A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

"I believe in you, Seo Eun-hyun."

"Yeah. Honestly, if it's you, it wouldn't be surprising if you reached the Integration stage in just 10 years and broke through dimensions with your bare body to return to the Bright Cold Realm."

"As expected of Eun-hyun! I've believed in you since the company days!"

"I believe in you too, Oppa!"

"As expected of Master."

Yeon Wei, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, and Hong Fan each shower me with their expectations.

I feel a cold sweat running down the back of my neck.

"..."

I need to clear up this misunderstanding.

"First, I think everyone is misunderstanding something...I...can wield power beyond my realm, but it's not as easy for me to rapidly rise through cultivation as you think."

"Haha, why say that, Master? Your talent is unparalleled. Please show us your eye-blinding talent!"

Hong Fan clenches his fist and looks at me with shining eyes, as if cheering me on.

"..."

For the first time in my life, I feel the urge to shut Hong Fan's mouth.

Seeing me slightly stiff, Yeon Wei laughs heartily.

"Ahaha, it's fine. Saying you'll reach the Integration stage in 10 years was a joke. Just do it in 100 years."

"...There seems to be a huge misunderstanding between us."

I press my temples firmly as my head starts to hurt.

However, Yeon Wei shakes her head instead.

"No, it's not a misunderstanding. Achieving the Five Blessings Axes is difficult if you don't know how, but if you do, it's actually quite easy. The concept of Understanding before Breakthrough is impossible if you don't grasp it, but once you do, it becomes very straightforward. I have wandered through the Nether Ghost, Ancient Force, and Purple Gold Realms, stacking three of the Five Blessings Axes. I can teach you anytime."

Yeon Wei continues speaking.

"And while you might think building the Five Blessings Axes is daunting now because you know nothing about it, your perspective will change once you give it a try."

"...?"

"Alright then. For now, everyone listen up about the Five Blessings Axes. Jeon Myeong-hoon, even if you're not planning to build it, you should at least hear about it!"

She gathers us and begins explaining the Five Blessings Axes.

The power and performance of the Five Blessings Axes, and 'how' to build such axes.

As I listen to her, I understand why those who know about the Five Blessings Axes, like those in the Black Ghost Valley, are so eager to expand their influence by any means.

And simultaneously, I am horrified.

"That's...that's...completely the Devilish Path!"

I exclaim to Yeon Wei with a stunned expression.

However, Yeon Wei tilts her head as if puzzled.

"Hmm, what do you mean? This isn't the Devilish Path, it's a survival competition. And also just a common barter."

"...Isn't that just deceiving the other party through a difference in cultivation realm rather than a fair exchange? Isn't the only difference between forcibly taking from them and this a matter of packaging it nicely?"

"Heh, you really haven't met any truly vile cultivators, have you? No, maybe it's because you possess such overwhelming talent that you don't understand desperation?"

Yeon Wei's words make my facial muscles twitch uncontrollably, but I hold back.

"Listen well. Even though my talent falls short compared to yours, as a senior who has lived desperately, I will give you some advice. Immortal Cultivation is about 'taking.' Take from the Devilish Path, take from the Righteous Path, take from the spirit demons (yokai), and take from your enemies to elevate yourself. That is Immortal Cultivation! Take away anything that stands in the way of your will, no matter who or what it is. Even if it's an evil ghost, an enemy, or even a comrade. Even if it's a betrothed with whom a thousand-year union has been promised, taking it to complete yourself is the true meaning of Immortal Cultivation!"

Thud!

Yeon Wei approaches me with cold eyes and jabs her finger into my chest.

"Stop speaking the words of someone full. If you've chosen the path of a cultivator, show more poison. Even if the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is in decline, weren't you once part of it? If you've inherited the will of Ancestor Golden Divine, then be even more ruthless!"

Flinch!

Somehow, I feel that the presence before me isn't just Yeon Wei.

'I see...'

She is a descendant of Yang Su-jin.

Perhaps Yang Su-jin didn't just leave his will in the form of a lingering thought on Shattered Heaven Peak.

All his descendants, including those of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

They all carry on the will of the Golden Divine, inheriting the heart of a cultivator filled with poison.

Once again, I am facing Yang Su-jin.

"..."

But I can't simply deny this will.

There is too much at stake on my shoulders to deny this will.

"...I'm sorry."

"It's good if you understand. So, you understand that you need the necessary materials to build the Five Blessings Axes, right?"

"Yes."

To acquire the Five Blessings Axes, one needs the Middle Realms equivalent to the Bright Cold Realm such as the Ancient Force, Nether Ghost, Purple Gold, and Blood Yin.

However, these Middle Realms are merely 'intermediaries.'

What is truly needed is 'influence.'

"First, as you said, we need to gather influence."

"How do you plan to gather influence?"

"At the Black Ghost Valley, I previously heard about the characteristics of ghosts. I'd like to hear a bit more from Senior about these characteristics and the Nether Ghost Realm..."

"Like what?"

"...For example..."

I ask Yeon Wei about the ghosts and spirit creatures of the Nether Ghost Realm, and she answers my questions.

It's just as I had thought, and I explain my plan to her.

Hearing my plan, she gives a wry smile with a dumbfounded expression.

"...Is that...possible?"

"Yes."

"...Ha, what a pity. How about instead of returning to the Bright Cold Realm, you stake your claim in the Nether Ghost Realm? If you grow your influence here for about 60,000 years, as you said, you could restructure the Nether Ghost Realm into not the current Four Forces of Three Palaces and One Island but Five Forces!"

She speaks with a slightly excited expression, but seeing that neither I nor Jeon Myeong-hoon, nor the others share her enthusiasm, she deflates a bit.

"Hm hm. Well, if everyone wants to return, there's no helping it. It's just a shame. Anyway! Let's gather information about this area, find a suitable place, and establish our influence!"

"Yes, let's do that."

We stand up and decide to first gather information about the surrounding area and then find a place to settle.

Step, step...

I temporarily part from my colleagues and follow the river upstream from where we had landed.

The others, centered around Jeon Myeong-hoon who has mastered the Six Extremes Yin Thunder Body, decided to head downstream, while I, on the contrary, head upstream.

The others can't use their full strength due to the ghostly energy of the Nether Ghost Realm, so they stick together. On the other hand, thanks to the Great Desert to Dead Sea, I am actually stronger here than in the Bright Cold Realm, making information gathering more efficient if I'm alone.

'It feels a bit lonely.'

I sway my 19 heads in my Ghost King form.

Perhaps because the Ghost Path Method suited his nature, Seo Li liked this form, but I think General Seo's form is more imposing, so I don't particularly like it.

Step, step...

Sometimes walking, sometimes using the Flying Escape Technique, how long do I move upstream?

"Hmm...is this a city of the Nether Ghost Realm?"

I smile with ghost fire glowing from my 38 eyes.

Far ahead, at the basin above a large mountain peak where the river begins.

There, I feel the presence of numerous ghosts.

"Hmm..."

As I climb higher, a colossal city wall similar to the one I had seen in the Head Realm comes into view.

There doesn't seem to be a gatekeeper in front of the gate, but I soon realize why.

"You there, do you wish to enter Black River City?"

Kugugugugu!

The upper part of the main gate's city wall wriggles, and a huge eyeball pops out.

At the same time, the gate transforms into something like a 'mouth'.

'Hoh, did they attach a ghost to the wall itself?'

The wall itself is the gatekeeper and the gate.

Flying over the wall is not an option due to the dense barrier laid over it, making it so that one must obtain permission from this gatekeeper ghost to enter.

"This ghost. I don't know where you came from, but do you have an identity...heok!"

The wall ghost, writhing and fully revealing its face, seems to want to say something to me but freezes for a moment upon seeing me.

"...Do you have something to say?"

When I ask curiously, the wall ghost stammers for a moment before smiling.

"Ah, it's nothing, elder. At a glance, you seem to be a noble elder of the Ghost Lineage (鬼脈). I apologize for my daring rudeness."

"Hmm, no need. It's only natural for a gatekeeper."

"Thank you! In fact, to enter Black River City, there's a need to restrict one's consciousness a bit..."

The wall ghost cautiously asks me.

"However, if elder does not wish to, there is no need."

"It's fine. If that's the rule of this city, I'll follow it."

Suppressing my consciousness, I ask.

"Is this much enough?"

"Th-thank you! Please enjoy your visit to the Black River City, elder!"

Awkwardly smiling as it looks at my faces, it opens its mouth wide to let me enter the city easily.

"Hmm..."

It seems that the death deeply ingrained in my soul is quite effective even in the Nether Ghost Realm.

'Unlike the fussy Human Race, in the Nether Ghost Realm, being acknowledged as a great ghost means no need for an identity plaque.'

Indeed, thinking about it, just having the form of death implies having died multiple times, making one truly a ghost among ghosts.

In the world of ghosts, nothing could be stranger than demanding identification from a ghost among ghosts.

Slowly walking into Black River City, I let out a small sigh.

"Ho..."

'This is even more diverse than what I saw in the True Dragon Alliance.'

Various races are wandering the streets, from normal-looking ghosts to utterly grotesque ones. There are even those who are not ghosts but walking undead creatures like jiangshi or animated monsters of white bones.

Even among the jiangshi and white bone monsters, there are countless types, and the same goes for the ghosts and ghost kings.

Even just within 5 zhang:

An old man holding a flower basket.

A three-headed jiangshi dog, a lizard made entirely of bones, a transparent ghost that appears to be just a floating hat and robe.

A shadow-like ghostly creature, a ghost king with a pitch-black body and no face like an egg ghost, a tree ghost moving around completely soaked in blood.

A maiden ghost in a white funeral dress who looks no different from a human, except for her pale complexion.

All sorts of beings roam around.

"This is the Nether Ghost Realm..."

As I look around with interest.

Sshaaaaaa—

The surrounding ghosts emanate an intent of fear, clearing the path wherever I walk.

As a result, a wide path forms wherever I go.

"..."

Their pale complexions and gloomy color of intent made me think it was due to them cultivating Ghost Path Methods.

But it seems it's not the Ghost Path Methods, but me.

"...Ahem."

When I awkwardly clear my throat, the ghosts distance themselves even more from me.

'...It's quite quiet here. Do ghostly creatures not shout to attract customers or haggle like humans do?'

While I look around, I hear a noisy commotion from another street in Black River City and head that way.

'Just what could be causing such a ruckus among these quiet ghosts?'

Soon.

I enter the bustling market street of Black River Castle.

"..."

And as I enter, the market street falls silent.

Then, from the direction of the street I have just left, sounds begin to grow, eventually turning into a cacophony of a bustling market.

The ghosts were neither pale nor gloomy just because they are ghosts, nor were ghostly creatures quiet by nature.

'Damn it...was it because of me that everyone kept their mouths shut?'

In this regard, the ghosts in the Bright Cold Realm and the Head Realm who screamed and ran away at the sight of me are far better.

'Why is there such a difference between the ghosts of the Nether Ghost Realm and those of other realms?'

I turn my gaze to the will-o'-the-wisp that had been energetically soliciting other ghosts before I arrived.

'It was definitely the loudest and most vigorous ghost...'

"Hey there."

"Hic!"

The will-o'-the-wisp, seemingly female in its past life, trembles with a frail voice.

"I have a question."

"Y-Yes!!! Elder!!! I'm not tasty! I'm at most just at the Qi Building stage, so even if elder eats me, you won't feel a thing..."

"No, no. I'm not here to eat you...I'm just curious. Come here."

When I beckon with my hand, the will-o'-the-wisp emits an intent of almost fainting, its originally blue body turning white with fear.

However, the egg ghost that had been using the will-o'-the-wisp to advertise its shop pushes it towards me in terror and panic.

Thud!

The will-o'-the-wisp, shoved by its master, falls in front of me and trembles in fear, flickering as if about to go out.

I use voice transmission so others can't hear and ask.

[Do you know the difference between the ghosts who scream and run away at the sight of me and you?]

It doesn't seem to be a difference in cultivation, so why are these beings trembling in fear and silence rather than going wild?

"I-I don't know. Actually, if you permit me, I'd like to scream too...may I, please...?"

The will-o'-the-wisp babbles nonsense in a voice that sounds on the brink of insanity.

"Hmm, it seems you're in no state to answer."

I realize I have asked a ghost with too low a cultivation.

I hand the will-o'-the-wisp back to the egg ghost and look around.

"Let's see...is there no ghost of Nascent Soul stage or higher..."

And just as I mutter that.

Kuaaaaang!

Suddenly, there's an explosion in the market street, and a jiangshi and a tree ghost are frantically running in opposite directions like mad.

Both are clearly Nascent Soul stage ghosts.

"Hey, wait...!"

'Damn it. They must have misunderstood something I said!'

Concluding that all of this is due to the appearance caused by the Great Desert to Dead Sea, I decide to turn my body back into my human form.

'It seems that even in the Nether Ghost Realm, I'm seen as a crazy madman who carries around the heads of cultivators of the same level. This won't do. No matter how unimportant appearances are, communication is still necessary. Seo Li, why did you have to complete the Great Desert to Dead Sea like this...?'

The current Great Desert to Dead Sea is a quite well-structured and highly completed method, so even for me, it will take quite a while to modify it to give a normal appearance.

Cursing Seo Li's taste inwardly, I resolve to deal with this Great Desert to Dead Sea somehow in the future.

For now, I use the ground-shrinking technique to chase the slightly slower tree ghost while slowly undoing the Ghost King Transformation of the Great Desert to Dead Sea.

Gradually, I revert to my ordinary appearance, clad in white robes.

"Hey, I've changed to a form that won't cause you repulsion! I don't intend to harm you, I just want to share a short conversation so please answer my questions."

At that moment.

The tree ghost turns its head to look at me and instead shrieks even more crazily.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaa! Please forgive me, elder! Please! Please! Kyaaaaaa!"

Kugugugugu!

As I chase the tree ghost until I reach its back, it wears a face as if it's about to faint, and uses the Flying Escape Technique to flee entirely beyond Black River City, even at the cost of harming its cultivation.

Dumbfounded at the scene, I touch my face.

'No, just why in the world is it screaming at me?'

As I'm flustered, I suddenly feel a sense of incongruity and look around. The street, which had been bustling with ghostly creatures, is now completely empty.

All the ghostly creatures had fled upon seeing my human face.

"...This won't do."

Feeling annoyed, I fly towards the center of Black River City.

To the ghost king exuding the aura of the Heavenly Being stage.

"Hey, are you the lord of this city?"

In the palace at the center of Black River City, a skull-faced ghostly creature clad in rags sits cross-legged on top of the palace eaves.

I sense several presences inside the palace, but they all seem connected to the skull-faced ghost, appearing to be its puppets.

I also realize that this skull-faced ghost, seemingly the lord of Black River City, is incredibly fearful of me.

"Y-Yes, elder. I am the lord of this city."

"Alright. That's good. Just why is everyone so afraid of me?"

The lord of Black River City, Mang Gol, trembles as he glances up at the madman before him.

'Heavens above, why do you give me such trials?'