A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 177: Masters Grace (9)
The 25th newly created move of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace ().
In fact, the essence of the Severing Mountain Swordsmanship I created is hard to consider purely martial.
The first half of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, from the first to the twelfth moves, combines basic forms to extract the maximum power from movements and actions in martial arts.
Starting with horizontal slashing in Transcending Peaks, lower slashing in Entering Mountain, and upward slashing in Ascending Vein,
The twelfth form, Twelve Lights Emerging Peak, is also based on numerous stabbing motions.
Each form in the first half of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship requires precision and is more focused on the importance of connecting the moves rather than the complexity of each technique.
The second half of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, from the thirteenth to the twenty-fourth move, is specialized in handling the sword energy acquired in the first half, measuring the gap in intent between oneself and the opponent.
Especially, the 22nd move, Severing Mountain, is a move that requires hitting the opponent with all the techniques from the 1st to the 21st, making it meaningful only if all those forms hit the target.
As such, it demands the utmost ability to measure the opponent's intent and gap.
The twenty-third move, Endless Mountains Beyond Mountains, and the twenty-fourth form, Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains, essentially require measuring the opponent's full strength and one's own physical condition with intent.
In essence, the use of the first half of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship involves precise basics and their combination.
The latter half focuses on the use of sword energy created from the basics, measuring the harmony in intent, and combat experience as the core of the martial principle.
And beyond the latter half, the newly created 25th move.
I close my eyes and contemplate the essence of this new technique.
'I poured my all into that single strike.'
A move created while following the Heaven-Collapsing Esteemed One's Single Strike.
Imitating his strike, an extreme move where I pour in all my strength.
If Foolish Old Man Moves Mountain continuously assaults the enemy with tiny forces gathered within my body,
Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace is an attack that squeezes out the entire power gathered within my body to the extreme, unleashing it as the ultimate single blow.
Then, is the essence of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace a one-hit kill?
No.
While creating the twenty-fifth move, I gathered the enlightenment I realized, closed my eyes, and focused my consciousness.
'The essence of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace is... Fusion ().'
The essence is not about squeezing out power to its limit.
The essence of the form called Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace was about compressing power to the extreme and using all the myriad miscellaneous powers I had cultivated within that pressure.
Therefore, if the fusion is maintained, it's possible to reproduce that strike anytime.
'Fusion.'
All the basic techniques of Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation
The flow of all methods realized through Understanding before Breakthrough
Followed by the skills I learned later, Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea, Silica Earth Great Wall Practice...
The nuances and flows of various methods flash through my mind.
When I first used Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace, the epiphany hit me in an instant, allowing me to unleash it all at once.
However, without such a sudden serendipity, I ultimately need to unravel and integrate all methods' flows by myself.
'Thinking about it... I've learned a lot of Earth attribute methods.'
Yin Soul Ghost Incantation is a method created from the Kun () trigram, symbolizing Tai Yin (Great Yin/Moon) in the Eight Trigrams.
The Kun trigram ultimately corresponds to the Earth among the Five Elements.
The Dragon Vein Qi Method I learned during my martial arts days is also of the Earth attribute.
The first cultivation method I learned is the Earth Surpassing Path to Cultivation, Earth attribute.
Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, Earth attribute.
Silica Earth Great Wall Practice, Earth attribute.
The Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll can vary in attribute depending on the linked dharma treasure, but my Colorless Glass Sword is made of desert sand, strictly speaking, also Earth attribute.
Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea is somewhat Wood attribute.
White Orchid Blessing Incantation, influenced by Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea, has the power of the Wood attribute but ultimately originates from the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, making it a method mixed with Earth attribute as well.
'Somehow... I have a profound connection with the earth.'
Then, indeed, the center of Fusion is the Great Earth ().
Countless methods and their intricacies.
The Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation and the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture.
Other attribute methods like Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea,
Center around the spiritual energy of the Earth.
Earth () is originally the center among the Five Elements ().
Even just considering the directions associated with the properties of the Five Elements, it's easy to see that it holds the center.
Wo-woong!
Yellow spiritual energy symbolizing the Earth attribute surges throughout my body.
Isn't there a saying that the sky is black and the earth is yellow?
All earth is yellow ().
However, I half-open my eyes and concentrate my consciousness even more while gathering the yellow spiritual energy.
Glass ().
Melt the earth to refine it into clear glass.
Accelerate and temper the spiritual energy to its extreme.
Compress the consciousness, merging the consciousness at the plane of Soul and the spiritual energy at the plane of Qi.
Tsst-tssts!
The Formless Sword materializes in my hand.
The colorlessness () possessed by the Formless Sword spreads around, tinting the yellow spiritual energy transparent.
But, being colorless means it can also become any color.
'Here I go.'
I imbue everything into what I hold in my hand.
Not just consciousness, but everything.
When reaching the Nascent Soul stage, a sword as if containing the Milky Way appeared in my hand.
Perhaps from the moment I reached the Nascent Soul stage, I had grasped the beginning of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.
The colorless sword transforms into a sword of galaxy containing the radiance of all stars in the universe, all of the heavens' natural colors.
It's as if the starry sky is held in my hand.
And, looking at this starry sky once again, I am finally able to establish the enlightenment of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace completely.
'A single strike infused with the soul.'
The technique of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.
Its essence is one's own soul.
Or, after infusing the sword with the Nascent Soul, a deadly single move that fuses all of one's power from within the Nascent Soul across the two planes of Qi and Soul, into a single strike.
Since what I hold is my soul itself, should Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace fail, I will die immediately as my Nascent Soul collapses.
Betting everything in a single gamble, putting the entirety of myself at stake.
A move far more dangerous than Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains!
"Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace ()!!!"
As I execute the move towards Yeon, I brace my mind with the will to survive.
I become the sword, piercing into her.
I realize.
Through the knowledge of Understanding before Breakthrough that I've mastered, I can leave the enlightenment of Understanding before Breakthrough in the other's heart essence.
I can also leave the enlightenment of martial arts.
The enlightenment about the puppet circuits.
The enlightenment about the emotions I've felt.
With the White Orchid Blessing Incantation, I can bless, and with the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, I can curse.
Whoosh!
In an instant, I 'enter' her heart essence.
With the realm of Treading Heavens Beyond the Path, it's not just about seeing other's heart essence.
I infiltrate the other's heart essence as naturally as entering my own heart essence!
Pats-tsts-ts!
I enter the origin of countless colors.
And in the next moment.
I see an immensely beautiful sight.
Isn't the human body called a microcosm?
Then, what about the human heart?
Can the human heart not be called a Boundless Heart Heaven ()?
Like a universe filled with starry heavens.
'Is this, Yeon's exterior heart essence?'
The human heart essence is divided into the exterior heart essence and the core heart essence within which is the heart essence seen by those who reached Beyond the Path to Heavens.
The domain I entered is the exterior heart essence.
Those who have reached the realm of Beyond the Path to Heavens can see the heart essence of themselves and others.
Why is that?
It is because the 'heart essence' seen by them is originally located in the deepest regions of human beings.
And those who have reached Beyond the Path to Heavens integrate their core heart essence, which resides in the deepest area, with the exterior heart essence.
Already having nothing to hesitate about themselves, they can properly see others' heart essences too.
However, ordinary people need to go through the exterior heart essence to enter deeply into the core heart essence like I am doing right now.
Perhaps cultivators above the Four-Axis stage, assuming their consciousness is intact, can attempt to block the intrusion of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.
But I enter without any hindrances.
Perhaps because Kim Yeons exterior heart essence is unprotected.
Entering her heart essence, a distinct feeling captures my attention
'This is...'
A pinkish intent brushes past me.
As I become a beam of white light, gliding through her consciousness akin to the universe, I can't pay much attention to the passing consciousness.
However, if similar consciousnesses endlessly pass by me, won't I inevitably become aware of them even without paying attention?
I like you.
In a universe dotted with multicolored stars.
As I delve deeper into the core of this consciousness filled with starry skies, I feel the number of pinkish stars gradually increasing.
Hello, Deputy Manager. I'm Kim Yeon, the new employee who just joined!
Deputy Manager, how do I handle this?
Ah, youll listen? Thank you.
Ahaha, Deputy Jeon is picking on you? I don't get along with him either. What? That person became a Section Chief?
What's Deputy Managers blood type? Oh, you're also type A like me?
You like Hye-seo Unnie too, right? She's really like an angel.
Wow, Deputy Manager is also confused by Excel? I find it really confusing too. Should we ask Hye-seo Unnie for help?
Hm? You think I haven't been getting along with Hye-seo Unnie recently? Haha... Oh.It's lunchtime, what should we eat?
Hehe, as expected, sweet and sour pork should be dipped... Oh, Deputy Manager is also a dipper? Seems like we really do get along.
Its impossible to look into every memory in detail.
But I can faintly hear the voices of the stars.
Listening to these fleeting voices, I venture further inside.
And then, at some moment.
I reach the very center of the galaxy where countless stars gather.
Countless consciousnesses and emotions.
Among them, the place where the happiest emotions gather.
To enter the depths of human consciousness, there are seven gates.
And the gate I have reached seems to be the gate governing love.
Just beyond here is her inner heart essence.
Her true essence.
Suddenly, before leaping into her inner heart essence.
I look at a certain illusion that passes through her consciousness.
Rustle...
'Ah...'
I remember.
There was a time in spring when I had to go on a business trip to a botanical garden due to work-related matters.
Yeon had finished all the business tasks and was walking through the botanical garden with someone.
That someone, glorified by her emotions, remained beautifully in her memory.
The two stood in front of a quince tree for a moment, admiring it.
By the way, do you like any particular flowers?
She asked, seemingly curious, to the glorified someone.
The glorified someone pointed at the quince tree and said.
...do. Does Team Leader have any favorite flowers?
I...
After a moment of hesitation, she started to speak, seemingly embarrassed.
'Im sure back then..'
I smile at the memory of that moment.
Thinking back on what she said then, it was practically a confession.
And I was too dumb to realize it.
'I'm sorry.'
Such a fool I was, not realizing even a confession until it was far too late.
'But please forgive me.'
Whizz!
At the center of the galaxy.
Jumping beyond the clusters of pinkish light and reaching her heart essence, I smile.
'Even if its now, I will give you my answer.'
I enter the passage leading to her heart essence.
But there is something sticky and filthy clogging that passage.
That thing, reeking of blood and filth.
The Esteemed One's restraint.
'Cut.'
Swoosh!
I become a sword.
My soul, forged into a sword, cuts through and shatters the obstacles in front of me.
Ordinary consciousness techniques would never easily break through this.
But, having staked my soul to enter here, I can cut through it all too easily from a position equal to the seal.
Whish...
The seal crumbles like dust, dispersing into her consciousness and becoming one with her mind.
As the seal disappears, I feel a strong resistance from her heart essence.
The sealed consciousness is being liberated, trying to expel me, a foreign entity.
'It's done.'
She's now freeing herself from the seal
I am naturally ejected from her consciousness.
Then.
'Huh?'
I notice from within her consciousness,
from her memoriesofthemomentsbeforefallingintoascensionpaththegiantjade.
Zap!
Trickle...
I feel a sharp pain and headache coming on, along with the realization that blood is trickling from my nose.
Though it felt like a long moment in the world of consciousness, it was just a blink of an eye after using the technique of Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace.
A mere instant in real time.
But in that instant, it felt as though something had struck the upper part of my nose, and I could feel blood rushing from inside.
'Why am I suddenly bleeding from the nose?'
Clearly, I had naturally exited the world of consciousness thanks to the resistance of her consciousness.
'No, that's a ridiculous thought.'
Kurok!
An immense feeling of powerlessness envelops me.
It feels as though all the vitality in my body has been squeezed out.
In fact, its correct to say that my vitality has been drained.
Injecting my Nascent Soul into the sword, fusing the power of two planes into one, and then channeling all that power into the Nascent Soul across the planes, I executed a decisive strike.
Naturally, this took a toll on both my consciousness and body.
'My consciousness...'
I had launched a strike that risked not just my life, but my very soul, twice.
As the tension releases, I fall forward.
And then.
Gently...
Soft hands catch me, preventing my body from crashing to the ground.
"Thank you, Eun-hyun Oppa."
She, dressed in pink attire, smiles while embracing.
I look at her, moving my lips slightly.
Wo-woong!
Similar to the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.
The restraint that had been sealing her mind until just a moment ago seems to be suppressed by her now, manifesting according to her will.
Flash!
Above her head, a white circular ring appears, resembling a Western crown.
"Yeon, ah..."
"Yes, I know."
Bo-oong!
A white thread of consciousness swiftly passes through my head, and through this thread of consciousness, I convey my heart language to her.
A firm determination shines in her eyes.
"Let's end this war now."
Embracing me with one arm, she raises her other.
'Something has changed.'
I think to myself, looking at her holding me.
She is a bit different from the Kim Yeon I know.
Is it because I unsealed the restraint for her?
Or because the consciousness technique that serves as the seal now amplifies her consciousness?
Or is it because, unlike the thousand years she spent captured by the Mad Lord, she lived in a place where her consciousness is more stabilized?
Various thoughts cross my mind.
But looking into her eyes, I understand something.
'...I see.'
Just as I had seen countless emotions when entering her heart essence.
Perhaps she too had glimpsed a bit into mine.
As the saying goes, when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.
Perhaps, in looking into someone, one must be prepared to be seen by the other.
'You've read my heart, too.
"Thank you, Oppa."
Kim Yeon smiles brightly, clenching her fist.
"For liking me."
White threads of consciousness gather in her hand, and the restraint that had been placed by the Esteemed One's Left Hand shines brightly as a crown, further amplifying the power of her consciousness.
It's visible.
The consciousness at the plane of Soul is overflowing so massively that it influences the plane of Qi.
Kududuguk!
The ceiling of the underground cavity of the Void Spirit Pond is torn away.
Kugugugu!
A loud explosion resounds, and the countless battlefields still raging are brought into view.
Kugugugu!
In the distance, the Esteemed One's Left Hand is seen being pierced through by [Her] spear and crumbling.
The battlefield is heading towards its end.
Jeon Myeong-hoon, too, unable to withstand the Mad Lord's human wave tactics, is sealed again as soon as he was released.
And then, the Mad Lord's gaze turns to