A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 805 Chapter 801: A Regressor's Tale of Cultivation

Kagagagak-Kaang!

The funeral song of the Obsidian Devil Heavenly King, which had served as the final dam holding back the cycle of regression, finally shatters.

Following that collapse, the Divine Art of Silver Basket erupts with overwhelming force.

Divine Arts are essentially stories.

The narrative of the Future King begins to consume and overwrite the stories of all lower-ranking existences.

'The conditions to trigger this Divine Art must be...'

It likely involves anything that stands in direct opposition to the Future King’s ultimate goal: elevating the Underworld to the status of the Creator God.

Any being that obstructs the Future King from manifesting his story becomes a target!

To put it plainly...

'It targets all of us.'

Specific conditions are irrelevant at this moment. Right now, we must reach a minimum threshold of power to withstand the Future King, who has arrived with his full might and the Absolute of Fate at his side.

-Emptiness Sword.

-Second Technique.

-Applied Technique.

The application of this move is straightforward.

It is the relentless, high-frequency repetition of the second move, King.

-Lord ().

A torrential downpour of sword slashes cascades from above.

Streaks of black rain crash down, transforming into a lethal waterfall aimed directly at us.

While we scatter to dodge the onslaught, one of the Enders—whose movements are too sluggish to escape—is forced to take the strike directly.

Flash!

Caught within the endless descent of blades, the Ender who failed to evade vanishes instantly, their very connection to existence severed.

The ceaseless slashes are so potent they tear away history itself, discarding it as ancient force and erasing the individual until only a pure soul remains.

That soul, originally birthed by the Absolute of Miracle, finds its link to that Absolute cut. In its naked state, it is forcibly converted into a single strand of the Creator God's will.

Indeed.

In short, any Ender struck by this technique has their entire being swept away and refined into Origin Essence on the spot.

Even without specialized authorities like Origin Essence Creation or specific mantras, this is a terrifying technique. It simply and efficiently grinds an opponent's soul into Origin Essence through sheer, overwhelming volume of attacks.

The sheer cruelty of this power causes everyone to freeze in shock, and I feel my own tension spike.

'He is merely using this as a warm-up because he just finished his meditation.'

This is nothing more than a light exercise to loosen up a stiff body.

He hasn't even begun to weave his Divine Art into the attacks yet.

The core essence of his Divine Art is undoubtedly simple.

'The strongest.'

It is the manifestation of being the absolute peak, a summit that no one else can ever hope to reach.

'If he starts deploying his Divine Arts seriously, we will be wiped out.'

Before that happens, I must find a way to become the Owner of Miracles.

'But I am still one step away...!'

To ascend as the Owner of Miracles without being consumed by the Absolute, I am missing one final piece.

I require a monumental feat to bridge the gap.

Under current circumstances, achieving such a feat is theoretically possible.

The entity who has seized the Origin Essence of Fate—the Future King—is standing right here.

The presence of a True Emperor naturally makes the path easier for those seeking to follow, as it provides a clear target for accumulating great deeds.

'If I can manage to even slightly scratch the Future King despite our current difference in rank...'

An achievement of that magnitude would be sufficient to seize the Absolute and advance to the rank of True Emperor.

However, to bypass his Divine Arts and land even a minor blow, a certain minimum rank is required.

Yet, to gain that rank, I must become a True Emperor, and to become one, I must first land that blow.

'There is one way, but...'

I hesitate for a fleeting second, unsure if it is the right time to reveal my hidden trump card.

-Emptiness Sword.

-Second Move.

-Applied Profundity.

-Emperor ().

The Future King’s blade sweeps through another Ender, reducing them to Origin Essence.

The logic behind a powerful downward strike is the utilization of gravity. If one can augment a slash with the force of attraction, every swing becomes a downward cut regardless of the direction.

Thus, he swings the Emptiness Sword horizontally, infusing it with the attraction of Fate and dwelling Origin Essence within the blade. In an instant, that slash becomes an entity akin to a Supreme Deity.

Literally, a soul inhabits the sword, turning it into a devastating strike that threatens to cleave the entire gestation world as it flies toward us.

'Fine. I'll use it...!'

Annihilation is certain if I hold back now.

Just as I am about to unleash my secret technique—

Kuuung!

Spacetime itself fractures.

From the rift, a pale pink arm emerges.

It is the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, previously imprisoned by Hyeon Mu through the spell of the Heavenly Void Furnace.

Wooo-woooong!

"...What?"

My eyes widen in disbelief as I watch the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord intercept the Future King’s technique with nothing but a single arm.

Kugugugung!

The Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King descends once more into the physical realm.

And...

Across their entire form, something entirely new and unfamiliar begins to glow.

These are elements that have no inherent connection to the concept of Vast Cold.

Kiiiiiiiing!

Its name is the Imperial Throne Circuit.

It represents the pinnacle of the circuit systems designed by Bong Myeong.

Kim Yeon hadn't merely preserved Vast Cold’s body to return it; she had performed every possible high-level enhancement before giving it back.

They must have spent time within the Heavenly Void Furnace specifically to synchronize with the Imperial Throne Circuit.

With glowing circuits etched across their body, Vast Cold seizes the Future King’s Emptiness Sword with a bare hand and begins to stand firm.

Tudududuuk-

As the Future King finds himself being physically overpowered by Vast Cold, he begins to employ the attraction force of fate to reclaim the advantage.

But in the next moment,

I sense Vast Cold’s intent and provide the necessary support.

Chwaaaaa-

The Imperial Throne Circuit is designed to function using star vein formations.

As the Owner of Myriad Stars, I bridge the connection, funneling the star veins of the countless stars swirling within me into Vast Cold.

'I am the Owner of Myriad Stars.'

I can generate star vein formations in virtually limitless quantities.

"Vast Cold! Take this!"

Kugugugugu!

A multitude of star vein formations instantly link to Vast Cold’s circuits.

Using this surge of power, Vast Cold exerts enough strength to momentarily knock aside the Future King’s Emptiness Sword.

Immediately following this, they drop to their knees.

Joining their hands, they bow their head in a solemn, prayer-like posture.

Teok-

Responding to this, the Future King triggers his Divine Art, channeling it into the Emptiness Sword.

-Emptiness Sword.

-Fourth Move.

-Applied Technique.

-Net().

Jjeoooooong!

He unleashes a web of slashes that utilize repulsion force, crisscrossing in every direction. The terrifying force is intended to blast Vast Cold out of this dimension entirely.

Under normal circumstances, with the power of a Divine Art added, Vast Cold would have been ejected from the palace instantly.

However, I witness something impossible.

Cheok, cheok, cheok!

Behind Vast Cold’s back, three silhouettes manifest.

[Hoho... Daoists. We shall take over from here for a brief moment.]

One man bears a strange resemblance to Seo Hweol but radiates a far more serene aura.

Another is a muscular man with blue hair and sharp, rugged features.

The third is a figure in purple robes, veiled in shadows.

Of the four symbols—Longevity, Wealth, Health, and Love of Virtue—that have always followed Vast Cold, the divine projections for Wealth, Health, and Love of Virtue have appeared here.

Because Yu Soo-ryeon, the Seat Holder of Good, is still alive in the Head Realm, her projection is absent.

Yet, the three present seem to be enough.

Kikikikikik-

The activation of the Divine Art flickers and blurs for a heartbeat.

Jjeoooooong!

Vast Cold’s body is battered and torn by the [Net] technique.

However, that damage is caused solely by the physical power of the Emptiness Sword.

The Divine Art's metaphysical power has vanished!

I finally understand why Vast Cold went to such lengths to bring four Immortal Lord-level beings into the Audience Chamber.

When the Five Blessings Immortals congregate, they are capable of disrupting the activation of a Divine Art, even if only briefly.

'What is the mechanism behind this?!'

Using the insight of a Supreme Deity, I realize this isn't just a unique trait of the Five Blessings.

Vast Cold used a specific property of the Five Blessings to exploit a precise flaw in the Future King’s Divine Art, thereby neutralizing its effects!

This means if I can grasp the principle, I can replicate it.

'I must understand the logic. But the Five Blessings Immortals helping Vast Cold don't seem to know the exact reason... and Vast Cold is currently under a vow of silence...'

"It is happiness."

The Underworld, standing behind me, provides the answer immediately, rendering my worries moot.

It makes sense; the Underworld, who originally provided the Five Blessings Immortals to Vast Cold, would certainly know.

"By utilizing a level of happiness that has been virtually non-existent throughout his entire life, they negate the trigger condition itself. They momentarily trick the narrative into believing they haven't come to oppose him, but to offer him joy."

Kugugugung!

The Underworld’s presence begins to expand.

The Future King has already shifted into a colossal force of darkness and attraction, large enough to palm Mount Sumeru.

As she grows to rival the size of the Fate Supreme Deity, she gazes at Hong Fan with eyes full of conflicting emotions.

"Gods from otherworlds could never achieve this even with their own happiness; it requires the Origin Essence of the Five Blessings, which represents the fortune and virtue of this specific world. However... the Origin Essence of Blessings is merely a symbol. Since it provides no lasting happiness, the effect will soon fade. Proceed with your plan."

"...Understood."

I turn my attention away from Vast Cold’s disruption of the Divine Art and resume my combat stance.

I let the Impermanence Sword hang low, gripping the hilt with both hands.

I channel the profundity of the dull sword into the blade, concentrating every ounce of my power.

People often assume that because the swift sword is about speed, the dull sword must be about slowness. That is a misconception.

The essence of the dull sword isn't slowness; it is 'precision' and 'concentration of power.'

Because ensuring the exact placement of power and accuracy is more vital than the speed of the swing, it is labeled 'dull' as it is marginally slower. It is not a sword that relies on slowness as its core.

I grip the weapon with a level of focus that dwarfs anything I have ever achieved. As I prepare the dull sword, I speak aloud.

"Please, anyone, assist me so that I may land a single strike."

This is the ultimate technique that recently brought down [Hope].

"Even against the Future King, if it connects, it will have an impact."

Kwarurung!

Two bolts of lightning strike the ground beside me.

One is Heavenly King Jeon Myeong-hoon. The other is Immortal Lord Yang Su-jin.

The two Lightning Immortals, radiating red and golden electricity, meet my gaze and offer a nod.

"I... will do my best to pin him down, even if only for a second."

Jeon Myeong-hoon vows to restrain the Future King, while Yang Su-jin watches me with a grave expression.

I lack the mental bandwidth to read Indra's Net right now, so I cannot interpret his gaze, but a familiar voice provides the translation.

Flap flap-

The Golden Shaking Bird, currently in the form of a hummingbird, perches on Yang Su-jin’s shoulder and speaks with a joyful expression.

"'I will carry you forward!' that's what he's saying!"

I offer a quick glance of gratitude before refocusing entirely on my blade.

The coordinated assault from the other Enders persists.

A former Agate unleashes a barrage of Seed Plot of Disjunctions at the Future King.

A former Lapis Lazuli, master of a complex derivative of the Star Extinguishing True Chapter known as 'Black Fall Converging to One, Returning to Dao, Heaven-Breaking Star Extinguishing True Chapter,' attempts to bind the Future King’s movements with a massive wave of curses.

Kim Young-hoon, utilizing Oh Hyun-seok’s physical form, draws the Future King’s focus. Working with the former Golden Divines, they successfully neutralize the Splitting Heaven Mantra every time he attempts to manifest it.

Kang Min-hee sits calmly, drawing a silver dagger across her palm to let her blood flow.

The black blood spills from her hand, staining the area like spreading ink.

She takes up a brush and begins to paint on the floor, creating a form of taenghwa.

The moment the painting is finished—

Swaaaaaa-

With a hauntingly peaceful melody, structures begin to emerge from the ink-stained ground.

Pavilions rise up. Statues and iron-barred jail cells appear. Ordinary houses stand alongside magnificent imperial palaces.

And...

Bizarrely out of place, modern amusement parks materialize. Abandoned carousels and Ferris wheels start to rotate in the eerie atmosphere.

The nature of this technique is obvious.

Kang Min-hee is summoning the collective legacies of the former Lapis Lazulis, who served as vessels for the Underworld’s grief.

Monstrosities pour out from a building resembling a modern school. The former Lapis Lazuli Jeong Shin stands atop the school roof, wailing as they shake their matted hair.

The creatures emerging from the school are laden with curses, rampaging with increased ferocity.

The majority of the Lapis Lazuli legacies are dark and unsettling, creating the atmosphere of a haunted city.

At the heart of this spectral metropolis, Kang Min-hee speaks.

"Master. Everyone... I will protect you."

Fueling her power with the Underworld’s sorrow and using the Lapis Lazuli legacies as her medium, she sweeps her brush through the air, utilizing her inherent authority and the Falling Flower mantra.

The Flawless Mantra manifests a dark blue circle behind her, projecting her resolve.

-I shall protect you.

Instantly, dark blue circles flicker into existence around everyone currently engaged in the fight.

The Falling Flower mantra, which drags targets into an otherworld governed by her rules, merges with the ghost city she has summoned.

An instant later, an Ender takes a direct hit from the Future King.

Normally, they would have been reduced to Origin Essence, but the Ender remains unharmed.

Tukwaaaang!

Instead, one of the buildings within the spectral city shatters.