A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 16: Talent Abandoned by the Heavens (4)
Absorbing and comprehending information about every space I traversed was not an ordinary task. It was dizzying, especially when combined with the practice of maintaining constant sword energy.
Now, this task included perceiving auditory information from every moment I passed through. It wasn't just about perceiving auditory information from noisy streets.
Rustle, rustle.
The sound of clothes brushing against each other.
Thud, thud.
The sound of footsteps.
Huff, huff, huff.
The sound of breathing.
I had to consciously perceive all these sounds continuously.
'Dizzying.'
Doing all this simultaneously, I felt not just a headache but dizziness to the point of near-collapse. I wondered if I could even engage in martial duels in this state.
'Especially now, when there are hardly any sects left to duel with.'
For about 30 years, I traveled all over Yanguo, challenging almost every small and medium sects to duels.
Occasionally, I even visited major sects for duelse.
As a result, there was hardly a place in Yanguo I hadn't been to.
I now resorted to battling bandits and water bandits rampaging through Yanguo, capturing them.
The problem was these evil men never fought fairly, especially when chased down. The most desperate ones even resorted to throwing explosive pellets they somehow acquired.
In this dizzy state, I had to fight such men.
'Can I even preserve my life?'
Sigh.
I sighed and firmly gripped my sword.
After all, this was the path I chose.
Even if I die, I will walk this path.
I looked at the six books piled up in front of me.
"You survived again this time."
"Yes, this time as well."
15 years had passed.
45 years since my return.
In the meantime, I met Kim Young-hoon three more times and received three more sets of insights, making a total of six volumes of insights from Kim Young-hoon.
During this time, I mastered processing not only visual and auditory information but also touch, taste, and smell continuously and adeptly.
Now, when I met a martial artist of late first-rate, my understanding of the five senses, sword energy, and immense practical experience allowed me to start with a 70% chance of winning against martial artists of the same level.
Of course, this was without considering the power of my martial arts. Including that, my winning probability reached 99%.
If it was a real fight allowing the use of toxins and hidden weapons, I could guarantee victory against any late first-rate martial artist.
Moreover, with the ability to process information using the five senses and my understanding of constantly using sword energy,
I could now face a peak master for about 10 to 20 exchanges.
Of course, it was difficult to continue beyond that.
That was the end.
I still...
hadn't...
become...
a peak...
master.
Still!!!
Still!!!
"My existence has spread among the Core Formation cultivators. It seems I'm wanted. Two Core Formation cultivators laid a trap and waited for me.
I barely escaped. Still, I managed to inflict a small wound on the cheek of one of them."
"You've gained even more insights."
"What insights. Despite all this, I still can't properly confront Core formation cultivators. Assuming I don't run away, I can't even last a hundred exchanges against them. It's impossible to inflict any meaningful damage."
He gazed at the sky with a sense of futility and mused.
"Honestly, I sometimes wonder whether the extreme of Five Energies Converging to the Origin I've reached... is the [end] for martial artists. Perhaps the martial artist who created Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts had similar thoughts. No matter how hard we try, it's impossible to defeat cultivators with martial arts."
I quietly looked at Kim Young-hoon.
Despite writing six books full of astonishing insights, he held a small teacup, his face etched with a hollow smile.
Clearly, he possessed talent given by the heavens.
And I, talent abandoned by the heavens.
Clearly, he and I were in starkly opposite situations.
Yet, somehow, I saw my reflection in Kim Young-hoon.
Myself, who could not grasp even a hint of the Pinnacle Realm despite numerous lifetimes of effort.
His situation, where no possibility of defeating cultivators appeared despite repeated lifetimes.
Clearly, a genius given by the heavens and a dullard abandoned by the heavens.
Why then, did we seem so similar?
"By the way, I still don't understand why I haven't reached the Pinnacle Realm. It's frustrating for me too."
Kim Young-hoon looked at me with a slightly bitter expression.
"Why can't you reach that realm despite mimicking the world of peak masters, including sword energy... I can't grasp what's missing."
He let out a hollow laugh and stood up.
"Let's have a sparring session after a long time."
"That sounds like good news."
Kim Young-hoon and I left the guesthouse and headed towards a nearby forest.
Upon reaching a suitable clearing, I unsheathed my sword without a word.
The sword energy, which I had been maintaining continuously for seven days and nights, flickered on my sword.
"Your understanding of sword energy is considerable. You'd quickly reach the stage of Sword Silk once you attain the Pinnacle Realm," Kim Young-hoon observed, noticing the aura of my sword.
I smiled bitterly.
The hypothesis after reaching the Pinnacle Realm was meaningless.
It was already the 45th year since my return.
I only had about five years of life left, and the likelihood of becoming a peak master within that time was slim.
A realm that I couldn't reach despite dedicating my entire life.
Would any special enlightenment come within these five years?
"Then, let's begin."
I took up a fighting stance, my expression intense.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Sixteenth move.
Mountain Tiger.
Swoosh!
Six sword energies from the upper left to the lower right.
Six from the upper right to the lower left.
A total of twelve sword energies converged towards Kim Young-hoon's heart.
Ting!
Kim Young-hoon didn't even draw his saber. He simply flicked his finger, and my technique dissipated instantly.
However, I didn't panic and immediately launched another move.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Twelfth Move.
Nine Lights Emerging Peak.
A more evolved sword technique that sent nine sword energies his way.
"You've significantly reduced your vulnerabilities."
Swoosh!
Kim Young-hoon quickly deployed his movement technique, dodging all my sword energies and quietly commended me.
I didn't respond but quickly took another fighting stance.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Seventeenth Move.
Mountain and Valley Transformation.
Boom, bang, bang!
I sent sword energies in all directions, absorbing them into the earth with the principle of infiltration and then detonating them after a delay, a decisive move of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Boom, bang!
The surrounding terrain transformed under my will.
Sword energies emerging from the ground surged towards Kim Young-hoon.
Whoosh!
But when he swiped his finger horizontally, the sword energies I launched lost their power and scattered into the air.
"Severing Vein Saber Method, Eighth Move, Mountain Scream."
Whoosh!
He extended his finger towards me again.
Boom!
The saber energy emanating from his finger overturned the ground as it surged towards me.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Eighteenth Move.
Echoing Valley.
Whoosh!
I infused sword energy into my sword, and simultaneously, I withdrew all force from it.
Though it sounded absurd, Echoing Valley required just that.
I filled my sword with energy while maintaining its form, removing all intent and miscellaneous forces, leaving only a hollow form of energy.
"Haah!"
With all my concentration, I maintained the emptiness in my sword and faced the incoming saber energy.
Grr!
Immense pressure traveled up my arm, but simultaneously, the saber energy that surged towards me was absorbed into my sword.
I emptied my intent from the sword and filled it with the opponent's intent.
Then, with a swift turn, I exerted all my strength to fling the energy in another direction.
Boom!
The Mountain Scream Kim Young-hoon launched destroyed several trees and shattered a huge rock.
"Heugh, heugh!"
I sweat profusely and trembling. Echoing Valley was originally a counterattack technique that absorbed the opponent's energy and intent, returning it back to them. However, I could only manage to deflect the attack.
'Still far off.'
Gritting my teeth, I took up my stance again and charged.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Nineteenth Move.
Mountain Echoes, Valley Responds.
Whoosh!
My sword vibrated, and my sword energy morphed into waves, spreading in all directions before suddenly converging towards Kim Young-hoon.
An inescapable decisive technique!
But he just smiled, lifting his hand, and saber energy burst from his fingertips.
Whoosh, bang, bang, bang!
Spinning and dancing, he flicked his hand each time, deflecting the converging sword energies.
Whoosh, thump, thump, thump!
He deflected countless sword energies and then extended his finger towards me again.
"Severing Vein Saber Method, Ninth Move, Dragon's Mound."
Rumble!
The fearsome saber energy, twisting like a dragon, flew towards me.
'Can I withstand it?'
No, even trying to deflect it with my sword would tear me apart due to the intricate changes in his technique.
'I need to take a risk.'
I confront it head-on.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Twentieth Move.
Nine Mountains, Eight Seas.
I spun in place with my sword, once, twice, thrice, then again.
With each spin, the speed and power of my sword grew exponentially.
After nine spins, the power within my sword had become terrifyingly immense.
With every bit of my being, I slashed at the oncoming saber energy in all directions.
Boom!
A massive explosion sounded, and I witnessed my sword shatter.
Flung backward by the shockwave, I crashed into a large tree, spitting blood and kneeling.
My defeat was evident.
"Damn it... What seems to be the problem?"
"Hmm..."
Kim Young-hoon sighed softly.
"I don't know. You... I can't fathom why you're still in this realm. You should have become a peak master long ago."
"What do you mean?"
I asked, catching my breath.
It was absurd.
I had never even come close to enlightenment, let alone reach the Pinnacle Realm.
"Intriguing. Why is this happening? Hmm..."
After pondering, Kim Young-hoon looked at me thoughtfully and suggested,
"Perhaps you lack a catalyst."
"A catalyst?"
"Yes, a catalyst. Like desperation or a driving force. Something that would push your talent beyond its limits with extreme concentration..."
"What kind of catalyst are you talking about!"
I cut him off, yelling furiously with veins bulging in my eyes.
"I've wielded a sword for over 50 years! My entire life! I've longed to transcend to the next realm! You're telling me I need to be more desperate? How much more!"
I screamed as if in agony, disregarding the pain in my entire body.
"I've struggled my whole life to break free from being first-rate! What am I lacking? What more do I need to do? I've unblocked all my meridians.I even sleep with my hand on my sword, flowing sword energy!
I've reached a point where I even collect and process information in my dreams! But why! Why!!! Why won't the heavens show me the next realm!
Why!!!"
I thrashed about, screaming at the sky.
I knew it was undignified for someone nearly seventy.
But.
Having pursued the sword and yearned for the Pinnacle Realm all my life, yet never even grasping what that realm might be.
How could I not be in anguish?
"Why... just why..."
Sobbing, I looked up at the sky.
Kim Young-hoon watched me with a heavy heart, then flicked his finger towards the tree I had crashed into.
Splat!
Immediately, a significant volume of martial arts techniques filled the tree.
"I've created martial arts to supplement your weaknesses during our spar. It's hardly a consolation, but I hope you'll master them and find some peace."
After speaking, Kim Young-hoon disappeared like a phantom again.
I gazed at the sky for a while before turning my attention to the martial art techniques he left.
There were two: Mountain Lord Martial Arts and Transcending Peaks Step.
In just a short sparring session, he had effortlessly created two martial arts.
I marveled at his incredible talent for martial arts and slowly studied the two techniques.
Mountain Lord Martial Arts was a body technique.
It dealt with pressuring the enemy with the presence of a Mountain Lord, creating movements like a tiger.
Transcending Peaks Step was a footwork technique.
Uniquely, it allowed one to take any step and assume the stance of the first move of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Transcending Peaks. Given the nature of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, any subsequent move could follow, allowing for endless combinations.
'Using Mountain Lord Martial Arts and Transcending Peaks Step together.'
It would be possible to pressure the enemy with the presence of a Mountain Lord and relentlessly attack with Transcending Peaks Step.
A technique to dry up and kill the opponent.
'These two perfectly complement the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.'
As so, they were also relatively easy to learn.
I suddenly reflected on my martial prowess.
"Now... Against a first-rate martial artist, I can guarantee a 100% win rate without resorting to tricks."
I had completely surpassed the first-rate level.
Yet, I still hadn't reached the Pinnacle Realm.
Somewhere between first-rate and the pinnacle.
That was my current level of skill.
How long must I remain in this realm?
"Catalyst..."
I mulled over Kim Young-hoon's words.
What am I lacking?
I couldn't figure it out.
Time flowed on like a river.
Once again.
50 years have passed since my return.
My days were numbered.
I had surpassed the first-rate level but was still not at the Pinnacle Realm.
I was tired of wielding the sword.
In my past life, I swung my sword until my dying breath.
But in this life, despite being more skilled than before, swinging the sword felt burdensome.
I guessed the reason.
'There's no meaning to it, that's why.'
For 50 years, I wielded the sword.
Yet, I never became a peak master.
What's the point of swinging the sword when death is near?
It would all be the same anyway.
"Is he... dead?"
That day, I swung my sword and looked up at the sky.
Kim Young-hoon hadn't appeared for almost five years.
The last time we met, he was being pursued by Core Formation cultivators. Perhaps he was caught and killed by one or two of them.
"This must be our fate, his and mine."
When was my death due?
Perhaps in a few days, my vital energy would be exhausted, and I would die.
Even now, swinging the sword was an act of willpower.
"To overcome."
Whoosh!
"The limits."
Whoosh!
"As a human."
Whoosh!
"There's only so far... you can go."
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
I sighed and gazed aimlessly at the sky.
"With my talent, struggling all this time was my limit. And his talent too had its limits."
Yes.
Starting from the next life, I should try a different approach.
Knowing that I couldn't become a peak in a lifetime, I might as well beg cultivators for some elixir to attain spiritual quality.
That would be the best I could do.
"Even if mortals struggle, they can't escape the destiny set by the heavens..."
"Cough!"
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Kim Young-hoon appeared beside me like a phantom.
Coughing up blood.
"Cough, cough... What nonsense are you spouting, Seo Eun-hyun?"
"No, it's not that..."
"Cough... Gagging..."
Despite coughing up blood, he was laughing.
Both his arms were severed, and one eye was missing, scarred by a cut.
"Damn it, what happened? You're in bad shape."
I was startled by his sudden appearance and hurried to check his pulse and fetch medical tools.
Then, something grabbed my nape.
"Eh?"
What is this?
Weren't his arms severed?
Something invisible was holding my nape.
And Kim Young-hoon, despite coughing up blood, was laughing hysterically.
"Look! The price for blowing off one of the Core Formation cultivator's arms!!! I, I have inflicted significant damage on a Core Formation cultivator!"
"What...?"
"I, I have seen the realm beyond the Five Energies Converging to the Origin with my own two eyes!"
He continued speaking while spewing blood.
"I reached it by risking my life, burning my life! Look, Eun-hyun, I traveled hundreds of miles to show you. I decided to entrust my last words to you!"
Whoosh!
Above Kim Young-hoon's head, a concentration of saber energy formed.
I wasn't particularly surprised.
Projecting internal energy into the air was a feat he'd shown several times after reaching the Pinnacle Realm.
Gradually, the sword energy began to shine and change.
It was Gang Qi.
'This is something he's done even in the Five Energies realm.'
But then, the Gang Qi began to change again.
"This is..."
The Gang Qi started compressing into a sphere.
It was a change I'd never seen before in my several lifetimes following Kim Young-hoon.
Like the day he first entered the Five Energies realm.
Five small spheres hovered above his head.
The Gang Qi morphed into a small spherical shape.
"With this, I could blow off a Core Formation cultivator's arm. Before, I could only fight Qi Building cultivators using ambushes or surprise attacks, but with this, I can face them head-on in a battle of strength! Look, Eun-hyun! This is the result of surpassing the martial arts of the martial wo