A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 289
**My Name Is**
**The entire space trembled violently.**
I realized that the curse I held in my hand was connected to the formation laid out across this entire space.
As the curse reversed, the formation that had been perfectly matched to the curse began to shake entirely.
**Crack! Crack! Crack!**
The withered thorny vines wriggled madly, and new sprouts began to emerge from every thorn.
After a while, dazzling white flowers bloomed from within the sprouts.
And at some point.
**Boom!**
A brilliant light burst forth in all directions, scattering white petals across the area, and the thorny vines vanished without a trace.
Along with that, the formation that had been established in the space began to gradually dismantle, and before we knew it, we were inside a tiny pocket space no more than three zhang in radius.
In front of us, Baek Jin knelt and writhed.
“Gah!” “Kuheuk! Damn it… this damn… a supreme orthodox technique with the property of extreme exorcism…!? How did you acquire such a technique and also cultivate demonic arts at the same time!? No, even if you had learned exorcism arts, without understanding the curse, it would never have been possible to break the formation…?”
It seemed he had been directly connected to that formation.
Baek Jin writhed while spewing torrents of white aura from his mouth.
I smiled and said,
“When one reaches the extreme of demons, the path of liberation from demons also becomes visible.”
“Ku, kuhuhu… so that wasn’t a supreme orthodox technique? Well… I see. But let me warn you of one thing.”
He lifted his eyes from beneath his brows and looked at me.
“Within Black Ghost Valley, those who cultivate demonic arts are the absolute majority, so I forbid the casual use of exorcism arts. This is the first time it has happened, and since you weren’t told beforehand, I’ll overlook it… but be careful.”
“I understand. So, does that mean we failed the trial because we used that technique?”
“Huhuhu, of course not. You all… passed with the highest score….”
**Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!**
“…!”
I flinched in surprise.
The reason was that Baek Jin’s body was gradually crumbling into white powder.
His voice gradually turned into a ghostly echo and shook the space.
[The examiner who killed the test administrator has succeeded… You are all now Yin Soul disciples from here on. Since you died so inexplicably… the procedure thereafter… will be guided by this fellow…]
**Slash!**
Baek Jin, who had spoken those words, waved his sleeve and summoned a ghost, then crumbled and died right there.
I stood there dazed and dumbfounded.
‘Eh? He died?’
I hadn’t thought it was because he died, but because he was so casually tired from sleep.
Unlike me, the other four sasaek looked at me with eyes full of respect.
“Amazing, brother sasaek. You killed the test administrator…”
“The entrance examiners of Black Ghost Valley are all famous for being stronger than the sixth realm cultivators. Killing a test administrator who has stepped onto the threshold of heavenly person in one go…”
“I was rude earlier. Please accept my apology.”
There was something fundamentally different about their speech compared to mine, and I felt a sense of distance.
At that moment.
[Follow all five of you. I will distribute the Yin Soul disciple badges.]
A ghost emerged from Baek Jin’s sleeve and spoke to us while spewing blackish aura.
“…First, everyone should receive their identity badges.”
I hid my surprise and followed the ghost.
The ghost made us turn back the way we had come.
‘Are we going back to the entrance hall?’
While following the ghost, I cautiously asked.
“Could it be that I’m being punished for killing the Black Ghost Valley guard?”
[No. Baek Jin was simply killed because his cultivation was insufficient. There is no need to worry.]
“No… isn’t the sect’s strength reduced?”
[Ah… Brother Seo Lip said he prevailed, right? In that case you wouldn’t know the situation of Black Ghost Valley.]
The other four’s expressions turned to shock at the ghost’s words.
“P-prevailed…?”
“With a Nascent Soul body… how could he break through the spatial pressure…”
“I heard there are terrifying monsters everywhere in the Void Space…”
“Y-you’re amazing. How exactly did you prevail? May I ask about your experience during the victory?”
It seemed that in the sects I had entered up to now, there had been few opportunities to directly face disciples from the Gwanghan Realm, and since the sect itself had been one that had achieved collective victory, they hadn’t paid much attention to individual victories.
But regarding ‘personal victory,’ it seemed they held it in high regard from the Gwanghan Realm.
Moreover, when a Nascent Soul body achieved it, it was even more so.
I hesitated to answer, thinking a long explanation would be needed, and gave a short reply.
“Let’s talk about it later.”
After saying that, I waited for the ghost’s reply.
Why was he so nonchalant about killing Baek Jin?
And when the ghost continued speaking, I had no choice but to be shocked.
“From the Yin Soul disciples of Black Ghost Valley, the valley provides an opportunity for revival once every two cycles within the valley. Using the Seopmyeong Ship or the valley’s special large formation makes it easy. Of course, the higher the realm, the more resources are consumed for revival, so those at the level of Black Ghost elders must revive on their own…”
“…!!!”
‘They provide revival opportunities?’
The ghost’s words, said as if it were nothing, left me dumbfounded.
‘Besides, if the Seopmyeong Ship’s function includes revival…’
Only then did I understand why Goe-gun had stolen the Seopmyeong Ship’s power device.
A Seopmyeong Ship equipped with a power device was itself a divine object possessing the revival function.
‘However, judging by [Her]’s state, there must be limitations.’
When I was taken aback, the bald man with a tattoo on his head smiled friendly.
“Didn’t you know, brother sasaek? If you prevailed, that’s natural. The Five Great Sects of humanity all have either Integration experts or Dragon Kings overseeing Black Ghost Valley. One of the reasons Black Ghost Valley is one of the Five Great Sects of humanity is its extreme immortality.”
“Immortality… isn’t that something most demonic beasts who cultivate demonic arts have?”
“It doesn’t mean strong regeneration. Black Ghost Valley demonic beasts are famous for their exceptionally tough life force. First, in Black Ghost Valley, a sixth-rank disciple receives one revival through the valley’s revival formation and one through the Seopmyeong Ship, for a total of two self-revivals. And if you cultivate a few more of Black Ghost Valley’s special techniques, even without revival opportunities, you can revive in the form of a corpse. From there, if you die again, you can revive using techniques that allow you to steal the opponent’s flesh. By continuing to revive in this way, when you can no longer revive, you are sealed in the form of a Ghost King inside the Seopmyeong Ship’s main hall and can continue living in the mortal realm. In Ghost King form, killing becomes even harder, and even if you manage to kill it, there are also forbidden arts that allow revival while remaining in the form of residual soul in the mortal realm, making death itself much harder.”
“….”
I had no choice but to be shocked as I listened to his words.
‘Won Rip was a celestial maiden.’
The bald man with a tattoo on his head was clearly one who had attempted to enter Black Ghost Valley from the outside.
In other words, the number of revivals known even to outsiders was comparable to Won Rip’s.
If one also considered the extra lives that the elders like Jang or the elders personally held, the probability of being able to revive fourteen times or more was high.
And while thinking that, I discovered a terrifying truth.
‘Then, does that mean Goe-gun wiped out one-third of Black Ghost Valley…?’
It meant he had cut down all those insane revival counts and had thoroughly destroyed the Seopmyeong Ship.
‘This insane…’
I thought of Song Jin remaining in residual soul form and trembled as I couldn’t even estimate how many times he had died at the hands of Goe-gun before reaching that state.
[Correct. Black Ghost Valley is said to have a history older than that of the Gwanghan Realm. If the Gwanghan Realm’s history is about to reach 490,000 years, then the history, strength, and dignity accumulated over that long period are truly magnificent.]
“…That seems about right.”
I followed the ghost to the entrance hall and engraved my name on the jet-black identity badge the ghost handed out.
Looking at the jet-black jade badge engraved with ‘Seo Lip,’ I felt a complicated feeling.
[Then follow me. I will assign you to the eastern quarter and give you a sect introduction.]
The ghost led us deep into the valley.
The deeper we went into the valley, the thicker the ghost aura became, and as the aura grew denser, the ghost guiding us became more and more distinct in form.
He was a little ghost spirit wearing a dark robe.
Feeling our gaze, the creature spoke.
[Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Eon-yeon. In my life, I was one of the sixth-rank spirit controllers of Black Ghost Valley. However, I lost my life in a Yin Ghost Ghost Sect raid a hundred years ago. My master, Baek Jin, took me in, and now I serve as a guide here in the form of a Yin Soul.]
“…I see. Dying… isn’t it painful?”
[Dying was painful and terrifying, but now I’m quite used to it. And since Master treats me well, there’s no problem.]
I had a strange feeling about Black Ghost Valley’s unusual attitude toward ‘death.’
‘How strange. They don’t fear death but instead feel familiar with it…’
I followed Eon-yeon and arrived at a cliff in the deepest part of the valley.
“Here is….”
[This is the pride of Black Ghost Valley, the main hall where the divine object Seopmyeong Ship is stationed!]
Looking below the cliff, there was the root of a huge ghost.
Two Seopmyeong Ships floated above the massive black water, spewing enormous ghost aura.
Upon closer inspection, the black water wasn’t actual water but a massive aggregate of countless ghost spirits.
I frowned while looking at that aggregate.
Because the spirits below weren’t peaceful like Eon-yeon but all grieving phantom souls.
When I frowned, Eon-yeon pointed below.
[The eastern quarter is below. Follow me.]
We followed Eon-yeon down and were assigned the eastern quarter on the cliff.
“Huhuhu, the ghostly aura here is so sinister that it’s the perfect environment for cultivating demonic arts.”
“Black Ghost Valley is the best!”
“Hihihi…”
The corpse-like man and the bald tattooed man sighed while looking at the eastern quarter, and the woman in a mourning robe began laughing sinisterly as if madness was again taking hold.
Heo Nam-gwon began humming while sucking in the surrounding ghostly aura, seeming overly satisfied.
[Brother Seo’s eastern quarter is here.]
I was also assigned an eastern quarter with dense ghostly aura near the Seopmyeong Ship.
[Follow me. Since you’ve been assigned an eastern quarter, you must first go pay respects to the elders of the sect.]
We followed Eon-yeon inside the Seopmyeong Ship.
As I entered the familiar interior of the Seopmyeong Ship, I recalled the past.
**Kugugugu!**
The Seopmyeong Ship seemed alive, with ghostly aura flowing from every part.
‘It’s like a single blood vessel.’
An unbroken Seopmyeong Ship looked like a moving Deungsunhyang in itself.
After following Eon-yeon for some time, we entered the deepest shrine of the Seopmyeong Ship.
[Disciple Eon-yeon greets the elders.]
**Kiyaaaaaaa—**
At the same time, an unrecognizable ghostly wail raged inside the shrine.
The massive ghostly wail and aura caused the corpse-like man to freeze stiff, the bald tattooed man to assume a proper posture with his polite face, and the mourning woman to jump in fright as if her mental illness had been cured.
Heo Nam-gwon hid behind me, trembling.
However, I only let out a dry laugh and remained still.
‘Everyone else is excited, but what kind of disgrace is this?’
The sentiment flowing inside the shrine was filled with joy at welcoming new disciples.
As expected, Eon-yeon explained that the elders we were to meet were the Ghost Kings of Black Ghost Valley.
We stood before the shrine where the ghostly wail raged and, following Eon-yeon’s guidance, performed prostrations, then briefly completed the Black Ghost Valley entrance ceremony.
[The entrance ceremony is now complete. From now on, the elders are proud Yin Soul disciples of Black Ghost Valley.]
Eon-yeon clapped and congratulated us, and the bald tattooed man wiped the cold sweat from his head and asked.
“R-really? Thank you.”
It seemed he wanted to leave the inside of the shrine as quickly as possible.
Unlike his expectation, Eon-yeon smiled and seemed about to say something.
At that moment.
“Have the entrance ceremonies all been completed?”
**Woo-woong!**
The space split open, and Baekgol Gwima Heogak entered the shrine.
He had an ambiguous gender appearance and smiled faintly while scanning us, then narrowed his eyes slightly when he saw Heo Nam-gwon.
And when his gaze reached me, it brightened immediately.
“Well, regardless, everyone seems to have entered smoothly. You know about me, right? The head elder of the Black Ghost Valley Gwanghan Realm branch, Baekgol Gwima Heogak.”
We bowed to him in greeting.
“Originally, disciples below Yin Soul are given a master, but for Nascent Soul Yin Soul disciples, we use a slightly special method. You are to choose from among the Ghost Kings in this shrine whom you will serve and support from now on.”
“Eh…?”
The bald tattooed man, whose face had already turned pale from the Ghost Kings’ aura, turned even paler.
Heogak smiled and said,
“Originally, Black Ghost Valley selects one Ghost Daoer from among those who will accompany you. Unlike ordinary Daoers, whose purpose is not yin-yang dual cultivation but cultivation of Ghost Dao techniques. Because of that purpose, regardless of gender, everyone carries at least one Yin Soul. However, you, the newly entered Nascent Soul Yin Soul disciples, cannot properly assimilate the Yin Soul into the Ghost Dao with an ordinary Yin Soul.”
The bald tattooed man’s expression looked as if he might faint at the continuation of Heogak’s words.
“Therefore, until you choose a Ghost Daoer, you must take one Ghost King from among those in this shrine, nourish him with Nascent Soul, and serve and support him so that your Yin Soul becomes familiar with the ghost aura.”
The bald tattooed man’s expression became dazed as if half his soul had left him.
However, the corpse-like man and the mourning woman brightened as if they liked it, and Heo Nam-gwon looked a bit annoyed.
“I, Elder. If I also have to…”
At Heo Nam-gwon’s question, Heogak waved his hand irritably and said,
“This is procedure. You are not exempt.”
“Eh….”
“Then all of you, walk toward the memorial tablets inside the shrine.”
We walked together toward the endless memorial tablets inside the shrine.
At that moment.
**Paaaaat!**
The scenery suddenly changed.
I was now separated from the group, and around me was an endless cemetery under a pitch-black night sky.
The cemetery had neat grave markers everywhere.
Soon after, under the pitch-black sky.
Heogak’s voice rang from the void.
[The place you entered is the Black Ghost Valley Great Tomb Domain, which can only be accessed by passing through the shrine inside the Seopmyeong Ship or by special methods. Countless ancestors’ Yin Souls have become Ghost Kings and reside there. If a Ghost King who likes you appears while you roam, entrust your body to him. The type of Ghost Dao technique you will cultivate from now on will vary depending on which Ghost King chooses you, so show yourselves well to the Ghost Kings.]
After speaking those words, Heogak’s voice cut off, and I waited a moment before looking around.
“Hmm…”
However, no matter how much I looked around, I couldn’t see any sign of the Ghost Kings.
“Who are you?”
I wandered the Great Tomb Domain and searched between the grave markers.
However, not even the Ghost Kings but even the clumsy stray ghosts were nowhere to be seen.
“…Where are the Ghost Kings?”
* * *
Black Ghost Valley Great Tomb Domain.
Another space there.
Heo Nam-gwon, the bald tattooed man, the corpse-like man, and the mourning woman.
Excluding Seo Lip, they were all currently looking at the same scenery.
The Ghost Kings’ ghostly wails, howling madly and glowing across the entire Great Tomb Domain, forced them to vomit blood and collapse to the floor.
**Kiyaaaaaaah!** **Kiaaaaaah!** **Kkeuaaaaaah!**
“W-what the…”
Heo Nam-gwon, a descendant of Heo-reung and originally having a special affinity with Yin Souls, looked up at the sky while vomiting a handful of blood.
The Yin Souls he had usually greeted warmly whenever he approached them were now all glowing madly.
**A big ghost!!!!** **A big ghost has entered the Great Tomb Domain!!!** **Run! You have to run! It’s going to eat you!!!**
The woman in white mourning robes cried and ran away from the Ghost Kings, and the corpse-like man ran around shouting and screaming so loudly that blood color returned to his face.
The bald tattooed man clutched his heart and collapsed to the ground, vomiting blood in the face of the Ghost Kings’ wails.
And Heogak, who was backing from outside the shrine, stroked his chin.
**Dalg-eok, dalg-eok, dalg-eok…**
“Hmm, the memorial tablets are shaking…”
The memorial tablets connected to the Great Tomb Domain,
The sixth-realm sasaek could not enter the Great Tomb Domain in their physical bodies.
For Heogak, it was simply that the ‘elders’ were amusing the new disciples from inside, and he laughed heartily.
“The ancestors’ reactions seem to have cooled, so it seems these new disciples all have great talent. Eon-yeon! I’ll go check, and when the Yin Soul disciples finish selecting in the Great Tomb Domain and come out, guide them to the technique manual.”
[Yes, Lord.]
Heogak looked at the shaking memorial tablets again, laughed once more, and left the shrine.