A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 541: Vast Cold's Descendant (4)

Chapter 541: Vast Cold's Descendant (4) 

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

I step along the flow of the universe, gradually approaching Blood Yin.

Dududududu!

Gradually, the [power] of Heaven, Earth, Heart, and Wheel overflows, and my body expands into that of a white Giant God.

Now, it feels like I could cradle a fixed star in one arm.

At the same time, Blood Yin also begins to expand his form.

Kurung, kurururung!

Simultaneously, I can see something immensely colossal.

It is...

A [Head]!

A [Head] formed from dark-red mist reveals itself in the universe, with its eyes burning fiercely.

That head, much like the Head Realm...

No, it seems even more eroded by time than the Head Realm. There's not a single piece of flesh or muscle left—only the form of a skull remains.

Within that head, I can sense the movements of thousands, hundreds of millions, trillions, quadrillions of living beings.

True Immortal Blood Yin.

The Blood Yin Realm itself begins to exert its true power.

'Enormous...'

Even for me—now capable of wrapping a star with one arm—Blood Yin's main body is enormous.

With his mouth, large enough to swallow my entire body in one bite, he speaks.

: : In the name of Blood Yin, I prophesize... : :

Kugugugugu!

At the same time, a star is born inside [Blood Yin's mouth].

[...!]

: : You shall enter this Immortal's mouth and be crushed to death. : :

[...Hah.]

Though an enemy, I can't help but feel awe at such a prophecy of fate.

To overcome the prophecy, I must destroy the prophetic star.

But to destroy the prophecy, I must crawl into Blood Yin's mouth.

And Blood Yin's prophecy declares that [I will enter his mouth and be chewed to death].

'This is a True Immortal who was once said to have coveted the seat of a Supreme Deity...!'

It is a masterful use of prophecy, akin to a seasoned veteran who has seen countless battles.

Along with it, countless whispers begin to echo from within Blood Yin's body.

—Prophecy...prophecy...

—Prophecy...prophesize...

—Today, the unbreakable ill-fate between you and this Immortal will be resolved.

—You shall wait for an opportunity by this Immortal's side.

—You shall become a fearless warrior who knows no retreat... If you flee from this Immortal today, you will become nothing but a cowardly, pathetic weakling who knows only defeat, living the rest of your life trapped in a cave until you finally take your own life. ȓâNǒᛒËŚ

Tingle, Tinge...!

'This is...'

A prophecy.

However, a prophecy that is not limited to this moment of battle but encompasses even a distant future fills Blood Yin's mouth.

At the same time, I can feel [two] futures being revealed before me.

Will I fight Blood Yin today and become a fearless warrior, or will I retreat and live the rest of my life as a bug who knows nothing but failure, drowning in defeat until I take my own life?

Two choices are forced upon me.

With this, escape from this confrontation with Blood Yin is no longer an option.

: : Prophecy, after all, is the act of fixing the future by my will. It is undoubtedly an act of defying the heavens. Therefore...prophecy demands a price to be paid. : :

His will swiftly whispers wisdom into me.

: : However, prophecies that offer choices like this require almost no price. The choice given to the opponent becomes the very price they must bear... : :

Ziiiiing!

It is forced.

Fate selects a choice 'by my hand,' and the [future where I face Blood Yin fearlessly] becomes locked in place, entirely erasing the option to retreat.

: : Then let us begin in earnest. : :

I stretch my hand towards Blood Yin.

Kugugu!

Impermanence Sword.

Heavenly Shatter Impermanence!

White power surges and flares from my entire body, and my form swells dramatically for an instant.

I become destruction itself.

Revealing the fierce power of destruction, I swing my fist down in a state larger than even Blood Yin's main body.

: : The stars of the Five Elements shall obey this Immortal's command. : :

Flash!

At the same moment, five stars are created above Blood Yin's head, imbued with the light of the Five Elements.

Greenish-blue, reddish-yellow, yellow, silvery-white, blackish-blue.

The five beams of light seem to envelop Blood Yin's head, and then each star projects five scenes, scattering in five directions.

However, strangely enough, the stars of the Five Elements created this time by Blood Yin do not contain scenes related to 'my' or his victory or defeat.

What is contained in those stars is...

'Submission (屈從)?'

The properties of the Five Elements are commanded to submit to Blood Yin's will.

Simultaneously, the star veins emanating from each star connect.

It seems as though the energy of the Five Elements is dyeing the surroundings in an instant, the Five Elements in the vicinity are gripped firmly in Blood Yin's grasp.

Kwaaaang!

The single strike of my Impermanence Sword is deflected by the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy canopy formed from the Five Elements by Blood Yin's Immortal Art.

'It can't be cut...?'

: : Do you believe you can sever the principles of the universe with merely the heart? Such arrogance... The stars of the Five Affairs (五事) shall follow this Immortal's principle. : :

The Five Elements in the surroundings under Blood Yin's control move, creating a 'single' star once again.

Within that one star, five scenes are contained.

Simultaneously, the 'Five Affairs Star' resonates with the 'Five Elements Stars', and Yin-Yang begins to ripple across the stars of Five Elements.

: : The Five Affairs are seeing, hearing, and thinking—ultimately, perceiving the Taiji. Recognizing the cycle of Twilight (Light and Shadow) is the path to attaining the Five Affairs. : :

Though somewhat esoteric, the meaning feels strangely clear to me.

'Perceiving Taiji is the Five Affairs. And...through the Five Affairs, perceive the Taiji of the Five Elements...to establish the ten pillars...'

: : The Ten Heavenly Stems have been completed... : :

Taiji ripples around the Five Elements Stars, and then the Five Affairs Star explodes.

At the same time, the Five Affairs Star transforms into a fixed star, forming a stellar system at the center of the Five Elements Stars. The stars of Five Elements illuminated by the fixed star, now possess 'day and night,' beginning the cycle of yin and yang.

Seeing this, I realize,

'This is dangerous...!'

But at the same time, it is awe-inspiring.

The grand principles of the universe are being drawn by Blood Yin's hand.

At this moment, it almost seems insignificant whether Blood Yin is a Devil Immortal or not.

I just want to stupidly stare at that stellar system.

: : The Eight Paths shall bow and prostrate before this Immortal's principle. : :

Eight principles are engraved around the stellar system.

At the same time, I suddenly realize something.

The Eight Paths I possess.

In other words, the authority of the Sacred Vessel is being 'extracted' into that stellar system.

'...!'

Only then do I regain my senses and swing the Impermanence Sword at Blood Yin once more.

Impermanence Sword.

Entering Heaven.

Heavenly Shatter Impermanence.

The powers of Entering Heaven and Heavenly Shatter Impermanence simultaneously hammer down upon Blood Yin.

This time, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy canopy of the Five Elements that he has unfolded cannot withstand my strike and collapses.

At the same time, the aftermath of my strike slices the stars of the Five Elements and the entire stellar system into thousands of pieces, scattering them into the void.

But...

'What's this? Why...? Even though I've cut down the star of prophecy...'

Even now, the Five Elements are supporting Blood Yin.

: : The prophecy has already been fulfilled, and this current state is its result. What use is there in trying to collapse the star of a prophecy that has already been fulfilled? : :

'...!'

The Five Elements of Heaven and Earth obey Blood Yin's command, and at the same time, my Sacred Vessel authority is being stripped away by the Five Elements.

Along with that, Blood Yin's authority begins to forcibly impose the power of the Eight Paths over the entire Astral Realm, as if declaring the entire Astral Realm is his Sacred Master domain.

Blood Yin begins to utter the next prophecy.

: : The Five Epochs shall submit to this Immortal's principle. : :

Year, Month, Date, Hour, Calendar.

That's right...

The light of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain begins to tremble under Blood Yin's command.

That is not the end.

: : Starting from Royal Perfection, Correct Rule (正克), Strong Rule (剛克), and Mild Rule (柔克) hear me. You shall become dancers who dance under this Immortal's hand, bringing delight to the eyes and ears. : :

He mocks.

Blood Yin mocks the light across the entire region, wielding it according to his will.

Jiiiiiik!

Together with that, I feel my head spinning.

'Th-This is...'

Blood Yin raised the light to the Plane of Fate and is infusing that light into me.

[Guuuaaaaah!]

I scream.

[Something] is being etched into my mind by Blood Yin.

: : Examination of Doubts and Various Omens shall dance by the command of this Immortal and proclaim to the stars of the nations. Perceive the unfolding of this Immortal's authority throughout the entire world and rightfully uphold it.

: : Recognize that this Immortal's authority spreads across all realms and serve accordingly. : :

Kugugugung!

The Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain begins to tremble.

Simultaneously, I can feel the attraction force emanating from Blood Yin grabbing hold of all the stars in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Shiver!

I stare at Blood Yin with a stunned expression.

'I-Isn't this...no different from declaring the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain...as his Middle Realm as a Sacred Master...?'

Chwaaaaa—

The entire region becomes tainted with dark-red blood devilish energy.

Everywhere my gaze and senses reach is filled with thick blood devilish energy, and I can feel it all falling under Blood Yin's control.

I feel an overwhelming sense of powerlessness at the insurmountable gap between myself and Blood Yin, and I nearly feel like collapsing on the spot.

: : The Six Extremes shall listen, and the Five Blessings shall also heed. Now that the constellations are complete, this Immortal prophesizes once more. : :

Blood Yin's decree carves itself into reality and begins forming a star once more.

Following the authority of the Examination of Doubts and Various Omens, Blood Yin's blood devilish energy spreads across the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain in the forms of Rain, Clearing, Cloudiness, Want of Connection, Crossing, Inner Diagram, Outer Diagram and Rain, Sunlight, Heat, Cold, Wind, Time.

Following this, the shadows of the Five Blessings and Six Extremes begin to stir across the entire Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, as if handing over the sovereignty of the domain itself to Blood Yin.

'This...is Blood Yin showing his true power...'

I cannot win.

He has become the world itself.

How can a being born within the world possibly defeat the world?

I...

Cannot do it.

...

[...As expected, now this is familiar...]

I smirk while my mind remains stuck in the pit of despair.

At some point, the misfortune of the Six Extremes marked by Blood Yin has clung to my shadow.

Unbeknownst to me, this misfortune has been gnawing away at my mind.

The Six Extremes are the shadows of the Five Blessings.

And Blood Yin is the leftover of Yu Hao Te, one of the Five Blessings Immortals who once governed the Five Blessings.

Therefore, no one in Mount Sumeru can naturally wield the Five Blessings and Six Extremes better than Blood Yin.

[I will not give up.]

Udududuk!

Gradually, swiftly, I begin to rotate the [Wheel].

[I cannot fully understand your Immortal Arts and your fate.]

Therefore, I cannot rewrite Blood Yin's fate or twist his prophecy with the [Wheel],

The reason I could twist the End of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain was because I understood the uniqueness of the End and succeeded in controlling it to some extent through the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra. But as for the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain that Blood Yin now controls, I cannot even fathom seizing control.

But does that mean everything is over?

[Even so, there's still something that can be changed.]

The Wheel is an Immortal Art that rewrites what I understand.

But the current Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain has become something I cannot comprehend because of Blood Yin.

In that case, there is only one thing I can change right now.

[Myself.]

Viiiiing!

I, rewrite.

O heart of mine, that leans towards despair.

Chase after hope.

Wiiiiing!

Power begins to overflow throughout my entire body.

I know myself well.

I know the connections I have made.

I know the world I have lived in to some extent.

And the combination of all of those things and what now stands here is the 'current me'.

Because I know this, because I understand this...

Even if I cannot change everything in this world, I can at least change myself.

Kiiiiing!

The power sourced from Heaven, Earth, Heart, and Wheel begins to amplify explosively. 

A perfect amplification, without any waste, bursts forth from my body.

'Let's trust in what I have accumulated.'

Even if this entire world presses down on me, let's resist and move forward.

Because that is the will I have upheld until now.

I become a sword.

Not just a blade created to kill and cut people and animals.

A weapon forged to confront.

I become the will forged to oppose the heavens, fate, and the world pressing down on me.

This...

Is a blade worthy of being called the true Impermanence Sword.

[Ooooooh!]

My body grows larger, to the point where I could hold a fixed star in one hand.

Now larger than Blood Yin, I swing my hand.

Following the principle of Martial Arts, my hand blade strikes and collapses a corner of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

If Blood Yin has conquered the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, I will oppose him with the momentum to shatter the entire world.

If Blood Yin has prophesied the fate of death upon me, I will crush Blood Yin along with that prophecy.

I am the strongest.

Because...

I have something I have accumulated up until now.

Kwaching!

At last, my strike creates a crack in the void.

'As I thought...'

It isn't that the entirety of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain is under his control.

He merely seized control of a portion of the Astral Realm, trapped me there, and is confronting me from within.

Kwaaaang!

However, the domain created by Blood Yin collapses entirely under the force of my strikes, reopening a passage to the outer universe.

[Help me...!]

With a dazzling wheel at my back, I call upon my comrades to decisively end Blood Yin.

With that, the connections gather in one place.

Paaaatt!

The Radiant Divine Demon Kim Young-hoon transforms into a Golden-Winged Peng and soars into this place.

Kwarurung!

The Six Extremes Ghost King Jeon Myeong-hoon, who has just succeeded in advancing to the Sacred Vessel stage, descends wrapped in red lightning across his three heads and six arms.

Kiyaaaaaah!

Appearing leading countless ghosts is Kang Min-hee, who has reached the Grand Perfection Sacred Vessel stage. As soon as she arrives, she begins attempting to seize Blood Yin's domain.

Oh Hyun-seok supports the comrades from the rear, supplying them with power through the force of Primordial Chaos.

A little behind Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon is pulling out the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and artificial stars from Cedarwood Painting.

Dududududu!

As the powers of Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon combine, an overwhelming amplification effect is starting to be seen.

The immense waves of power surging from Kim Yeon are palpable even to me.

[From now on...]

Huarurururuk!

Positioning my Enders comrades beside and behind me, I look down upon Blood Yin.

[I will hunt you, Blood Yin...!]

With that as the declaration, we simultaneously unleash our assault on Blood Yin.

Golden blade light cleaves Blood Yin's entire domain.

Jeon Myeong-hoon's red lightning spreads out like a net, trapping Blood Yin's blood devilish energy.

Kang Min-hee's Ghost Kings clash with the Heavenly Fiends pouring from Blood Yin's domain, protecting the minds of our comrades.

The overwhelming authority formed by the combined powers of Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon is continuously supplying us with strength.

And I, standing at the forefront, draw the Impermanence Sword.

[All this time...]

Countless Immortal Arts and prophecies pour from Blood Yin's mouth.

As I slash through the stars and prophecies, I begin my descent towards Blood Yin.

Grasping complete Void (虛空) in my hand, I reach out towards Blood Yin.

[I have suffered. I have endured far too much oppression and pain...I lost my friends, lost my comrades, and had to watch those I cherished be devoured before my eyes.]

I gradually transform into a meteor.

A long trail of light forms behind me like the tail of a shooting star, and within that trail, the Torch of Myriad Forms and Connections shines brightly, displaying countless scenes from the past.

To others, it's merely a hazy light. But to me, it holds unparalleled meaning.

Countless past connections are now pushing me forward.

[But...not anymore...!]

The constant cycle of suffering has repeated countless times.

But now...I have become the strongest.

No longer will I only be oppressed as before...!

[Therefore...]

I gaze at Blood Yin.

The prophecy declares that I will enter Blood Yin's mouth and be chewed to death.

But I will not be devoured.

With the strength I have accumulated, with the connections I have forged, I will pierce through