A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 487: Esteemed One's Path (1)

Pajijijijijik...

How many days have I spent fleeing through the Path of Stars, evading the grasp of the Golden Shaking Bird? As I travel, the strength in the arm gradually fades, and eventually it finally vanishes.

'It seems it's impossible for it to emerge directly beyond the Lightning Sacred Sea. It must have exhausted its strength trying to reach out from within its confinement.'

Paaatt!

Now, the end of the Path of Stars is in sight, and the Peaceful Cloud Realm comes into view in the distance.

A massive thigh-shaped Decaying Corpse Realm floats in the cosmic space.

'Just one more crossing from here, and I'll be in the Ancient Force Realm.'

The Deep Sea of the Ancient Force Realm might be daunting to cultivators at the Integration stage and below, but for Esteemed Ones and above, one can easily break through the depths and rise back up, relying on attraction force at a cosmic level. Even if they enter the Ancient Force Realm, they can emerge with their own power without issue.

By now, I've come far enough that I could reach the Middle Realm within a few months if I chose to travel there, so there's no pressing need to rush along the Path of Stars.

Rather than that, I take a moment to carefully observe the Peaceful Cloud Realm from the outside.

'I've wondered about this before, but what exactly is this Decaying Corpse Realm?'

No, it's probably not even a Decaying Corpse Realm.

The stars that connect the Path of Stars are all just True Persons in disguise.

Therefore, this Peaceful Cloud Realm is likely also the disguise of an Entering Nirvana True Person, but why would this particular being choose to disguise themself as the Decaying Corpse Realm?

'If I awakened them to ask...the living beings inside the Peaceful Cloud Realm would probably be thrown into chaos. And honestly, I can't assume they would be a friendly presence towards me...'

Though curiosity stirs within me, I decide to leave it be for now, flying to a nearby suitable star and settling myself there. I then turn to my shadow and ask,

"Over the past few days, I couldn't ask because I was busy shaking off Golden Shaking Bird, but...didn't you also say you'd help me find Kang Min-hee, the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother?"

"Rest assured. I will help Daoist locate the Ghost Mother as well."

Seo Hweol emerges from my shadow with a faint smile.

"Tell me her location."

"Hmm...I don't know yet myself. I'm simply having 'myself' scattered across the cosmos and Hyeon Eum to search for her. But please don't worry. In about ten years, I'll be able to trace the Ghost Mother with my wife's assistance."

"What, so you haven't tried any tricks on her?"

"Has Daoist Seo forgotten what he planted in the bosom of the Ghost Mother?"

"Well...just inform me of her location once you succeed in finding her. And, Oh Hye-seo."

I look at Seo Hweol as I speak.

"I know you're acting as Seo Hweol's eyes right now. You're probably watching our conversation as well. If you find Kang Min-hee in the future, you're to retrieve every 'record' of her movements since she arrived in the Astral Realm and deliver them to me. Understood?" R

"Hmm, my wife is asking Daoist Seo, 'Who do you think you are to be giving orders?'"

"Since Seo Hweol is right in front of me, and you're connected to Seo Hweol...I can locate you at any time through Seo Hweol and launch an attack."

Huaruruk...

I speak, letting Glass True Fire rise from my body.

It's not a joke.

By using the Sub-Heart Sword and Flower Soul Filling the Heavens to pass through Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, I can pinpoint Oh Hye-seo's location.

Using this method, I can send her the Sub-Heart Sword imbued with Glass True Fire.

"My wife says she 'accepts the terms'."

"She should have done so from the start."

I release the Glass True Fire and assume a lotus position.

I can afford to wait ten years.

'Kang Min-hee's location...is immensely important to me as well.'

Originally, I thought I'd have to fly aimlessly around the entire universe searching for her...but with this method, I'll be able to memorize her location and find her directly later on.

"Once I've found the Ghost Mother's location and gathered her movement records over the past hundred years, I'll see Daoist again. Farewell."

With those words, Seo Hweol vanishes from the spot.

I gaze into space from atop the desolate star, then attempt to connect with my comrades' Sub-Heart Swords that are linked to their souls.

The distance to the Lightning Sacred Sea is too great, so while the Sub-Heart Swords can resonate with each other, they can't maintain a connection from that far. However, near the Peaceful Cloud Realm, connecting with the Sub-Heart Swords is entirely possible.

'For now, returning to the Bright Cold Realm with my main body...would be difficult.'

I feel a sense of shame towards Yeon Wei.

'Yeon Wei might actually hang herself... No, I won't tell her that Jeon Myeong-hoon has been kidnapped...just yet.'

For now, let's just greet my comrades and update them on recent events through the Sub-Heart Sword.

Just as I think this,

"...Em?"

Peett!

Something like a flash of light flickers, and my connection through the Sub-Heart Sword is cut off.

'What was that?'

Curious, I attempt to reconnect to the Sub-Heart Sword through the Plane of Soul, and in the next instant, a flash appears and the connection is broken once more.

'What the...?'

Determined, I reconnect the Sub-Heart Sword.

'Fine. I'll establish a solid connection through the Plane of Soul.'

Paaatt!

Just as my consciousness is about to reach my comrades,

Flash!

I see it.

When I elevate my mind fully to the Plane of Soul, I finally see it! 

The scene of a golden radiance flashing in the Plane of Soul and severing my very will in an instant before disappearing.

"...Hah."

I let out a small chuckle and begin concentrating my mind with all my strength.

"So that's how it is?"

Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise.

Although Jeon Myeong-hoon is doomed to endure ten thousand years of pleasure training, it seems there are those who have grown in power during that time.

"You sure are fast."

I hadn't even noticed.

It's probably because of Hyeon Gwi.

Ever since witnessing the pinnacle of martial arts shown by the Owner of the Void, my enlightenment has become scattered, which might explain my lapse in perception. But...even with that in mind, the speed is astonishingly hard to even perceive!

There's only one being with both this speed and this golden radiance.

I prepare to reconnect with my comrades.

'If I am to break through this speed and reconnect, there's only one way.'

I must pierce through.

No matter how quickly my will is cut off, I need to crush his very intent moving at that speed with enough powerful force, and pierce directly through.

Kugugugugu!

I pull my main body up momentarily to the Plane of Soul.

Then, within the Plane of Soul, I overlay my shining light with the appearance of my main body.

On the Plane of Soul, the forms of stars become one.

At the same time, boundless power begins surging from that spot.

[Here I come. This time, you won't stop me...!]

Dududududu!

The entire Plane of Soul nearby begins to shake.

I focus my consciousness directly through the Plane of Soul.

Kwaaang!

Immediately, my consciousness collides with something.

Once again, something incredibly fast attempts to sever my consciousness, but due to the difference in weight, I feel something 'breaking.'

And at that very moment, my consciousness finally reaches the Bright Cold Realm.

Chwararak!

The place where I open my eyes is the Cedar Wood Grove in the Bright Cold Realm.

Above a mountain.

On the mountain peak.

In front of me stands a familiar figure, gripping a saber and grinning.

"You're here."

The man in black martial attire.

Kim Young-hoon, wearing a bright expression, immediately readies himself.

"Come at me. Today, I'll show you who the real hyung-nim is."

I smile faintly at his words and raise both hands.

I can feel Kim Young-hoon tensing as he envelops his entire body in sharp energy.

At the edge of the imminent clash!

I spread both my hands wide and laugh.

"I surrender."

"...What?"

Kim Young-hoon frowns and asks again.

"What kind of crazy talk is this? Are you doing this because you don't understand why I'm acting this way?"

"Yes, I understand. Congratulations, Young-hoon Hyung-nim."

Through the Plane of Soul, I gaze into Kim Young-hoon's soul.

Currently, he exists within the Plane of Soul as a radiant star, with clouds gathering around him and emitting a brilliant light.

He too has reached the realm of Void Shattering.

Kim Young-hoon, brimming with sharp energy as if he's about to cut me down at any moment, shouts.

"If you know, why are you acting like this? Before I cut you down right now..."

Just as he grows excited and prepares to swing his saber,

Tadatt!

"You're here, Seo Eun-hyun!"

Someone jumps in between me and Kim Young-hoon.

"So, have you managed to control your emotions?"

It's Jang Ik.

"...I haven't managed to control them yet. Because of that, my current realm is also in an unstable state."

Beyond Jang Ik, I look at Kim Young-hoon and raise the All-Heavens Sword above my hand.

Wo-woong!

The Formless Sword compresses, and a single sword with all of the heavens' natural colors appear above my hand.

This is my sword that has reached the realm of Seated Detachment, Entering Hope.

And going further from here, this is my sword that has reached the realm of Void Shattering.

Kiiiing!

The All-Heavens Sword, compressed from the Formless Sword, compresses once again.

Taking on a form akin to a line of intent, I gaze at the All-Heavens Sword, which has materialized as the very concept of 'cutting' itself.

This is my sword.

At a glance, it appears unimpressive, merely a thin line.

But this is my sword, manifested as the very concept of 'cutting'.

"I returned from briefly visiting the Lightning Sacred Sea. Near the Lightning Sacred Sea, I encountered an incident...and had to witness something terrifying."

"Something terrifying?"

Kim Young-hoon looks puzzled, and I try to move the compressed All-Heavens Sword.

However, the thin All-Heavens Sword seems to distort in air and then, like a reed, snaps and scatters into the air.

"A terrifying martial art that denies the very meaning of Martial Arts. I had to witness the emptiness that renders everything we've trained as meaningless. Since then...I've begun to have doubts about my martial arts. Because of that, my current realm has become unstable. While I can still use the Sub-Heart Sword and the basic abilities of Void Shattering to some extent...fighting as a true martial artist is difficult."

Jang Ik supplements my explanation.

"This brat seems to have encountered some [transcendent entity] out in the distant universe. Ever since then, he's been in this state."

"I see...well, I understand for now."

It seems Kim Young-hoon and Jang Ik have already introduced themselves, as they appear quite familiar with each other.

"Well, since it's come to this, we should drink and relieve our pent-up feelings."

Kim Young-hoon smacks his lips and disappears briefly before reappearing.

In his hand is a cloth bag, inside which are a small table for drinks, a bottle of alcohol, and a side dish.

Jang Ik, Kim Young-hoon, and I sit atop the mountain and begin drinking together.

"By the way, I notice even Cedar Wood Grove uses chopsticks."

"I introduced them myself, since they can double as daggers in emergencies."

Kim Young-hoon has already distributed chopsticks and spoons to Cedar Wood Grove, and Jang Ik seems completely accustomed to chopsticks as he uses them skillfully to pick up the side dish.

The side dish looks like a pure white bellflower root salad, though it resembles stripped tree bark. Despite its appearance, it tastes incredibly good.

Moreover, with each bite, my consciousness becomes clearer, and a boundless stream of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy seems to spring forth within me, making it appear to be a remarkable elixir on its own.

'Though I'm currently in a clone state, even just transferring the spiritual energy to my main body through the Plane of Soul would be considerably beneficial...'

A spiritual elixir effective even for those at the Star Shattering stage—what on earth is this?

As I take a sip of the drink and some of the side dish, curiosity crosses my face, prompting Kim Young-hoon and Jang Ik to speak.

"The liquor is White-Red Wine. I prepared it in advance since it seems you like it."

"Oh, thank you. But what is this side dish? It's incredibly delicious."

Jang Ik picks up another bite of the side dish and explains.

"It's Sacred Master Baek Woon's body."

"..."

As I'm eagerly eating the tree bark that looks like bellflower root salad, I freeze on the spot.

"Since I went through so much in the Lightning Sacred Sea, I pestered her for a nourishing elixir for my health. Generously, she told me to cut off whatever part I wanted from her body and eat it. So, I brought some back."

"...Couldn't it have been just a polite gesture? You know, like saying, 'You've been through so much; I wish I could even cut off a part of myself to feed you' or something along those lines..."

"Not my problem. She should've chosen her words more carefully."

Feeling uneasy, I remove the mouthful of Sacred Master Baek Woon's body salad from my lips.

Jang Ik clicks his tongue and says, 

"Anyway, the bodies of the Tall Tree Race are already traded in various places as spiritual elixirs. Since the Tall Tree Race is half tree by nature, cutting off parts and selling them isn't an issue. Moreover, there are a lot of cases of the Tall Tree Race themselves cutting their body to use as food for nutrients or for trading. And honestly, for any Heaven Tribe at the Core Formation stage and above, the physical body itself isn't even that important. I also got permission."

"...Yes. Well, if you put it that way..."

Though I still felt a bit uneasy...since Sacred Master Baek Woon herself granted permission, I decide to just go along and eat it.

Unlike Qi Building Pills or similar items, this is essentially like Sacred Master Baek Woon handing over her trimmed nails or toenails, so I don't feel too guilty about consuming it.

Only slightly unsettled.

While eating, a sudden curiosity strikes me, and I ask.

"By the way, which part of Sacred Master Baek Woon's body is this?"

"Heh heh, curious, are you? If you knew, neither of you would be able to put it in your mouths..."

"...Never mind."

Though the feeling of unease grows, the taste of Sacred Master Baek Woon's body is truly akin to heavenly delicacy, so I decide to keep eating without further thought.

Jang Ik and Kim Young-hoon, in particular, eat the body of Sacred Master Baek Woon enthusiastically, while I just pick at it, letting them enjoy more.

Then, when there are three pieces of Sacred Master Baek Woon's body left,

Jang Ik and Kim Young-hoon each grab a piece, quickly chewing and swallowing, while I slowly reach for the last piece.

'Its unsettling, but it's still a spiritual elixir...so it wouldn't hurt to eat it.'

Just as I pick up the last piece with my chopsticks,

Takk!!

Kim Young-hoon's chopsticks flick my chopsticks away powerfully, snatching Baek Woon's body piece at the speed of light.

"No, what is...?"

Just as I'm taken aback,

Tuung!

A green light flashes as Jang Ik's chopsticks smack Kim Young-hoon's chopsticks back.

Clatter!

Thanks to that, the last remaining piece falls back onto the plate.

Kim Young-hoon glares at Jang Ik with widened eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"What are doing? You should know how to yield something valuable to a senior."

"Shouldn't it be the senior who yields to the junior?"

"Then why don't you yield to Seo Eun-hyun? You always go around calling each other brothers."

"Seo Eun-hyun reached this realm before me, so in cultivation terms, he's technically my senior."

"Is this brat drunk? The nonsense he's spouting is ridiculous."

I look at the two and sigh as I say,

"You each took one piece when there were three left, so this last one should be mine. I'll take it, so please stop fighting."

"What nonsense is this!? I went through the trouble of getting this from Baek Woon, so of course I should eat it!"

"Neither Senior Jang nor Seo Eun-hyun really need this, do they? I, however, want to eat it because the nature of light within this elixir aligns perfectly with my saber energy!"

Tick, tidik, tick tick tick!

We clash our chopsticks as we bicker with each other.

'Why on earth are they acting like this?'

While Sacred Master Baek Woon's fragment is indeed an incredible spiritual elixir, I didn't expect it to cause an argument.

They both seem awkward as they suddenly display a greed they normally don't show, fighting over a side dish.

Watching them, I suddenly catch a glimpse of Jang Ik and Kim Young-hoon's expressions.

Only then do I understand.

'I failed to notice because they're all good at concealing their intents and heart essences at this level.'

I chuckle as I move my chopsticks.

'I should have caught on when Kim Young-hoon brought out the drinking table. So, was this their plan all along?'

Paang!

A powerful energy wave explodes from my chopsticks, pushing the two of them back.

"Both of you should step aside. It seems I really must eat this."

"You greedy Heaven Tribe scoundrel, so you reveal your true colors!"

"Gal! A mere Deputy dares to covet the Director's side dish!"

Jang Ik and Kim Young-hoon thrust their chopsticks forward, trying to snatch my side dish.

Kim Young-hoon's chopsticks turn into golden radiance as they thrust towards me.

Jang Ik's chopsticks dye green, unleashing overwhelming oppressive force that presses down on my momentum.

Tiiing—

Kim Young-hoon's chopstick