A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation - Chapter 40 (3) - The Cultivators’ Gathering
“Haaah…”
I let out a natural exclamation as I took in the bustling atmosphere around me. It was overwhelming. The buildings’ exteriors and the people passing by resembled the lively streets of Seogyeong-seong, yet the very essence felt completely different.
In my vision awakened by the peak of the Five Qi Consorting with the Origin, I caught glimpses of vast streams of spiritual energy surging across the entire Yeongdo Market. The earth itself was enveloped in these flows, with thousands of billions of tiny cultivation arrays weaving protective barriers. Countless formations also layered tens of folds across the buildings. People, animals, even the weeds blooming along the paths—all carried spiritual energy. The structures themselves radiated an oppressive aura.
‘Everywhere I look… all these cultivators.’
No matter where I turned, I saw only cultivators who had awakened spiritual roots. Seeing the market filled with criminals who could not control their thoughts and then the gathering of cultivators who had fully sealed their own consciousness made me feel strangely out of place.
The criminals’ market had streets turned chaotic by countless uncontrolled thoughts, while the cultivators’ gathering remained serene because everyone had mastered their awareness. It looked far cleaner from a spiritual perspective.
I was still surprised by the sight when I decided to wander around and size up the place.
‘What exactly do cultivators trade here…’
Spiritually, everything felt vastly different. To the naked eye, though, it looked like a splendid bustling market. Stalls selling amulets dotted the paths. Herbal shops offered unfamiliar medicinal herbs. Trainers sat beside pens holding strange beasts. Apart from the fact that the goods and the value of their currency far exceeded anything found in the criminals’ market, there was no real difference.
“One jin of zithro!”
“Selling at market price!”
“Only seven special storage magic items left!”
As I passed a stall selling spiritual flowers and jade crystals, my gaze landed on a single magic item. The seller casually slipped his hand into a small pouch that easily swallowed his entire shoulder load.
“Haaah… truly wondrous.”
I stepped inside without thinking and examined the storage magic item called the Low Earth Method Device.
“Um, shopkeeper. I’m a country bumpkin and don’t know much, but how much space does that Low Earth Method Device hold?”
“Hm? Humm…”
The cultivator merchant glanced at me lazily and then grinned. A trace of disdain colored his awareness.
“The worst storage magic item sold in our main store has a capacity of one stone—about 180 liters.”
He pointed at the small pouch. With it, I could immediately stuff my entire baggage inside.
‘Incredible.’
Merely possessing that one pouch would multiply the kinds of poisons and weapons I carried. As someone who mainly relied on hidden weapons, it was a drool-worthy item.
The shop owner apparently disliked my attire and gestured for me to leave. “This one costs fifty spirit stones. No money? Then don’t even think about it and scram…”
“How much for the most expensive one?”
I walked past the cheaper models and fixed my eyes on the more splendid ones.
‘To quickly extract and use hidden weapons, this would be best.’
I pointed at the rosary-shaped magic item. “This one looks good. Give me that.”
“That’s three hundred spirit stones…”
Kung!
I set down my baggage and selected three hundred spirit stones from it to hand over. The merchant looked momentarily startled, then quickly smiled and accepted them.
“Haha, thank you, honored guest. You truly have good taste. This storage bracelet is the finest magic item for storing goods. Each of the twenty-seven beads on the rosary holds a three-stone capacity thanks to the spatial array technique…”
I bought the Low Earth Bracelet after listening to the rough explanation. I activated the technique, poured my energy into the bracelet, and it began to suck in the items I had placed inside. When I tapped one of the beads again, the exact object I wanted reappeared.
“Um, guest. We also have other fine magic items…”
The shopkeeper offered to show me more, but most required substantial spiritual energy. ‘Right now, with no spiritual energy at all, they’re basically trash.’
Even lower-grade storage items at the Qi Condensation level were mostly weaker than my internal energy. In short, they were nothing but expensive luxuries.
“Heh, my apologies. I don’t think I’ll be buying anything else.”
I was about to leave when the shop owner clicked his tongue. “Then there’s nothing for it. Are you perhaps looking for something else? Not just magic items, but amulets, pills… If you’d like, I can introduce you to good shops through my connections in the Yeongdo Market.”
“Hmm, then are there bookstores selling books?”
“Ah, you’re interested in cultivation manuals?”
“Well, yes, and also something on the general knowledge of the cultivation world…”
The shopkeeper thought for a moment, then pointed down the street. “Keep going straight, take the third intersection, and turn right. That’s the Chunran Bookstore. They sell every kind of miscellaneous book and the elderly owner is known for always recommending the right ones for you.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you.”
“No thanks needed, honored guest. Feel free to stop by if you need anything else later!”
I left the magic-item shop and headed toward the bookstore the owner had mentioned.
‘Chunran Bookstore…’
To my eyes it looked ordinary, almost invisible. There was also an oddly alien feel that clashed strangely with the Yeongdo Market’s atmosphere.
“Is the owner here?”
“Cough, cough, cough…”
The moment I opened the door, dust flew everywhere and coughing came from within.
“Ah, a customer? It’s been such a long time. Nice to see you. I’m Mr. Eom of the Chunran Bookstore.”
The elderly man with a beard reaching his waist introduced himself as the owner. His awareness seemed roughly at the Qi Condensation level, yet the boundaries felt hazy. I could sense several bureaucrat pens on his chest each blurring my vision.
The moment he sensed my gaze, the old man pointed at the pens and said, “Ah, these? They’re a technique that blurs your own cultivation level. It’s a gift for anyone who buys five or more books. You seem like the kind of person who would accept one. Hehe…”
“Not bad. By the way, I want books on basic cultivation knowledge, those explaining Elixir Cultivation, and also manuals for the Qi Condensation stage.”
“Good. Here’s one free gift. Hehe…”
The old man unfastened one of the pens on his chest and handed it to me, then brought out several books.
“Let me see. Here are four basic books: ‘Basic Knowledge of the Cultivation World,’ ‘Etiquette for Cultivators,’ ‘One Hundred Things Every Cultivator Should Know,’ and ‘About the Path to Immortality.’ Then there are two books on Elixir Cultivation—‘Elixir Analysis Manual’ and ‘Ten Thousand Paths Elixir Manual.’ And thirteen basic Qi Condensation manuals.”
He stacked nineteen books in front of me, handed over the six on Elixir Cultivation and basic knowledge, and spread the thirteen Qi Condensation manuals before me.
“Pick whichever you like from the thirteen… Starting with this ‘Great Cycle Reversal Scripture.’”
He opened the basic manuals and gave me a rough explanation.
“Our Chunran Bookstore carries roughly these books. But you should know that all of them are foundational techniques built on basic concepts, so they explain the ideas of each level well and possess fairly pure spiritual energy at the Qi Condensation stage—though none are specialized. For example, the Jin Clan’s Qi Condensation manual specializes in fire and wall systems, while the Makri Clan’s focuses on yin, water, and wind. Still, these are the so-called street-corner basics you can find anywhere else. The reason they spread so widely is that they’re plain, straightforward, and have pure spiritual energy.”
“Hmm, does the old man have any recommendations?”
“What kind of spiritual sense do you possess?”
“I have the Five Spirit Senses.”
Upon hearing this, the old man rummaged through the books and handed me the ‘Five Cycles Entry into Dao Scripture.’
“It contains five manuals—Earth Cycle, Water Cycle, Fire Cycle, Wood Cycle, and Metal Cycle—each designed to gather pure spiritual energy according to your spiritual root. Even though they lack specialization and only allow use of basic techniques at the Qi Condensation level, mastering two or more of them accelerates spiritual-energy recovery. The later sections also cover several foundational techniques—defensive techniques, movement techniques, concealment techniques, awareness techniques, and voice-transmission techniques.”
“Hm, then I’ll take those.”
Since I had zero knowledge of soul techniques, I bought every single book without hesitation.
“That comes to forty-nine spirit stones.”
‘The books alone cost almost as much as a mediocre storage magic item. Of course—there are cultivation manuals that detail training methods up to the fourteenth layer of Qi Condensation.’
I placed the books into the Low Earth Bracelet and asked one more question.
“By the way, Mr. Eom, do you know where the cultivators from the Cheongmun Clan usually stay during the Yeongdo Market?”
“Hmm? They usually sleep nearby that street over there. Actually, I only opened this shop this time, so I don’t know much. I used to wander around with books on my back.”
“Ah, I see. Then I wish you a good stay.”
“No need. I’m only here for fun—never thought about opening a permanent shop. I actually enjoy wandering. I also have a real job besides running the bookstore.”
“That’s fortunate. Thank you for the gift. Goodbye.”
I thanked the old man and left, heading toward the opposite street he had mentioned.
As I walked, a strange feeling came over me and I glanced back at the Chunran Bookstore.
‘Is the owner of that storage-magic shop really recommending me to the Chunran Bookstore just because he thinks I’m a good customer? His reaction wasn’t exactly warm. Did they know each other personally?’
While mulling this over, I wandered the streets in search of an inn.
‘Even if I found a place to stay, the area is huge. How on earth do I find the Cheongmun Clan members…’
Yet my worry lasted only a moment.
“AAAAH! Those Cheongmun Clan brutes are right there!”
“Damn it, why are these foul-tempered bastards here?!”
“Hey, if you’re just standing around, you’ll get involved. Better move back!”
…
I quietly watched the people scattering and turned my eyes to a pair of figures walking toward us from afar. Both wore dark robes and were radiating fighting spirit.
The man was exceptionally large and burly, with a Low Earth Bracelet on his wrist that looked as expensive as mine.
‘Something must have happened. Most of his awareness is blood-red.’
The Cheongmun Clan siblings’ awareness was crimson, the color of anger, around their upper dantian. It was as if they had just endured some outrage.
At that moment—
Tap—
“Hehe, what a fine day…”
A man in a red robe suddenly burst out of an alley between the inns and collided with the burly Cheongmun Clan member.
‘That robe, that ring… Jin Clan.’
The Jin Clan cultivator glanced at the burly man, gave an apologetic nod, and tried to continue walking.
The Cheongmun Clan’s burly man grabbed his shoulder and asked, “If you walk into someone, you say sorry, right?”
“Hm? I already apologized. What’s the problem?”
“You… you little punk, think I’m easy to bully?”
“What? Gyaah! Kyaaah!”
Suddenly the burly man tightened his grip. The Jin Clan cultivator screamed and fell to the ground.
“Y-you bastard…!”
Tick, tick!
Fire-attribute spiritual energy erupted around the Jin Clan cultivator, sparks flying.
“Can’t even hold it?”
“Heh. You were the one who ran into me first. Now you want to play victim? If I killed you, I’d have nothing to say.”
“What kind of bastard are you! I’ll cut off your hands unless you drop to your knees right now!”
‘It’s starting. I don’t know about the burly man’s personality, but the Jin Clan cultivators are proud and hot-tempered…’
At that moment, the woman standing beside the burly man spoke up.
“You’re not unaware of the rules of the Yeongdo Market, are you? Inside this market, attacks using techniques at the second layer or higher of Qi Condensation are forbidden. Attacking a person is also prohibited.”
“Hah, what are you going to do about it? Trying to use the rules to stop me…”
“Then, as long as it’s not an attack through a technique or causing injury, there’s no issue. I even saw one of our clan’s young masters use this trick before.”
Upon hearing the woman’s words, the burly man’s mouth curled into a grin while the Jin Clan cultivator looked bewildered.
At that instant—
Flash!
Bright light erupted from the burly man’s fist and struck the Jin Clan cultivator’s face directly.
Kwaaaang!
The fire technique he had been about to cast was shattered, and he was sent flying over a dozen meters.
“Kyaaaaah! Y-you bastard! You dare wound me! Do you really think you can leave the Yeongdo Market alive after doing this?!”
“Heh, you’re noisy.”
Paaak! Paeok!
The burly man walked over, grabbed the Jin Clan cultivator by the collar, and continued pounding him with his glowing fist.
“K-keuk! Kyaah! Someone stop him! He’s breaking the market rules!”
Yet no cultivator stepped forward. Why? Because the Jin Clan cultivator was not injured.
I felt familiar spiritual energy swirling in the light around the burly man’s fist.
‘That technique… the one used by Cheongmun Seon-woo to repair my arm.’
It was healing. The burly man was currently beating the Jin Clan cultivator with a healing technique.
“Cuh! Why, why… a second-layer Qi Condensation attack shouldn’t be… cuh!”
Yet the beaten man only repeated the rules, having no time to think about anything else.
“You, damn bastard, if you run into someone…”
“Aaaah! Aaaah!”
Paeng! Paeng! Paeng! Paeng!
The Jin Clan cultivator kept trying to use techniques to escape the blue light emitting from the burly man’s hand, but it held him fast.
“Tsk tsk. You really are a Jin Clan cultivator. We finally met.”
“The other side has been fighting only Makri Clan members lately… this is the first time I’ve seen someone from another country…”
“They didn’t even know the Cheongmun Clan is famous for its bad tempers…”
The other cultivators simply watched the bizarre fight—someone beating the other with healing techniques—without joining in. Most of the onlookers seemed to be at the third or fourth layer of Qi Condensation. The burly Cheongmun Clan man and the woman beside him were clearly at the fifth layer.
‘…Cheongmun Seon-woo was very personable. But his blood relatives seem rather foul-tempered.’
I clicked my tongue at the sight of the Cheongmun Clan burly man mercilessly pounding the Jin Clan cultivator.
‘Tsk. I don’t particularly like the Jin Clan either, but in my previous life we were on the same side. Watching him beaten like this still leaves a bad taste…’
I walked up to the Jin Clan cultivator, who was still being beaten even though he was about to lose consciousness.
“Excuse me, shopkeeper. It seems the Jin Clan has learned his lesson. Please forgive him.”
“Hm? Who are you to interfere in my business?”
“Your attitude just now isn’t very good. Please stop.”
“Hah, if you don’t like it, try pulling this arrogant brat out of my hands. He looks like a third-layer Qi Condensation expert…”
No need to use my hand.
I simplified the Path Within Path is Infinite one-strike technique, adjusted its power, and launched it straight at him.
“Kyaaaaah!”
The burly man clutched his head and dropped the Jin Clan cultivator. I immediately pressed blood points on the near-unconscious cultivator to ease his pain.
“Are you all right?”
“H, hah…! Ugh… t-thank you. Thank you so much…”
The Jin Clan cultivator at the fourth-to-fifth layer of Qi Condensation thanked me with tears in his eyes.
“I don’t know who you are, but if you come to Cheonbyeok City in Yeon Kingdom, I’ll repay you. Just use the voice-transmission talisman there. I’ll go now. It’s truly thanks to you!”
He handed me a talisman and fled the moment the burly man rose to his feet.
“You dared attack us?”
The Cheongmun Clan woman blocked me in front of her brother, glaring.
I laughed lightly. “My technique isn’t something that breaks the Yeongdo Market rules. And does the man over there have any wounds?”
“Hmph! It looks like you used a technique that bypassed the rules with malicious intent. I’ll make you regret challenging the Cheongmun Clan young masters!”
Blue light erupted from her hand. It was the same healing technique I had just used.
I swung my hand blade and severed her technique in one stroke. Her hand remained, but the blue light was sliced into nothingness.
“Wh-what…”
Quickly, quickly.
I closed in on her and slowly pressed two fingers against her. “Guard!”
The Cheongmun Clan young woman hurriedly summoned a transparent defensive barrier in the Ling Language, but my sudden burst of internal energy shattered it instantly.
I dispersed the energy and pressed a blood point.
“Cuh!”
The Cheongmun Clan young woman clutched her blood point and let out a cry, collapsing to the ground.
“You beat people with healing techniques. I’m also a proper healer— I know exactly where to hit so it heals while causing pain. Want me to try?”
“You…!”
“Wait.”
The Cheongmun Clan young woman’s face flushed red. She was about to cast another technique when the burly man grabbed her and stood up.
“Heh. My apologies. You must be an elder I didn’t recognize because your cultivation level is hidden.”
“Hm?”
When I looked puzzled, he pointed at the bureaucrat pen at my waist and said, “I couldn’t tell earlier. That magic item blurred your cultivation level. Please forgive my juniors’ rudeness.”
He bowed deeply and asked for forgiveness. I nodded and accepted his apology.
“Oh, brother. The young lady… wait, that gentleman…”
“You saw the first strike, right? Using a technique that causes unconsciousness by waving a hand and casting an awareness technique—that’s at least seventh-layer Qi Condensation.”
“Th-that… I apologize for my rudeness too.”
…
I scratched my head in embarrassment. If this man knew I was just a mortal with no spiritual energy at all, what would he do?
He probably thought I was a high-level expert pretending to be low-level using that awareness technique.
‘The truth is the opposite.’
“By the way, do you recognize this pattern?”
I showed them the Cheongmun Seon-woo recommendation seal on the back of my hand.
The burly man’s eyes widened. “This is an external family recommendation seal. The minimum is a clan elder or above. We have overstepped. We also ask for forgiveness.”
“Fortunately, you recognized it. Actually, I was looking for Cheongmun Clan members because of this… How do I become an external member with it?”
“Ah, simple. Just come to our family’s estate, have one elder confirm it, and you’ll instantly become an external member. Haha, now that it’s come to this, we’ll head straight to our estate after the Yeongdo Market ends.”
“Hm, thank you.”
I nodded at the now-subdued Cheongmun siblings, found an inn nearby, and decided to wait until the market closed.
Twenty days passed, and the Yeongdo Market came to an end.
Following the guidance of the Cheongmun Clan siblings, I arrived at the Cheongmun Clan estate in Byeokra Kingdom.