Absolute Regression - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Twelfth Gate

I was surprised to confirm what came out of the severed iron cylinder.

Magic Essence Pill (마정단)!

The Magic Essence Pill was an elixir produced by the main sect once every ten years, a divine pill that, when consumed by a practitioner skilled in magic, could grant a considerable amount of power. The amount of internal energy one could obtain varied depending on the practitioner’s constitution and the techniques they had mastered.

I was truly amazed. The intricacy of the plan was even more astonishing than the Magic Essence Pill itself.

If the cylinder were cut with a regular blade, the heat would block the hidden passage for the elixir, preventing the Magic Essence Pill from being obtained.

A reward reserved only for those who cut it with a special blade, not just any blade.

Considering my current lack of internal energy, the Magic Essence Pill was truly a gift from the heavens.

“Welcome, Magic Essence Pill! Thank you, Father!”

Without hesitation, I sat down and immediately consumed the Magic Essence Pill.

The pill emitted a fragrant aroma as it melted in my mouth and spread throughout my body.

A powerful energy circulated through my veins. As I focused on my techniques, I began to absorb all the energy available.

Having consumed elixirs several times in my previous life, absorbing them was not difficult. Due to the unique characteristics of my body, I could absorb more energy than ordinary people.

Lost in deep concentration, I cultivated my internal energy, absorbing every ounce of power available. It wasn’t until two hours had passed that I finally opened my eyes.

The energy from the Magic Essence Pill had been absorbed into my bloodstream like rain after a drought, and through several meticulous cultivation sessions, it had been refined into pure internal energy.

Standing up from my seat, I summoned my inner energy.

Swish! Boom!

The sound from my clenched fist was different. The sound of slicing through the air was more exhilarating, and the impact sounded as though it could shatter eardrums. I felt a surge of joy at the incomparable power.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

The uncontrollable laughter of joy echoed through the cavern.

‘Wait, perhaps?’

Was the hint my father left about understanding the severed line in the iron cylinder? Maybe he succeeded in cutting it the same way?

But soon, I shook my head. No matter how extraordinary my father was, he couldn’t have anticipated that I would enter the Precipice Chamber because of the Heavenly Blood Altar. No, perhaps he thought I would go later… Thank you, Father.

After regulating my body and mind with internal energy circulation, I proceeded to the next stage.

And so, I arrived at the third gate.

Differentiate between life and death.
If you fail, you will have another chance in five days.
The prepared shall stand in the red circle.
Differentiate between life and death? What kind of gate was this?

And the retry period was reduced to five days. It didn’t seem like a good sign.

A red circle appeared on the ground as I stood within it.

A table emerged with a gesture, and what lay on the table brought a smile to my face.

There were ten herbs laid out on the table. This gate was about distinguishing between medicinal herbs and poisonous plants.

In the martial world, it’s said that one should beware of the elderly, children, and women, but in reality, the greatest threat is poison. If one is forced to consume food or drink, they must always check for poison. However, if one must consume it, they must confirm the presence of poison with a silver needle.

So, did anyone study how to distinguish between herbs and poisonous plants? Those who did would have boasted their expertise, while those who didn’t would have been puzzled.

I belonged to the former. Having traversed every corner of the Central Plains in search of the perennial herb, I was proficient not only in swimming, diving, and camping but also in distinguishing various herbs and their effects. If an herbalist ever approached me with a name, I could dig up some rhubarb or cassia roots.

That’s why I didn’t need to read my father’s note right now.

Confidently, I picked one of them up. Among the ten, it was the only herb that wasn’t poisonous.

As I selected the non-poisonous herb, the table descended, and a new set of herbs appeared on it.

This time, there were ten different herbs, unlike the ones laid out before.

“Ah!”

Fortunately, I picked the right one, preventing challengers from passing the gate easily.

I wonder how difficult this test was. Think about it.

You have to pick the right herb twice, and each time there are ten choices. What are the chances of getting them right twice in a row?

If you try to guess roughly, you might end up picking herbs randomly, and if you’re unlucky, you might spend your life picking herbs or poison.

However, this was the best method. If you’re lucky and find one, you’ll pass the gate.

There was no time to waste. I proceeded to pick the correct herbs one by one.

An hour later, I passed through the gate, leaving the rest of the herbs untouched.

After passing through the third gate, I could feel that the fourth gate was just ahead.

This time, the number of people present was drastically reduced compared to before.

However, the preparation was different from the previous gates.

The hidden gate shall reveal itself only to those who seek it.
Enter and find the path.
You have a maximum of three days. If you fail, you may try again in three months.
This time, there was no trace of a red circle.

After looking around, I found the hidden gate right away. It was a wide-open cave that led to the depths of the mountain.

As soon as I stepped inside, the cave was engulfed in darkness.

Thankfully, I had prepared for this situation. I took out a talisman from my pouch and ignited it with my inner energy, illuminating the surroundings.

Walking through the cave, I encountered various traps and obstacles. But with my experience and skills, I was able to overcome them without much difficulty.

Three days passed quickly, and I finally reached the end of the cave.

The fourth gate was now behind me, and I was one step closer to unlocking the secrets of the Precipice Chamber.