Absolute Regression

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader came to see me again.

Like the first time, he was waiting for me in the yard.

“Would you like to go inside?”

“No, let’s go to my place.”

The surroundings darkened and then brightened again.

The space created was a desolate wasteland. I could see the method to break out of this space with my eyes. Over there, in the distance, a bluish light shimmered around a rock.

“Desolate, isn’t it? This is my hometown.”

“It’s nice and quiet. Please invite me here sometime.”

“I will.”

“I thought about it after returning. You were right. I haven’t done you any favors yet.”

He took something out from his chest and showed it to me.

It was a martial arts manual.

Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.

“It’s a martial art that allows you to create spaces like this. In this martial arts world, only those who have mastered the Blood Sect’s authentic demonic arts can perform it.”

“!”

“Now that the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme is dead, I am the only one who can properly perform this demonic art.”

Something truly unexpected had come out.

I didn’t particularly like techniques like soul reaping or evil arts. But this one martial art, I found very appealing.

“In critical situations, this space will save your life. The moment you enter this space, you will have disappeared from the original world.”

As he said, the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique could be used in various ways. It could be a private space or an escape route in critical moments. Learning this would be like acquiring another Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique.

From the moment I obtained the Thunder Bell, the first ingredient for the Great Regression Technique, to the Blood Eye Essence, and now this Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique, I felt a deep, fateful connection with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“How about it? Is this enough of a favor?”

“It’s more than enough.”

I reached out my hand without hesitation. But the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader did not hand over the manual.

“If I expect something in return, it’s not a favor, is it?”

As I expressed my disappointment, he replied.

“Revealing my cards first is a favor, isn’t it?”

He meant that offering such a superb martial art without any hesitation was a favor in itself.

“What do you want?”

Then the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s gaze turned to the desolate land again. Watching the wind raise the sand into the sky, he said.

“I no longer want to breathe in this dust.”

That statement meant only one thing. As expected, his wish was to enter the Central Plains, just as father had said.

“If you help with that first step, the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique is yours.”

For a moment, I was excited, but I boldly withdrew my outstretched hand. The moment you show your greed, any negotiation becomes unfavorable.

“Unfortunately, that is not for me to decide.”

“I understand. It’s up to the Cult Leader to decide.”

“Not just my father, but even the Demon Supremes will have to step in.”

Because if it was a matter involving the Heavenly Wind Cult, the Demon Supremes would undoubtedly get involved.

“That’s why. That’s why I’m giving you this manual.”

“What exactly do you want?”

“Two days from now, a meeting with the Cult Leader is scheduled. On that day, I intend to negotiate our entry into the Central Plains. If you agree to step in and persuade the Cult Leader, I will give you this manual.” ȓᴀ₦ＯΒĚṢ

He was willing to give me the manual regardless of the outcome. It was an unprecedented offer. It was more like a gift than a condition.

Even so, I showed a contemplative expression rather than accepting it eagerly.

“You’re going about it the wrong way.”

“What do you mean?”

“No matter how much the Cult Leader and I persuade him, my father will never allow the Heavenly Wind Cult to enter the Central Plains.”

“Then what should we do?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult’s entry into the Central Plains.

Unlike our current strict policies, I didn’t think it was a bad idea.

Unless we were going to eliminate the Heavenly Wind Cult, there was no need to leave an entity that could become an enemy behind us. As the old saying goes, keep your enemies closer than your friends, I judged that it was better to keep the Heavenly Wind Cult close and manage them.

I said nothing.

Then the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader held out the manual to me.

“Will this get me an answer?”

“It’s enough.”

I accepted the manual.

I realized that the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was not an ordinary bold person. There was a clear difference between giving something after hearing the answer and giving it in advance.

‘This person came determined to win my favor.’

Instead of urging me for an answer, he explained the manual. If he was going to give me the manual anyway, he knew how to make the transaction as pleasant as possible.

“Of course, since I’ve trained for a long time, I was able to create this space so quickly. At first, even if you chant the spell all day, you won’t be able to create it. Even those with outstanding martial talent will take at least a few days to ten days. Those with dull senses may take months, or they might never succeed in their lifetime.”

“How long did it take you to create it for the first time, Cult Leader?”

“It took me three days.”

Three days implied significant talent.

“The time it takes for the first attempt is crucial. The shorter that time, the more exponentially the time will decrease afterward. Unlike other martial arts, the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique entirely depends on the practitioner’s talent and understanding of martial arts.”

How long would it take me? With the heavenly martial body and my current level of martial arts due to my regression?

“How long can you maintain this space?”

“It depends on your inner energy, but if you’re pushing yourself at a mastered level, about half an hour ? Even now, as we speak, my inner energy is rapidly depleting.”

“Can this space be used permanently?”

At the word ‘permanently,’ the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader chuckled. That chuckle carried the meaning of “Do you think that’s possible?”

“If the amount of inner energy recovered in this space exceeds the amount consumed to maintain it, wouldn’t it be possible to keep the space open permanently?”

“That is the dream of those who have mastered the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique. None of the previous Cult Leaders of the Blood Sect have succeeded in that.”

“So, it is possible.”

“If you possess immense inner energy and are a martial genius favored by the heavens, it might be possible.”

That martial genius favored by the heavens, the heavenly martial body, was me. Plus I think old man heavens favored me pretty well since they allowed me to go back to the past.

How long would it take me to create it for the first time? Could I, one day, maintain this space permanently?

“What if I just take this manual without properly learning the technique?”

“Then you’d become the Cult Leader with the worst relationship with our sect and the Eight Demon Supremes in history. Ah, you wouldn’t even become the Cult Leader.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader handed me the manual.

“Learn it and then destroy it.”

Though he was trying hard to hide it, he was clearly reluctant to part with it.

“I will. But could you interpret the mnemonic for me just once?”

“Interpret it?”

“This isn’t the original manual, is it?”

“Of course not.”

“If you made even a single mistake while copying it, it could cause problems.”

“Do you suspect me? That’s impossible!”

“If you interpret it for me, I can understand its true meaning.”

A momentary look of displeasure crossed the face of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. However, he soon readily accepted my request.

“Fine. I’ll interpret the mnemonic for you, so listen carefully. This technique is extremely difficult, so you need to focus and listen well.”

From his demeanor, I could infer his thoughts.

‘This person doesn’t believe I can master this technique properly.’

The technique was indeed challenging.

But as I listened to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s interpretation of the mnemonic, I precisely grasped the intricacies of the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique. He couldn’t imagine how deeply I understood this technique after just one explanation.

Thus, I was instructed in the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique. It was also the moment we formed a temporary alliance.

“Now, tell me the answer.”

“If the Heavenly Wind Cult wants to advance into the Central Plains…”

I calmly added, looking at him.

“Intervene in the successor struggle of the Western Illusion Formation.”

* * *

“Coming back after being deprived of my possession, I feel disgustingly tired.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader slumped into his seat as he entered his quarters. He was mentally exhausted. He had to give away something he didn’t want to while maintaining his dignity as the Cult Leader.

The shackled man was staring blankly at the Thunder Bell, not even greeting him as he entered.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader glanced at him.

“I did as you instructed and taught the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique to the Second Young Master. I wonder if that was the right thing to do.”

The shackled man replied without looking back.

“You did well.”

The Cult Leader flinched at the respectful tone. Usually, it started with curses, so when he began so politely, it meant he was in a bad mood.

‘I need to be careful.’

On such days, curses would erupt all at once in the end. As a human, there were moments when he wanted to kill him on the spot while enduring the torrent of curses.

That must never happen. He couldn’t imagine life without the shackled man. Not only did he play a role in thinking, but if his daily companion disappeared, he wouldn’t be able to endure the emptiness.

“Do you know what proposal he made?”

Thinking he surely wouldn’t know, the words of Geom Mugeuk, spoken by the shackled man, were exactly reproduced.

“He must have suggested intervening in the successor struggle of the Western Illusion Formation.”

Speaking as if he had been there, the Cult Leader was astonished.

“How did you know?”

“Because that’s the best method for now.”

“You knew? Damn it! If you knew, why did you ask me to give the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique to him?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said.

―If the deceased Soul Reaper Demon Supreme’s disciples inherited all of their master’s progress, it might be different, but if not, they will definitely need your help. You need to make someone who is willing to learn martial arts from you as your successor. If you can become the master of the next Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, it can be seen as the first step towards advancing into the Central Plains.

After hearing this, he found it plausible. He had been impressed, thinking, “Ah, so there’s a method like this.”

But if the shackled man also knew this?

“Why give away such a precious secret technique!”

He had acted magnanimous in front of Geom Mugeuk, but it had been excruciating.

“Speak! Just speak already!”

He shouted as he went over to the shackled man.

The shackled man looked at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader with an annoyed expression.

“What? What are you going to do if you look at me like that? I’m the Cult Leader, the Cult Leader, I say. Do you want to die today?”

Even as he boasted loudly, the Cult Leader mentally prepared himself. It was the moment when the curses would burst forth.

But the shackled man remained calm.

“We didn’t buy that method. The Second Young Master didn’t sell that method either.”

“What?”

“What you bought was an opportunity.”

“What kind of opportunity?”

“The opportunity to make the Second Young Master side with you. We may have to buy a few more chances to solidify a firm alliance in the future.”

“Do you really believe that Geom Mugeuk is such a great person? Do you really think he will become the next Heavenly Demon?”

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“How can I know the future?”

“What kind of irresponsible words are those?”

“Why regret giving what you gave away properly?”

“Because it’s precious! That’s why!”

He confided everything to the shackled man, shedding his dignity as the Cult Leader. He had often wanted to kill him, but it also meant that he had confided a lot in him.

“What should I do now?”

“Get close to the Second Young Master. Do as he says.”

“I should do as you say. I don’t know what ulterior motives the Second Young Master might have…”

“Stop it!”

Finally, just as the Cult Leader feared, the shackled man exploded, and the curses poured out all at once.

“You pathetic bastard! If you gave him a gift and joined hands with someone influential, you should think about riding that momentum. Why the hell are you doubting and making a fuss? Idiots who think like that end up dead in the martial world. Do you know the common trait of those who die miserably? They don’t use their brains when they should and use them when they shouldn’t! They refuse to believe when they should and blindly trust when they should doubt. That’s why they die. Are you not counting your fingers? I’ll cut them off if you don’t stop! Don’t count today! No more questions! Unless you’re really going to kill me, shut that mouth!”

The Cult Leader pouted and folded all his fingers, creating a new space.

The shackled man looked at the green field and clear sky spread out before him and spoke respectfully.

“Cult Leader, what are you curious about? Just tell me.”

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