A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 368: Holding Hands (5)

Chapter 368: Holding Hands (5)

Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion.

What does it mean?

Literally, it means passing into nirvana while seated.

It's a term implying the ability to control life and death freely and to project one's soul at will (astral projection).

The 'single strike' in the First Step Before the Throne is essentially a part of me, so if you consider it as soul projection, that isn't wrong either.

However, there is something I don't understand, so I ask.

\"Why did you name it but never call it by that name?\"

\"...What good is reaching the ultimate state alone? It's a realm reached by cutting down my friend. Though the intention is clear, it's far from simply sitting comfortably and passing into nirvana. Too many things have happened.\"

\"Is that so...?\"

It seems that he doesn't call it by its name due to the lingering guilt over Cheongmun Ryeong.

\"Well, anyway, was there anything else you saw?\"

\"...I saw something.\"

What Kim Young-hoon showed through his dance.

It's a clue to the next realm.

And though I may be dull, I haven't spent all this time wielding a sword for nothing. I understood that clue too.

Beyond the realm of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion.

To reach what is also called the Second Step Before the Throne, we must draw out all the possibilities within us.

Just as Kim Young-hoon laid down his blood veins on his devilish swords and demon sabers to trigger their potential.

Just as Tae Yeol-jeon drew strength from the depths of her heart essence.

Drawing out every possible potential is the key to the next realm.

So, how does one with a mortal body draw out other possibilities?

Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion is the nickname for the First Step Before the Throne given by Kim Young-hoon, and also the training method for this realm.

It is both Standing Oblivion (입망/立亡) and Entering Oblivion (입망/入亡).

[TL/N: 亡, which I translated as Oblivion, carries the meaning of being in a state non-existence, or of total loss.]

One must forget.

In other words, one must sever.

Sever all attachments to one's past, all fears about one's fate.

Only by severing and forgetting everything, leaving only 'this moment' and reaching true Emptiness (空), can one reach beyond Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion.

I understand why Kim Young-hoon said he can't reach the next realm.

\"...You can't sever it.\"

\"...\"

Indeed.

Reaching beyond this realm requires severing and forgetting everything.

But the only reason he could come this far is because of his longing.

Telling him to forget everything is no different from telling him to throw away his identity.

Kim Young-hoon looks at his saber with powerless eyes.

\"How can a person...sever all connections?\"

\"...\"

I let out a silent sigh at the sight.

As Kim Young-hoon said, if severing everything is the key to the next realm...

'I, too, cannot reach the next realm.'

How can a person claim to sever all their connections without hesitation?

Hearing his words, I feel endlessly gloomy.

I found the method to the next realm.

But it's an impossible path.

\"...Damn it.\"

Kim Young-hoon, with a despondent expression, swings his saber.

The surface of the dimension where he stands fluctuates along the trajectory of his saber.

\"That's why I asked Oh Hyun-seok to train me. Because no matter how much I train...it might really be impossible to reach the next realm.\"

\"...\"

He stands still with his saber, as if tasting bitterness, then walks on the surface of the Deep Sea towards the Twilight Domain in the distance.

\"That's why I suggested a spar to talk about it. I wanted to confirm whether the enlightenment I have is truly correct.\"

\"...You're saying strange things. This is the first time I've heard about the clue to the next realm from Young-hoon Hyung-nim, so why would you spar with me to test it?\"

\"That's because...haven't you already embodied the enlightenment of the next realm?\"

\"What...?\"

I ask back in surprise, and Kim Young-hoon chuckles softly.

\"It seems you still haven't realized it yet, but you already possess the same level of enlightenment as I do, and you've embodied it entirely. That's why I gained enlightenment while fighting you.\"

\"That's...\"

\"There's no need to explain it to you in detail. Once you encounter the right opportunity, you'll naturally realize it on your own, and it's best to realize it by oneself. Anyway, I've confirmed my enlightenment. I'm...going to see Oh Hyun-seok to receive some more training in that body cultivation method.\"

With those words, Kim Young-hoon returns to the Twilight Domain.

I stand there for a moment, unable to say anything.

The surroundings are still filled with countless illusions flickering around.

I understand why Kim Young-hoon had cut down one of the illusions.

The night sea of the Ancient Force Realm vaguely reflects one's past, and Kim Young-hoon was trying to sever his own past.

Of course, he must have known it's impossible and thus left again.

\"...\"

I quietly remain in the night sea and look around.

\"...Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections.\"

Tstststst!

The Colorless Glass Sword hums, releasing faint fog around.

It appears as though a hazy sea mist has appeared over the sea of the Ancient Force Realm.

And within that mist, countless nostalgic and longed for connections emerge.

Woo-wooong—

As if resonating with the nature of the Ancient Force Realm or something, the entire Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections vibrates with the deep sea.

Of course, it isn't awakening some hidden power or potential, it's just resonating together ordinarily.

Floating above the night sea for some time, I reach out to them.

Sururuk—

My hand passes through their illusions.

I can't grasp them.

They are clearly connections I have once made, but now they are nothing more than intangible phantoms.

Reaching out foolishly into the air and reminiscing about old memories has become a habit of mine.

Though it seems like a foolish act, I can't stop.

It feels as if I keep reaching out, eventually I will be able to grasp them.

My tendency to spout nonsense about being an 'Earthling from a civilized society' when I'm struggling isn't without reason.

Even if it's meaningless, I feel like if I keep repeating it, I could go back to that place.

This act is the same.

Even if it's meaningless, I'm doing this because I feel that I could grasp them again if I keep gesturing.

But to reach the next realm, I have to sever this...?

\"...It's impossible.\"

Pasasak—

As I reach out, the hazy mist scatters.

In the end, it's just the night sea around me again.

I seem to understand the contradiction Kim Young-hoon is trapped in.

To return home, one must train and refine their martial arts to reach a higher realm.

But without abandoning their initial goal, one cannot reach the next realm.

It's a situation where the cart is before than the horse.

So what should be done?

\"...Up to the Integration stage, it's still somewhat manageable.\"

There's hope that if I continue to build the Five Blessings Axes and realize the Six Extremes to complete the Earth Axis stage, I can somehow reach the Integration stage.

But the Star Shattering stage, and beyond Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion, I can't get a sense for it at all.

Can I truly reach it?

Even now, the difference between the Star Shattering stage and those below it is insane.

Usually, I believe that if I raise the Three Great Ultimates to the extreme, I can have a good fight against beings two realms above. But even if I reach the Grand Perfection Integration stage with the Three Great Ultimates, it's uncertain if I can handle the insane Kang Min-hee.

\"...Why am I doing this?\"

Suddenly, a fundamental question arises as to why I am doing this.

Is it because I am out alone at night?

Random thoughts enter my head, and eventually, a Heart Demon starts gnawing at my mind.

—Why do you live?

Another illusion of myself appears before my eyes.

—A life that isn't truly living. You have no interest other than breaking the cycle of regression. You pour your entire life into becoming stronger, running yourself ragged to save people like Kang Min-hee and Kim Yeon, even though you know it's futile...do you know how pitifully foolish you look from the side?

\"...\"

—Acting as such, do you think anything will change even if you save them? You know that fate is fixed. Even if you save them, they will be miserable again. You might as well abandon all those connections and shut yourself away in some remote place, train for a million years, become a True Immortal, and then regress to save them all. No? You know that's the best way. Isn't that right?

\"...\"

The illusion of 'me' is dressed in black, with nineteen heads.

It whispers to me.

—So just kill yourself right now and, using a more optimized method...

\"And then?\"

But I look up at the Heart Demon before me with empty eyes.

I don't tell others, but this type of Heart Demon frequently torments my mind.

However, I have never been devoured by any of these Heart Demons.

\"And then, if I die? Then what?\"

I look down at the Heart Demon with hollow eyes.

It starts to shrink gradually.

Even if I die, I come back to life.

I can't describe how madly jealous and filled with resentment I felt seeing Seo Li die peacefully with a smile.

I am, so incredibly envious of him.

Cultivators have various reasons for cultivating.

Immortality, infinite power, vast knowledge, new truths.

Exploring the world, complicated grudges.

To avoid being manipulated by others, just feeling it suits them and they make steady progress.

But I dare to claim,

I am cultivating for a reason that is different and alien to any other cultivator in the Three Thousand Worlds.

\"I want to die too...!\"

Clench!

I grab the Heart Demon before me and open my mouth.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

The Heart Demon with nineteen heads is caught in my hands and torn apart in my mouth.

The reason I have never gone completely mad despite encountering countless Heart Demons.

It's because I myself am my greatest Heart Demon.

Even if I go mad, it's useless.

In my first life, I went mad, screaming that I am an Earthling from a civilized society.

It was useless.

Everything was undone.

Next, I became mad for work and achieved nearly everything, though it was somewhat unsatisfactory.

It was useless.

Everything was undone.

I became stronger, learned the secrets of the world, gained recognition for my position, lost precious people, gained them back only to lose them again, gained invaluable experiences, made cherished friends, grasped many truths and powers, and my position rose rapidly again...

It was all useless.

Everything was undone.

I did manage to retain some connections through the regression point fixing it itself.

But!

\"Still! There is more left!\"

The regression!

Has not disappeared.

In the end, due to Yang Su-jin's warning, I never uttered the word 'regression' out loud.

But because of that, it feels like my heart is burning even more.

Chuaaaaa!

I strike my fist down with all my might.

The power I have accumulated up to this point invokes immense force, causing the Deep Sea to surge.

After devouring the Heart Demon, I realize the reason it has suddenly appeared with a gloomy expression.

'...It's because I heard that it must be severed.'

It cannot be severed.

I have already lost everything, numerous times, within the flow of time.

Because of the curse of regression, countless times!

I know well that Kim Young-hoon never lies about the next realm.

If he provides a clue about the next realm, it is always true.

Thus, when he said that severing everything is the only way to reach the next realm, he is surely correct.

I feel the Three Great Ultimates rise behind my back.

Recently, I feel like I've come to understand.

'The cultivation methods of the Heaven Tribe and Earth Tribe are gradually converging.'

Up to the Heavenly Being stage, the cultivation methods of the Heaven and Earth Tribes differed. But from the Four-Axis stage, even with Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation, the path of power and the method of expressing power, along with the cultivation methods have no major distinctions, other than the amount of spiritual power one can contain within their body.

And according to the words passed down by others, by the Star Shattering stage, the cultivation methods of the Heaven and Earth Tribes have almost no difference.

I also know well the ascension ritual for the Star Shattering stage.

The Grand Cultivator Association made everything public for those who potentially want to become an Esteemed One beyond a Grand Cultivator.

However, Grand Perfection Integration stage Jun Jae, late Integration stage Gol Maek,

Even Hon Won, who was once at the late stage, all remained at the later stages of the Integration stage and never attempted to become Esteemed Ones.

'The ascension ritual for the Star Shattering stage is also similar to what Kim Young-hoon mentioned.'

Interestingly, just as the planes of Qi, Soul, and Fate are essentially one, Heaven, Earth, and Heart become increasingly similar as one progresses to the later realms.

I don't know if it's All Streams Return to the Origin (萬流歸宗) or something.

But now, if I want to advance to the next realm, there is only one way.

Abandon!

Ruthlessly abandon what I absolutely can not!

That is the way to rise even higher.

\"How...do I abandon...\"

There is only one reason why the Heart Demon came to me, spouting nonsense and ended up being devoured.

Because there is no answer.

I have to raise my realm, but the path ahead is bleak.

Regardless of how much time I invest!

Just how can I possibly use that method?

Previously, I had a subtle expectation that even the most daunting realms could be broken through by throwing enough time.

But now I know.

There are things that cannot be done even with time.

Like the nonsense the Heart Demon spouted while knowing nothing, even pouring in a thousand, ten thousand, even a hundred million years would not make that method possible.

At least not for me!

Having faced countless Heart Demons and experienced numerous such frustrations, I can predict my next action.

Still, I will continue to train and challenge the extremes of Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion.

Then, I will raise my cultivation to the Integration stage in all aspects.

Achieving Grand Perfection Integration with all three Heaven, Earth, and Heart will be quite useful.

Perhaps, I might even be strong enough to attempt escaping before a Star Shattering Esteemed One.

But I know the outcome.

Once again, I will hit a wall and wail for a thousand, ten thousand, even a million years.

This isn't a matter of talent.

This is a matter of whether I can abandon or not.

\"...Damn it.\"

Gazing upon the Deep Sea that has returned to its original state, I mutter a low curse.

I can see something wriggling below.

A deep-sea monster seems to be eyeing me.

Chuaaaa!

Towards the void above, a whale-like monster covered in countless illusions opens its mouth and leaps at me.

Boo-oong!

It's a monster at the Grand Perfection Four-Axis level but I casually slice it open and pull out an ancient stone the size of a head from inside.

It is said that deep-sea monsters are not living creatures, but a type of 'record' taking shape, formed by the histories of countless dimensions.

The monster floats above the Deep Sea for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before melting away and disappearing.

Tsutsutsutsu―

The deep-sea monster, made from the records of the past, appears to dissolve into the air, and its corpse melts and scatters into the void.

The countless remnants of the past within the deep-sea monster scatters.

It's when I stare blankly at the scene,

Suddenly, a faint greenish shadow from the past brushes past in front of me.

Within that remnant, I see a scene of a neighboring family carrying a large coffin up a mountain with someone.

The family consists of a middle-aged couple, climbing the mountain with a small girl.

The girl is the Ju Family daughter.

\"...Wait.\"

Seeing that remnant, my eyes are wide open as I approach it.

Just then.

Pachecheche!

The remnant that emerged from the deep-sea monster's body coalesces in the void, forming a green beast.

It's a small deep-sea monster, reconstituted from the information entity that emerged from the original deep-sea monster's body.

\"W-Wait!\"

I lunge at the green beast.

It has the form of a deer, and as I charge at it, it immediately starts to flee.

Toong―Toong―

My eyes are wide open as I stare at the deep-sea monster.

\"...Wait, what are you?\"

I begin to chase the deer.

Above the mystical night sea of the Ancient Force Realm.

There, the chase between the green deer and me begins.

The deer leaps across the sea like Kim Young-hoon.

I keep chasing its tail, but strangely, the closer I get, the farther it seems to be.

\"Stop...! Stop right there!\"

My eyes are bloodshot as I chase after the suddenly appearing deer.

\"Stop!!! I'm saying stop right there!!!