A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 184: The Tribe of the Earth (4)

"It's dark."

Seo Hweol and I arrived at the lowest level of Serving Command Ark, a place so cold and dark it chills to the bone.

'This is the last of the seven floors of Serving Command Ark.'

Similar to Serving Command Palace, Serving Command Ark itself also comprises a total of seven floors.

The topmost 7th floor, the Life Floor, is where Seo Hweol conducts administrative tasks, meetings of the True Dragon Alliance take place, and where the demon race's market and social gatherings mainly occur.

The 6th floor, the Cultivation Floor, is rich in spiritual veins and spiritual energy, provided for the later-stage Earth Tribe cultivators and elders.

The 5th floor, the Harvest Floor, is the most appropriate and safest refuge for Earth Tribe members to face Heavenly Tribulation before crossing the cultivation threshold.

The 4th floor, the Death Floor, is where the corpses of deceased Earth Tribe members gather.

The 3rd floor, the Earth Floor, is the power room of Serving Command Ark and the source of spiritual energy flowing throughout the ark.

The 2nd floor, the Storage Floor, serves as a storage space below the power room, currently used as a treasure vault by the Earth Tribe.

And the lowest level of Serving Command Ark, where the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion takes place.

The 1st floor, the Emptiness Floor.

As I reached the Emptiness Floor, I felt as if all the spiritual energy in my body was freezing over.

'Is this the coldness of the Emptiness Floor?'

There is literally nothing.

No light, no heat, no air, no sound.

Even the spiritual energy is so scarce that once it leaks, it disperses into the pitch-black void.

Facing the profound darkness, not just me, but the other Earth Tribe members seem startled, showing signs of surprise.

The Nascent Soul stage Sea Dragons who followed Seo Hweol are also huddling and looking around.

Not just the Sea Dragons, but other demon beasts who arrived are in the same state.

"Is this where the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is held?"

"We're to undergo a survival test here? It won't be easy."

"Even just breathing scatters spiritual energy."

Just when they are all muttering.

Flash!

Suddenly, the darkest lowest floor is brightly illuminated.

A golden flash of light shines in all directions. 

All demon beasts who arrived at the lowest floor look up in surprise. 

There, a familiar face is present.

Its Gyu-ryeon, an elder of the True Dragon Alliance who came to fetch us before.

"It seems everyone has arrived. I am Gyu-ryeon, an elder of the True Dragon Alliance, overseeing this Immortal Beast Blood Fusion. First, if there are any Four-Axis stage cultivators from major races, stop protecting your own race and come this way."

At that command, Seo Hweol from the Sea Dragon Race and several other demon beasts from various races fly up to stand by Gyu-ryeon's side.

"Ugh..."

"Uh, uhuhu... so, so cold..."

As Seo Hweol disappears, the surrounding Sea Dragons start to shiver uncontrollably.

"Is this the cold of the Emptiness Floor now that Sir Seo Hweol stopped his protection...?"

"Harsh..."

"...?"

I am momentarily puzzled as I watch the Sea Dragons around me shivering.

'What's going on? Nothing changed.'

The temperature of the Emptiness Floor, terribly cold from the beginning, hadn't changed at all.

Yet, suddenly, the later-stage cultivators of the Sea Dragon Race started to shiver.

I realize something from this situation.

'Ah, that guy Seo Hweol. He hasn't been protecting me from the start.'

Its a really simple fact.

Wo-woong!

As the Four-Axis stage Earth Tribe members stand next to Gyu-ryeon, the light emanating from her becomes even brighter.

'This is...'

Im startled, realizing the nature of the light emanating from Gyu-ryeon.

'Life force, itself?'

In the void of Emptiness where nothing exists,

Gyu-ryeon is 'producing' the most pure and original spiritual energy, the power of life.

'That's a Four-Axis stage cultivator....'

Those who awakened the power of life.

It seems true that reaching Four-Axis grants an incomparably longer lifespan, as she illuminates the darkness with life force itself.

'No, its not just by herself.'

She is emitting an even brighter light with the help of the energy from the surrounding Four-Axis stage cultivators.

Regardless, the golden light emitted by the Four-Axis cultivators color the surroundings, dispelling the darkness and revealing the scenery around us to some extent.

We are in a desert of sand.

Across this sand desert, numerous unique demon races are densely packed.

Including the Sea Dragons, demon beasts I have never seen in my life, and even those who look like rocks, making one doubt if they are alive.

Countless demon race beasts are scattered as far as the eye can see.

'Ten thousand? Fifteen thousand? Roughly around twelve thousand I estimate.'

Moreover, the majority of them are at the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages.

I am the only one at the Qi Building stage.

Then, Gyuryeon begins to speak amidst the golden light.

"First, I express my respect to all the later-stage Earth Tribe members who have come here. All of you have bravely participated in the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, knowing well that you might lose your lives in the battle, choosing to compete for merely 100 spots. However, as a senior, I am also worried. This Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, as I say again, is an extreme survival test that takes place in the void of Emptiness. Let me say this one last time: The Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is a test accompanied by death, and those who wish to give up are advised to do so now. Is there anyone who wants to give up? Come forward now."

However, no demon beast steps forward.

Gyu-ryeon seems to nod indifferently at this, but I could read a feeling of pity in her intent.

"Good. Since there are no quitters, we will now commence the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion. The rules are simple. Just survive until the last 100 remain!"

Flash!

As she waves her hand, golden life force spreads around, etching strange patterns on the arms and legs of each demon beast.

Its a number in demon script, Thirteen Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-Two.

"The number etched on your bodies represents the number of other Immortal Beast Blood Fusion participants currently in the battle grounds. As each participant is eliminated, the number will change accordingly. You just need to endure until that number reaches one hundred. However, as you know, there is no withdrawal from the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion midway. Therefore, for your given numbers to drop below one hundred, a significant number of you must either die or become incapacitated. Now, that's roughly it for the explanation, is there anything you're curious about?"

"Excuse me, Examiner. What does 'incapacitated' mean?"

A demon beast asks Gyu-ryeon, who replies with a cold gaze but internally with a hint of pity, speaking loudly.

"Being on the verge of death, reaching a comatose state is recognized as an incapacitated state for the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, and you'll be transported to the second floor of Serving Command Ark. However, usually, if you reach such a state, expect your cultivation to drop by several levels."

"...I understand."

"Any more questions?"

"Yes. I have something I want to make sure of... If the goal of this competition is to survive until fewer than 100 Earth Tribe members remain, does that mean the main objective of the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is essentially to reduce the number of competitors quickly?"

A demon beast resembling a praying mantis asks with a murderous intent, directing the question at Gyu-ryeon.

Gyuryeon smirks.

"Well... most would think so, but it's a bit different. This Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is ultimately a competition to select those demon beasts strong enough in 'life force' to accept the true blood of Immortal Beasts and as such, 'survivability' is the main focus of the competition. You'll understand once the competition properly begins."

"Yes, well... I take it as a confirmation that it's okay to reduce the number of other competitors."

"Do as you will."

The mantis demon beast cackles, not hiding its murderous intent.

The demon beasts around it show discomfort, stepping back a few paces from it.

However, Gyu-ryeon seems to send a pitiful intent towards that demon beast.

'Whatever it is, the real Immortal Beast Blood Fusion will demand tremendous survivability.'

It isn't going to be difficult for me.

Over the past six months, not just me but also Yuan Yu regained its cultivation.

Unlike me, who had no foundation in cultivation right after returning, Yuan Yu had a foundation in Core Formation stage cultivation, so he could quickly regain his Core Formation stage cultivation.

Since I wore Yuan Yu for this Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, Im not particularly worried about my survivability.

More questions follow.

"Does the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion not end until there are fewer than 100 members left?"

"That's right. I know what you're worried about. Youre concerned that the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion will drag on for years, arent you? That won't happen. It will conclude within four months at most."

After a few more questions, Gyu-ryeon looks around the assembly and says,

"Are there no more questions? Then, let's start the real Immortal Beast Blood Fusion!"

"Yes!"

Numerous demon beasts respond loudly.

Gyu-ryeon raises her hand to the sky and slams it down.

"From this moment, the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion begins!"

Boom!

Simultaneously, the desert crumbles into pieces, starting to collapse downward.

'This is...!'

It wasn't split by mere physical force.

Observing the flow of spiritual energy between Gyu-ryeon and the desert, I realize the true identity of the desert.

Was the desert itself a manifestation of Gyu-ryeon's spell?

Rustle!

As the desert splits, a dark space below is revealed.

An absolute darkness, akin to the void, is exposed.

However, unlike the void, its impossible to read the plane and return to the current realm because this realm is not the void but a space within the realm itself.

Ssshhh!

'Gasp!'

I nearly lost consciousness momentarily due to the insane cold enveloping me.

'What on earth is this...'

Cold.

I knew the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion wouldn't be easy, but I didn't expect it to be this chilling.

Nothingness. Absolute darkness!

Perhaps this is what outer space is like.

'Life force itself is being drawn away.'

In this pitch-black void, merely existing led to your life force naturally escaping into the void and disperse.

Enduring this mind-numbing cold, I understand why Gyu-ryeon sneered at those demon beasts trying to eliminate competitors while also pitying them.

'Reduce competitors? Ridiculous.'

That's impossible.

Just being here feels like the soul itself might freeze over.

No, it's not even cold.

This is more akin to death itself.

The fourth floor is called the Death Floor, but isn't that a title more fitting for the first floor?'

Before long, the desert that had become our ground scatters into the darkness.

The light provided by Gyu-ryeon and the Four-Axis Masters also vanishes somewhere.

Without attempting to locate other demons around me, I immediately begin to circulate my spiritual power.

Woong!

My Pure Spiritual Force flows vigorously within me, reviving my dying body.

Woong Woong Woong!

A faint light emanates from my body, finally making me feel slightly alive.

'This won't do.'

But as I see even the faintest glimmer of light gradually scatter into the darkness, I clench my teeth.

'I need another way. At this rate, all life force will disperse and I'll die. A test of life force, life force...'

Tick, tick-tick, tick-tick-tick!

For the first time, my body, which had never moved uncontrollably, chatters its teeth on its own.

It isn't a matter of will. The very presence of [Death] itself caused my body to react instinctively.

I will certainly die if it continues this way.

It can't end like this. If it's a test of life force, then activating life force is the key.'

And there's nothing better than cultivation to activate life force.

'The space may be scarce in spiritual energy, but that's actually for the better.'

In such a space, Seo Hweol's gaze cannot reach me.

Meaning, I can take as much time as needed for proper cultivation.

The lack of spiritual energy isn't a problem either.

Wo-woong!

'Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.'

Tst-tst-tst!

The ethereal form of an artifact spirit appears before me.

The countless figures of artifact spirits, containing my myriad connections, transformed back into 'my' form according to my will.

And 'I' soon overlap with my figure.

Zuuuung!

A massive amount of spiritual energy stored within the artifact spirit transfers into my body.

From the moment I heard that the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion is a competition for survival, I believed I could easily make it into the last 100.

Using the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts to hide my presence and absorbing only the spiritual energy from the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections is enough to endure.

But seeing the harsh environment of emptiness, most demon races would exhaust all their life force and vitality just trying to survive in this space.

There's no need to use the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.

With the spiritual energy of Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, I can calmly cultivate and wait out the time!

Wo-woong!

I transfer the cultivation of Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method into my body, which I have been cautious about practicing fully due to Seo Hweol's suspicion.

Since Seo Hweol is acquainted with Azure Tiger Saint, practicing Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method could have been problematic if discovered, as changes in the body in the initial stages are easily noticeable.

During the six months, Seo Hweol called me out every three days to check my cultivation progress. Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, which causes significant bodily changes in the early stages, had to be approached with caution.

According to Gyu-ryeon, it seems I can buy about four months of time within this area.

With four months, I can summon the Qi and blood stored from the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method in my past life.

Qi is the Soul.

Thus, the dharma treasure attached to my soul and the cultivation stored in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections could transcend time to join me.

Qi is Life.

Extremely pure spiritual energy is, in essence, life force itself.

Therefore, cultivating the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method, which maximizes life force by condensing spiritual energy to its extreme, is also possible after regression.

Crack, creak!

A tremendous life force circulates throughout my body.

"Argh!"

The pains I experienced while cultivating the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method in my past life, compressed into a short time, strikes my mind.

"...!"

Its brain-numbingly painful.

Yet, I clench my teeth, enduring the pain and accepting the life force surging throughout my body.

The immense life force circulates through my body, elevating my qi and blood, and begins to recreate the indestructible body I had forged in my past life.

Creak, creak!

I continue my cultivation amidst the pain that feels as if my entire body is being crushed.

Although it feels like my body is shattering, that very agony drives away the cold and darkness of the empty void.

'I can endure this.'

In the lowest floor of Serving Command Ark, I smile as I continue my cultivation fueled by life force.

With this, I can endure to the end!

Wrapped in pain as if my body is being crushed, the heat generated from the pain drives the cold away.

Confident I can endure till the end of the Immortal Beast Blood Fusion, I spend my time in deep cultivation.

Before long, the number recorded on my arm rapidly decreased.

In just a few days, the number of demon beasts that had reached thirteen thousand had dropped to five thousand.

And then, I understood why Gyu-ryeon said a conclusion could be reached within four months.

'Ah, as the numbers dwindle, the darkness intensifies.'

It became colder and more desolate than before.

In the Emptiness Floor, nothingness itself seems to materialize, attempting to devour me.

I can endure it for now. But... as the numbers further decrease, the darkness will intensify.

When that happens, the life force being generated from practicing the Azure Spirit Starlight Quintessence Great Method will be surpassed by the life force escaping from my body.

Can I truly endure it?

I clench my teeth and resist against the cold, against this death, and endure.

Time passed exceedingly slowly.

For months on end, floating aimlessly in the darkness without any light or warmth.

Now... there are only 200 left.

The cold and darkness became even more intense.

It felt as though the darkness was creeping into my eyes, nose, and mouth.

It was as if darkness, not blood, flowed through my veins.

Just a bit more, just endure a bit longer.

Fortunately, I had access to vastly more resources than others through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.

Enduring wouldnt be difficult.

And finally, on the fourth month as Gyu-ryeon had mentioned.

"Huuuh..."

Just exhaling caused a burst of light to escape my mouth and scatter into the darkness.

'I'll die, enduring any longer means death.'

I truly feel death creeping up to my throat.

As the number of surviving demon beasts decreased, the darkness and cold intensified, leaving only 103 remaining.

Just three more to go.

But within this soul-chilling cold, all I want is to leave, Immortal Beast Blood Fusion be damned.

The cold is beyond what mere willpower can overcome.

Crack, crack-crack!

I ground my teeth, focusing on the number displayed on my arm.

The number, which had been 103, had now reduced to 102.

Just a little longer, and this unbearable cold will pass.

I will be able to leave.

One hundred