A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 828 Chapter 825: Side Story - Nation Founding (3)

Ultimately, Makli Hyun-ah manages to alter his formal title to resemble the name 'Black King'.

Naturally, despite that, the nickname 'Darkness Queen' has circulated widely among the Demon Race for ages, and though he can't halt the initial title's popularity, he thinks curbing just the official one still achieves something.

In any case, Makli Hyun-ah employs his power to curb the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy along with the savage instincts of demon beasts within the areas under his sway.

Consequently, numerous demon beasts starting from the Qi Refining stage have their savage instincts quelled, allowing them to gain 'reason'.

The survival rates of demon beasts skyrocket dramatically, and as this unfolds, their devotion and respect for Makli Hyun-ah intensifies further.

As that continues, Makli Hyun-ah's societal influence strengthens progressively, until eventually he discovers he can separate his societal influence.

A dharma treasure he gains the ability to forge once the advanced stages of Pacifying Myriad Demons Under Heaven Survey progress further.

He now possesses the means to craft a 'talisman plaque'.

'Could this be the dharma treasure from the Confucian Family Method...?'

Tsaaaaatt...

Makli Hyun-ah infuses black energy into a plain tiger tally devoid of any spiritual energy.

Suddenly, the tiger tally turns pitch black, with Makli Hyun-ah's seal imprinted upon it.

The talisman plaque's function remains straightforward.

"I, Makli Hyun-ah, King of the West Sea, grant a talisman plaque to each of my retainers Makli Nobi, Makli Bi-yeol, and Makli Donald, and I order you to deploy across this sea to control and manage the strange powers and chaotic spirits in areas beyond this king's reach."

To the retainers he inscribes names on the talisman plaques for and hands them out, Makli Hyun-ah delegates a portion of his societal influence, enabling him to dispatch them to zones outside his own societal influence's scope.

In essence, they serve as regional officials.

And in a way, these regional officials themselves function as Makli Hyun-ah's dharma treasures.

Wo-woong—

Makli Hyun-ah links with the five senses of the regional officials, thereby monitoring conditions throughout the West Sea.

'Incredible. With my talisman plaques on them, it seems like they're extensions of my own body...!'

He claims to grant them strength, yet it resembles adding another limb more than a simple gift.

Thus, thirty years elapse.

Soon enough, Makli Hyun-ah's societal influence keeps expanding, swelling repeatedly.

Unlike the spiritual power of Immortal Family Methods that builds within the body and divine soul, the societal influence of the Confucian Family Method gathers externally.

The Confucian Family Method originates from Makli Hyun-ah's attire, steadily broadening to form a jade throne, then from the jade throne envelops his entire residence, evolving into a grand palace.

'If societal influence falls short, Pacifying Myriad Demons Under Heaven Survey states you can enlist people to build or bolster the palace. Yet...when societal influence overflows, it constructs the palace independently...that's what it describes.'

Makli Hyun-ah shrugs while gazing from the jade throne at the vast palace and structures that have sprawled over his island residence unnoticed.

'At present, it appears my societal influence brims over.'

Indeed, being a palace formed by piling up Makli Hyun-ah's societal influence, it would crumble to mere dust if he vanished.

For this reason, to benefit future generations, Makli Hyun-ah constructs an exact replica of the palace shaped by his societal influence beneath the sea.

'They mention the trickiest aspect of the Confucian Family Method involves selecting a successor... It's truly bothersome. Wait, must I father heirs merely to advance in cultivation?'

Granted, the successor need not be a blood child, though a direct offspring proves optimal for sustaining societal influence.

However, with no desire to sire children, Makli Hyun-ah opts to seek alternatives whenever feasible.

With that, another twenty years slip by.

***

A full century has now passed since Makli Hyun-ah arrived in this realm.

"Uuuhm..."

Makli Hyun-ah stirs awake on the jade throne, gripped by an intense headache.

"Are you okay, Your Majesty?"

Beside him stands Makli Hweol, the companion who has shared his presence for more than a century.

"Mm. I'm alright. It's merely exhaustion from enduring a tribulation."

Unbeknownst to him, Makli Hyun-ah has ascended to a stage equivalent to Nascent Soul.

The territory in the western sea domain has expanded relentlessly, reaching a scale that demands attention.

Inevitably, the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance protested Makli Hyun-ah's mass assembly of demon beasts into a faction, issuing a directive to the Makli Clan to disband his demon beast warlord group at once.

Yet the clan head, Makli Hong, dismissed the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance's warning, relocating the Makli Clan headquarters to Makli Hyun-ah's sea domain and proclaiming refusal to dissolve the warlord faction.

This outcome feels inevitable.

Simply by summoning the Demon Race devoted to Makli Hyun-ah and directing them via the Beast Taming method, the Makli Clan wields, from one clan's reserves, might comparable to a major sect.

Following the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance's official war declaration, they launched an assault on the domain governed by Makli Hyun-ah's warlord faction.

And from there...

Up to the present, Makli Hyun-ah has persisted through the tribulation of progressing to the Nascent Soul stage.

Distinct from Immortal Family Method cultivators facing lightning-based Heavenly Tribulation, Confucian Family Method practitioners encounter tribulations manifesting as internal and external crises upon their 'power bloc', including invasions, calamities, plagues, uprisings, and the like.

Nevertheless, with most of Makli Hyun-ah's 'subjects' being the Demon Race, their robust forms shrug off natural disasters and plagues, while rebellions prove rare since his presence tames demon beasts' savagery, fosters intellect, and boosts young Demon Race survival, ensuring even parents of offspring remain loyal without fail.

Hence, Makli Hyun-ah's trial consists of external threats.

Put simply, it's mere suppression from outside powers.

Makli Hyun-ah's whole nation plunged into warfare, with the conflicts raging nationwide flooding into his mind, forcing him to endure chronic headaches for decades.

'The Confucian Family Method's tribulation drags on subtly...yet failing to withstand it could drive one insane, so it demands attention.'

Makli Hyun-ah heaves a profound sigh, turning to Makli Hweol.

"It looks like the outcome settles today."

"Yes, word is the Makli Clan launches a total assault. Over twenty years, aided by demon beasts, they've set up a formation spanning the sea domain to channel the clan head's method, allowing him to join the fray personally."

"Incidentally, they mention Clan Head Makli Hong's method activates only within the formation, and even then requires specific conditions...does it hold some superior edge?"

"Well...it's less about raw power at the same level...since the clan head practices Non-Immortal Family Methods like Your Majesty, his unpredictability stands out remarkably."

"Hoh...what sort is it...?"

"Well, you'll witness it shortly. Shall we observe?"

"Yes, alright..."

Makli Hyun-ah nods, settles onto the jade throne, shuts his eyes, while Makli Hweol proceeds to the palace's transmission formation.

Woo-woong!

Brilliant light erupts from the transmission formation as Makli Hweol transports to the frontline, and Makli Hyun-ah projects his awareness into one talisman plaque-bearing regional official at the front, briefly transforming that official's form into his avatar.

Tsuaaaat!

Instantly, black radiance envelops the regional official's figure, reshaping it into Makli Hyun-ah clad in a black dragon robe.

"Hooh..."

Through the avatar's body, Makli Hyun-ah surveys the battlefield surroundings.

Thanks to the regional officials enforcing his directives suppressing Heaven and Earth spiritual energy near the front, enemy cultivators hesitate to advance and clash with spells.

Therefore, the combatants here consist of the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance's recruited martial artists versus Makli Hyun-ah's resilient followers.

Namely, demon beasts.

The demon beasts, their savagery curbed by Makli Hyun-ah and minds awakened to reason, surge forward en masse at their leaders' commands, clashing against the Human Race martial artists.

With neither side able to deploy demon abilities or spells, the demon beasts depend on their formidable physical forms.

The martial artists counter using sword energy, sword gang, protective gang qi, and similar techniques from the martial realm to oppose the demon beasts.

Observing the scene, Makli Hyun-ah muses inwardly.

'Why do those so-called martial artists resist internal energy suppression so stubbornly...?'

He can readily nullify the internal energy of typical martial artists, reducing them to mere mortals.

But the internal energy of 'peak masters' who unify sword and body through intent proves resistant to suppression.

That 'intent', akin to a form of awareness, appears to deflect portions of Makli Hyun-ah's control.

Makli Hyun-ah remembers a noted flaw of the Confucian Family Method from Pacifying Myriad Demons Under Heaven Survey.

'A key vulnerability of the Confucian Family Method lies in thieves.'

Reportedly, the might of sword-wielding rogues boasting martial arts prowess resists the Confucian Family Method's suppression with difficulty.

Thus, the method's creator noted how myriad Confucian Family Method dynasties fell to thief bands and mountain bandits.

'Since intent counters suppression, these bandit-like martial artists defy the Confucian Family Method...! How should I handle them?'

Makli Hyun-ah gnaws at his fingernail.

The Demon Race confronts the martial artists using their mighty physiques, yet the martial artists prove overwhelmingly potent.

In particular, those at the 'Blooming' realm demand dozens of Demon Race to swarm them simultaneously, resembling walking calamities.

Facing such martial artists, the Demon Race, bereft of demon abilities due to suppression, struggle in the confrontations.

Even with Makli Clan cultivators aiding via Makli Hyun-ah's Naming Family talismans, the support falls short of adequacy.

'The Confucian Family Method's core issue isn't just thief bands—it's the lack of distinction!'

The paramount defect of the Confucian Family Method involves quelling all supernatural occurrences within its domain indiscriminately.

No separation between allies and adversaries exists.

One can exempt certain external aids like talismans or transmission formations from suppression, but beyond that, the Confucian Family Method operates on a binary: suppress Heaven and Earth spiritual energy or not.

'Releasing Heaven and Earth spiritual energy suppression would let the Demon Race unleash demon abilities and our cultivators join, but...'

Makli Hyun-ah grimaces, eyeing the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance cultivators who cheer the martial artists from beyond the Confucian Family Method's reach.

'We'd be overwhelmed instantly.'

Until now, the Makli Clan's endurance against the vast cultivator coalition known as the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance stems entirely from the unique trait of Makli Hyun-ah's Confucian Family Method: the 'suppression of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy'.

In this predicament, Makli Hyun-ah dares not hastily lift the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy suppression.

'When exactly will Clan Head Makli Hong intervene...?'

Right then,

Makli Hweol, arriving at the front via transmission formation, offers a subtle smile and taps Makli Hyun-ah's shoulder.

"Hoho... No need to fret excessively, Your Highness. I've heard the Clan Head plans to enter the battle himself soon..."

"I believe if the Clan Head commands personally, victory could come swiftly...but how will he reverse this tide...?"

Makli Hyun-ah questions Makli Hweol with evident concern.

Despite Makli Hong's unwavering assurance—citing potential spies within the clan—he withheld details of his method's precise nature to the last.

That's when it occurs.

Flash!

In the distance, Makli Clan elders mounted on the clan's demon beasts, alongside the reigning clan head Makli Hong, reach the battlefield.

Due to the Confucian Family Method's influence barring Flying Escape Techniques, their demon beast ride evidently delayed them considerably.

Makli Hong addresses Makli Hyun-ah directly.

"All preparations stand ready. Merging your Confucian Family Method with my method's unique secret will let us crush the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance in one decisive strike. Hyun-ah, authorize my Innate True Method's activation."

"Hm...but that would allow others to employ their methods too..."

"My method isn't an Immortal Family Method."

"In that case, it's acceptable, though...currently, the strange powers and chaotic spirits I allow are solely the teleportation formation and Naming Family talisman. Permitting another vaguely might dilute my social authority..."

"Hmm...understood? Then, restrict one between the Naming Family talisman and teleportation formation, and approve mine instead. With my method active, total triumph awaits."

Hearing this, Makli Hyun-ah agrees and adjusts the Confucian Family Method.

'Sanction the Clan Head's method category. Prohibit all other Naming Family talisman usage!'

Tudududududu!

The Makli Clan members' Naming Family talismans mid-throw crumble into worthless paper scraps airborne.

Makli Hyun-ah retains the teleportation formation for potential withdrawal.

An odd aura emanates from Makli Hong's form.

Simultaneously, Makli Hong advances and commences his proclamation.

[Hear me, all!]

Woo-woong!

It's peculiar.

Unable to draw on Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, without cultivating a martial artist's internal energy...still, Makli Hong's voice thunders in every ear like a lion's roar.

[From now on. As an elder of the West Sea King's household. And as the Makli Clan's current head. This Makli Clan declares it will not tolerate the savage 'animal abuse acts' unfolding in this clan's domain!]

Woo-wooooong!

[This clan head has thrice implored the Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance to cease such cruel 'animal abuse acts' within Makli Clan lands, yet they unleashed martial artists to savagely mistreat the wild creatures under Makli Clan protection. This violates the 'Animal Protection Law' our clan established, and deliberately defies this clan head's pleas—a heinous offense.]

At Makli Hong's pronouncement, confusion ripples not just through the foes but even among allied demon beasts.

The Righteous Dao Immortal Sect Alliance appears bewildered by Makli Hong's words, while demon beasts merely blink, uncertain if laws shield their kind.

[Thus, this clan head sentences the guilty parties to ten days' detention for their willful crimes!]

Kugugugung!

Makli Hong's words echo across the heavens instantly.

Concurrently, the martial artists mid-strike against demon beasts freeze as if ensnared.

Some unseen force seems to bind them.

Certain realm martial artists circulate internal energy bodywide to resist, yet their movements inevitably slacken.

Ultimately, the demon beasts previously on the defensive swiftly turn the tide.

Myriad demon beasts pummel or consume the Human Race martial artists.

Witnessing this, Makli Hong addresses Makli Hyun-ah.

"My method is the Legalist Family Method (法家功法), allowing me to enact laws and punish violators. Yet martial artists resist laws effectively. Still, the power of the two methods, Legalist and Confucian, ca