A Regressor's Tale of Cultivation
C792 Chapter 788: Protagonist (主人公) (3)
Chapter 788: Protagonist (主人公) (3)
2050th cycle.
I try to block the move of Upper by attempting the Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens applied ultimate technique, Heaven of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception.
But it is impossible.
'In that brief span...he evolved...!'
When he first used Hope.
The Future King and I were facing each other with our main bodies for the first time, and Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens was also a technique that had only recently been completed.
Therefore, through Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens, I could defer Hope for a moment.
And because I could defer the final ultimate technique Hope, I thought I could let flow or deter other decisive moves as much as I like.
It was a delusion.
As if it is no lie that he grasped Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens to a certain extent in that short time, his Emptiness Sword evolves in an instant, digs into the gaps of Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens, and hounds me tenaciously.
If he uses Hope once again, I have no doubt that I will be chased down in an instant and be killed.
That's right.
He is still only playing with us.
"Your ultimate technique was one that evolves to any extent in order to survive, was it not...?"
Remembering the attribute of the Void Sword, I look at the evolution of the Emptiness Sword.
With only that brief thought, I am already at the 2100th cycle.
'If I keep wasting time like this, Hong Fan's prophecy will come true.'
With an opponent who evolves near-infinitely in an instant as my enemy, how do I face him?
It is simple.
'I too must evolve.'
However, I know myself well.
With only my own strength, I am always nothing more than a miserable senile old man.
What has always helped me grow is...
"Seo Eun-hyun!!"
Clench!
The moment of death.
At that time when I regress again and cross over time.
There is a hand grabbing my shoulder.
A god of golden light, with wings of light.
It is Kim Young-hoon.
In Kim Young-hoon's other hand, from Jeon Myeong-hoon to Oh Hye-seo.
All my comrades are all linked together and are following my regression together.
No complicated words are needed.
"Use it!"
That one phrase is enough.
With that phrase, Kim Young-hoon turns golden and begins to be sucked into the Impermanence Sword.
In that moment, I evolve by one step.
Tsuaaaat!
The principle of Sword God Dance naturally draws in Kim Young-hoon and settles him in my blade.
At the same time, I become a light faster than anything.
—Golden Great Thousand World.
Paatt!
'Only now...'
Only by borrowing the Martial Pinnacle that Kim Young-hoon reached can I finally contain it within these eyes.
I am given the bare minimum of time to react toward the decisive move of Upper that chases Auspicious Soul Filling the Heavens!
The Impermanence Sword crashes toward Upper, lets the power of Upper directly flow, reads the true intent contained in that technique, and shatters it.
'Not yet, a frontal breakthrough with my Martial Arts is still impossible.'
If so, I borrow.
Humans are weak.
Because they are weak, they make weapons, make civilizations, make societies, and at last make connections.
The light of the Impermanence Sword, which has turned golden, changes once more and spews a golden radiance.
Gold is added to gold.
—Splitting Emperor Splitting Heaven.
—Annihilation Advancement Mu.
My sword becomes a golden spear and opposes the black Emptiness Sword.
With speed by Kim Young-hoon's soul, with destructive power by Gwak Am's last will, squeezing out all strength, I push back Upper.
At last.
Jjeooooong!
Light explodes, and the Impermanence Sword and the Emptiness Sword explode.
Gikikikik—
I get shoved far back by the rebound force.
However, in the end the recoil loses its strength, and I come to a stop in place.
"I too will evolve."
I will not be the only who stops in place!
And, at my declaration, Hong Fan speaks a single phrase with emotionless eyes.
"If devouring the spirits of your companions to grow is evolution, then it is evolution."
"..."
"Do not be ashamed. For that is originally your talent."
"...My talent...?"
I let out a hollow laugh.
"What a joke. Isn't my talent the lack of talent?"
Wooooo—
With empty eyes, he speaks.
At his following words, I cannot help but flinch.
"Rather, I want to ask. I clearly gifted you the Heavenly Devil Body (天魔之體). When the Absolute fragment you received descends to the Plane of Qi, the body is not something as simple as the stubborn Seo Eun-hyun."
"..."
At those words, I look at him and speak.
"If that is true, shouldn't I have been noticed right away by the Devilish sect, the Black Ghost Valley...?"
"If you had learned devilish arts even once properly. If there had been even one time you sacrificed others with an unburdened heart to accumulate your realm, the talent of the Devilish would have awakened and you surely would have noticed. Your talent is one that can devour and rule over the myriad devils. Only, the one who did not learn devilish arts is you."
At those words that are like thunder in a blue sky, I am dumbfounded.
'...That kind of talent...was in me...?'
The answer comes right away.
"It was. I am the one who bestowed it, how could I forget?"
"..."
"The very fact that you so joyfully learned the Star Extinguishing True Chapter, and the fact that you learned the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra so quickly, is proof. For both are methods and mantras worthy to vie for the seat of the strongest, worst, and greatest devilish art."
"...What are you...? The Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra is..."
"It is the highest devilish art. How the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra can be used so viciously, did Gwak Am not prove it? Did your senior brother not properly teach you its usage?"
—I S H A L L T E A C H Y O U P R O P E R L Y.
'That usage back then...'
At Hong Fan's continuing words, I cannot help but make a bitter smile.
"..."
"And the Star Extinguishing True Chapter likewise is a powerful devilish cultivation method not inferior to that. You must surely remember. That cultivation of severing connection...did you not learn it most joyfully and happily?"
That is so.
At that time, I surely practiced the cultivation of severing connection with great pleasure.
16th cycle.
I keep practicing the cultivation of Cutting Principle.
The practice targets are, of course, the devilish cultivators of Red Moon Island who keep bothering me.
Shwikak!
Starting from those who keep making requests to me, to those who put in requests to Makli Cheon-sa.
Every time numerous devilish cultivators come, I, through Cutting Principle, disarray their hearts regarding the relationship they tied to me.
"Hmm...that Seo guy... For some reason, I don't want to bother him today. Fine. Farewell, I will go to another fellow."
A cultivator at the early Nascent Soul stage, who came looking for me every day to put in a request to Makli Cheon-sa and to pester me, stopped bothering me the moment he was hit once by Cutting Principle.
Others are the same.
All those who formed a shallow connection with me, one by one, began to lose interest in me due to Cutting Principle.
Of course, as a countereffect, their interest shifted to another.
It is Hong Fan.
"You Hong rascal! Did I not tell you to deliver the letter to Great Person Makli!?"
"You Hong punk! Did you deliver well the gift to Great Person Makli?"
"Hong brat, why do you not come running promptly!?"
"Brother Hong, though as human and demon our races are different, if it is Brother Hong who is close to the Transformation stage and trusted by Great Person Makli, I can even introduce my daughter to you."
"Hmph, merely a daughter? I can even offer our aunt! She has not married, but that is all because she focuses on cultivation, so now she is at the Grand Perfection Core Formation stage!"
"Everyone, get lost! Hong Orabeoni is mine!"
"Great Person Hong! My friend was eaten by the demon beasts of Great Person Makli! Please save him!"
At some point, Hong Fan took on the role of Makli Cheon-sa's close aide in my stead and almost replaced the place of 'Seo Eun-hyun' in the eyes of others.
What's more, because he even handles matters better than I do, all I have to do is organize the tasks Hong Fan handles and bring them before Makli Cheon-sa's cave residence.
As I practice Cutting Principle, my presence gradually grows faint, and Hong Fan's presence soars.
I am able to focus even more on cultivation and search for a way to undo the curse of lightning.
Kiiiiiiing—
I press my palms together and feel will gathering between my hands.
'Gradually...I am getting a sense of how to cut down what is called the heart.'
If I look at it broadly, can't this also be seen as a Heart Sword?
No, perhaps in truth the meaning of the term Heart Sword fits this side even better.
'To think the Heart Sword is merely the basics of cultivation, truly...'
I let out a hollow laugh as I feel the absurd difficulty of the Star Extinguishing True Chapter.
I do not know who created the method called the Star Extinguishing True Chapter.
But what is certain is, this was clearly not made for mortal beings to learn.
'A transcendent...is it a method at the level of True Immortals?'
However, even to call it a method at the level of True Immortals is strange, as it states that one star can produce only the power of the Qi Refining stage.
Why would a True Immortal ever need power at the level of Qi Refining?
'Well...it doesn't matter anyway.'
I continue practicing the Star Extinguishing True Chapter.
Among its parts, as I continue the cultivation of Cutting Principle, there is something I can feel.
It is precisely the fact that this method called the Star Extinguishing True Chapter suits me quite well.
'It's easy to learn.'
Each and every cultivation procedure of the method goes straight into my head, and the way of cultivation suits me far too well.
'The sublimation of the three combinations of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, and the Formless Sword is this very cultivation method of Cutting Principle.'
That is to say, for those who have not learned those three, this is difficult to learn, but for an existence who has learned the three beforehand, learning Cutting Principle is not particularly difficult.
The more I perform the divine power of Cutting Principle, the more I can see my progress surging forward, so how could it not be fun?
With a very delighted heart, I keep learning the method.
Until now, including martial arts, I have never thought I have much talent in the entirety of Immortal Cultivation methods.
But at least for this thing called the Star Extinguishing True Chapter, I feel I have talent.
'So I too have a field...in which I have talent.'
To dig into a field one has talent truly seems to be a fun thing.
And finally, when I cut down everyone on Red Moon Island who more or less knows me and cut away everyone who formed shallow connections with me.
Kurung, kurururung!
At last, the day approaches.
Makli Cheon-sa challenges the Heavenly Being stage advancement.
Kururururung!
Clouds draw over the sky.
The ominous clouds that will bring down Heavenly Tribulation are sending out the omen right before they cast down heavenly lightning.
Urung, ururung!
I watch that Heavenly Tribulation and listen to Hong Fan's counsel.
"It is today."
"...Right."
All the shallow connections on Red Moon Island are severed.
Now it is time to cut down a slightly stronger connection.
'If it is Makli Cheon-sa, who possesses the Great Sea Eye divine power...performing Cutting Principle by ambush is impossible.'
I must aim for a proper opportunity and sever the connection clearly.
'And by severing the connection toward a cultivator at a high realm, I can explore the essence of an even deeper connection...'
As preparation to sever the connection with the True Immortal of Heavenly Punishment, the optimal course is to perform the cultivation of severing connections during the period of Heavenly Tribulation.
"Hong Fan, you are holding the bindings over the demon beasts, right?"
"Yes. Proceed without worry."
"..."
I move forward in silence.
In the distance, I see Makli Cheon-sa rising under the gloomy clouds.
I see countless demon souls rising around her.
They seem to be the spirits of the demon beasts she raised.
Woo-wooooooong!
The spirits of the demon beasts vary widely from Qi Refining to Core Formation, and those innumerable spirits, linked to each other, concentrate their power into a single existence at the center.
Makli Cheon-sa gathers the power of the demon souls that form a circular formation centered on her and supply her with strength, and, revealing an overwhelming might, she begins to shout toward the sky.
Outwardly, she clearly bears the appearance of a human woman.
Yet within her shout, it seems as if the roars of countless demon beasts burst out together.
At the same time, Heavenly Tribulation begins to fall.
Kwarururung!
"Alright, Hong Fan. Here I go...!"
While she is too occupied facing the Heavenly Tribulation head-on.
Aiming for that gap, I thrust in Cutting Principle.
'...I am sorry.'
I feel a twinge of guilt toward Makli Cheon-sa as I fly toward her.
I know it myself.
As long as the connection between the True Immortal of Heavenly Punishment and me remains this strong,
Those related to me may suffer some vicious misfortune at the hands of the True Immortal of Heavenly Punishment.
Over the past few years, living alongside Makli Cheon-sa, I came to know that although she is a figure of the devilish path, she is not of the same extreme evil as Yuan Li or the Makli Clan.
Therefore, if I rather intend to protect Makli Cheon-sa who has become my connection, it is more right to sever the connection between us now.
Moreover, it is clearly a relationship only formed on the surface, she taught me almost nothing, and even the little she taught was to make use of me.
There is barely any affection, and she is merely a transactional partner, but still, a teacher is a teacher.
'I...will never forget you.'
One way or another, today.
It will be the first time that I, before my master, sever the connection as a disciple.
I deeply engrave her figure into the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, swear to never forget, and prepare Cutting Principle.
[Is it betrayal?]
Is it because she reads the celestial energy that I intend to attack?
With a cold voice, Makli Cheon-sa begins to form a hand seal within the Heavenly Tribulation.
"...I am sorry. However, it will not interfere with your Heavenly Tribulation, so please forgive me."
[Hmph, as long as you hold the status of my disciple, you and I are both devilish cultivators. What those of the Devilish Path speak, even the same Devilish Path does not believe.]
Woo-woooong!
From her hand seal, a powerful spiritual wave spreads out and then changes into a familiar signal.
She commands her own tamed demon beasts.
[Attack Seo Eun-hyun!]
Kugugugugu!
Like a swarm of bees, demon beasts burst from Makli Cheon-sa's cave residence and begin to roar.
Among them are Oh Saek, the Five-Colored Shadow Cat demon beast at the early Nascent Soul, and Wol Rang, a Celestial Dog Race demon beast at the mid Nascent Soul.
It is practically a situation where I must endure the simultaneous assault of several cultivators of the same level!
Moreover, even the binding for controlling demon beasts, which I linked to myself to manage the demon beasts on behalf of Makli Cheon-sa, goes into a fit and comes in to reverse-erode me.
Kaang!
However, since I transferred most of the authority and function of the bindings to Hong Fan, I undo the seal without issue and block the reverse corrosion.
In that state, I begin to use Cutting Principle.
'In any case, I wouldn't have been able to use Cutting Principle directly at Makli Cheon-sa from the beginning.'
The first targets are the demon beasts.
The ones I tended with utmost care for several years...
The fellows I accumulated far more affection with than Makli Cheon-sa's followers on Red Moon Island.
Shwikak!
Cutting Principle flies toward the three-headed python demon beast.
The demon beast lets out a scream, but soon in its gaze toward me, emotions such as killing intent and old affection and the like vanish all at once.
Now the reason it attacks me is simply because of Makli Cheon-sa's order!
Woo-wooooong!
"Heaven Dao Nascent Soul"
The Nascent Soul built with the Heaven Dao method resonates.
"Earth Dao Nascent Soul"
The Nascent Soul built with demon beast methods merges completely with the Heaven Dao Nascent Soul and amplifies strength.
"Formless Sword."
Upon the Heaven-and-Earth Nascent Soul, the energy of the Formless Sword overlays.
I feel the three powers complement one another and the power surge fiercely.
'It's become solid.'
The strength of my Nascent Soul becomes in effect equal to that of a Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage cultivator's Nascent Soul, allowing me to draw out immense spiritual power at once.
Kugugugu!
I receive the assault of the demon beast horde.
I evade with Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, deflect with Formless Sword, and, along with the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, I actively apply the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and demon beast methods to shake off the demon beast horde with my bare body.
And I keep subduing their minds through Cutting Principle, severing their ties with me.
The lower-realm demon beasts have their ties with me snap away in an instant, and even the higher-realm demon beasts have their ties cut one by one.
What remains now are only Wol Rang of the Celestial Dog Race and Oh Saek of the Five-Colored Shadow Cat Race.
[Kururururu!]
Wol Rang casts off the Transformation form, transforms into a sprawling white dog, and howls.
[Kwoooooooar!]
The Celestial Dog that drinks in the moonlight charges.
Meeting eyes with that house-sized dog, I, in a single moment, simultaneously unfold the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, and the Formless Sword.
In an instant Wol Rang's spirit is suppressed, and beyond the suppressed spirit, the divine power of Cutting Principle flies again.
Chukwagak!
Wol Rang faints on the spot and the connection with me is cut, and I, left with the last one, meet eyes with Oh Saeok, who still maintains the Transformation form.
She of the Spirit Cat Race, perhaps probing me, does not easily rush in.
Instead, she only asks a question.
[Why did you betray Master?]
"...It is not betrayal. Among the demon beasts I touched, are there any who died?"
[How would I know? Maybe with some bizarre divine power you planted gu poison in their bellies, or left a prohibition or brand on their minds to lay some curse.
[I know very well you are someone skilled in curses, so you think I'll believe your words?]
"..."
[No need to know the before and after. Just looking at the current situation makes it all too clear, traitor.]
"...I have no excuse."
I put on a bitter smile at this very situation where, one way or another, I must sever ties with my master.
But in the end, it is a necessary.
'I must sever the tie.'
At least, in this lifetime.
'So that no longer. So that I no longer harm anyone precious...I must sever the tie, to be able to move on to the next.'
I must save Jeon Myeong-hoon and the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect someday.
If I am not to let Jeon Myeong-hoon go mad and become a slaughter devil, I must also resolve the Heavenly Lightning Banner.
'If I leave the Heavenly Lightning Banner alone, it will someday bring again that monstrous True Immortal of Heavenly Punishment.'
I cannot let it be like that.
'I also n