Translator: Resnut

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[Author’s blogpost] Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 410 (Before Revision)

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**Note by Resnut

Hey everyone! I meant to get this blogpost translated before the 19th regression ended, but life got in the way.

This is a blogpost made by Tremendous after he completely rewrote the final chapter of the 19th regression, Chapter 410. For context, Chapter 410 originally had a very cynical ending to the 19th regression, which was extremely divisive and prompted some community backlash. Tremendous himself was also very dissatisfied about how the ending turned out, and then took a day off to rehaul Chapter 410 into the current version that you all read.

The revised version ends in a much more triumphant note, and incorporates some of the future plot points. I’d say just about everybody likes the revised version better than the original (including me), but I do think the original version could’ve provided an interesting angle for future developments. I think it’ll also be interesting to read the 20th regression with the original ending in mind, and guess how the story was originally supposed to flow.

On a side note, there is also an interesting piece of info in the original version regarding the Governing Immortals (which is technically, non-canon now, since the chapter was rewritten). The info is that Great Mountain Supreme Deity is basically one of the strongest Governing Immortals out there, including the Heavenly Venerables. The Governing Immortals capable of repelling them are Light, Netherworld, and some sort of non-sentient Governing Immortal. Take that as you will, and let your speculations run wild! :P

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Hello, dear readers.

This is Tremendous.

Starting off, regarding the end of the 19th regression.

To give my thoughts on Chapter 410, I want to clarify that the content of that episode wasn’t written in a proper state of mind.

Whether before or after revision.

Before the revision, I was swamped with work, and I hardly had any time to write the novel. As a result, the pre-revision content of Chapter 410 was hastily written on my smartphone while at work.

Because of that, the original version of Chapter 410 contains several continuity errors, and an overly strong homage to Reincarnated Swordmaster.

As for how we got to the revised version, I wasn’t feeling well that day, because I drank some coffee after abstaining for a while.

When my condition was at its worst, I uploaded the chapter and then checked the comment section – the response was intense to say the least.

To be honest, even when writing, I had this uneasy feeling of “Is it okay to release the chapter as it is?”

And sure enough, the reactions were extremely divisive, and I couldn’t help but pay more attention to the negative response.

At that point, I was already in bad shape, but when I saw the readers’ comments pointing out the flaws in Chapter 410, and the continuity errors I noticed upon reread (like the absurd situation where the Heavenly Venerable of Time had personally babied Seo Eun-hyun throughout the 190k years) …

My anger exploded.

Anger at myself.

I’ve heard from somewhere that the human brain is just a factory for hormones.

I was told that my poor reaction to caffeine is due to the effect of such hormones.

But on that day, I realized that this wasn’t true at all.

Yes, the caffeine worsened my condition, but once anger surged within me, it didn’t matter how bad I felt – energy surged through my entire body.

Anger overpowered the condition worsened by caffeine.

So, in a state of half-madness, I spewed some curses on my blog and, half out of my mind, stayed up all night writing down the revised version.

Originally, the revised version was planned to be 50k characters long.

But after revisions, it turned out to be 200k characters (to be exact, around 199k characters…).

Even though it was basically 4 chapters in 1, what does it matter? Otherwise, it would be Yuan Li all over again.

In that unsound state, I sent that whole chunk of writing to my PD and went to work the next day, constantly obsessing over whether the revision was good enough.

Even while working, I kept thinking, “Damn it, what if the readers don’t like this revision either? Isn’t the pacing too slow?”

That thought crossed my mind more times than I can count.

So, the revised version was uploaded around lunchtime (At first, there was an issue with the upload on Munpia because, apparently, the character of "Servant (僕)" from "Time’s Servant" was treated as a ‘special character’ in the system and caused part of the chapter to be cut off. Why 僕 when all other hanja are fine…).

And I felt somewhat relieved after confirming the readers’ positive reactions.

To be frank, the revised version of Chapter 410 is a bit of a hodgepodge.

Not in the sense that I plagiarized other novels, but because I took some future plot developments and forced them in.

In particular, the last two phrases of the Phenomena Extinguishing Mantra were taken from Chapter 411, 412, and so on.

In some ways, I think this chapter was most close to the Yuan Li fight.

It’s a little different from the Kim Yeon arc, where I completely altered the plot.

For the Yuan Li fight, I ignited my lifeforce to write down the future chapters in one go, and for Chapter 410, I ignited my lifeforce again to pull some plot points from future chapters.

Because of that, the Yuan Li fight and this chapter didn’t change the course of the plot, unlike with Kim Yeon. (In hindsight, I should have just stuck to my guns with the Kim Yeon arc, even if I received some backlash...)

Still…

Thankfully, there are still plenty of things to unpack going forward, so I don’t think I’ve lost much, and I’m just relieved that readers seem to like it more.

This especially holds true for the Heavenly Venerable of Time, who I originally didn’t write in a proper state of mind. I’m really glad I could show you the true version of the Heavenly Venerable Time, who I did write with a sound (?) mind, after reflecting on the reader feedback.

The Heavenly Venerable of Time has given me a big realization.

That time gone by never returns.

Along with the regret of “I wish I had prepared more stockpile chapters and took my time for revisions,” I realized that since time never comes back, I need to start stockpiling now. In that sense, I am very grateful to the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

And as was taught by the Heavenly Venerable of Time, time gone by never returns.

Therefore, even if I erase the original version of episode 412, it doesn’t change the fact that it was revised.

So, in line with the teachings of the Heavenly Venerable of Time, I’ll be posting the pre-revision version of Chapter 412 on the blog.

This is not only to match the theme of Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation, that time gone by never returns, but also to reflect on myself, much like the apology notice I posted for the Yuan Li fight.

So, below is Chapter 412 of Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation, before revision.

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Brrrr-

Tu-thump, tu-thump, tu-thump…

My body trembles.

Perhaps because I barely reached this place at the very end of my lifespan,

I can feel my body falling apart, having reached its given limit.

Do I just die now and return to the time before I ascended to the Bright Cold Realm. Have the connections that I made with my comrades, as well as the Wuji Religious Order, revert to nothing?

Or do I make the contract with the Heavenly Venerable of Time, and go back to the time when my comrades are still alive?

[Decide quickly. Are you not running short on time?]

However.

I point out the contradiction in their words with bated breath.

“… Even if I return to that time, is there anything I can do?”

The Owner of Great Mountain will be waiting for me.

Even if I go back in time, the Owner of Great Mountain is absolutely insurmountable.

If the end is predetermined, what could I possibly do even if I regress?

[If you go back, Light will sense my Authority, track down the causality and immediately subdue Great Mountain. It shall not be the end for your group.]

“…!! Th, then…”

The voice of the Heavenly Venerable of Time resounds through the world where only ashes blow.

[However… I will only be returning you to the point right after your Religious Order was destroyed.]

“…!”

[However, your comrades will still be alive.]

I grit my teeth.

“What… sort of contract is that! Then why would I sign such a contract…!”

[… Even I cannot undo ‘all’ of Great Mountain Supreme Deity’s actions.]

“…What…? Aren’t you Heavenly Venerables… at the peak of the Governing Immortals…?”

Yang Su-jin always addressed the Heavenly Venerables with honorifics, but referred to the Supreme Deities directly by their titles.

Based on that observation, I’ve unconsciously presumed that the Heavenly Venerables are a cut above the Supreme Deities.

[You misunderstand…]

Zing-

My brain burns under the intense information, but I listen to their words regardless.

[There are Supreme Deities that surpass the Heavenly Venerables. In the Immortal Realm, out of the beings referred to as Governing Immortals, only [Light] and the [Oldest One] can properly repel the Great Mountain Supreme Deity… No, one more being… Hm, well… Out of the sentient beings, only the forces of these two are capable of this.]

“…”

Swish-

The ashes and dustclouds gather in front of me, beyond which I can see a vision.

It was my comrades.

The sight of my comrades, laughing and chattering in the Wuji Religious Order, as they were headed towards the Ancient Force Realm.

The words of the Heavenly Venerable of Time ring in my ear.

[You know this truth. That time originally cannot come back.]

Zing-

I can feel my head ringing intensely.

Is it because they’re the God of Time.

They call attention to the fundamental nature of time, that I resonate so deeply with.

[Time gone by never, ever comes back. Do you, by any chance, wish for me to send you a bit further back? Before you even provoke Great Mountain’s actions? In that case, will your comrades be the same people you know of? The comrades that you know and remember exist only in the specific time before they got massacred. Do you not understand that the ability to rewind time is not a blessing?]

“…”

[Go back with the consideration that there will be some comrades who fail to survive.]

“…”

My body quivers morbidly.

He is right.

I know better than anyone that even if I regress, they won’t truly be coming back.

The comrades at the time ‘just before the massacre’, are the very comrades that I long for.

However, the Heavenly Venerable of time wouldn’t be plainly giving me this offer, unless they are a fool.

Just before the massacre, means that they will be massacred as soon as I get back.

“… If I can’t save the Religious Order, is there a reason for me to go back? I’m not even guaranteed to survive …”

Kugugugugu!

The space is vibrating.

It’s as if the entire world is bursting into mad laughter.

[There’s no need to worry. As long as my Authority is activated, Light will delay no further and repel Great Mountain immediately. Your survival is of no concern…]

For a moment, I look at the Black Ancient Paper in front of me.

The terms of our contract are written in the Paper.

The terms that the Heavenly Venerable of Time will regress me to where they see fit, and I will tip off my Fate whenever I realize it in the future.

“… This is ridiculous.”

I close my eyes.

“Do you really think… I’d be swayed by such terms?”

The Heavenly Venerable of time stays silent.

To the contrary, it’s my heart that’s beating rapidly.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump…

My heart was beating dangerously.

The memory of Yang Su-jin warns me.

That I shouldn’t trust Governing Immortals, since there is only one worth trusting.

That I should never reveal my Fate…

If I were to follow his words, I should never disclose my Fate under any circumstances.

However…

“The Order… Make it so that the Religious Order survives!”

Even though the Heavenly Venerable of Time said it was impossible, I cling on to hope.

“Give back everyone, not just my comrades, but my Order, and my followers as well!”

For hundreds of thousands of years, I’ve lived so I can manage to remember them.

For me to be unable to see them?

There is no way!

Also.

[If I do that, will you accept the contract?]

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump…

A vision of Yang Su-jin yells into my ear.

Not to do it.

Not to reveal my fate!

However…

Drip, drip drip...

“Will you… do… that…?”

[If that is your wish.]

I prostrate.

I sob in prostration

It’s impossible for me to ever reject this offer.

This is the person that is Seo Eun-hyun.

I am on the verge of begging them, to rewind time immediately.

“Then…!”

I.

Am an Earthling from a civilized society.

I am not some simple beast.

Because of that, I can never, ever forget the grace I’ve received.

I must go back to them.

At any cost!

A vision of the Heavenly Venerable of Time flashes by, as if they were laughing.

And…

Zing-

The Colorless Glass Sword cries.

“…”

Ziiing-

Again, the Colorless Glass Sword cries.

What I thought was my head ringing, was actually the crying sound of the Colorless Glass Sword.

The sight of a woman clothed in white glimmers in front of me, who is petting a jade-green deer.

No.

I saw wrong.

It’s a woman stroking a jade-green Norigae.

She smiles softly.

- Then, were the moments we spent together also just suffering?

Ziiing-

- Was what I just gave you also a curse?

Ziiiiiing-

For some reason, the ring of her words from the vision pierce directly into my chest, seemingly unbeknownst even to the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

Perhaps, I am just hallucinating.

However, even if this is just an illusion, my tears stop flowing after I hear her words.

“…”

I couldn’t let her go.

But I had to let her go.

Throughout my life, I’ve lost the things dearest to me, more times than I can count.

To be honest, I’m exhausted now.

I don’t want to be in pain.

I’ve wanted to stop losing everything, so many times.

However…

I know.

So clearly.

I know so very well.

That’s why I didn’t bring her with me, and only gave her the Norigae!

I looked toward the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

I raised my head toward the barren, dusty sky, and asked.

“O Heavenly Venerable of Time. Owner of the Temporal and God of Calendric Methods. I ask you one question.”

[Speak.]

“You told me time can’t come back, ever.”

[Correct. However, I will gift you an impossible miracle by sacrificing much. I will give you back the time that cannot return.]

“… Then.”

I glare at the murky sky, which has now become a dusty pit, and roar.

“Isn’t the time that you’ll give back, also different from the time that I know?”

[…]

“You said that rewinding time isn’t a blessing… I understand what you mean. No, I know it! That’s why… I refuse.”

It’s okay if it isn’t given back.

It really doesn’t matter.

After all, time gone by cannot come back.

The people I’d meet after going back, even if they’re my comrades just before the massacre, they won’t be the very ones that I knew.

That’s because, they are already dead.

It’s no simple thing to rewind time that has already passed.

It would also be an insult to my comrades.

There was one who resisted till the end, one who also grieved for Kim Yeon, one who was eaten, and one who was crushed along with their curses.

And, there was someone that asked for me to remember him, and said he would look out for me even in death.

The actions of my comrades in that instant, that short moment.

If time were turned back to before that moment, then those comrades, even if just 1 second apart, they wouldn’t be the people that I knew.

Which holds more value, one second or a hundred thousand years?

They’re the same!

That’s because they’re both time that can never be recovered!

That’s why, it’s impossible to turn back time and truly revive my comrades.

Then I don’t need it.

If I want to completely ensure their survival, I’d have to return to the point when we were getting out of the Ancient Force Realm.

However, they wouldn’t be those comrades, without memories of the massacre.

They’d be ‘different’ entities, and I don’t want to disgrace their time.

“There’s no need for you to turn back time. I thank you for your goodwill.”

I set aside the Black Ancient Paper that was in front of me, and respectfully bowed to the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

Then.

Thump-

Finally, my lifespan has come to an end.

‘Ah… This is it.’

I may live to regret this.

No, I’m already somewhat regretful.

If it weren’t for my idiotic choice just now, I may have reunited with my comrades.

I truly, truly miss them.

I miss them so much it’s maddening!

If I had gone back just 10 seconds, I might have nodded in agreement to the Heavenly Venerable of Time’s offer.

But that won’t happen.

Time, it doesn’t come back.

I close my eyes, and sense my Domain slowly scattering away.

I assimilate the Colorless Glass Sword with my soul, and get ready for the regression to start.

Then, that is my twentieth-

[That won’t do.]

Deeeeng-

The ringing of a brahma bell can be heard from somewhere.

Clang-

[Already…]

I’m feeling dizzy.

Going to throw up.

Head is going to explode any moment.

From [above], a colossal being lays bare their presence.

: : The ritual has begun. : :

The God of Calendric Methods starts to oppress me, fully revealing their presence that had been held back.

Clang-

Clang-

A sound echoed, like gears turning or some complex mechanism in motion.

: : You must return to that point in time. : :

‘What does…’

Crackle-

My entire body is dispersing into a whirlpool of light and shadow.

It’s melting into the dyad that symbolizes ime.

: : S e a l t h e c o n t r a c t : :

The presence of the being from [Above] rises, and it’s as if my soul is being crushed.

Imustworshipandobeythegreatoneatoncenoobeyobeyobeyobeyobey!!!!!

In front of me, is a beautiful piece of paper.

Somehow, I think I should stamp my fingerprint onto that paper.

No, it’s not a thought.

An instinct, destiny-

Ziiiiiing-

I cling to the faintest thread of reason through the vibration of the Colorless Glass Sword connected to my soul, and stop my hand from reaching the Black Ancient Paper.

Even though I’m about to die, I break out in a cold sweat.

: : M a g n I f I c e n t r e s o l v e : :

But I know.

[Something] connected to the Colorless Glass Sword is giving me strength, but to a being from [Above], it’s no better than a bug squirming.

: : H o w a b o u t t h I s d o y o u r e m e m b e r t h e g r a c e o f t h e Heavenly Venerable of Sal Tree? : :

It’s at that moment.

Pupupu!

Hundreds of millions of [Flowers] are blooming from all over my body!

That one word from the Heavenly Venerable of Time, forcibly takes out the [Truth] from my mind, my memory, from history!

“Kuaaaaaah!!!”

That one truth I was unconsciously blocking out of my perception, is emerging from one word of the Heavenly Venerable of Time!

The [old man carrying a flower basket]!

The old man who had first appeared during my battle with the Grand Alliance, early in this regression, the truths about him flood my mind!

“Huuuuuuah!!! Huuuuuuah!!!”

The old man who was slowly nearing me.

The old man observing me from atop of my shoulder.

The old man who spoke to me.

The old man riding my back like a ghost in the Penglai Kingdom, who never got off!

The old man who blocked Hong Fan during the escape from the Ancient Force Realm, as if he were my comrade!

My mind is overrun with information on [the One]!

Save me!

Please.

Someone.

From this flower garden.

The flower garden that casts its shadow towards the west.

Someone take me out!

I’ll do anything!

: : S e a l t h e c o n t r a c t : :

“Hu, huaaaah!”

I put out my hand,

In a daze, with flowers blooming from my eyeballs, I groaned in pain and reached out ahead.

In that moment.

Shuaaaaah-

The flowers that bloomed from my eyes start to decay.

They are getting weathered.

Into dust.

At the cusp of death, I barely manage to look around me.

From various points in the throne, which seemed to be

In this galaxy which seems to be governed by the Heavenly Venerable of Time, countless [Flowers] and [Darkness] were surging forth from various points on the throne.

: : Great King of Sal Tree. K n o w t h a t I d I d n o t u s e y o u. O Oldest One. I a s k y o u t o c a l m y o u r s e l f. : :

Deng-

The sound of the brahma bell rings again.

I now understand what the brahma bell sounds are.

Star veins!

The cosmos resonates as the star veins shift throughout the entire Heavenly Domain.

Clang, clang, clang!

The resonance sounds like the clanking of mechanical gears, and when these resonances gather and reach their peak, that is when this brahma bell sound rings out.

I understand immediately.

That this isn’t simply the sound of a brahma bell, but the authority of the Heavenly Venerable Time, in and of itself.

Kugugugugugu!

It’s as if heaven and earth are overturning.

From afar, the edge of the cosmos is getting dyed in darkness, revealing 10 gargantuan shadows.

At the opposite end, a resplendent flower garden is opening up.

Crack, crackle!

My body creaks as it is forced to move.

I have no way to resist.

My hand, against my will, moves towards the black paper in front of me.

Then.

: : I t i s d o n e ! : :

The voice of the Heavenly Venerable of Time rings throughout the cosmos, full of delight.

Deng-

The sound of the brahma bell rings one last time.

The, the world starts to revert.

‘Ahh… So that’s how it is.’

In the reverting world, I realize that everything had unfolded according to the will of the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

In the end, was it meaningless for a mere mortal like me to resist?

It was forced upon me, but the contract was sealed.

It seems like if I don’t give my consent, more restrictions are placed on the Heavenly Venerable of Time, but a contract is a contract.

I can feel the contract of the Heavenly Venerable of Time forcibly binding around my neck.

I laugh.

If this is how it’s going to be, what’s the point of resistance, and what significance does my will have?

Time and time again, I am oppressed by powerful beings.

Once, it was the martial artists; another time, the Qi Refining 3-Star cultivator; then the Qi Building, then the Core Foundation, then Nascent Soul, Heavenly Being, Four Axis, Integration, Star Shattering…!

Those of higher realms kept oppressing me, who was at a lower realm, and now even a Governing Immortal has their way with me!

No, the Heavens!

Fate is having its way with me!

The Heavens that I’ve cried out for so many times!

I realize at that moment.

‘Ah… So that’s it.’

I was nothing more than a puppet of the Heavenly Venerable of Time.

But it doesn’t end there.

As I regained my hidden memories through the Heavenly Venerable of Time’s verbal command, I realized.

I was also the puppet of the Heavenly Venerable of Sal Tree, and the puppet of the God of the Netherworld.

Yes, just as Seo Hweol said, this world is nothing but a play of Fate, and we are the puppets.

My free will is just a meaningless concept without dignity.

So then, what am I supposed to do in this world?

As I die, tears of frustration and sorrow, mixed with the bitterness of all I’d endured, streamed down.

“I knew… all along.”

Upon entering Four-Axis stage, I understood.

A Four-Axis is capable of moving relatively freely between Middle and Lower Realms.

“Even if I investigate the Ascension Gate… I won’t be able to return to Earth, will I?”

If that were possible, Yang Su-jin would have returned already.

My goal is to return to Earth and break the cycle of regression.

But I’ve realized now.

No, more accurately, I’ve finally accepted the truth that I had known all along.

“I am, we are, already bound to this world!”

We are already, puppets to this world.

A puppet cannot return unless its master allows it.

I am a slave to the great ones,

A slave to the powerful, and a slave to Time.

I am the slave to the Supreme Deities, the Heavenly Venerables, and the Heavens.

Perhaps I’ve been dreaming an unachievable dream, unbefitting of a slave.

So, I’ll embrace a new dream.

What I truly desire is to break the cycle of regression.

But is returning to Earth, which is itself an uncertain path, really the way to break it?

No!

I will no longer cling to such an uncertain goal.

I will find my own answer!

I will end this cycle of regression through my own means.

So, what is the method?

Simple.

So simple, yet so distant that I had been avoiding it.

I’d thought it was nearly impossible.

“I will become stronger!!!”

I will grow stronger.

I will rise up in realms.

I will understand this world more, cultivate more in defiance of the Heavens, until I finally reach the pinnacle of this world!

If I can’t find a way to end the cycle of regression,

I will become a being who [will never regress again for all eternity]!

Yes, I will seize eternal life (永生)!

Cheated by a Heavenly Venerable, I smile as I make my final resolution at the end of my tormented life.

I, too, will reach the apex of the world.

Not to break the cycle of regression, but to ensure that I never experience it again.

I will stand at a place where no one but the Heavens, no Heavenly Venerable or Supreme Deity, can dare mock or enslave me!

Yes, I am a slave to the Heavens and a puppet of this world.

As a puppet, I’ve abandoned my dream of returning home.

Returning home is a luxury I can only dream of after breaking the cycle of regression.

If reversing time is my fate, then I so be it.

I will regress over and over again, then one day!

I will sit at a place where no Governing Immortal that mocked me, nor the Heavens themselves, will be able to make me regress!

At the end of the most wretched hell, I finally accept the curse that is regression, with a twisted smile.

I am not Seo Eun-hyun, the Earthling from a civilized society.

I am the Regressor (回歸者) Seo Eun-hyun.

That is my twentieth return.