A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

"Be cautious of the light."

Surely, it was a story I had also heard from [Him] whose name escapes me.

"[The Light]... what exactly is it?"

"One of the Governing Immortals."

"Governing Immortals?"

"Those who have transcended the limits and boundaries of True Immortals are called Governing Immortals. They are the Supreme Deities and the Heavenly Venerables, and across all Three Thousand Worlds, there are only ten such beings. The Six Supreme Deities and the Four Heavenly Venerables are among them."

Gulguk―

I swallow hard.

Just hearing about the six Supreme Deities and the four Heavenly Venerables, my strength drains away.

At the same time, my head begins to feel foggy.

Drip, dripping…

Somehow, I feel as if I am floating.

For some reason, I think my body is melting away.

'No, no….'

It isn't.

It isn't a delusion or thought.

My body is, in fact, melting like candle wax in front of Yang Su-jin!

"Snap out of it."

"Heugh, Heuk!"

'What, what's happening to me!?'

I'm on the verge of screaming in terror.

But then,

Ddak!

Yang Su-jin snaps his finger in the darkness.

At the same time, my body returns to its original form.

"It seems even knowing of their existence is too overwhelming for you."

"…???"

I can't help but feel baffled, unable to understand.

"Wh, what was that just now…?"

"Having accepted the knowledge of beings at the peak of the world, your body at the genetic level tried to disintegrate out of fear. But it's strange.... Even considering they are Governing Immortals, merely knowing of their existence usually doesn't trigger such a severe reaction unless one of the Governing Immortals is observing you..."

Yang Su-jin mutters to himself for a moment, then snaps his fingers again.

Jijik, jijijijik!

Simultaneously, sparks of static electricity begins to erupt all around.

"Aha, I see. The Master of the Netherworld has noticed an Ender has entered their domain. They are descending here."

"…Excuse me?"

"Don't worry too much. Because of the pact I made during my lifetime, even the Master of the Netherworld will take some time to enter our place of conversation, despite it being land provided by him.... So, we have plenty of time to talk."

I am speechless, overwhelmed by the sudden flood of information.

'The Master of the Netherworld? Supreme Deity? Heavenly Venerable?'

I am utterly confused.

But, even in the midst of this, I cling to a shred of sanity.

"Is the Master of the Netherworld, whom you mentioned, also a Governing Immortal?"

"Yes. One of the Heavenly Venerables. The 'Owner of Light,' obsessed with monitoring the Enders, is also one of the Supreme Deities. Ah, if you met me through the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, you'd know already, but the original owner of the Heavenly Lightning Banner is also one of the Supreme Deities, the 'Owner of Heavenly Punishment'."

"…!"

I'm startled by the information I have suddenly come to know.

'So much information in such a short time...'

I take a breath.

"Then… you said that the entity known as the [Owner of Light] searches for Enders under the decree of [The Emperor]. The remnant thoughts of you I saw at Shattered Heaven Peak also mentioned someone is pursuing Enders. Are these entities the same person?"

Even as I speak, I am careful and slow with my words, worrying I might say something wrong.

For a wrong word could make me the target of their observation.

However, Yang Su-jin doesn't stop me, seemingly finding no issue with it.

"They are the same entity. Although I give due respect to the Governing Immortals by referring to them as Supreme Deities and Heavenly Venerables, in reality, that entity is the true Emperor. The rest are merely pretenders..."

"Who is this entity? Who is it that targets Enders?"

I swallow.

Now, the clear truth about the entity targeting us...

"I don't know."

"…Excuse me?"

But Yang Su-jin merely clicks his tongue in the darkness.

"It's because I am a divided consciousness, split from the main body before I confronted [that entity] to make a negotiation. The main body perished after meeting that entity, and most of our Ender predecessors faced the same fate upon encountering that entity. I can only guess that it's a being who doesn't particularly welcome us…"

"…"

"However, there is someone who would likely know much about that entity. When you've grown stronger, seek them out."

"Who is that being?"

"The one furiously knocking from outside this space. The Master of the Netherworld… the Heavenly Venerable who overseers the afterlife and reincarnation. They are the oldest among all Supreme Deities, Heavenly Venerables, Governing Immortals, and True Immortals, so ask them later."

I ask, not understanding.

"Why must I ask later? Can't I ask now?"

"…The Master of the Netherworld is a peculiar being. They eagerly capture Enders when they are weak, intending to lock them away at the bottom of the Netherworld. However, once Enders become as strong as them, they kindly offer cooperation."

"…"

"If you, in your current state, are caught by them, you'd be sealed at the bottom of the Netherworld for eternity."

I swallow hard.

If that's the case…

'Me, my companions, and the Enders all need to be wary not only of [The Light] but also of the 'Master of the Netherworld'?'

"…So, the Master of the Netherworld is…"

"Let's end this topic for now. While the bottom of the Netherworld might not require worry about the gaze of other Governing Immortals or [that entity], the power and gaze of the Netherworld's Heavenly Venerable becomes even clearer. Just by recalling and mentioning them, you're creating a connection between you and them."

"…!"

As soon as I hear that, chills run down my spine and I find myself covering my mouth without realizing it.

"I can guess what you're curious about. However, the Master of the Netherworld does not usually interfere before the Enders enter the realm of the dead. Hence, as long as you're alive and avoid going to the Netherworld, there's no need to worry too much. Of course, the fact that they don't leave the Netherworld is not due to any restrictions but his personal issues, so don't be too relieved."

"…Yes. I understand for now."

'The Heavenly Venerable can leave the Netherworld?'

I feel a shiver run through me.

The fear that an unimaginably distant being can do whatever it wants, and I can do nothing about it overwhelms me.

'…Let's not be consumed by fear and use the remaining time to learn what must be learned.'

"…First, aside from things about Governing Immortals, why did you call me here?"

"Good. It's impressive how quickly you're moving past the fear of Governing Immortals. You have strong mental fortitude."

Yang Su-jin commends me for shifting the question.

"The reason I called you here is firstly… to determine whether you are a later generation who inherited my fate or just another Ender."

"Your fate…?"

"Yes. The fates bestowed upon Enders are fixed and immutable. When all the Enders of a previous generation disappear because of [that entity], new Enders are born into this world with new fates. Of course, the abilities obtained with the fates differ each time, as the world provides the optimal power to fulfill the fates..."

"…Do I have the same fate as you?"

"Hmm…"

Yang Su-jin seems to look at me for a moment from within the darkness in response to my question.

"It seems not. You have a completely different fate. But…"

'But?'

I wait for Yang Su-jin's next words.

"Judging by the significant pain and despair in your history, your fate is as vile as mine. Kukuk…"

"Excuse me?"

My fate is vile?

I'm puzzled when I hear this.

"First… I should explain why I established the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect."

Yang Su-jin began his explanation.

"My core method is the Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Method (赤雷天劫功), a technique that can only be learned by those who possess the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body or someone with the same fate as me. This technique allows one to draw out the utmost power of the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body. Even if one does not possess the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body, an Ender who is bestowed with the same fate as me can master this technique and obtain the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body."

"…!"

"And you have mastered all the techniques of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, found the hidden formula among them, and came here after mentioning the last of what is famous in our homeland, right?"

"That's correct."

"The method that emerges from combining all methods of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is the Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique (滅神劫天功). As you've probably realized from practicing it, it's not really a method. It's a kind of blessing prayer, a sacrificial ritual."

"…Why did you create something like this?"

I ask Yang Su-jin.

I remember Hong Su-ryeong's reaction when I told her about the method Yang Su-jin calls Extinguishing Divine Tribulation Heaven Technique.

―A kind of ritual that loses the attributes of the Lightning Path Method?

―What are you saying... The ultimate form of the techniques created by the founder of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is a ritual that loses the identity of the sect?

―Exactly what was the 120,000 years of history for… To rush endlessly just to lose its identity…

"To reach the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Decree (金神天雷訣)."

"The Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Decree…?"

"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration that guarantees the rights of beings. Though it, I spent my life trying to change my fate, to gain the rights and freedom of 'humans.' Changing my fate was my lifelong wish and deepest desire..."

I can't see through the darkness, but I feel Yang Su-jin clenching his fist.

"Most of us Enders are miserable. However, while there are Enders who are bestowed with 'good fates,' there are also those like you and me who are bestowed with 'vile fates.' Kukuk… I wished to exchange my vile fate with the fate of another Ender. The Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation Method symbolizes 'my current fate.' The Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique symbolizes 'the will to twist my fate.' And finally… 'my future after successfully changing my fate' would have been the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Decree. If I had truly succeeded in changing my fate and achieving happiness, then the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Decree would have been born. However…"

Yang Su-jin's voice loses its strength.

"As you see, I failed. I tried until right before I confronted [that entity], but in the end, changing fate was nothing but an illusion."

"…Then, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was…"

I tremble, vaguely catching on to the existence and meaning of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect from Yang Su-jin's words.

"Was it an 'object of ritual' to change your fate?"

"Yes. Specifically, it was the preparatory material for a ritual to change fate. Ultimately, it was a failed creation."

I can't help but retort at Yang Su-jin's tone.

"To call your descendants a failure… Isn't that a bit too harsh? How can you say such things when you've incorporated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into your methods?"

"Hmm?"

However, Yang Su-jin seems puzzled by my words.

"You're speaking strangely."

"Excuse me?"

"What's the problem with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? It's a declaration that guarantees human rights and freedoms."

"Yes, but why…"

"Let me ask you. What is a [Human]?"

"Excuse me?"

I ask back, incredulous.

"Dignified and free, endowed with reason…"

"Right. You know well. The essence is 'freedom'. Only beings that possess 'freedom' or have the potential to acquire 'freedom' are [Human], and thus have the right to enjoy the privileges of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Yang Su-jin shouts, clenching his fist in the darkness.

"Therefore, only we Enders are [Humans], and all other beings in this world, including True Immortals, are [Non-Humans]!"

"…Excuse me?"

Stunned by his radical and absurd claim, I'm left speechless, my mouth agape.