A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 839 Chapter 836: Side Story - Mythical Relic (1)

The Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Renowned as a remote ancient Heavenly Domain, this realm also earns the title of the battleground for Governing Immortals from the Mythic Age.

Yet, despite its reputation, few True Immortals actually reside within this Heavenly Domain.

The reason lies in the fact that the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain remains unclaimed, lacking sufficient fate or blessings to support True Immortals, and any reckless outburst from them could cause the entire domain to crumble easily.

Thus, what populates the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain consists merely of a handful of True Immortals and Immortal Lords,

Along with several Middle Realms formed from the remains of Great Immortals.

Though its name carries weight, it stands as a barren world, almost too shameful to label as a Heavenly Domain.

This confined and desolate realm defines the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

And exactly due to its limited scope,

The Sacred Masters governing the Middle Realms, along with the sparse True Immortals, sense even more intensely the fierce clash of immense powers unfolding at a single location inside the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Myriad True Immortals and Sacred Masters tremble in the face of the Upper Immortal-level entities colliding explosively within one spot of the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

***

Hwioooo—

The entirety of Avīci quakes under the assault of a cosmic gale.

Innumerable dust clouds surge into Avīci, coalescing into vibrant luminous formations.

Within this nebula brimming with radiant clusters, a orb encased in obsidian chains and Ban Ta, embodying a violet Three Great Ultimates, engage in fierce combat.

Though the duel appears balanced at first, the momentum slowly tilts in favor of Ban Ta.

Nevertheless, Ban Ta's face remains stern.

'The wielder of the Obsidian Chains...proves incredibly tough. If just a fragment of soul wields such power, then the primary form must rival even the Chief Judge of the Underworld, the terror of my youth...!'

He fully comprehends the disparity between himself and the Owner of Obsidian Chains.

Should they arrive in full form, Ban Ta at his zenith would still need to retreat.

Kwagwagwagwang!

The fragmented soul of the Owner of Obsidian Chains, restricted to Upper Immortal prowess for brief skirmishes.

As the fight prolongs, their vitality depletes swiftly, allowing Ban Ta to gain the upper hand.

The Owner of Obsidian Chains tuts in evident frustration.

: : Impressive. Had you sought to shatter this Lord's avatar, victory would have been swift, but you press this Lord so relentlessly with pure, unyielding techniques... With even a hint of cunning or concession, this Lord would fall already... : :

"Hmph...!"

: : Your integrity always earns my admiration... Yet you must concede this point. This realm isn't forged solely from virtue... Progress demands the harmony of virtue and vice. : :

"Enough with your Taiji philosophy. Do you presume to lecture me? I reached the Sacred Vessel stage long before your lineage's founding ancestor's remote forebears drew breath!"

: : ...Bragging, are you? : :

Bbududuk!

Ban Ta's cheeks flush crimson at the True Immortal's retort, his teeth grinding audibly.

"Is that meant to mock me?"

: : It merits mockery. Aren't you the one driven by avarice? Haven't you spurned the Lord's favor repeatedly and diverted those chances elsewhere? : :

"...You wouldn't understand. Across epochs long enough to deem my birth era the Mythic Age, this steadfast heart lingered in isolation, observing the existences of True Immortals...its solitude and anguish..."

Ban Ta casts a somber look toward the chained sphere.

"Doesn't your Lord's doctrine state that pain endured yields equal recompense? Isn't that the very law your Lord established? I merely seek what rightfully comes...so why deny me even that?"

Kugugugu!

Ban Ta's hand lashes out, infused with amethyst glow, hurtling toward the chained orb.

Yet, scores of chains erupting from the sphere shred his strike apart in moments.

: : My Lord could yet extract you and claim the Sacred Master position outright. If He refrains, a valid cause surely exists. Eldest Sacred Vessel, recognize that the divine perceive, heed, and sense far beyond your conceptions. : :

Chwararararak.

The chains dismantling Ban Ta's assault swiftly ensnare his entire frame.

Bound completely in restraints, Ban Ta bites down hard.

"And those 'far beyond' you mention—is it that Taiji principle? You call me excessively greedy? Spare me the jest."

: : You're merely an imoogi weighed down by excessive wish-fulfilling pearls, unable to rise. : :

"Are my aspirations so grand? Very well, persist in condemning my greed. You deem me an imoogi burdened by too many pearls to ascend? So be it—I shan't pursue ascension. I'll amass those pearls relentlessly, and haul the heavens before me!"

Kiiiiiiing!

Ban Ta's violet Three Great Ultimates commences its whirl.

"The Dao I hold, I shall never relinquish lightly!"

Jjeok, jjeojeok!

The Owner of Chains startles and fixes eyes on Ban Ta.

The bindings on Ban Ta yield, then shatter outright.

: : Vast Cold Heavenly Circle...!? Wait, you... You've altered the Vast Cold wisdom on your own? : :

Only now does the Owner of Chains grasp the essence of the cultivation shaping Ban Ta's Three Great Ultimates, their gaze widening in shock.

: : Not the steadiest triad of Heaven, Earth, and Heart... Ah, I see. That Three Great Ultimates. Heaven and Earth. And...! : :

Chwaaaaaah!

Ban Ta assumes position,

And from his Three Great Ultimates, myriad palms erupt.

Ban Ta's Innate Ultimate Technique.

Thousand-Hand Sacred Observer Ban Ta (千手觀聖般陀).

Tududududududu!

One Palm.

Amid the torrent of palm imprints, a single strike disintegrates one chain.

Without pause for the Owner of Chains to react, Ban Ta's palms cascade like a storm, pulverizing their defenses.

Tukwagwagwagwang!

Chaos engulfs a section of Avīci.

All chains invoked by the Owner of Obsidian Chains disintegrate simultaneously.

And precisely as Ban Ta closes in, delivering the decisive palm.

Jjeooooeong!

Ban Ta's intent expels the True Immortal's will from Lee Seo-ah's form.

"To overcome me, at least the Owner of the Antimatter Sea, or the Owner of Black Blades as the Owner of Myriad Stars' direct heir, or the Wuji Star Lord must descend! Depart, Owner of Obsidian Chains. You hold no power over me!"

: : You... the moment approaches when you must decide swiftly. This might be your final slumber... Curb your desires and select the Lord... : :

The Owner of Obsidian Chains withdraws from Lee Seo-ah's body, whispering faintly.

: : The Lord has bestowed upon you more benevolence than you extended Him... This opportunity marks the end... Soon, the two divine progenitors who dispersed to birth the Yin-Yang Family shall awaken. Before encountering Glass Peacock once more, reflect deeply...

Tstststst...

Ban Ta regards Lee Seo-ah, now collapsed in stupor after the Owner of Obsidian Chains departs completely.

He propels her form through Avīci with a kick, dispatching it to the safer Purple Gold Realm, then tuts disdainfully.

"...Glass Peacock..."

The deity dubbed the Ignorant One, who merged with the Immortal Beast known as Blue Bird and disseminated across Heaven and Earth to forge the Yin-Yang Family's system.

Meanwhile...

—Ahahahaha, word reached me of someone lingering 10 billion years in the Sacred Vessel stage, perishing from age, then resurrecting, so curiosity drew me here...yet you're a relic of bygone ways. Intriguing, but your current scent repels me—I can't claim you now. One day, should you attain True Immortality, I'll ravish you then.

Bbudududuk...

That featherbrained entity mocked him, declared him foul-smelling, and abandoned him without further ado.

"Glass Peacock..."

Ban Ta grasps the implication of Glass Peacock's words about his "stink."

It alludes to his rigid nature, and Glass Peacock likely aimed to jolt him from his rigid mindset with bold provocation, granting insight.

Yet, despite this awareness, Ban Ta harbors unforgiving resentment toward Glass Peacock.

"Indeed. I recognize it...I know you lot deem my path erroneous...! But...I refuse to alter it. This is the truth!"

He stands resolute in his correctness.

Though this rigidity bars him from inheriting the Purple Gold Realm and traps him in the Sacred Vessel stage, he rejects any notion of error.

"My Dao must forge ahead somehow. Who can impose notions of right and wrong upon me!?"

Ban Ta bellows, detecting the resurgence of Glass Peacock and Blue Bird's energies.

"Resurrect if you will, Glass Peacock. Should I triumph this time, not even you could trail me..."

He pivots toward the Purple Gold Realm, his complex stare sweeping the Manas Domain and Araya domain therein.

Under the jeers of innumerable True Immortals, two full epochs—20 billion years—have passed since he severed the Manas Domain from himself and breached the Araya domain.

"...I am correct. Absolutely...I hold no fault..."

Ban Ta dissolves his violet Three Great Ultimates and retreats to the Purple Gold Realm with a rueful expression.

Ban Ta's eyes reflect deeper weariness.

"The repercussions of rousing amid the dormancy for New Fates hit hard... This round...this round, I need to...prevail..."

His mind brimming with deliberations, Ban Ta quells the recoil from confronting a True Immortal and heads back to Ban Ta Castle in the Purple Gold Realm.

***

Kwagwagwang!

In a far-off dimension,

There, the Nether Crossing Ship under Ahn Geum's command savagely batters a dimension's protective barrier.

Simultaneously, Makli Hyun-ah's Heavenly Tribulation reaches its climax.

Kurururung!

The clouds unleashing torrents of dark rain now descend steadily upon Makli Hyun-ah.

Makli Hyun-ah endures a jolt as if the obsidian heavens crash down on him, channeling every ounce of might through the Confucian Family Method to [negate] this uncanny event.

Each time Makli Hyun-ah deploys his negation divine ability, the ebony droplets and firmament dim progressively and dissipate.

Finally, the full [Black Sky] drenching him in black rain compresses and plummets toward Makli Hyun-ah.

Kwagwagwang!

Makli Hyun-ah counters that eerie force and turbulent essence with utmost effort, ultimately enduring the complete Heavenly Tribulation.

"Heok...heok..."

Concurrently, Ahn Geum's Nether Crossing Ship rends the dimensional barrier of another Middle Realm and slips inside.

Shioooooo—

Leveraging the societal influence he has built, Makli Hyun-ah ascends to the Four-Axis stage and exhales deeply.

Woo-wooong—

Makli Hyun-ah lifts his hand and inspects it.

This sensation...

Tsuaaaat!

The transition from Lower Realm (Lower Boundary) to Middle Realm (Middle Boundary) equates to a dimensional threshold, or the edge of worlds.

Yet, the true leap from the Heavenly Being stage of the Lower Boundary to the Middle Realm occurs at the Four-Axis stage.

From the Four-Axis stage onward, the Heaven Tribe morphs into diverse odd forms based on their cultivated paths, advancing toward minor divinity.

The Earth Tribe, or Demon Race, integrate more solidly with their dharma forms, progressing toward their envisioned ideals.

This fundamental shift in the Heaven and Earth tribes bears names like Immortalization or Ascending Metamorphosis.

Thus, groups like the Hundred Schools, lacking specific realm labels such as Four-Axis, Integration, Star Shattering, Sacred Vessel, and Entering Nirvana from the Immortal Family Method, often dub stages from here collectively as the 'Ascending Metamorphosis stage'.

The Four-Axis stage represents Ascending Metamorphosis 1st tribulation. Integration becomes the 2nd. Star Shattering the 3rd.

Sacred Vessel stands as Ascending Metamorphosis 4th tribulation, continuing thusly.

Upon navigating the four trials of Ascending Metamorphosis, the Hundred Schools arrive at a realm akin to Entering Nirvana, termed the Ascending Immortal stage or Ascending Heaven stage.

"Finally, the dawn of Ascending Metamorphosis 1st tribulation..."

A threshold separating Lower and Middle Boundaries, a phase where one's very being undergoes profound alteration,

And Makli Hyun-ah's Confucian Family Method reshapes him at his core.

Tsuaaaat!

Makli Hyun-ah observes that a slight easing of his power causes his hand to merge into the Nether Crossing Ship as a depicted image.

It resembles an item tucked into a storage scroll as a flat illustration,

But the essence diverges sharply.

A storage scroll functions by forging an internal pocket dimension within the scroll, linked to an illusory seal, flattening entrants like artwork.

Conversely, Makli Hyun-ah's form genuinely flattens into a two-dimensional plane.

"Fascinating..."

That's merely the beginning.

As Makli Hyun-ah focuses, his corporeal frame, reduced to pictorial state, disperses further into elements like 'letters' or 'symbols'.

Tsuaaaat!

Amid this peculiar sensation, Makli Hyun-ah reconstitutes his letter-scattered body into pictorial form, then detaches his arm adhered as an image to the Nether Crossing Ship.

Makli Hyun-ah's arm reverts to normalcy once more.

'The Confucian Family Method's path to ascension views even the self as persistent strange powers and chaotic spirits, banishing them from one's realm to the last. Indeed...I have embodied the very strange powers and chaotic spirits of a system that nullifies such anomalies.'

Makli Hyun-ah's practice regards his own being as strange powers and chaotic spirits, perpetually striving to confine and eject that essence.

Through this, Makli Hyun-ah gains prowess to confine himself into shapes like a 'doll', image, or 'canon'.

Dismantling and reshaping his existence becomes effortless.

Such is the Ascending Metamorphosis of the Confucian Family Method.

Makli Hyun-ah senses the profound intent behind the Confucian Family Method, rooted in the Mountain Divine Spirit.

'A force that imparts will not through brutality, strife, and coercion, but via canon...is this the essence of the Confucian Family Method?'

Makli Hyun-ah probes his fresh divine prowess and delves into contemplation.

The Confucian Family Method's capacities for 'sealing' and 'oppression' have evolved to allow self-confinement into lower dimensions and form alteration.

Naturally, as both sealer and sealed, he can dissolve the bonds at will and restore his prior shape.

'The Confucian Family Method grows ever more captivating as I delve deeper.'

Tsuaat.

Makli Hyun-ah briefly shifts to letter-form and tests mobility.

Transformed into letters in an instant, he swiftly positions himself next to Ahn Geum.

Ahn Ge