A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 312: Have You Been Well (2)

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Chapter 312: Have You Been Well (2)

The stone building where the Fighting Ghost Race resided.

Sitting on a bed inside, Hyeon Gwi's gaze is directed somewhere.

"Did you gain the understanding (喩意) of the pet Fighting Ghost Race?"

A gaze that somehow seems mocking.

However, there's a trace of pity in his eyes.

"It's truly pitiful to see you struggling to obtain something so obvious. It's almost sad. There's no act more meaningless than that struggle..."

Clicking his tongue, Hyeon Gwi loses interest, his gaze empty, and he lays down on the bed to close his eyes.

I stop analyzing the sword formation after a while.

'Enough, I'll study it later.'

It'll be meaningless to continue any further.

After disassembling the sword formation, I step outside the stone building.

Shortly after, the cultivators from the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect also come out.

"It seems everyone is here, so let's move to the next domain. Our Human Race was once a pet race raised in the Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll, so we should be able to find something much more suitable for us there."

[We were also pets of the Lofty Dragon True Person?]

I ask, transforming back into a Ghost King to shield myself from the surrounding heat.

Hyeon Gwi kindly explains in response to my question.

"Yes. According to the legend, during the war with the True Devil Realm, many races living in the Middle Realm entrusted themselves to the Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll. Lofty Dragon True Person accepted them, and this Water Flow Layer is the result."

[Hmm...]

'Then shouldn't it be called a protected race, not a pet race?'

Hyeon Gwi oddly keeps saying things like 'raised' and 'pet,' but based on his explanation, it seems more like the concept of an 'ark.'

It seems like they were accepted to protect the races during the war with the True Devil Realm.

'...Is it just a difference in interpretation between Hyeon Gwi and I?'

I tilt my head slightly but decide to let it pass for now.

We arrive again at another basin.

In this basin too, similar stone buildings are collapsed in the center.

According to Hyeon Gwi, this basin was more of a 'lake' in the past.

Now it's completely dried up and has become a basin, but in the past, it seems all those stone buildings were actually houses on the water.

We enter the basin and arrive at a stone building.

"This is the building where the Human Race stayed. Since we couldn't get everything the last time we came, let's search it thoroughly once more."

We scatter once more to search the stone buildings.

While searching one of the stone buildings used by the Human Race, I find a small jade slip under a bed.

[This is...]

It's rather dull and subtly enchanted with a concealing spell, making it difficult to find without the consciousness of someone at the Four-Axis stage or higher.

'Just what is inside that requires such a high-level concealing spell on it...?'

However, the jade slip contains instructions for projecting an image with Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, and following those instructions, I create an image and can't help but be stunned.

[Ah, no...]

The jade slip is a type of erotic painting.

Anyway, it seems to be a cherished item of the room's owner.

Out of respect for the owner, I decide to pulverize the jade slip.

At that moment,

Chuchuchut―

[Hm?]

As the erotic painting vanishes in front of my eyes, a new image appears.

It's the image of a small, thin man.

―First of all, thank you for destroying this jade slip. I had set it to turn to dust upon my death, but if there was an error in that setting...the thought of this jade slip being passed down to future generations, I'd die of embarrassment all over again.

[...]

The owner's message continues.

―Recently, the outside is said to be engulfed in the flames of war. Honestly, as it's a time where truly fearsome people are wielding their power, a Four-Axis leftover like me should just stay hidden and cower under the protection of the True Person. But even so, I was too bored with nothing to do. That's why I looked at what was contained in that jade slip...so I appreciate it. Anyway...it's not much of a reward for getting rid of the jade slip, but...I'll show you my daily life from when I was alive in this room. If you want, you can also look at the records I left behind.

Chuchuchut―

The image spreads across the room, transforming into an illusion that thinly covers the entire space.

I watch this illusion with shining eyes.

The daily life of the small man unfolds within the illusion.

Though he talked like he viewed a lot of erotic paintings, he didn't particularly touch any.

Instead, he mostly paced around the room with a focused expression or was busy writing something.

I watch over his back as he writes.

Given that the books he's writing would have long since weathered away, it seems better to view them through this illusion,

The title of the book he's writing is 'About Immortal Arts.'

As I watch him write, I read through 'About Immortal Arts.'

The book is precisely about the concept of 'Immortal Arts (仙術).'

―Low-level cultivators use hand seals and incantations to perform spell techniques.

―And as one's cultivation increases, the spell techniques of cultivators manifest through their intention (意) and mind (識).

― From the Heavenly Being stage and above, one's mind (識) unites with the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy itself, and the boundaries of spell techniques disappear. Instead, specialized powers are researched to create and use abilities. Innate True Methods are a result of this. 

― The supernatural abilities of the Earth Tribe are similar to spell techniques, except they utilize the potential of the physical body and a fundamental understanding of spiritual energy instead of hand seals and incantations. In that case, how do the spell techniques used by high-level cultivators differ from ours?

― I once directly witnessed a battle between the Fallen Judge and the True Person. If you ask how I survived, I didn't. I had to die and be resurrected to endure the aftermath of witnessing such a confrontation. But in return, I gained the opportunity to understand what Immortal Arts truly are, which was indeed an overwhelmingly precious chance.

'Immortal Arts?'

Although we call the path we walk the 'path of Immortal Cultivation,' the reason we call ourselves 'cultivators' instead of 'Immortal cultivators' is simple.

The term 'Immortal (仙)' is not something to be used lightly.

The end of cultivation.

The ultimate realm that all cultivators aspire to reach is the realm of immortality (仙).

Hence, any method or concept bearing the character for Immortality (仙) signifies something especially powerful or grand.

So, what do Immortal Arts, the spell techniques of True Immortals, signify?

Curious, I continue reading.

―An Immortal Art is an attraction force. It does not refer to the trivial attraction force used at the Four-Axis stage. It refers to the attraction force that truly reaches the plane of Fate used by Quasi-Immortals at the Entering Nirvana stage.

― In other words, if one can influence the plane of Fate to change fate, or twist the threads of history to lead it in a different direction, that is what is called Immortal Art.

'Hoh, if that's the case...'

I recall my Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique.

The Extinguishing Divine Tribulating Heavens Technique created by Yang Su-jin is itself a kind of Immortal Art.

And then, I'm startled.

'Wait, if influencing the plane of Fate or the course of history constitutes Immortal Arts, then...'

The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

Yeon's Play.

Isn't that also a form of Immortal Arts?

According to this book, the Mad Lord succeeded in entering the domain of Immortals (仙人) with a mortal body through dedicating his entire life.

'It's to the point that it's more believable for there to be eight Enders.'

Actually, could it be that the Mad Lord also came from Earth?

His talent is so immense that it makes one think such thoughts.

I understand why the Black Dragon King had rushed over so frantically the moment he sensed the presence of Yeon's Play in the previous cycle.

'Immortal Arts. The Black Dragon King came after feeling the presence of Immortal Arts. He must have thought that someone who could use Immortal Arts in the Middle Realm would most likely not be a True Immortal but of at least the Entering Nirvana stage...'

While I marvel at the Mad Lord, a peculiar thought crosses my mind.

'Wait, if the power to change fate is Immortal Arts...then isn't the entire path of Immortal Cultivation essentially Immortal Arts?'

After all, cultivators are beings who defy the heavens.

Changing one's fate is the essence of Immortal Cultivation.

Unfortunately, this isn't covered in the book.

Instead, the man appears to be describing his feelings when he first encountered Immortal Arts and the sheer terror it invoked.

It's then.

Suddenly, as the man is writing the book, he closes his eyes as if recalling the moment he saw Immortal Arts.

At that moment.

―Huh, huh...keuh, keuhgeukgeuk!

The man's body twists grotesquely, his eyes roll back, and he begins to write something furiously on paper.

No, it's closer to 'scrawling'.

Wo-woong―

At the same time, the illusion that had been clear until now begins to shake violently.

As if capturing this scene with mere illusions is sacrilegious.

'What is that...?'

As I watch the distorted illusion, the man, with his eyes rolled back, starts to tear and eat the book he was writing.

'What?'

As if he is devouring a delicious meal, he licks his fingers while eating the book, and after a moment.

The man, seemingly regaining his senses, looks around in astonishment.

The illusion stabilized once whatever he had scribbled disappeared.

The surroundings are in a mess due to the man's rampage.

The man mutters.

―Th-that just now...c-could it be...a revelation? Yes, it must be a revelation. Huhuhuh...if the Lofty Dragon True Person dies, I become his resurrection body? He revives within me?

He seems pale with fear.

―N-no. This entity is not the Lofty Dragon True Person. Then who is it? Who are you? What kind of person are you...? No, no...! This is someone more, more, more. More, more, more immense than the Lofty Dragon True Person or the Fallen Judge...

He clutches his head and suddenly raises his hand to stab his abdomen.

Thud!

Bright red blood spurts out.

And I see something like a 'stone' fall from his dantian area.

Simultaneously, the illusion centered around the 'stone' becomes extremely unstable.

―How long! How long will it keep pouring out! Stop, stop coming out! Haaaah!

The man screams in terror and appears to be performing some kind of spell.

Although the illusion is too distorted to discern clearly, I see him using a sealing spell to seal the 'stone.'

After the sealing spell is cast, the illusion returns to normal.

However, the frail man does not.

The man who was once engrossed in writing or deep in thought begins to huddle in the corner of his bed, crafting things like erotic paintings.

It seems as if he's focusing on the erotic paintings to escape from something.

And after a while.

The man hides jade slips with erotic paintings under the bed and other places in the room before leaving somewhere.

Time passes a little, and all the jade slips except the one under the bed turns to dust.

The man had died.

The illusion spell in the room continues to operate for a long time before eventually turning off.

I pay my respects to the nameless man.

At the same time, I remember his words.

―He revives within me?

If they're more immense than the Lofty Dragon True Person, then at the very least, that being is a True Immortal.

'So...he meant a True Immortal is reviving within him?'

Cold sweat trickles down my face.

'It's similar to Cheongmun Ryeong's symptoms???'

The symptoms of going mad, writing strange things, consuming those writings, and then expelling bizarre stones with eerie power from his body.

They are too closely similar to how Kim Young-hoon described Cheongmun Ryeong.

Moreover, since he was at the Four-Axis stage, it seemed like the stones were spewing out directly instead of being found like in Chengmun Ryeong's body.

'Then, is some True Immortal resurrecting through Cheongmun Ryeong's body in the Head Realm?'

"Hugh, heok..."

As soon as I think of such things, I unconsciously revert from my Ghost King form and feel cold sweat running down my back.

'Damn it...'

I do think that I need to save Cheongmun Ryeong.

But, the moment I think a True Immortal is in the process of resurrecting through Cheongmun Ryeong’s body, I can’t bring myself to want to return to the Head Realm.

I sit in the room for a long time, unable to get up.

'Just why am I...so cautious...!?'

Even if it's just the thought, what's wrong with deciding to save someone who used to be my master!

Suddenly, I hate myself for being like this and bite my lip.

After taking a deep breath, I stand up.

'...First, I need to find out what that strange stone is.'

I think back to the illusion I had seen earlier and search for the place where he had sealed the strange stone.

It was the ceiling.

'Come to think of it, this ceiling...'

I hadn't noticed it before, but I now feel an attraction force flowing through the ceiling.

No, it's more like magnetism.

All over the ceiling, magnets are attached inconspicuously, like constellations.

By interpreting and unraveling the seal through the magnetic flow and arrangement of these magnets on the ceiling, it's possible to break the seal.

And I realize that this method is the same as how Hyeon Gwi interpreted the illusion formation by reading the attraction force of the sky.

'Was this a frequently used method back in ancient times?'

I ponder that perhaps Hyeon Gwi had obtained something like an ancient secret art book.

The seal is designed so that it can't be undone by anyone below the Four-Axis stage.

It makes sense since the seal requires attraction force in order to be released.

Clank―

When I move the attractive force to unlock the latch on the seal, the ceiling ripples like the surface of water.

I float up to the ceiling and reach my hand inside.

Inside the ceiling, I grasp something like a box.

I extend my consciousness to scan around the box but don't find anything else.

When I pull out the box, the ceiling returns to its original state.

The box is a luxurious ebony wooden case, covered with dozens of talismans painted in blood, forming a barrier around it.

'The barrier has deteriorated.'

Tap, tap―

When I tap a few of the talismans, they disintegrate into powder and scatter away.

In the past, the barrier would have served its function well, but after so much time, its power had long since faded.

After brushing off the talismans, I open the box's lid.

"Hmm?"

However, there are no stones inside the box. Instead, a faint liquid remains.

The liquid, which seems like 'water,' emanates a mysterious aura.

Yet, upon closer inspection with my consciousness, it appears to be ordinary water.

Feeling somewhat dazed, I reach out to touch the water as if in a trance.

It's when my hand touches the water.

Prick―

"Ah!"

I suddenly feel a prickling sensation in my heart essence, jolting me back to full alertness.

I feel oddly clear-headed.

'What was that? Just now?'

It feels like I have been in a daze.

And as I ponder for a moment, I remember what that feeling is.

'Ah, I see. That feeling...'

Cold sweat runs down my back.

The sensation of being dazed is just like when I saw [something] in the Head Realm and fell into a dream.

However, if the [something] I saw in the Head Realm is a lethal dose of poison, this liquid feels like something that wouldn't even affect my liver.

To use an Earth analogy, if the [something] in the Head Realm is Chernobyl, this liquid has the radioactivity of rare earth elements.

'While I might have been momentarily entranced...I could have blocked it if I concentrated my consciousness....'

While keeping my hand on the liquid, I investigate its true nature.

And I discover that this liquid once contained much more poison energy and turbid energy.

It's only safe now because all the poison energy had dissipated over time.

Sizzle, sizzle....

While touching the liquid, I succeed in extracting some knowledge within it.

Surprisingly, this liquid is a kind of 'formula.'

"Clear Scale Armor?"

This formula is for controlling a dharma treasure called ‘Clear Scale Armor.'

Hissss―

As I absorb the formula, the liquid vaporizes and disappears.

However, there's no information about the Clear Scale Armor itself, and among the items shown by the previous Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect, there were no dharma treasures resembling armor.

Now, there's nothing else left in this room.

"Hmmm...."

I look around the room one last time and then exit the building.

While I had been inside, the people from the Mystical Scaled Fish Commanding Sect had already come out, sorting through what they found.

Most of them appear to be elixirs..

However, I'm not interested in elixirs, and look for dharma treasures or method books.

But there doesn't seem to be anything related to the Clear Scale Armor's control formula.

"Was there anything on Senior's side that you found?"

"Hmm, it seems like nothing."

"Understood. Then, let's proceed to our next destination."

We set off again.

Along the way, we continue to fend off Fire Corpses and obtain Turbid Devil Liquid. Occasionally, we collect fruits from a tree that grows in flames, called the Fire Origin Fruit, gaining small profits, but we don't come across any more stone buildings.

According to Hyeon Gwi, there are only two stone buildings on the path to the second floor: one belonging to the Fighting Ghost Race and the other to the Human Ra