A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 849 Chapter 846: Side Story - Path of Immortal Cultivation (1)

Hwioooooo—

Amid the turmoil where innumerable Vairambha Winds rage fiercely.

Makli Hyun-ah rubs his eyes and rises to his feet.

"Ugh... where is this place...?"

"It's a chaotic space beyond the Vast Cold Realm. While we halted the self-destruction of the Vast Cold Realm Overseer Factory, a rift tore through the dimensional barrier, sucking us in. Hehe... They say reaching the 'outside' of our Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand World leads to a chaotic sea where all is warped and twisted. We're likely floating through that very chaotic expanse."

"Ah, Daoist Makli Hweol...?"

For an instant, Makli Hyun-ah wonders, 'Why is Daoist Makli Hweol here?'

'During the self-destruction halt, it was just me and Ahn Geum...'

☯

'Of course. The three of us intervened. Daoist Makli Hweol backed me up from the rear.'

"Thanks for your help back there, Daoist Makli Hweol... If we're truly in chaos..."

"Indeed, Miss Ahn Geum has us aboard the Nether Crossing Ship, navigating this drift through chaos."

"Anyway... how do we get back? I have no clue about this chaos stuff, but is return even possible?"

"Hoho... who can say. Chaos twists time, space, and all directions into a mess, so returning won't be straightforward."

"Kkuung..."

Makli Hyun-ah holds his head and stands up.

The familiar form of the Nether Crossing Ship appears before him.

"Awake now?"

Ahn Geum suddenly draws near the standing Makli Hyun-ah and offers him an item.

"Uh, what's this?"

"Acceptance at Fate's End Axis. Unlike Immortal Family cultivators like us, Hundred Schools cultivators skip Axis Transformation for the soul at Heavenly Being stage, requiring all five Five Elements or Five Blessings Axes. I planned to collect them leisurely with you in the Vast Cold Realm, but the spirits you rescued aligned with the Vast Cold Realm's will, granting you the Acceptance at Fate's End Axis instantly."

"Oho...! What luck!"

"Simpleton. The Acceptance at Fate's End Axis is the easiest one anyway. The tough part begins here..."

Ahn Geum sighs deeply before proceeding.

"Next come the Longevity Axis, Wealth Axis, Health Axis, and Love of Virtue Axis. The Wealth Axis is a breeze—we can snag it casually by visiting the Manas Domain of the Purple Gold Realm with your master, Sacred Master Ban Ta. So effectively, we focus on Longevity, Health, and Love of Virtue Axes. Health and Love of Virtue are manageable. The True Devil Realm for Love of Virtue Axis dreads the Human Race, giving us a huge edge, and the Ancient Force Realm for Health Axis is isolated, barring outside divine spirits. As long as your skills shine and you avoid Sacred Master's taboos, no issues. But..."

Ahn Geum heaves a profound sigh and goes on.

"The Nether Ghost Realm for the Longevity Axis... falls under two factions: the Wheel Imperial Venerable Religious Order worshiping the God of the Afterlife, and the One Qi of the Primordial Chaos Religious Order tied to the familiar starry sky. No Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order exists there. Thus, my status holds no sway, while my traitor label from Black Ghost Valley screams loud... We'll be hunted relentlessly by Black Ghost Valley's main sect."

"Mm, why not grab Health, Love of Virtue, and Wealth Axes first, then dash in for Longevity Axis and bolt?"

Ahn Geum tsks at Makli Hyun-ah's casual query.

"That was the plan. But tumbling into this chaotic sea means escaping requires anchoring to another world via a potent medium. Our strongest is the Nether Crossing Ship, a Black Ghost Valley divine artifact pulling us straight to their Nether Ghost Realm home base."

She sighs heavily.

"Chaos mangles time and distance... We might pop out immediately or wander endlessly for ten billion years."

"Huaaak! This is disastrous!?"

"...Relax. If ten thousand years pass without arrival, we can summon a True Immortal as a last resort..."

Ahn Geum grits her teeth, loathing the waste.

Makli Hyun-ah senses the tension and murmurs an apology.

"Um... sorry. No fault of yours, yet we fled to this mess because of me."

"...No matter. We scored ample loot."

Ahn Geum unveils her alternate space; Star Shattering stage marquis puppets emerge, deploying ripped Overseer Factory facilities across the Nether Crossing Ship.

"Puppet production gear. You get it, yeah?"

Makli Hyun-ah pauses, then his eyes gleam.

"Ah!"

Exactly.

Puppets counter Confucian Family Method harshly.

Even if Confucian Family Method seals mysteries, these machines function by swapping power sources.

Yet that implies...

If Makli Hyun-ah controls them, Confucian Family Method's flaw vanishes.

'Suppress Heaven and Earth spiritual energy via Confucian Family Method, letting puppets handle foes...?'

Theoretically invincible.

"So, pair puppets with Confucian Family Method from here on?"

"Partly, but task puppets with upgrading my Nether Crossing Ship. Since we're stuck traveling together, and Nether Ghost Realm means constant pursuit, prep now."

"Hehe, got it. Hey, you lot! Uh..."

As Makli Hyun-ah ponders puppet commands, Makli Hweol interjects.

"I know puppet facility placements somewhat, so entrust me—I'll rework the Nether Crossing Ship with them."

"Ah, please do, Daoist Makli Hweol."

"Hoho..."

Makli Hweol descends below deck with puppets and factories, while Makli Hyun-ah buzzes with excitement over nullifying Confucian Family Method's weakness.

"Don't get ahead of yourself—refine the Acceptance at Fate's End Axis first."

Unlike Makli Hyun-ah's thrill, Ahn Geum's expression remains grim.

"...Haahh... Black Ghost Valley main sect."

To flee chaos, they head to Nether Ghost Realm as Nether Crossing Ship's target.

Truthfully, she hopes they never reach it.

'Will Master be there...?'

Odds favor Gongmyo Min-hee lingering in Nether Ghost Realm.

A meeting looms, awkward to the extreme.

She'd rather the Nether Crossing Ship skips Nether Ghost Realm entirely.

'Haa...'

As Ahn Geum frets,

Kwaaang!

Something slams into the Nether Crossing Ship's prow.

"What!?"

Ahn Geum rushes forward,

Chilled to goosebumps.

A 'woman' grips the bow, clambering onto the deck.

"...! Identify yourself! No entry without it!"

Kwa-chijijik!

Ahn Geum triggers the barrier swiftly, yet the woman slips through effortlessly, hauling onto the deck.

"Makli Hyun-ah!"

Ahn Geum ducks behind him; Makli Hyun-ah channels full power into Confucian Family Method over the area, while Ahn Geum hurls curses from beyond its reach.

She ignores both utterly, advancing slowly on Ahn Geum and Makli Hyun-ah.

Terrified by the eerie scene, Makli Hyun-ah freezes as Ahn Geum realizes something, forcing him to kneel then dropping beside him.

"...O Great One. We exited to the Outer Sea from Vast Cold Realm due to an incident, heading to Nether Ghost Realm via Nether Crossing Ship. Forgive our failure to recognize you."

"Ah, Ahn Geum?"

"Shh... bow low! She's... a True Immortal."

Makli Hyun-ah shudders violently, sensing the crawling woman from chaos draw near with wet sloshes.

Her aura terrifies so profoundly that Makli Hyun-ah shuts his eyes, mentally crying to Ban Ta.

'Master, Sacred Master Ban Ta, we're safe, right!? Even True Immortal death—you can save us... right?'

Then,

"...Ban...Ta?"

Reading his mind instantly, she peers down briefly, questioning him.

"You're... Sacred Master Ban Ta's... disciple...?"

"Heok...! Yes...! My master is Sacred Master Ban Ta! Do you know him!?"

Hopeful that this enigmatic True Immortal knows Ban Ta, Makli Hyun-ah beams at her.

She lifts him up, brushing off clinging residues.

Chwarak, chwak!

As if shedding Outer Sea chaos itself, the flecks fly beyond the Nether Crossing Ship's barrier into the void.

Now viewing her face, Makli Hyun-ah blushes faintly.

Not rivaling Ji Hwa or Ban Ta, yet stunning enough to stir his pulse.

"I am Ju Soo Ryeon. Before True Immortality, Ban Ta aided me once. Fate linked you to me via that bond—time to return the favor."

Thump, thump...!

Hearing the True Immortal's name, Makli Hyun-ah sweats coldly, heart nearly halting.

Ju Soo Ryeon shows mercy, sparing instant death from the name's weight, but it's crushing for him.

"As a Naming Family Method cultivator, my name burdens you. I'll erase it properly upon parting. No need to fret."

Ju Soo Ryeon caresses Makli Hyun-ah, then raises Ahn Geum.

"Ghost Path and divination practitioner. Long ago, post Ban Ta's grace, prophecy foretold repaying via his linked one in chaos. Divine if Ban Ta faces peril now."

"P-Pardon...? True Immortal, chaos blocks celestial energy..."

"I'll empower your art. As Ghost Immortal of Ghost Path, it's effortless."

Ahn Geum pales slightly but acquiesces.

"...Understood. Then..."

Makli Hyun-ah grows solemn, querying her.

"E-Excuse me, Lord True Immortal... what danger to my master?"

"Literal. My encounter with his connected one in chaos signals peril upon him. Thus, repayment now. Fear not—any threat, I crush easily. Approach. Using you as conduit, I'll boost her for your master's peril divination..."

Beguiled, Makli Hyun-ah steps toward her helplessly.

***

Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Before Purple Gold Realm.

Ban Ta beholds a pristine white peacock ascending within a colossal Taiji.

The universe-spanning peacock snorts like a avian cry, beak gaping at Ban Ta.

: : I should've revived prior to beautiful love and yin-yang fruit, but your presence means yin-yang fruit re-linked to your disciple, prompting haste. Long time, Ban Ta. : :

"Glass Peacock... Ignorant wretch...! You dared steal my disciple again."

Ban Ta snarls, teeth grinding at Glass Peacock.

Glass Peacock drawls lazily to Ban Ta.

: : I've explained—claiming your disciples was mere chance. How can I resist when you groom them so perfectly in ideology, conviction, looks? Each tempts, so I claim, ravish in my hold, drag forcibly from Sacred Vessel to Entering Nirvana stages. : :

"You filthy cur... Midway, knowing they're mine, couldn't you release them!? At Sacred Vessel stage!?"

: : Amid rapturous union, where's midway? Culminate at Entering Nirvana, death's eve. Moreover... : :

Glass Peacock mocks Ban Ta.

: : Trapped there? Purely your lust, no? Daoist chained by golden cushion, unfit to ascend. : :

"Golden cushion...? Ridiculous. Can't I aspire that far? Forty billion years. After that, must I cling to Purple Gold Realm!?"

: : Mere Ātmagrāha. Twenty billion years as Sacred Master, you could've claimed Wealth Seat as Wealth Heavenly Lord. Yet endured another twenty till my awakening. Stubbornness alone. : :

Glass Peacock eyes Ban Ta gravely.

: : My barbs aim to shatter your limits for growth... yet you reinforce them stubbornly. : :

"..."

: : Desire incarnate. Vow noble, yet overboard. Think others skip your path blindly? : :

"...Freedom alone I seek."

: : Fool. Master walking before flight. : :

"Crawled lifelong. Crawling outpaces runners—why not soar instantly!?"

: : Words fail. : :

Glass Peacock smirks faintly, body expanding.

: : Entertaining. Twenty billion year revival fest—copulate with you too. Raze Purple Gold Realm. Shatter your attachments. Lust uncontrolled? I'll force your fall... : :

Glass Peacock's wing flap quakes Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

Facing Glass Peacock's bizarre yin-yang law, Ban Ta surges with urge to merge.