A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 179: Masters Grace (11)
[What a funny guy.]
Black Dragon King laughs, baring his teeth.
[A human of the Human Race who has mastered the body refining method? Daring to stand before me? Do you not know that the vast majority of body refining methods you humans learn are but inferior versions of the demon beast methods? To boldly use an inferior method before me, one of the strongest of the Earth Tribe?]
Azure Tiger Saint remains silent.
Shiiiiing
"...?"
Im startled as I look at Azure Tiger Saint.
'The color, its changing.'
Its just as said.
The Azure Spirit Striking Origin Technique contained in his fists, which should have been rippling with a blue light and his wings, are gradually changing to a different color.
Redness gradually fades from the body of Azure Tiger Saint.
Its clear without asking.
Its the essence of his life, the energy of his blood, rippling and leaving the body of Azure Tiger Saint.
The blue of the Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter and the red of Azure Tiger Saint merge, turning into purple.
As the Tenth Wing unfolds, Azure Tiger Saint transforms into the incarnation of purple.
His appearance seems vaguely similar to Oh Hyun-seok, who had transformed his body with the energy of Primordial Chaos.
[Ha, you dare to oppose me? A mere body cultivator?]
Kurung, Kurururung!
Dark clouds begin to gather around the Black Dragon King, augmenting his power.
However, Azure Tiger Saint pays no heed and walks towards the Black Dragon King.
Kung, Koong, Kung!
With each step forward, his entire body gradually becomes larger.
With one step, he grows as much as a Fen (0.32 cm) with two steps, a Cun (3.33 cm), with three steps, a Chi (32.3 cm).
After four steps, he grows as much as a Ren (165 cm), five steps a Jian (1.8 m), and after six steps, he grows as much as a Ting (110 m).
Finally, after seven steps, Azure Tiger Saint's body has grown as much as a Li (500 m)
Kwoong!
Eight steps.
Azure Tiger Saint grows another 10 Li.
Kwoong!!!
Nine steps.
100 Li!
And at last.
Ten steps!
Kwaang!
[What!?]
Black Dragon King is flustered.
The body of Azure Tiger Saint continues to grow.
Thats, the Giant Transformation Technique that can be unleashed at the Heavenly Being stage through the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method!
But this transformation is even more immense than what I have heard.
'Burning his life to gain power beyond the Four-Axis stage!?'
Its a power that can't be explained otherwise!
Soon, Azure Tiger Saint, now far larger than the mountain-sized Black Dragon King, raises his fist.
Akin to a Titanic Deity in Purple!
Suddenly, Azure Tiger Saint's wings retract into his body, and two purple dragons writhe on his arms.
[What!]
Before the Black Dragon King can fully regain his composure.
Kwaang!
Azure Tiger Saint's punch plummets down on the Black Dragon King.
Kugugugugung!
Literally.
The heavens and earth split apart.
The black sea created by the Black Dragon King is torn asunder.
And the Black Dragon King, who had seemed formidable in our confrontation until now, coughs up blood and falls!
[You...bastard...! Are you burning your life!?]
Kururung, Kurung!
The body of Azure Tiger Saint appears like a purple universe.
Within his body, numerous purple celestial bodies can be seen floating.
Azure Tiger Saint remains silent even as he faces Black Dragon King.
He just keeps pressing on!
That's the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Methods final stage.'
The state of Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter becomes the base while life is burned.
The ultimate technique of the Azure Spirit Striking Origin Technique, the Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter, is wrapped around the fist. After transforming into a giant deity through Celestial Body Transformation of the Starlight Protecting Void Body, the tremendous power of the Five Elements Enduring Origin Scripture supports him.
Fighting against the Black Dragon King, surrounded by darkness, his giant form looks like a purple celestial god.
Kim Yeon doesnt just watch. She controls the Integration stage puppets to press the Black Dragon King.
The Black Dragon King, who had been fighting evenly against the Integration stage puppets, begins to be pushed back.
No, he was clearly being driven back by Azure Tiger Saint.
Kwagwang!
With every punch from Azure Tiger Saint that grazes his scales.
It is visible to the naked eye how the body of the Black Dragon King is being torn apart.
Kwaang!
The Black Dragon King is blown back, coughing up blood.
He glares at us, bleeding.
[You...kr, krh...dare...dare...!]
He is furious.
The Black Dragon King roars.
[Do you think I would lose to the likes of you!? I do not lose! I am the Black Dragon King, Hyeo Eum! I will return to my grand position!]
Chiieeeee!
Simultaneously, a red aura begins to swirl around his entire body.
Between the Black Dragon King's black scales, red blood energy starts to surge.
[Very well, now that I know your determination, let me prepare mine as well. Consider it an honor, I'm willing to shorten my lifespan just to annihilate you all!]
Kiiiiing!
"...!?"
And the next moment.
The blood energy emanating from the Black Dragon King soars even higher, and he suddenly charges towards the Esteemed One's left foot.
The Black Dragon King and the Esteemed One's Left Foot merges.
Kiiing!
Red light twists and writhes together.
[Ooooooh...!]
Within the writhing Esteemed One's Left Foot, the red tentacles of the corals seem to pull the Black Dragon King's body.
However, the next moment, the Esteemed One's Left Foot completely disperses in all directions!
"...!?"
The Esteemed One's Left Foot becomes a cloud.
No, it becomes a storm.
Kurung, Kururung!
At the same time, a sea.
The red blood cloud, harboring black lightning inside, disperses in all directions.
Simultaneously, the blood swarming between the red clouds look almost akin to a sea.
Woong, Wooroong!
"...!?"
The Black Dragon King merged with the Esteemed One's Left Foot, transforming into a phenomenon of the heavens and earth.
The devilish energy of the True Devil realm is drawn into the red storm, attacking the giant transformed Azure Tiger Saint.
Azure Tiger Saint, buried within the dark red storm, silently faces off against the massive amalgamation formed by the fusion of the Black Dragon King and the Esteemed One.
Kim Yeon also mobilizes the Integration stage puppets to block the red storm, but it proves futile.
'It cant be stopped!'
It has already surpassed the power of the Integration stage!
I have seen a being emitting that level of power before.
[Her]!
The [Her] who was modified by the Mad Lord braggingly to the Star Shattering stage emitted precisely that level of authority!
'We have to help!'
I look at Azure Tiger Saint burning his life.
The red storm is not just attacking his body.
The mind!
Its clear to my eyes that Azure Tiger Saint's mind is also being rapidly eroded by the storm.
'I can't physically block the storm. Even if Kim Yeon mobilizes the entire Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, it will be difficult. What I can do is...'
I barely manage to move my trembling body again.
'To infuse blessings into his heart, so he can protect himself!'
The Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace, in addition to infusing the Nascent Soul, is a strike that expels all of oneself in an instant.
Naturally, it places an enormous strain on the body as well, not only on the Nascent Soul.
Last time, I used the Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace to save everyone from the Esteemed One's technique and to lift Kim Yeon's seal, I used it once more.
Having performed the feat of squeezing out my entire being twice in one day, my body has been in a very poor state since then.
If I use Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace again this time, it will shave off at least 200 years off my lifespan.
But.
'That's nothing.'
After all, once you reach the Nascent Soul stage, time is in abundance.
So, there's no need to hesitate any longer!
Tstssts!
I gather every droplet of strength in my entire body.
Kim Yeon manipulates the Integration stage puppets to support Azure Tiger Saint, and Oh Hyun-seok is also gathering power, squeezing out his strength for Azure Wing Heavenly Shatter
The remnants of the Human Race from within the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress also came out, each preparing spells to support Azure Tiger Saint.
"Master!"
Oh Hyun-seok shouts loudly as he charges forward.
Charararak!
Seven pairs of wings extend from his back.
They are wings surely made at the cost of his lifespan.
Just when numerous individuals prepare to assist Azure Tiger Saint with their abilities,
At that moment,
Azure Tiger Saint, who was blocking the storm, suddenly glances back.
The instant I see Azure Tiger Saint's eyes, I realize his intentions and shout.
"Master! Don't."
Kugugugugu!
Azure Tiger Saint throws a punch towards us.
"...!"
As his fist moves, the armor he is wearing,
The Blue Sky Armor, which had been dyed purple along with his technique, is stripped away and flies towards us.
And perhaps due to the Blue Sky Armor's function,
We can feel the space itself being pushed back by the fist wind emanating from his fist, distancing us from him.
Azure Tiger Saint's voice softly reaches us.
[The Earth Tribe Grand Alliance will soon close the dimensional gate again. Leave quickly.]
"Master!!!"
Oh Hyun-seok, with tears streaming down his face, calls out to Azure Tiger Saint, and I employ Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace with all my focus.
Paaat!
It seemed as though a flash of light moved forward.
However, my Nascent Soul failed to reach Azure Tiger Saint.
Due to being pushed away from him, the distance my Nascent Soul had to travel became larger.
My Nascent Soul just barely fails to reach Azure Tiger Saint and is about to return to me!
But, I keep my mouth shut and use a different technique.
The moment my Nascent Soul wielded by the Sea of Righteousness and Mountain of Grace gets closest to Azure Tiger Saint,
I use the mystical technique given to me by Gyeon Shin.
The spell of the Mysterious Bizarre Gu!
Whizz!
From my Nascent Soul, a fragment of my soul falls off and permeates into the body of Azure Tiger Saint.
A spell originally created to counter the mental interference of the Blood Yin Realm Heavenly Fiends.
Through Mysterious Bizarre Gu, I crawl into Azure Tiger Saints soul.
I then support his soul, resisting together against the mental interference of the Esteemed One that is eroding his mind.
'Are you Seo Eun-hyun?'
Noticing the presence of my soul, Azure Tiger Saint asks.
I imbue strength into Azure Tiger Saint's consciousness and reply.
'Come to this side now! If Master moves now, we can barely cross over to the Bright Cold Realm together!'
I share my partial soul and vision with Azure Tiger Saint from above the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, persuading him.
Gradually behind us, the dimensional gate of the Bright Cold Realm that Azure Tiger Saint broke through becomes visible.
We are being pushed towards the dimensional gate by the fist wind and the power of the Blue Sky Armor.
The dimensional gate is still closing in real-time.
'If you come quickly now, we can time it so that just Master and not that monster can cross over! Hurry!
'...Eun-hyun-ah.'
Azure Tiger Saint softly responds to my words.
'Do you know what I promised in exchange for the Earth Tribe Grand Alliance to open the dimensional gate for a moment?'
'Yes?'
I promised to halt the advance of the Star Shattering stage Esteemed One with my life. If an Esteemed One of the Blood Yin Realm, even just a clone, are to set foot in the Bright Cold Realm, it will immediately resonate the dimensional coordinates between the Bright Cold Realm and the Blood Yin Realm, providing a foothold for the Esteemed Ones of the Blood Yin Realm to cross into the Bright Cold Realm.
Azure Tiger Saint smiles bitterly, consoling me.
This is fine. If it means I can save my disciples, my juniors, I am satisfied with this.
I bite my lip tightly.
Tstssts!
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress finally crosses the dimensional gate into the Bright Cold realm.
Why, why do you, instead of yourself, choose to act for your disciples, your juniors? The cultivators I know are selfish, caring only about themselves! You too! Isnt it okay to live like that?
'....'
After a moment of silence, Azure Tiger Saint smiles at my divided soul.
'Eun-hyun-ah, please convey my last words to Hyun-seok.'
Crack, craduduk!
Gradually, red rays break through Azure Tiger Saint's mental barrier.
I try to block them by sacrificing my soul, but the power of a Star Shattering stage Esteemed One is impossible to stop with just my partial soul.
Crack
I silently heard the Azure Tiger Saint's last will, his final teaching.
Woooong!
Azure Tiger Saint's body begins to overheat.
After finishing his last words, he speaks to my splitting partial soul.
'...Thank you. If it werent for you, I might have already been consumed by the Esteemed One's mind and possibly gone to kill Hyun-seok with my own hands.'
'...Master.'
'Once again, please convey my words to Hyun-seok. You too, keep my words in your heart and live by them. Yes...'
He smiles faintly.
'All this time, as a master, I have learned a lot from you. Thank you, my disciples.'
Flash!
The next moment.
My partial soul is completely torn apart, and red light floods into Azure Tiger Saint's mind.
As I fade away from within Azure Tiger Saint, I witness him gathering all his energy to self-destruct with all his might.
Flash!
Me, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, and the countless members of the Human Race within the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
We see a great star shining from beyond the Devil Realm.
Like fireworks, like flames.
What is certain is that it is a star shining in the darkness.
"Ah, ah Ahhhhh!"
Oh Hyun-seok stares at the star with a lost expression.
Finally, we cross the dimensional gate and arrive back in the Bright Cold Realm.
Surrounding us, an immense energy surge.
The Grand Cultivators of the Integration stage!
Seven Human Race Grand Cultivators surround us.
'No, it's not.'
They are projections.
A kind of avatar they sent by projecting their images into the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
These avatars each form a seal, stretching their hands towards the dimensional gate we came from.
"Close the gate!"
Kugugugugu!
The dimensional gate begins to close.
Upon seeing this, Oh Hyun-seok screams out in despair.
Wait! Just a moment! Please wait! My master, my master is still there!
He shouts as if he lost his mind, reaching out towards Azure Tiger Saint.
"Quiet! Stay still. Azure Tiger Saint swore to sacrifice his own life to save you! Are you going to waste your Master's death?"
One of the Integration stage Grand Cultivators sternly shouts at Oh Hyun-seok.
But Oh Hyun-seok, half-mad, gathers his energy.
"Wait! What are you doing!"
The Eighth Wing spreads from his back.
The power of a Four-Axis stage at its peak emanates from him.
Oh Hyun-seok too is willing to shave off his lifespan to save Azure Tiger Saint.
"Move! I'm going to save Master!"
Flash!
A dazzling blue light ripples, tearing open the dimensional gate the Grand Cultivators are trying to close.
As a result, the closing of the dimensional gate slows down.
And in that brief gap.
Kwaang!
Something pushes its hand into the Bright Cold Realm.
Damn it, you cursed creature!
Damn, its the Esteemed One's blood corpse!
Its a hand familiar to us.
The 'hand' thrust into the gap of the dimensional gate gradually moves to pry open the gap in the dimension.
At the same time, from beyond the dimensional gap, a voice identical to the owner of the 'hand' is heard.
"Eunhyun, ah. Hyun, seokah. Open, it. Behind, it, is chasing, me."
"Master!?"
Oh Hyun-seok is shocked as he looks at the 'hand'.
And then, me and the Grand Cultivators simultaneously shouts.
"Hyung-nim, no!"
"Stop! Stop it, that's not Azure Tiger Saint!"
Crunch....
I grit my teeth.
Recalling the moment when Yuan Li morphed his face with Hyang-hwas to beg for his life, the indignation of that insulting anger flared up in my mind once again.
Azure Tiger Saint died.
He perished gloriously.
But that damned Star Shattering stage Esteemed One, and that Black Dragon King!
Just like Yuan Li, they are desecrating the soul of the dead!
"Hyun, seok, ah! It hurts! Ah, ahh! If, you, help can live."
"Master? Is it really you, Master?"
Crack!
I struggle to my feet, speaking to Kim Yeon.
"Yeon-ah, please suppress Hyun-seok Hyung."
"...Yes."
Kim Yeon, too, seems to be in pain, biting her lips tightly as she moves the puppets to suppress Oh Hyun-seok.
Chirak, chirarak!
Simultaneously, the projections of the Integration stage Grand Cultivators also use their spells to bind Oh Hyun-seok tightly.
"No! Let go! Let me go! Seo Eun-hyun! What are you doing, Master is right there! Master is!"
"..."
'That's how it was.'
In my past life.
I realize why Oh Hyun-seok fell into madness.
Azure Tiger Saint probably also entered the True Devil Realm to save Oh Hyun-seok back then, and had self-destructed to allow Oh Hyun-seok to escape.
However, Azure Tiger Saint from my past life wasn't protected by my Mysterious Bizarre Gu, and might have been completely taken over by the Esteemed One even before self-destructing.
Now, only an arm is being used by the Esteemed One, but in the past life, perhaps his entire body was taken over and used for such purposes.
The Integration stage Grand Cultivators would have unhesitatingly killed Azure Tiger Saint transform