A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 92: 10th Cycles First Day

Blink!

I open my eyes and look around.

The familiar scent of the forest surrounds me.

'...I died.'

I didnt expect to survive, but its frustrating not to have inflicted any significant damage.

'I guess my final act of cursing the Longevity Fruits was my last struggle...'

I click my tongue.

'Is that the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator?'

I recall how Yuan Li's spell engulfed the entire desert like a sandstorm when he used the blood mist.

'A Core Formation cultivator being akin to natural disaster? Ridiculous.'

'That' is what a real disaster should be.

Core Formation is merely a stage of mimicking a disaster.

I sense my companions gradually awakening around me.

I stimulate my consciousness and use a sleeping spell to put them all back to sleep.

Then, I realize something odd.

'Why... doesn't my upper dantian hurt?'

I havent separated my consciousness with the Formless Sword and have yet to adjust its size.

Yet, my upper dantian is unharmed.

Theres no sign of it swelling.

'What...ugh!'

"Kuhuk...!"

A piercing sudden headache grips me, and I clutch my head, writhing on the ground.

"Cough, kuhuk..!"

It feels like my soul is being torn apart!

It hurts!

So much pain!

And then, I understand why.

'How... how could...'

In the core of my consciousness.

Where my soul resides.

There, five blood-red flags are embedded.

"Aaargh..!"

The Five Elements Blood Curse Banner left by Yuan Li.

It has followed me through my return, remaining in my soul.

"Uhk, uhk...!"

Thankfully, after a while of rampaging and tearing through my soul, the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner gradually quiet down and begin to settle.

After a while.

"Hoo, hoo..."

The outburst of the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner finally ceases, and I can finally get up.

"...This is insane.."

I suddenly feel a chill crawl up my spine.

Return isn't invincible.

I should have realized that my consciousness and soul are maintained through each return.

The restraints connected to my consciousness and soul return with me!

'Have I been too complacent until now...'

If a high-level cultivator intentionally brainwashes me or imposes a restraint on my consciousness, that restraint will continue after my return.

In other words, if I ever fall into the hands of a high-level cultivator, I could become their slave for eternity.

'What to do about this Five Elements Blood Curse Banner..?'

If the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner that returned with me is connected to Yuan Li, he might have noticed by now in the Heaven-Treading Desert.

'I should be safe for a few days at least.'

But considering Yuan Li is a Nascent Soul cultivator who only emerged after waiting for the Heavenly Being cultivators to ascend, he wouldn't dare show his face at this point when the world is still filled with Heavenly Being cultivators.

'Maybe I should ask the arriving Heavenly Being cultivators to take a look?'

If I ask Sir Chang-ho, given his character, he might at least check it out once.

Holding onto that hope, I first find some yellow bamboo roots and undergo complete transformation.

Creak, crack...

Harmony settles in my upper, middle, and lower dantian, and my physical body evolves to effortlessly contain the greater consciousness.

'Now even the slight headache has disappeared.'

I observe my consciousness and upper dantian once again.

'However, this Five Elements Blood Curse Banner. If not for Yuan Li's mental restraint, it would be quite useful in the early stages of return.'

The Five Elements Blood Curse Banner suppresses my consciousness, preventing my upper dantian from swelling.

Thanks to this, I don't have to separate my consciousness to avoid headaches at the beginning of my return.

With just the Formless Sword and the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner, the overload of my upper dantian caused by consciousness is completely resolved.

"Then, let's..."

First, I carry my companions and take them to a cave.

After that, I cast a stronger sleeping spell and observe my consciousness.

Deep within my consciousness.

Inside my soul.

There, five blood-red flags are implanted.

I scrutinize with the demon senses.

The flow of Yin and Yang energy from the five flags is suppressing my consciousness through mutual reinforcement.

However, the Yin and Yang spiritual energy is not connected to a distant place.

The same is true for the intent.

'The intent of another flows, but it is gradually scattering and not particularly connected externally.

'For now, it seems Yuan Li is not connected to it.'

Even the remnants of his intent are slowly dispersing and my intent is taking over where his is scattering.

"I wonder, will Yuan Li's intent completely disappear when it scatters?"

Judging by the speed, it seems it will all dissipate soon.

But I have an ominous feeling about the intent flowing through the restraint.

'It's my intent, but it doesn't listen to me.'

The intent flowing over the restraint moves according to its own logic, not mine, contributing to the suppression of my own consciousness.

Woong!

As I try to move with my consciousness and Dual Energy Sword Control, the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner vibrates, pressuring my consciousness.

"Ugh..."

Moving my consciousness any further seems like it will bring the pain of my soul being torn again.

'Moving consciousness greatly is restricted by the Blood Curse Banner.'

Fortunately, during the last moments of my past life.

When I was in front of Yuan Li, even moving my body was restricted, but now, perhaps because Yuan Li's intent is dispersing, there is no pain unless I move my consciousness significantly.

'I need to at least alleviate the restraint.'

Observing the flow of the restraint, I wait for Yuan Li's intent to completely disperse.

After all traces of him are gone, I carefully examine the restraint.

'This is...'

I observe the Blood Curse Banner and soon understand the fundamental principle it is based on.

'A restraint interpreting human consciousness as the Five Elements.'

If it isn't for my complete mastery of the Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation and understanding of Five Elements spiritual energy, I wouldn't have been able to discern the fundamental principle of the restraint so easily.

"Huh, interesting."

Of course, spiritual energy, consciousness, and soul aren't exactly the same, so even though I have mastered the Five Elements and understand a bit of the logic of Five Elements spiritual energy, I can't instantly dismantle the restraint.

'But if I understand this method of corresponding the Five Elements to human consciousness...'

As Im interpreting the symbols of the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

'Wait, this is.'

I suddenly realize these symbols are very familiar to me.

I re-realize the basis of the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

"Curse spell..."

A spell that maximizes others' pain and suppresses the opponent.

These symbols are quite similar to the curse symbols of the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation.

'That's right.'

A spell interpreting the human mind as the Five Elements and finding the pain each element can inflict on the human mind.

That is the true nature of the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

Chalalalak!

Understanding the basis of the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner, I realize I can interfere with the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner implanted in my soul with my consciousness.

'Human mind is the Five Elements. The realization I had when I understood the Gang Sphere, that I am not just myself, and similar to how the Five Elements are interdependent, the mind is also made up of different parts...'

Woong!

My intent slowly moves, manipulating the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner.

The Five Elements Blood Curse Banner, deeply embedded in my soul, begins to move and gradually surface above my soul.

'Push it out...!'

Paaaat!

My consciousness is returning.

The size of my previous consciousness is gradually coming back, allowing me to move it as I will.

"Aah..."

I raise my consciousness, which had been uncomfortably suppressed by the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner, like a body stretching after being stuck somewhere.

It feels like I can live a little again.

However.

Click!

My consciousness entangles again in the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner while trying to rise, regaining only about 70% of its mobility. At this point, I open my eyes.

"Is there something more I need to do to completely release the metal restriction?"

With over 70% of consciousness regained, there's almost no discomfort. I can even move the remaining 30% if I endure the pain, so Im not worried.

However, no matter how much I try to push out the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner further, it does not disappear. Something is missing.

Damn, that Bloodwood. He left me a troublesome legacy.

At this point, I stop researching the mental restraint and decide to leave the rest to Sir Chang ho and others.

"If Sir Chang-ho can't do it, after listening to the will of Song Jin remaining in the Nether Crossing Ship, I'll have to ask him for help."

After all, being the remnant soul of a Heavenly Being cultivator, he must know a lot and surely have a solution.

Wo-woong!

I calm my consciousness and open my eyes again.

The sun is setting.

After looking at my sleeping colleagues, I fall into thought.

"What is fate..."

Fate, as mentioned by the remnant shadow of Yang Su-jin from Shattered Heaven Peak.

Fate, as realized by Kim Young-hoon.

Fate, as explained by Yuan Li after obtaining the Serving Command Seal.

Mad Lord mentioned that fate indeed exists.

It also seems possible to interfere with fate to some extent upon reaching the top of cultivation.

'And, the Ender...'

The last life, when I saw the remnant shadow of Yang Su-jin.

'Despite becoming a being who can interfere with fate, even Yang Su-jin ended up like that. Is something overseeing the entire Three Thousand Worlds, looking for the Enders?'

What is the Ender, and what is this world?

I look up at the sky where the sunset is giving way to the stars.

Then...

I suddenly get the feeling that these stars are watching over the land like eyes and shudder.

Damn, Im overthinking.

The idea of each star being an eye is as creepy as it gets.

I shake my head.

'I've been through too much in my past life...'

Ascending to Qi Building, realizing Beyond the Path to Heaven, capturing Song Jin with Seo Ran, watching over his death, learning the Nether Crossing Ship's steering method, learning about Serving Command Palace.

Kim Young-hoon dying after seeing the path above Beyond the Path to Heaven.

Spending several hundred years inside Serving Command Palace, then being killed by the Nascent Soul cultivator Yuan Li.

It seems my mind is unstable due to experiencing too much for too long.

I calm my throbbing head and sigh.

I look back at the sleeping Kim Young-hoon.

I remember the him from my last life.

'He told me to live a bit more like a human.'

Yes, maybe taking it easy in this life isn't such a bad idea.

Living life like a human...

'Forget Serving Command Palace, fate, Ender, and take some rest.'

Especially after the last life, tortured in soul by Yuan Li, the desire for rest seems more urgent.

'This life, I should hear from the Heavenly Being cultivators about the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner and take it easy to recover my mental health.'

With that thought, I slowly circulate my internal energy with the night air.

Wo-woong!

Gradually, an Inner Core forms in my dantian.

My whole body tingles pleasantly as if letting out a satisfying burp.

And then.

Koong, Koong!

Not long after forming my Inner Core, a white behemoth approaches from beyond the forest.

I frown slightly at the figure who interrupted my comtemplation.

Koong, Koong, Koong!

[You... What kind of demon beast dares to enter my forest?]

"...Master of the forest."

A Core Formation demon fox living in Ascension Path.

Seeing it, I first politely address it.

"I was accidentally swept into a spatial rift and landed here."

The creature, after all, has been somewhat gentlemanly so far, retreating after taking just one arm and showing some manners.

"Please be merciful and allow me to stay in this forest for a few days."

I will also maintain my manners to the end.

[You beast, stop talking nonsense. If you want to stay in my forest, you have to offer your limbs.]

"...Master of the forest, I beseech you. Please let me stay."

[How dare you, a member of the demon race, enter another's territory uninvited and ask for mercy?]

"Master of the forest, I apologize for the rudeness. I beseech you one last time, please..."

[Enough! Hand over your Demon Core, intruder!]

Kwaang!

The fox raises its front paw to strike me down.

Wham!

[What...]

And then, I raise my Formless Sword to fend off its paw.

"Sigh... I've pleaded three times. Isn't three times enough patience?"

I was a bit worried, actually.

It would have been somewhat unfair if this damned creature had unexpectedly retreated in a gentlemanly manner.

But it seems theres no big difference this time as well.

"Today is a dog-eating day, you filthy fox."

I stare straight at the fox and smile brightly.

Feeling the momentum of my Formless Sword, the fox flinches.

Maybe, I have been waiting for this day all along.

"Shall we start fox hunting..."

Kugugugu!

I put my colleagues into a deeper sleep with a sleeping spell and take a step towards the fox.

Its going to be a long night.

Fox Hunting

Swoosh!

A leaf flutters down in the wind.

And I make the first move.

Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Qi Mountain Heaven Sky!

My Formless Sword instantly enlarges and plunges down onto the fox's head.

Our eyes meet briefly in a split second.

Red intent targets me from all directions.

A flurry of white claws follow the intent, rushing towards me.

A direct hit will tear my body, now reduced to a mortal's level from Qi Building, to pieces.

However,

Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh!

Holding the Formless Sword, I move with formless trajectories and footwork.

Mountain Lords Soaring Flight!

Kuang! Kuang! Kuang!

My Formless Sword strikes down on the fox, scattering its attacks around.

A dust cloud rises, and from its center, a hot wind blows, dispersing the dust.

"This... bastard!"

The fox, marked with sword scars, displays its fury towards me, who is unscathed.

Theres no reason not to avoid it when I can see all the trajectories.

Instead of responding to the fox's anger, I retract my Formless Sword and take the stance of the Severing Vein Saber Method.

If a cultivator uses spells to dominate the space around them, turning the environment into 'one for themselves,'

A martial artists understands the space around them and adapts themselves to fit the environment.

The surrounding trees.

Leaves falling from the trees.

The breathing of my sleeping colleagues.

Heartbeats.

The spiritual energy, strength, heartbeat, and the sounds between the muscles felt from the fox.

'Focus more.'

Insects crawling on the ground.

Dewdrops falling at the first clash between me and the fox.

The wary breathing of the fox, the sound of my own heartbeat.

Grasping all this information, I find the optimal path and transform my Formless Sword into the optimal shape.

Severing Vein Saber Method, Mountain Wind!

The Formless Sword becomes a gust of wind, shooting towards the fox's heart.

An attack too fast to react to!

Psiaaat!

Leaves falling between me and the fox are all sliced by the Formless Sword, which then reaches the fox's chest.

In an instant, the fox's consciousness compresses into a shape identical to itself, enveloped in white rays.

Kuuu Guang Guang Guang!

'It didnt penetrate.'

The Formless Sword fails to pierce the fox. The Core Formation fox's hide indeed has significant defensive power, further enhanced by the fox's unique ability.

Yet, unable to withstand the Formless Sword's power, the fox is pushed back and flies into the sky.

Bang!

I kick off the air and rise in front of the fox, lifting my Formless Sword.

Auuuuu!

The fox howls.

Thousands of fire foxes appear around it, transforming into clones identical to the white fox.

Hundreds and thousands of these clones surround me, all rushing in at once.

"Pointless."

I dont waste my strength and use intent and demon senses to identify the real body, then swing my Formless Sword at it.

Severing Mountain Swordsmanship

Layered Mountains, Mountain Echoes Valley Responds, Nine Mountains Eight Seas

The Formless Sword stretches out, entangling the real fox, hitting it with wave-like forms, then slices in all directions.

The clones rush at me, but reading the optimal flow among numerous paths, I dodge them all.

The clones, targeting each other, eventually run out of strength and vanish. The fox, battered by my Formless Sword, uses another ability.

Squeak!

A flash seems to sparkle, and the scenery before me changes.

Within a burst of white light, I hear moans and excited breaths from all directions, and a sensation of ecstasy begins to seep into my body.

"An illusion?"

I smirk, raising my hand to grasp the void.

"How trivial."

Crash!

I connect to the core of the Formless Sword.

I feel my heart essence.

The pain of life perceived in those heart essence.

The sharpness as if my whole body is buried in transparent blades.

The pain wakes my mind, shattering the illusion before it can fully unfold.

During that brief moment, the fox seems to have hidden itself, vanishing from sight.

Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Landscape Painting!

Shaaaa!

The Formless Sword extends in all directions, disturbing the surroundings.

And then, the fo