A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 828 Chapter 825: Side Story - Nation Founding (3)

Ultimately, Makli Hyun-ah manages to alter his formal title to resemble the name 'Black King'.

Nevertheless, within the Demon Race, the moniker 'Darkness Queen' has circulated widely for quite some time, and he can't halt the momentum of that initial label that's already gained traction. He reckons that curbing just the official title counts as an achievement.

In any case, Makli Hyun-ah leverages his power to tame the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy and the savage instincts of demon beasts across the territories under his sway.

Consequently, innumerable demon beasts from the Qi Refining stage onward find their wild tendencies curbed, gaining 'reason' in the process.

The demon beasts' chances of survival skyrocket as a result, and the greater this effect, the deeper their devotion and respect for Makli Hyun-ah grow.

As this pattern intensifies, Makli Hyun-ah's societal influence swells, and eventually, he discovers he can separate this societal influence from himself.

This is a dharma treasure he gains the ability to forge once the advanced stages of Pacifying Myriad Demons Under Heaven Survey advance further.

He can now produce a 'talisman plaque'.

'Could this be the dharma treasure from the Confucian Family Method...?'

Tsaaaaatt...

Makli Hyun-ah infuses black energy into a plain tiger tally utterly devoid of any spiritual energy.

Suddenly, the tiger tally turns pitch black, with Makli Hyun-ah's seal imprinted upon it.

The talisman plaque's function remains straightforward.

"I, Makli Hyun-ah, King of the West Sea, grant a talisman plaque to each of my retainers Makli Nobi, Makli Bi-yeol, and Makli Donald, and I order you to deploy across this sea to control the strange powers and chaotic spirits in areas beyond this king's reach."

To the retainers he inscribes on the talisman plaques and hands them out to, Makli Hyun-ah delegates a portion of his societal influence, enabling him to extend commands to zones outside his direct societal reach.

In essence, they function as regional officials.

And in a way, these regional officials themselves serve as Makli Hyun-ah's dharma treasures.

Wo-woong—

Makli Hyun-ah links with the five senses of these regional officials, monitoring conditions throughout the West Sea.

'Incredible. With my talisman plaques on them, it feels like those fellows are extensions of my own body...!'

He frames it as granting strength, yet it resembles adding another limb far more than a mere gift.

Thus, three decades slip by.

Soon enough, Makli Hyun-ah's societal influence keeps expanding, surging repeatedly.

Unlike the spiritual power of Immortal Family Methods that builds within the body and divine soul, the societal influence of the Confucian Family Method gathers externally.

From Makli Hyun-ah's attire, the Confucian Family Method's societal influence steadily broadens to form a jade throne, then from there envelops his entire residence, evolving into a grand palace.

'When societal influence runs low, Pacifying Myriad Demons Under Heaven Survey suggests having subordinates build or bolster the palace. Yet... with overflowing societal influence, it constructs the palace independently... that's what it describes.'

Makli Hyun-ah gives a casual shrug while gazing from the jade throne at the vast palace and halls that have sprawled over his entire island residence without him noticing.

'At present, it looks like I'm brimming with societal influence.'

Naturally, this palace, formed by piling up Makli Hyun-ah's societal influence, would crumble to dust if he vanished.

To secure a legacy for future generations, Makli Hyun-ah constructs an exact replica of the palace his societal influence shaped, hidden beneath the waves.

'They mention the trickiest aspect of the Confucian Family Method is securing a successor... It's truly bothersome. Wait, do I really need to sire heirs just to advance in cultivation?'

Admittedly, the successor needn't be a blood child, though direct offspring seems optimal for preserving societal influence.

Given Makli Hyun-ah's aversion to fathering children... he opts to seek alternatives wherever feasible.

In this manner, another two decades elapse.

***

A full century has now passed since Makli Hyun-ah arrived in this realm.

"Uuuhm..."

Makli Hyun-ah stirs on the jade throne, eyes fluttering open amid a pounding headache.

"Are you okay, Your Majesty?"

Beside him stands Makli Hweol, the companion who's shared his presence for over a century.

"Mm. I'm alright. It's merely fatigue from enduring a tribulation."

Unbeknownst to himself, Makli Hyun-ah has ascended to a stage akin to Nascent Soul.

The domain in the western sea has ballooned steadily, reaching a scale that's impossible to overlook.

Inevitably, the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance protests Makli Hyun-ah's massing of demon beasts into an organized force, issuing a directive to the Makli Clan to disband his demon beast warlord group at once.

Yet the clan head, Makli Hong, dismisses the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance's ultimatum, relocating the Makli Clan's primary estate to Makli Hyun-ah's sea domain and vowing to maintain the warlord faction intact.

This outcome is hardly surprising.

Simply by rallying the Demon Race devoted to Makli Hyun-ah and directing them via the Beast Taming method, the Makli Clan wields, from one clan's reserves alone, might comparable to a major sect.

Following the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance's official war declaration, they launch an assault on the territories governed by Makli Hyun-ah's warlord faction.

And from that moment onward...

Up to the present, Makli Hyun-ah has been locked in the tribulation of progressing to the Nascent Soul stage.

Unlike Immortal Family Method cultivators facing lightning-based Heavenly Tribulations, Confucian Family Method practitioners encounter calamities manifesting as internal and external crises upon their 'power bloc'—invasions, disasters, plagues, uprisings, and the like.

Still, with the vast majority of Makli Hyun-ah's 'subjects' being the resilient Demon Race, they shrug off natural calamities and diseases thanks to their robust forms. As for rebellions, Makli Hyun-ah's presence tempers demon beast ferocity, fostering intelligence that boosts young Demon Race survival rates, ensuring even parents of offspring remain loyal without fail.

Hence, Makli Hyun-ah's ordeal boils down to external threats.

To put it simply, it's relentless pressure from outside powers.

Makli Hyun-ah's whole nation plunges into warfare, the chaos sweeping every corner and channeling into his mind, forcing him to endure chronic headaches for years on end.

'The Confucian Family Method's tribulation drags on subtly...yet failing to withstand it could drive one insane, so it's no trivial matter.'

Makli Hyun-ah heaves a heavy sigh, turning to Makli Hweol.

"Looks like the outcome settles today."

"Indeed, word is the Makli Clan is launching a total assault. Over these twenty-plus years, aided by demon beasts, they've set up a formation spanning the sea domain to enable the clan head's technique, allowing him to join the fray personally."

"Incidentally, they mention Clan Head Makli Hong's technique activates solely within the formation, and only under specific prerequisites...does it hold some superior edge?"

"Well...it's less about raw power at the same level...since the clan head practices Non-Immortal Family Methods like Your Majesty, his unpredictability stands out remarkably."

"Hoh...what sort is it...?"

"You'll grasp it shortly upon witnessing. Shall we head over?"

"Yes, sure..."

Makli Hyun-ah nods, settles onto the jade throne, shuts his eyes, while Makli Hweol proceeds to the palace's transmission formation.

Woo-woong!

The transmission formation glows brightly as Makli Hweol teleports to the battlefront, and Makli Hyun-ah projects his awareness into one talisman plaque-bearing local magistrate at the front, briefly transforming that official's form into his avatar.

Tsuaaaat!

Instantly, black radiance engulfs the local magistrate's figure, reshaping him into Makli Hyun-ah clad in a black dragon robe.

"Hooh..."

Through this avatar's body, Makli Hyun-ah surveys the frontline chaos.

Local magistrates enforcing his directives stifle Heaven and Earth spiritual energy nearby, deterring cultivators from advancing into spell duels.

Hence, the clash here pits the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance's summoned martial artists against Makli Hyun-ah's hardy followers.

Namely, the demon beasts.

These demon beasts, their savagery quelled by Makli Hyun-ah and minds awakened to reason, surge forward en masse at their leaders' commands, clashing with the Human Race martial artists.

With neither side accessing demon powers or spells, the demon beasts bank on their formidable physiques.

The martial artists counter using sword energy, sword gang, protective gang qi from the martial realm, holding firm against the demon onslaught.

Observing the fray, Makli Hyun-ah muses inwardly.

'Why do those so-called martial artists resist internal energy suppression so stubbornly...?'

He can readily nullify the internal energy of typical martial artists, reducing them to mere mortals.

But for 'peak masters' who unify sword and body through intent, their internal energy proves resistant.

This 'intent,' akin to a conscious force, apparently deflects portions of Makli Hyun-ah's control.

Makli Hyun-ah remembers a Confucian Family Method drawback noted in Pacifying Myriad Demons Under Heaven Survey.

'A key vulnerability of the Confucian Family Method lies with thieves.'

Reportedly, the might of sword-wielding rogues boasting martial prowess resists Confucian Family Method suppression effectively.

Thus, the technique's creator noted how myriad Confucian Family Method empires fell to thief gangs and bandits.

'Intent counters suppression, letting these bandit-like martial artists defy the Confucian Family Method...! How do I handle them?'

Makli Hyun-ah gnaws at his fingernail.

The Demon Race confronts the martial artists head-on with their robust frames, but the foes prove overwhelmingly potent.

In particular, 'Blooming' realm martial artists demand dozens of Demon Race to swarm them simultaneously, their prowess evoking calamitous forces.

Facing such warriors, the demon beasts—stripped of their abilities—struggle for any advantage.

Even with Makli Clan cultivators aiding via Makli Hyun-ah's Naming Family talismans, the support falls woefully short.

'The Confucian Family Method's core issue isn't just thieves—it's impartiality!'

The method's gravest shortcoming is its blanket suppression of all supernatural elements within range, without sparing allies or enemies.

One can exempt certain external aids like talismans or transmission formations from the suppression zone, but beyond that, the Confucian Family Method operates on a binary: 'Suppress Heaven and Earth spiritual energy if desired, or maintain it otherwise.'

'Releasing Heaven and Earth spiritual energy suppression would let the Demon Race unleash abilities and our cultivators join, but...'

Makli Hyun-ah grimaces, eyeing the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance's cultivators rallying the martial artists from beyond the Confucian Family Method's grip.

'We'd be overwhelmed instantly.'

Thus far, the Makli Clan's stand against the colossal Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance hinges entirely on the singular boon of Makli Hyun-ah's Confucian Family Method: 'suppression of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy'.

In this bind, Makli Hyun-ah dares not lift the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy suppression lightly.

'When exactly will Clan Lord Makli Hong intervene...?'

Right then,

Makli Hweol arrives at the frontlines via transmission formation, offering a subtle smile and a reassuring pat on Makli Hyun-ah's shoulder.

"Hoho... No need to fret excessively, Your Highness. I've learned the Clan Lord plans to enter the battle himself shortly..."

"I believe if the Clan Head takes command directly, victory could come swiftly...but how does he plan to shift this tide...?"

Makli Hyun-ah queries Makli Hweol with evident concern.

Despite Makli Hong's unwavering assurance—citing potential clan spies—he withheld the precise nature of his technique's capabilities until the last.

That's the moment it strikes.

Flash!

In the distance, Makli Clan elders mounted on the clan's demon beasts, alongside the reigning clan head Makli Hong, reach the battlefield.

With the Confucian Family Method's influence barring Flying Escape Techniques, their tardy arrival stems from relying on demon beast mounts.

Makli Hong addresses Makli Hyun-ah directly.

"All setups are ready. Merging your Confucian Family Method with my technique's unique essence lets us crush the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance in one fell swoop. Hyun-ah, authorize deployment of my Innate True Method."

"Hm...but that would allow others to wield their methods too..."

"My technique isn't an Immortal Family Method."

"Then it's acceptable, though...currently, the permitted strange powers and chaotic spirits are just the teleportation formation and Naming Family talismans. Adding another vaguely might dilute my societal influence..."

"Hmm...understood? In that case, revoke permission for one between the Naming Family talisman and teleportation formation, and approve mine. Activating my technique guarantees decisive triumph."

With that, Makli Hyun-ah agrees and adjusts the Confucian Family Method.

'Sanction the Clan Head's technique category. Block all further Naming Family talisman usage!'

Tudududududu!

Makli Clan members' Naming Family talismans mid-cast crumble into worthless paper scraps aloft.

Makli Hyun-ah retains the teleportation formation for potential withdrawal.

An odd aura emanates from Makli Hong's form.

Simultaneously, Makli Hong advances and starts proclaiming.

[Listen up, all of you!]

Woo-woong!

It's peculiar.

Deprived of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy and without cultivating martial internal energy...yet Makli Hong's proclamation thunders in every ear like a lion's bellow.

[From now on. As an elder of the West Sea King's lineage. And as head of the Makli Clan. This Makli Clan declares it will not tolerate the savage 'animal abuse acts' occurring in its domain!]

Woo-wooooong!

[This clan head has thrice implored the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance to cease their cruel 'animal abuse acts' within Makli Clan lands, but they unleashed martial artists to savagely mistreat the wildlife under Makli Clan protection. This violates the 'Animal Protection Law' our clan upholds, and deliberately spurns this clan head's pleas.]

Makli Hong's proclamation leaves not just the foes, but even allied demon beasts, wearing baffled looks.

The Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance appears thrown off by Makli Hong's words, while demon beasts merely blink, unsure if laws shield their kind.

[Thus, this clan head sentences the guilty parties to ten days' detention for their willful offenses!]

Kugugugung!

Makli Hong's words ripple across the heavens.

Instantly, martial artists mid-slash against demon beasts freeze as if ensnared.

Some unseen force seems to bind them.

Certain realm martial artists circulate internal energy to fight back, yet their movements inevitably lag.

Ultimately, the demon beasts, previously on the defensive, swiftly turn the tide.

Myriad demon beasts pummel or consume the Human Race martial artists.

Surveying the reversal, Makli Hong addresses Makli Hyun-ah.

"My technique is the Legalist Family Method (法家功法), letting me enact laws and punish violators. Yet martial artists prove resistant to legal binds. Even so, the combined might of Legalist and Confucian methods ca