A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 840 Chapter 837: Side Story - Mythical Relic (2)

Chapter 840 Chapter 837: Side Story - Mythical Relic (2) 

The man declares, "In the Mythic Age, entities known as the Three Great Nightmares, or simply the Three Calamities, emerged."

Ahn Geum along with Makli Hyun-ah and their companions trail after the man, absorbing the ancient legends of the Vast Cold Realm.

"The initial nightmare was the Ghost Mother. Possessing the fabled Ghostly Yin Transformation Immortal Root talent, she joined Black Ghost Valley and rose as an exceptional disciple, yet...she succumbed to her very talent, transforming into a monstrous force that ruled over ten billion ghosts, reportedly laying the Vast Cold Realm to waste."

“...Hm?”

A peculiar expression crosses Ahn Geum’s face as a memory stirs within her.

For an inexplicable reason, the image of her mentor, Gongmyo Min-hee, who guided her to Black Ghost Valley, sharply comes to mind.

"To this day, beneath the Human Race lands, remnants of her ghostly energy linger, along with certain alternate spaces she spawned, so back when the Vast Cold Realm thrived, ghost cultivators following the Ghost Path Method—or those from Black Ghost Valley—would venture out to harvest that ghostly essence."

"Mm, that’s positive for me."

Ahn Geum acknowledges this with a nod, committing the detail to memory.

"The second nightmare from the Mythic Age was the Sword Devil! As the Ghost Mother raged unchecked, this beast unleashed chaos across the Human Race domains, terrorizing and tormenting the Sacred Master of that era’s Vast Cold Realm, and legends claim it even aided in the Blood Yin Realm’s corrosion of the Vast Cold Realm. Its infamous reputation spreads far, leading some Vast Cold Realm cultivators to revere the might of the Sword Devil’s demonic techniques and adopt it as an emblem. Our own clan employs the Sword Devil’s likeness in our insignia."

From his chest, the man retrieves a spirit tablet engraved with what appears to be his clan’s crest.

It depicts a horrifying specter boasting over twenty heads at minimum.

Merely gazing upon it weakens the legs and sends shivers racing down the back, evoking a savage fiend.

"What a frightful demon...!"

Makli Hyun-ah shudders uncontrollably, unable to even glance at the Sword Devil’s emblem, while Ahn Geum herself recoils and quivers before its ferocious visage.

Makli Cheon-sa alone cocks her head in confusion.

"That’s frightening...?"

"Well...some folks aren’t fazed, but this represents merely the Sword Devil’s initial form. Later accounts describe the Sword Devil cloaked in horrifying demise with heads numbering up to 999. In myths, it attained the pinnacle of True Immortality, its heads multiplying to three thousand."

"Th-Three thousand heads...what sort of abomination is this Sword Devil?"

"It’s no wonder they endure as one of the Vast Cold Realm’s Three Great Nightmares, etched in myth, right? Picture that form. You’d have to deem it a genuine devil hailing from the True Devil Realm—or the Blood Yin Realm!"

"Incidentally, what exactly is the Blood Yin Realm like?"

"I’ve heard that during the Mythic Age, the True Devil Realm went by the name Blood Yin Realm...but I’m not entirely certain myself."

Makli Hyun-ah, Ahn Geum, and the rest quiver throughout at the vision of the atrocious Sword Devil, shaking their heads in dismay.

Throughout, Makli Cheon-sa appears baffled by the supposed terror of the Sword Devil.

"So, what exactly is this entity termed the Mad Lord?"

The man trembles at Makli Cheon-sa’s query.

"Its notoriety pales beside the Ghost Mother and Sword Devil. Not long back, it was dismissed as a mere filler nightmare to complete the trio. But..."

His face drains of color as he proceeds.

"Twenty thousand years prior, a species dwelling near the Vast Cold Realm’s Light Spirit Pond accidentally activated one of the Mad Lord’s artifacts...and the Mythic Age relics stirred back to life."

"Hold on, hold on."

Perplexed, Ahn Geum interjects.

"If it’s the Mythic Age, predating even the Ancient Era...that’s over ten billion years back, isn’t it? And you claim artifacts from a being called the Mad Lord, dating tens of billions of years old, still function today?"

"We were skeptical too, initially. But facts force belief. Those nightmarish puppets relentlessly self-repaired and withstood countless eons!"

"Self-repair...?"

"Indeed, the puppet sovereign. The Mad Lord’s leftover puppets boast three key features: [Self-repair], [mass production], and [technological evolution]. Thanks to these horrifying qualities...the roused puppets rebuilt themselves completely, constructed [factories], ravaged the Vast Cold Realm for materials to multiply, captured cultivators to convert into living puppets, and advanced their tech independently."

"..."

Ahn Geum falls silent, stunned by the astonishing technological prowess, while Makli Hyun-ah tuts, reminded of Earth’s Grey Goo notion.

'This embodies Darwin’s nightmare...terrifying, yet somehow impressive?'

"In any case, these dread mechanical puppets...overran the whole Vast Cold Realm, devouring all in their path like a plague of locusts. Ceaselessly, aimlessly, they upgraded themselves...thus, modern humans evade that insect horde, burrow into the earth, and hide away. Ironically...the remnants of the Ghost Mother, another of those disasters and nightmares, proved to be an unexpected aid."

"Didn’t you mention the Ghost Mother’s legacy consists of just scattered ghostly energy traces?"

"The ghostly energy yes, but the primary boon is the alternate spaces tied to it...known as the 'Ghost Mother’s Tombs'."

"By Ghost Mother’s Tomb, do you mean..."

"Perfect timing—we’ve arrived. Welcome. This serves as the fresh sanctuary for the Vast Cold Realm’s inhabitants..."

Trailing the man, the group soon perceives they’ve stepped into an odd realm.

A bizarre alternate dimension unfolds far below the surface, welcoming them.

They’ve descended underground for sure, yet...strangely, a starry night canopy arches overhead, with even a seascape in view.

An infinite skyline and ocean edge stretch endlessly.

"Behold, the Ghost Mother’s Tomb. Myriad cultivators from the Hundred Schools and diverse races reshaped the alternate space left by the Ghost Mother, adapting it for widespread habitation. It was once a hazardous domain, but now it’s fairly secure."

Ahn Geum draws in the subtle ghostly aura permeating the area and relaxes with a smile, while Makli Hyun-ah breathes it in effortlessly, accustomed to such energies.

With a calm demeanor, Ahn Geum remarks.

"No need to fret excessively anymore. After all, I’ve hit Grand Perfection Integration... Given a few tens of thousands of years, I’m sure I can break through to Star Shattering. The chaos from the Mad Lord’s relic will settle soon enough."

In response, the man tuts dismissively and replies.

"...You seem overly confident in yourself. Apologies, but as an Immortal Family Method practitioner...you won’t prove very useful. High cultivation helps, sure, but Immortal Family Method users face the worst odds against the Mad Lord’s puppets. Even reaching Star Shattering as an Esteemed One...historical accounts show the Mad Lord crafted Star Shattering puppets in the Mythic Age, and per those tales, the puppets have since evolved, with Star Shattering ones numbering more than a couple."

"...Pardon?"

Ahn Geum blinks in bewilderment at his statement.

What could that possibly signify?

Star Shattering puppets aren’t merely one or two?

"Actually, our current need isn’t a Star Shattering Immortal Family Method cultivator, but rather a Heavenly Being or Four-Axis stage Non-Immortal Family Method practitioner.

"Their odd and arcane abilities remain uncracked by the puppets, offering counters to threats beyond brute force or overwhelming numbers, making them highly effective against the puppets."

"Ah, m-me! I practice the Confucian Family Method!"

Oddly energized by the man’s words, Makli Hyun-ah introduces himself, prompting the man to gape at him.

"What was that, Confucian Family Method!?"

"Yes, and moreover..."

"Hm... Confucian Family Method works well...but truthfully, it clashes poorly with puppets, so..."

"Hng...yet I’ve also studied the Naming Family Method..."

"...! What!?"

The man whips around, eyes bulging at Makli Hyun-ah’s revelation.

"What fortune!? A Naming Family Method cultivator. Come with me immediately. Such practitioners are scarce, thus highly prized among the Human Race! Follow along. Having guided you this far, I’ll lead you straight to the Human Race Grand Alliance’s central base. Register your status there!"

"Uh, uh...thank you."

Upon discovering Makli Hyun-ah’s Naming Family Method knowledge, the man’s demeanor shifts entirely, treating them with utmost respect as he escorts them to the Human Race Grand Alliance.

Ahn Geum, expecting favoritism for her Grand Perfection Integration cultivation, feels irked as the lower-realm Makli Hyun-ah garners superior attention, trailing behind with a pout.

***

At the Human Race Grand Alliance Headquarters.

Upon arrival and disclosing his dual Naming Family Method and Confucian Family Method cultivation, Makli Hyun-ah stands stunned, watching the enthusiastic reception unfold.

"The Naming Family Method! Plus a Confucian Family Method cultivator too!? We’ll attend to you right away. Another Non-Immortal Family Method expert against the puppets has arrived—this bodes well for the Human Race!"

Even the Human Race Grand Alliance Lord, a Quasi-Star Shattering cultivator, emerges to welcome Makli Hyun-ah, leaving him utterly flustered.

'No way, it’s this intense? What have I done to deserve this?'

"We appreciate your visit to the Vast Cold Realm, Cultivator Makli Hyun-ah. Word is you’ve come for Axis Foundation Practice. You’ve attained the Ascending Metamorphosis stage... Here in the Vast Cold Realm, we’ll offer every aid to Cultivator Makli Hyun-ah. In exchange, a modest contribution to our embattled Human Race would earn our deepest thanks..."

"Uh, umm...what sort of contribution do you mean...?"

"Immortal Family Method cultivators match poorly against the Mad Lord’s puppets. They deploy swarms of equivalent-realm puppets in human-wave assaults...and the sheer destructive force overwhelms utterly... But Heart Dao Blooming martial artists or Non-Immortal Family Method cultivators like you, Cultivator Makli Hyun-ah, handle puppets with far greater efficiency. However, the Heart Dao Blooming warriors—grouped as the Heart Tribe—are all lone wolves who ignore orders, making Non-Immortal Family Method talents like yours invaluable to us."

"Ah...I understand. So my role would be..."

"Assist us somewhat with the Naming Family Method... Especially as you’ve hit Ascending Metamorphosis via the Confucian Family Method, blending it with the Naming Family Method could yield immense results. You’d surely aid greatly in combating the puppets."

Faced with the Human Race Grand Alliance Lord’s flood of commendations, Makli Hyun-ah beams and readily agrees.

"Uh...if you truly require it, I’ll lend a hand. So, where should I start helping?"

***

"You’re undertaking a noble deed."

Ahn Geum chides Makli Hyun-ah.

"Just a bit of flattery, and you’re beaming, on the verge of enlisting yourself."

"But...they mentioned that accumulating contribution points grants full support..."

"Consider this: if you lack something, you could simply inform Sacred Master Ban Ta at night in your dreams, couldn’t you? As your master, Sacred Master Ban Ta would procure any cultivation aids or resources you desire, so why endure hardship needlessly?"

Makli Hyun-ah heeds Ahn Geum’s scolding and proceeds under a Human Race Alliance cultivator’s direction to the puppet suppression squads’ lounge.

"Uhh...sorry..."

"Whew, alright. I’ll guard you for the moment, but retreat immediately if danger looms. Understood?"

"Got it...anyway..."

En route to the suppression squad lounge, as Makli Hyun-ah passes under a banner, the path inexplicably elongates, urging him to hasten.

"Care for a race? To see who gets there first?"

"..."

Ahn Geum’s face tightens in silence, and noticing, Makli Hyun-ah offers an uneasy chuckle before addressing the guiding cultivator.

"We’ve got the general path down, so how about a challenge? First to the suppression squad lounge."

The guiding cultivator pauses briefly, then agrees.

"Very well. Witness the Immortal Family Method’s Flying Escape Technique prowess."

"Haha, underestimate not the Confucian Family Method’s mobility arts. Ready...go!"

The Immortal Family Method guide employs the Flying Escape Technique, while Makli Hyun-ah dashes toward the lounge by morphing into script.

The guide moves swiftly too, but at Nascent Soul, he lags behind Makli Hyun-ah’s Ascending Metamorphosis speed.

Makli Hyun-ah races like a swift hare, the guide plodding like a turtle.

Makli Hyun-ah mocks the guide and pulls ahead, spotting a large tree stump.

"Huaaam... That turtle-paced guide will take ages, so a quick rest."

Leaning against the stump, the hare dozes off.

Meanwhile, the steadfast turtle trudges onward steadily.

Eventually,

The turtle overtakes the slumbering hare and nears the goal.

Only then does the indolent hare awaken, sees the turtle almost there, and bolts, but too late.

The turtle crosses the line, and the lazy hare falls to the persistent turtle.

The gathered animal companions admonish the hare.

Due to your lack of diligence like the turtle and your arrogant sloth, you lost.

Thus, the hare etches that lesson deep...

Smack!

Ahn Geum’s palm against Makli Hyun-ah’s head snaps him awake.

"Uh, uhh?"

"You nearly turned into that hare. Wake up!"

Her face sternly set, Ahn Geum positions herself with Makli Hyun-ah before the suppression squad lounge entrance, peering in sharply.

The guide, equally rattled by the incident, checks himself over.

Just moments ago, the guide teetered on becoming a turtle.

"Had that fable concluded, you’d truly have existed as hare and turtle. Naturally, the spellcaster would reverse it...but these fools pick quarrels the instant we enter the Vast Cold Realm."

Kwaaang!

Ahn Geum boots the lounge door wide and storms inside, snarling with fury-blazing eyes.

"Which cur just tried weaving a tale to morph my fiancé into a hare?"

Her roar prompts a chuckle from someone within the lounge, who rises.

"I caught wind of a fresh Non-Immortal Family Method cultivator...and rarer still, a Naming Family Method practitioner entering Human Race lands, so I attempted a minor trial, but I didn't know you w