A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

Chapter 327: Axis (1)

"Hmm?"

The first to notice my abnormal state is Hong Fan.

Seeing my complexion, Hong Fan quickly approaches and asks.

"Master, is there something wrong?"

"...I'm fine. But, is this the body of a Vestige...?"

Soon, the Vestige's body will collapse, and we will enter the Bright Cold Realm.

Pasaak―

The sky collapses.

Following that, the dimensional barrier of the Bright Cold Realm appears before our eyes.

'Three forces of attraction...'

Just like last time, I feel three attraction forces grasping my hand.

One leads to the Flying Immortal Platform.

Another is connected to the Black Ghost Valley.

And the last one...

'Ah, I see.'

Now I finally understand the identity of the last attraction force.

"Ancient Force, is it?"

Seat Holder of Health, Deputy Judge of the Netherworld, Ancient Force True Lord Hae Nyeong!

I felt the same sensation when reading the will left by Hae Nyeong to Lofty Dragon and from their tears, the Clear Scale Armor.

It's clear.

'This attraction force leads to the Ancient Force Realm.'

I ponder for a moment.

'Should I go to the Ancient Force Realm?'

It's then,

Bo-oong—

Puhak!

Suddenly, the 'attraction' from the Ancient Force Realm intensifies tremendously.

'This is crazy!'

The attraction, as if determined to pull me in, wraps around me!

"Seo Eun-hyun, what's going on?"

"Master!"

Jeon Myeong-hoon and Hong Fan look at me in surprise and ask.

"It seems another Middle Realm is pulling me in."

Although the Bright Cold Realm is somewhat close to the Head Realm due to the Ascension Gate, one can still ascend to other realms like Ancient Force, Nether Ghost, True Devil, and Purple Gold as long as one has the qualifications and uses the Serving Command Seal.

Considering I am currently in the state of 'mid-ascension' from the Head Realm, I can still reach the Ancient Force Realm without spending much time.

'What should I do? Should I explore another Middle Realm?'

That could be a worthwhile choice.

More importantly, there are people like Kim Young-hoon, Buk Hyang-hwa, and Seo Ran in the Ancient Force Realm.

Meeting them might not be a bad idea.

However, I frown.

'No, it's not right.'

There's too much to be done in the Bright Cold Realm to be swept away by this attraction so absurdly.

Besides, I still have to find a way to save Kang Min-hee.

'Let's head to the Bright Cold Realm first.'

I make my decision and gather my strength.

Wiiiiing―

Currently, my realm in martial arts is at the First Step Before the Throne.

My realm in cultivation is at the Four-Axis stage of the Heaven and Earth Tribes.

Though I possess the Axis of Wealth, I only possess it. I need to fully reach the Four-Axis stage to utilize it properly.

Just as Seo Hweol conducted the Axis Foundation Practice in the Lower Realm to acquire the Axis, but his actual power was at the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage, I am in a similar state.

However, as confirmed during my regression, it's possible for a cultivator at the Four-Axis stage to manipulate attraction force using just their soul.

'My cultivation is at the Heavenly Being stage, but my soul is at the Four-Axis stage...'

Kuguguguk―

I manipulate attraction force, breaking free from the ferocious pull of the Ancient Force Realm.

Then, approaching Jeon Myeong-hoon and Hong Fan, I reach out towards the dimensional barrier of the Bright Cold Realm.

Kwagwagwagwang!

With an explosion of light, we enter the Bright Cold Realm.

How many hours have passed since Seo Eun-hyun entered the Bright Cold Realm?

Kugugugugugu―

A massive, dark-red mist squirms outside the dimensional barrier of the Bright Cold Realm, approaching it.

Kwarururung―

The dark-red entity attempts to approach the Bright Cold Realm, but after being scorched by a colossal Heavenly Tribulation, it lingers around briefly before retreating.

Chwaaak!

I feel the familiar spiritual energy nearby.

From a distance, a figure who seems to be an inspector at the Four-Axis stage is flying towards us.

I speak to Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"Jeon Myeong-hoon, are you familiar with the rituals of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect?"

"Yes. What do you need?"

After the fall of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect in the Bright Cold Realm, paradoxically, he obsessively studied the remnants of the sect.

Among them were rituals that can delay Heavenly Tribulations.

"Delay the Heavenly Tribulation for a moment. I have something to do."

"Hmm?"

Without waiting for his response, I sit down and focus my consciousness.

Kurung, kururung!

Dark clouds began to gather in the sky.

Just as Azure Tiger Saint, Heo Gwak, Jin Byuk-ho, and Seo Hweol reached the Four-Axis stage upon ascending to the Bright Cold Realm, I will do the same.

Using the attraction force generated by my soul, I begin to draw in an immense amount of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy from the Plane of Qi.

At the same time, I rise to the Four-Axis stage of the Earth Tribe using the energy stored in the Colorless Glass Sword.

Kugugugu!

"Damn it! Give me a warning before you do something like this!"

Jeon Myeong-hoon curses but quickly plants the flags of the Seven Lightning Quaking Scripture around and sets up a formation.

Kwaduk, kwaduduk, pukak!

Interacting with the energy of the formation, Jeon Myeong-hoon sacrifices three of his fingers of his Heavenly Golden Thunder Body to temporarily delay the celestial energy.

As the celestial energy shifts, the Heavenly Tribulation that should have struck during the breakthrough is postponed for three days.

For a moment, it feels as if the dragon veins of the Heaven-Earth Palace are merging with me.

'I think I understand why Hon Won recuperates in the Heaven-Earth Palace.'

Harmony (調和)!

The energies of Yin and Yang are harmoniously enveloping each other in a perfectly balanced way

The Taiji Quaking Lightning Body can twist and disrupt the Yin and Yang within an opponent's body, but the dragon vein of the Heaven-Earth Palace seems capable of gradually restoring the twisted Yin and Yang.

Kwagwagwang!

A tremendous roar erupts from my body as radiant light bursts forth.

In an instant, I rise to the Four-Axis stage.

'It's a bit lacking.'

To achieve the Three Great Ultimates, I need to use the power of the Ghost King given to me by Seo Li and rise to the Four-Axis stage with Heaven Tribe methods.

However, rising with Heaven Tribe methods requires a ritual, which seems difficult at the moment.

While I am gauging my strength,

Kuguguguk―

Hon Won emerges, tearing through the space.

"You all..."

"Ah. Greetings, Penglai Palace Lord. It's been a while."

I speak, making eye contact with Hon Won.

He glares at me with the Supervisory Eye.

"Your manners are lacking."

"Ah, I apologize for that. However, I don't have favorable feelings towards you, so I hope you understand."

"..."

He glares at me.

Despite his fairly dignified and handsome appearance with his topknot hair tied with a black manggeon, his hair is spilling out from between the strands of the topknot and his eyes look sunken, giving him a very haggard appearance.

As Yeon Wei had said, he seemed to have been quite a handsome man in his youth, but now he is just a worn-out old man.

"And one more thing. Jeon Myeong-hoon, the current highest Grand Elder of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, has canceled the bounty, so there's no need to capture us."

"Ah, that's right. We won't be pursuing Seo Eun-hyun anymore. But Seo Eun-hyun, what kind of tone is that towards a Grand Cultivator?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks with some courtesy, while looking at me with disapproval due to my attitude.

Hon Won glances at us briefly before nodding and turning around.

I immediately open my mouth and draw out the Colorless Glass Sword, and Hon Won turns back around, swinging his hand at me as if he has been waiting for this moment.

Flash!

A palm-shaped energy wave imbued with the power of the Five Elements fly towards me.

I infuse the All Heavens Sword into the Colorless Glass Sword and deflect Hon Won's strike into the sky.

Thud!

Kuaaang!

The sky shakes, revealing the wavering protective barrier that envelops the entire Heaven-Earth Palace.

Jeon Myeong-hoon is flabbergasted by the sudden turn of events, while I smirk at Hon Won.

"What's with the sudden ruckus?"

Hon Won stares at me briefly.

Giving me a glare, he snaps his fingers.

Snap!

Bo-oong!

The space twists, and before I know it, we are outside Heaven-Earth Palace due to Hon Won's ground-shrinking technique.

"To be honest, I don't like you lot. Despite my goodwill in supporting the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, you still caused its downfall again..."

"What!?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon's face turns livid with anger at those words.

However Hon Won, ignoring Jeon Myeong-hoon, continues to glare at me as he speaks.

"But regardless, you are still valuable forces of the Human Race, so I can't just kill you. Since I've lost all my investment in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, you'll have to compensate for my loss by enduring my one strike. If you can withstand it, I will forgive you and disregard the lost investments and support."

"..."

"No, what nonsense is this!? Do you even know what investing means?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon roars in anger, releasing red lightning, while I chuckle at Hon Won's words.

"Ha, haha...hahahahaha...!"

As I burst into laughter, both Jeon Myeong-hoon and Hon Won stare at me.

"Ah...this is hilarious."

What?

If we endure a strike, you will forgive us? Let us go?

'This bastard really...When we seemed weak, he tried to kill us outright, but now that we seem a little threatening, he changes his tune?'

Knowing Hon Won well, his changed attitude due to my regression irritates me even more.

Squish, squelch...

I take out Yuan Yu from my bosom and stand him beside me.

Then, I push Yuan Yu while holding his shoulder towards Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"Well, fine. Come at me, Grand Cultivator Hon Won."

Twitch―

Hon Won's eyes twitch, and he begins to gather attraction into his hands.

"Good. If that's what you want..."

It feels as if the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth are concentrating on Hon Won.

'Let's see...'

Kugugugu—

As I operate the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, I transform into a giant of stars.

My body grows larger, and tremendous power fills my entire being.

As if to make it easier to hit me, Hon Won floats into the air to match my eye level while preparing the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.

In my transformed state, I draw upon the power of the Ghost King gifted by Seo Li.

Although not fully at the Four-Axis stage of the Heaven Tribe, by overlaying General Seo's circuits over my body and amplifying the Heaven Tribe power, I can temporarily exert the strength of one.

Kugugugugugu!

Faces begin to sprout from my shoulders.

Kiyaaaaaaaah―

Kuaaaaaaaah―

Huaaaaaaaah―

Ghostly wails echo as 18 faces sprout from my starry giant’s shoulders.

"This, this is crazy! What is that!?"

"A monster from the Interdimensional Void has invaded!!!"

"The Heaven-Earth Palace Lord is going to slaughter the monster!"

"Palace Lord! Please, do not lose!"

As the giant of starlight with 19 heads appear, the cultivators at the Four-Axis and Heavenly Being stages within the Heaven-Earth Palace scream in terror.

Wiiiiing―

Although the power of the Heaven Tribe has only been forcibly amplified using the Mad Lord's circuits, it's enough to summon the Three Great Ultimates for a brief moment.

Kuguguguk―

Despite being somewhat unstable, the symbol of the colossal Three Great Ultimates blooms like a halo behind the 19 heads.

From below, even Jeon Myeong-hoon shows a slightly uneasy expression at this grotesque sight.

Chualalalala!

The Heaven and Earth spiritual energy envelops me.

At the same time, gathering black and white Immortal-Devil energy in his hands, Hon Won's eyes brightened.

[Here I come. Do not regret this...!]

[Come if you dare.]

Kugugugugu!

[Great Mountain!]

Immense power radiates from Hon Won's hands.

However, I look at Hon Won and smirk.

Pasasasak―

Salt sprouts from my hands.

I channel all of the volcanic power of the Three Great Ultimates into my hands.

'I've always wanted to try this at least once.'

Chuckling inwardly, I concentrate the power of the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation and White Orchid Blessing Incantation in both hands.

Then, mimicking Hon Won, I shout.

[Great Mountain!]

Surprise and bewilderment flashes in Hon Won's eyes.

His gaze vividly screams, 'You bastard! What kind of sorcery is this!?'

I grin and extend my hands towards Hon Won.

As expected, the barrier of Yin and Yang Five Elements emerges around him as well.

Hon Won grits his teeth and extends his hand towards me.

[Splitting Emperor!]

[Splitting Emperor!]

Flash!

The world is dyed white.

Paaatt!

In a space left with nothing else but light.

Two beings are clashing with their powers.

A starry giant with 19 heads and a halo behind it.

And a dignified middle-aged man with a topknot wearing a black manggeon, surrounded by the energies of Yin and Yang.

At some point, as the power of the two beings reach their peak and the boundaries between the two become blurred within the light,

They see [something] within each other.

The giant of stars with 19 heads sees a 'name' in the direction of Hon Won.

The name is Cheon Ra (Heavenly Net).

Kuadududuk!

From the body of the starry giant with 19 heads, numerous bizarre rocks, trees, and soil sprout as the giant begins to transform into the Great Mountain (太山).

Conversely, the dignified middle-aged man with the topknot sees a 'certain shape' in the direction of the giant.

It's an [inverted cone].

Peoseoseok!

A salt pillar begins to grow from throughout the middle-aged man's entire body.

[Aaaaaah!!!]

[Aaaaaah!!!]

Both beings, having seen 'something' terrifying within each other, scream simultaneously.