A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

Chapter 80: Qi Building

The Five Elements form a perfect circle.

"Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation!"

Surpassing the Five Elements, truly entering the path of cultivation!

The five spiritual clouds of yellow, black, red, white, and green start to rotate and compress in the dantian.

Ku-gu-gu-gu!

'Here we go!'

A Spiritual Energy Star forms.

The twists of spiritual energy from the Five Elements Spiritual Roots are blocked by the changes of all five methods of the Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation.

‘Suppress them!'

The changes of the Five Elements rotating in the dantian gradually expand their reach.

Soon, the transformations of the Five Elements begin to consume the twists of the Five Elements Spiritual Roots.

My achievements devour the fetters I am born with.

Woo-woo-woong!

Thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of times?

I've challenged Qi Building countless times.

I've understood all the changes of the Five Elements!

Ku-gu-gu-gu!

All transformations of the Five Elements ascend to my hand, and the five-colored star begins to stabilize.

Pa-aa-aaat!

A dazzling orb of light, different from the mere point of spiritual power I've been cultivating, shines within my dantian.

The words of Mad Lord come to mind.

'Creating the flow of fate, extending lifespan...'

Through the unified spiritual meridian, spiritual power circulates and gets absorbed by the Spiritual Energy Star.

And the Spiritual Energy Star compresses it into Pure Spiritual Force.

The Pure Spiritual Force then circulates through the entire spiritual meridian, making the whole body accustomed to it.

Since the Spiritual Energy Star itself prevents the Pure Spiritual Force from running rampant, it's safe even if it flows to sensitive areas like the upper dantian or heart.

Ku-gu-gu-gu!

Gang Qi, or Pure Spiritual Force, starts flowing throughout my body.

Thump, thump, thump!

I no longer need to forcefully compress the heart with Gang Qi.

Gang Qi naturally flows through the spiritual meridian, extending my lifespan.

Changes occur in the celestial energy.

Beyond my fated star, a new position forms, granting me an additional 300 years of lifespan from the heavens.

'If the path of cultivation is about creating a continuation of fate, like the stars... Perhaps cultivation is ultimately a process of becoming like the heavens.'

I gain a slight insight into the path of immortality.

Through it, my ability to read celestial energy has slightly improved since the Qi Refining stage.

Now, just by looking at the sky, I can get a sense of great fortunes and misfortunes.

'From now on, the concept of time will change a bit.'

After reaching Core Formation, I'll receive another 300 years, totaling 600 years of lifespan.

At Nascent Soul, I'll get an additional 600 years, making it about 1200 years in total.

Starting from now, having received an extra 300 years from the heavens, my lifespan will be significantly longer.

Roar, roar...

The dark clouds that gathered around Shattered Heaven Peak dissipate and soon vanish.

"Ha, haha. Hahahaha!"

I sort through my thoughts and laugh loudly, resonating throughout the entire peak.

Finally.

After several lifetimes, finally!

"I have overcome fate...!!!"

Surpassing fate, overcoming lifespan.

Cururuk

I deeply understand Kim Young-Hoon's words that life is joy.

Through martial arts, I have redefined myself and gained higher enlightenment.

Having overcome fate, I have been granted an additional 300 years.

How can I not be grateful?

Once again, I confirm my achievement of reaching the Qi Building stage, releasing Pure Spiritual Force throughout my body.

Currently, I can only produce a slender thread of Pure Spiritual Force, as there is only one source of conversion, the single Spiritual Energy Star.

But undoubtedly, it is Pure Spiritual Force, and with Gang Qi flowing in my body, it's like having constant defensive Gang Qi activated.

Up to the Qi Refining stage, cultivators, though capable of using spells, still feel somewhat human.

But from the Qi Building stage, one truly begins to transcend humanity.

With Gang Qi flowing throughout my body, attacks from martial artists with Sword Energy or Sword Silk will not even break my defenses.

Even Sword Gang should have no effect if the concentration of Pure Spiritual Force is increased.

'Unless it's an attack at the Gang Sphere level, the defensive Gang Qi flowing normally should be sufficient. Additionally, Pure Spiritual Force is circulating throughout, boosting vitality.'

Like the one Qi Building expert in pill-refining from the Makli Clan. Even if several organs are torn out, Pure Spiritual Force will keep them functioning for days, making it unproblematic unless the head, heart, or abdomen is severely injured.

Furthermore.

Covering internal energy with Pure Spiritual Force forms Sword Gang. In that case, freely pouring the Pure Spiritual Force flowing throughout my body into my Inner Core should allow me to produce infinite output of Gang Qi.

Frankly, any energy flowing through my body can be scooped up in whatever amount I wish and utilized in my Inner Core without any noticeable impact.

As I ascend to Qi Building, most importantly, my consciousness has grown even more.

Swish...

I release my Formless Sword.

Then my consciousness returns to its original spherical domain, enveloping me.

Woosh...

Around me, within a radius of about 3 Zhang (approximately 9 meters), becomes covered with my consciousness.

As I continue to cultivate in Qi Building, the domain of my consciousness will only grow larger.

'If I didn't reach Qi Building in this life, the size of my consciousness would remain the same, so my head wouldn’t explode right away in the next life. But now that I've reached Qi Building and been granted more life, thinking about the current size of my consciousness...'

However, after pondering and moving my consciousness for a while, I quickly found the answer in the realm of Beyond the Path to Heaven.

Swoosh...

My consciousness changes into the Formless Sword, and as I activate my will, it completely splits and begins to swirl around me.

'This is possible even without internal energy.'

My skill in handling pure consciousness had greatly increased, having reached the realm of Beyond the Path to Heaven.

In the next life, if I wake up and immediately split the Formless Sword, it seems I'll be able to avoid overload in the upper dantian.

'I can at least stay relieved for now...'

For now, I am greatly relieved that I wouldn't be trapped in a cycle of my head constantly exploding.

Of course, I don't know what will happen if I continue to cultivate and my consciousness grows, but for now, I have extinguished the urgent fire.

Swoosh...

I revert the Formless Sword back.

I ponder over the cultivation methods I will learn in the future.

'Now that I've been given 300 years, I should think slowly...'

Until now, I always felt rushed due to the constraint of a 50-year lifespan.

But now that I've been granted 300 years in a single life, I feel incredibly relaxed and peaceful.

The stages of Qi Building are broadly divided into four.

Many people casually called them early, mid, late, and Grand perfection, but there are official names for each stage of Qi Building..

Unlike Qi Refining, where each stage is called Star, it is called Constellation in Qi Building.

1st Constellation: Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, Winnowing Basket

2nd Constellation: Ladle, Ox, Girl, Emptiness, Rooftop, Chamber, Wall.

3rd Constellation: Legs, Bond, Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, Beak, Triple Stars.

4th Constellation: Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Extended Net, Wing, Chariot.

They are called by these names.

They corresponds to the twenty-eight stars existing in the Astral Realm.

Qi Building cultivators start from the Spiritual Energy Star corresponding to the 1st Constellation and go up to the 28th Spiritual Energy Star corresponding to the 4th Constellation. Creating all twenty-eight Spiritual Energy Stars in the dantian signifies reaching the Grand Perfection of Qi Building.

The Seven Stars Ritual performed during the Qi Refining phase is of great help in Qi Building.

The Seven Stars Ritual involved receiving heaven and earth spiritual blessings by borrowing the names of seven out of the twenty-eight constellation stars.

Depending on the type of constellation chosen at that time, it can either assist in the practice of the 1st Constellation, 2nd Constellation, 3rd Constellation, or the 4th Constellation.

'I performed the ritual for the Seven Stars of the Azure Dragon this time, so I should have an advantage in the practice of the 1st Constellation.'

Suddenly, I recall an interesting fact.

Typically, the vast majority of cultivators perform the Seven Stars Ritual only twice in their lifetime.

Unless they choose the wrong time for the ceremony, causing it to fail, or some extraordinary rare phenomenon like Heavenly Rejection occurs.

Originally, the blessings received during the Seven Stars Ritual are only for seven stars, and depending on which constellation one chooses, the timing of the help received in Qi Building changes.

Usually, those with insufficient talent receive blessings from the stars of the 1st Constellation or 2nd Constellation, hoping for help in the early to mid-stages of Qi Building.

Those with outstanding talent receive blessings from the stars of the 3rd Constellation or the 4th Constellation, aiming to quickly pass through the early to mid-stages and focus on the later stages.

'This cursed regression ability might be helpful sometimes.'

In my case, every time I regress, the state of cultivation is completely reset, and I have to perform the Seven Stars Ritual again.

Then, if I receive blessings from the 1st Constellation in the early stage, refresh my understanding of that stage, and in the next life, skip the 1st Constellation with prior knowledge and receive blessings from the 2nd Constellation...

'Reaching the Grand Perfection of Qi Building by receiving blessings from all four constellations doesn't seem like a far-fetched idea.'

Maybe Qi Building might be a bit easier than Qi Refining.

I am lost in thought regarding Qi Building when.

"Eun-hyunl."

Kim Young-hoon approaches me.

After nearly ten years, speaking with his voice.

"It seems that cultivators from various cultivator clans that have settled in Shattered Heaven Peak are coming this way."

"Ah, that makes sense."

With lightning striking and clouds splitting, it’s natural for them to come here.

"Then Sha-"

Just as I am about to utter the word 'Shattered Heaven Peak.'

Crackle!

A flash of lightning sparks before my eyes, and the entire surroundings are engulfed in a strange glow..

I realize in an instant that I have been transported to some bizarre place.

'What's this...?'

I am about to go on alert, but then I realize that my physical body has disappeared.

I have been sucked into this strange world in the state of consciousness.

'What's the situation here?'

As I look around in confusion.

Whoosh...

Crackle, crackle...

The bizarre space begins to fill with lightning of all colors.

Red, blue, gold, white, jade, pink, dark red...

And across the world of lightning.

A shadowy figure emerges, like a dark shadow.

I tense up at this incomprehensible situation and watch the figure.

The figure has no discernible outline, and its entire body is a dark shadow, almost ghost-like.

But it doesn’t feel like the aura of a ghost, it’s more akin to a bizarre phantom.

As I observe the entity.

Drip...

"...!"

From the face area of the shadow.

Blood begins to flow from where I assume the eyes would be.

It looks like a resentful spirit shedding bloody tears.

[I am Yang Su-jin, the first Sect Master of Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, the remnant shadow of the fate left behind. You, the next generation's Ender.

Entering this space means that you've miraculously achieved the conditions I set.

Before realizing your fate, entering Shattered Heaven Peak, surviving the heavenly lightning, and uttering 'Shattered Heaven' - all Enders who miraculously achieve this near-impossible probability can come here.]

'Yang Su-jin!?'

[I, the founder of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, Yang Su-jin, have created an attraction of fate within Shattered Heaven Peak that inevitably draws in Enders. Therefore, an Ender will inevitably come to Shattered Heaven Peak at some point.

However, for an Ender, who is less than a bug before realizing their fate, to be struck by heavenly lightning here and survive against all odds, and to then utter 'Shattered Heaven,' would require an unbelievable miracle.

Such an event is impossible, but without a miracle, there will be no escaping [it]s notice.

Thus, I leave this warning here for future generations, relying solely on the possibility of such a miracle.]

Crack, sizzle...

Around the figure introduced as the remnant of Yang Su-jin.

The lightning that surrounds us starts turning blood red.

[Future generations, whether you are the next Ender, or the one after, or even thousands or millions of generations later, never reveal the fate you have been given. I don't know what gift you may have received, but under no circumstances should you ever speak of it.

No matter where you go in the Three Thousand Worlds, [it] will know what you have received.

Keeping your fate a secret is the only slim chance you have.]

Crackle, sizzle!

The entire area fills with blood-red lightning.

More and more blood tears flow from the eyes of the figure introducing himself as Yang Su-jin's remnant.

[If you have already revealed your secret, then, future generations, even that slim chance has vanished.

Do not even think of returning to your homeland or escaping the curse of fate.

Just give up on the thought of cultivation, live ordinarily among mortals, and die an ordinary death. Forgetting your homeland forever and living and dying that way is the only way to find happiness for an Ender who has revealed their own fate.]

Drip, drip...

His shadow starts to bleed and then begins to dissolve into the blood-red lightning.

[Everyone living their fate feels averse to revealing it.

Especially for an Ender, this feeling is much stronger. Yet, many take their fate lightly and end up revealing it.

I, too, once revealed my fate and ended up like this, so, future generations, heed my warning.

Even if you don't reveal your fate, [it] will be after you, but if you do reveal your fate, any means of resistance against [it] will completely disappear.

Future generations, never take my warning lightly. Never...]

Crackle, sizzle...

Eventually, completely dissolving into the blood-red lightning, he vanishes.

Flash!

The next moment.

"...It's time to leave.."

I return to the real world, and Kim Young-hoon arrives in front of me.

What happened in that strange world occurred in less than a second.

'Ender? [It]? Caught? What shouldn't be revealed?'

"Right, but... are you okay? You don't look well..."

"Oh, no, it's nothing. I guess I pushed myself a bit too hard to reach Qi Building. But anyway..."

I look around and click my tongue.

"It looks like we're surrounded."

Indeed.

Dozens of Qi Building cultivators from various clans of Shengzi surround us at Shattered Heaven Peak, each wielding their own magic artifacts and standing on their flying artifacts.

"Who are you to occupy Shattered Heaven Peak, jointly selected as a sacred ground by the clans of Shengzi!

What are you plotting? Speak the truth now!"

One of the older Qi Building cultivators points at us angrily and shouts.

I step forward and bow.

"Greetings, I am a cultivator who has just reached the stage of Qi Building. The phenomenon just now was due to a special method I was practicing.

In my ignorance, I only thought this land belonged to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, not knowing it was part of the territory of the Shengzi clan alliance. So please forgive my mistake. I will not set foot in the Great Mountain Range again."

"Hmm, with the recent massacre near the Heaven-Treading Desert and the war predicted to happen in 200 years, the entire continent is in chaos.

You lot seem suspicious! And to be a loose Qi Building cultivator at this time! No, this won't do, we're taking you in!"

"Could you please forgive us just this once? I really have just broken through to Qi Building, and the recent phenomenon was due to a special method I practiced."

The leading Qi Building cultivator scoffs at my words and begins to channel his magic artifacts's power.

He seems not to listen anymore.

"Surrender quietly!"

"...Sigh."

I look at Kim Young-hoon.

"I tried to let this go peacefully, but that's not going to happen."

"Hmm, can't be helped. None of them seem to be at Core Formation, so let's just warm up. You need to get used to Beyond the Path to Heaven anyway."

"That's true."

As we speak, the cultivator with the magic artifact yells out.

"What nonsense are you spouting! A 1st Constellation Qi Building cultivator and a Qi Refining 3rd or 4th Star losing their minds..."

In the next instant.

Kim Young-hoon grabs his saber.

"Ha..!"

And the Qi Building cultivators around us shudder.

If they have performed the Seven Stars Ritual and have the ability to read celestial energy, they will have felt it.

A great misfortune appears right before them.

Flash!

Kim Young-hoon's consciousness turns golden.

Simultaneously, Gang Spheres rise around him.

My consciousness also transforms into the shape of a sword, and nine Gang Spheres rise around me.

"These bastards, using some bizarre and grotesque sorcery! Do you really think you two can defeat all of us?"

"Clan leader, they're using bizarre methods we've never seen before. Could they be Core Formation seniors?"

"Nonsense! They do not have a Core Formation senior's consciousness! Everyone, take out your magic artifacts!"

The next moment.

Kim Young-hoon's golden consciousness merges with his saber, becoming tangible.

My colorless consciousness disperses like mist before solidifying.

Kim Young-hoon grips the golden saber, and I grasp the formless void.

As I ascended to Beyond the Path to Heaven, Kim Young-hoon's intent became much clearer and more vivid.

Our intents intersect.

[Beyond the Path to Heaven.]

[Beyond the Path to Heaven.]

"Surpassing Radiant Saber."

"Formless Sword."

Back to back, we swing our respective Surpassing Radiant Saber and Formless Sword at the surrounding Qi Building cultivators.

Translator Notes: Yang Su-jin. Ender. Fate. Gift. [It]. Foreshadowing. Mystery. Exciting!