A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

The light fades away.

Kugugugu!

A massive mountain plummets to the ground.

No, it's a giant who has sprouted a mountain from its body.

Cheolpeok!

Simultaneously, a middle-aged man with a salt pillar growing from his body also falls to the ground.

For a while, both focused on shedding the bizarre foreign substances that have sprouted from their bodies.

Peoseok, Peoseoseok!

"Kuuuughh!"

The middle-aged man, Hon Won, tears at the salt that has grown on his body, regenerating himself.

At the same time, the giant, Seo Eun-hyun, also tears off the mountain ranges that have sprouted from his body.

Hon Won is the first to recover.

After tearing off all the salt chunks and completely regenerating his body, he glares at Seo Eun-hyun.

"You're someone who shouldn't be left alive."

Wiiiiiiing―

Hon Won's arms begin to emit attraction force again.

Seo Eun-hyun growls, his 38 eyes glowing.

[What are you saying, didn't you say you would forgive and let us go if I took a hit!?]

"Sorry, but I don't remember that."

Hon Won smirks and once again prepares the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique with both arms.

[I don't know what kind of secret art allowed you to mimic my Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique, but disappear!]

[Kugh!]

Seo Eun-hyun, with a hurried face, brushes off the mountains growing on his body and gathers attraction force in his hands again.

However, he displays a frustrated expression.

[I can't use it consecutively...? I see, it's a matter of proficiency.]

Proficiency!

The reason Hon Won can perform continuous attacks with the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique is that he has been mastering it for tens of thousands of years.

Even for someone like Seo Eun-hyun, it's impossible to freely use the supernatural powers of a technique he has only just acquired.

In fact, the only reason that he had been able to use the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique even once after seeing the technique formula is because he is a Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation practitioner, is well-versed in Yin and Yang, has mastered all Five Elements, and has all the conditions met through the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation and the White Orchid Blessing Incantation .

Typically, just seeing the formula alone would never allow one to use the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.

Kugugugu!

Hon Won gathers his energy.

To make matters worse, Seo Eun-hyun is currently struggling to move due to the rebound effect from seeing the 'name' through using the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique!

It's a moment of life and death.

At that moment, Yuan Yu, who is next to Jeon Myeong-hoon, moves.

Surung―

In Yuan Yu's hand, the All-Heavens Sword appears.

Shukak!

Once.

Once is enough.

To divert Hon Won's concentration while he is intensely focusing on preparing the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique, just once is sufficient.

Chwaaaak!

A wound of all of Heaven's colors appears on Hon Won's body, struck by the sword energy of the All-Heavens Sword.

He turns around hurriedly to look at me, and I smile brightly as I speak.

"It seems I know quite a few miscellaneous techniques."

When I had grabbed Yuan Yu's shoulder earlier and sent him to Jeon Myeong-hoon, I left a heart essence avatar inside him.

Just in case of moments like this!

Woo-woong―

I emerge from Yuan Yu's body and stand in front of Hon Won.

Cheok, Cheok, Cheok, Cheok!

There are a total of 24 heart essence avatars that I had placed in Yuan Yu's body.

Just now, one of them was used to warn Hon Won.

"Keep your promise, Penglai Palace Lord. We would like you to let us go now. Surely, I trust you are not someone who goes back on promises spoken with your mouth."

With burning eyes, Hon Won glared at me and spat out his words.

At my words, Hon Won glares at me with burning eyes and spits out his words.

[...You even turn out to be a vile Heart Tribe spy. Now I have one more reason to not let you go so why should I?]

I sigh and say,

"I may have learned the techniques of the Heart Tribe, but I am clearly of the Human Race. I may be associated as a vile Heart Tribe, but I am not a spy. More importantly, as someone who has reached the fourth stage of Manifestation, I would be acknowledged as a genuine force even by the Grand Cultivator Association!"

[How can those who have learned the Heart Tribe method not be Heart Tribe spies! Recognized by the Grand Cultivator Association, you say? You dream big.]

Wiiiiiing―

Hon Won laughs mockingly at me as he gathers black and white Immortal-Devil energy in his hands.

"There's precedent, so why wouldn't they recognize it? I will say it again, keep your promise!"

[What precedent are you talking about? I will say it again, you will all die here!]

I click my tongue while looking at him.

"Words won't work, huh."

Tstsutststsut!

Out of the 23 remaining heart essence avatars, 22 of them enter one clone.

One move per avatar.

"I have warned you multiple times."

Paaatt!

Around me, the barrier of Yin-Yang and Five Elements swirls.

And then, Hon Won shouts.

[Great Mountain (泰山)!]

I take the Starting Form, countering his technique with my own ultimate move.

"Severing Mountain (斷岳)!"

Though there's no need to shout technique names in martial arts, in this case, I shout to signify my resolve to crush Hon Won's will to kill us.

Hon Won's single strike bursts from his hands, and my 22 sword strikes combine, tearing through Heaven and Earth with a brilliant burst of light.

Take this.

Each strike is equivalent to the full power of an Integration stage Grand Cultivator.

Combining those strikes into the framework of swordsmanship, I maximize their power and unleash them in a single ultimate move!

I see Hon Won's entire being, and even his domain within his soul, being shredded by the strike.

Of course, in exchange, my entire body is being dismantled.

I will likely scatter into seven types of energy and vanish.

'But this is just a clone, so...'

It doesn't matter.

He should blame himself for foolishly using his ultimate move on a clone.

'Despite accusing me of being a Heart Tribe spy, it seems he has little actual combat experience against them...'

All the heart essence avatars I had imbued into Yuan Yu through his shoulder have disappeared.

And I see Hon Won, struck by the avatar's ultimate move, right before my eyes.

Chiiiiii―

My body returns to human form.

It appears maintaining the giant form with the incomplete Three Great Ultimates is too much of a strain on my body.

"Kugheok, geok, geo, geo!"

"You must not have fought the Heart Tribe much. But even so, did you not even think to ask her, your fellow Grand Cultivator, about it?"

"Kurlugh, keoheok, heok...what are you talking about...?"

"Well, never mind. Are we going to continue?"

Wiiiiing―

I gather attraction force in both hands and ask.

"My energy has recovered. I can use the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique again. Moreover, if you wish, I can perform the slash you just saw as many times as needed."

Of course, it's a bluff.

No matter how strong the Four-Axis stage body is, delivering the First Step Before the Throne's strike 22 times consecutively is extremely difficult.

Even though it isn't completely impossible to use it to some extent other than 22 times, expecting the same power as before is unrealistic.

Above all, the biggest problem is...

Cheon Ra (天羅).

The moment I recognized that 'name,' I was engulfed in immense fear.

'It's them...! That existence...!'

The Being that [exudes a determination as immovable as a great mountain].

One of the ten seats I saw during my regression.

It's definitely them!

That is certainly their True Name (眞名).

'But it's strange...'

Both Hon Won and I should have recognized something terrifying, yet neither of us seem severely affected.

'Why?'

It's clear that Hon Won had seen 'it' too, given that he turned into a pillar of salt.

However, he recovered too easily.

'Moreover, Cheon Ra is undoubtedly a current Governing Immortal.'

Yet, how can I remain so unaffected even after knowing their true name?

When I learned the names of deceased True Immortals like Yu Hao Te and Hae Nyeong, I was severely affected.

'Most importantly...Yeon Wei casually mentioned the name Cheon Ra...'

At that point, I begin to get confused.

'Are they not the owner of the seat I saw during my regression? Is it just a name that exudes similar energy...?'

In any case, the crucial point is that I can no longer delay.

If I drag it out any further, I don't know what kind of existence would notice me.

"Do you want to continue, Penglai Palace Lord?"

Paaaatt!

Light bursts forth from both arms, and salt begins to emerge.

Hon Won flinches at this sight and grits his teeth before speaking.

"...Fine. I will keep my promise. Go."

"A wise decision."

I nod and immediately begin moving with Jeon Myeong-hoon and Hong Fan.

Hon Won groans as he heals his ravaged body with the energy of the Heaven-Earth central territory.

"Kuuugh...damn it...if it weren't for the seizure of the Supervisory Eye..."

He groans, clutching his eyes.

The character for supervision (監) in both of Hon Won's eyes are burning exceptionally brightly.

Heavenly King Heavenly Domain.

Within a palace of light where radiance of all colors converge.

Under the Seat of Radiance, eight shadows are gathered.

The eight colossal beings communicate with one another using metaphysical language.

Each time they exchange words, the light of the entire Heavenly Domain fluctuates.

In front of the throne they reside, an Entering Nirvana True Person in the form of a Peng Bird flies in.

Though even one wing of the Peng Bird is originally large enough to cover a continent, it appears no bigger than a small sparrow before the shadows.

[To the Honorable ones, I bring a message. While observing the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain, the Mountain God has sent a message.]

The eight shadows converse in metaphysical language for a moment before one speaks to the Entering Nirvana True Person in the language of the lower world to prevent them from going mad.

[Speak.]

[Yes. The Mountain God has said, 'I will descend to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.']

The True Person struggles to not directly face the eight shadows and delivers the message.

A commotion arises among the eight shadows.

The entire Heavenly King Heavenly Domain trembles.

One of the shadows, mindful of preventing the Entering Nirvana True Person from going mad, asks,

[Is that all?]

[Yes, I apologize, but after delivering that message, they began exerting their power in the Earth Axis Heavenly Domain. It seems they intend to descend to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain at any moment.]

[Relay that it is forbidden (不可). Also, ask if they are unaware of the matter of Heavenly Punishment.]

[P-Pardon?]

The Entering Nirvana True Person is startled by the command from the shadows to deliver such a message.

Considering the temperament of the Mountain God, it's akin to telling the True Person to go and die.

Nevertheless, the Entering Nirvana True person grits their beak and nods.

[I...will obey the command.]

The Peng Bird then leaves the throne of light.

How much time has passed?

The Peng Bird does not return.

The shadows communicate in metaphysical language once more.

The gist of their conversation is roughly as follows:

[The messenger bird has not returned.]

[It must have been killed by that tyrant.]

[Do they truly wish for the Radiance Supreme Deity to take action?]

[No matter how powerful the Mountain God is, do they not know that without being a Heavenly Venerable, they cannot compare to the Seat of Light?]

[This might be for the best. Does the Mountain God not have an old grudge with us that needs to be resolved?]

[Must we imprison another Supreme Deity? It's a laborious task...]

[We already warned 40,000 years ago that interference in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain is forbidden...]

[It's already been 120,000 years since the power of light was last shown...it seems everyone is underestimating the Owner of Light. It's about time...for the Owner of Light to act.]

The eight shadows look up at the Seat of Light above them.

[...As the Owner of Light has decreed, we shall convey to the Mountain God.]

Shortly after, the eight shadows disappear from the hall.

Only the Seat of Light continues to emit an even brighter radiance from above.

Flinch!

I suddenly look up at the sky.

For some reason, I feel a chill run down my spine, but as the sunlight brightens, the ominous feeling that had brushed past me fades away.

'What was that?'

It passed too quickly for me to dwell on, but I decide to remain vigilant.

Hon Won might suddenly chase after me from behind, the Mad Lord might emerge from the ground, or Seo Hweol...

"Hoho, greetings, Daoist Seo."

"Ah, yes. Actually, I was about to call you."

I look at Seo Hweol, who has approached me at some point with an unpleasant smile.

"Hoho, it's impressive that you noticed my concealment technique. By the way, you've reached the Four-Axis stage already..."

"Hong Fan, Jeon Myeong-hoon. Cover your ears for a moment."

They obediently cover their ears at my words.

I look at Seo Hweol, who has appeared in front of me with a disturbing laugh.

In my past life, he only came when I called, but now he spoke to me first without my beckoning.

The reason is obvious.

"Are you surprised that the Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens within me has disappeared, Seo Hweol?"

Freeze!

Seo Hweol's body stiffens.

"If you want, I'll give you another chance. Try again. You can sacrifice a few personalities if needed."

I spread my arms and speak nonchalantly.

Then, Seo Hweol's eyes turn into those of a reptile.

"...Hoho..."

If he tries to parasitize me again, I can incinerate him with the Karmic Fire burning within me.

If he doesn't attempt to parasitize me out of caution, I can manipulate him as I wish.

'You've enjoyed using others for a long time, haven't you, Seo Hweol?'

Now it's my turn.