A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 823 Chapter 820: New Fate and Upheaval (1)

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Chapter 820: New Fate and Upheaval (1)

The grand event of Makli Hyun-ah's 'Talisman War Great Death Mausoleum' reaches its triumphant conclusion.

"The ultimate victor is Makli Nobi, the brilliant young prodigy from the Makli Clan!"

Makli Nobi and Makli Bi-yeol, the duo of exceptional youths from the younger generation, battled all the way to the climactic showdown in the intense Talisman War Great Death Mausoleum, where Makli Nobi ultimately claimed a slim triumph in the end.

"Ugh... so close. If only that final Bi-yeol Slash had landed...!"

Makli Bi-yeol weeps while hardening his determination to wait for the right moment and retaliate later, as Makli Nobi strikes a triumphant pose amid the roaring applause from the audience.

"This concludes the thrilling Talisman War Great Death Mausoleum competition up to this point! Now, to move forward with the award presentation, we'll release the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy held back by the formation, so everyone in the stands, stay alert to avoid qi deviation from the abrupt rush of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy!"

Tududududu!

With his announcement complete, Makli Hyun-ah relinquishes the social authority generated by the Small Demon Pacifying Heaven Formation.

The subtle dark aura enveloping Makli Hyun-ah disperses into nothingness, the Small Demon Pacifying Heaven Formation unravels, and the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy within the arena starts to flood forth.

'No matter how I look at this Confucian Family Method... it strikes me as a sort of large-scale 'mana burn' technique...'

When social authority gets established via the Small Demon Pacifying Heaven Formation, it dampens the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy anywhere within the sight and perception of the authority's wielder.

To put it another way, the Small Demon Pacifying Heaven Formation's scope isn't limited to the formation's boundaries but extends to the user's 'field of vision,' mimicking aspects of the Confucian Family Method's might through the array.

This allows the Small Demon Pacifying Heaven Formation to influence areas beyond its own setup.

'Naturally, that's partly because this isn't your typical Immortal Family Method...'

Having mulled over these insights regarding the Confucian Family Method, Makli Hyun-ah prepares to hand out the spirit stones and prizes set aside for the tournament's champions.

That's when it happens.

"Daoist Makli Hyun-ah, get out of the way!"

Kugwagwagwang!

A shadowy slicing attack hurtles in from an unknown direction directly at Makli Hyun-ah, but Makli Hweol, positioned close by to protect him, lunges forward and intercepts the shadowy slicing attack.

"D-Daoist Makli Hweol, what's going on...?"

"I mentioned I'd handle counterintelligence, but... it looks like a spy from the Seogyeong Makli line has slipped in. Isn't that correct, Daoist 'Lee Cheop-ja'?"

Makli Hweol positions himself ahead of Makli Hyun-ah and gazes down at the Talisman War Great Death Mausoleum contender who unleashed the shadowy slicing attack.

The cultivator known as 'Lee Cheop-ja'.

"Haha, so you're Makli Hweol, the branch family's top young talent. The rumors don't do you justice—you're remarkable. To think you'd fend off 'Black Blade Slash,' the hidden art from the Black Blade Severing Secrets, an ancient divine technique uncovered by the main family."

"Black Blade Severing Secrets... I've come across mentions of it. The legendary divine skill dubbed 'Black Blade Maturing Secrets' that the mythical 'Black Blade Star Lord' granted to mortals in the lower realms! And this must be one of the seven fragmented variants from the original, right?"

"Indeed, your reputation for mastery in both scholarly and martial pursuits isn't exaggerated! You know your stuff. Then you must also realize that once I unleash the Black Blade Severing Secrets, nothing can halt me, correct?"

"Heh, I'm well aware. Without doubt, the ancient Black Blade Severing Secrets stands as the fiercest technique, unstoppable once ignited and linked to the dragon vein. Due to its perilous might, it's even deemed a devilish art."

"Spot on. To halt me in my current state, you'd need at least a Core Formation Elder. I could unleash a blood calamity here and now, but I'll show some leniency. Provided you fulfill my conditions. They're straightforward..."

"But that's assuming it's the fully intact Black Blade Severing Secrets. From what I gather, the version the Seogyeong Makli Line unearthed isn't complete... and it's still undergoing repairs..."

Makli Hweol offers a subtle smile, serenely slips a hand into his mouth, and draws forth a lone sword.

Tsaaaaaat!

Vigorous vapor erupts from Makli Hweol's sword.

In a flash, the Talisman War Great Death Mausoleum arena grows misty, saturated with water energy.

"Am I mistaken, Daoist 'Makli Cheop-ja'?"

Hoo-woong.

The instant Makli Hweol swings his sword downward!

Kugugugugugugu!

The water energy permeating the arena swiftly morphs into a vast sea of clouds.

Right away, that sea of clouds shapes into a massive cloud dragon, which seizes Makli Cheop-ja with its talons and jaws, starting to crush him beneath its weight.

Makli Cheop-ja launches shadowy slicing attacks from his palms in an attempt to break free from the cloud dragon, yet the dragon's head ignites like a blazing wick and bears down on Makli Cheop-ja with intensified force.

Makli Cheop-ja spews blood and chuckles.

"Impressive as always... Now I see why you're hailed as one of the Ten Excellences at the Qi Refining stage, Makli Hweol. Even in its partial form, I—who've mastered an ancient devilish art—can't overcome you... At the Qi Refining stage, no one matches you!"

As if abruptly grasping the vast divide between Makli Hweol and himself, Makli Cheop-ja's face twists into a complex mask.

Yet moments later, he bellows like a beast and ignites every ounce of his hidden power.

"Still... with such immense talent and promise... why do you branch family fools cling to this petty righteousness and refuse the Devilish Path!? Why defy the main family's vision!?"

Makli Hweol, seemingly deeming a response unworthy, wordlessly counters the erupting power of Makli Cheop-ja—who's unleashing his full potential—with overwhelming pressure.

Wo-woong!

Makli Hyun-ah abruptly detects a trace of demonic energy emanating from Makli Hweol's whole form.

Even upon double-checking, it's unmistakably the aura typical of demon beasts.

Kwarurung!

The cloud dragon gleams with every hue of the heavens' palette, then multiplies its mass several-fold and commences pounding the arena's surface.

"Demon ability, Three Hundred Million Jin Sweet Water Peach."

The tiny water droplets composing the cloud dragon double in density, causing the dragon's total mass to surge toward three hundred million jin.

"Kuaaaaaaah!!"

Makli Cheop-ja, even as he detonates his latent power, gets relentlessly crushed by Makli Hweol and breaks into a maniacal, warped laugh.

"Heh, kuhahahaha! So the tales are true—you practice human-demon dual cultivation? Without relying on any Beast Taming method, your physical form alone generates demon arts of this caliber... But this ends here. The main family has unearthed more than just the Black Blade Severing Secrets... Something beyond your wildest dreams!

"A Shaman Family Method that shatters conventional Immortal Family Methods...! It's a power gained not through human toil, but by sacrificing to entities far superior and incomprehensible...! You, the branch family's shining hope today, will one day grovel at the main family's feet!"

Kwaaaaaang!

Makli Cheop-ja's frame balloons outward, followed by his flesh detonating in a gruesome rupture.

Dozens of shadowy slicing attacks whirl like a tempest around his exploding body, but Makli Hweol reshapes the cloud dragon into a misty shroud that domes over the strikes, preventing further significant harm.

Makli Hyun-ah reels in horror at witnessing a person burst apart before him, yet he can't afford to freeze in shock.

Makli Hweol's face darkens as he declares.

"That explosion wasn't his choice. Via that Shaman Family Method or whatever... he got 'linked' to something else. Based on the spiritual energy ripples, it's probably the Seogyeong Makli Line's Nascent Soul Grand Elder...! If that entity compelled the self-destruction... chances are, through Makli Cheop-ja's spirit connection, they've already gleaned all his intel...!"

He swiftly clutches a voice transmission talisman, infuses it with his intent, and reaches out to a contact via it.

Soon enough, Makli Hweol gets a response from the voice transmission talisman and utters with grave urgency.

"Everyone! Get to safety! The Seogyeong Makli line is launching an immediate assault on the main family!"

His words plunge the entire arena, Makli Hyun-ah included, into immediate pandemonium.

Cultivators from other families and the Mountain and Seas group panic and flee the venue, while the Makli Clan's young talents stay behind, rallying around Makli Hweol.

"Makli Hweol Hyung-nim! What's our move?"

"To the main hall. I wasn't meant to trigger it yet, but... contingency measures await there for crises like this!"

"Understood!"

"Daoist Makli Hyun-ah, move!"

"W-Wait, hold on a sec!"

Makli Hweol scoops up Makli Hyun-ah, summons a flying magic artifact on the spot, and soars away from the arena.

Makli Hyun-ah flails in alarm and hastily draws Makli Badger and the rabbits into the beast scroll.

***

Makli Clan main hall.

Dozens of Elders and Grand Elders assemble there, their expressions etched with gravity as they confer.

"You're claiming the Seogyeong scum have abruptly declared war?"

"Argh! Striking without warning or formal declaration breaches the treaty!"

"Tch, since when do Devilish Path vermin honor such things? Quit complaining—we need action!"

"Does anyone grasp why they've ignited this conflict out of nowhere?"

As the Grand Elders frantically debate, Cultivation Elder Makli Hye-seo speaks up softly.

"Based on Hweol's report, it appears they glimpsed the technique acquired by the Extreme Ghost Path Body's child. Seeing that Small Demon Pacifying Heaven Formation the kid deployed must have sparked massive alarm in them."

"Guh... they panicked over the Upper Realm method the child secured!? But how did a spy infiltrate in the first place...? We have Lord Makli Cheon-sa's ancient formation from before his ascension—it screens everyone entering the clan for 'malice'!"

The Lianshan Makli Line's members aren't fools who let a spy waltz in unchecked.

Though they hosted the tournament inviting rogue cultivators and folks from other clans, those were all long-time associates.

Furthermore, upon reaching the tournament site within the clan, each undergoes thorough checks, and finally, Makli Cheon-sa's pre-ascension ancient formation weeds out anyone harboring malice or foul motives.

Makli Hye-seo, drawing from the details Makli Hweol transmitted, adds.

"You all got Hweol's voice transmission talisman update... but it seems the Seogyeong Makli Line excavated an ancient Shaman Family Method. I'm no expert, but this Shaman Family Method draws from god-like beings in higher realms... so by tapping that superior entity's power, they managed to insert a spy."

"Ugh... those Seogyeong wretches. They've snagged something truly troublesome...!"

Makli Clan's family head, Makli Hong, heaves a deep sigh. Yet his gaze soon sharpens with unyielding resolve.

"Regardless, if they're charging in first out of fear, we won't stand idle. The prep time is brief, but we activate now. Rally the clan's prodigies! Instruct the branches to use the teleportation formations and converge at the main family immediately! Without delay. The Lianshan Makli Line will enact the 'Heavenly Transfer Plan'!"

Following Makli Hong's command, innumerable Elders and Grand Elders spring into motion, engaging the arrays scattered across the Lianshan Makli Clan.

Teleportation formations ignite throughout the Lianshan Makli Clan, and from branch locations, hordes of Elders and affiliates flood into the central base.

As he observes the arrays powering up, Makli Hong addresses Makli Hye-seo.

"Elder Makli Hye-seo. Apologies, but... I must request aid from your contracted demon beast. At present, only your bonded demon beast can unleash Nascent Soul-level combat prowess."

In response, Makli Hye-seo glances at her shadow.

Her shadow writhes where her eyes land.

Makli Hong gulps and fixes his stare on Makli Hye-seo's shadow.

By now, her shadow has transformed into a fox-headed entity with three or four tails.

Makli Hye-seo glances at the shadow and gives a nonchalant shrug.

"...I can't control that one freely... so who knows. If its curiosity piques, it'll emerge; otherwise, it'll shield just me till the end."

"...I see. Very well... for the moment, we'll endure with our own strength alone."

Makli Hong nods solemnly, his features weighed down, then dashes to the Clan Head hall as the arrays continue to hum.

Kugugugugugu!

With the Makli Clan's overarching formation stirring to life, a wave of tension sweeps over every clan member's countenance.

***

"Ugh, uuak, Daoist Makli Hweol—uuuuwoop! Wh-What's all this chaos—uuup!?"

Hurled over Makli Hweol's shoulder during their rapid flight, Makli Hyun-ah battles the nausea from motion sickness with sheer grit.

Makli Hweol eyes the Makli Clan Headquarters visible not far from the arena, his face set in stone as he hurtles forward at breakneck speed, managing to reach the headquarters just before the protective formation fully engages.

"Woop, uuuwoop!"

Upon landing, Makli Hyun-ah heaves outside the formation, and Makli Hweol yanks him inside without delay.

"Stay within the formation. The main family's Heavenly Transfer Plan is commencing."

"H-Heavenly Transfer Plan... what's that?"

"First off, could you employ your talisman skills to mask that foul breath? The retching left a lingering odor."

Makli Hyun-ah mutters complaints, conceals his bad breath with a seal, and presses Makli Hweol again about the Heavenly Transfer Plan.

"So, what's the Heavenly Transfer Plan?"

"That... you'll understand soon enough. It's starting right now."

Kugugugugugu!

The glow from the formation enveloping the Makli Clan Headquarters intensifies.

"Th-This is...!"

Kuoooo!

Lianshan Makli Clan Headquarters.

The very ground beneath them lifts skyward, encased in the formation.

At the formation's eight cardinal points, eight Qi Building Elders execute hand seals, channeling refined spiritual force into the terrain to power the array, while Core Formation Grand Elders and the Lianshan Makli Line's Clan Head oversee the core pivot from the Clan Head hall.

Woo-wooong!

Makli Hyun-ah's eyes widen like saucers, his mouth agape at the awe-inspiring spectacle of the main family estate and surrounding grounds ascending heavenward.

Before long, Clan Head Makli Hong's spirit voice thunders from the Clan Head hall, reverberating across the clan.

[Destination: beneath the western great mountain range. Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance headquarters! Initiate Heavenly Transfer!]

Kugugugugu!

The soil upholding the Lianshan Makli Clan's estate reshapes under the Elders' and Grand Elders' gestures.

Kuuung!

In short order, the whole expanse morphs as though into a colossal face, from whose rear spiritual energy blasts forth like thrusters, propelling the land westward.

"Heavenly Transfer Plan. It's a scheme advanced steadily since Ancestor Makli Cheon-sa uncovered an ancient flying formation. Designed to relocate the main family's territory close to the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance's base, thwarting meddling from the Seogyeong Makli Line."

Makli Hweol beholds the earthen mass sculpted into a facial form and voices quiet awe.

"I've reviewed it in proposals a handful of times... but this ancient formation is truly wondrous. Witnessing it firsthand exceeds my imaginings. They say that facial design draws from some long-lost ancient general puppet's visage..."

"Hmm... though that formation's face appears downright comical, puhaha! Oh, what was that, Daoist Hweol?"

"...I'm describing the Heavenly Transfer Plan. Pay attention!"

"Got it..."

"