A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 841 Chapter 838: Side Story - Mythical Relic (3)

Chapter 841 Chapter 838: Side Story - Mythical Relic (3) 

The man clad in white martial robes, referred to as Martial Artist Ha-eun, commences his account.

He recounts the events with utmost objectivity, earning recognition from even Ahn Geum and Makli Hyun-ah in this aspect.

Upon absorbing Ha-eun's full narration, Jo Yeon gives a nod and responds.

"Is that the case? Seol Ga indeed bears initial blame, yet the reactions from the esteemed figures appear excessively severe. Setting aside the severity of the offense for a moment... Cultivator Seol Ga, practitioner of the Novelist Family Method, represents a vital asset irreplaceable in this subjugation army. I am familiar with his typical behavior, so I accept that you faced initial aggression. Nonetheless, claiming his life inflicts a tremendous setback upon the Human Race. Can the trio of you, here to aid the subjugation, possibly compensate for this?"

She poses the query, aiming it towards Ahn Geum, Makli Hyun-ah, Makli Cheon-sa, and Ahn Geum replies promptly to her words.

"Mm, first off, there's a misunderstanding. Who injured whom? I didn't harm anyone. It's not that I slew that guy named Seol Ga; I merely 'evolved' him."

"...Pardon?"

Those audacious statements leave Jo Yeon and the others stunned momentarily.

Kkiyaaaaaaak!

As Ahn Geum sweeps her hand across the air, a ghostly pale soul gets ensnared in her grasp, emitting a shriek before swiftly transforming into the likeness of the recently deceased Seol Ga.

"Taa-dah~ What do you think? He's alive in this form, isn't he?"

"This... this demonic cultivator...!"

"How could she perform such a heartless act...!?"

"It's the Black Ghost Valley technique! I recognize it. That's the One Ghost True Sea method, which revives the slain as a ghost soul for utilization... Without a Ghost Path cultivator at the Esteemed One level, you can't restore their exact lifetime cultivation!"

The assembly within the hall recoils in terror at Ahn Geum's ruthless Ghost Path prowess and condemns her, but she flicks her ear and counters.

"Uh, mine's a bit different. My innate talent is exceptionally rare, you see? Merging my gift with the One Ghost True Sea allows him to wield his prior cultivation directly for around a month."

"Wh-What...!? How is that feasible without Esteemed One status...? No, even granting that's accurate, ultimately you're reducing Seol Ga to a one-month throwaway tool, you sorceress!?"

"Post-month, should he acquire a fitting vessel, his cultivation remains undiminished. Compared to a fragile living frame that perishes readily, a resilient corpse that withstands puppet strikes far better suits the need, don't you agree?"

"Don't talk nonsense, you slayer! Seol Ga's spirit must be weeping blood!"

"Ahaha, Seo Ga. Are you weeping blood?"

[No, Saintess-nim! I'm overjoyed to serve as your wandering soul, Saintess-nim! I adore you, Saintess-nim, I adore you!!!]

To Ahn Geum's inquiry, the soul of Seol Ga plants a kiss upon her foot's top and prostrates deeply in an emotional tone.

Witnessing this, the hall's cultivators regard her with wary gazes.

She lifts her shoulders in a shrug, flashing a somber grin.

"No drop in fighting prowess occurs; in fact, he's enhanced. Moreover, Seol Ga himself appears utterly delighted. Grant him a proper body, and his battle strength multiplies several-fold. What grounds exist for my punishment?"

Her declaration prompts the Hundred Schools cultivators in the chamber to avert their stares with discomfort or retreat slightly.

"As anticipated... the Devilish Path of the Immortal Family Method... individuals to avoid entanglement with."

"Now it clicks who this hag is. The betrayer of the Black Ghost Valley faction in the Purple Gold Realm. Warrants for her circulate in the Vast Cold Realm's Black Ghost Valley branch as well."

"So, apprehending her could yield a bounty from Black Ghost Valley?"

"If it were that simple, it'd have happened ages ago! She's revered as the Saintess of the Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order. Linked to a True Immortal!! Touch her, and Immeasurable Life Buddha zealots will hunt you relentlessly. Observe. The devotees of Immeasurable Life Buddha who identified her now gaze differently.”

“…!”

"Curse it... we've stumbled upon misfortune."

Among those discerning her true nature, Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order followers start directing gazes of boundless reverence and warmth her way, while Martial Artist Ha-eun appears to relay the details to Jo Yeon via voice transmission.

The woman, upon receiving the update, nods with a smile.

"Understood? Thus, you're the Saintess of the Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order. My apologies for not realizing sooner. Given your prominent standing, and how you've bolstered Cultivator Seol's combat ability, I'll drop the matter. Shall I view it as compelling Cultivator Seol's enlistment into the Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order?"

"Precisely. Since this man misled me and my betrothed, I merely evangelized to him in a 'somewhat compelling manner'!"

"Excellent. Thus, no issues remain, allowing us to delve into the authentic Cold Yin Marsh subjugation strategy from here."

Through this, Ahn Geum alongside Makli Hyun-ah's companions seamlessly integrate into the subjugation army.

"The constructs stationed in Cold Yin Marsh number 800 million Heavenly Being stage puppets, plus roughly 2,000 Integration stage puppets. Yet, being mass-manufactured, their designs replicate identically based on factory site and build era. Hence, with identical builds, the prowess of Legalist Family Method's Cultivator Ga Beop and Novelist Family Method's Cultivator Seol Ga proves immensely valuable."

As Makli Hyun-ah and Ahn Geum join the assembly, they grasp why Jo Yeon, seemingly devoid of personal might, commands as the subjugation force's lead tactician.

For throughout the Vast Cold Realm, her puppet expertise stands unmatched.

"I understand the newcomer Cultivator Makli Hyun-ah has mastered the Naming Family Method and Confucian Family Method. Might I inquire which serves as your primary?"

"Ah... currently, the Confucian Family Method leads. That said, as my realm advances, I handle the Naming Family Method adeptly too, and their synergy with Confucian Family Method excels, posing no major hurdles."

"Mm, noted... Yet, with Confucian Family Method as primary for now, rear guard duty suits you best."

"Eh, why so?"

"Due to the Confucian Family Method's dire incompatibility against puppets."

Jo Yeon methodically details to Makli Hyun-ah the interplay between puppets and Confucian Family Method.

"Word is, the Confucian Family Method's hallmark lies in suppression, curbing and locking away Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, divine abilities, peculiar forces, and disorderly spirits, among others. Correct?"

"Yes, that's accurate, though..."

"Still, puppets unleash full potential sans Heaven and Earth spiritual energy suppression. Even if spiritual energy, peculiar forces, or disorderly spirits get quelled, they instantly adapt their power sourcing approach."

"Adapting their power sourcing means..."

"Should spiritual energy falter as fuel, they rely on solar or wind-derived energy, heating internal fluids to steam for engine operation and electricity generation. Naturally, electricity lags behind spiritual energy's efficacy, so puppet runtime dips somewhat, and attack properties shift mildly, but..."

"..."

"Regardless of quelling Heaven and Earth spiritual energy or peculiar forces and disorderly spirits... it barely hampers their power output, defining the Mad Lord's puppets. Thus, a Confucian Family Method cultivator, focused solely on spiritual energy suppression, fares worse than an Immortal Family Method cultivator who can clash directly with puppets via raw might."

Makli Hyun-ah falls silent briefly, struck by the puppets' insidious traits as Jo Yeon outlines.

A sudden recollection strikes, prompting him to interject.

"Hold on, my Confucian Family Method stems from the Beast Taming Method lineage anyway, so with demon beasts safeguarding me, I can unleash considerable power. Above all, with allies shielding me, I can contribute meaningfully!"

"Hmm, regarding demon beasts..."

"Observe. Emerge, Badger! Emerge, Rabbit Seven Heavenly Lords!"

Makli Hyun-ah summons Badger and the rabbits from the beast scroll, displaying them before Jo Yeon.

Badger blinks, then nestles beneath Jo Yeon, who, sensing its aura, gently pets its head, her cheeks flushing faintly.

"Mm... the fur... so soft. What's your realm?"

"The Golden Core stage."

Badger responds to the endearing Jo Yeon, who coos over its charm.

"Golden Core stage... Impressive, yet insufficient alone, right?"

"Hoho... fret not. They support my Confucian Family Method deployment, and I'll extend it broadly via them."

"...Didn't you claim the Confucian Family Method holds no value?"

"It transforms when fused with my Naming Family Method!"

Makli Hyun-ah presents his talisman and elaborates.

"Via my Naming Family Method, I achieve feats like this."

He commences detailing his Talisman War, demonstrating Naming Family Method capabilities.

After hearing Makli Hyun-ah's rundown for a spell, Jo Yeon ponders before replying.

"Thus, you lock away a known-name target's power or authority, then resummon it via the name? And you configure such resummoned powers to evade Confucian Family Method constraints too?"

"Exactly!"

"...It's... promising. Locking a known target's power..."

"Hoho, that's merely the start. At peak activation, you can even seal the entity's very being!"

"Hm..."

After musing awhile, Jo Yeon offers a subtle smile and queries.

"If knowing the [name] enables sealing... do [identification numbers] or [product names] qualify?"

"...Pardon? Er... theoretically, yes..."

"Then I've devised something useful. Everyone, attend..."

Jo Yeon pets Badger for a bit more, then unveils her formulated strategy to the group.

***

Vast Cold Realm, Cold Yin Marsh.

There, Makli Hyun-ah distributes hundreds of inscribed-name talismans to subjugation force members, then conceals himself while reflecting.

'Puppets and Confucian Family Method wielders clash worst, eh...'

Undeniably accurate.

No matter the angle, Makli Hyun-ah envisions seizing puppet opportunities only through teamwork. Solo, he harbors zero assurance of triumphing over a realm-matched puppet, much less the horde.

'No, why do sci-fi cyborgs invade a xianxia medieval realm? This can't be right?'

The Confucian Family Method curbs Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.

Puppets embody unadulterated mechanical might, minimally swayed by spiritual energy.

However much Makli Hyun-ah seals spiritual energy, he essentially aids the puppets.

'Yet, since spiritual energy proves more optimal, shifting to lesser electrical power aids somewhat, they claim, but...'

Makli Hyun-ah harbors scant optimism for his core Confucian Family Method's operation impact, exhaling deeply.

'Master offered little on puppet countermeasures either.'

His master remained terse on puppets too, and last night's chat with Ban Ta yielded no guidance, only 'Encountering them proves beneficial.'

"Incidentally, that Ha-eun fellow's awfully sharp-edged. What's his deal, really...?"

Recalling Ha-eun's recent caution, he scowls.

—Miss Yeon dislikes the 'hoho' laughter, so kindly abstain!

"No, must I regulate my chuckle style?"

"Hoho... some folks prove touchy about laugh tones, I suppose."

Makli Hweol interjects to Makli Hyun-ah's complaint with a chuckle, drawing a sigh from him.

"No, reflecting, that 'hoho' crept into my speech from mimicking Daoist endlessly, didn't it? How long will Daoist persist with that..."

Suddenly, Makli Hyun-ah senses an anomaly.

"...Huh, but wasn't our tail not Ancestor Makli Cheon-sa, but actually Daoist Makli Hweol from the start..."

☯

"Look at me, honestly. Daoist trailed us from the outset. I'm suspecting early dementia now."

"...One doesn't devolve into senility so swiftly. Rest easy, Daoist Makli Hyun-ah."

"Still, I've aged considerably over the years..."

"...If age alone sparked dementia, why do Daoist's over-20,000-year-old contacts remain sharp? Dismiss your concerns."

"If you insist, I accept, Daoist Makli Hweol. Anyway..."

Makli Hyun-ah poses a query to Makli Hweol.

"Puppets won't surge for a while yet... I'm peckish; care to snack? Badger whipped up treats timely."

"Oh, splendid. Even Immortal Family Method cultivation can't rival Food Dao's delights."

"Here, boiled potatoes. Dig in."

Makli Hweol accepts the proffered boiled potatoes from Makli Hyun-ah with a dazed expression, blinking.

Makli Hyun-ah inwardly tsks, deeming it a blunder.

'Oops, reconsidering, is plain fare beneath Daoist Makli Hweol, nurtured as a clan prodigy? I ought to add a dip...'

Makli Hyun-ah swiftly retrieves a honey jar, spooning some onto the potato in Makli Hweol's grip.

"Potatoes shine brightest with honey or rice syrup. It'll add a sweet touch."

Makli Hweol, touched by the gesture, eyes reddening as he quivers, while Makli Hyun-ah, pleased his warmth lands, coats a potato in honey before his eyes, withdraws it, and chomps heartily.

"...P, potatoes...with honey, not salt..."

Makli Hweol murmurs faintly, but regardless...

It evokes heartfelt warmth.