A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 841 Chapter 838: Side Story - Mythical Relic (3)

The account from the man in white martial attire, known as the Martial Artist Ha-eun, starts unfolding.

He describes the events with as much objectivity as he can muster, and even Ahn Geum and Makli Hyun-ah find him credible in this aspect.

Once Ha-eun finishes his full account, Jo Yeon gives a nod and responds.

"Understood. While Seol Ga bears some initial blame, it appears the esteemed individuals reacted with undue severity. Leaving aside the severity of the offense... Cultivator Seol Ga, practitioner of the Novelist Family Method, remains a vital figure who cannot be missing from this subjugation army. I'm aware of his typical behavior, so I accept that you faced the initial assault. Nevertheless, ending his life represents a tremendous setback for the Human Race. With your arrival to aid the subjugation, can the three of you compensate for this?"

[TL/N: The Hangul for Seol Ga can mean Eloquence Family.]

Her query turns toward Ahn Geum, Makli Hyun-ah, Makli Cheon-sa, and Ahn Geum replies sharply to her statement.

"Hmm, there's a clear misunderstanding here. Who attacked whom? I didn't injure anyone. I didn't slay that man named Seol Ga; I merely 'evolved' him."

"...Excuse me?"

Those bold words leave Jo Yeon and everyone else stunned for an instant.

Kkiyaaaaaaak!

As Ahn Geum sweeps her hand across the air, a ghostly pale spirit gets trapped in her grasp and lets out what seems like a wail, transforming swiftly into the likeness of the recently deceased Seol Ga.

"Taa-dah~ What do you think? He's thriving in this form, isn't he?"

"You... you fiendish cultivator...!"

"How could anyone commit such a heartless act...!?"

"It's the Black Ghost Valley technique! I'm familiar with it. That's the One Ghost True Sea method, which revives the slain as a spectral entity for use... Without a Ghost Path cultivator at Esteemed One level performing it, restoring their exact living cultivation is impossible!"

The assembly in the hall recoils in terror at Ahn Geum's ruthless Ghost Path divine ability and condemns her, but she scratches her ear and counters.

"Well, mine's a bit unique. My innate gift is just that exceptional, see? Pairing my talent with the One Ghost True Sea lets him wield his prior cultivation for roughly a month straight."

"Wh-What...!? How, without reaching Esteemed One level...? No, even granting that's accurate, you're ultimately reducing Seol Ga to a month-long throwaway tool, you sorceress!?"

"Post-month, securing a fitting vessel ensures his cultivation stays intact. Compared to a fragile living form that perishes readily, a durable corpse that withstands puppet strikes far better suits the need, right?"

"Don't jest, you slayer! Seol Ga's spirit must be weeping blood!"

"Ahaha, Seo Ga. Are you weeping blood?"

[No, Saintess-nim! I'm overjoyed to serve as your wandering soul, Saintess-nim! I adore you, Saintess-nim, I adore you!!!]

To Ahn Geum's query, Seol Ga's wandering soul presses a kiss to her foot's top and bows in an overwhelmingly grateful tone.

Witnessing this, every cultivator in the hall gazes at her with troubled stares.

She gives a shoulder shrug and offers a shadowy grin.

"No drop in fighting strength occurs; in fact, he's grown more potent. Plus, Seol Ga himself appears utterly delighted. Grant him a proper body, and his battle prowess multiplies several-fold. So, what grounds exist for punishing me?"

Her statement prompts the Hundred Schools cultivators in the hall to avert their gazes from her with disturbed looks or edge backward slightly.

"As anticipated...the Devilish Path from the Immortal Family Method...these are folks to steer clear of."

"Now it clicks who this sorceress is. The betrayer of the Black Ghost Valley branch in the Purple Gold Realm. A warrant for her circulates in the Vast Cold Realm's Black Ghost Valley branch as well."

"If we seize her, doesn't that mean claiming the bounty from Black Ghost Valley?"

"If it were that simple, it'd have happened ages ago! She's hailed as the Saintess of the Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order. Linked to a True Immortal!! Touch her, and the Immeasurable Life Buddha zealots will hunt you down. See over there. The believers in Immeasurable Life Buddha who identified her now regard her with altered eyes.”

“…!”

"Curses...we've hit a streak of misfortune."

Among those who identify her, the Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order faithful start directing gazes of boundless reverence and kindness toward her, while the martial artist Ha-eun silently transmits the details to Jo Yeon via voice.

The woman, upon receiving the update, nods with a smile.

"I see. So you're the Saintess of the Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order. My apologies for not recognizing you. Given your prominent standing, and since you've boosted Cultivator Seol's combat ability, I'll drop the matter. Shall I view this as simply compelling Cultivator Seol's enlistment into the Immeasurable Life Buddha Religious Order?"

"Exactly. This guy tricked me and my betrothed, so I shared the teachings in a 'mildly insistent manner'!"

"Excellent. No issues then, so let's dive into planning the Cold Yin Marsh subjugation proper."

Thus, Ahn Geum and Makli Hyun-ah's party seamlessly integrates into the subjugation army.

"The constructs positioned in Cold Yin Marsh number 800 million Heavenly Being stage puppets, plus around 2,000 Integration stage puppets. Yet as mass-produced machines, their designs follow uniform patterns based on factory location and build era. Thus, identical structures mean the prowess of Legalist Family Method's Cultivator Ga Beop and Novelist Family Method's Cultivator Seol Ga proves immensely valuable."

[TL/N: The Hangul for Ga Beop can mean Family Method, or the reverse of Legalist Family which is Beop Ga.]

With Makli Hyun-ah and Ahn Geum joining the strategy session, they grasp why Jo Yeon, who appears utterly unskilled, leads as the subjugation army's top tactician.

For in the whole Vast Cold Realm, none outmatch her grasp of puppets.

"I understand the newcomer Cultivator Makli Hyun-ah has mastered the Naming Family Method and the Confucian Family Method. Might I inquire which serves as your primary?"

"Ah...at present, the Confucian Family Method takes precedence. That said, as my realm advances, I handle the Naming Family Method adeptly enough, and the synergy between Confucian and Naming Family Methods is ideal, posing no real issue."

"Hmm, got it... But with the Confucian Family Method as your focus now, I'd suggest rear-guard duties for you."

"Eh, why's that?"

"For the Confucian Family Method clashes most poorly with puppets."

Jo Yeon methodically details to Makli Hyun-ah the interplay between puppets and the Confucian Family Method.

"From what I know, the Confucian Family Method's core trait lies in suppression, sealing Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, divine abilities, odd forces, and disordered entities, among others. Correct?"

"Yes, that's accurate, though..."

"Puppets, however, unleash their full might even under Heaven and Earth spiritual energy suppression. Should Heaven and Earth spiritual energy or odd forces and disordered entities get sealed, they simply adapt their power sourcing instantly."

"Adapting their power sourcing method means..."

"Deprived of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, they draw from sunlight or wind-derived power, heating internal fluids to steam, powering steam engines, and generating electricity. Naturally, electricity lags behind spiritual energy in efficiency, so puppet operations lag somewhat, and attack natures shift mildly, but..."

"..."

"Regardless of suppressing Heaven and Earth spiritual energy or odd forces and disordered entities...it barely hampers their strength output, that's the Mad Lord's puppets. Hence, a Confucian Family Method cultivator, limited to Heaven and Earth spiritual energy suppression, fares worse against them than an Immortal Family Method cultivator who can at least clash directly in physical confrontations."

Makli Hyun-ah falls briefly silent, stunned by the puppets' insidious traits as Jo Yeon outlines them.

Suddenly, a thought strikes him, and he voices it anew.

"Hold on, my Confucian Family Method stems from the Beast Taming Method line regardless, so with demon beasts guarding me, I can unleash considerable power. Above all, my allies shield me too, allowing me to contribute meaningfully!"

"Hmm, demon beasts..."

"Watch. Emerge, Badger! Emerge, Rabbit Seven Heavenly Lords!"

Makli Hyun-ah summons Badger and the rabbits from the beast scroll, displaying them before Jo Yeon.

Badger blinks before nestling under Jo Yeon, who, sensing Badger's aura, gently pets its head, her cheeks tinting faintly.

"Mm...the fur...so soft. What's your realm?"

"The Golden Core stage."

Badger replies to the endeared Jo Yeon, who coos over Badger's charm.

"Golden Core stage... Impressive, yet insufficient on its own, wouldn't you say?"

"Hoho...no need for concern. They support my Confucian Family Method deployment, and I'll merely extend it broadly via them."

"...Didn't you claim the Confucian Family Method proves useless?"

"It transforms when fused with my Naming Family Method!"

Makli Hyun-ah presents his talisman and presses on.

"Via Naming Family Method, I manage feats like this."

Launching into a rundown of his Talisman War, he demonstrates Naming Family Method capabilities.

After hearing Makli Hyun-ah's rundown briefly, Jo Yeon ponders then responds.

"Essentially, you seal a known-name target's power or authority, then resummon it through the name? And you can configure such resummoned powers and authorities to evade Confucian Family Method limits too?"

"Precisely!"

"...That's...promising. Sealing powers of known-name targets..."

"Hoho, and that's not all. At peak activation, you can seal the very existence!"

"Hm..."

After some deliberation, Jo Yeon offers a subtle smile and poses a query.

"If sealing works merely by knowing the [name]...do [identification numbers] or [product names] qualify as well?"

"...Pardon? Uh...theoretically, yes, it should..."

"Perfect, I've got an idea. Everyone, pay attention..."

Jo Yeon pets Badger for a moment before outlining her devised strategy to the group.

***

Vast Cold Realm, Cold Yin Marsh.

There, Makli Hyun-ah distributes hundreds of talismans, each inscribed with names, to the subjugation force members, then conceals himself and reflects.

'Puppets and Confucian Family Method users have the direst compatibility, eh...'

That's undeniably accurate.

No matter the angle, Makli Hyun-ah sees himself relying on teamwork for any puppet takedowns. He holds zero assurance of solo victory against even one same-realm puppet, much less broader puppet forces.

'No, why do sci-fi cyborgs appear in a wuxia-inspired realm? Does this even fit?'

The Confucian Family Method suppresses Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.

Puppets embody raw mechanical might, largely immune to Heaven and Earth spiritual energy fluctuations.

However much Makli Hyun-ah seals or suppresses Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, he essentially aids the puppets.

'Still, since Heaven and Earth spiritual energy proves more effective, shifting to less optimal electricity offers some edge, they claim, but...'

Makli Hyun-ah harbors scant hope for his primary Confucian Family Method's impact on the mission and exhales deeply.

'Master offered little on puppet countermeasures either.'

His master provided minimal puppet-handling insights, and during last night's puppet chat with Ban Ta, advice was absent, replaced by, 'Encountering them will aid you.'

"Speaking of, Ha-eun's awfully sharp-tempered. What's his deal, really...?"

Remembering Ha-eun's recent caution, he scowls.

—Miss Yeon dislikes the 'hoho' laugh, so please avoid it!

"No, must I even regulate my laughter style?"

"Hoho...some folks are touchy about laugh tones, I suppose."

Makli Hweol interjects with a chuckle at Makli Hyun-ah's remark, prompting another sigh from him.

"No, reflecting on it, that 'hoho' habit crept into my speech from imitating Daoist so often, didn't it? How long will Daoist cling to that..."

Suddenly, Makli Hyun-ah senses a discrepancy.

"...Wait, wasn't it originally Daoist Makli Hweol following us, not Ancestor Makli Cheon-sa..."

☯

"Look at me, honestly. Daoist trailed us from the start. I'm beginning to suspect early dementia."

"...One doesn't slip into senility so swiftly. Rest easy, Daoist Makli Hyun-ah."

"I've lived plenty long to age, though..."

"...If mere aging triggered dementia universally, how do Daoist's over-twenty-thousand-year-old associates remain sharp? Set your concerns aside."

"Fair enough, then I will, Daoist Makli Hweol. Incidentally..."

Makli Hyun-ah queries Makli Hweol on a matter.

"Puppets won't surge for a bit yet...I'm feeling peckish; care for a bite? Badger whipped up a timely treat."

"Oh, splendid. Even cultivating Immortal Family Method can't rival Food Dao's delights."

"Here, boiled potatoes. Dig in."

Makli Hweol takes the offered boiled potatoes from Makli Hyun-ah with a somewhat dazed expression and blinks.

Makli Hyun-ah inwardly tsks, regretting his choice.

'Oops, reconsidering, is this too basic for Daoist Makli Hweol, raised as a clan prodigy? I ought to add a dip...'

Makli Hyun-ah swiftly produces a honey jar, spooning some onto the potato in Makli Hweol's grip.

"Potatoes shine brightest with honey or rice syrup. It'll add a sweet touch."

Makli Hweol's eyes glisten with apparent emotion, his frame quivering, as Makli Hyun-ah, pleased his gesture lands well, coats a potato thoroughly in honey before Makli Hweol's eyes, withdraws it, and chomps down heartily.

"...P-potatoes...with honey, not salt..."

Makli Hweol appears to whisper faintly, but regardless...

It warms the soul deliciously.