A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 559: Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain

Chapter 559: Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain

Kwa-jijijijik!

An overwhelming lightning tribulation!

The Interdimensional Void of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, Middle Realm zone.

One of the 48 Middle Realm zones of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, the Myriad Laws Realm (萬法界).

There, a crimson Blood Shark Race is undergoing a Nascent Soul stage advancement tribulation.

Kwarururung!

The golden lightning tribulation madly strikes the entire body of the Blood Shark Race demon beast.

Flash!

A large crack forms on the forehead of the Blood Shark Race demon beast, and its entire body begins to collapse.

"N-No!"

The Blood Shark cries out with despair-filled eyes.

"I can't die like this! It's unfair! Unfair! There are still so many things I haven't accomplished...! It's unfair...!"

At that very moment.

Flash!

The lightning tribulation suddenly amplifies.

'Ah, damn it. For it to amplify at the last moment...is advancing to the Nascent Soul stage truly this difficult...?'

Just as the Blood Shark is about to give up on life.

From within the amplified lightning tribulation, two shapes burst forth.

One is [a candle flickering with a fusion of glass-colored flames and aurora light], and the other is [a surging river of countless bird heads sparking with lightning].

"Kuaaahhh!"

The Blood Shark's eyeballs burst.

Glass shards protrude from all over their body, and its entire being begins to disintegrate into scattered lightning.

'It's un...fair...'

As the Blood Shark is on the verge of annihilation.

: : S U C H  A  P I T I F U L  T H I NG : :

Kugugugugu!

From within the bizarre candle, a powerful will seems to emanate, sending a certain energy toward the Blood Shark.

The Blood Shark receives this energy and snaps back to their senses.

In that instant, the crack on the Blood Shark's forehead widens further, and from within, a new form of the Blood Shark emerges.

It is a form that has somewhat taken on the shape of a human!

Chwararararak!

The Blood Shark's original body crumbles into husks, seemingly collapsing, but then moves as if alive and envelops the newly transformed human-like form, becoming her clothing.

The once ordinary Blood Shark Race demon beast, Du Hwa (斗華), now possesses crimson hair, surrounded by a subtle glass-colored flame, and her movements are accompanied by golden lightning flickering across her newly transformed body.

Kwa-jijijijik...

And with her Transformation complete, Du Hwa finally realizes that the hellish lightning tribulation has ended.

"Ah...ahh..."

Having overcome the lightning tribulation, she has risen to the Nascent Soul stage.

As she begins to well up with tears of deep emotion, her body suddenly trembles.

"Thank goodness. My apologies. That Golden Shaking Bird...she didn't tell me in advance that we can only move to other Heavenly Domains within lightning tribulation. We almost made you go insane."

Du Hwa feels a chill of terror as she hears a voice from behind her and turns around.

There, she sees a Human Race individual dressed in white standing before her.

This human is only at the Qi Refining 7th star.

And yet, why is it? Du Hwa's senses are frantically sounding an alarm.

'H-Heaven and Earth spiritual energy is...'

In her demon race vision, the being before her is a being completely devoid of the flow Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.

As if an illusion, the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy permeates straight through the man in white.

Yet, at the same time, the man undoubtedly exists in this world.

"Well, even so, you've gained something good from staring directly at us. I hope you consider this a blessing in disguise."

Huarururuk!

As the man approaches her, the glass-colored flames flowing along Du Hwa's hair blaze even brighter.

Du Hwa collapses to the ground in fear.

"Wh-Who are thee? O Great One. I...I am not tasty. At most, I am just a low-level Nascent Soul stage cultivator of the Blood Shark Race..."

"Blood Shark Race! How delightful. To think there are Blood Sharks even in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain... This Immortal seems to have a deep connection with the Blood Shark Race."

"P-Pardon?"

When the word 'this Immortal' escapes the man's lips, Du Hwa trembles with so much fear she nearly wets herself.

Because for someone to refer to themselves as 'this Immortal' signifies that they are, at the very least, a Quasi-Immortal of the Entering Nirvana stage!

Still unfamiliar with her transformed body, Du Hwa hides her jagged teeth and cautiously asks in a respectful tone, 

"If I may ask, Elder, do you have any commands for this humble junior?"

"Hmm, first, let me explain about us. This Immortal is a True Immortal who has crossed over from another Heavenly Domain. I am the Crystal Glass Being Seo Eun-hyun."

"T-T-T-True Immortal...!"

Du Hwa begins trembling violently at the realization that the old monster before her is a True Immortal.

"P-P-Please spare me. I am far too young to return to thee."

"Hmm, do not worry. This Immortal does not simply make anyone return to thee... And this Immortal is Golden Shaking Bird."

Seo Eun-hyun reassures Du Hwa as he reaches out towards the empty void, as though introducing someone.

But Du Hwa sees nothing, and she can only look on in confusion.

At that moment, Seo Eun-hyun scratches his head awkwardly as if hearing something from [someone] beside him.

"Ah, my mistake. Because of the difference in planes, you cannot perceive her. The Immortal named Golden Shaking Bird is also a True Immortal, but unlike me, is unable to easily interfere with lower planes. Since she currently resides in the True Immortal Plane, it seems you are unable to recognize her."

"P-Pardon...?"

Du Hwa finds it difficult to follow Seo Eun-hyun's words.

She cannot understand why an old monster, a True Immortal no less, would go out of his way to explain things so kindly to someone like her, a mere Nascent Soul demon beast.

The True Immortals she knows are monsters who would typically flood their target with [wisdom], vaguely explain the situation, take control of lower realm beings like puppets without asking for consent, and discard them once they were no longer useful.

Rather, this kind of considerate behavior only makes it more terrifying because she cannot predict his intentions.

'Just why is he doing this to me!?'

While she struggles in thought, he speaks again.

"There is something I wish to request of you. Will you accept my request?"

"Y-Yes! Please speak, Elder!"

Terrified, Du Hwa slams her head to the ground.

Though he calls it a 'request,' there is no way she can refuse a request from a True Immortal.

In that case, wouldn't it be better to devote herself fully from the start?

Seeing her reaction, Seo Eun-hyun looks slightly apologetic as he explains.

"To be honest...while this Immortal is fine, my companion, Golden Shaking Bird, has neither a foundation, followers, nor Immortal Treasures here in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, which makes it a bit inconvenient to operate in the lower realm. So, would you be willing to become a devotee of Golden Shaking Bird and assist temporarily? I will ensure you are well rewarded."

"Pardon? A devotee? What does that mean...?"

Just when she expresses her confusion.

Pajijijijik!

"Ah, uaaahhhhhh!"

Powerful lightning engulfs her.

At the same time, she collapses on the spot, groaning in agony.

The last thing Du Hwa remembers is the realization that a powerful being is descending using her body as a medium.

I narrow my eyes as I look at the Blood Shark Race demon beast lying before me.

Pajik, pajijijijik!

The Blood Shark Race demon beast writhes in pain as golden lightning engulfs her, before her transformation body begins to change.

Having transformed into the human form of Golden Shaking Bird, she brushes off her body and looks herself over.

"If it had been a bird demon beast, that would have been ideal. Unfortunately, it's a Blood Shark Race demon beast. Well, it can't be helped. Even though it's only at the Nascent Soul stage...I can raise its realm to a suitable level."

"Hey, Golden Shaking Bird."

"What is it, Elder?"

I look at her with a slightly displeased expression.

'I was taken aback when I heard about moving through lightning tribulations, but to think she'd snatch someone else's body so quickly like this.'

"Why did you take over that child's body without permission? I was in the process of obtaining her consent."

"Hmm, Elder. Just why would we need to seek consent or introduce ourselves to a mere Nascent Soul creature? Rather, after borrowing her body for a while and raising her realm to at least the Four-Axis stage, she'd be so grateful that she'll cry and willingly service my feet."

"That is true. But no matter what you plan to do for them later, make sure to obtain consent first."

"You're so strict. Fine, I'll meet this one's consciousness later and obtain her consent."

"There's no need for that."

I place my hand on Golden Shaking Bird's head. Using the Impermanence Sword, I connect to the Blood Shark Race demon beast's spirit and pull her spirit as a form of consciousness. 

"Uh, uh, ahhh!"

The Blood Shark Race demon beast regains her senses and collapses to the ground, trembling in fear as if realizing what just happened.

"In, in, in, inside my body...a True Immortal revived, and...I've been replaced... I'm, I'm going to die..."

"Calm yourself."

Wo-woong!

I forcibly stabilize her mind through a blessing incantation, and explain the situation while sharing a brief conversation. 

"...For these reasons, we need to borrow your body. Golden Shaking Bird will use it for a few decades and then return it. Your realm can be raised to the Four-Axis stage. Of course, not only the Four-Axis stage, it could be raised past the Grand Perfection Integration stage and reach a level above the Integration stage, but...you would not be able to handle your own body, so we will raise it only to around the Four-Axis stage. What do you say?"

Hearing my explanation, the Blood Shark Race demon beast who introduces herself as 'Du Hu' begins to cry and prostrates herself at my feet, kissing them.

"Thank you, thank you, True Immortal Elder! Not making me return to thee but even raising me to the Four-Axis stage...I will gladly offer my body with utmost sincerity!"

"Good. Now then, I have some questions for you, so answer honestly."

"Yes, yes, Elder. What would you like to know?"

"First...where exactly are we within the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, what is the culture here like, how many devotees of Light are there, and have you heard anything about a [cultivator emitting red lightning] recently?"

"Yes, I will explain everything one by one."

I manage to get a general overview about the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain from Du Hwa.

First, the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain has an overwhelmingly large number of Decaying Corpse Realms.

The number of Decaying Corpse Realms alone count 600 quadrillion. As for the Middle Realms, there are 48 of them.

Moreover, there are even a few Great Net Immortals dispatched from Radiance Hall, effectively bringing the number of Middle Realms to over fifty.

"I do not know if our universe is called the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain. But in any case, our universe is governed by the faction of Light known as the Radiance Hall. Because of this, the number of devotees who worship the Light here is no small number. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that one-tenth of our universe's population are devotees of Light. Especially among the Heaven Tribe, the majority are devotees of Light. However, among us Earth Tribe, there aren't as many devotees."

"Hmm, I see. Are there many of the Heaven Tribe in this world?"

"The ratio of Heaven Tribe to Earth Tribe is approximately one to twenty or thirty. The Earth Tribe overwhelmingly outnumbers the Heaven Tribe, but...the Heaven Tribe receives backing from the True Immortals of Radiance Hall, learning methods that borrow their authorities. So despite their smaller numbers, their overall power isn't significantly inferior to the Earth Tribe. This applies not only to our Middle Realm but to the entire universe."

Du Hwa teaches me about the culture and common knowledge of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, as well as various other things.

"And...about the cultivator who emits red lightning, I am not too sure. Since learning the Lightning Path Method is prohibited in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, if such a cultivator existed, the news would have spread immediately. Of course, it might simply be because my realm is too low to know about such things, but...ah! One of the Middle Realms neighboring us, the Divine Thunder Realm (神雷界), recently lost its Sacred Master. There is a rumor that red lightning struck the spot where the Sacred Master passed away."

"I see. That is sufficient information."

I nod and commend her.

After gathering a bit more information, I once again seek her consent before pushing her consciousness deep into her unconsciousness. 

Pajik!

As her mind sinks deep into her unconsciousness, the consciousness of Golden Shaking Bird surfaces, and she frowns.

"You really handle things in a bothersome manner. It would be much simpler to just tear out her soul and browse through the information."

"Maybe if it were someone as vile as Yeo Hwi. But there's no need to treat an innocent Demon Race in such a way, is there?"

"Huuu...I already miss my master. To think I've fallen from the lightning tribulation of a mere Nascent Soul-level creature. With the standard of the Great Desolate Path, it shouldn't have been a lightning tribulation of a Nascent Soul stage creature but a Star Shattering stage, or at least the Integration stage. We could have obtained a much better body or devotee if it were beings of that level. For it to be merely a Nascent Soul stage means...Elder must currently be carrying some form of misfortune. Is there anything that comes to mind?"

"Misfortune..."

I recall the celestial sphere I received from Yeong Seung.

'So even after becoming a True Immortal, it still applies that gifts from True Immortals bring misfortune. Well, this is why I was afraid, resulting in the Naming Supreme Deity making a deal.'

But I let out a small sigh of relief.

'Still, it's fortunate. For the misfortune I received from Yeong Seung to only be this much...'

Gifts received from True Immortals always become misfortune.

However, now that I've become a True Immortal, it seems the misfortune I receive has diminished.

The closer the gap in realm between me and the giver, the weaker the misfortune I receive seems to become.

'If I continue raising my realm, someday I might even be able to properly accept gifts.'

Contemplating this newfound fact, I speak.

"It seems there was some misfortune I overlooked. My apologies."

"Hmph. If it were my master, he would have prepared plenty of sacrificial offerings to ward off the misfortune, preventing such problems in the first place. Let's hurry and find my master."

"...Let's do that."

Wo-woong!

I draw in the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of the Myriad Laws Realm, raising my cultivation realm.

In an instant, my realm surges from the Qi Refining 7th star to the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage.

Golden Shaking Bird also quickly raises Du Hwa's realm to the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage.

Heavenly Tribulation rumbles, but as Golden Shaking Bird takes a breath, the entire cloud of the Heavenly Tribulation is absorbed into her body and vanishes.

"For now, we should head to the Divine Thunder Realm, but...how should we find it? Should I meet an Integration Grand Cultivator to ask?"

"Hah! If you're going to ask, it'd be better to find the Sacred Master of the Myriad Laws Realm and interrogate them. Please stop saying such soft things. And...I've been to the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain before, so just follow me."

Kiiiiiing!

Under the will of Golden Shaking Bird, the power of celestial energy guidance radiating from Du Hwa's body intensifies.

At a certain point, the celestial energy guidance transforms into attraction force, twisting the surrounding space.

I also strengthen my celestial energy guidance into attraction force, distorting the dimension of the Myriad Laws Realm.

Kigigigik!

We open a dimensional gate and step out of the Myriad Laws Realm.

As soon as I emerge into the Interdimensional Void of the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain, I narrow my eyes.

How gruesome!

Throughout the Interdimensional Void lies the corpses of countless True Immortals.

The corpses of True Immortals, riddled with holes, are the most common sight.

There are True Immortals that have gigantic trees or flowers blooming from their bodies.

There are True Immortals that are roasted or melted by flames.

There are True Immortals sliced apart by sharp blades.

There are True Immortals bloated with something resembling water, dead swollen or frozen solid. 

The corpses of innumerable True Immortals are scattered across the Interdimensional Void!

Faced with such a gruesome sight, I let out a heavy sigh.

However, Golden Shaking Bird doesn't pay them much attention, pointing to a Middle Realm in the distance.

It is the corpse of a True Immortal with something long impaled in its stomach.

That object looks like a ruler, a sword, or perhaps the hilt of a glaive.

Although it is unclear exactly what it is, the energy emanating from it feels identical, suggesting it may have been the True Immortal's own Immortal Treasure during their lifetime.

The True Immortal bears the scars of being sliced all over their body by a sword, and Golden Shaking Bird gestures toward the body. 

"That is the Divine Thunder Realm. Let us head over there."

"...Golden Shaking Bird."

Joining strengths with her, we fly towards the Divine Thunder Realm using attraction force while I ask her.

"What in the world...is this horrifying scene? Why are there so many Middle Realms and Decaying Corpse Realms in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain?"

"Well...you must have already realized by now. Middle Realms and Decaying Corpse Realms are all c