A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 776: Chapter 772: Great Mountain Battle Begins

The world perishes.

Only three things maintain form in the destroyed world.

First, the Underworld and the spirits the Underworld holds.

Since they are in the embrace of the sole Heavenly Venerable who remains and possesses a normal Gandhara, they are safe.

Second, the True Immortals.

Since they are existences that transcend Mount Sumeru to a certain extent, even as the entirety of Mount Sumeru undergoes annihilation, they can generate prophecies within their bodies and maintain their lives.

Third, the Mountain Divine Spirits.

Kugugugu!

A golden torrent rampages centered on the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

That appearance looks as if, centered on Gwak Am, dozens of gigantic golden wings flutter.

However, that mass of light that looks dazzlingly bright seems to be sucked in centered on Gwak Am, and the surroundings start to grow dark.

:: The strongest light emits the shortest wavelength...so it is not visible to the eyes of lowly creatures and thus looks dark. ::

To the eyes of humans, to the eyes of mortal beings...

The universe looks dark.

But to the eyes of True Immortals, the universe is rather bright.

For True Immortals can perceive even the wavelengths of light that mortal beings cannot not perceive.

But I feel that the light gathering around the Great Mountain Supreme Deity gradually passes through white, blue, and purple and becomes a dusky light, and then I witness it become complete darkness. :: I am now the prime Radiance Ten Heavenly Lords itself. : :

The Great Mountain Supreme Deity, who turns the surroundings into a complete Darkness World, seems like a God of Darkness wrapped in endless darkness, rather than the golden radiance shown just before.

Yet apart from that appearance which seems dark, I can feel from him a power of light stronger than anyone else.

'It isn't visible.'

All the Origin Essences of Sumeru Mountain.

The primordial of myriad seats.

The very first Origin Essence, like Radiance itself...

No, rather, it is a power of light even purer than that.

As the Great Mountain Supreme Deity says, mortal beings cannot see overly strong wavelengths.

But ordinarily, True Immortals can perceive wavelengths that mortal beings cannot see.

'...Even I, who have reached the level of a True Immortal...a Governing Immortal...am I unable to perceive the wavelength of that light?'

The source of all things in the world, Light.

Compressing and devouring everything born from light and fusing it, he manifests again the First Light.

That is the power of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

Moreover, due to my karma, the Retribution of the Impermanence Sword ended up even passing over to the Great Mountain Supreme Deity. 'Is this what Bong Myeong's foresight meant?'

Impermanence Sword is a mantra.

A True Immortal without intellect, and a system of power.

Therefore, not only the creator, but all who satisfy its conditions have the possibility to use it.

'In the end, my greatest traitor is...'

It is my conscience.

The way to take back the Impermanence Sword is simple.

As the creator of the Impermanence Sword, I can discard my conscience and rewrite the acquisition conditions of the Impermanence Sword. In short...

To defeat the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, I just need to kill the humanity within me.

Kaang!

I also draw the Impermanence Sword into my hand and stand against the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

However...

Wo-woong-

'...As expected...'

The side of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity is instead drawing out the power of the Impermanence Sword even better.

Just like when, during Treading Heaven Beyond the Path, I sheathed my whole body in the Impermanence Sword and fought, the Great Mountain Supreme Deity likewise wraps his whole body with the Impermanence Sword and thrusts a fist toward me.

Kwaaang!

The first exchange comes and goes.

My sword is blocked by him, and his fist, overlaid with the Impermanence Sword, drives straight into my waist.

Even by the size ratio of a Governing Immortal, at the massive punch that feels like the size of a pot lid, I am sent flying as I spill Immortal Beast True Blood.

Kwagwagwang!

Leaving the place where the original Mount Sumeru exists, the place I reach is the Underworld's Gandhara.

The dimension of vast darkness, through attraction force, stands outside the Mount Sumeru where only its form remains and observes us.

'The Great Mountain Supreme Deity has descended. Will you truly not take part?'

In an instant, I ask briefly, and a reply comes from the Underworld side.

Kiiiiiiing!

The Underworld's Wheel is spinning like mad.

An immense Cycle of Reincarnation forms, and the spirits the Great Mountain Supreme Deity just killed are seen circulating within the Underworld.

It is a wordless answer, but I understand.

The moment the Underworld moves to help anyone, the overwhelming majority of the spirits whom the Great Mountain Supreme Deity killed will be flung out to the sea of chaos outside Mount Sumeru and become lost children of chaos.

A powerful great compassion toward the living beings of Mount Sumeru!

That great compassion, like Yu Hao Te's, that venerates even a single mortal being like an insect or microorganism, is instead holding back the Underworld in a situation like now.

'No. Great Mountain aimed for this and made a surprise attack so there was no time to prepare, and let go a considerable number of spirits.'

With a single surprise attack, Great Mountain gained a quite significant advantage.

::...I was discourteous. Please take good care of the spirits. ::

Beginning to draw forth power, I offer a word to the Underworld, and I face the Great Mountain Supreme Deity who walks through chaos wreathed in a dark light that even I at the level of a Governing Immortal cannot see.

Behind the gigantic Mountain Divine Spirit walking with Master's mask on, the Radiance Seven Immortals naturally join.

:: We will kill you. Enders!!! ::

Beyond their masks, they shed bright-red Heaven and Earth spiritual energy of hatred and anger like tears and pour upon us an unbearable fury.

And behind me, my Ender comrades, and the True Immortals they summoned begin to form ranks.

No, it is not only the True Immortals they summoned.

After the sudden destruction of Mount Sumeru, the vast majority of True Immortals originally belonging to Radiance Hall, including Heaven Immortals who quickly gauge the situation, begin to come to our side.

Kim Yeon activates the Artificial Gandhara that devoured even the domain of time.

Many among the True Immortals knock on the gates of the Underworld, but as the Heaven Immortals are not accepted, they take refuge inside Kim Yeon's Gandhara.

Is it only refuge?

:: Radiance Supreme Deity! ::

:: To join hands with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity... ::

:: No matter how heinous an enemy the Sword Mountain Devil Lord is...to join hands with 'that' Mountain Divine Spirit...! What in the world are you doing!? O light that guards justice, why are you with the existence that has destroyed the Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand World? Are we now to be together with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity!? ::

They, having a fit at the Radiance Seven Immortals who have joined hands with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity who has destroyed the world, attach themselves to us. Even the Envoys of the Final Age of Dharma are the same.

Excepting faithful existences like the Thirty-Three Heavenly Resplendent Treasure Immortals, the forces flip over in an instant, and in terms of faction we become superior. And, as the Radiance Seven Immortals put their palms together, they still begin to call forth the symbol of Heuk Sa, though it has become a little unstable.

:: Trash that has gained power without qualification. ::

:: All of you...have never once differed from the Mountain Divine Spirits. : :

:: On this day, we shall annihilate you all and open a new world! ::

The situation from when the Great Mountain Supreme Deity recited the Splitting Heaven Mantra before is reproduced.

The chaotic situation in which the Radiance Eight Immortals betrayed all their own forces and, joining hands with the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, waged war against them all. In the waves of chaos, a cluttered all-out war begins.

:: In the name of the Radiance Supreme Deity, we prophesize...⠀ ⠀

The Radiance Seven Immortals step forward, and inside Mount Sumeru that the Great Mountain Supreme Deity annihilated, they simultaneously raise their fingers.

:: Let there be light! ::

And then there is light.

Centered on the seven divine spirits, a vast light erupts and begins to create a Heavenly Domain.

Immortal Lords, if they draw on the power of the Origin Essence excessively, are devoured by the Origin Essence.

The only ones who can escape that law are Supreme Deities.

It is the same for the Radiance Eight Immortals.

They are ones who slowly get eaten by the Origin Essence,

And they too, if roughly ten trillion years pass, are existences that get devoured by light.

That also is the driving force that makes the Radiance Eight Immortals undergo a generational change.

That is, if they draw only within the normal range of power, unless about ten trillion years pass, they have no reason to be slain or to undergo a generational change. Because they will not be devoured at once by the Origin Essence of Light.

However...

I, seeing the Seven Immortals of this era whose eyes have gone mad with hatred, realize what they are doing.

Burnt Offering!

They, feeding all of their own existence to the Origin Essence of Light, are summoning power.

'Is this...the proper power of the Radiance Supreme Deity?'

If the Radiance Ten Heavenly Lords were truly alive and made themselves a sacrificial burnt offering to draw forth power, that power seems to have been literally comparable to the Gandhara of the Underworld.

Kugugugugugugu!

As a Heavenly Domain is created, lights flicker again on Mount Sumeru, which has lost light and become only a shell.

They are 'Heavenly Domains'.

Yes, with the self burnt offering of the Radiance Seven Immortals as the main axis, thousands, tens of thousands of 'Heavenly Domains' are created and lights are surging. Furthermore, with my Radiance Mantra still activating, the radiance of those Heavenly Domains moving as if quickly pulsing inside Mount Sumeru is an indescribable spectacle. At that astonishing authority of the Radiance Seven Immortals, the True Immortal alliance simultaneously hesitates.

And seeing that sight, Jeon Myeong-hoon in his true body pushes my back.

:: Go and come back. ::

Kim Yeon also gently strokes my shoulder and smiles.

:: Go and come back. ::

Having finished speaking, the two walk forth before me and cry out.

:: I, in the name of the Owner of Heavenly Punishment, command. ::

Kurung, kurururung!

Jeon Myeong-hoon swings the Heavenly Lightning Banner and declares.

:: The Jade Pivot Forty-Eight Lightning Heavenly Great Immortals...shall duly assemble. Seize the chance to release that retribution. : :

Kurururururung!

Zhengli, who always resisted in Jeon Myeong-hoon's hand, at least this once properly responds with power to Jeon Myeong-hoon's order and scatters lightning.

And within that rumbling thunder, forty-eight Lightning Immortals begin to reveal their true bodies.

They all glare at Jeon Myeong-hoon with eyes as if displeased.

But...

This time at least, there lies a will that says they will listen to his command.

:: We shall receive the command. ::

Not only the Jade Pivot Forty-Eight Lightning Heavenly Great Immortals, but some True Immortals as well are seen gathering under Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Reading history, they seem to be those who had claimed themselves to be disciples of Yang Su-jin.

Kiiiiiing!

Kim Yeon's Artificial Gandhara hums and draws the attention of the Heaven Immortals who originally belonged to Radiance Hall.

:: I am the Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King. ::

That single name.

With that alone, the vast majority of True Immortals begin to tremble in panic like aspen trees.

:: True Immortals who will not fight out of fear, and True Immortals who will not fight because they worry about the Middle Realm inside their bodies...all come into this Gandhara. :: Tsuaaaaatt!

At the light pink radiance that spilling from Kim Yeon's eyes, the Heaven Immortals who groan under the remaining power of the Radiance Seven Immortals begin to gain hope.

:: I will embrace you. ::

Numerous Heaven Immortals enter the Artificial Gandhara, and, using that Gandhara as a shield, they begin to fire a barrage of prophecies that snipe the Radiance Seven Immortals, and they begin to infuse their power in as the energy source for the Artificial Gandhara.

Clank!

:: Artificial Gandhara activation. Learning time-observation data of the Source River. ::

And, as a strange voice rings out from the Artificial Gandhara...using the power of the True Immortals as the power source, [something]s begin to pour out.

Astonishingly, they are True Immortals.

More precisely, True Immortals who died in the past.

The innumerable existences within history that the Source River observed.

As the Source River observed time and history, the innumerable existences recorded by the calendrics within history start to pour out.

Projections of True Immortals numbering in the millions appear in reality and glare at the Radiance Seven Immortals.

A True Immortal-grade puppet cannot exist.

Because a puppet cannot accept life and death.

Therefore, the Mad Lord did not bother to design puppets at the Star Shattering stage and above.

From the Star Shattering stage and upward, there are aspects of power that a puppet cannot follow. Instead, he created a magnum opus to replace puppets of the Star Shattering stage and higher. Immortal Art Yeon's Play.

An Immortal Art that uses puppets to draw in spacetime of the past.

If the role of a marionette is for the sake of a play, this was his final masterpiece to puppeteer spacetime itself, reenact it, and stage the play.

Except for [Her], the Mad Lord did not bother to design puppets of the Star Shattering stage and above.

For once he conceived Yeon's Play, once he harbored the ambition to puppeteer spacetime, there was no reason to design puppets beyond that realm.

Kugugugugugu!

:: Immortal Art. Yeon's Play. ::

With the power of the True Immortals sheltered inside the Artificial Gandhara as the power source.

Based on the observation information of the domain of time, the Source River, that the Artificial Gandhara devoured.

By activating the Immortal Art Yeon's Play, She puppeteers the spacetime of the past and reenacts it into this spacetime.

An army of True Immortals numbering in the millions begins to move like marionettes and charge toward the Radiance Seven Immortals.

It is the emergence of a true True Immortal Puppet army.

Oh Hyun-seok and Oh Hye-seo stand to my left and right.

:: We also have a personal grudge against that guy. ::

::.... ⠀⠀

The two reveal their true bodies and show visible anger toward the Mountain Divine Spirit.

:: We can fight together, right? ::

I nod.

::...Of course.::

Kang Min-hee meets my eyes within the world of chaos.

'Things developed suddenly, but...can you find it, Min-hee?'

I ask Kang Min-hee regarding what I asked her in advance, and Kang Min-hee nods.

:: With your authority and my status of being my master's disciple. And with my talent...I can definitely find it. : :

:: I'll trust you.::

The final move to defeat the Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

In the end, Kang Min-hee's role is the most secret, but it is bound to become the most lethal poison.

Lastly, I look at the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

I look at Ji Hwa.

There is no need for many words.

:: Let's fight together. ::

:: Yes. ::

Ji Hwa and I, each gripping our swords, steel our resolve and...

Eujik-

Ji Hwa explodes and dies.

:: Rambling this and that before a fight... Is such rambling your strength? ::

The Great Mountain Supreme Deity tears apart Mount Sumeru, plants the Gandhara as his foothold, and descends before me.

:: Right now, I am on par with the prime Vast Cold in strength. : :

Woo-wooong-

The Mountain Exuding Darkness lifts its fist.

:: Know your place, and focus. ::

Jjeoooooong!

His single strike.

Because the Retribution of the Impermanence Sword clings upon it, a must-hit strike from which only 'Seo Eun-hyun' cannot evade slams me straight down beneath the foothold.

Tukwang!

I pierce straight through the Gandhara of the Underworld, shoot out the opposite side, and stare at the God of the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea who sheds tears of blood.

In a brief instant, advice from the Underworld comes in through the domain of Indra's Net.

Be careful. That arrogant God...lowers himself in compa to Vast Cold. ::

Indeed.

No matter how strong Vast Cold was, if it is the usual Great Mountain Supreme Deity, he would express himself with something like he has 'surpassed' Vast Cold...so to use an expression like 'on par' with his temperament is strange.

Since I know well that each and every Mountain Divine Spirit are all lumps of pride, the expression 'on par' bothers me more than Great Mountain's blow that pierced the straight through the Underworld's

Gandhara.

Splitting Emperor Splitting Heaven.

:: Annihilation Advancement Mu.::

A dark-red light bursts out.

Not a golden light, but seeing that unique dark-red energy of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity, I can tell that he has instantly digested all the fate and Origin Essence amounting to one Mount Sumeru.

Dudududududu-

Chaos recedes.

At the same time, a spear of dark-red light that pushes back chaos shoots up, pierces me once again, and hurls me beyond the chaos.

'...I see.'

I vomit Immortal Beast True Blood all over my entire body, and I understand what this is.

'He truly...devoured all of the Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand World...'

What Gwak Am consumed was not merely the Heavenly Domains.

The fate and life dwelling within those Heavenly Domains...

And