A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 523: Seo Hweol's Origin (本) (4)

Chapter 523: Seo Hweol's Origin (本) (4)

Seo Hweol's Plan 1.

The first plan involves using Yuan Yu.

For some reason, Seo Eun-hyun seems to feel a certain longing when looking at Yuan Yu, and because of this, he still hasn't completely discarded Yuan Yu's Blood Body.

He merely embedded it deep within his Colorless Sword Enclosure.

Seo Hweol took advantage of that point.

From the moment Oh Hye-seo reincarnated into the body of the Candle Dragon Race, Seo Hweol gradually shaped Oh Hye-seo—essentially 'Seo Hye'—to resemble Yuan Li as Seo Hweol remembers him, and made it resonate with Yuan Yu's Blood Body embedded within Seo Eun-hyun's Colorless Sword Enclosure.

At that time, Seo Hye and Yuan Yu were learning compatible methods, and through Seo Hye, it was possible to harmonize with the spiritual energy waves emitted by Yuan Yu, thereby activating the secret art within Yuan Yu.

Borrowing the power of the Blood Yin Realm, this spell combines the Blood Yin Realm's devilish energy with Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens to transform the area where Tainted Soul Holy Sacred is activated into a dimensional gate.

He modified it into a method called Summoning Wind, Sacred Blood Transformation and had Oh Hye-seo learn it. Seo Hweol even slightly lowered its difficulty and power to make Yuan Li learn it as well.

However, because Seo Eun-hyun did not cultivate Yuan Yu's Blood Body through Summoning Wind, Sacred Blood Transformation, it created a tricky situation. Nevertheless, it doesn't matter.

After all, the very spell constituting Yuan Yu's Blood Body originates from the Blood Yin Realm, making its degree of resonance with the Blood Yin Realm no different from having learned Summoning Wind, Sacred Blood Transformation.

Thus, Seo Hweol's original plan was to resonate Seo Hye and Yuan Yu's blood devilish energy to activate Tainted Soul Sacred Blood within their bodies.

If successful, Seo Eun-hyun's heart essence world—specifically, the interior of the Colorless Sword Enclosure—would be immediately pierced by a dimensional gate directly connecting to the Blood Yin Realm. Seo Eun-hyun would then be captured by Blood Yin and reduced to his Immortal Treasure.

No matter how much he uses his Three Great Ultimates or whatever to exert Entering Nirvana-level power, resisting when a dimensional gate connecting to a True Immortal is opened would be impossible.

However, Seo Hweol believes that the success rate of this plan is not high.

The biggest issue is the changed attitude of Blood Yin.

Blood Yin, who should have normally charged forward with frenzied madness at the mere sight of the Karmic Fire, instead observed calmly as Seo Eun-hyun revealed both the Karmic Fire and Clear Scale Armor.

This is far from a normal situation.

Thus, Seo Hweol calculated a low success rate for Plan 1 due to Blood Yin's change in attitude.

On top of that, with Oh Hye-seo being captured by Seo Eun-hyun, the plan to activate Tainted Soul Sacred Blood through Yuan Yu's Blood Body also became difficult.

However...

An opportunity arose. Seo Eun-hyun showed an opening.

Moreover, if paired with this new plan, the success rate of the first plan would significantly increase.

'I've made contact with Oh Hye-seo.'

Seo Hweol whispers into the mind of Oh Hye-seo, who has wandered endlessly in the same space for thousands of years, trapped inside Seo Eun-hyun's Colorless Sword Enclosure.

[First, it was wise of you not to call my name carelessly.]

"Ah... Aaaah... Uaaah..."

Of course, the reason Oh Hye-seo didn't call Seo Hweol's name is simply because, after wandering for thousands of years in solitude, she momentarily forgot human language. But to Seo Hweol, such details are irrelevant.

[Seo Eun-hyun doesn't seem to have noticed. He likely interprets your outburst as part of your erratic behavior. For now...just follow my instructions. If you do, we can finally gain freedom and drag that Seo Eun-hyun, who is soaring high in the sky, down into the mud.]

At Seo Hweol's whisper, Oh Hye-seo nods tearfully.

Wo-woong—

After quickly conveying several instructions to Oh Hye-seo, Seo Hweol cuts off.

'The Blood Body of Yuan Li, which I prepared for activating Tainted Soul Sacred Blood, can only be used for communication for now. But it doesn't matter.'

Having already made contact with Oh Hye-seo, he left behind Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens in her heart essence.

He can now communicate with her whenever needed.

Though there is a risk of being detected while communicating within Seo Eun-hyun's heart essence, it doesn't matter.

'I have polluted myself.'

In doing so, Seo Hweol even defiled himself while offering a 'prayer' to Yeon Wei, and Seo Ran did the same, also offering a 'prayer' to Yeon Wei.

Though Seo Hweol denies the heart, he broke his vow and acknowledged his emotions, offering a prayer filled with the heart of benevolence to Yeon Wei.

Because of this, Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens embedded itself in Yeon Wei not as a 'configuration' but as the form of a 'heart.'

The extent of the shock and pain Seo Hweol experienced in this process was irrelevant.

What matters is...

Seo Hweol's 'heart' is embedded in Yeon Wei,

And Seo Ran's 'heart' is also embedded in Yeon Wei in the exact same way.

The hearts of Seo Hweol and Seo Ran,

At long last, have come together.

Inside Yeon Wei!

And so...Seo Hweol waits for the moment when the heart is amplified to the peak, needing only to make contact with Yeon Wei once again.

If Seo Hweol and Seo Ran's hearts and prayers, now embedded in Yeon Wei, make contact, then Seo Hweol and Seo Ran will finally be able to reconnect!

So, when will that moment of the 'heart's peak amplification' arrive?

The answer is simple.

It is when living beings face death.

Seo Hweol does not yet understand the great enlightenment that the heart is ultimately death. 

However, through experiential learning, he has learned that when the death of a living being approaches, its emotions are amplified to their peak.

'It doesn't necessarily have to be their own death. The death of someone close to them is enough to amplify a living being's emotions. Therefore...'

Seo Hweol smiles faintly.

'Yeon Wei's descendant. Yeon Jin, was it? That would do nicely.'

Let's bring Yeon Jin before Yeon Wei's eyes and kill him.

If that happens, Yeon Wei's emotions will undoubtedly amplify to its peak.

That moment will be Seo Hweol's opportunity to connect with Seo Ran.

Though most of Seo Eun-hyun's comrades are said to be staying in Cedarwood Painting, a few remain outside.

A chief example is Yeon Jin.

Yeon Jin is diligently cultivating the Lightning Path Method in the Human Race district of Cedarwood Grove in the Bright Cold Realm.

This decision was not Seo Eun-hyun's but Yeon Jin's own will.

Yeon Jin believes it is necessary to remain in the Bright Cold Realm, observe the situation, and ensure there is a place for Seo Eun-hyun's group to return to if Seo Eun-hyun is defeated.

Pajijijijil!

Having already reached the Four-Axis stage, Yeon Jin changes genders using the Taiji Quaking Lightning Body and generates lightning as he surveys Cedar Wood Grove.

'Cedar Wood Grove and its Human Race district are so peaceful, yet the outside of the Bright Cold Realm is said to be a warzone.'

To be honest, it's hard for him to believe.

No, even Seo Eun-hyun was just a senior in the Nascent Soul stage at a similar level to himself a few thousand years ago.

Yet before he realized it, Seo Eun-hyun became a Sacred Master and is now waging war across the entire universe.

In such a situation, the only thing Yeon Jin can do is his best to prevent public opinion about Seo Eun-hyun from worsening within the Human Race territory.

Of course, it isn't so much that Yeon Jin is trying his best but rather that Seo Hweol is working desperately to conceal Yeon Jin's existence from Baek Woon.

Otherwise, Yeon Jin would have long been captured by Baek Woon and used as a hostage.

Whether Yeon Jin knows this or not, he adjusts his black-and-white hair and prepares to resume his Taiji Quaking Lightning Body cultivation.

It is at that moment.

"It has been a while, Daoist Yeon Jin."

Before Yeon Jin's eyes, Seo Hweol appears with a hoho.

Yeon Jin bows his waist to greet Seo Hweol.

"Ah, Sir Sea Dragon King. It has been a while."

As far as Yeon Jin knows, Seo Eun-hyun and Yeon Wei don't hold a favorable opinion of Seo Hweol.

However, from Yeon Jin's perspective, Seo Hweol is one of Seo Eun-hyun's loyal followers who takes care of Seo Eun-hyun's affairs, so Yeon Jin doesn't harbor much ill will towards him.

Or rather...it would be more accurate to say that Seo Hweol 'adjusted' things to ensure that Yeon Jin doesn't feel any hostility toward him.

Seo Hweol smiles faintly and extends a hand toward Yeon Jin.

"That aside, Daoist Yeon Jin. Have you heard that Daoist Yeon Wei's body is unwell?"

"Ah, yes. I heard about it thanks to the letter Sir Sea Dragon King delivered. I was already thinking of visiting the ancestor...but with the war between the Bright Cold Realm and Cedarwood Painting, it doesn't seem possible right now. Huuu..."

Seo Hweol shakes his head at Yeon Jin's words.

"Hoho, that is not necessarily the case, Daoist Yeon. While it is true that there is war, it is entirely possible to enter Cedarwood Painting by passing through other realms that are unaffected by the conflict. For example, the Nether Ghost Realm or the Blood Yin Realm."

"Ah...! So there was a way like that. Come to think of it, the Nether Ghost Realm was also once the headquarters of the Wuji Religious Order."

Yeon Jin nods as he rises from his seat.

"In that case, is it possible to leave immediately? If the ancestor doesn't have much time left, it would be best to depart as soon as possible."

"As expected of Daoist Yeon Jin. Such deep filial piety. In that case, come with this king... We will pass through the Blood Yin Realm to directly enter Cedarwood Painting"

"That sounds excellent, elder Sea Dragon King!"

Wo-woong!

At Yeon Jin's words, Seo Hweol guides him into a secluded area of Cedar Wood Grove and begins forming hand seals.

Chiaaaaaaa—

Ominous blood devilish energy begins to radiate from the surroundings, and the space around them begins to distort.

Seo Hweol is faintly opening an entrance to the Blood Yin Realm using his authority.

"Blood Sacrifice Consuming Style..."

Wo-woong!

A crimson circle gradually appears before Seo Hweol and Yeon Jin's eyes.

Seo Hweol sharpens his vertical pupils with a piercing gaze.

'The gate to the Blood Yin Realm...I'll open it in Seo Eun-hyun's heart essence using Oh Hye-seo and Yuan Li's Blood Body. Then, using the opportunity when Seo Eun-hyun falls into chaos, I will take Yeon Jin to Yeon Wei... If I kill her descendent before her eyes, my plan will be completely...'

It is at that moment.

Yeon Jin's chattering voice pierces Seo Hweol's ears.

"Haha. By the way, with this, I'll have visited all six Middle Realms except the Purple Gold Realm. I'm curious to see how it will differ from the True Devil Realm."

Seo Hweol, aiming to gain Yeon Jin's favor, smiles kindly and speaks.

"Your experiences are truly broad, Daoist Yeon Jin. Come to think of it, didn't Daoist Yeon Jin once...undertake an adventure with Daoist Yeon Wei, traveling from the Bright Cold Realm to the Nether Ghost Realm, then to the Ancient Force Realm, and back to the Bright Cold Realm?"

"Yes. And before the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect fell...I also traveled to the True Devil Realm with Ancestor Yeon Wei."

"This king knows of that story as well. I've heard that, while evading pursuit from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect in the True Devil Realm, you and Daoist Yeon Wei installed a massive formation in one of the Void Spirit Ponds there?"

"Haha, it was the ancestor who set up the formation, so I don't know much about that. Instead, I just...played with the local kids in the area."

"Hoho, Daoist Yeon Jin is truly kind-hearted. To think you even cared for the children like that."

Yeon Jin, as if embarrassed, twirls his hair around his finger and speaks.

"Rather than me being kind, it's more that Sacred Master Seo Eun-hyun has deep emotions. Back then, when he was at the Nascent Soul stage, he instructed me to consider the surrounding Devil Races even as we established the formation near the Void Spirit Pond and to build friendly ties with them. He even entrusted me with gathering the Devil Race children and playing with them. It was a bit tiring to play with the Devil Race children at that time, but thinking back now, it's also a fond memory."

"Children do seem to have a way of clearing the heart, whether they're of the Heaven Tribe or the Earth Tribe."

"That's true. Although, among the Devil Race children, there were some mischievous ones who were already getting into romance and driving me crazy. I haven't even experienced romance yet myself! Ahaha, come to think of it, those kids were especially memorable."

As Seo Hweol opens the entrance to the Blood Yin Realm, he asks.

"I see. What were those children like to leave such an impression?"

"Well, ever since they were young, they were running around saying they'd get married when they grew up. At the time, they were just little children from the Batwing Race and the Horned Devil Race. But since both of those races are part of a rather famous lineage of devils, known for requiring five thousand years to reach adulthood and their breeding cycles, I told them, 'If you truly want to unite as one, it's going to take quite a bit of time.' But then Su In and Hong Yeon, those two rascals..."

"..."

Yeon Jin, who was excitedly chattering beside Seo Hweol for a while, suddenly looks down at his own body, now transformed into a female form.

Yeon Jin sucks in a sharp breath and bites his lip.

'Are you crazy, Yeon Jin? No matter how charming the Sea Dragon King is, what are you doing transforming into a woman right in front of him!?'

Yeon Jin, grappling with serious concerns about his gender identity, looks up at Seo Hweol.

Indeed, Seo Hweol is charming.

To the point where just standing there silently is enough to steal one's heart.

Of course...

Yeon Jin doesn't realize that it's due to Seo Hweol's Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens.

He has no idea that because Seo Hweol thinks, [If Yeon Jin has a good enough impression of me to open up completely and entrust everything to me, he'll become useful], he has fallen for Seo Hweol without even realising it. 

But while Yeon Jin cannot comprehend the domain of such Immortal Arts, he can at least sense that something about Seo Hweol is changing.

"By the way, Elder Sea Dragon King, are you feeling unwell by any chance?"

At Yeon Jin's question, Seo Hweol erases the entrance to the Blood Yin Realm.

"Uh, huh? Elder Seo Hweol? Weren't we supposed to pass through the Blood Yin Realm—uaak!"

Clench!!!

Yeon Jin suddenly lets out a high-pitched scream as Seo Hweol's hands grip both of Yeon Jin's shoulders with force.

Seo Hweol locks eyes with Yeon Jin, his vertically slit pupils meeting his, and wears the brightest smile he's ever shown.

"Indeed, I understand Daoist Yeon Jin's kindness well. To play with Devil Race children, with whom you barely know, to such an extent... This surname Seo can't help but be deeply impressed by your virtuous character."

"Uh, um... By the way, perhaps it's because you're from the Earth Tribe, but your grip strength is rather painful...Could you please let go?"

"...I understand. By the way...could you remind me once more where that Void Spirit Pond was, the one where you performed such noble deeds?"

"Uh, that, that is..."

As Seo Hweol's face suddenly draws closer, Yeon Jin's cheeks flush red.

Soon, with his eyes completely listing their focus Yeon Jin divulges everything to Seo Hweol.

And, some time later.

"Hoho...Sir Sea Dragon King. If your face gets so close, it's embarrassing."

"Hoho...is that so? I understand."

Seo Hweol releases Yeon Jin, who suddenly begins echoing his own laugh, and looks up at the sky.

"...At last..."

Seo Hweol's hand trembles violently.

Yeon Jin, too, laughs with a hoho and looks up at the sky alongside Seo Hweol.

"I've found it..."

All the Seo Hweols in the universe smile radiantly, their bodies trembling as if in ecstasy.

"Even after scouring the Bright Cold Realm for thousands of years and finding nothing...it turns out you found it first and smuggled it to the True Devil Realm through Hyeon Eum. Blood Yin...!"

Seo Hweol laughs with bloodshot eyes.

"I've finally found it...! The split soul of Vast Cold!"

Seo Hweol clenches his fist while staring at the sky, his body quaking.

"The heavens are aiding me... It's done now."

Seo Hweol pushes Yeon Jin aside and melts into the darkness, disappearing from the spot.

'There's no need for cumbersome plans like opening the gate to the Blood Yin Realm. The power of Vast Cold is now in my hands. There's no longer any need to hold back my strength. I just...need to proceed.'

Finishing his thoughts, Seo Hweol moves through the darkness, heading towards an unknown destination.

Normally, Seo Hweol would have taken Yeon Jin along for efficiency, even if it wasn't strictly necessary. Yet, he deliberately leaves Yeon Jin behind.

Without realizing how strange he has become, Seo Hweol inexplicably smiles arrogantly as he vanishes.

Yeon Wei opens her eyes.

Deep into the night.

She senses someone entering her chamber.

"...Who is it?"

"It is I, Daoist Yeon Wei."

"Hm... The Sacred Master has warned me that if you ever come to see me alone, it would be because you're scheming some vile plot. I was told not to engage with you. Leave."

Yeon Wei responds without even glancing at Seo Hweol.

However, Seo Hweol pays no attention to Yeon Wei's reaction and begins to speak.

"It seems the Sacred Master has already informed you about my Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens."

"..."

"In that case, you must also know that I could reach out to your descendant, Dao