A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

'Ah...'

I immediately understand.

Those True Immortals are in the middle of creating a child right in the center of the open plain, visible to everyone.

As we approach their surroundings, the two True Immortals even more intensely entangle themselves, as if deliberately showing off.

Kurururung, kurururung!

From the union of the two True Immortals, stellar winds blow, and stellar lightning spark.

The sun forming within burns ever brighter, its heat intensifying.

As if they are changing positions, the forms of the nebulae swirl and mix more vigorously, spiraling chaotically.

Kwarurururung!

Wiiiing!

Kwajijijijijik!

Kududududuk!

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

As if the True Immortals are moaning, letting out cries of union, roars and explosions that seem to split Heaven and Earth resound and spread throughout the entire universe, with spiritual energy as the medium.

...At first, I do not realize these are cries of copulation. Only after noticing the lustful intent mixed heavily within the sounds do I understand.

"...H-Huaaagh! Elder! Please! Please just move on quicky! I do not want to keep looking at those obscene perverts!"

"...Ah, a-alright..."

I am dumbfounded, so I quickly pass by them.

Jeon Myeong-hoon seems to be feeling absurd, his mouth hanging open.

"...Is that...the dual cultivation...of True Immortals?"

"Yes, Master... That is normally how it's done. Who would bother to maintain a Transformation form while doing it? The Transformation form is merely a mask recalling their time as mortals. When True Immortals copulate, they instead return to a form closer to their essence. Even so, most have a sense of decorum... They usually create a barrier inside the nebula, or cover the surroundings with a dimensional veil... But those obscene bastards...! Huu..."

Oh Hyun-seok and Kim Yeon also look stunned, seemingly dazed.

Perhaps because none of us have met other True Immortals for a long time, it seems we cannot quite comprehend such a transcendent form of union.

'...Then, was that also what Glass Peacock wanted to do with me...?'

Judging by the fact that the two obscene True Immortals just now seem to be Vestige Liberation Immortals, it seems their cultivation of the Radiance Ten Heavens is carried out in this manner as well.

"...How long does the copulation between True Immortals usually last?"

"Hmm... Normally, True Immortals copulate to fulfill their prophecies, or to create the Radiance Ten Heavens like that. Therefore, once their objective is achieved, it tends to end immediately. Moreover, when the Immortal Arts or prophecies of two True Immortals combine, the realization of the prophecy accelerates tremendously. On the fast end...about a thousand years. On the slow end, five to six thousand years is typical."

She lets out a hollow laugh and continues.

"Before that lunatic True Immortal known as the Ignorant One, the longest recorded union between True Immortals barely lasted twenty thousand years at most. Even True Immortals get exhausted when they mix their essences after all..."

"..."

Listening to her, I feel dumbfounded all over again.

'The maximum copulation period outside Glass Peacock is twenty thousand years, and the average is two to three thousand years... Then why does Glass Peacock start from tens of thousands of years as a baseline...?'

Once more, I strongly feel that had I been caught by Glass Peacock, I truly might have lost my sanity and gone mad.

Afterwards, we continue touring various parts of the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain under the guidance of Golden Shaking Bird.

And after some time.

Kurururung!

"Oh! That place looks good. Perfectly suitable for growing my strength."

"Hm, seeing how much lightning strikes there, it seems suitable for me as well."

Oh Hyun-seok and Jeon Myeong-hoon discover a place within a large nebula swirling in purple.

There, I spot a massive dimensional rift.

Beyond the rift, I can see chaos seeping in from the dimension of the sea outside the Heavenly Domain.

Kugugugung!

Oh Hyun-seok reveals his massive body boiling with chaos and flies straight into it, while Jeon Myeong-hoon also soars in alongside Golden Shaking Bird, absorbing the lightning rushing in from beyond the chaos.

Watching Oh Hyun-seok's back, I smack my lips bitterly.

'When should I...tell him about Azure Tiger Saint...?'

Oh Hyun-seok is still wearing Azure Tiger Saint's Blue Sky Armor.

I have no idea where to even begin or how much to tell him.

Currently, Oh Hyun-seok's cultivation is at the early stage of Vestige Liberation Immortal.

Roughly the same realm as Jeon Myeong-hoon.

'For now, since the realm of Vestige Liberation Immortal can destabilize the mind due to the Radiance Ten Heavens...I'll wait until he reaches Upper Immortal to tell him.'

I reaffirm that now is not yet the time, and transform into my human form.

"Yeon-ah, how about you?"

"Mmm..."

"She says she will try cultivating here while repairing that rift."

"Good. Then, since everyone seems to have taken a liking to this place...I'll cultivate here too."

In truth, ever since entering this Twin Holding Heavenly Domain and witnessing the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity for the first time,

An inexplicable confidence has been surging within me.

'For some reason...this entire Heavenly Domain feels like it's embracing me warmly.'

I have the intuition that, at least within this Heavenly Domain, I can cultivate without having to face all sorts of external difficulties like before.

Since this is the intuition of a Heaven Upper Immortal, this is practically a prophecy.

'I feel confident about the future.'

For some reason, I feel that only under the gaze of the Swallowing Heaven Supreme Deity will I be able to safely undergo Upper Immortal cultivation.

Thus, our place of cultivation is decided.

We call this place the Purple Lotus Realm (紫蓮界), as the shape of this violet nebula resembles a purple lotus flower, and begin our individual cultivation here.

Kururururung!

I gather up the dust inside the Purple Lotus Realm and create a suitable landmass.

"Master, is there anything I can assist with?"

"Ah, Hong Fan. For now, prioritize on reaching the Entering Nirvana stage."

"Yes, Master. I shall do so. But aside from that, if there is any other command..."

"Hmm...maybe later, boiled..."

"Hooh..."

"I'm thinking of making boiled potatoes, so bring me some potatoes. I think Kim Yeon liked potatoes, and since we'll be spending a long time here in the Purple Lotus Realm, anyway I'm thinking of making some potato dishes."

[TL Notes: Boiled in boiled potatoes is 삶, which is the same word for life. It was a pun for ‘Life is…’]

"...! I see. Understood, Master! I will surely carry out your command! I really like boiled potatoes as well! How fortunate!"

"Is that so? Hahahahaha!"

"Haw haw haw haw haw!!!"

Hong Fan laughs heartily and flies off towards the outer edge of the Purple Lotus Realm.

Immediately after, I scatter a barrier of Filling the Heavens Governing View around.

This place is now practically my domain.

'Of course, this alone isn't enough.'

Ururung!

History Revision activates, and the entire space revisions itself into an environment favorable to me.

Once all preparations are complete,

I steady my heart and open my mouth.

Jjeooooooeok!

Chuhwaaak!

At the same time, something massive reveals its presence from within my mouth.

Kugugugugugu!

A True Immortal, wrapped and sealed in my winged garment.

It is my Heaven Upper Immortal senior, walking the Immortal Dao of the Mountain, whom I abducted from Radiance Hall.

"Be released."

Chwararak!

Part of the winged garment loosens, and the True Immortal begins to regain consciousness.

"...This place is..."

"Greetings, Senior."

"...I cannot read the celestial energy. However, judging by the quality of the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, perhaps this is Twin Holding Heavenly Domain."

It seems they are a seasoned True Immortal, calmly deducing their location.

"I've thought about your identity while I was sealed. You must be the one wanted by Radiance Hall, the one they call the return of Vast Cold. Am I correct?"

"Precisely."

"...Why have you kidnapped me? I heard the return of Vast Cold uses the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra. To use the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra means you have been acknowledged by the Great Mountain Supreme Deity... I see, I understand now."

The True Immortal who questions me soon appears to find the answer on their own, glaring at me.

"You intend to devour this Immortal. It's only natural that you would as a disciple of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity. Yes, you wish to devour this Immortal and reduce me to the same state as the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea of the Great Mountain Supreme Deity."

"I apologize, but I have no such intention. Rather...I have merely 'invited' Senior to receive your teachings."

"So it seems you mountain spirits call kidnapping a passerby, swallowing them, binding them tightly, and demanding knowledge an 'invitation'."

"Ahem..."

I feel my face flush slightly, but it cannot be helped.

"I apologize for the violent kidnapping. However...had I politely invited Senior at that time, claiming I wished to receive your teachings, would you have agreed?"

"I would have of course captured you immediately, confined you inside Radiance Hall, and subjected you to torture."

"You are honest."

"At our level, what use is there in speaking falsehood... So, what do you plan to do with this Immortal?"

Surprisingly, they appear composed.

"I will propose a deal. Please impart to me your experience of walking the Immortal Dao of the Mountain. In return...I shall reveal to you the true will of Radiance Hall, which the Radiance Eight Immortals and the Radiance Supreme Deity are concealing from the True Immortals of Radiance Hall."

"What guarantee do I have that what you know is the truth?"

"What if I swear before the Naming Supreme Deity?"

"Someone like you would likely know how to twist a vow made before a Supreme Deity."

"Hmm... Then what should I do to gain your trust?"

They ponder briefly before speaking.

"Swear before the Radiance Supreme Deity and the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld. The two who are the Twilight (光陰/Light and Shadow) of Mount Sumeru. And, should your words prove false...attach the condition that you will pass on the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra to me. If so, as a senior who has walked the Immortal Dao of the Mountain, I shall agree to your proposal."

"Hmmm..."

I immediately grasp their intention.

'If I vow to speak of the true will of the Radiance Supreme Deity before the Radiance Supreme Deity...the moment I utter it to keep the promise, Radiance Hall will notice.'

The Radiance Eight Immortals would descend immediately.

"Well, fine. I can do that. However, Senior will have to teach me the Immortal Dao sincerely and wholeheartedly."

Of course, there is no real issue.

All I need to do is disclose this truth in a place like the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain or the Outer Sea, then escape back to the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain using Heavenly Escape.

"And, I hope you teach me properly, with as much sincerity and wholeheartedness as possible. Should you not, I will bind you with my winged garment and throw you in front of Glass Peacock residing in the Bearing Tree Heavenly Domain."

"...Very well, I shall teach you as best I can."

They flinch slightly, as though they had been planning to teach me the Immortal Dao in some weird way.

"My Immortal Art, the Impermanence Sword, can reflect your heart through the power of retribution. So, I would advise you not to harbor any deceitful thoughts."

"...Understood."

They exhale deeply and begin to shrink their body.

Chiiiiiiiik...

Before long, what appears before me is a fox demon race with a clean and attractive face with long blue hair.

Revealing their Transformation form as a Fox Race cultivator with fox ears and a blue robe, they introduce themself.

"This Immortal is the White-Faced Aiding Immortal (白面濟仙), Ho Woon. A descendant of the Immortal Beast White-Faced Golden-Furred Nine-Tailed Fox, and a Heaven Upper Immortal from the Earth Tribe."

Sway, sway...

Behind Ho Woon, nine luscious blue tails sway gently into view.

"Yes, I am the Crystal Glass Being, Seo Eun-hyun. I am from the Human Race...and a Heaven and Earth Upper Immortal."

"A Heaven and Earth Upper Immortal from the Human Race? Strange. What I saw back then...wasn't a Human Race Immortal Beast."

"That...I have some personal circumstances."

"Well, many of those from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain tend to be nutcases anyway. If you were someone with a right mind, you wouldn't have attained Heaven and Earth Upper Immortal anyway."

"...I don't know. From my perspective, Senior Ho Woon, who reached Heaven Upper Immortal as an Earth Tribe member, seems even more insane."

At my blunt remark, Ho Woon clicks their tongue and replies.

"What of it, being a Heaven Upper Immortal from the Earth Tribe? It's a misunderstood method by many, but even as an Earth Tribe, there are many ways to learn Heaven Tribe methods."

"Are there such ways?"

"You must not know, being some backwater bumpkin from the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain. If you serve a True Immortal, you can ask them to grant you a method, or you could receive a ritual method unique to yourself, even if it doesn't suit your race. If that's not possible, you can capture a Heaven Tribe being and use a body-swapping technique, or seize their body through external incarnation or split soul techniques, then learn Heaven Tribe methods in that body."

"Hmmm..."

I might not have known the former methods, but I've heard whispers of the latter even within the Bright Cold Realm.

"However, from what I sense, the plane Senior has seized seems to be the Plane of Qi no matter how I look at it..."

"That's correct. I didn't bother learning Heaven Tribe methods."

"...Then no matter how I think about it, Senior seems to be more insane."

"What nonsense. Many True Immortals choose to set their pathway based on the plane they've seized because it's certainly strong and advantageous, but..."

"I've heard not just 'many,' but more like ninety-nine out of a hundred of True Immortals take that approach."

"Quiet, quiet! I am speaking here! Anyway, that approach is fine, but there are advantages to setting your pathway based on a plane you haven't seized. You won't be specialized, but you will be versatile. You can read history, and through prophecy, read prophecy at the level of those I can make."

"Hmmm...I suppose..."

Recalling how they deduced our location by reading the energy of the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, I nod.

'Had they been a typical Heaven Tribe Heaven Immortal, they would have been helpless in a situation where the celestial energy is cut off by Filling the Heavens Governing View.'

"Understood. It does seem to have its advantages."

"Exactly. So I'm not the mad one. You're the only madman here."

"...You're quite honest."

"As I've said repeatedly, what's the point of hiding our inner thoughts at our level? I simply said honestly that I think you're a lunatic."

Looking at their disgruntled face, I ask a question.

"...That aside, Senior Ho Woon. Are you in a female body or a male body?"

"Does gender have any meaning to a True Immortal?"

"There is always the mortal days."

"Since my mortal days, I've practiced methods that harmonize Yin and Yang within the body...so I was never really restricted by that. This current Transformation form is also sexless. Aside from the face, there is no hole down below."

"Wasn't there a gender when you were first born?"

Ho Woon gives me a look as if he's seeing some strange creature and says,

"Why in the world do you care about that? When I was first born, I was a vixen. However, while advancing after seizing the Plane of Qi, I read my past through the Plane of Qi in the Underworld and came to know of my previous life's memories and personality. In that past life, I was male, so I don't have any particular gender identity."

"Hmmm, I see."

"Why keep asking about such things?"

"Well, you kept calling me a lunatic over and over since earlier, so I figured if you said it one more time, I'd toss you to Glass Peacock. If I mention your gender identity first, they'd like it a lot more that way."

"...I was wrong. Anything but Glass Peacock."

Ho Woon's face darkens and they lower their posture.

"Understood. I'll stop here."

"...Good. Well then...I'll be counting on you."

"Yes, I'll be counting on you as well."

Thus, from that day on, I begin receiving teachings about the Immortal Dao of the Mountain from Ho Woon.