A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 801 Chapter 797: Future King (2)

A momentary stillness pervades the realm of Primordial Chaos.

Soon, the divine presence of Torch Candle manifests.

The True Immortal known as 'Torch Candle Heavenly Lord' begins to feel a sense of dread as he interprets the wisdom etched into their very limb.

:: Wh-What...? How is this possible...? The Heavenly Void Furnace and the Emptiness Supreme Deity are domains where the sovereignty of light reaches its zenith. How can a mere being like you withstand me, a Seat Holder of the Radiance Hall...? ::

Wo-woooooong-

I fix my gaze on the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord while simultaneously following the thread of Hong Fan's narrative.

In the tale of Hong Fan, he triumphs over every Chief God presiding over the six universes, merging those realms to forge a brand-new world.

He subsequently distills the souls of these six Chief Gods along with the primordial essence of their power, the Three Daos, to manifest a fresh authority.

It is called the [First Light].

This is the supreme authority at the pinnacle of the Immortal Cultivation system devised by Hong Fan, serving as his ultimate Immortal Treasure.

:: I am already well-acquainted with... the essence and sovereignty of light. ::

I was the one who witnessed the birth of the First Light with my own eyes.

Against a Heavenly Lord who merely draws upon the power of light—especially when facing only a fragmented soul rather than his true body—I am certain I will not be overcome.

Kuuuuuu-

Transforming into a surging tide of emerald radiance, I begin to envelop the entire Heavenly Void Furnace, lunging toward the fragmented soul of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord.

:: Such authority holds no terror for me. ::

:: This is impossible. My entire existence has been dedicated to ruling the Heavenly Void Furnace. My very destiny is tied to it! ::

I forcibly seize the fragmented soul of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord, drawing it into myself. Just as the voice commanded, I begin to dissolve his essence into the story, laughing as I do so.

:: How long have you resided within the Heavenly Void Furnace? Was it a hundred million years? A billion? Ten billion? ::

:: This cannot be! ::

:: I have already inhabited the Heavenly Void Furnace for trillions of years. ::

Day after day, I entered the Heavenly Void Furnace, enduring agony that spanned a hundred million years each time.

I sacrificed my tormented but tempered spirit to carve out laws, and within those laws, I inherited the legacy of my former selves. I have repeated this cycle more times than I can count.

:: You do not have the right to speak of authority over the Heavenly Void Furnace in my presence. ::

Tududududuk-

I violently rip away the mask covering the fragmented soul of the True Immortal known as Torch Candle Heavenly Lord.

While this might not harm his original body, it seems to be of great significance to this fragment, as it screams in desperate resistance.

My actions might seem tyrannical toward the first personality I’ve encountered here after an eternity, but to read this True Immortal's story and use them as a bridge to the world outside, I have no other choice.

Their struggle is nothing more than a pathetic tantrum to me.

:: Be still. ::

Woo-woooooong-

Concentrating on Hong Fan's story and the soul fragment of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord, I begin to saturate their inner narrative with my own radiance.

The [power of light] wielded by the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord attempts to oppose me, but it is futile against my understanding of Hong Fan's story and the creation of the [First Light].

In the narrative, Hong Fan eventually binds the six universes together, naming them the Heavenly Domain, and christens the resulting world Mount Sumeru.

Once Mount Sumeru is established, he begins to distribute the blessings of his Immortal Cultivation system throughout the land.

Because of Hong Fan, the very first cultivation technique is bestowed upon all living things.

This initial system draws power directly from the [First Light]—forged from the souls and authorities of the Chief Gods—and differs entirely from the modern Heaven and Earth Immortal Cultivation system.

Chuuuuung— Chung—

As I absorb the records of this ancient Immortal Cultivation system, I begin to pull the fragmented soul of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord into my own being.

The [voice] I encountered in the realm of purity instructs me on how to link with the 'outside' by using the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord’s story as a conduit.

:: Finally... ::

After an incomprehensible stretch of time, I finally begin to emerge from the Heavenly Void Furnace.

Woong-woong-woong-

Where am I?

Though I cannot pinpoint the exact location, I realize my consciousness has merged with a massive divinity, allowing me to share its vision and perceptions.

'Ah... I understand now.'

These are the eyes and senses of the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord himself.

He is a colossal entity, incomparable to the tiny soul fragment sent into the Heavenly Void Furnace.

A divinity that taps directly into the source of Light.

This is the perspective of the Fourth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the great envoy of light, Torch Candle Heavenly Lord.

Wooo-woooooong-

I perceive the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord communicating with other True Immortals while observing the various Heavenly Domains. He is surveying regions that each equate to an entire universe in Hong Fan's tale.

Suddenly, his focus shifts toward a place called the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Specifically, the Five Great Middle Realms within it!

'Aaaah...'

I finally learn the current fates of the companions I have worried about for so long.

The Torch Candle Heavenly Lord is unaware of who they are, but because his consciousness brushes against them, their situations are revealed to me.

Kim Young-hoon is somehow situated in the Ancient Force Realm.

Jeon Myeong-hoon has ascended as the Lightning Harbinger.

Kang Min-hee is in the midst of a transformation into the Ghost Mother.

Oh Hyun-seok continues his Cultivation within the Azure Heaven Creation Sect...

Kim Yeon is enduring a life of suffering under the Mad Lord.

Oh Hye-seo is currently sharing an intimate night with Seo Hweol...

And Seo Eun-hyun has returned to serve under Makli Cheon-sa to resume Cultivation, becoming a respected devilish cultivator on Red Moon Island.

'...?'

A chilling sense of wrongness and discord washes over me.

At that moment, the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord’s vast awareness narrows its focus within the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain, centering on the Bright Cold Realm and Sacred Master Baek Woon atop Heavenly Lotus Mountain.

:: Baek Woon. I have peered into the Head Realm, and it appears singularities are imminent. Beings like Yang Su-jin are poised to emerge. Tell me, are any of the recent ascendants from the Head Realm noteworthy? ::

It appears that besides the fragment in the Heavenly Void Furnace, he had sent another thread of his will to investigate this matter.

Sacred Master Baek Woon provides a report on several events, and the Torch Candle Heavenly Lord nods before withdrawing his focus.

:: I see. I shall continue to observe for now. Since no one as prominent as Yang Su-jin has appeared... it is still uncertain if any Enders have been born. ::

With those final thoughts, he pulls his consciousness away from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain to attend to other matters.

Feeling the strain of remaining hidden within his mind, I retreat back to the Heavenly Void Furnace.

Once I recover, I can re-establish contact with the Heavenly Lord's mind through his soul fragment at any time.

However, I am too stunned to think of that, staring blankly out from the furnace.

Seo Eun-hyun has returned to Makli Cheon-sa.

But the version of me outside is still at the Ascension Path of the Head Realm.

Yet, according to the Heavenly Lord's perception, the one serving Makli Cheon-sa is definitely Seo Eun-hyun.

There is only one explanation for this.

'The ties I severed using the Star Extinguishing True Chapter... someone has claimed them.'

And given the situation, only one person is capable of such a feat.

'Hong Fan...'

The Three Spirits Art clone that Hong Fan sent to ascend under the guise of gathering intel.

It has reached the Bright Cold Realm and is now consuming my causality.

Hong Fan is systematically replacing me.

As this realization dawns on me, the 'Heart Demon'—who had been lurking half-mad and unconscious beneath my thoughts—wakes up and begins to murmur.

"Do you see? Hong Fan is taking your place. If you continue like this... the very existence of Seo Eun-hyun will vanish."

The 'Heart Demon' whispers seductive words into my ear.

"Sever it. Cut the tie and embrace my power to expose Hong Fan’s true, wicked nature. Do it before your identity is erased and the throne of the Devil Heavenly King is stolen..."

"...Hong Fan..."

Using the Cutting Principle of the Star Extinguishing True Chapter, I manifest the thread of connection linked to Hong Fan and stare at it hollowly.

"I..."

Then, naturally, the words Hong Fan once told me resurface in my mind.

It is difficult to obtain a human body, and even harder to realize the Dao.

"...If gaining a human form is difficult, then securing a connection with another must be harder still."

Through an infinite series of coincidences, the bond with Hong Fan was formed.

This connection is something I built with great effort.

"Even if you take over my life... I am also peering into your memories and living yours... Our bond has only grown deeper."

The Heart Demon’s eyes gleam with pure greed.

But as I speak, the delight on its face begins to fade, replaced by disappointment.

"I will witness your story until the very end. Only then can I decide what you truly are to me, and how this connection should finally be settled..."

I let go of the thread of connection.

I will not sever it now.

Everything will be determined once I see the conclusion of this tale.

Acknowledging that the bond has deepened, I continue to follow the path of Hong Fan's story.

Staying with the narrative, maintaining the link...

I quietly persist in my cultivation of the Martial Heart.

Although my level as a True Immortal does not advance, my Formless Sword becomes increasingly vivid and translucent.

I truly wish to see where this journey leads.

Hope dies in the eyes of the greedy Heart Demon as it watches my choice.

Deep within the Primordial Chaos, the story stretches on and on.

The time within the narrative leaps forward by staggering amounts.

It is impossible to look away or escape the flow of the tale.

:: Hong Fan... ::

By his will, Hong Fan's stories have been triggered within the Primordial Chaos of the Heavenly Void Furnace.

Now, I am unable to add new rules to the furnace; I can only follow the script of the story.

I no longer fear being dissolved by the chaos, but the relentless flow of the narrative robs me of the time needed to cultivate within the furnace.

'Drawing Qi from the chaos to reach the True Immortal rank as I did before is no longer an option.'

In this story, there is only one path of cultivation left to me.

Kiiiiiing-

The practice of the Star Extinguishing True Chapter, also known as the Primordial Origin Immortal Art.

The Cutting Principle that severs connections.

And the blade forged within the heart.

Only the Formless Sword remains.

From that point on, I begin to cultivate both the Cutting Principle and the Formless Sword while following the progression of Hong Fan's tale.

"...Hong Fan, are you there?"

I exit the Heavenly Void Furnace.

"Ah, Master. You've awakened?"

Hong Fan is leaning against the furnace's outer wall, greeting me as I appear.

"Are your internal wounds healed?"

"Yes. It feels as though I've rested for a full year. My body is fine now."

However, a slight awkwardness lingers.

"By the way, Hong Fan... about that story you were telling me yesterday... I'm sorry. I fell asleep and didn't hear most of it."

Strangely, despite the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, yesterday's events weren't recorded properly.

It must be because I lost consciousness so quickly.

'It would be stranger if I hadn't passed out after enduring the Heavenly Tribulation like that...'

Since Hong Fan told the story at my request, I worried he might be offended that I missed it.

But Hong Fan simply shakes his head.

"It doesn't matter. I've already shared everything, and I'm sure you heard plenty while inside the Heavenly Void Furnace."

"...Sometimes talking to you makes me feel like there's a disconnect between us."

"Haha, perhaps it's just the difference between our races."

"Is that so...?"

I walk with Hong Fan to the surface of the Ascension Path and gaze at the sky.

The air is clear.

Looking at the bright expanse, I suddenly ask him.

"Hong Fan, would you..."

"Yes, Master?"

"Would you like to learn martial arts?"

"...? Excuse me?"

Hong Fan looks at me with genuine surprise, clearly not expecting the offer.

"Why would Master suddenly think of that?"

"Hm? It’s nothing major... I just think you'd be a natural at it. Since you’ve achieved Transformation, you should be able to learn human martial arts, right?"

Hong Fan stares at me with a peaceful expression.

"...I don't know if I can learn the arts Master practices. All I know... are the arts of killing."

"Haha, what does that change? If you master and refine the arts of killing, they become martial arts."

"So, in a way, are martial arts just killing arts?"

"Hm... not exactly."

I shake my head at his question.

The term Martial Arts encompasses far more than just taking a life.

"To put it simply, killing is just one aspect of the system called Martial Arts. Martial Arts is the broader category."

"Mm... but isn't killing the most vital part of what you call Martial Arts?"

Hong Fan seems genuinely confused as he debates the definition with me.

"What is the purpose of Martial Arts if not to slay the enemy?"

"True... that is a part of it. But there is another side."

"Do you mean self-improvement?"

He continues, sounding unconvinced.

"If the goal is self-improvement, isn't Immortal Cultivation superior? It offers many more opportunities for quiet meditation and enlightenment. To me, it seems Martial Arts is for killing, while Immortal Cultivation is for self-cultivation."

"Well... you might have a point."

I nod and gesture for him to take a stance.

"Let's just try it first and figure out the definition as we go."

At this stage, Hong Fan is a complete novice in martial arts.

Before someone at the Treading Heavens stage like me, he would need to at least reach the peak before he can seriously debate the essence of Martial Arts.

Until then, there's no need to argue over his words.

Whether he realizes my thoughts or not, Hong Fan just looks at me with a slightly pouting expression.

"For now... since your demonic power can substitute for internal energy, let's start with basic movements and combat. First, take the horse stance."

From that day forward, I begin training Hong Fan in martial arts.

Inside the Heavenly Void Furnace.

An eternity repeats itself.

As I am pulled along by Hong Fan's narrative, I start to understand why he began telling me his story in the first place.

'There is no opportunity to cultivate.'

He used the story to prevent me from spending hundreds of millions of years inside the Heavenly Void Furnace adding rules and gathering authority.

'Since the training of the heart is still possible, I can refine the Formless Sword and Cutting Principle through endless repetition... but that is the limit.'

Progress has stalled.

Only recently, beyond the Plane of Soul within the chaos, I discovered three specific attributes in the empty domain of purity.

'Creation, Preservation, Destruction...'

Over hundreds of millions of years, the Formless Sword evolved until it touched these three concepts.

'But its actual power remains unchanged.'

I honestly don't know how to progress further here.

I can only dissolve the Formless Sword deeper into that realm of purity, bringing it closer to absolute nothingness... and that is all.

'Its offensive or destructive power...'