A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

The Nascent Soul stage of the demon race is referred to as the Transformation Stage instead of the Nascent Soul stage like the human race because it allows them to transform in human forms.

"To think you're already about to reach the Transformation Stage…"

I recall the time when Hong Fan was just a tiny centipede, squirming and clinging to my foot.

That little centipede has now reached the stage capable of forming a Nascent Soul.

"It's all thanks to the Master's excellent guidance."

"No, it's all due to your talent. Your talent is truly unbelievable, perhaps even surpassing mine."

In cases like Young-hoon Hyung-nim, it's understandable as he is an Ender. But there are also those with outrageously unbelievable talents that just can't be comprehended.

The Mad Lord Jo Yeon and Hong Fan are exactly such individuals.

Hong Fan shakes his head at my words and says,

"Perhaps, to follow Master, this level of capability is necessary. My fate is tied to Master. This meager talent may just be what's required to keep up with Master. Didn't you, Master, reach the Nascent Soul stage in less than a year?"

"Hmm, well, let's not talk about my talent.... When are we going to start? The right moment is approaching."

Just as one needs to find the right moment for the Seven Stars Ritual at the Qi Refining 7th Star, the importance of finding the right moment continues to be crucial as one's realm advances.

However, while timing accounts for 99 percent of the importance during the Qi Refining's 7th Star, its significance gradually decreases in the later stages.

When ascending to the Core Formation stage, the importance of timing is about 40 percent, and when reaching the Nascent Soul stage, it's about 20 percent.

Of course, for demon beasts practicing the general Earth Tribe method, timing isn't very crucial. Compared to the Heaven Tribe, the importance of timing falls to mere cents instead of dollars. For Hong Fan, it only holds a 3 or 4 percent importance.

However, despite being able to breach the Nascent Soul stage with his basic qualities alone, Hong Fan didn't want to miss even a sliver of possibility and sought the right moment that suited him best.

"Please help me a little, Master. I get confused because I cannot directly see the celestial energy."

I look up at the sky and inform him about the celestial energy.

"The energies of the Ladle, Ox, Rooftop, Chamber, and Wall stars are intertwined and almost match your fortune. In about one day, your luck will align perfectly, increasing your chances of ascending to the Nascent Soul stage."

"Thank you. Please forgive this lowly being that, despite being from the Earth Tribe, must borrow the timing of the heavens to ascend."

"…All this talk of being 'modest' or 'lowly' is nothing but deceit."

I smirk at Hong Fan's display of modesty.

The Ladle, Ox, Rooftop, Chamber, and Wall stars are the constellations that best match him.

Among them, the Ladle, Ox, and Chamber are the stars most suitable for lifting Hong Fan's energy, and the intertwining of these stars' energies is his celestial moment.

And so, after a bit of idle chat and waiting for about a day, several close friends from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, including me, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Jin So-hae, and Hong Su-ryeong, stand guard around Hong Fan.

"Then, Master… I will begin."

"Yes… Now."

I read the celestial energy and inform him of the power of the stars.

"The energies of the Ladle, Ox, and Rooftop are at their peaks. Start now."

[Yes.]

His voice, imbued with spiritual power, becomes a chant.

And Hong Fan's energy begins to rise.

Kugugugugu!

Hong Fan's demonic power surges.

His consciousness begins to transform from his head, morphing into a shape similar to Hong Fan himself.

Click, click, click!

Hong Su-ryeong forms hand seals, planting eight lightning attribute banners around Hong Fan.

"Extinguishing Lightning, Outer Heaven!"

The banners glow.

The symbols of the Eight Trigrams appear above each of the eight flags, and each flag emits the power of the Eight Trigrams, combining the inner and outer Trigrams to create 16 Trigram symbols.

The 16 symbols rotate, creating 64 variations. Amidst those changes, lightning storms.

Hong Su-ryeong laid a formation to seize control of the space, creating a barrier around Hong Fan.

This not only protects Hong Fan from external harm but also serves as a protective measure for us who are performing his protective rites.

Murky…

A thick, black gas of poisonous energy spews from Hong Fan, attempting to spread outwards but being trapped by the formation laid by Hong Su-ryeong, instead forming a cylindrical shape around Hong Fan in the air.

Ssssssh…

The rocks and soil around him begin to melt away due to the toxicity.

The tremendous poison energy unleashed by a Core Formation demon beast turns the inside of the formation into a wasteland where no life can survive.

'It's starting.'

Simultaneously, Hong Fan's consciousness rapidly contracts.

The consciousness that had covered his body in his own form compresses inward toward his body!

Kugugugugu!

Noticing the change in Hong Fan, the celestial energy shifts, emitting dark clouds.

Wo-woong!

Receiving the timing of the Ladle, Ox, and Rooftop, Hong Fan finally succeeds in compressing all his consciousness inside his Demon Core, deep within his body!

Whoosh!

As his lifespan changes, the heavens begin to unveil their power.

Kurung, kururung!

Golden Heavenly Tribulation thunders in the sky.

Overcoming this is all that is needed for him to truly become a Nascent Soul stage demon beast.

Just then.

"Hmm…?"

I frown.

It's strange.

Unusually so,

"…Grand Elder Hong. Is it normal for such a thing to happen when reaching the Nascent Soul stage?"

"No, absolutely not."

The amount of golden lightning is too excessive.

Kwarurung!

A pillar of golden light strikes down from the sky, targeting the center of the poisonous energy where Hong Fan is condensing his Nascent Soul.

It's literally a pillar of light.

Not just any lightning.

Lightning gathered and gathered, forming a cluster so massive that it can be mistaken for a genuine attack of a Heavenly Being stage cultivator, falling like a pillar.

"What in the world…! What is that!"

I'm startled and look up at the sky.

The power combined with my Dual-Colored Heavenly Tribulation…'

It's at least seven times greater.

It isn't even the Dual-Colored Heavenly Tribulation that Jeon Myeong-hoon and I had faced, but just the pure golden lightning for the Nascent Soul stage. Yet it is this powerful.

"Hong Fan! Disperse your Nascent Soul! You aren't ready for this level of power! You can't handle it!"

I exclaim in horror at the sight of the insane magnitude of Heavenly Tribulation striking down on Hong Fan.

Heaven's wrath descends upon the cultivator trying to defy the heavens by consolidating a Nascent Soul.

Heavenly Tribulation.

Heaven's thunderous punishment pours down on Hong Fan.

'If it's detecting the Nascent Soul and striking down, scattering the Nascent Soul will break the chain of lightning!'

"Hong Fan!!!"

I shout in terror at him.

"Ah…!"

However, I see a shadow inside the pillar of light.

It's Hong Fan's shadow.

He is dancing.

Using the Fighting Monster Hidden Weapon Technique I taught him, he moves his long body faster and more accurately than anyone else to the 'weakest' part of the heavenly lightning within the pillar of light.

'Is that… Lightning Predicting Eye?'

I momentarily think of the Lightning Predicting Eye that allows one to detect the position of heavenly lightning through the vision of the Heaven Tribe.

Otherwise, such movement is inexplicable.

'No, it can't be…'

Hong Fan is not of the Heaven Tribe.

Then how can he display movements that require the Lightning Predicting Eye?

I think of one absurdly simple yet unbelievable possibility.

'Could it be… not through the vision of the Heaven Tribe, but purely through his own senses, he's finding every gap in the lightning to burrow into its weaknesses to withstand it from within?'

What kind of talent does one need to be able to do that!?

Jeon Myeong-hoon stares blankly at the pillar of light.

That terrifying golden Heavenly Tribulation!

Inside, a centipede moves like a serpent.

He feels a voice echo in his head as he watches the Heavenly Tribulation.

―The purification of…

―Great Heavenly Punishment… seek it…

―The purification of the Great Heavenly Punishment…

Suddenly, Jeon Myeong-hoon sees the fleeting figure of a woman inside the Heavenly Tribulation.

Dressed in a palace attire made of lightning, with white hair flowing down and bare feet walking in the sky, it was the figure of a fairy whose face wasn't clearly visible.

"So beautiful…"

He instinctively reaches out towards the illusion glimpsed within the immense heavenly lightning.

Somehow, he feels blood rush downwards.

But, as soon as he reaches out, that illusion disappears as if it was a mirage.

"Ah!"

Jeon Myeong-hoon looks around.

'What? Did I see it wrong?'

The others are only looking at Hong Fan inside the Heavenly Tribulation.

He presses his throbbing temples with his index finger, frowning.

'The voice of the lightning has been getting louder recently. It seems clearer too… Did I see that illusion because of the voice of the lightning?'

"Among those born with the powerful lineage of immortal beasts, there are occasionally those who face such monstrous Heavenly Tribulations…"

Hong Su-ryeong murmurs in admiration.

"Does the lineage of immortal beasts really make them face such strong Heavenly Tribulations?"

Having received the true blood of an immortal beast myself, I'm puzzled and ask since it's news to me.

"Yes, it is said that the direct descendants of immortal beasts are born with tremendous power and privileges. But in return, they must face incredibly severe Heavenly Tribulations fitting for descendants of a True Immortal.

"Wow…."

Does that mean Hong Fan is a direct descendant of an immortal beast?

'But I've never heard of centipedes among the immortal beasts….'

I look at Hong Fan, puzzled.

Maybe Hong Fan has secrets I don't know about.

"Hm?"

While I'm looking at Hong Fan with concern, I suddenly notice an unusual flow of intent and turn my gaze.

"So beautiful…"

"…"

It's Jeon Myeong-hoon.

'That lunatic, what is he doing?'

He is looking at Hong Fan's Heavenly Tribulation, seemingly enchanted, revealing an intent of desire as he reaches out towards Hong Fan.

'Now he's even targeting a bug like Hong Fan for dual cultivation…'

I click my tongue, wondering how to make Jeon Myeong-hoon come to his senses, and continue to focus my attention on Hong Fan.

Kurung, kururung!

Hong Fan continues to dance within the pillar of light.

The Fighting Monster Hidden Weapon Technique I taught Hong Fan isn't just about throwing hidden weapons.

Logically, how can a centipede with its short limbs throw hidden weapons?

Therefore, the Fighting Monster Hidden Weapon Technique I taught Hong Fan transformed into secretly shooting from Hong Fan's body to disperse poison, rather than a technique of throwing weapons.

Moreover, I incorporated the essence of 'Gyu-ryeon's movements' from the Dragon Form Soaring Claw that I had taught Gyu-baek into the Fighting Monster Hidden Weapon Technique, making Hong Fan move as if he's a coiling dragon, dancing through the air.

What he is using now is closer to a completely new martial art rather than the Fighting Monster Hidden Weapon Technique.

'Well, once he fully undergoes transformation, I'll be able to properly teach him the Fighting Monster Hidden Weapon Technique and other martial arts.'

The seemingly eternal baptism of heavenly lightning is almost coming to an end.

I wonder what form Hong Fan will take after the Transformation Stage.

The energy of the Heavenly Tribulation begins to subside.

"Hmm?"

Then, I suddenly look at the many grand elders of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect gathered around.

"Hehe, is that the demon beast raised by Elder Jin?"

"Indeed, it's extraordinary."

"As expected, even the demon beast raised by Elder Jin is extraordinary."

Due to the extraordinary nature of Hong Fan's Heavenly Tribulation, most of the sect's grand elders gathered to witness his transformation.

Bo-oong!

Jin Byuk-ho also came to see Hong Fan's Heavenly Tribulation and clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Such an enormous Heavenly Tribulation. Elder Jin Eun-hyun, is your demon beast perhaps born from the bloodline of some immortal beast?"

"Hmm... I'm not quite sure. He attached himself to me just before my Ascension in the lower realm in Ascension Path..."

"Ascension Path... Well, it's true that there are many unique demon beasts with great potential in Ascension Path."

He nods, and I look at Hong Fan's shadow within the pillar of light.

Now that the pillar of light has weakened significantly, it has dropped to the level of a normal Heavenly Tribulation. Hong Fan, seemingly able to withstand it with his bare body, stops dancing and sits down, looking up at the sky with his head held high.

The shadow of a giant centipede raising its head towards the sky within the light resembles that of an Imugi raising its head.

And then it happens.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Hong Fan's form begins to collapse.

The shadow seen within the light appears to crumble, and I am momentarily shocked and consider rushing out.

However, seeing that Hong Fan's intent and energy are still intact, I stop in my tracks.

After a while.

Kurung...

Finally, the lengthy Heavenly Tribulation comes to an end.

Ssshh...

I look at the spot where the Heavenly Tribulation had faded.

There, Hong Fan's 'shells' are piled up, having collapsed.

'So, the collapse of Hong Fan's form was because his shell had collapsed?'

He had molted upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

'Then...!'

I look beneath Hong Fan's shells.

Hong Fan completely succeeded in his transformation.

Rustle, rustle!

One of the shells shakes.

And then, something small begins to emerge from inside.

"Hong Fan...?"

I slowly approach it.

Hong Su-ryeong and a few grand elders, seemingly curious about Hong Fan's transformation, come close. I can feel Jin Byuk-ho focusing his gaze here as well.

Finally, from under the trembling shell, Hong Fan completely emerges.

"Hong Fan...!"

"Ah... Master...?"

I chuckle at the sight of Hong Fan.

"Indeed, a fitting form for you."

"Um... Is this my form after the Transformation Stage?"

Hong Fan is speaking 'with his voice' rather than in the demon beast language.

He seems uncomfortable with his human voice, touching his throat.

Hong Fan has the appearance of an old man with white hair.

Appearing to be almost a hundred years old, the wrinkled old man wears a black robe, with eyebrows resembling centipede antennae, and a beard about two spans long.

It's a perfect match for his old man-like tone of speech, so I think it suits him quite well.

"Hmm… Isn't this appearance too old… Is it okay for you, Master?"

However, Hong Fan seems embarrassed about his aged appearance after his transformation and asks me.

"It's fine. I think it's perfectly acceptable."

"If Master thinks it's okay…"

Satisfied with my response, Hong Fan naturally takes out the Immortal Demon Bamboo, lights it, and takes a puff.

"Hoo..."

His appearance, puffing on the Immortal Demon Bamboo and exhaling smoke in his old form, looks very natural.

"Hmm, curious."

Hong Su-ryeong steps forward and speaks.

"It's said that when demon beasts undergo their transformation for the first time, despite individual differences in appearance, most of them take on a young or even youthful form. How come this young fellow, who isn't even twenty years old, looks so aged?"

Hearing her words, Jin Byuk-ho comes down and says,

"I seem to remember Heo Gwak mentioning something about this. He read it in an ancient text from the Black Ghost Valley, stating that while most demon beasts appear young after their transformation... those with very old souls might appear aged."

"An old soul? What do you mean by that?"

I ask, puzzled.

"It's exactly as it sounds. In this world exists the cycle of reincarnation, and upon death, the soul goes to the Netherworld to reincarnate into the next life. It is said that these souls are reborn into the next life having forgotten the memories of their previous lives. However, occasionally, there are souls that retain faint memories of their previous lives. Such souls are said to be 'old souls,' according to Heo Gwak."

"Hmm..."

'Previous lives...'

Then, the source of Hong Fan's talent might indeed be something extraordinary from his past life.

"Well, anyway, congratulations on your transformation, Hong Fan."

"Thank you, Master..."

"Have you felt anything like recalling your past life, as the Supreme Sect Master mentioned?"

"Um... I'm not sure about that."

It doesn't seem like a lie. It appears that Hong Fan inherited qualities or subconscious traits from his previous life rather than explicit memories of it.

"Understood. As a celebration…"

I'm about to go to my cave residence with Hong Fan when I suddenly look around.

"Ah, Supreme Sect Master."

"What is it?"

"Have you seen Jeon Myeong-hoon around here?"

I'm puzzled to see that Jeon Myeong-hoon, who had come to watch Hong Fan's transformation with me, has disappeared.

'Where did he go?'

Then, Jin So-hae steps forward and answers.

"He said he had something to look for and went to his cave residence."

'To his cave residence?'

I look towards Jeon Myeong-hoon's cave residence next to the Thunder Tribute Hall.