A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 832 Chapter 829: Side Story - Purple Gold Realm (2)
Previously on A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation...
Chapter 832 Chapter 829: Side Story - Purple Gold Realm (2)
"Hmm...One Qi of the Primordial Chaos Religious Order..."
As Makli Hweol starts to display curiosity, Makli Hyun-ah offers an uneasy smile and signals his hesitation.
"Haha, sorry about that, Cultivator Heo. We truly appreciate your generosity, but we haven't been in the Upper Realm for long since our ascension...plus, a senior from our clan reached the Purple Gold Realm ahead of us. Before committing to any group, we ought to seek out that individual first and get their thoughts too."
"Ah, got it. That makes sense. In that case, it wouldn't feel right to lead you directly into the territory of the One Qi of the Primordial Chaos Religious Order...so instead, I'll take you to the Star Master Jurisdiction, which stands as the nearest neutral territory."
With that, Makli Hyun-ah and Makli Hweol trail behind Heo Yak-ham toward the neutral area in the Purple Gold Realm known as the Star Master Jurisdiction.
***
Purple Gold Realm, Star Master Jurisdiction.
Makli Hyun-ah trails Heo Yak-ham northward, and he can't suppress a gasp at the immense expanse of what's known as the Star Master Domain.
Over a vast ocean of dark liquid, numerous coral formations create island chains, each one rivaling the size of a single country on Penglai Star.
These coral islands feature shores shaped into massive palaces, and the whole cluster of dozens of such grand structures forms the Star Master Jurisdiction.
"Th-This..."
"Haha, you seem taken aback. Naturally, the Upper Realm you first glimpsed upon ascending was a Star Master Jurisdiction ravaged by conflict and reduced to ruins, so this difference hits hard."
Heo Yak-ham keeps providing details while leading the wide-eyed Makli Hyun-ah and Makli Hweol, both stunned by the vastness of the Star Master Jurisdiction.
"The dark ocean down there is a body of heavy water."
"Uh...heavy water?"
Recalling a relative who once labored at a nuclear facility, Makli Hyun-ah pictures the heavy water employed to moderate reactors.
"Ah, regarding heavy water, it's said to be liquid with extra elements infused into the core particles of regular water."
"By 'extra,' you mean?"
"Well...I'm not clear on the specifics, but legend has it that the Sacred Master's anguish and vengeful toxins formed a curse that blended into the waters, weighing them down—that's heavy water. Every sea in the Purple Gold Realm consists of this stuff."
"Uh..."
"Beneath that heavy water ocean, endless spirit herbs thrive, like the molting sea cucumber, a hallmark of the Purple Gold Realm. Naturally, the intense resentment poison from the Sacred Master tainting the heavy water makes harvesting a tough feat."
Makli Hyun-ah's mouth falls open in awe at the power wielded by this entity termed the Sacred Master.
'What sort of being could transform a whole sea into heavy water with mere traces of torment...? Could this be...the Sacred Vessel stage?'
While Makli Hyun-ah marvels at the Sacred Vessel stage entity known as the Sacred Master, Heo Yak-ham escorts the pair to a coral fortress.
Beings from the Demon Race, Human Race, and various others bustle through the numerous openings in the coral fortress, relying on flight artifacts or escape techniques.
"Watch out for crashes. For now, I'll assist you both in obtaining the Purple Gold Realm's standard identity plaque. Simply let an energy-scanning artifact check your Lower Realm qi to confirm ascension, and you'll get it immediately—no need to fret. On top of that, I'll cover the fundamentals of the Purple Gold Realm for you two."
Heo Yak-ham leads them deeper into the coral fortress, reaching what resembles a bustling bazaar, where he purchases a jade slip from a vendor.
"Infuse it with spiritual energy, and the data within will flood your mind. This holds a full layout of the Purple Gold Realm. It could help you survey things and get your bearings."
Makli Hyun-ah channels spiritual energy into the jade slip via the Naming Family Method, and instantly, a torrent of the Purple Gold Realm's terrain details surges into his awareness.
"The Purple Gold Realm divides into nine major areas overall."
Heo Yak-ham launches into his overview.
"At the center lies Ban Ta Castle, home to the Sacred Master who oversees and balances the Purple Gold Realm, with Eye Domain, Nose Domain, Ear Domain, Tongue Domain, Touch Domain, Mind Domain, Manas Domain, and Araya Domain extending in all eight directions."
The map from Heo Yak-ham depicts the Purple Gold Realm as a colossal castle encircled by eight distinct territories.
These eight territories stand isolated by oceans of black water, and their current spot, the Star Master Jurisdiction, floats in the waters between the Eye Domain and the Nose Domain.
"Of these, the Araya Domain appears as a formal division, but...save for the Sacred Master, none can access it, so effectively, it's considered nonexistent."
Heo Yak-ham also injects spiritual energy into the jade slip, linking its info to Makli Hweol and Makli Hyun-ah, as he describes the Purple Gold Realm's layout.
"In the Purple Gold Realm's chronicles, only beings at Great Net Immortal level or beyond have ventured into that domain and emerged alive. It's mere folklore, so truth remains uncertain. Regardless, that's why the Araya Domain lingers only on paper...treat the Purple Gold Realm's divisions as practically eight."
Makli Hyun-ah nods at the misty sector atop Ban Ta Castle on the map, as Heo Yak-ham shifts to the one below it.
"Next up, the Manas Domain proves equally tough to breach. Beyond the Sacred Master, just Star Shattering stage powerhouses can enter and exit safely. Yet even they face severe trials in the Manas Domain or perish there, marking it as a perilously hazardous zone.
"Occasionally, cultivators under Star Shattering stage slip in and emerge by pure chance...but those survivors claim vast riches and boons, allowing them to bask in spirit stones for eternity. All who escape by divine luck stay silent on the domain's secrets...though whispers suggest it attracts threads of prosperous destiny."
Similar to the Araya Domain, the Manas Domain appears shrouded in light fog on the map, yet hints of radiant golden glows peek through the vapors.
"Thus, fortune-seekers often linger near the Manas Domain, biding for the perfect moment. Following that is the Mind Domain."
The Mind Domain stretches east from Ban Ta Castle.
"The Mind Domain ranks as the Purple Gold Realm's most stunning locale. As one of three domains under the Sacred Master's direct control—alongside Araya and Manas—it brims with heavenly treasures, spirit herbs, and ethereal beauties beyond imagination. It draws visitors at True Immortality or higher from other Heavenly Domains for leisure and departure. Consequently, it's no casual entry for the masses. Rumors mention a teleportation array to other Middle Realms, enabling trades with them or distant Heavenly Domains. That's the route for all foreign Middle Realm wares entering the Purple Gold Realm—via the Mind Domain."
"Hoh..."
"Beyond Araya, Manas, Mind, and Ban Ta Castle—the four under the Sacred Master's immediate rule—the remaining domains fall to various powers."
He offers a subtle grin while detailing each area.
"The Eye Domain and Ear Domain belong to our One Qi of the Primordial Chaos Religious Order. Meanwhile, the Touch Domain and Tongue Domain are held by those wandering rogues dubbed the 'Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order'. As for the Nose Domain, where you fellow Daoists arrived, it serves as a fierce contested field between the One Qi of the Primordial Chaos and Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Orders, so view it as lacking a single dominant force."
Makli Hyun-ah gestures toward the map's edges.
"Outside Ban Ta Castle and the eight domains, the rest shows in black...what's that section?"
"Ah, numerous Middle Realms split into 'Stable Realm zones' and 'Chaos Realm zones'. The Stable Realm zones support life for beings, while Chaos Realm zones twist spacetime or suffer erratic Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, rendering them unlivable for ordinary folk."
"It looks hugely vast from here..."
"Indeed. In Astral Realm terms, the Chaos Realm zone spans an entire galaxy's width."
Makli Hyun-ah tuts in amazement at the jaw-dropping immensity.
"Indeed...Middle Realms dwarf imagination in scale. Ah...so the map blacks out beyond the Stable Realm zone because full scouting's impossible, and no beings dwell there, right?"
"Ah...truthfully, the black marking stems from the Chaos Realm zone being wholly submerged in heavy water."
"Hm? How so?"
"Accounts from antiquity describe the Purple Gold Realm's Chaos Realm zone as mostly desolate badlands or metallic plains battered by magnetic tempests...but across endless eras, Ban Ta Castle continuously spewed heavy water, flooding the whole Chaos Realm zone into a dark sea."
"Hoh...what prompted Ban Ta Castle to unleash such a flood?"
"Hmm...I'm not fully versed, but perhaps it ties to the fame of fire-grilled sea cucumbers from the Purple Gold Realm's signature molting sea cucumbers, known universe-wide...so the Sacred Master aimed to cultivate vast numbers, eh?"
"Ahahahaha, that explains it."
Makli Hyun-ah erupts in chuckles at the unexpectedly straightforward motive, with Heo Yak-ham joining in robust laughter.
"Folks say the Sacred Master adores sea cucumbers so much that even with the Chaos Realm zone brimming, heavy water keeps pouring from Ban Ta Castle nonstop. This fuels wild tales of the Purple Gold Realm's water levels steadily climbing."
"Hahaha, what a fun rumor. With the Chaos Realm zone galaxy-sized, how could a trickle from that small spot raise levels... Puahaha."
As Heo Yak-ham and Makli Hyun-ah share laughs, a blue-robed elder strolling past scowls and interjects sharply.
"You Heo whelp, you find the rising water level amusing? Back in my youth, it wasn't this high. It's genuinely inching up! The black sea's tide creeps higher each day. At this rate, heavy water will swallow the whole Purple Gold Realm! We must act swiftly on defenses, yet youngsters dismiss the surge as myth...tsk tsk."
Finishing his rant, the elder abruptly fades from sight nearby, leaving Makli Hyun-ah bewildered as he queries.
"Who was he?"
"Ah...that was a Star Shattering stage Esteemed One from our Black Ghost Valley's Purple Gold Realm outpost."
"...!!??"
Makli Hyun-ah stares in shock at the Esteemed One-tier heavyweight who brushed past them fleetingly.
"Ah, such a formidable figure..."
"Haha, don't dwell on it. His lifespan nears its end...his sanity frays. Though he could ascend to Sacred Vessel stage, he stubbornly resists, gradually succumbing to time's flow, which has warped his thoughts."
"Oh no... Why avoid the Sacred Vessel stage? Advancing would restore his lifespan..."
"Who can say. Details escape me, but word is he seeks reincarnation into another Middle Realm, memories intact, over pushing to Sacred Vessel. I'm unclear on his motives."
It happens then,
Space warps, and the elder who just departed glares at Heo Yak-ham with a scowl.
"You insolent fool, how dare you claim your sect's honored senior has a fractured mind? Time for a disciplinary staff to knock sense into you! My mind remains sharp! I'm just performing!"
"Heok...!"
Heo Yak-ham pales, caught off guard that the Esteemed One overheard his chatter, and as the Black Ghost Valley Esteemed One fixes a stern gaze on Heo Yak-ham, extending a hand—
"Wh-What...!?"
Kugugugugung!
The heavens gloom over, and the vast sky rends apart as a colossal [Eye] descends to survey the world below.
Makli Hyun-ah senses crushing reverence and terror from that [Eye], buckling to the ground beneath its immense aura.
: : I N T E R E S T I N G : :
Kururururu!
"Huh, huaaaaaaaah! Sacred Master! Why!? I thought you were in slumber!"
: : H O W D A R E Y O U H I D E T H A T Y O U R M I N D I S W H O L E A N D R E F U S E T H E A D V A N C E M E N T D E C R E E ? : :
Kwagwagwang!
A massive shadowy hand emerges from the heavens, seizing the elder in a flash and hauling him skyward.
"N-Noooo...! I don't want to advance in the Purple Gold Realm...! Sacred Master! My mind truly falters, so release meeeee!!"
The Black Ghost Valley's Star Shattering stage Esteemed One gets yanked away by the sky's [Eye] owner, vanishing through a rift in space.
Soon after, the celestial [Eye] dims and vanishes, prompting a sweat-drenched Makli Hyun-ah to inquire.
"Th-That was just..."
"...Yes...the Sacred Master... They summon Star Shattering stage Esteemed Ones with intact mind, qi, and body—those ready for Sacred Vessel stage—to Ban Ta Castle for forced cultivation, but...the ordeal proves grueling, so many feign disarray in mind, qi, or body to evade capture."
"Uh...with forcible drafts, is there any reward?"
"I'm unsure of details, but apparently not. When the Sacred Master oversees your cultivation personally, what recompense could one demand?"
"..."
"Yet...this was meant to be the Sacred Master's rest phase, so they shouldn't be snatching Esteemed Ones so rashly..."
Heo Yak-ham gazes at the lingering signs of the sky's Sacred Master, then shudders as realization dawns.
"The Sacred Master...broke through the slumber and roused...? It feels like a mighty destiny looms over this Purple Gold Realm."
"Hooh..."
Intrigued by Heo Yak-ham's speculation, Makli Hweol peppers him with questions on the Sacred Master, while Makli Hyun-ah inevitably ponders the 'draft' enforced by that Sacred Master figure.
'Forcibly hauling folks, subjecting them to endless torments, without fair payback... Hm...'
An eerily recognizable distaste arises, linking the Purple Gold Realm's Sacred Master to the ruthless bureaucracies back on his birth world.
'So the Purple Gold Realm runs like this.'
Upon arriving in the Purple Gold Realm, Makli Hyun-ah etches in his 'initial impression'...
And he figures he grasps the essence of this Purple Gold Realm.