A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 353: Devilish Cult (6)

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Chapter 353: Devilish Cult (6)

Tststsst!

Upon opening my eyes, I see the 'remains' glaring at me with eyes wide open right in front of me.

Tsst...

I transform into my human form and look at the remains.

'Did they call it a devotee?'

The True Persons seem to refer to beings that have been eroded by them as 'devotees (信者).'

'Who decided they are devotees?'

Who would willingly choose to become like this?

Woooong—

I grasp the All-Heavens Sword.

Just moments ago, I had hesitated to cut it down, but I will no longer.

—Cut.

'Cut.'

The will of the All-Heavens Sword and my own are united.

I raise the sword high and elevate the All-Heavens Sword to a higher plane.

A pure downward slash.

From a higher plane to a lower plane.

From a high position to a low position!

Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.

Deep Mountain, Emerging Dao!

Booong!

Shukwak!

I cut down the True Person's devotee glaring at me from their plane.

The devotee, reaching about 30 zhang in height, is cleaved cleanly by the Deep Mountain, Emerging Dao and begins to scatter.

The ominous feeling I had earlier was merely the dread towards the True Person behind the devotee.

But due to the chaos caused from seeing the [Inverted Cone], there is no longer any reason to be afraid.

Chuaaaang—

Dozens of heads attached to the devotee's body melt all at once.

The pitch-black body scatters into pieces, flying in all directions.

Suddenly, amidst the spectacle, I notice an old woman in a neat black dress bowing slightly towards me.

—Thank you.

Her will is conveyed to me.

I simply nod my head in response.

Chalalalala—

As she disappears, all of the hyphae covering this desert area turn to ashes and vanish.

In the distance, I see Jeon Myeong-hoon and Oh Hyun-seok walking towards me, levitating the four disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

"We rescued all the disciples, but...was that you who destroyed it?"

I nod, looking at the rescued Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect disciples.u0026nbsp;

Skull-shaped mushrooms are growing all over their bodies, but they soon turn to ash and scatter.

"Are these the ones who went all the way to the Nether Ghost Realm?"

"Yeah. They were affected by the cultivator eroded by a True Person and collapsed like this. I seared their insides with Heavenly Tribulation to burn away all the toxins that had taken root inside. But they lack vital energy, so they won't wake up for a few days."

"We should probably leave them to Hong Fan."

I gently stroke the heads of the sleeping disciples.

'Finally...'

All the survivors of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect have been successfully saved.

It's been a long and arduous journey.

I close my eyes.

Hong Su-ryeong comes to mind.

"...For now..."

I open my eyes again.

Kugugugu!

Gathering ghostly energy, I transform once more into a Ghost King.

"Summon all the Four Great Law Protectors and all the Guardian Ghost Kings."

Kwarurung!

Jeon Myeong-hoon turns into lightning and flies towards the distant Twilight Domain. Shortly after, he returns with the Four Great Law Protectors and the thirteen Guardian Ghost Kings, now including Baek Rin.

[Everyone, listen.]

I speak, radiating ghostly energy.

[From now on, our order will establish itself on this land where a True Person's traces were found. There's no need to worry about the True Person's erosion. I have just erased all traces of the True Person, so there will be no problems.]

I look around at everyone gathered here.

Jeon Myeong-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, Hong Fan.

And the thirteen Guardian Ghost Kings.

They are all my precious connections.

[However, during the encounter with the traces of the True Person, I faced the will of many True Persons. The True Persons have decided to oppose our order from now on.]

At my words, the intent of everyone present stirs violently.

To prevent their fear and worry from spreading, I quickly continue.

[But their will is directed only at our order and myself. If you leave the order, there will be no problem. Anyone who wishes to leave from here can do so freely at any time. As you confirmed when you fled to this place, our order does not treat those who leave as traitors or enemies. Feel free to take your loved ones and leave.]

However, no one shows any signs of moving.

Wei Shi-hon cackles and speaks.

"Haha. Last time, the Cult Leader told those who did not trust the order to flee from the White Yin Domain, but in the end, we overcame all adversities and escaped, didn't we? Those who left the Wuji Religious Order must be regretting it by now."

He continues.

"If the Cult Leader says something like that, it must be because he has something to believe in, right?"

I smile bitterly at his words.

[That's right. There is something to believe in. But...it's not something impressive this time either.]

Wooong—

I display my cultivation realm through attraction force.

And I explain about the 'side path.'

[After successfully building the complete Longevity Axis, I will flee again. This time, it will not just be a change of region...but to an entirely different world. Even so, will you follow?]

At my words, they look at each other.

Wei Shi-hon strokes his chin and speaks.

"Certainly, us ghostly creatures cultivate best in the Nether Ghost Realm."

[Yes. As expected, you all are...]

"But what ghostly creatures fear the most is...the attraction force of the Netherworld."

He grins.

"And to us, having a 'physical body' that can escape the attraction force is extremely precious, something not easily traded even among family. Yet, the Cult Leader has provided us with such 'physical bodies' for free. We've even grown stronger through the 'procedure' and 'grace', so honestly, this gratitude is indescribable."

[...]

"Until we repay this gratitude, who would dare leave the order?"

[...It wasn't anything difficult for me, and it isn't anything that valuable. I just arbitrarily gave you puppet bodies.]

"If the recipient is pleased, isn't that enough? Haha. We, too, have accepted it arbitrarily and intend to remain in the order arbitrarily..."

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

All the Guardian Ghost Kings.

Even the newly joined Baek Rin who has recently undergone the procedure and grace, kneel down.

"Please accept us!"

Looking upon them, I tremble slightly.

[...Alright]

I smile faintly.

[Then let's embark on a slightly long journey together.]

At my words, they all respond in unison, loudly and powerfully.

"Yes!"

I put away my smile and shout with a serious face.

[Guardian Law Protector Hong Fan, Left Law Protector Kim Yeon, listen up! Bring the Twilight Domain here and have it land! From now on, we will reside on this land! The two Law Protectors will manage the Twilight Domain henceforth!]

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

[Right Law Protector Oh Hyun-seok, Chief Law Protector Jeon Myeong-hoon, listen up! From now on, this cult leader will enter a long, secluded cultivation to complete the Longevity Axis! Until now, I've been building it idly and slowly, but from now on, I will extend my consciousness properly to build the axis! I won't be able to move during this period, so guard this seat well!]

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Kugugugugu!

The Law Protectors and Ghost Kings begin dragging the Twilight Domain and landing it on the land, and I watch the magnificent scene below with gleaming eyes.

'From now on, all the forces of the Nether Ghost Realm will come here. I intended to get along with the Black Ghost Palace, but if the True Persons influence even the Black Ghost Palace, it's meaningless. I'm sorry for Yu Hye, but I can't let her go for now.'

We have truly become the public enemies of the Nether Ghost Realm.

Not just the three major factions, but even the Flower Painting Western Heaven Palace will join the fray.

Previously, they might have sent a few Integration stage Grand Cultivators to suppress the order, but from now on, they will designate the entire Wuji Religious Order as 'public enemy' and attack us with that intent.

If the True Persons, who have taken root in the Nether Ghost Realm for countless years, move their forces, the outcome is clear.

'They will truly come at us with all their might!'

Before they arrive, I must complete the Longevity Axis as quickly as possible, open the side path, and return to the Bright Cold Realm.

'This time, for sure...!'

I won't let my comrades die easily.

Ham Jin sits down and takes a deep breath, reminiscing about the past.

He was just an ordinary beggar born in the distant corner of Yuhwa Country on the Peaceful Clouds Continent.

Born in the outskirts of Yuhwa, he had no grand dreams, only wishing to grow adequately big enough to work someday.

However, that dream shattered when a band of robbers attacked his village.

And so, Ham Jin slightly altered his goal.

It was a worthless life anyway, so changing the goal wouldn't kill him.

As he was sold to a slave trader, Ham Jin thought.

It would be nice to meet an adequately good master and live while working.

Then, Ham Jin was sold to a cultivator.

A ruthless cultivator practicing devilish arts.

Ham Jin's goal was shattered again.

But he didn't tire and revised his goal once more.

As he was experimented on by his self-proclaimed master, he thought.

It would be nice if after being adequately experimented on, he could return to his hometown, even as an experimental subject.

Then, Ham Jin's goal was shattered again.

Because he discovered his master's research books and experiment journals that he had been studying when the master was away for a while.

His master intended to remodel his disciples, create the most suitable body for practicing devilish arts, and 'switch' to that body.

At that point, there were 40 surviving disciples.

Among them, Ham Jin was considered one of the 'top-tier' bodies by his master.

His cultivation was only at Qi Refining 1st or 2nd star, but that didn't matter.

He found out he possessed a unique constitution called the Ghost Furnace Body (鬼爐體).

The Ghost Furnace Body is said to be highly compatible with contacting the great beings of the Upper Realms, easily gaining their favor and borrowing their power.

His master intended to borrow power from a great being in the Upper Realm and someday ascend.

That was why he was targeting Ham Jin's body.

Upon realizing this, Ham Jin's goal changed once again.

'I want to live!'

This time, it wasn't just 'adequately.'

He 'truly' wanted to live.

Although it was a worthless life, dying without achieving anything was too...

Too unfair.

'I will survive! I will definitely live!'

From that day on, Ham Jin secretly stole and read his master's books.

And he learned how to communicate with the great beings of the Upper Realms.

'My body is suitable for borrowing the power of great beings through rituals?'

Then, I will just use it.

Ham Jin took advantage of his master's absence to select a book from his master's library called the 'Wuji Ghost King Ritual Scripture' and performed a ritual.

And so, he faced a 'great being.'

This being demanded something peculiar from Ham Jin, took over his body, ascended to the sky to survey something, and then attempted to uproot the entire valley where Ham Jin lived. Realizing Ham Jin couldn't withstand it, the being retreated.

In return for borrowing his body, the being granted Ham Jin a unique 'sense.'

Woooong—

Ham Jin opens his eyes.

All around him, countless Yin and Yang are swirling.

The great being said to meet him again in three months.

Ham Jin is terrified of that being!

A Ghost King with 19 faces, weeping bloody tears and cultivating a cursed flower garden!

A being with a form so terrifying it occasionally appears in his nightmares.

Ham Jin grits his teeth.

Even so, that being is better than his master who seeks to steal his life away entirely.

"O Great One..."

Taking advantage of his master's absence, Ham Jin prays to the being.

"Please descend upon me."

Kugugugugu!

He finds himself in a pure white space.

It's a familiar place.

Deep within his mental world.

There, he kneels down trembling with fear upon seeing a shadow with 19 heads entering the corner of the white space.

"O Great One, what do you desire from me?"

Ham Jin felt it from their last encounter; this being wants something through him.

'Normally, such beings only grant wishes in exchange for something precious or one's lifespan. But if the being has something they want...'

He might not have to offer his lifespan!

Whether the being knows his thoughts or not, they stare at Ham Jin with their 19 heads and ask,

[Are you using well the sense I gave you last time?]

"Pardon? Ah, yes! I am using it very well."

It's the truth.

Though it's a sense granted by a malicious being, Ham Jin finds it extremely useful.

The reason Ham Jin could read the Wuji Ghost King Ritual Scripture from his master's library was simple.

While his master was experimenting in the adjacent research hall, one of the test subjects exploded, shattering not only the research hall but also the barrier set up in the library.

Taking advantage of the broken barrier, Ham Jin had secretly taken out the ritual scripture.

But upon gaining this sense, he no longer needs to wait for such coincidences.

He can vividly sense the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy!

He can sense how the barrier is set up and predict which parts to touch to avoid triggering it.

He navigated his master's library almost daily by reading the spiritual energy and avoiding the barriers.

There's no worry about being watched or his master suddenly appearing in the library.

The spiritual energy warns him of any impending danger!

He only needs to maintain his sense of spiritual energy!

He even dared to raid his master's spiritual elixir storage a few times.

Thanks to that, Ham Jin's cultivation rapidly soared, reaching the 3rd star of Qi Refining.

"Truly, it has been of great help. I am immensely grateful for your precious assistance."

[To hear it has been helpful...I am pleased.]

Chills!

Ham Jin feels his entire body shiver at the voice of the terrifying being.

He fears the being might suddenly say, 'You've ripened well!' and devour him at any moment.

However, Ham Jin swallows his saliva and waits for the being to continue.

[Well, anyway, you seem to have grown excellently. Very good. To think you've reached the 3rd star of Qi Refining...through your body, I can now manifest about 1 or 2 hundredth more of my power...]

The shadow laughs for a while before speaking.

[But it's not enough. After surveying this valley through your body, I realized the valley is quite heavy...]

They speak, revealing 38 eyes.

[I desire...the power that lies...beneath this valley.]

Kugugugugu!

The shadow clenches their hand.

Immediately, Ham Jin's mental world begins to shake violently.

No, that isn't all.

Ham Jin realizes that the 'outside' is also shaking.

Just by clenching their hand, the being is causing an earthquake throughout the entire valley!

[Child...For me to grasp that power...I need your help.]

"What...must I do to help?"

[Hmm...]

The giant being slightly tilts their head toward Ham Jin.

Kugugugu!

Even that seems to cause Ham Jin's mental world to darken.

[You are still...too weak. For a regular cultivator to properly accept even a tenth of my power, they will need to be at least at the Nascent Soul stage.]

"...!"

Ham Jin's jaw drops in shock at those words.

'Na-Nascent Soul stage...'

Even his master is only at the mid-Core Formation stage!

Let alone Nascent Soul, his master grits his teeth, hoping to reach Grand Perfection Core Formation in his lifetime.

Hence, hearing the term Nascent Soul makes Ham Jin's mind go blank.

[However, thanks to your special constitution, you seem to accept my power a bit better. With your constitution, you can accept my power more easily. Even if you only reach the Core Formation stage, you will be able to accept a tenth of my power. Then, borrowing your body, I can completely overturn this cumbersome valley and obtain what lies beneath it...]

Fortunately, reaching the Core Formation stage is within the realm of reason for Ham Jin.

However, it's equally daunting and distant.

"Forgive me, O Great One. To reach the Core Formation stage, I will need to cultivate tirelessly for the next 200 years. Moreover, my master plans to steal my body in a few years...!"

His eyes tremble with fear.

Suddenly, the worst outcome crosses his mind.

His master, already being at the Core Formation stage, can steal Ham Jin's body and implant his own Golden Core to immediately reach the Core Formation stage.

If that happens, both the being and his master would be satisfied—the being would draw power from the master, and the master would borrow the being's power!

Ultimately, the only one suffering unjustly would be the Qi Refining 3rd star Ham Jin!

As he breaks into a cold sweat, the great being speaks in a gentle voice.

[Do not worry. I am here to help you, and I will not betray you. But indeed, 200 years is too long. Not just for you, but I do not have that much time to wait either.]

"Then..."

The shadow, with their 38 eyes burning with ghost fire, rests one of their heads on their hand and stares at Ham Jin for a moment.

[Then, we must resort to a shortcut.]

The shadow chuckles.

[One year. I will elevate you to the Qi Building stage within one year.]

"Pardon...!?"

The proposal is so absurd that Ham Jin's eyes widen in astonishment.

The Qi Building stage is no child's play!

Yet, the being speaks casually as if they're saying 'I will make you breakfast.'

[In exchange for that power, you w