A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 824 Chapter 821: Side Story - New Fate and Upheaval (2)
Previously on A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation...
It manifests as a 'chain'.
Innumerable dark chains erupt like a cascading torrent from the fissures splitting across Makli Simseong-chung's form, draping over his skin.
Witnessing that eerie and terrifying spectacle, Makli Hyun-ah experiences a surge of revulsion, coupled with an inexplicable dread.
Thump, thump, thump...!
In that instant, Makli Hyun-ah senses an odd sensation stirring within.
As if a memory is on the verge of surfacing.
'I...'
He had believed he plunged directly into this Penglai Star realm after a fatal truck collision.
Yet, was that the full truth?
Prior to the impact that ended his life, before arriving in this domain...
Hadn't he encountered [someone]?
Gazing upon those viscous black chains, Makli Hyun-ah is gripped by an unsettling feeling of discord.
Chwarak, chwarak, chwarak!
Surrounding Makli Simseong-chung, the Qi Building Elders from the Seogyeong Makli Clan wield what appear to be custom-crafted banner artifacts, starting to manipulate the entity invoked into his frame.
Furthermore, the Core Formation Grand Elder of the Seogyeong Makli Clan emerges from within the warship, intones a sacred incantation toward the monstrous entity shrouded in chains, and executes hand gestures as though commanding the abomination.
Right then,
Jjeooooooeong!
As the chain, seemingly fused with the monstrous entity's body, lashes out, a section of the Lianshan Makli Clan's array crumbles outright, causing the whole domain where the primary family's barrier extends to quiver.
Observing this, the Elders and Grand Elders of the Lianshan Makli Clan draw back in horror, their bodies shaking.
The Lianshan Makli Clan Head, Makli Hong, grimaces with a ashen complexion, biting down on his lower lip.
"Th-That... what in the world is that...? That... doesn't it resemble a lifeform at the Nascent Soul stage?"
Makli Hong's features twist in alarm, while a shadow of gloom falls across the visages of the numerous Makli Clan Grand Elders.
"...Elder Makli Hye-seo..."
Makli Hong turns his gaze toward Makli Hye-seo in the Clan Head Hall and addresses her with a face full of despair.
"Will that individual truly refrain from aiding us...? The foes have called forth Nascent Soul stage might!"
Yet, in response to Makli Hong's plea, Makli Hye-seo merely exhales deeply and shakes her head.
"...They insist on safeguarding only me. They don't appear inclined to intervene."
Kwaaaaaang!
And as they converse, the adversary's Nascent Soul stage monstrous creature unleashes a barrage of assaults, jolting the entire array once more.
From the resulting tremor, Makli Hyun-ah, shielded by Makli Hweol from the back lines, coughs up blood and slips into unconsciousness.
Through the awareness field, as he watches the Extreme Ghost Path Body—a rare prodigy—suffer harm, Makli Hong grips his fist tightly, his heart aching as if hemorrhaging.
"Damn it... must I ultimately intervene myself...?"
Woo-wooong!
The array's energy starts to converge upon Makli Hong.
Concurrently, Makli Hong's cultivation level surges upward.
Makli Hong, positioned at the peak of Core Formation, ascends to the Nascent Soul stage in a flash.
The technique Makli Hong mastered is a profoundly unique one.
It fuses personal cultivation with an array to accelerate progress, yet it typically prevents unleashing one's complete strength, limiting output to the level of a realm one tier beneath the actual attainment.
Additionally, the practitioner becomes bound to the array, unable to venture beyond it, and inside, offers no notable edge over fellow Nascent Soul stage experts.
Makli Hong attained the Nascent Soul stage and the role of clan head through this flawed technique. Deploying his utmost force would shatter his cultivation base, forcing years of secluded recovery.
"If I unleash my strength now, I'll be confined to bed for years once more...!"
Makli Hong mutters in anguish while preparing to dispel the Nascent Soul stage monstrous beast from the opposing side.
"...!"
Abruptly, Makli Hong snaps his head toward the unconscious Makli Hyun-ah, and a grin of delight creeps onto his mouth.
"...! I-Is that the case? No need for me to exert myself fully..."
Wiiiing!
Makli Hong manipulates the surroundings near Makli Hyun-ah via his technique, restoring the young man's vital energies.
All to facilitate the effortless arrival of the entity revered by every member of the Makli Clan, Makli Hong included!
***
Jing— Jing— Jing—
Makli Hyun-ah blacked out from the impact as the chain-composed abomination battered the array twice.
'Where could this be...?'
In his state of oblivion, he senses himself plummeting ceaselessly into a void resembling a profound, shadowy chasm.
'What sort of chasm is this...? I... passed out...? If that's true, is this my subconscious?'
Instinctively grasping his location, he feels bewildered.
'Within my subconscious... lies a depth like this? What on earth is this place?'
It happens right then.
Something grazes Makli Hyun-ah's awareness as it tumbles boundlessly deeper.
It glows brilliantly, radiates intensely, and looms massively.
Amid that luminous cluster, Makli Hyun-ah remembers a figure he once beheld.
'Makli... Cheon-sa...?'
The entity that guided Makli Hyun-ah to the Makli Clan.
Indeed, Makli Cheon-sa.
The luminous form resembling Makli Cheon-sa casts a glance at Makli Hyun-ah as he descends into the depths below, then parts its lips.
[Rest. I shall exert every effort to ensure that foul divinity cannot seize your form and inflict harm upon you...]
'Foul entity...? My form?'
Perplexed, Makli Hyun-ah continues his infinite descent into the void.
Into a boundless container that appears capable of housing any magnitude of being...
***
Tsuaaaaaaa!
It occurs just as Makli Hweol prepares to relocate the unconscious Makli Hyun-ah.
A blaze of light erupts from Makli Hyun-ah's frame, and his eyes snap open wide.
Makli Hweol senses intuitively that this isn't the familiar Makli Hyun-ah, but another presence, and he bows low in reverence.
"Makli Hweol... pays respects to the clan ancestor."
The presence that has entered Makli Hyun-ah's body.
'Makli Cheon-sa' accepts the salutation curtly, then steadily advances past the juniors toward the array's boundary.
Peering over the edge, at the abhorrent entity entwined in myriad iron chains, Makli Cheon-sa speaks.
[Members of the Seogyeong Makli Clan. Do you truly comprehend the nature of what you've invoked at this moment?]
To that, the Core Formation Elder managing the abhorrent entity replies with eyes alight.
"Makli Cheon-sa...? How unexpected. A senior who showed little ties to the clan preserved a split soul before ascending... Did you employ some Body-Separation Great Method?"
[Respond to the inquiry.]
"Hahahaha, just as senior utilizes a clan junior's body to shield the clan... we too are harnessing a higher-dimensional power to defend the clan. Recently, we acquired the Shaman Family Method, which included a summoning array to call forth a being from the remote Astral Realm."
[You ignorant fools... In attempting to resolve the household's crisis, you've invited a far worse disaster! Seeking to expel a fox, you've summoned a dragon instead! Are you unaware of 'whose' servant you've brought forth?]
"'Whose?' Do you imply it's a familiar of a Star Shattering stage senior?"
[Idiotic fools. Did you recklessly open the gateway without grasping what—or whom—your invocations address!]
"You remain overly concerned with trivialities. It's merely a ritual invocation chant! All that lore about the entity linked to the Peng Bird dominating the Antimatter Sea is just a metaphor for the natural forces of that Astral Realm! Do you truly accept that a divine True Immortal toys with us from beyond the cosmos? You sound like a flat Head Realm advocate insisting the Head Realm is flat."
[...Debating with lower realm ignoramuses who deny even the True Immortal's existence is futile. Tsk! O Great One, I am Makli Cheon-sa. Grant us passage, I beseech you!]
Makli Cheon-sa, inhabiting Makli Hyun-ah, inclines her head in deference toward the chained entity, and upon witnessing this, the Core Formation Grand Elder of the Seogyeong Makli Clan displays confusion.
"Ultimately, what exactly are you implying...? This creature is simply a denizen of a realm known as Black Star, senior. We merely forged a pact with an aware being from Black Star and summoned its avatar in return. Stran—"
Waduk!
It transpires in that instant.
The chain entity extends its chains toward the Core Formation Grand Elder mid-speech.
Swiftly, the chains coalesce into a hand-like structure, and before the Grand Elder can mount any defense, that appendage engulfs him entirely.
Crunch, crunch, gulp!
From the chain-formed hand comes the noise of voracious munching and devouring, and shortly, the limb that consumed the Core Formation Grand Elder sprouts a counterpart appendage, slowly assuming the form of a colossal chain construct.
Beholding this, the Seogyeong Makli Clan's Qi Building Elders cry out and frantically attempt to rein in the colossus using their banners.
"Wh-What is this!? Contracted beast, honor the agreement!"
"Content yourself with just Makli Simseong-chung's lifespan! This violates the pact! We—"
Crunch!
Yet, as they babble excuses and strive to dominate the colossus, the Qi Building Elders along with scores of Qi Refining young ones are drawn into the chain cascade spilling from the giant's base and vanish.
In a blink, the Seogyeong Makli Clan's warship becomes ensnared in chains, and amid the surging tendrils, the giant unveils its torso and smirks.
: : YoudonotknowthatitisbytheverysmallconnectionwithonefromtheMakliClaninthelosthistoryofmyLord'ssixteenthlifethatyouareallowedtopersistuntilnowwithouthavingyourseedcutoff,andyetyoustillveneratetheDevilish?Youstillholdcountlessbloodritesandfailtorestrainyourdesires,sacrificingothers?MyLordhaslongsincecutoffexpectationsforyou,soI,inplaceofmyLord'sanger,shallpunishyourwrongness.Foolishones,nowthatyourfatehasbeenexhausted,accordingtothelawofRetributionthatmyLordhasplacedintheheavens,youshallreturnandreceiveallthekarmayouhavebroughtwithyou.Iprophesize.Youshallnotavoidthisgreatruin. : :
Chijijijijijik!
The black chain giant emits utterances laden with vast informational fragments, but due to its origin in a superior dimension's tongue, only Makli Cheon-sa faintly grasps the intent.
Nevertheless, Makli Cheon-sa feels a chill of perspiration.
'My comprehension stems not from superior realm, but because that presence accounts for me, for us, preventing our minds from shattering upon hearing those words.'
Makli Cheon-sa comprehends that while the malevolent presence could effortlessly obliterate them, it handles them with utmost delicacy, akin to fragile hatchlings.
[O God! Having ascended to the Upper Realm, I once glimpsed myths tied to Thee. Thou art assuredly the counterpart to the Peng ruling the Antimatter Sea, and I recognize Thee as the one who devours solely the sinful.
[We of the Lianshan Makli Clan resolved to sever all ties with the primary Seogyeong Makli Clan lineage, and we have abstained from such profound demonic transgressions.
[Spare us, I implore! My lineage shall proclaim your majesty!]
In reply to Makli Cheon-sa's plea, the presence emits a low chuckle and voices comprehensible spirit words.
[Indeed. I devour only the sinful, and while your karmic debts aren't absent, they warrant judgment in the Netherworld, not through my intervention.]
[Then...!]
[Yet, as a guardian Great God of Heaven and Earth, I bear the obligation to mark the emergent fate in this realm. My awareness must imprint upon that new fate's vessel...]
[...!]
Makli Cheon-sa remains ignorant of which new fate the divinity references, but she discerns their intent toward Makli Hyun-ah, the vessel she occupies.
[...That is unacceptable. Were you an evident benevolent deity, perhaps otherwise, but your punitive criteria remain obscure, and knowing that myriad civilizations have fallen to your grasp unknowing the cause, I cannot permit an evil god like you to claim my adopted child's form.]
[How lamentable. Even explaining the stellar light war, the luminaries' horrors, you couldn't fathom it. Rejoice in your birth under stellar grace. Absent my Lord's benediction, your audacity would go unpardoned.]
[I lack full knowledge of your lord's nature, but one truth stands. The vessel you inhabit isn't a Ghost Path Body, merely an average Qi Building cultivator's frame, unfit to sustain you long! Release my kin now, and retreat to your Black Blades Palace abode!]
Those declarations prompt the chain presence to boom with mirth.
With their laughter, the skies dim and flare, as though the cosmos trembles.
[Insolent creature! Suppose because my vessel is lowly, I lack means against you? Dare you challenge me?]
Kwaaaaaang!
As the chain being swings its fist, the Makli Clan's barrier fractures in one strike, and myriad Qi Building Elders spew blood, collapsing.
The ensuing blast sends Qi Refining novices into instant stupor, and only advanced youths like Makli Hweol scarcely withstand.
Makli Cheon-sa sweats coldly and lifts a finger.
From her fingertip, heavenly essence channels, drawing ambient Heaven and Earth spiritual energy around her.
Swiftly, she attains Nascent Soul-caliber combat prowess and unleashes a torrent of incantations upon the chain being, yet it roars in amusement and hurls a fist at Makli Cheon-sa.
Kugwaaaaang!
Struck by the entity's blow, Makli Cheon-sa blasts through the primary hall's structure, hurtling to the array's far side.
Splurt!
[In this proxy form, my power is curtailed. If only this body achieved Qi Building...!]
Makli Cheon-sa clenches her jaw while mending Makli Hyun-ah's frame, and at this display, the chain being snickers.
[Even with your true form, treading Immortal Family paths, do you presume to defy me, an Immortal incarnate?]
[...But what of non-Immortal Family arts?]
[Ahaha, what was that?]
Makli Cheon-sa offers a subtle smile and touches her temple.
[Scanning my adopted child's recollections, among the tomes I perused, one proves apt. O Apex of Immortal Family, care to face the Confucian Family Method!]
Makli Cheon-sa delves into Makli Hyun-ah's mind via the Beast Taming art, and using her own Beast Taming prowess, broadcasts to every Makli Clan spirit beast.
[Heed me! I am Makli Cheon-sa. Supreme Beast Tamer of the Lianshan Makli Clan!!]
All spirit beasts enthralled by Makli Cheon-sa's Beast Taming arts simultaneously direct reverent stares toward her.
Makli Cheon-sa's Beast Taming art alone commands profound esteem from spirit beasts.
The veneration from myriad spirit beasts transmutes via the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy flux she wields into incantation scripts.
These scripts soon evolve into 'social authority', with dark 'social authority' enveloping Makli Cheon-sa's form.
Unlike Makli Hyun-ah's mere faint dark glow,
The Great Demon Pacifying Heaven Formation Makli Cheon-sa invokes manifests distinctly.
Dark radiance shapes a jet-black military garb (具軍服).
A war helm (戰笠) crowns the head, military attire (具軍服), combat robes (戰服), and war fabric (戰布) cloak the figure, a war sash (戰帶) encircles the waist.
Finally, wooden clogs (木靴) form upon the feet, finalizing the ensemble.
Unlike standard military garb, Makli Cheon-sa's creation is predominantly obsidian in hue.
This black-light-only military garb attests to her social authority.
Makli Cheon-sa regards the chain being with intense eyes and indicates it.
Tududududududu!
Heaven and Earth spiritual energy faces suppression.
The formidable social authority Makli Cheon-sa erects rejects and subdues alien forces and turbulent essences.
Chiik, chijijijijik!
The spell-propelled Seogyeong Makli Clan warship forfeits its incantations' might and commences a slow descent, while the chain being's tendrils also start to wane gradually.
[I, drawing upon Makli Cheon-sa's social authority, decree and proclaim! Entities not of this realm must return whence they came, and oppressors of this lineage shall face due reckoning and formal chastisement! Grounded in this land's social authority. In Makli Cheon-sa's name, I command that the banis