Truth be told.
When he first manifested the future shadow of the Ancestral Dragon to retrieve the [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record] from the [Supreme Grandmaster], the Primordial Saint had not harbored much hope.
Because this was not the first time.
In the very beginning, when he discovered that the [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record] could only be used once and had become utterly scrapped afterward, he had nearly gone mad attempting to repair it.
He had spent vast stretches of time scouring the Light Sea, seeking that lost supreme power. Even during the first few tens of thousands of years after ascending to the [Paramita], he had not given up, searching in secret. Yet, he had found nothing, finally abandoning the search entirely nearly fifty thousand years ago.
This was not because he no longer wished to search.
It was because the [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record] itself could no longer endure. It was on the verge of collapse, becoming increasingly dilapidated with the passage of time.
Later, the Primordial Saint found the reason: 'The preservation methods of the [School of Names] and the [School of Forms] have their limits. Only within the [Supreme Grandmaster] could its erosion be mitigated to the maximum extent.'
However, to find the lost supreme power, he had to take it out of the [Supreme Grandmaster] to sense the Light Sea. This process inevitably caused wear and tear. Over time, the [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record] could no longer hold out, forcing the Primordial Saint to place it back into the [Supreme Grandmaster].
As for taking it out again this time.
To put it bluntly, it was merely a desperate last resort. Since the endgame was approaching, if he were to die, the treasure would be useless anyway, so he might as well try.
He never expected the results.
This single attempt actually bore fruit. At the critical moment when nearly all his plans had been sabotaged and overturned, hope appeared once more.
[Variables]! At this thought, the Primordial Saint could no longer maintain the state of [Supreme Forgotten Emotion]. Intense emotions flooded his sea of consciousness, filled with both dread and longing.
How many times has it been? Just how many times have I "started over" without my knowledge?
'That supreme power has lost its original body, the [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record]. Like water without a source, it cannot sustain itself forever.'
In other words, it must have a limit on the number of uses.
Exactly how many would it be? Using his own experience as a reference, the Primordial Saint decided to estimate the number as high as possible: 'Three times? Five times? No... it is highly likely to be ten times.'
Just the thought of it made his heart surge with agitation.
However, as he quelled his thoughts and re-entered [Supreme Forgotten Emotion], his excited expression was gradually tinged with a layer of gloom.
'...Wait.' 'That supreme power now has another host and is no longer influenced by the [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record]. Does this mean I have no way to seize it?'
The Primordial Saint was not blinded by greed; instead, he remained calm: 'The new container for that supreme power was likely refined by the high-stage Deity Transformation being. My only way to seize it is to control the container's new master. But if that new master truly is Lu Yang...'
It would be impossible! Once a Primordial Spirit is forged, even if the Primordial Saint were at his peak, he could not freeze the other's thoughts. He could not stop the other from starting over and erasing this current life.
'Perhaps... I have already tried it!' 'Therefore, seizing it by force is unrealistic. Not only can I not take it by force, but I must not expose myself. I cannot let the other party know that I have obtained this information.'
The Primordial Saint's thoughts whirled, becoming increasingly clear: 'Otherwise, he will simply continue to start over and hide in the shadows. Everything I know will turn into the distant past; no matter how much I discover, it will be meaningless.'
By the same logic. 'As long as he holds that supreme power, I cannot succeed no matter what I do. The only way is to exhaust his remaining uses!'
'Not only must I exhaust them, but I must do so without being discovered. I must find a way to ensure that the "me" after he restarts can also possess this relevant information, making it easier for [me] to continue laying out plans. I must ensure that after his uses are exhausted, I still hold the absolute advantage. Only then will it work!'
At this thought, the Primordial Saint's gaze grew increasingly profound.
The conditions seemed extremely demanding, but in his eyes, as long as he achieved one thing, all current predicaments could be solved.
And that was to allow himself to start over as well.
'Although the power has another host, the [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record] was, after all, the original body. If the price is paid, there may yet be hope...'
Suddenly, inspiration struck the Primordial Saint.
Looking up, he saw a certain wonder within the Light Sea—one that had always been hostile to him and resisted his suppression with all its might—quietly bless him.
[Variables]. Enlightenment dawned in his heart: 'If things continue like this, the future "me" will surely encounter a death tribulation. And the truth I have discovered... is my sliver of survival!'
The moment this thought appeared, the Primordial Saint's aura began to skyrocket. Just as Sisui had expected, he was indeed extremely sensitive to [Variables]. As soon as one appeared, he could grasp it. Driven by this single [Variable], his state instantly broke through the barriers of his multiple drops in rank.
Nascent Soul! [Paramita] level one! Yet, no hint of joy appeared in the Primordial Saint's eyes; his expression grew even more somber.
After all, it is well known that a [Variable] never appears or favors someone without reason. Since it chose this moment, there was only one possibility.
'I am about to enter a state of certain death!'
"BOOM!" Right then, a roar echoed from the depths of the Dark Void, startling the Primordial Saint from his contemplation. He instinctively looked up, only to see boundless shadows.
The gloomy Dark Void.
Lu Yang's wide sleeves fluttered as he stepped out of Tianhuang, walking through the Dark Void. Sisui followed behind him, wearing a satisfied smile.
"It seems these years were not spent in vain after all, Fellow Daoist."
"Though you have yet to master [The Great Dao Responds to Me], your foundation is solid. Otherwise, your majesty would surely be echoing through the heavens right now, making it difficult to restrain your immense power."
Lu Yang bowed with his hands clasped: "I must thank my teacher."
Sisui waved it off and smiled: "I did not pass the Dao to you; I merely provided instruction and resolved doubts. I do not deserve the title of teacher. Your success comes from your own inherent foundation."
"However..." At this point, Sisui showed a trace of concern. "Borrowing the Light of Wisdom from Beast Taming is ultimately a method that treats the symptoms rather than the root. Currently, you are only a temporary tenant of the Dao Lord rank, so it still works. If you wish to elevate your essence like myself or the Primordial Saint in the future, it likely won't suffice."
"One uses what one can for as long as one can."
Lu Yang laughed heartily, showing no sign of worry. He would leave tomorrow's problems for tomorrow's self to solve; his current self could well afford to enjoy the moment.
Besides, a temporary Dao Lord is still a Dao Lord.
Some people aren't even that right now!
With that thought, Lu Yang lowered his gaze, looking down at the empty Light Sea beneath his feet. He did nothing special; he simply tucked his sleeves and pressed his hand down.