closer.

At the same moment, the Manifested Tathāgata saw clearly the Fruit Position he was seeking. It wasn’t 【Celestial River Water】. Or rather, 【Celestial River Water】 was merely a fabricated illusion; only when he neared and observed closely did the veil of confusion shatter, revealing what the Fruit truly was:

“【Water from the Spring】!.”

Suo Huan.

From the start, the one seeking the Golden Fruit over the sea had not been Tian Qiu, but rather Suo Huan, deliberately disguised as someone proving 【Celestial River Water】, when in truth it was 【Water from the Spring】!

As for how the disguise was done?

That was thanks to the exchange between Lu Yang and the remnant divine sense of True Lord Feixue before his own attempt at seeking gold. The entire illusion had been crafted under the guidance of True Lord Feixue!

Lu Yang was extremely confident in this.

After all, in a past life, True Lord Feixue had once disguised her 【Waters Beneath the Ravine】 as 【Flowing Waters】 to strike fiercely at 【Ang Xiao】. This time, it was merely the same old trick—though far less refined than if True Lord Feixue had done it herself—yet the Manifested Tathāgata was no 【Ang Xiao】 either.

“A trap?!”

The Manifested Tathāgata suddenly turned around, gritting his teeth and glaring at Lu Yang. “How could you possibly have known about my arrangements over the sea and even laid a trap for me there?!”

This made no sense!

The Manifested Tathāgata could not comprehend it. As a Manifestation enlightened by the World-Honored One, his status matched that of a True Lord, and his ability to deduce karma was nearly the same.

Compared to him, Lu Yang was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Even with a Pseudo-Possession of the Golden Position, there was no way he could outmatch him in karmic deduction—let alone lay such a far-reaching trap.

——And indeed, the truth was just as it appeared.

Lu Yang had laid all those arrangements overseas for a simple reason: Suo Huan’s golden seeking was too difficult, and this method improved his chances.

Deliberately misleading others to think it was Tian Qiu seeking the Golden Fruit over the sea, even crafting the illusion of 【Celestial River Water】—all of this had been Feixue True Lord’s suggestion, saying it would increase the chances of success. As the supreme of water-type Fruits, 【Celestial River Water】 flowed through all waters and naturally offered subtle aid.

The rest was just incidental.

But now, it had drawn the Manifested Tathāgata into his own trap, yielding an unexpected gain. Truly, good deeds are rewarded—our ancestors did not lie!

Of course, this could not be revealed on the surface.

So, facing the mix of anger and hidden fear in the Manifested Tathāgata’s gaze, Lu Yang simply grinned. “That’s right. Everything has been under my control!”

“Boom!”

Almost simultaneously, the golden light surrounding Suo Huan settled into stillness. That stooped figure slowly straightened, bones cracking crisply.

Right after, a vast and surging image manifested!

【Water from the Spring】—this water is born of metal and emerges from wood, known as the cold spring’s clarity, inexhaustible in nourishment. The Eight Houses dig it to share in drinking; ten thousand people rely on it for life.

“Thank you, my lord.”

In the next moment, Suo Huan flicked his sleeve and rose. His expression was solemn, without the slightest hesitation, as he clasped his hands toward Lu Yang in salute—completing the final piece of his puzzle.

Golden seekers from the four directions, all now True Lords!

All sincerely convinced!

In that instant, a realization dawned in Lu Yang’s heart: He no longer needed anything—no Blessed Land, no Metal Nature—nothing at all. 【Heavenly Fire】 was his!

The Fruit Position favored him, no longer looking away!

“You—”

The Manifested Tathāgata tried to speak, but before he could say more, Lu Yang’s gaze shifted toward him casually and glanced at him without emotion.

【The Chapter of Heavenly Inscription】: 【Those without Fruit Position shall have no True Lord status】

“Boom!”

In a flash, the Manifested Tathāgata’s mouth hung open as he saw his own status collapse—within the blink of an eye, he plummeted from Golden Core level down to Foundation Establishment Realm!

Yes, he had no Fruit Position!

As a manifestation enlightened by the World-Honored One, all of his divine abilities had been responses to the World-Honored One’s transformation. If one had to name a Fruit Position, the World-Honored One was his Fruit Position.

But clearly, that was not in line with conventional principle.

Thus, when Lu Yang inscribed this iron law, it had been abnormally smooth, facing almost no resistance—and at the very instant the law was inscribed, the Manifested Tathāgata’s status vanished completely. Unless the World-Honored One sensed it and personally intervened, there was no hope of reclaiming it.

But how could the World-Honored One take action for a mere manifested body?

Realizing this, the Manifested Tathāgata’s Buddha-like face filled with bitter anguish. He cast Lu Yang a deep glance, then pressed his palms together over his chest.

“Bitter indeed.”

Before the words finished, a scorching wind swept across his golden body. Deprived of the support from his status, the divine powers he once blocked with ease were now beyond his defense.

“Boom!”

With a thunderous crash, the Manifested Tathāgata’s divine radiance scattered. His golden body crumbled into dust and stone, collapsing like a mountain—leaving behind a new island in the overseas realm.

Only Lu Yang raised his head and gazed skyward.

In that moment, the gloom lifted, revealing a clear sky. 【Heavenly Fire】 hung resplendent at the center, surrounded by the five other Fruit Positions.

No more obstacles remained to seeking the Golden Fruit.

‘Thinking back, my original plan was a bit reckless.’

Lu Yang chuckled softly. At the time, he had thought of rushing to claim the Fruit Position while everyone was distracted—but alas, he’d failed.

Yet looking at it now, even if the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 hadn’t intervened, he still wouldn’t have succeeded.

【Heavenly Fire】 ruled with dominance, sovereign over the world. To claim it while in peril, surrounded by foes, would be to burn brightly and fade swiftly—dominion cannot be sustained.

That path could not lead to success.

To prove it, one had to do as he had done now.

Surrounded by foes? Then defeat them all! Execute the traitors! Only then could one ascend with proper name and title—only then would it match the image of 【Heavenly Fire】!

The next second, Lu Yang closed his eyes.

【Yama Palace】 shattered in a great roar. The status borne of Pseudo-Possession dispersed from his body, yet almost simultaneously, 【Heavenly Fire】 descended toward him of its own accord.

Like lightning and fire—perfectly seamless.

At that moment, Lu Yang’s mind sank into an endless abyss, seeing only darkness—until a burst of light exploded from the black.

【Blessed Land of the Mysterious Capital】.

In an instant, that Blessed Land aligned perfectly with 【Heavenly Fire】. It then collapsed, melted, until from within came a thunderous roar:

“Boom!”

Amid the rumbling thunder, beneath the shell of the collapsing 【Blessed Land of the Mysterious Capital】, a vast domain of energy slowly rose. Radiant as heaven, shining like the seas—brilliantly interwoven—encircling a single point of profound light at the center, with mountains, rivers, and stars arranged around.

【Heaven‑Bearing Division’s Profound Grotto-Heaven】!

If someone had examined it closely at that moment, they would have discovered that the interior layout of this new Grotto-Heaven was nearly identical to the current five domains of the world.

In the next moment, Lu Yang’s Dharma Body descended.

He simply stood within the Grotto-Heaven, doing nothing, yet naturally became its central axis. Sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers all bent toward him.

‘Did I really succeed?’

Only now did Lu Yang feel a hint of disbelief in his heart. He looked around and gained clarity: From the Bitter Sea above to the Netherworld below, all Golden Core True Lords in power sensed his existence and were turning their gaze toward him.

And not just the True Lords.

“Rumble rumble!”

From all directions, dark clouds gathered, golden lightning danced—yet they did not approach—only cast a mysterious and immense pressure upon Lu Yang.

Anyone else might not know the source of that pressure.

But Lu Yang knew all too well:

‘Though far less than the weight cast upon 【City Head Soil】 in my past life when the World-Honored One intervened, the nature is the same—these are the gazes of the Dao Lords!’

And not just one—but four gazes!

Four Dao Lords, each to varying degrees, had cast a sliver of attention upon him!

Even if only enough to make them briefly distracted, it was undeniable: at this moment, having attained 【Heavenly Fire】, Lu Yang had truly caught the eyes of four Dao Lords!

After a brief silence, countless thoughts surged through Lu Yang’s heart. In the end, they all turned into a single smile. He looked skyward, meeting all gazes openly, and spoke aloud:

“Through ages past, my cultivation true,

Sleeves sweep the deep seas, thunder through cloud hue.”

“Light fashioned into robes, rosy clouds my banner,

Sun and moon ablaze in glorious manner.”

“Through trials vast, my heart unchanged,

How many times has my boat capsized in the dust‑sea estranged?”

“Stars align, rivers and mountains pay their due.”

“Snow clears, sky brightens—The Dao I engrave is true!”