A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 840 Chapter 837: Side Story - Mythical Relic (2)

Chapter 840 Chapter 837: Side Story - Mythical Relic (2) 

"During the Mythic Age, beings known as the Three Great Nightmares or the Three Calamities existed."

The group including Ahn Geum and Makli Hyun-ah trails behind the man, listening to tales from the myths of the Vast Cold Realm.

"The initial nightmare was the Ghost Mother. Possessing the fabled Ghostly Yin Transformation Immortal Root talent, she joined Black Ghost Valley and rose as a stellar disciple, yet... her talent proved too much to handle, transforming her into a beast ruling over ten billion ghosts, reportedly devastating the Vast Cold Realm into barren lands."

“...Huh?”

Ahn Geum's eyes suddenly show an odd glint as a memory surfaces.

For an unexplained reason, the image of her mentor, Gongmyo Min-hee, who guided her to Black Ghost Valley, appears sharply in her thoughts.

"To this day, beneath the Human Race lands, remnants of her ghostly energy and certain alternate spaces she generated linger, so back when the Vast Cold Realm thrived, ghost path practitioners or Black Ghost Valley cultivators would venture out to harvest that ghostly essence."

"Hmm, that's useful info for me."

Ahn Geum gives a nod and commits the detail to memory.

"The second nightmare from the Mythic Age was the Sword Devil! As the Ghost Mother caused chaos, this fiend ravaged the Human Race areas, terrorized and tormented the era's Sacred Master of the Vast Cold Realm, and supposedly aided in the Blood Yin Realm's corruption of the Vast Cold Realm. Due to its notorious reputation, certain Vast Cold Realm cultivators secretly covet the Sword Devil's demonic techniques' might and adopt it as an emblem. Our clan employs the Sword Devil's image as our symbol too."

The man pulls a spirit tablet from his robe, revealing a family crest etched upon it.

It depicts a horrifying specter boasting over twenty heads at minimum.

Simply gazing at it weakens the legs and sends shivers racing down the back, evoking a savage demon's presence.

"Such a frightful demon...!"

Makli Hyun-ah shudders uncontrollably, unable to even glance at the Sword Devil's emblem, while Ahn Geum also recoils and quivers before its malevolent form.

Makli Cheon-sa alone cocks her head in confusion.

"That's frightening...?"

"Well... some folks aren't scared, but this is merely the Sword Devil's initial shape. Legends claim that afterward, the Sword Devil cloaked itself in horrifying death, with heads multiplying to 999. In myths, it attained the pinnacle of True Immortality, supposedly expanding to three thousand heads."

"Th-Three thousand heads... what sort of abomination is this Sword Devil creature?"

"It's no wonder it's remembered today as one of the Vast Cold Realm's Three Great Nightmares and deemed a legend—can you picture that form? You'd have to label it a genuine fiend from the True Devil Realm, originating from the Blood Yin Realm!"

"Incidentally, what exactly is the Blood Yin Realm like?"

"I recall that during the Mythic Age, they referred to the True Devil Realm as the Blood Yin Realm... I'm not entirely sure myself."

Makli Hyun-ah, Ahn Geum, and the rest quiver entirely at the vision of the horrifying entity dubbed the Sword Devil, shaking their heads vigorously.

Throughout, Makli Cheon-sa appears baffled as to the Sword Devil's terror.

"Then, what exactly is this Mad Lord figure?"

The man trembles at Makli Cheon-sa's question.

"Its notoriety pales beside the Ghost Mother and Sword Devil. Until recently, it was viewed as little more than a filler monster in the trio of nightmares. But..."

The man's face drains of color as he proceeds.

"Twenty thousand years back, a species near the Vast Cold Realm's Light Spirit Pond accidentally activated an artifact of the Mad Lord... and the Mythic Age relics started 'activating' once more."

"Hold on, hold on."

Ahn Geum questions in confusion.

"If it's the Mythic Age, not even the Ancient Era... that's over ten billion years past, right? And you're claiming artifacts from a being named Mad Lord, dating tens of billions of years ago, still function today?"

"We doubted it initially too. But facts force belief. Those monstrous automatons perpetually mended themselves and withstood countless eons!"

"Self-mend...?"

"Indeed, the puppet sovereign. The prime features of the Mad Lord's leftover puppets number three: [Self-repair], [mass production], and [technological evolution]. Thanks to these dread attributes... the roused puppets rebuilt fully, constructed [factories], raided the Vast Cold Realm's materials to multiply, captured cultivators to convert into animated puppets, and autonomously advanced their tech."

"..."

Ahn Geum falls silent, stunned by the astonishing tech level, while Makli Hyun-ah tuts, reminded of Earth's Grey Goo idea.

'This is Darwin's true nightmare... Terrifying, yet somewhat impressive?'

"In any case, these fearsome mechanical constructs... overrun the whole Vast Cold Realm, devouring everything like locust hordes. Relentlessly, aimlessly, they upgrade themselves... thus, modern humans evade that swarm, burrow underground, and hide away. Paradoxically... the remnants of the Ghost Mother, another of those disasters and nightmares, proved beneficial."

"Didn't you mention the Ghost Mother's leftovers are just faint ghostly energy traces?"

"The ghostly energy yes, but chiefly the alternate spaces tied to it... known as the 'Ghost Mother's Tombs'."

"So by Ghost Mother's Tomb, you refer to..."

"We've reached it perfectly. Welcome. This is the fresh sanctuary for the Vast Cold Realm's inhabitants..."

Those trailing the man soon notice they've stepped into an peculiar realm.

A bizarre alternate dimension unfolds far below ground, welcoming them.

They descended underground for certain, but... oddly, a nocturnal sky extends overhead, alongside a sea-like expanse.

An infinite skyline and ocean line stretch forth.

"Behold the Ghost Mother's Tomb. Myriad cultivators from the Hundred Schools and diverse races adapted the alternate space the Ghost Mother abandoned, reshaping it for mass habitation. It was once a hazardous domain, but now it's reasonably secure."

Ahn Geum breathes in the subtle ghostly essence permeating the area and relaxes with a smile, while Makli Hyun-ah effortlessly draws it in, accustomed to ghostly energy.

Ahn Geum comments with a eased demeanor.

"No need to fret excessively anymore. After all, I'm at Grand Perfection Integration... Given a few tens of thousands of years, I can surely break through to Star Shattering. The turmoil from the Mad Lord's relic will subside shortly too."

At her statement, the man tuts as if questioning her words, then replies.

"...You seem quite confident in yourself. Apologies, but as an Immortal Family Method practitioner... you're not very useful. High realm is fine, yet Immortal Family Method users face the direst counters against the Mad Lord's puppets. Even as a Star Shattering Esteemed One... historical accounts note the Mad Lord crafted Star Shattering puppets in the Mythic Age, and per those, the puppets have progressed, with Star Shattering ones numbering more than a couple."

"...Excuse me?"

Ahn Geum blinks, appearing somewhat bewildered by the remark.

What could that possibly signify?

Star Shattering puppets not just one or two?

"Actually, our current need isn't a Star Shattering Immortal Family Method cultivator, but a Heavenly Being or Four-Axis stage Non-Immortal Family Method one.

"Their odd and arcane abilities remain uncracked by the puppets, and numerous threats defy mere brute force or swarm assaults, making them highly effective against the puppets."

"Oh, m-me! I'm a Confucian Family Method cultivator!"

For whatever reason, Makli Hyun-ah perks up at the man's statement and declares it, prompting the man to gape at him.

"You said Confucian Family Method!?"

"Yes, and moreover..."

"Hmm... Confucian Family Method works well... but truthfully, it clashes poorly with puppets, so..."

"Hmph... yet I've also studied the Naming Family Method..."

"...! What!?"

The man whips around to Makli Hyun-ah, eyes bulging.

"How wonderful!? A Naming Family Method user. Come with me immediately. Such Naming Family Method cultivators are scarce, highly prized among Humans! Follow along. Having led you here, I'll guide you straight to the Human Race Grand Alliance headquarters. Register there!"

"Er, uh... thanks."

Upon discovering Makli Hyun-ah's Naming Family Method knowledge, the man's demeanor shifts entirely, treating them with utmost respect as he leads to the Human Race Grand Alliance.

Ahn Geum, expecting favoritism for her Grand Perfection Integration cultivation, feels irked that lower-realm Makli Hyun-ah gets superior handling, trailing with a pouty look.

***

At the Human Race Grand Alliance Headquarters.

Upon arrival and disclosing his Naming and Confucian Family Method cultivation, Makli Hyun-ah stands stunned, watching the enthusiastic welcomers.

"The Naming Family Method! Plus a Confucian Family Method cultivator!? We'll attend to you right away. Another Non-Immortal Family Method fighter against the puppets—this blesses the Human Race!"

Even the Quasi-Star Shattering Human Race Grand Alliance Lord emerges to welcome Makli Hyun-ah, leaving him utterly bewildered.

'Wait, this much? What have I done?'

"Grateful for your visit to the Vast Cold Realm, Cultivator Makli Hyun-ah. Word is you've come for Axis Foundation Practice. You've hit Ascending Metamorphosis... We'll offer all aids here in the Vast Cold Realm for you. In exchange, a small contribution to our beleaguered Human Race would please us..."

"Uh, erm... what sort of contribution...?"

"Immortal Family Method cultivators mismatch badly with Mad Lord puppets. They deploy masses of equivalent puppets via swarm tactics...and those overpowering with raw destruction can't be overcome... Yet Heart Dao Blooming martial artists or Non-Immortal Family Method ones like you handle puppets much better. But Heart Dao Blooming folks, grouped as the Heart Tribe, are all lone wolves ignoring orders, so talents like you prove invaluable."

"Ah... got it. So my role would be..."

"Assist us somewhat with the Naming Family Method... Especially having advanced to Ascending Metamorphosis via Confucian Family Method, combining it with Naming will yield huge results. You'll surely aid greatly against the puppets."

Faced with the Human Race Grand Alliance Lord's flood of acclaim, Makli Hyun-ah beams and readily agrees.

"Uh... if you truly require it, I'll lend a hand. So, where do I start helping?"

***

"You're up to something noble."

Ahn Geum chides Makli Hyun-ah.

"Just a bit of flattery and you're beaming, now volunteering yourself."

"But... they mentioned contribution points grant any support they can provide..."

"Consider this: if you need anything, you can whisper to Sacred Master Ban Ta at night in your dreams, can't you? As your master, Sacred Master Ban Ta would send cultivation aids or whatever without fail, so why endure hardship needlessly?"

Makli Hyun-ah endures Ahn Geum's scolding and proceeds under a Human Race Alliance cultivator's lead to the puppet suppression squads' lounge.

"Uhh... apologies..."

"Sigh, alright. I'll guard you temporarily, but retreat instantly if danger arises. Understood?"

"Okay... incidentally..."

En route to the subjugation squad lounge, passing under a banner, the path seems endlessly prolonged for Makli Hyun-ah, who yearns to arrive sooner.

"Care for a race? To see who gets there first?"

"..."

Ahn Geum's face tightens and she remains quiet, so Makli Hyun-ah offers an uneasy chuckle and addresses the guiding cultivator.

"We grasp the route anyway, so how about a challenge? First to the subjugation squad lounge?"

The guiding cultivator pauses briefly, then agrees.

"Fine. Witness an Immortal Family Method cultivator's Flying Escape Technique prowess."

"Haha, underestimate a Confucian Family Method movement art at your peril. Ready... go!"

The Immortal Family Method guide employs the Flying Escape Technique, as Makli Hyun-ah dashes to the lounge by morphing into script characters.

The guide moves swiftly too, yet at Nascent Soul, he lags behind Ascending Metamorphosis Makli Hyun-ah.

Makli Hyun-ah resembles a swift hare, the guide a plodding tortoise.

Makli Hyun-ah mocks the guide and pulls ahead vastly, spotting a large tree stump.

"Yaaawn... That tortoise-paced guide will take ages, so I'll doze off briefly."

The hare rests against the stump and dozes.

Meanwhile, the steady tortoise trudges onward relentlessly.

Eventually,

The tortoise overtakes the slumbering hare and nears the goal.

Only then does the indolent hare stir, notices the tortoise almost there, and hastens, but too late.

The tortoise crosses the line, and the lazy hare loses to the persistent tortoise.

The gathered animal companions tell the hare.

Due to your lack of diligence like the tortoise and your arrogant sloth, you failed.

Thus, the hare etches that lesson deep...

Smack!

Makli Hyun-ah jolts awake from Ahn Geum's palm striking his crown.

"Wha, what?"

"You nearly turned hare. Wake up!"

With a rigidly stern look, Ahn Geum positions herself with Makli Hyun-ah before the subjugation squad lounge entrance and peers in sharply.

The guide appears rattled by the event, brushing himself down.

Just moments ago, the guide teetered on transforming into a tortoise.

"Had that tale concluded, you'd truly have existed as hare and tortoise. Naturally, the caster would've reversed it... but these fools initiate conflicts right upon our Vast Cold Realm arrival."

Boom!

Ahn Geum boot-kicks the lounge door wide and storms inside, snarling with fury-blazing eyes.

"Which cur just attempted to impose that tale on us and morph my betrothed into a hare?"

At Ahn Geum's snarl, someone within the lounge laughs softly and rises.

"I caught wind of a fresh Non-Immortal Family Method cultivator... moreover, the exceedingly uncommon Naming Family Method one entering Human Race lands, so I aimed to administer a minor trial, but I didn't know you w