A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 31: Life (6)
My intent clashed with that of my disciples.
For a while, we glared at each other, exchanging volleys of intent.
In that silence, Man-ho took a step forward.
"...Master, are you going to break your promise with us?"
"Promise...?"
"Yes. You clearly promised that once we destroyed all of Makli Clan's territories, we would strike together at the Imperial Palace. You told us to survive for that. But... Why are you changing your words now? Telling us to go back?"
Other disciples, besides Man-ho, also emitted fierce intent as they joined in.
"That's right. Why do you make a promise with us and then prevent us from fulfilling it?"
"We are trying to survive to keep our promise!"
"We all thought it didn't matter if we died and endured hell-like training.
So why...!"
I examined the children's intents.
They were of an indescribable color.
But, generally, their colors were casting a dark blue light.
Sorrow.
My disciples were all crying together.
'You too, are grieving.'
Over the deaths of comrades, of friends...
'I'm sorry.'
I'm so sorry and ashamed as a master.
As a master, I let my disciple die.
'My heart aches with regret.'
But that's why I couldn't back down anymore.
"I will... keep my promise. The day you can truly defeat me, I'll join you to strike at the Imperial Palace."
As soon as I finished speaking, Kae-hwa lunged at me with a dagger.
"Surround him!"
With that, Man-ho shouted in a booming voice, and the disciples quickly formed the Transcending Cultivation Formation around me.
A formation created to counter cultivators.
Peak experts in the martial world cannot properly sense the intent of cultivators from inside their domain.
Conversely, cultivators can easily see through the movements of peak experts,
A formation created to mitigate the extreme disparity between martial artists and cultivators.
'Even if a cultivator can observe actions within and even if we can't predict the cultivator's movements...'
The Transcending Cultivation Formation is capable of completely grinding down anyone trapped within.
'Basically, since the Transcending Cultivation Formation is infused with the insights of the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, the flow of the formation itself disrupts the flow of consciousness.'
Even if I execute the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts and escape their perception, it's not easy to escape from the formation.
The Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts is essentially about cutting off the opponent's consciousness and escaping from their perception.
It's not a technique for sudden spatial movement.
It is a formation designed to counter cultivators, regardless of whether the opponent's actions can be predicted or not.
Whether or not the opponent escapes perception, anyone trapped in the formation will be shredded.
That's the Transcending Cultivation Formation!
Despite the loss of 34 members, the disciples linked their intents well, filling the gaps and pressuring me.
Whoosh!
The disciples surrounding me in a circle started to close in, rotating around me.
Multiple human barriers surround me, rotating in different directions to tighten the formation.
Within this formation, numerous flows of intent intertwined.
'The proficiency of the Transcending Cultivation Formation among the disciples has significantly increased.'
The movement of the disciples themselves disrupts the direction of intent, making it difficult to discern whose intent belongs to whom.
With the strange optical illusions caused by the formation, I couldn't read their movements.
"...But this is not enough."
It's certainly a formation that can counter cultivators.
Even a martial artist of the Three Flowers Gather at the Summit would be shredded by this formation.
However, I am nearing the extreme limit of Three Flowers.
I am on the verge of achieving the ultimate realm of Five Energies Converging at the Origin.
Recently, I have also understood the superior counterparts of the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts the Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts and Gazing Martial Arts and Exceeding Martial Arts Scripture.
"Are you saying with just these skills you won't listen to me? What confidence do you have?"
Whizz-
As my concentration reached its peak, I entered the world of intent, seeing thousands of colors.
Entering that spectrum of colors, I assimilated my disciples' intents with my own through the enlightenment of Three Flowers.
Record of Gazing Cultivation and Exceeding Martial Arts.
Not just cutting off consciousness and intent as in Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts, but developing the enlightenment of Three Flowers to its extreme.
A martial art that completely dives into the opponent's movements.
My sword pierces through the rapidly rotating Transcending Cultivation Formation of intents.
Although a distinctly different intent intervened, the disciples didn't feel anything unusual until my sword energy completely mingled within the formation.
If even one of them was at the level of a mature mid peak master, they would have felt something.
But their growth was hindered by the resentful spirits of their families entwined in their upper dantians.
Whoosh!
Without hesitation, I dove into the flow of the formation, swinging my Sword Gang towards it.
Boom!
Dust scattered.
The ground shook.
"Ugh...!"
"Block it!"
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Layered Mountains!
The Sword Gang split into thousands of strands, scattering in all directions.
Even when split, it was still Sword Gang.
It was a different dimension from just splitting sword energy.
Boom!
Their initial actions, designed to nullify sword energy, now scattered in all directions, annihilating the formation.
"You can't stop me. Unless you sever that obsession, release your families' resentful spirits,
And realize intent!"
Boom!
The Transcending Cultivation Formation collapsed.
"Wasn't avenging your families' against their murderers your goal!
If you want to become stronger, first sever your attachments!"
Flash!
I executed the Mountain and Valley Transformation to shake the terrain, completely breaking the formation, and scattered paralysis powder.
The disciples, having used up all their poison and antidote during the territory raids, could not resist my paralysis powder and all fell.
The disciple who used the Langya Staff, named Gyu-san, looked at me and said,
"...How can I sever this. How can I... sever the voices of my family...!"
"......"
"You don't understand us!"
I couldn't respond.
All I could do was forcibly drag my fallen disciples away.
That was all I could do.
"I am a poor master, I am sorry... Let's go. I'll help you become stronger. More..."
"Where do you think you're going? I waited for you to finish making graves for mortals, but suddenly you're fighting amongst yourselves... This is why I despise martial artists."
The overseer of the assassination squad, the old man, clicked his tongue and interrupted me, descending on a flying artifact.
"From what I hear, you're talking nonsense. What right do you have to take away the assassination squad?
I acknowledge you're a good martial arts instructor, but I can't allow the detachment of the squad in this situation."
"...What use will my weak disciples, who haven't even reached Three Flowers, be in the upcoming battles? From now on, those who haven't reached Three Flowers will be useless... Quality will become more important than quantity."
"They're not useless just because they're not important."
"The Makli Clan has started preparing. Most of the cultivators in the remaining territories are in the mid to late stages of Qi Refining. My disciples are no longer useful against them."
"So you admit that you've been insufficient in your training."
"That's right. Since I've been insufficient, I'll take the blame and retrain my disciples to be useful. Please allow me this."
Squirm
Veins bulged slightly on the forehead of the old man.
He raised his spirtual energy with an annoyed expression.
I hastily retreated out of his range, ready to draw my sword at any moment.
"Constantly talking nonsense and trying to detach the squad. Are you in your right mind? The secret battle between the Jin and Makli is justified due to the high proportion of mortals.
If a large number of mortals suddenly detach in such a situation, it only gives the Makli Clan's upper class a reason to intervene."
"Even if my inadequate disciples leave, the forces brought by Sir Kim..."
"Enough with this nonsense. For disobedience..."
Vroom-
Spiritual energy gathered in the old man's hand.
That's when it happened.
Crack!
A strong hand silently grabbed the old man's arm.
It was Kim Young-hoon.
"When did you enter my consciousness..."
"Hmm, look here, Sir Jin."
Kim Young-hoon tightened his grip on the old man's arm, smiling.
The old man's arm lost blood circulation, turning pale as his energy scattered.
"Seo, my brother, is from my hometown. The crimes of a fellow townsman are my crimes too, so please punish me as well."
"Eeek..."
The overseer old man strained to escape from Kim Young-hoon's grip, and his other hand seemed to cast some spell.
However, the flow of energy around Kim Young-hoon sliced and erased all the old man's spells.
After a while of struggling, the overseer old man, with a flushed face, shouted.
"Fine, fine. I'll overlook the disobedience. Just let go of my arm!"
"Hmm."
Only then did Kim Young-hoon release the old man's arm, and the old man, sweating, began to restore energy to his arm.
"...I may overlook it, but the clan elders won't let you just leave. What I said isn't just my personal opinion. These kids are more than just a force; they're a justification! Whether they're effective or not, they must be deployed in battle!"
"Then, I have a request," I said, looking at my disciples.
"My disciples have forcibly awakened their talents and reached the Pinnacle Realm. Somehow, I have managed to stabilize them there with my training. Yet, to transcend beyond this point, they need to realize intent and reach the realm of Qi Silk. Howevr, as long as the resentful spirits of their relatives linger in their upper dantians, they cannot progress further."
"So?"
"I know you're the one who bestowed the resentful spirits on them. Please help their spirits ascend. At this point, it's just a limitation for my disciples."
"Hmm, you want to detach the spirits?" the overseer old man, who was scanning my disciples' upper dantians, clicked his tongue and spoke.
"Sorry, but it can't be done. Even if I try to undo the spell, it won't work unless these kids want to let go of their families. There are only two ways to undo it now: Either a Core Formation elder forcibly removes the spirits, or the disciples themselves let them go."
"......"
"Ah, now that I think about it, there's another way. If these kids die, the spell will be undone automatically. You knew all this, didn't you?"
The old man looked at me with half-closed eyes and asked.
'Did I know?'
I smiled bitterly and nodded.
Yes, it was a question grasping at pointless hope.
Slowly, as the paralysis began to wear off, my disciples started speaking.
"Who, just who... thinks they can separate me from my family..."
"It can't be done..."
"Inadequate skills can be improved by accumulating more battle experience!"
Without exception.
None of them wanted to let go of their families.
Nobody.
The overseer old man, looking at my disciples, turned to me with a mocking tone.
"Ha, the so-called master doesn't even know who he's teaching. Do these kids seem alive to you? All of these kids have already resigned to death! Your disciples are alive but not living!
They are the dead, obsessed with revenge!
Ha, fine. I'll help a little."
Whoosh!
As the old man formed a spell, a green light burst from his grasp and seeped into the minds of the remaining disciples.
"It's the spirit ascension spell. If your disciples succeed in letting go of their attachments to their families and undo the spell, their families spirits will naturally ascend. Yes, 'if' your disciples let go of their attachments!"
"......"
"Heh, not even knowing who you're teaching and giving such ridiculous orders. Both the clan elders and your disciples themselves don't want to withdraw from the upcoming battles!
Stop clinging to pointless delusions and lead the troops properly."
After finishing, the overseer old man gave Kim Young-hoon a brief glare, muttered something about 'mortal origins,' and flew away on his flying artifact.
I clenched my teeth and looked up at the sky.
There was nothing I could do.
"...Kim Hyung, I wonder if relying on the power of the Jin Clan... was the right thing to do. I have so many doubts."
"Me too."
"What should we do..."
"......"
"What should I do..."
He sighed softly.
"There's no choice. The Jin Clan may not be good, but the cultivators of Makli are worst! We have to choose such an option..."
I clenched my teeth, fed my fallen disciples the antidote, and helped them up.
Then, we had no choice but to gather and head to the next battlefield.
It was what everyone wanted, except me.
Half a year passed.
Today, another fierce battle ended, and I roamed the territories of the Makli Can, collecting the bodies of the victims and my disciples.
"Recently, it seems your hair has been turning white more and more."
"......"
"Are you okay?"
Kim Young-hoon, who was helping me collect the bodies, looked at me with a pitiful expression and asked.
Lately, I have been aging rapidly.
Until now, I hadn't aged much due to consuming many health-related medicine.
However, my hair has been turning white at an alarming rate.
"...I'm fine."
"...Don't overdo it."
Kim Young-hoon looked at me with pitying eyes and then went off to collect other bodies.
Among the ruins of the destroyed Makli territory, I found the body of my disciple, Gise-gu.
His poison blade, a large sword always well-maintained, reflected my face cleanly even after his death.
My eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles underneath.
My lips were dry, and my hair was a mess of white and gray.
Once again, I pulled the body of a dead disciple from the debris.
Because of my weakness, I couldn't save my disciple today.
"Why!!!!!"
I screamed towards the sky.
"Why is this happening to me! Why!!!"
I screamed until my throat was soar.
"Why did I receive such talent! Why must I still remain in the state of Three Flowers!
Why! Why! Why can't I still enter Five Energies!
Why am I..."
I roared, gripping the earth.
The imprint of my hand was embedded in the ground.
"Why... am I powerless to do anything..."
I knew.
It wasn't the fault of the heavens.
It was all my fault.
If only I had tried a little harder.
If I had trained even a bit more desperately.
Even if it meant my brain might explode, if I had aspired for a higher realm.
Yes, if I had been just a little stronger, it would have been resolved.
"Please... give me talent... please... give me strength..."
I gritted my teeth and howled.
"Why am I still... after doing this much... so powerless..."
I regretted it.
Why did I stupidly put my disciples in such a place? I should have opposed even at the risk of my life.
No, why did I teach these kids? Even if I had to be chased away, I shouldn't have taken them in.
No... why did I even come to this place and form a bond? Yes, I shouldn't have joined the Jin Clan to stop the evil deeds of the Makli Clan.
The disciples I taught out of guilt had become a part of my life.
Every time these children died, it felt like my flesh was being carved away.
"...The bodies have been collected, Master."
"...Any survivors?"
Man-ho, with tearful eyes in front of Gise-gu's body, came to me, clenching his teeth to report.
"314... are left."
"Alright... Let's go."
I staggered, carrying the body of my disciple, and headed to the burial site.
I buried my disciples in a sunny place and recited the rites led by Kim Young-hoon.
The ritual of soul consolation, mastered by Kim Young-hoon, seeped in, and the spirits of the victims ascended.
Kim Young-hoon also recited the rites for my disciples' bodies.
From the graves of the mortals he recited for, small light orbs rose and scattered into the air.
We silently watched the scene.
Then it happened.
"Ha, haha! Finally, the permission has been granted!"
One of the Qi Building cultivators from the Jin Clan, who had been fighting with us, exclaimed with a face full of joy.
In his hand was a piece of communication paper.
"Everyone, gather! The conversation between the elders of our main house and the upper ranks of Makli is over!"
He exclaimed with a joyful expression, looking around us.
"The negotiation is over. They say if the Jin Clan accepts only the participation of mortals and Qi Refining cultivators, they will allow a challenge to replace the Yanguo Imperial Family!"
"Ooooh! Finally, the elders have succeeded in the negotiation."
"Indeed, the elders are commendable."
The eyes of the Jin Clan cultivators shone with excitement, and so did the eyes of my disciples and the martial artists under Kim Young-hoon's command.
However, Kim Young-hoon and I each wore a bitter smile.
'Negotiation.'
The hundreds of lives that had been lost were merely tools for negotiation in the upper echelons of the cultivator clans.
Kim Young-hoon seemed to feel the same way.
As he was scoffing, he questioned the Qi Building Cultivator.
"So... you're saying that by 'allowing a challenge, we can challenge the Yanguo Imperial Family, a branch family of the Makli Clan?"
"That's right. Originally, if we attacked the Imper