A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 592: Mount Sumeru (5)

Chapter 592: Mount Suru (5)

"With...you...?"

Badududuk...

Jeon Myeong-hoon grits his teeth.

"Join hands...? With you...?"

His face twists into an evil spirit.

"Join forces with you...? With you...!? Do you think...I could ever accept that!!??"

Kururururung!

A powerful thunderous roar bursts from within Jeon Myeong-hoon, pushing back Zhengli's presence alongside mine.

Zhengli chuckles.

"Well. I'm only here to make an offer. Whether you accept it or not is up to you. And...do you think you can escape Their plan just because you refuse? One way or another, you will end up liberating my Lord. Sooner or later. By so thod or another... My Lord is rely extending a hand to offer you pitiful things a chance."

I glare at her as I listen.

"...So...you plan to resurrect through Jeon Myeong-hoon's body, is it?"

At my words, Zhengli turns her gaze towards .

For a mont, Zhengli and I stare each other down.

"...Well, that could be one way... In any case, understand that this proposal is entirely for your sake."

She seems slightly flustered, perhaps because I saw through their plan so quickly.

Jeon Myeong-hoon snorts at her.

"Hah... Use as a vessel for resurrection? Don't make laugh. You think I'd allow that!? I'd kill myself first. Rather than let your Lord take my body, I'd shatter every prophecy and throw myself into the Underworld to be torn apart!"

He glares at Zhengli with bloodshot eyes, grinding his teeth.

"You want us to join hands? Fine!!! Then I'll agree. But!!! Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect! Revive every single mber of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect who was annihilated by the Owner of Heavenly Punishnt! Bring them all back, and I'll help you."

"Hmm..."

Zhengli seems to ponder sothing, while Jeon Myeong-hoon mutters in a low voice, as if reconsidering sothing.

"Don't even think about lying. Seo Eun-hyun! If she tries to deceive with lies, strike her imdiately. You can do that, right?"

"...Yeah."

Kiiiiing!

I activate the authority of the Impermanence Sword, locking my gaze onto Zhengli.

She clicks her tongue and lets out a sigh.

"What a bunch of nuisances. Fine. I'll tell you the truth. The living beings who returned to my Lord. In other words, the other rabble other than the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect that were in the Human Race territory where your sect resided."

She must be talking about the residents of Thunder Spirit Island.

"The ones who returned to my Lord have been reborn within Them, now living happily as spirits of lightning. Their cultivation is far beyond what it was when they were humans, and their lifespans are longer. Honestly, most prefer this than before."

"...!"

My eyes widen at this unexpected truth.

'This is...'

A part of my chest...

Feels lighter.

Of course, I don't feel completely at ease.

But it's as if one of the heavy burdens of guilt, which had been weighing down on , washes away.

Though countless thorns still pierce my chest, it feels like at least one has been pulled out.

'...Thank goodness.'

Back in the 15th cycle.

When the entire Heavenly Human Island, the headquarters of the Human Race, was returned to the Owner of Heavenly Punishnt, it hadn't been just pain and despair after all.

However, unlike —whose heart feels sowhat lighter—Jeon Myeong-hoon's gaze grows more vicious with each word of Zhengli's explanation.

"But...your Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect didn't return to my Lord back then. Quite literally, they were completely erased by the falling Heavenly Tribulation. Ordinary living beings, when they die, pass through the outskirts and fall into the depths of the Underworld, where they are judged and then reincarnated. But the authority I used that day, borrowing my Lord's power, sealed your spirits within the Heavenly Tribulation, tornting them while sending them straight to the depths of the Underworld, bypassing the outskirts entirely."

"..."

At first, Jeon Myeong-hoon's face heaves with anger, but now it gradually calms.

I know exactly what this ans.

'When soone feels pain or hatred beyond a point, their rage condenses, and for a mont, they can seem rational.'

Right now, Jeon Myeong-hoon is condensing his fury to its utmost limit.

"Since they were thrust straight into the depths of the Underworld, they would have been judged and reincarnated right away. They are probably living sowhere on this vast Mount Suru, reborn according to their karma. Those who accumulated virtue as races like the Earth Tribe or Heaven Tribe. Those steeped in vice as bugs, livestock, or perhaps as monsters with the fate of Asura... Since it has been so ti since then, they have probably reincarnated hundreds of tis."

She shrugs.

"Sorry about that. Reviving the dead isn't hard, but finding those who have already reincarnated—especially ones who've done so hundreds of tis, with their original fates and natures completely altered—and restoring their mories to present them before you...well. In my current state, that's a bit beyond ."

"..."

"If the forty-eight Great Net True Heavenly Lords under my Lord in Their heyday were still intact, it might have been worth attempting. But with my Lord imprisoned, it is impossible. The only ones who could manage to do so at this point are probably the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld or the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable, who oversee reincarnation. But neither of them will permit it. The judgnts of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld only proceed when a spirit has fully accepted its past life. Both Heavenly Venerables respect the free will of spirits that have co to terms with their lives and moved on to their next. What you are asking for is impossible. Do you understand?

"..."

The red fades from Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes.

But I still see the endless pain within them.

Right now, he is showing the appearance of the broken Lightning Harbinger.

"...Why go to such lengths to eliminate any reason I might have to help you?"

He lets out a hollow laugh.

It's a chilling sight.

Yet Zhengli smiles.

"While bringing them back is impossible...finding them isn't."

"...What...?"

"You seem desperate to save the humans of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. So, aside from my Lord's reward, I will make you this promise. It is a promise in my Lord's na. I will ask my Lord to find the reincarnations of the humans from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect who perished by my hand at that ti."

At that, Jeon Myeong-hoon's gaze trembles.

The chilling look in his eyes fades slightly.

"Right now, it is a bit difficult, but once the Lord escapes from imprisonnt, it is possible. The Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation thod you have. Though it is an Immortal Art Yang Su-jin slightly altered, who do you think the original ca from?"

Pachijijik!

A net of lightning crackles around Zhengli.

"By using Indra's Net of the Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation, you can trace the history of those who have once been with you through the principle of returning lightning strikes. Of course, you can't do it with your own power. After so many reincarnations, they have long lost their original essence. To find those who have reincarnated hundreds, thousands of tis, only the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld or the Lord who fully controls Heavenly Punishnt could manage such a feat."

"..."

"Help my Lord. And They will help you in return."

Zhengli extends her hand to Jeon Myeong-hoon with a gentle voice.

Just then,

Jeon Myeong-hoon's gaze sharpens once more.

"...What a joke."

"Hmm?"

"You say using Indra's Net can help find the comrades of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect...? Then why in the world would I have to help you? Doesn't that give even less reason to?"

"Kukuk, did you even listen? I even explained it in such detail. Don't tell you actually believe you could use Indra's Net to the sa capabilities as my..."

"Of course I can't."

Jeon Myeong-hoon twists the corner of his lips.

"But...what if Seo Eun-hyun helps ?"

"...Even so, it's just two Upper Immortals..."

"There's also Golden Shaking Bird. She also definitely ntioned that there are Thunder Beasts and disciples who followed the Golden Divine. If they help too?"

"Yang Su-jin's disciples? Thunder Beasts? None of them have reached the realm of Great Net..."

"I'm not the only one who can mobilize manpower...There's Seo Eun-hyun too. And...I'm not alone with just Seo Eun-hyun. I have comrades in other Heavenly Domains as well. Kim Young-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Kang Min-hee, Kim Yeon...and maybe even Oh Hye-seo. There is more than enough manpower I can call upon...! With all their strength combined, isn't it possible for us to save the people of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect on our own?"

"..."

Zhengli silently glares at Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"I hate you all. Reincarnated or whatever. Whether the rest are living well inside your Lord's belly or not. During the ti of the returning. Back when we were annihilated by Heavenly Punishnt. The ones who trampled the powerless us and fried us with Heavenly Punishnt were you!!"

Jeon Myeong-hoon pulls out a wooden box from his chest and grips it tightly, trembling.

It is the box that holds Jin So-hae's hand.

"Even if...I manage to find the reincarnated them, what am I supposed to do? Huh? Didn't you say they reincarnated multiple tis? Their essence and fate have changed multiple tis? Then doesn't that an the ones I know are all dead for good?"

"...Hey, if you use certain Immortal Arts or precious elixirs, there are ways to recover their past life mories..."

"So, you're telling to go find those who are living peaceful lives now, force their past life mories onto them, and make them suffer the agony of their painful ends all over again!?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon grits his teeth as he speaks.

"I will not join hands with you. Let your Lord rot in confinent for ten thousand, a hundred million years. I don't care what gifts you offer."

"...You..."

"I am weaker than you. But we are stronger than you!"

Jeon Myeong-hoon's bold declaration!

I smile faintly as I watch him.

"I, too, share the sa resolve. After all...you are just another one of our enemies."

At my words, Zhengli clenches both fists, her body trembling.

"You re fledglings who have just advanced to True Immortality... How dare you defy Their will...!? You think the likes of you are stronger than my Lord...?"

It seems the words 'we are stronger than you' struck her the hardest, as crimson lightning begins to crackle around her.

Red.

It feels as if the entire Great Desolate Path is being dyed in red.

'This is...dangerous.'

Zhengli is enraged.

"Immortal Cultivation is repentant enlightennt..."

Wiiiiiiing!

I recite the Phenona Extinguishing Mantra, preparing to counter her power at any mont as I glare at her.

Jeon Myeong-hoon also holds his ground, operating the Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation thod.

: : re clots of blood who've just stepped into the realm of Immortals... Even if you were to ignore ...you dare claim to be stronger than my Lord with such empty words...? No matter what happens today...I will rip your tongues out. : :

Guguguguguk!

The very dinsion seems to warp under the weight of her presence.

Gradually, Zhengli's form starts to change.

The Immortal Treasure of the Heavenly Punishnt Supre Deity, Zhengli.

She seems to be revealing her main body.

Just as I think that—

: : Uh, ugh...uuuuugh... : :

Zhengli suddenly flinches.

And imdiately after,

: : ...Understood. : :

Chijijijik...

She suppresses her rage and lowers her power.

Chijik...

Finally, when her red lightning fully subsides, I feel chills running across my entire body.

'Th-This is...!'

It feels like my brain is trembling.

Though my brain has long since ceased to exist, the sheer presence radiating from the being before feels so imnse it's as if my head is burning.

'I'm gonna throw up...!'

An overwhelming presence is flooding the entire Great Desolate Path.

At the sa ti, I sense Zhengli's consciousness shrinking into a corner, her will vanishing.

Having descended into Yeo Hwi's body and crossed the Heavenly King Heavenly Domain not long ago, I imdiately understand what is happening.

The will of the owner is descending into the body of the Immortal Treasure.

In other words...

'H-Heavenly Punishnt Supre Deity...!?'

The Heavenly Punishnt Supre Deity, Do Gon, is directly revealing Their will through Zhengli's body within the Great Desolate Path.

Jeon Myeong-hoon clutches his throat, gasping for breath as collapses, while I barely manage to withstand the pressure and stay on my feet.

'Even while They are imprisoned, with only a fragnt of Their will... Damn it. The gap between and a Supre Deity is still vast.'

Kudududududuk!

I speak towards the Heavenly Punishnt Supre Deity as if screaming.

"It is an honour beyond asure to et Your Majesty, the Heavenly Punishnt Supre Deity! If Thee has any words for us later generations, please, we will listen with utmost respect!"

: : Haha... : :

A faint chuckle.

The mont it echoes, the suffocating presence that had engulfed us vanishes, as if it had been a lie.

However, I realize that the presence hasn't disappeared but has been compressed deep inside Zhengli's body.

The claws have not been retracted, rely held back.

I can tell that at any mont, They could reveal a will as powerful as before, no even stronger, and crush us and the entire Great Desolate Path.

"This Immortal has withdrawn my presence, so cease reciting the Phenona Extinguishing Mantra, Ender."

"...!"

The entity dwelling within Zhengli's body points with a kind voice at the Yin-Yang Five Elents energy gathering in my hands.

"...I apologize. It is my minimal ans of defense."

"The topic I will speak about from now on will be about Ra Cheon...of Gwak Am. If you keep reciting, They might overhear."

"..."

"I will not harm you here today. I swear it upon the na of this Immortal."

Only then do I release the Phenona Extinguishing Mantra.

Seeing this, Do Gon reclines on the chair Zhengli has created and speaks.

"I understand the grudge you bear against this Immortal. This Immortal, too, knows all too well the feeling of losing those cherished and loved to an unstoppable force. This Immortal won't ask you to set aside your grudge or forgive. When the ti cos, co for your revenge."

"...?"

At this unexpected response, Jeon Myeong-hoon and I montarily wear strange expressions.

Their casual invitation to exact revenge makes Them seem almost magnanimous, or perhaps simply incomprehensible.

"But, as always, revenge should never end with revenge alone. You must think of those who remain."

"...What do you an by that?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks as he glares at Do Gon, and Do Gon responds with a faint smile.

"It is simple. Did Zhengli not tell you when she first ca to convey my will? To choose. Be annihilated by the Great Mountain Supre Deity, or liberate and seek an opportunity."

"What is this Great Mountain Supre Deity planning?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon questions, not understanding, and Do Gon speaks while turning to look at .

"You know, do you not? The terror of the Great Mountain Supre Deity?"

"..."

"I will skip the unnecessary details and speak bluntly. I do not know exactly when. But...in the near future, all of Mount Suru will undoubtedly be destroyed by the hands of the Great Mountain Supre Deity."

They turn to Jeon Myeong-hoon again and speak.

"And when that happens...all your old comrades, who have reincarnated and are now living peaceful lives, will feel the sa agony as then and be annihilated. This ti, there will be no chance for even reincarnation. Those struck down by the Great Mountain Supre Deity do not reincarnate... You said you would not seek out their past lives out of concern for their current ones? Wrong. If you truly care about your old comrades...then you must stop the Great Mountain Supre Deity as fast as possible.

"Revenge is fine, but before seeking vengeance, should you not be protecting those who are still alive? Is that not clearly more important than revenge?"

"..."

Do Gon looks at us with a relaxed deanor and asks,

"Is there any flaw in my logic?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon's body trembles.

With great effort, he parts his lips and asks ,

"...Seo...Eun-hyun."

"I'm listening."

"...Is it...true?"

"..."

"Will the world...really be destroyed by that Great Mountain Supre Deity? You...would know, wouldn't you? If it's you..."

"..."

A question that I, the junior brother of the Great Mountain Supre Deity, can clearly answer.

I recall the power of the Great Mountain Supre Deity.

And I rember that golden wave I saw in my past life.

That golden wave that crumbled all Heavenly Domains.

"...Yes. The Great Mountain Supre Deity...can destroy the world. They have the power, and the will..."

"..."

Jeon Myeong-hoon slams his head against the ground.

"...Then...if I join hands with you...will I really be able to save them...?"

At that, Do Gon opens his mouth.

"To answer that...I will first need to explain the mantra They seek to complete... Of course, I do not know every detail, and I am only speaking on what I do know, but...I will give you solid evidence on why your comrades can be saved."

Then, Their explanation that follows is beyond imagination.

"The mantra the Great Mountain Supre Deity seeks to complete is the Splitting Heaven Mantra (裂天眞言)."

I freeze in place as I listen to the words of the Heavenly Punishnt Supre Deity, Do Gon.

"To be exact, it is less of a mantra and more of a [phenonon]. But for convenience, it is called the [Splitting Heaven Mantra]. This [phenonon] where the heavens are torn apart...appears every ti you Enders are born."

"...What?"

"The Phenona Extinguishing Mantra of the Salt Sea Supre Deity was an attempt to reverse the Splitting Heaven Mantra to reach the origin of Enders. And the current Great Mountain Supre Deity's Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique is one of many attempts to reverse the Phenona Extinguishing Mantra and restore the Splitting Heaven Mantra."

Shocking truths begin to pour from the mouth of the Heavenly Punishnt Supre Deity Do Gon.