Absolute Regression Chapter 252

252nd That is the Nine Flower Demon.

I walked along an unfamiliar road following my father.

The back of Cheonmajeon was a road I had never walked on before. Even when I returned to the main school to get the materials for the Great Law before returning, I had never come here before.

When we reached the beautifully decorated flower garden, my father told me that there was a secret method here.

“Follow my footsteps exactly.”

The formation spread out in the garden was the Nine Springs Evil Spirits’ Maze Formation. It was a terrible desperate formation where if one did not find the correct life gate, one would be chased by evil spirits until death.

I followed my father carefully, following in his footsteps.

As soon as I left the maze of the nine heavenly evil spirits, the view ahead of me changed completely. There was a large building that towered like a castle in the place where there had been nothing until I walked through the flower garden.

The most secret place in the Cheonmasingyo sect was the Nine Evil Demons Palace.

Father placed his palm on the small plate next to the door. He injected his inner energy into it and the huge door slowly began to open. This was a place where only those who had mastered the Nine Fire Magic were allowed to enter.

I stepped into a new world.

A sight that overwhelms me the moment I enter.

In front, a huge stone statue in the shape of a Heavenly Horse was sitting. It looked like my father sitting on the throne.

And the Heavenly Demon Spirit was reaching out his hand. I could intuitively sense that the space on that palm was the place for the Heavenly Demon.

The moment I saw the Heavenly Horse Spirit, a thrill ran through my whole body. I felt like I wanted to stand up on that outstretched hand. I was consumed by the desire to meet my Heavenly Horse Spirit. It was really hard to keep my composure today.

At that time, my father’s words made my heart tremble even more.

“I also learned the art of magic from my father here.”

Memories of the past flashed through my father’s eyes as he remembered that day.

‘What kind of person was your grandfather to your father?’

My father never spoke about my grandfather.

‘I have a lot to tell my children about their father.’

I looked around slowly.

In that vast place, the past and the present coexist.

The mural on one wall depicted the original appearance of the Demonic Cult. It was scary, grotesque, and primitive, and the painting and stone statues were so vivid that they looked like they would jump out and move at any moment.

Next to it, another image of the Demonic Cult was drawn. As time passed, the Demonic Cult changed. The demons and devils were depicted differently.

“The practice of the Guhwamagong has been passed down for a long time, changing and improving little by little, and sometimes falling into disrepair and then being continued again.”

There was also detailed writing on the wall about the magic of the nine-flower technique.

There were also records of when the Nine Flower Demons were born, and the time when they were nine herbivores was also written in detail.

Then, there was a time when it was divided into the Nine Flower Demon Sword Style, Nine Flower Magic Sword Style, and Nine Flower Magic Fist Style, and each of the Seven Heavenly Styles were magical arts in their respective halves. There was also a time when it was lost and buried in the darkness.

The entire process was recorded in detail on the wall until it became nine again.

“The magic of the nine-flower magician has been constantly changing.”

“It couldn’t be otherwise. There have always been idiots and geniuses throughout the ages.”

Then, the father’s gaze turned back to the Cheonmahon statue.

“In the midst of all these changes, the only thing that has not changed is the spirit of Cheonma.”

Although herbivores have changed over time, the spirit of the Heavenly Horse has not changed.

The ultimate being that can only be summoned when the Great Star of the Nine-Handed Demon Sect has been achieved.

Before coming to this place, I had already seen the image of the Heavenly Demon Spirit several times. I felt like the Heavenly Demon Spirit was looking at me in the cave of the Mansajongju, and I also saw it while enduring the tyrannical prayer of the Murim Alliance Leader.

I can’t forget the look in Cheonmahon’s eyes when he looked at me at that time. It seemed like he was making fun of me, missing me, and feeling sorry for me.

“Have you tried calling the Heavenly Horse Spirit?”

My father nodded to my question.

It means that if you achieve great success in the Nine-Hwa-Ma-Gong, you can summon the Heavenly Demon Spirit.

Father, did you lose to Hwamugi even after summoning the Heavenly Demon? Or did you fight without summoning it? What kind of fight took place that day?

Even at this moment, defeat was not easily conjured up in the sight of my father’s side profile, which looked so firm. I didn’t know whether I would ever know what happened that day or not, but one thing was certain.

It will never happen again.

“If I achieve great success in the Nine Flower Demon Sect, will my father and I each be able to summon the Heavenly Demon Spirit?”

“Yes. It is said that the Heavenly Demon Spirit is slightly different depending on the person who calls it. The Heavenly Demon Spirit that I call and the Heavenly Demon Spirit that you call will be different.”

A different Heavenly Horse from my father. Imagine those two Heavenly Horses standing tall and facing each other, and I looked forward to that moment so much.

“My Heavenly Demon Spirit… … may have a lot to say.”

A faint smile appeared on my father’s lips. That reaction could be considered a burst of laughter.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to see it in my lifetime.”

Although it was a joke, it also meant that it was difficult to achieve great success in the Nine-Handed Demonic Cultivation.

My father flew up and landed on the palm of the Cheonmahon statue.

“Come up here.”

I, too, flew up there as if I had been waiting for it.

I reached out and touched the statue’s hand. It felt cold to the touch.

The center of the palm had the symbol of the Heavenly Horse Spirit engraved on it, and it was designed so that a person could sit there. Perhaps my father also learned the art of the Nine-Handed Demon here.

My father looked at me and asked again.

“Are you ready?”

I looked at my father and answered.

“I want to feel the actual texture of the Cheonmahon.”

Then the father’s majestic prayer filled the room.

Finally, the words I had been longing for came out of my father’s mouth.

“I will now teach you the art of the Nine-Handed Demon.”

My body trembled involuntarily in the face of great destiny. My heart, which had been calm, began to beat again.

I sat there with my back straight and my posture correct.

I breathed steadily and steadily. My breath and my consciousness became one, and I was finally ready to accept my fate.

This palm was not an ordinary place. For some unknown reason, the movement of internal energy and magic was smoother.

“Predation is a process for the sole purpose of killing, and it is a movement that optimizes the process. Your achievements will depend on how well you understand this.”

Beginning with the deep teachings of the Muhak clan, my father began to recite the nine verses of the Guhwamagong.

I closed my eyes and began to recite the nine-character magic formula.

It was more difficult than any martial arts I’ve ever experienced. Usually, I can understand it the moment I hear it, but Guhwamagong was a completely new concept.

I just memorized what my father said. Understanding and interpreting the meaning came later. I memorized it with all my concentration.

“… … The divine palace must be cold, and the water must be hot. If the lower part is the leaf, then the dry part must be the root. Only when chaos becomes order, and the loud noise becomes silence, will the middle part change into life, and the great palace into death. When the middle part is clear and quiet, the single part… … .”

The incomprehensible knots continued endlessly. The last knot of the long-lasting Nine-Handed Demonic Ceremony ended like this.

“… … Standing alone in this world, that is the Nine Flower Demonic Ceremony.”

When my father’s sermon ended, I let out an exclamation without realizing it. Whether I understood it or not was a question for later. I could instinctively know. How great a martial art the Nine-Hwa Demonic Arts was. The majesty and elegance of the Absolute Demonic Arts were overwhelming and engulfed my body.

“How much have you memorized?”

“I have memorized the entire sentence itself.”

My father was different than usual. If it were a normal time, he would have said, “Let’s go,” and gotten up from his seat. But my father kept repeating his words.

“Now, listen again.”

At this moment when he was teaching the Nine-Handed Demonic Skill, he was more serious than ever. Since the Nine-Handed Demonic Skill is not something that can be passed down secretly, but rather taught directly, it is likely because if he memorizes or interprets even one letter incorrectly, his life could be in danger.

After my father repeated the mantra three times, he asked me to recite it.

I began to recite the Mantra of the Nine-Handed Demon.

My father looked satisfied as he memorized it accurately from beginning to end.

“That’s correct.”

I bowed deeply to my father.

“I am so very happy. Thank you, Father.”

I was so overcome with emotion that I couldn’t think of anything else to say. I was just happy and grateful.

I thought this was how the martial arts training would end. I taught you, so now you have to learn it yourself.

But it wasn’t.

My father taught me some of the essentials and core of the Guhwamagong. He didn’t teach me everything, but rather pointed out specific parts that I might have been confused about.

“Have you memorized all of this content?”

“Yes, I memorized it.”

“This is to inform you not to wander unnecessarily.”

“Thank you, Father.”

My father sat on the tip of Cheonmahon’s finger. I also sat next to him.

“My father lectured me on the entire essence of the Nine-Haired Demonic Cultivation. From the beginning to the end of the Nine-Haired Demonic Cultivation. He told me how to interpret it and how to practice it. Even so, it took me a very long time to achieve greatness.”

My father’s gaze turned to me.

“I won’t tell you the whole story.”

I wasn’t really surprised at how fatherly it was, but the reason he did it was really surprising.

“You probably know that even the same martial arts can have a big difference depending on how you interpret it.”

And after meeting my father, he said the most surprising thing.

“I want to see the interpretation of the Nine-Handed Demonic Cultivation.”

“!”

I was shocked. I was really shocked.

And I could see that. What he had just said was that my father recognized me as a person to be reckoned with. No, it was more than that.

“Show me your magic wand.”

He said that he wanted to see a better Nine-Handed Magical Skill than the Nine-Handed Magical Skill his father had learned. That proud father was saying those words right now.

“So, carve your history here!”

My heart ached. At this moment, the joy of being recognized by my father was greater than the joy of being taught the art of the Nine-Handed Demon. The tears that had not fallen then were about to fall now.

Before I could answer, my father got up from his seat.

“let’s go.”

It was the moment when he returned to his original blunt father.

I didn’t say I would show you. I really will.

Thank you, father.

I think I came back really well.

* * *

After leaving Cheonmasingung, I climbed to the top of Daecheonsan Mountain.

I stood there alone and recited the Nine-Handed Demon’s teachings over and over again, trying to imprint them in my mind forever.

My life was at stake here. Everyone’s life was at stake here.

And I kept thinking back and back on the secrets and enlightenment that my father had taught me. If I hadn’t known these secrets, I would have needed much more time to learn the Nine-Hwa-Ma-Gong.

I forgot my hunger and was absorbed only in the practice of the Nine-Handed Magic. My mind was clear and pure, and I felt joy.

There was no me, no father, and in the end, even the Nine Fire Demon Sect was gone. In a state of complete selflessness, the Nine Fire Demon Sect was completely imprinted.

* * *

The first place I went to after coming down from Daecheonsan was Pungryu Tavern.

As I entered, Jo Chun-bae ran out to greet me.

“Your Majesty! I am truly grateful! When I heard that you had become the new leader, I wanted to visit you on campus.”

He really looked like he wanted to hug me.

So I hugged him tightly. Jo Chun-bae was so surprised that he almost fainted.

“You shouldn’t do this to someone so lowly as me.”

“You are so humble, this is the last time I will say such things. Isn’t it rude to say such things to a friend?”

At the word friend, Cho Chun-bae waved his hand and said, “Oh my.” What more could he say? Cho Chun-bae’s wrinkled face was filled with emotion.

“There has never been anyone like you, my lord, and there will never be one again.”

“Show me that emotion through cooking! I’m so hungry!”

I went up to this floor.

I see a wall that Ma-bul and the Poison King left behind, and next to it, there is another person left behind.

Blood stream, go have a drink with your disciple.

Surprisingly, it was a message left by Hyeolcheon Doma and Seo Daeryong.

It was amazing that he came to drink with me, but he even mentioned his disciple in the note he left behind. I smiled pleasantly as I recalled the two of them.

After a while, Jo Chun-bae came up with some alcohol and snacks.

He said this while looking at the newly written words of the Bloodthirsty Demon on the wall.

“Elder Doma came a while ago and left it for me. It’s all thanks to the Sogyoju.”

“At first, it may have been because of me, but now it’s because of our owner’s taste in alcohol and cooking skills. Those people are so picky.”

Then he grabbed Jo Chun-bae’s sleeve.

“Come have a drink with me.”

“Yes, I’ll buy you a drink to celebrate.”

“Do you know that? It’s the first congratulatory drink you receive.”

“Oh my! Micheon… … No, can I have the first drink?”

“That’s right. I thought of the owner first, leaving all the other Amazons aside. Why do you think that was?”

Then Jo Chun-bae answered wittily.

“Maybe because you’re hungry?”

“Actually, I starved for a few days.”

We laughed together.

I am different from before.

I was a student of science and became a cult leader, and I even learned the Nine-Handed Demonic Cult.

But I will live an unchanging life.

I will live a life like this, sharing a drink with Jo Chun-bae.

The ten great stars of the Nine Flower Demons can be achieved in the training grounds.

However, I don’t think that the Twelve Stars can be achieved in the training ground. I believe that the path to the Twelve Stars can be found during a drinking party with Jo Chun-bae, in a single line drawn on the wall of the evil Soma, and in a moonlit walk with Ian.

My absolute principle of unchanging ignorance.

When people change, martial arts also change.

And again I know.

The magic that doesn’t break the table is ten times harder than the magic that breaks the table. Jo Chun-bae is the milestone of the magic that I will protect. When the smile disappears from his face, my magic will be on the wrong path.

So this is enough for my celebration. Just the two of us having a grand celebration.

“Come, let’s have a drink, sir!”