A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 311: Have You Been Well (1)

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Chapter 311: Have You Been Well (1)

Hwiiiiiii―

A barren desert.

A place filled with not golden sand, but strangely unpleasant gray sand.

This is the Dead Earth Domain (死土域), one of the regions within the Chaos Realm (亂界).

A group of faint lights appear there.

They all wear black robes embroidered with golden thread, depicting an ascending Flood Dragon.

The leader, a youth at the Heavenly Being stage, looks around with a faint smile.

"Let's see...Cultivator Seo asked to meet here..."

At that moment, his gaze fixates on a point.

"Ah, there you are. Haha, have you been well, Cultivator Seo? You've...changed in quite the remarkable way."

Rustle―

Hyeon Gwi's gaze lands on the gray desert.

From beneath the sand, a Ghost King with eighteen heads emerges, shaking off the sand.

[Have you been well, Cultivator Hyeon?]

It's Seo Li.

I take a deep breath and revert my Ghost King Transformation back to human form.

Hyeon Gwi watches this transformation with keen interest.

"Impressive. Were you perhaps hiding your true strength the last time we met...? Well, that curse wasn't something a mere Nascent Soul stage cultivator could handle...but to think you were a Four-Axis stage senior."

He bows respectfully, assuming me as a 'senior'.

"No need for such formalities. After all, I'm merely at the mid Four-Axis stage. And..."

I glance at the three men in black robes standing behind Hyeon Gwi and smile.

"The ones behind you seem quite formidable as well. Leading such individuals makes you even more impressive, Cultivator Hyeon."

Behind Hyeon Gwi stands three cultivators, appearing to be at the Grand Perfection of Heavenly Being.

But I don't underestimate them just because they are at the Heavenly Being stage.

'The Four Symbols Nascent Soul of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect...'

I know very well the prowess of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivators from the Human-Devil War.

The sect's cultivators can use the blood of Hyeon Eum within them to wield the power of the immortal beast bloodline and are masters of techniques that draw external power through the Four Symbols Nascent Soul method.

'Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect cultivators always borrow power from the outside with that Four Symbols Nascent Soul, allowing them to leap beyond their stage.'

The three behind him aren't just at the Grand Perfection Heavenly Being stage; they are practically at the early Four-Axis stage.

Moreover, the seven Nascent Soul cultivators who follow Hyeon Gwi showed no signs of fear or tension even after seeing me.

While they paid their respects to me as a Four-Axis stage cultivator, their intents didn't convey any true respect or fear.

'Eleven members of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect, including Hyeon Gwi...these guys are hiding a lot.'

I remain vigilant while exchanging greetings with Hyeon Gwi, ready to distance myself from their range at any moment.

"By the way, what were you doing in the sand, Cultivator Seo?"

"Ah, this Dead Earth Domain is suitable for practicing my method."

The Dead Earth Domain, composed of gray sand, is a perfect place to practice Great Desert to Dead Sea.

While Great Desert to Dead Sea is a spell that turns the surroundings into a desert, it also trains the power of death.

The Dead Earth Domain, saturated with death, is the perfect place to hone the Great Desert to Dead Sea.

"Ho, I see. As expected of a Four-Axis senior. To seek the path of cultivation even in such a place is admirable. It reassures me greatly."

"Haha, there's no need for such praise."

Laughing together, we take off and fly to the western part of the Dead Earth Domain.

"Hmm, as expected, the celestial energy in the Chaos Realm is chaotic."

I stop using the Flying Escape Technique and start manipulating attraction force instead.

"I intend to use the ground-shrinking technique from now on. How about you and your sect members, Cultivator Hyeon? Will you join me?"

At my question, they exchange glances and nod.

Hyeon Gwi conveys their decision with a smile.

"We would be most grateful. Thank you."

I use attraction force to bind Hyeon Gwi and his sect members, then activate the Wealth Virtue I had built.

Wo-woong!

A powerful attraction force emerges from the axis, and space begins to fold.

I take a step.

Paaaatt!

Each step I take with the ground-shrinking technique covers 500 li.

Our destination is the far western edge of the Dead Earth Domain.

The celestial energy becomes more chaotic as we move further from the Stable Realm.

'In the Chaos Realm, those below the Heavenly Being stage will find their combat power greatly limited.'

The Bright Cold Realm is divided into the Chaos Realm (亂界) and the Stable Realm (安界).

The Stable Realm refers to the land where celestial energy is stable and normal living beings can thrive.

In contrast, the Chaos Realm has celestial energy so twisted it makes it hard for normal living beings to live, and the laws are so twisted it resembles a fiendish place.

Generally, the term 'Bright Cold Realm' refers to the Stable Realm, which is vast beyond measure.

Yet even that is like a speck compared to the Chaos Realm.

'Roughly speaking, the entire Stable Realm is about the size of the solar system on Earth...no, maybe larger. In comparison...the Chaos Realm might be about the size of a galaxy.'

Regions like the Heaven-Earth Palace, the Human Race territory, and the True Dragon Alliance are all within the Stable Realm, while the rest of the regions are part of the Chaos Realm. So, it might indeed be that vast.

I compare the size of the Bright Cold Realm in my mind.

'The Heart Tribe territory is...said to be quite far even within the Chaos Realm. I wonder how they manage to live in such a place.'

It's said the further one moves from the Stable Realm into the Chaos Realm, the more the laws distort, making it nearly impossible for life to exist.

As I ponder the structure of the Bright Cold Realm, I suddenly have a question and ask Hyeon Gwi.

"Come to think of it, Cultivator Hyeon, have you never had such thoughts?"

"What thoughts do you mean?"

"They say there is only one Stable Realm within the immense Chaos Realm, and most people don't even think about exploring the Chaos Realm. But couldn't there be other Stable Realms within the Chaos Realm? Why doesn't anyone consider exploring it?"

At my words, Hyeon Gwi puts on a serious expression.

"Hmm, now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case."

'Hmm?'

I realize that Hyeon Gwi is pretending to be serious outwardly but is actually mocking me inwardly.

'Is this common knowledge?'

"Come to think of it, other Middle Realms also only have one Stable Realm. And the information that 'there is only one Stable Realm' comes from the Star Shattering Esteemed Ones and the Sacred Vessel Sacred Masters. Perhaps these great figures are hiding some secret."

"Hmm..."

'This guy...'

He's running his mouth as if revealing a great secret to me, yet his intent showing that he's belittling and mocking me grows stronger.

I glance at the other members of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect.

'Those guys aren't like that...'

Perhaps there's something only Hyeon Gwi knows.

I remain cautious of Hyeon Gwi as we move towards our destination.

About 15 minutes later.

We arrive at the edge of the Dead Earth Domain using the ground-shrinking technique.

"This place is..."

"Yes, it's the entrance to Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll. Ah, and there are guests already here."

The entrance we arrive at is a large basin.

'This place...'

I look around the basin, trying to discern its true nature.

'Judging by the remaining water energy, there must have been a celestial pond here before.'

However, there are no visible spatial rifts or alternate dimensions in sight.

I send a question through telepathy to Hyeon Eum.

[Is there really an entrance to the storage scroll here?]

[Haha, there are indeed definitely more people who don't know than those who do. But at night, this celestial pond fills with water. And in three days, during the Black Night (暗夜) of the New Moon (朔月) that happens once in thousands of years, when all stars lose their light, Lofty Dragon True Person's legacy will reveal itself. There's no need to be impatient.]

I nod and descend to the ground.

Looking around, I see several Heavenly Being cultivators who had arrived earlier and secured their spots.

About fifty cultivators have arrived before us, most of whom are from the Demon Race, with only about ten being from the Heaven Tribe.

Among them are the lizardmen of the Leaf Race, whose territory borders closely with the Human Race, the Spirit Scale Race, with green scales on their skin, excelling in clairvoyance and concealment arts, and the Cold Spirit Race, which had recently been destroyed by the Mad Lord.

'Leaf Race, Cold Spirit Race, Spirit Scale Race...'

The Leaf Race are Heaven Tribe members who live watching the reaction of the Human Race, and the Cold Spirit Race had once been friendly with the Human Race. However, the Spirit Scale Race has a history of enmity with the Human Race after losing a war against them.

As I glance at them, they all seem startled and gradually move away from me.

"Damn, those greedy Human Race bastards. Bringing a Four-Axis stage old monster..."

"As expected of the vicious Human Race. The ghostly energy emanating from the old monster is terrifying."

"It's an evil Human Race devilish cultivator. How many countless living beings must they have devoured to reach that level."

"..."

They murmur among themselves, and move further away from me in clear fear.

'...Well, that's the typical impression of the Human Race. No need to explain myself.'

I sigh lightly and sit down cross-legged, starting to cultivate via Great Desert to Dead Sea.

Kuaduk Kuaduduk!

Transforming back into an 18-headed Ghost King, I refine my ghostly energy with the abundant death energy of the Dead Earth Domain.

Seeing my Ghost King Transformation, the other races tremble in even greater terror.

"That crazy Human Race Four-Axis old monster...he has eighteen heads mounted on his shoulders."

"What a vile creature. Let's avoid that old monster at all costs."

"Those Human Race bastards are known for eating other races, and now they keep the heads of other cultivators as trophies...?"

"Shh, be quiet. Don't make eye contact...!"

The Heaven Tribe shuts their mouths in fear, and the Demon Race, thinking I can't understand their language, frantically express their fear of me openly.

I consider explaining but decide against it, thinking it won't help.

We wait at the entrance of the storage scroll for some time.

More cultivators arrive, including three at the Four-Axis stage.

Based on the information Hyeon Gwi gave me, I identify them.

Early Four-Axis cultivator of the Blood Shark Race from the Earth Tribe, Gyo Yeom.

Late Four-Axis cultivator of the Paired Wings Race from the Heaven Tribe, Baek Wi-ik.

Mid Four-Axis cultivator  of the Tall Tree Race from the Heaven Tribe, Nok Ju.

[Please be careful, senior. The Blood Shark Race and Paired Wings Race may not match the Human Race in combat power, but the Tall Tree Race...]

[I know.]

I respond to Hyeon Gwi's telepathic message with a glint in my eye.

The Tall Tree Race (丈木族).

It's the race to which Nok Gab, the wooden person always kidnapped by the Mad Lord, belonged to.

Though they seem weak due to their history of being kidnapped, it's actually because the Mad Lord is an outlier. They are indeed a strong race.

If the Earth Tribe has thirteen major races, the Heaven Tribe has six major races, which are:

Tall Tree Race (丈木族).

Paired Wings Race (比翼族).

Human Race (人間族).

Fighting Ghost Race (鬪鬼族).

Rotting Owl Race (腐鵂族).

Fungal Bone Race (菌骸族).

These races are divided into three categories: Two Heads (二頭), Two Difficulties (二難), and Two Evils (二惡).

Two Heads refer to the Tall Tree Race and Paired Wings Race, known for their excellent judgment and symbolism, leading and uniting the Heaven Tribe.

Two Difficulties refer to the Rotting Owl Race and Fungal Bone Race, known for their unique lifestyles and being the most challenging to deal with among the six races.

Two Evils refer to the most ferocious and terrifying among the six races, the Fighting Ghost Race and Human Race.

In particular, the Fighting Ghost Race and the Human Race are so ferocious, cruel, and exceptionally skilled in combat that some even refer to the two combined as the Asura Race (修羅族).

Among them, the Tall Tree Race has a high reputation in the Bright Cold Realm for being the race that produced Scared Master Baek Woon of the Sacred Vessel stage. They have high pride due to producing a Sacred Master and that symbolism makes them the Heaven Tribe’s center, one of the Two Heads.

However, rumors suggest that Sacred Master Baek Woon cares little for her race, punishing them severely if they dare intrude on her Heavenly Lotus Mountain under the pretense of worshiping her.

'Still, the Tall Tree Race has been a central force of the Heaven Tribe since the beginning of the Bright Cold Realm. If they team up with the Paired Wings Race, it will be troublesome.'

I remain vigilant against the cultivators of the Paired Wings Race and Tall Tree Race.

At the same time, I continue to cultivate through Great Desert to Dead Sea while my eighteen pairs of eyes blaze with ghost fire, always ready to activate attraction force at a moment's notice.

Finally, the time arrives.

[Is it today...?]

I expel ghost fire from my eyes and gaze at the sky.

It's the day of the Black Night, occurring only once in several thousand years, when the stars of the Bright Cold Realm lose their light for a brief period.

And coinciding with it, the New Moon.

As the sun sets, the sky gradually darkens.

Simultaneously, as night falls, water begins to fill the basin.

I watch the slow but gradually increasing at a surprisingly fast pace water level of the celestial pond with my illuminating ghost fire.

[It's almost time...]

I glance around to keep an eye on the other Four-Axis cultivators from the other races.

Strangely, unlike when they first arrived, they have moved far away from me, glancing at me nervously while sweating.

'Hmm, what's up with them?'

I tilt my eighteen heads, expelling ghost fire from my eyes.

In front of the entrance to the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person.

There, the most noticeable figure is Seo Li, who is exuding blue ghost fire from his entire body as he absorbs the yin energy of the New Moon.

His terrifying appearance, rumored to have the heads of seventeen fellow cultivators mounted on his shoulders, his powerful ghostly energy, and his unique aura built on the Orthodox Axis Foundation.

Though Seo Li is unaware, every race present considers him the top priority for caution.

Nok Ju, the Four-Axis cultivator of the Tall Tree Race, is already exchanging telepathic messages with Baek Wi-ik, the Four-Axis cultivator of the Paired Wings Race

[Cultivator Baek, once we enter the storage scroll, we must join forces. The Human Race, along with the Fighting Ghost Race, is notorious for their savage and powerful techniques. We don't know what kind of devilish arts that grotesque Human Race old monster will show.]

[I agree, Cultivator Nok. If that greedy Human Race old monster ambushes us, we must counterattack together!]

The two Heaven Tribe Four-Axis cultivators form an alliance, and Gyo Yeom, the Four-Axis cultivator of the Blood Shark Race, sends a telepathic message to all the gathered Demon Race cultivators. 

[Who knows what the treacherous Heaven Tribe might do. Especially that monstrous Human Race old monster, rumored to carry the heads of his kin on his shoulders. If we encounter him in the storage scroll, do not approach him alone. Contact me immediately. It seems he has mastered some sinister Ghost Path Method. If caught, you could lose more than your Demon Core being extracted and turned into an elixir; even your soul might be enslaved! We must unite against these fearsome Heaven Tribe old monsters to survive!]

Around Gyo Yeom, the Demon Race Heavenly Being stage cultivators gather tightly.

Suddenly, four factions emerge around the celestial pond.

The Human Race faction consisting of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect centered on the old monster Seo Li, who has mastered devilish arts.

The Tall Tree Race and Paired Wings Race faction, with the mid and late Four-Axis stage cultivators.

The Demon Race Faction centered on the early Four-Axis stage Blood Shark Race cultivator, Gyo Yeom.

And a few scattered Heaven Tribe members who didn't belong to any faction.

They all watch the rising water and Seo Li with tension-filled eyes, waiting for the time to come.

And the moment finally arrives.

Rippling―

The celestial pond's water fills the basin completely.

Above the celestial pond, a Black Night devoid of any stars is reflected on the clear water.

"It's coming. Once we enter the storage scroll, we'll be scattered by spatial storms. I'll take measures to bind us together."

Hyeon Gwi from the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect takes out a talisman and recite an incantation.

From his talisman, white ropes emerge, binding the members of the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect and Seo Li.

The white ropes that briefly bind them soon glows brightly and disappears.

The other factions also begin to prepare for the entry into the storage scroll.

After a while, a faint moon slowly rises in the black sky reflected on the surface of the celestial pond.

Seo Li looks up at the sky as if in wonder and then back down at the celestial pond.

A mysterious moon that appears only on the water's surface.

After a while, a faintly glowing ancient palace is drawn on the moon's surface.

The door of the ancient palace on the moon then slowly opens.

Creak―

"It's now! Let's go!"

With Hyeon Gwi's lead, the gathered cultivators all simultaneously jump into the