A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation

When the Ascension Gate opens, the space in this Ascension Path region becomes unstable.

Then our falling into this world might also be related to it.

Maybe through the Ascension Gate, I could return to my original world.

’Become a cultivator, then head to the Ascension Gate.’

Thus, I was able to further specify my goal.

’But to become a cultivator, one needs a Spiritual Root. Without it, a common mortal can never become a cultivator. However, I have once touched the threshold of a Spiritual Root!’

In my past life.

Young-hoon Hyung-nim had told me.

The state of Five Energies Converging to the Origin, achievable through martial arts by a mortal, corresponds to the Five Elements Spiritual Root inherent in a cultivator at birth.

Reaching Five Energies Converging to the Origin, even a common mortal can awaken their Spiritual Root!

’...Right. My long-term goal is to become a cultivator, reach the Ascension Gate, find a way back home, and eliminate my regression ability.’

”Heugh... Huff... How... How can he be so fast... This bastard...”

’And for a short-term goal... to gain a Spiritual Root necessary to become a cultivator, I have to practice martial arts to reach the state of Five Energies Converging to the Origin... I guess.’

I sighed.

It’s a tremendously difficult condition.

Already lacking talent in martial arts, who knows how long it will take me to reach Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

’Ironically, I have to rely on my regression ability to eliminate it.’

I don’t feel desperate as long as I have the regression ability.

I have infinite opportunities.

’No matter how long it takes... I will definitely reach Five Energies Converging to the Origin.’

I firmly resolved, setting the direction for my future.

Finally snapping out of my thoughts, I looked at Jeon Myeong-hoon, who was gasping and sitting in front of me.

”...Section Chief Jeon, calm down. What’s the use of getting angry in this situation?”

”You... You bastard. You dont even know what you did wrong...”

”Certainly, Section Chief Jeon dumped all your work on me the day before, forcing me to stay up all night before the workshop. You were also supposed to drive, werent you? Even though you knew I was sleepy, you stopped me from asking others to drive. More so, during the landslide, I did everything I could. It just happened so fast that I couldn’t do anything more. Don’t try to shift the blame onto me with your irrational logic and think about what to do next.”

I let it all out like a waterfall and then walked past Jeon Myeong-hoon towards Young-hoon Hyung-nim.

”Hyung-nim... no, Director Kim Young-hoon. Sorry to bother you, but may I borrow your lighter?”

”Hmm, alright.”

”Thanks. It looks like it’ll be night soon, so I’ll find a place to stay for the night. As for the others, either find the car or a way out of this forest. I’ll light a fire over there, so come find me by the light when it gets dark.”

”Eh... No.”

After my rapid-fire speech, I headed to the cave where I had stayed last time.

Then I collected branches to make a windbreak and a door and gathered firewood for a bonfire, preparing for the night.

I also gathered fruits and herbs from nearby to cook over the fire.

Sizzling sounds filled the air.

I tore my underwear to make a pouch for collecting herbs and gathered herbs like hemostatic, pain-relieving, and paralyzing herbs around the base, preparing for the fox that might come to bite my arm tomorrow.

”Hmm, the fruits are ripe.”

I took the roasted fruits from under the fire, cooled them down, peeled them, and started eating.

”Not bad.”

After filling my stomach, I picked a suitable branch and held it like a sword.

Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.

My last life.

My first regression.

The martial art perfectly suited to my body, created by Young-hoon Hyung-nim with his overflowing talent.

Whoosh, whoosh!

I held the sword and swung, practicing the first to twelfth forms of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship in sequence.

”Hmm, I’ve lost some touch.”

In my last life, just before death, I couldn’t even lift a sword properly to practice swordsmanship.

Consequently, my swordsmanship regressed to barely clinging to second-rate.

”Still, if I focus on training for about a month, I should be able to regain the feel for it...”

My internal energy should also be sufficient, considering the spiritual medicines scattered throughout Ascension Path.

How far can I grow in this life?

This time, I’ve decided not to participate in ridiculous ventures like the Wulin Alliance.

It consumes too much of my personal time.