A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 807 Chapter 803: A Regressor's Tale of Cultivation

Should Hong Fan Gu Ju divide his unified form into three distinct aspects to focus on the Enders, he becomes vulnerable. If an entity possessing power equal to or surpassing his own were to strike during that interval, he would be left without a proper defense.

This refers to Creator Gods, the architects of entire worlds.

Or perhaps great divinities who have mastered Divine Arts and stand on the same level as Creator Gods.

While beings of a lesser rank can still be handled even when Hong Fan is split into three, a strike infused with the power of Divine Arts would be catastrophic.

Naturally, Hong Fan Gu Ju remains certain of his ability to react. He has implemented various safeguards so that he can instantly reform his complete body or launch a counter-offensive if such a threat emerges.

His most notable defense is the Future King's Three Heavenly Treasures.

He prepared these treasures so that during his moments of incompleteness, they could manifest his three Great Mantras—Immortal Cultivation, Radiance, and Splitting Heaven—on his behalf, effectively repelling any external divinities.

The Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand World commands the mantra of Immortal Cultivation.

The Heavenly Void Furnace governs the mantra of Radiance.

The First Light wields the mantra of Splitting Heaven.

By utilizing these Three Heavenly Treasures, he ensured that any outside force attempting to invade the Gestation World would be stalled, buying him the time he needs.

From the moment of their inception, Hong Fan designed and evolved these three mantras specifically to counter the personified gods of the Three Daos, should they ever manifest to oppose him.

The power that rejects all connections to find completion in solitude, eventually reaching the formula of Primordial Chaos to stand against the irrationality of the imprecise Miracle.

This is Immortal Cultivation.

The power that perpetually rewinds the flow of time to recreate it, distorting and inverting history so that the darkness of Heuk Sa can consume and suppress the brilliance of explosions.

This is Radiance.

The power that acts in direct defiance of the condensing nature of attraction, severing and fragmenting all existence so that the light of a death-defying will can shred the celestial darkness.

This is Splitting Heaven.

Just as the Three Absolutes merge to form the omnipotent authority and will of a Creator God,

The unification of the mantras of Immortal Cultivation, Radiance, and Splitting Heaven—each crafted to defy the Three Absolutes of Miracle, History, and Fate—is a fundamental method of resisting omnipotence itself.

With these three mantras, he can withstand a Creator God. When synchronized, they reach a level of power comparable to the ultimate technique, [Hope].

Consequently, even if the countenances of Hong Fan Gu Ju are separated and his full strength is restricted, as long as these defensive mantras activate...

The system is capable of neutralizing at least one blow from the Creator Gods or great divinities of other realms, creating the necessary window for him to return to his perfected state.

These safeguards also assist him in rectifying errors that his individual aspects might commit while managing the Enders.

For instance, to resolve the incident where the Ender known as Seo Eun-hyun seized his form and to reclaim the Radiance Mantra, he could simply lead him into the Heavenly Void Furnace. There, the exchange of the Radiance Mantra for Seo Eun-hyun's Absolute Fragment could be easily finalized.

Recovering the Radiance Mantra isn't difficult once he regains his clarity, though it does require a certain amount of time.

Thus, by casting Seo Eun-hyun into the Heavenly Void Furnace to secure the immediate return of the mantra, Hong Fan Gu Ju believed he had navigated the most dangerous moment.

'It was a perilous situation when Seo Eun-hyun stole my authority and my logic and memories momentarily vanished.'

Had a Creator God or a great divinity from another world attacked in that instant, it would have been uncertain if the Radiance Mantra would have triggered correctly.

Even if all three Great Mantras functioned perfectly, they could only negate a single strike.

Upon a second attack, the main body would have to intervene directly; otherwise, the enemy would identify a weakness and breach Mount Sumeru.

Furthermore, if Hong Fan—deprived of his reason and memories—had been seized or harmed by an external entity, the resulting complications would have been immense.

The sheer number of wild variables that could have emerged is staggering.

Even if he were abducted or suffered a mortal wound, he could eventually return or seek vengeance after recovering, but the loss of time would be catastrophic. In that gap, Miracle could have spawned even more variables.

Yang Hwe might have sensed his instability, rushed to the Audience Chamber to ascend as the Life Supreme Deity, and fled to a distant world.

Her escape wouldn't even be the worst-case scenario.

If she used her power over life to resurrect the Salt Sea Supreme Deity before fleeing, Hong Fan Gu Ju would eventually have to face Salt Sea, the true Master of Miracles, once his recovery was complete.

The duration of the 15th cycle, during which Seo Eun-hyun briefly usurped his self, was a window that could have birthed countless disasters.

Through sheer luck, no major crises occurred before Hong Fan Gu Ju reclaimed his consciousness.

Perhaps it was because the Gestation World where Mount Sumeru sits is feared by otherworlds as a den of devils that he remained undisturbed until now.

And...

Having survived that critical juncture, he assumed everything would proceed smoothly from here on.

Or so he believed.

'Ah...'

The pinnacle of Life-Saving Arts: Formless.

The moment he is struck directly by it, Hong Fan truly understands the nature of a miracle.

'O Miracle. I truly... despise you.'

Tsuaaaaaaah!

A piercing green light sinks into Hong Fan's chest, utilizing the power of Life-Saving to begin tearing his heart asunder.

The present.

"In the name of Life, I command."

Bong Hwa reaches her hand into the Heavenly Void Furnace.

Witnessing this, I momentarily forget my mission to rescue my allies and simply stare at her.

"Live."

Kuuuuung!

The power of Life erupts.

Vast histories, countless powers, and the laws of explosions are all invoked, yet...

The conclusion is singular.

They are restored to life.

"Death is already ordained, so this revival is merely fleeting."

Kuung!

A brilliant white light appears.

"I am aware."

Their voices are clipped and urgent, matching the gravity of the moment.

Yet, there is an unmistakable bond of closeness between the two of them.

Cheok, cheok!

I recognize the pure white being standing before me.

Their face remains hidden.

I only see a back that resembles a mountain of salt.

These two figures position themselves between me and the Future King, standing as resolute as Guardian Kings to shield me.

Both are fully aware they are no match for the Future King, but...

I can feel their unwavering resolve to see me succeed, even if it costs them their existence.

I feel the urge to rush toward them.

I want to see that person’s face and bow in respect.

To meet them in their true form...

This is both the first and the final opportunity.

That person is the one who seized half of Miracle and ascended as the Heavenly Venerable of Miracles.

Because of that, they cannot truly die unless a new Master of Miracles is established.

However, that implies...

If I move forward, that person will truly, finally...

Be erased forever.

If I don't act now, I will never have the chance to see him again.

What is the right path?

Squeeze...

I tighten my grip into a fist.

I look away from them and meet Kim Yeon's eyes.

A smile graces her lips.

In the next breath, she transforms into a single blade and streaks toward me.

Wiiiiing!

Jjeoong!

She and my other allies fly toward me, embedding themselves within me as individual swords.

I sense Silver Basket's gaze upon me.

It is a gaze filled with confusion.

No, I can feel that they fail to understand any of us.

'I understand.'

To them, our actions are nonsensical.

Why would we, who have all reached the rank of transcendents, choose to sacrifice ourselves despite our power?

Why not only engage in battles where victory is certain?

Why risk everything on this single moment?

They cannot grasp our motivations.

Perhaps it is because they were born as undying transcendents.

Having been born with a status that views even the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity as a mere mortal,

they cannot comprehend beings like us.

But I am not the outlier.

In reality, every mortal exists this way.

They spend their entire lives pouring every ounce of their strength into what they do.

And when they eventually fall, they entrust everything to those who follow.

This endless cycle of inheritance is the core of life.

It is a mixture of grief and grace that only those who are mortal can truly feel.

This is the essence of the mortal will.

The martial heart belonging to Kim Young-hoon.

The conviction of Jeon Myeong-hoon.

The protective spirit of Kang Min-hee.

The iron will of Oh Hyun-seok.

The devotion of Kim Yeon.

It is a radiance known only to those who understand that mortality is a chain of connection and legacy.

I pull my eyes away from Silver Basket and look toward the heavens.

"The Formless Poison... it runs so very deep."

Formless Poison.

This is the very poison Hong Fan has utilized whenever he sought to assist me until now.

That is right.

He viewed the pinnacle of Life-Saving Arts: Formless, which I imparted to him in the 16th cycle, as a toxin...

And he has desperately tried to return that "favor" to me as a way to purge it.

"Obtaining a human form is difficult, and realizing the Dao is even harder..."

As I watch the green radiance continue to bloom from his chest, I softly recite the lesson I once learned from him.

"Following the path of the human heart, one searches for the origin of the Dao..."

My entire being begins to glow.

"If this form cannot find transcendence in this life...

"When will I ever have another chance to transcend this existence?"

Dudududu-

Simultaneously, the crushing pressure directed at me intensifies.

It is Hong Fan, attempting to suppress me as he witnesses the advancement ritual I am performing.

It is as if he refuses to let me reach that state.

Yet, Hong Fan's interference does not move me.

Recalling my genuine thanks to him, I simply speak the truth he needs to hear.

"Heavens Above. That is not a poison. I am aware that since the sixteenth cycle, you have tried to expel it and give it back to me... but it isn't something I forced upon you. It is something that has always resided within you.

"Just as the Heavens are an absolute reality of this world that cannot be denied, the heart is also something you cannot simply reject because you wish to.

"I have merely... awakened what was already inside you."

The moment those words leave my lips,

The green light in Hong Fan's chest flares with extreme intensity, and Silver Basket begins to manifest a reaction.

Hong Fan increases his pressure on me for disturbing his heart, but that force is held back by Salt Sea and Bong Hwa.

Then, just as I see him preparing to strike us down with Hope,

Kugugugugu!

The window of opportunity opens.

It seems Silver Basket has gained some insight from watching me.

:: Will you prevent the emergence of the Master of Miracles, or... will you stop the components of your [Absolute of Hope] from being scattered to the winds!!! ::

They unleash their Divine Art, instantly propelling the souls of myriad Enders far beyond Mount Sumeru.

To countless distant worlds, back to their original homes...

The Enders are returning.

Of course, some among them are wicked or twisted enough to cause concern, but that is beyond my current reach.

By awakening the Enders and returning them to their origins...

Silver Basket has granted us a chance.

Wo-woong!

The Future King seizes Silver Basket, his attention momentarily diverted toward the exterior of the Audience Chamber.

In that brief pause, I reach out to Oh Hye-seo.

She falters.

She is torn by doubt, wondering if she truly deserves to stand as our comrade.

She...

Is burdened by such inner turmoil.

But I instantly close my fist and pull her toward our side.

Regardless of her own thoughts...

Or the transgressions she committed against us.

'We have accepted her apology.'

She apologized before we ever entered the Audience Chamber.

And she gave me a sincere apology during the Battle of the Great Mountain.

While my forgiveness isn't total,

she will simply have to atone for her past from this point forward.

Alongside us!

Because she revealed her fate to the Future King, she is bound by an attraction force far more powerful than the others.

Nevertheless, Oh Hye-seo looks at my outstretched hand and pushes past her hesitation.

She takes a step.

Toward us.

One step. Two steps. On the third step...

Master reaches out his hand.

The brilliance of the Salt Mountain envelops her in pure white.

Is she receiving some final message from Master?

She seems to hear a voice within that white light, and tears begin to stream down her face.

Immediately, Bong Hwa reaches out, cloaking her in golden flames.

The combined lights of Life and the Salt Mountain refine her, momentarily severing the Future King's hold on her.

In that split second, she transforms into a sword and merges into my body.

With all six Enders now unified within me,

Kuguguguung!

My gaze meets Hong Fan's.

Watching Silver Basket's actions, my Supreme Deity insight reveals the full meaning of this moment.

I see that Hong Fan is briefly paralyzed by the Divine Art, and I know he will soon return to full strength.

Kuuung!

After instantly obliterating Obsidian's home and reclaiming its spirit, he turns his focus to the place where Vast Cold has returned.

Earth.

Our...

Home.

He stares at me.

As he watches us, he levels the Emptiness Sword toward Earth.

The shard of desire remains within him, making a standard advancement impossible.

But now, with all the Enders fused with me and our hearts perfectly synchronized,

I finally understand the gift Master bestowed upon Oh Hye-seo.

Its name is shame.

It is the agonizing clarity that forces one to look inward...

And the catalyst that drives one to move forward.

It is what Gwak Am lost long ago, and the very salt the Salt Sea uses for restoration.

Ironically, it is the pain that bridges the answers of both Vast Cold and Salt Sea.

-Pain is undeniable. But...

Oh Hye-seo, having found her shame, reflects on herself.

And all the comrades share in her shame... reaching out so she can continue her journey.

-Perhaps the source of the pain can be denied. So, advance. Look back when you must, and do not fully reject what was once only painful. The world is indeed full of pain... but it is through pain that we find things to cherish.

The 16th cycle.

Pain.

Hong Fan Gu Ju suffers the agony of watching his own history—his very soul and flesh—dissolve before him, all while staring at the human who is transmitting everything he has gathered back to him.

Only a strike on the level of a great divinity or a Creator God can harm Hong Fan while he is divided and incomplete.

Conversely, such an attack has a profound impact on the fragmented Future King.

Until this moment, he believed such beings only existed outside his realm.

Tsuaaaaatt!

He assumed only external, elusive entities could deliver such a blow.

'You... Seo Eun-hyun. What exactly are you?'

Without a moment's pause, the human exhausts every memory and piece of history he painstakingly gathered over eons within the Heavenly Void Furnace.

The process is inherently agonizing.

Yet, he persists through the pain.

Even after escaping the Heavenly Void Furnace and finding his true self, he chooses not to use that power for his own sake, but sacrifices it all, pouring it into Hong Fan.

Surges of green light flood into Hong Fan's chest.

The being who existed for trillions of years within the Heavenly Void Furnace, observing Hong Fan's journey and tempering his heart solely to provide Hong Fan comfort...

Sacrifices his entire history and memory to land a single, decisive blow on Hong Fan.

And that strike, specifically regarding the entity known as Hong Fan...

Is undeniably a blow on the level of a great divinity.

He believed he could counter any external threat at will.

But the blade striking from within was something the Future King never saw coming, and he let it pierce him.