A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 821 Chapter 818: Side Story - Talisman War Great Death Mausoleum (1)

'The Naming Dao Conferring Gods Canon stands as the most potent essence-draining divine ability.'

—Makli Hyun-jok, stick to the term essence-absorbing.

[Editor: Essence (精) carries a dual significance in East Asian tongues; hazard a guess.]

Makli Hyun-ah, brimming with assurance on his features, gazes upon the masses of vital essence pulled from the Sea Dragons in vast quantities during the previous night.

—Makli Hyun-jok! Kindly employ essence-absorbing!

'Clones of Sea Dragons formed by drawing out their vital essence via the Naming Dao Conferring Gods Canon could dissipate after merely a handful of strikes...!'

Yet that holds no concern.

"Charge, Blue-Eyes Sea Dragons!"

Kuwak!

Three Sea Dragons unleash their dragon breath in unison.

Enormous beams erupt from the dragons' jaws, surging wildly towards Makli Nobi's Sea Dragons, which have endured relentless essence extraction through Makli Hyun-ah's Naming Dao technique across two full nights.

Only at that moment does Makli Nobi comprehend.

The cause behind his Sea Dragons' quivering!

His Sea Dragons...

Feel terror.

Kwagwagwagwang!!

Makli Nobi's Sea Dragons release dragon breath with utmost force to clash directly, yet ultimately, they falter under the toll of two nights' essence depletion and get overwhelmed by the phantom dragon breath invoked by Makli Hyun-ah.

Kururururur!

"Th-This can't be happening!"

In sheer dismay, Makli Nobi watches his Sea Dragons get pitifully hurled aside.

"Wh-What manner of trickery is this!? I've never encountered such a technique within our Makli Clan!! E-Elder! Hasn't that rascal picked up some forbidden demonic skill!? Isn't he a spy from the Seogyeong Line!?"

Still, Makli Yu-chi, who had worn a stunned look at Makli Hyun-ah's feat, quickly adopts a grave demeanor and denies it with a head shake.

"No chance of that. If such existed, Elder Makli Hye-seo would have detected it. Moreover... the fact we've never encountered that technique stems from..."

Makli Yu-chi creases their brow.

They possess knowledge of the Extreme Ghost Path Body as well.

A physique perfectly suited for possession by diverse eerie spirits and deities.

Within that form resides the fragmented soul of the clan's forebear, Makli Cheon-sa.

'Likely, it's a technique granted by the ancestor who rose to the Upper Realm, marking its debut appearance... Indeed, the prowess of an Upper Realm method defies comprehension.'

"...That topic remains a clan confidential, so refrain from probing further."

"Kuugh...!"

Makli Nobi clenches his teeth in rage and unfurls the beast scroll holding his demon beasts.

"You wretched kid... Do you truly believe you can overcome me!? A lowly Qi Refining third star! I'll show you the true weight of Qi Refining seventh star!!"

Woo-woooong!

Myriad illusions of demon beasts begin emerging around Makli Nobi.

This represents the hidden technique from Makli Nobi's Beast Taming path, known as Demon Beast Heavenly Survey.

"Gal!"

Kugugugugu!

Kuoohhhhh!!

With Makli Nobi's ferocious yell, the demon beast illusions surrounding him roar collectively.

That terrifying bellow rivals the dragon breath of a Sea Dragon, surpassing the output of the mid Qi Refining stage pair Makli Nobi typically employs, approaching the might of a Qi Building stage Sea Dragon's breath.

The capacity to deliver, in a flash, one blow nearing Qi Building stage potency!

Such is a key maneuver from the Demon Beast Heavenly Survey that Makli Nobi commands!

Makli Hyun-ah's Sea Dragons expel dragon breath anew, but ultimately, they yield to the blast from Makli Nobi's assault, their forms beginning to disintegrate entirely.

"As anticipated... Extracting from the Sea Dragons for just two days caps the output at two blasts..."

Observing the Sea Dragon illusions crumble, Makli Hyun-ah swallows hard.

Nevertheless, fear evades him.

"Well, apologies, but... the essence I've drained across these two days extends beyond the Sea Dragons alone!"

—Please, Makli Hyun-jok, opt for essence-absorbing.

"Behold the outcome of the power I've drained from all over these two days!"

Wooo-wooong!

Makli Hyun-ah channels his full might into each talisman he's carried.

Soon enough, apparitions of every Qi Refining stage demon beast from the Beast Stable—whose essence Makli Hyun-ah extracted without pause for two days—manifest within the arena.

"Here it comes, I'll consolidate everyone's strength and topple you!"

Kugugugu!

Under Makli Hyun-ah's directive, the illusions of the Beast Stable's Qi Refining demon beasts launch their assaults toward Makli Nobi's shockwave.

Regardless of the strike's near-Qi Building stage force, countering the onslaught from dozens of Qi Refining demon beasts...

...proves utterly unattainable.

Makli Nobi's shockwave gets breached, allowing the flood of demon beast strikes to rain upon Makli Nobi in its wake.

Wearing a stupefied expression, Makli Nobi beholds the incoming torrent of attacks and voices his despair.

"I stand as... a Qi Refining seventh star... Beyond Makli Hweol Hyung-nim, I'm the academy's top youth prospect... How... could a mere Qi Refining third star best me, a seventh star...?"

Before long, the entire scene blanches, and amid it, Makli Nobi shuts his eyes, accepting his loss.

Kwakwagwang!

Struck by Makli Hyun-ah's onslaught, Makli Nobi bursts through the dueling ground's barrier, soars to the distant outer wall past the arena, and embeds into it.

Kugugugu...

Makli Nobi's torso lodges inside the outer wall, with just his legs protruding and spasming outside.

That spectacle leaves all onlookers gaping in shock at a single point.

As the dust settles there, a charming youth beams, nose upturned in feigned grandeur.

"Hoho... your downfall boils down to one factor. A straightforward one at that."

Makli Hyun-ah pivots, reciting a familiar quip from Jegal Mikhail.

"You irked me."

Makli Yu-chi witnesses the moment and exhales deeply.

"Victor, Makli Hyun-ah!"

"Ah, th-thank you!"

Makli Hyun-ah, who'd spun away for dramatic effect, whirls back promptly, dashes to Elder Makli Yu-chi, and offers his gratitude.

Thus, Makli Hyun-ah claims triumph in the pivotal clash with Makli Nobi.

"Remarkable. How exactly did you triumph over a seventh star while merely at Qi Refining third star?"

To Makli Yu-chi's inquiry, Makli Hyun-ah rubs his nose and replies.

"I simply leveraged the essence-draining facet of my innate technique, the Naming Dao Conferring Gods Canon."

"Hooh... I suspected you were scheming something with your visits to the Beast Stable—that explains it."

"Hoho... We'd need fingers on one hand to tally the preparations Daoist Makli Hyun-ah has undertaken."

“……”

Sensing Jegal Mikhail's encouraging stare, Makli Hyun-ah puffs out his chest with pride and marches boldly toward Makli Nobi.

Wooong!

Makli Yu-chi extracts Makli Nobi from the outer wall, mends his head and other injuries, and shortly, Makli Nobi regains awareness, slumps in place, gazes upward at Makli Hyun-ah, and sighs.

"...I concede. Per our bet, I'll yield anything in my possession. What do you desire?"

Aiming at Makli Nobi, Makli Hyun-ah declares.

"You vowed to hand over anything belonging to Cultivator Nobi, right? I'd like to essence-extract your power, so please assist."

"...! Y-You mad fool... Y-You intend to essence-extract me?"

Makli Nobi shudders, yet, recalling his prior commitment, he speaks with humiliated resolve.

"F-Fine... If you seek my essence, claim it! I'm just a pathetic failure anyhow...! Proceed as you wish!"

"Got it. Then..."

Makli Hyun-ah swiftly retrieves brush, ink, and paper from the storage scroll, chants the Naming Dao Conferring Gods Canon incantation, infuses it with fervent invocation, and inscribes Makli Nobi's [name].

Simultaneously, Makli Nobi's vital essence flows directly into the inscribed name Makli Hyun-ah crafted and gets sealed within.

Chiiiii...

"Y-You punk, what are you—!?"

Deprived of his vital essence, Makli Nobi instantly blacks out and collapses, while Makli Hyun-ah hoists the 'Makli Nobi talisman' harboring Makli Nobi's vital essence and grins slyly.

'Hmph, this fool talked of enslaving me, eh? Starting now, you're my slave, Makli Nobi jerk!'

[TL/N: Nobi means slave.]

Via the talisman encapsulating Makli Nobi's vital essence, Makli Hyun-ah can not only invoke Makli Nobi's power as needed later, but in crises, affixing it to Makli Nobi enables control over his movements.

In essence, while this talisman holds its power, Makli Nobi equates to Makli Hyun-ah's slave.

"Makli Nobi controller, acquired!"

Makli Hyun-ah tucks the talisman securely into his chest, turns from Makli Nobi, and upon witnessing this, numerous Makli Clan youth prospects approach Makli Hyun-ah to converse.

"H-Hey, Makli Hyun-ah. What exactly is that technique?"

"Makli Hyun-ah Unnie, you're amazing!"

"I-I want to touch that talisman too!"

"C-Could you spare me one of those talismans? I'll fetch whatever you request!"

"Me too... I want to feel it. I want to touch the talisman!"

For an instant, Makli Hyun-ah panics amid the surrounding crowd, his social unease flaring, prompting a hasty exit from the area.

***

Several days afterward.

Makli Hyun-ah eyes the stack of gifts before his chamber and releases a sigh.

Various spirit stones and spirit elixirs,

Along with spirit ink, spirit brush, and spirit paper aiding Makli Hyun-ah's talisman crafting, form towering piles.

And likely due to his bout's lasting impact...

Letters from numerous Makli Clan folks arrive, beseeching Makli Hyun-ah to craft talismans for them.

"Tsk... Crafting talismans for them isn't tough, but..."

Makli Hyun-ah sighs.

They likely seek the type Makli Hyun-ah wielded, the one summoning demon beast phantoms via borrowed might.

"Producing those requires essence-draining all over, and it's such a chore..."

The motive for Makli Hyun-ah's sleepless two-night essence drain from demon beasts to forge the talisman was the immediate peril called Makli Nobi. No other motive existed.

Absent such peril, Makli Hyun-ah wouldn't have exerted himself to create it.

'What a hassle... Even normal breathing feels bothersome now, and contemplating this amps up the annoyance tremendously...'

Makli Hyun-ah sighs, deliberating on handling these pleas.

A short while later, Makli Hyun-ah devises a shrewd notion.

"Ah, yes. That's the way."

Makli Hyun-ah promptly assembles brush, ink, and paper, then seeks out Makli Nobi.

***

Makli Clan infirmary.

Post his duel loss to Makli Hyun-ah, Makli Nobi has lingered in the infirmary, receiving care for his wounds over days within a healing formation.

"How's your mobility?"

"Yes, Great Elder, I'm recovered now."

Makli Nobi's head and upper frame had slammed into the outer wall, compounded by Makli Hyun-ah's vital essence drain, leaving his state dire.

Thus, beyond Elder Makli Yu-chi the healing specialist, the infirmary's chief healer,

Great Elder Makli Young-guchi, father to Makli Yu-chi, had to personally transport and treat him for days.

"During this crucial phase nearing Core Formation, I regret burdening you, Elder Young-guchi."

"No issue. It's for the clan's talented youths, so why fuss? Plus, tending to you lets me revisit healing techniques extensively, benefiting me instead."

"...My thanks."

"Proceed then."

"Yes!"

Makli Nobi bows to Makli Young-guchi and departs the infirmary.

A bit later, beyond the infirmary, he encounters an unwelcome visage.

"Ah, there you are. Cultivator Makli Nobi, so you've been here."

"...Makli Hyun-ah..."

Face flushed with embarrassment, Makli Nobi questions Makli Hyun-ah,

"That day, once you felled me, what... exactly did you do to me...?"

"Nothing major. Just a touch of essence-draining."

"Eeeek...you..."

"Setting that aside, I need a favor."

"What...?"

Makli Hyun-ah, from the elixirs gifted by the clan's youth prospects, offers a vial of wound-healing pills to Makli Nobi and states,

"These are wound-healing pills. Your healing's complete, but they'll boost your vitality recovery. Accept them and do me one favor."

"...Out with it. What more do you seek from me...you kid...?"

Makli Hyun-ah extracts the talisman he's inscribed from his chest and passes it to Makli Nobi.

"Kindly promote it a little for me."

"Pro...mote?"

Makli Nobi regards Makli Hyun-ah with baffled confusion.

Makli Hyun-ah proceeds to clarify for Makli Nobi.

***

Woong!

"...Thus, crafting these by extracting tamed demon beasts' essence reveals the essence of the talisman that felled Cultivator Makli Nobi. It's a feature of my Naming Dao Conferring Gods Canon technique."

"Uuuhm... S-So 'essence-extracting' meant that...?"

"...? What else did you assume?"

"Sh-Shut up! Fine, so if you inscribe talismans with the [name], my role henceforth is to distribute them among clan members and demonstrate their usage, correct?"

Makli Nobi swallows, barks sharply, then accepts Makli Hyun-ah's talisman and inquires.

"Yes, I'd appreciate your help with that."

Makli Hyun-ah's Talisman Dao technique, the Naming Dao Conferring Gods Canon, seals power through names.

Yet upon study, Makli Hyun-ah discovered that while only he can chant the formula and concentrate to etch the [name], others can readily seal power into that name.

Hence, Makli Hyun-ah's scheme involves mass-producing talismans bearing the inscribed [name].

He intends to distribute them via the somewhat renowned Makli Nobi for promotion, letting him tour and instruct on sealing power into the talismans, so clan members infuse the required demon beast essence themselves. That's the outline.

'This minimizes my effort, while I pocket the gifts regardless... isn't it a win-win?'

Unaware or not of Makli Hyun-ah's cunning ploy...

Makli Nobi accepts and inspects Makli Hyun-ah's talisman gravely.

"Hm... so talismans via your approach offer this capability... Understood. Impressive, truly... your technique boasts broader applicability than I anticipated."

"Hehe... yeah, I agree."

"Anyway, I get it. If it's as described... the clan members will adore it. No, maybe not just them—family elders could fancy it greatly too."

"Hehe... excuse me?"

"I see. I'll handle the explanations for your talismans responsibly. Thanks for this chance."

After thanking Makli Hyun-ah, Makli Nobi, resolute-faced, gathers the talismans and ventures toward the main house's inner sections.

Watching Makli Nobi's demeanor, Makli Hyun-ah scratches his head.

"...Hm, is it that big a deal...?"

***

Chiiiiii—

Months have passed since the showdown with Makli Nobi.

Half a year has now elapsed since Makli Hyun-ah's arrival at the Makli Clan.

"Huahhh... so this marks the Qi Refining sixth star realm..."

Makli Hyun-ah sheds his upper robe and, eyeing the [names] covering his torso, marvels with a tongue click.

As Makli Hyun-ah flexes, the [names] glow azure-green together and resonate.

"At this pace, Qi Building stage lies within years, and Core Formation after... then I can thrash that bear brute. Come on, push forward, Lee Hyun-ah!"

After verifying his progress, he dons his attire with exhilaration and commences crafting the day's talismans.

It's then.

"Daoist Makli Hyun-ah, may I enter?"

Responding to Makli Hweol's summons, Makli Hyun-ah halts talisman work and admits Makli Hweol.

"What occasion brings you, Daoist Makli Hweol?"

"I see you're amid talisman crafting. I've arrived with a brief matter concerning that. How's the talisman production progressing of late?"

"Yes, smoothly. Actually, the Naming Dao Conferring Gods Canon's level has advanced recently, elevating the caliber of talismans I produce."

"Hoo... in which manner precisely?"

Makli Hyun-ah presents a talisman adorned with assorted runes solely along