Regressed Master: Raising The Son Of Heaven Isn’t Easy (Xianxia/Progression)

[Lillie Jones]

Thanks for the chapter
Welcome back

 

[veekie]

That was a sudden jump at the end

 

[Fobur]

Welcome back! That was almost Monday even!

 

[Overload69]

"Condition of bones, perfect."

"Nerves, all connected."

"Organs, without visible damage."

"Muscles, no tears."

"Qi Pathways, uninterrupted."

"Scars, none."

Lui Zhi circled me with her tools as a sixth-grade formation prevented me from moving. Each aspect of my body was checked, even sliding the robes off my shoulders to observe my bare skin. She announced the result for the Xianquan and Huang Bai to hear.

This Formation alone could bind a peak Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, not to mention I was under the eye of two Nascent realm cultivators on the higher end, not to mention a Two Revolution Deity transformation cultivator watching over my every move.

All in all, this was overkill.

"Hey now, how can you strip your older brother like this? Did you forget any decency?" I would've liked to struggle but the formation kept me in place.

"Don't talk with me about decency Brother Li, because of how frequently you get injured I've seen your body more than my own." Lui Zhi poked my ribs with a smirk.

"…Still, there is no way to go this far." My eyes landed on Xianquan, the ringmaster of this fiasco.

"Well, what else do you expect us to do with your track record?"

Truthfully, I couldn't refute him. When injured I had always tried to heal myself with my skills, it was to get used to the process while learning how to do a better job on my own. Yes, it came with its downsides but talented doctors like Lui Zhi wouldn't always be at an arms-length after all. Of course, these guys didn't take very kindly to that approach.

"Don't avert your eyes now, Senior Brother." Huang Bai's words were gentle but her eyes had a hint of coldness. "Why did you face Shu Huang and put yourself in danger?"

"I wasn't alone, and Bian Que did most of the work anyway." A sigh escaped my lips, "…And I had no other choice but to do this."

"Hearing that from you is as unconvincing as it can be." Huang Bai saw through that immediately.

"Indeed, you always avoid things that don't gain you anything." Xianquan added, his eyes blinked faster than normal.

Don't try to fool me.

That was what he said in the code we used, after all, he knew that Bian Que was me.

"What do you guys think I am?" I said, replying to Xianquan.

"Thick-faced." Xianquan said.

"Swindler with no conscience." Huang Bai smiled.

"Slave driver." Lui Zhi hit my back in spite.

"Hey now, you are hurting my precious feelings here." I can't believe I raised these kids.

Of course, what they said wasn't far off. Even in this position, I had several ways to break away, but if I did it would only complicate the situation so staying put was the better option. I wouldn't stand a chance if Xianquan became serious in the sect. It was like fighting a shark in the ocean.

I didn't have to fear them finding out about my changed spiritual roots, even if forceful, these little siblings of mine were respectful in their own way. A spiritual root, a part of a cultivator's soul, wasn't to be touched without consent. Unless one was an enemy, and that was one thing I didn't have to worry about here.

"So, what is the final verdict?" Xianquan asked.

Even if he tried to maintain his indifference, this guy's eyes showed his hidden worry.

"Perfect. It's almost too perfect. The traces of previous injuries have vanished too." Liu Zhi came to the front, a keen shine in her eyes. "That Heaven's Pond or whatever has got some miraculous effects."

The word from the site should've already reached Xianquan, and Lui Zhi through him. As much as she liked to drink and laze around, some things did get her going.

"I have a three-hundred-page report on its effects if you want." I had put it together during my stay there.

"Sounds troublesome, can't you like summarize it to three pages or less?" She demanded.

"It is the summarized version." I smiled.

"Ugh…"

Needless to say, this girl was just as lazy as before when it came to reading. Finally, the chains around me vanished in smoke and Huang Bai's vigilance blew away like a breeze. It seemed like the two were satisfied with my current condition, even if they didn't want to.

"We don't have enough evidence to sanction Senior Brother this time." Huang Bai said.

Well, I did erase it all in the Heaven's Pond. Hurray for that.

"Leaving that behind, did Long Lingxin bring in good news?" I asked taking my seat.

"Of course. We now have control over Tie, Zhou, Xian, and Xing Province. Not only do we have the Heaven's Pond under our territory now, but now we share a direct border with Purple Cloud Sect." Xianquan passed me the scroll.

Inside it, the additional compensation of spirit stones and many rare poisonous herbs were listed along with the signs of the leaders of Purple Cloud Sect recognizing the deal.

"If it wasn't for Brother's nasty schemes that took advantage of their high pride and dire circumstances, they would've never agreed to this." Huang Bai poured me sweet tea with some bitter words.

"Aren't you being a little too honest, Bai'er?" I looked at her sweet and innocent smile.

"I am always honest." She said.

It was hopeless. A dry laugh later I turned to Xianquan, we had to think about further actions.

The area was veiled in obscurity right now, but when the situation calms down Purple Cloud Sect would send people to investigate the areas we have demanded. It was common courtesy to keep each other in check and probe for information, just that I didn't want anyone to discover that pond anytime soon. That was why I matched the borders between the two sects and made a bigger, more imposing problem to draw attention. And, I knew the value of those areas because of the future.

"If possible, I want you to go and study the place. It would be great if we can recreate that pond in our sect and move that pond altogether." Creating a stronghold was also an option, but now wasn't the time to divide forces. Since that place was built upon a formation of sorts, that's what the records from the Demonic cultivators read, Xianquan would be the best one to go.

"I plan to leave tomorrow." Xianquan said instantly.

"At least wait till Jiahong is back." I added.

With Zhao Jun barely staying in the sect the combat force of the sect was low at the moment. And the last thing I wanted to do was give the hyenas a chance.

"I'll trust you to watch over the sect as always." Xianquan flashed a handsome smile, but it only had bad intentions.

This is your punishment. His eyes said.

This kid… well whatever.

"Alright."

"He accepted it so easily. Brother is definitely scheming something." Lui Zhi pointed at me with a wine jug in her hand.

There wasn't a point in contesting so I left it be.

"How did you find such a place, Brother?" Huang Bai asked ignoring the previous topic.

Heaven's Pond was a treasure that couldn't be explained easily, matter of fact the sudden discovery gives rise to suspicion even within the sect because of how abrupt it was. Paired with how much these guys knew about me, they could catch any half-hearted lie. However, I had a foolproof reason in place long before I left.

"I heard about the legend from Granny Long." It was the woman who broke the mountain out of spite, and these kids should remember her too.

"That old h—esteemed senior?" Xianquan grimaced, he had the hardest time because of Granny Long.

Her desire for excellent treasures extended to people too, and this kid was almost stolen from under Master's nose because of his talent.

"After remembering about it I thought it would be a good lesson for the disciples to get some idea of how cultivators search for treasures. I planned to take them to another place but I never thought that we'd end up finding the thing." I gave them a made-up list of events about how we discovered the place, it was a whole lot of convincing slop that would work in most scenarios similar to this.

"We better not let that hag find about it." Lui Zhi spoke in a stupor. Even if she wasn't drunk, she wouldn't mince her words.

And, the gentle Huang Bai didn't correct her this time. Every one of my fellow disciples, aside from me, had braved the relentless recruitment tactics of Granny Long.

"She'll try to claim it as hers, that petty old woman." I too had very little respect for the elder of the world's strongest royal beast clan.

As this sour topic was glossed over, a new one came to the surface. The topic I have been waiting for.

"About the Eastern Martial Meet this time. Any volunteers?" Xianquan's question was met with a brief silence.

It wasn't surprising. Although the event only happened once a decade, the only people who actively participated in that event were Hua Jiahong and Zhou Jun, both weren't available at the moment. Chen Zhipeng hadn't left the sect in three decades, Lui Zhi hadn't left in five decades, Xianquan couldn't leave his post for long, and Huang Bai mostly stayed behind to defend the sect too.

I only attended the meet a few times in secret and only attended once openly.

With a wry smile, Xianquan was getting ready to take out the paper chits we made before. Of the three chits, two were safe and one wasn't. We had agreed on this method to choose who would go between Huang Bai, Lui Zhi, or me in case Jiahong and Zhou Jun weren't around, which happened rarely.

But this time things had to change.

"Since there is no one else, I guess I'll go as the Elder in charge." I said.

The three in the hall looked at me like kids who had seen ghosts. Exaggerated expressions, well not really in a sense.

"Stop it you brats. I just think it'll be a good opportunity for my disciples so I am going." I said.

Xianquan smiled with a wriggle of his brow because of how much the past me had avoided this.

"Your disciples, huh?"

"It is like seeing Jiahong all over again, just that it is over disciples." Liu Zhi cackled.

"At least Senior Brother has become more active like before." Huang Bai was the only one who seemed respectful in a way, but even she was giggling.

"Well, being a Master is a heavy responsibility." I added. Just as a disciple viewed the Master as a parent, it was the Master's duty to protect and guide their disciples as if they would their children.

"I guess we can't argue with that." Pleased for some reason, Xianquan moved on. "Sister Huang, I'll leave him to you."

"I'll keep an eye on him." Huang Bai responded.

"Your brats… can't you trust me for once?"

"Sorry Brother, you have yourself to blame." Xianquan stood up from his chair. "Now, I'll contact other peaks about the trial to select the disciples for East Martial Meet, we'll hold it in four weeks so please prepare well."

The discussion came to an end. The drunk Liu Zhi was taken away by Huang Bai, and I left for Plum Peak myself as Xianquan had a lot on his plate right now. Just the addition of the new territories was enough to keep him busy, but he also had to visit the pond.

That pond would become an important source of strength not only to our sect but for the entire continent when the Demonic cultivators start moving.

For now, I had to focus on the growth of my disciples. They arrived in the lecture room immediately and sat down, ready for a class on formations. But I had to let them know of the new development first.

"We are participating in a trial this coming month?" Wang Yang spoke in part surprise and part excitement over the event.

"It is to select disciples for the upcoming East Martial Meet. You'll meet with the top geniuses of the eastern continent there and get a chance to face them." I decided to give them some more incentive, "The sect will give you an additional reward for qualifying, if you stand out in the meet you'll get even greater rewards from the pool gathered by the sects and a separate reward from our sect. Of course, the competition will be tough in both places."

"Will the Jade Sword Hall also participate?" Sun Lingling asked.

"Yes, their name is on the list as usual." The sect she asked for was a powerful minor sect made of only sword cultivators.

With the tenth youngest Sword Grandmaster on the continent at its helm, it was the sect Sun Lingling joined in the future because of the sect leader's connection with her sister.

My confirmation had increased her determination to some degree. Wang Yang already seemed interested, now Sun Lingling had made up her mind too.

"Master, what is the Trial we'll have to participate in?" He asked.

I held back my laughter behind the façade of coolness. No matter what, Wang Yang's success was etched in stone during this.

"It is a Treasure Hunt this time."
....

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[veekie]

Ah yes, drop the guy with S class luck into a treasure hunt

 

[Lillie Jones]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[Overload69]

"During our stay in Heaven's Pond, you learned about Alchemy and if you could use it or not. We'll do the same for Formations now." I said laying down two white cotton cloths on the floor, wide enough to be used as curtains these cloths had a series of inscriptions going across them.


"Alchemy is more about pushing the elements that are already present to form a pill, it creates chances where even people with other innate elements can refine 9th to 7th rank pills if they are diligent and try for specific pills." Wang Yang was a prime example of this, usually, alchemists preferred to have only wood element as their single element. The more elements mix their advantages dim if a bad pair was made reducing the effectiveness of the wood element or making it stronger.


He would've faced the same issue if he didn't have the perfect balance of elements, not to mention his diligence. Even if lucky, the kid was never outworked by anyone else.


"With Formations, however, things change drastically." Using Qi I illustrated a picture for them on the board behind me. It showed a person, the land, surrounding qi, and the lines of qi running below the earth that connected with the formation above.


"Here, you not only have to push the Qi to attack your enemy and neutralize them but also pull Qi from the surroundings to make it possible and stabilize the formation."


"Why do we need Qi from the surroundings?" Wang Yang asked.


"Because cultivators rarely have enough Qi to power high-grade formations alone, so they use their energy as the trigger and gather QI from the leylines below, or use spirit stones as an alternative."


"Is that why Earth element is preferred for Formation users?" Sun Lingling has a little more knowledge compared to Wang Yang.


"Exactly, they use Earth element to their advantage and draw Qi from the leylines underground. Using high-ranking formations with spirit stones costs a fortune, but that also makes it a bit more flexible because the lack of talent and element can be supplemented by knowledge and preparation." Lingling failed to pass the Alchemy test without a doubt, and I wouldn't trust her to make anything, not even medicine for mortals.


"The test is simple, place your hand on the cloth and run your Qi through it. The further your color is in the rainbow the higher your talent, for reference I had green and the Grand Elder's test showed red." This couldn't even be called a test because it was nowhere near to evaluating true geniuses.


We simply used it for new disciples to get an idea of their potential while saving the real test if someone reached red. Wang Yang didn't show that sort of talent for formations, and I couldn't guess for Lingling so I kept the real test for later in case it was needed.


If they could use formations, that would boost their combat power. Especially for Sun Lingling, I don't need her to focus on formations, her specialization in sword supported by formations would blow away even stronger opponents with the techniques I had in store.


"It's Yellow." Wang Yang's talent was the same as last time.


"…"


However, nothing showed from Sun Lingling's side. The formation didn't even light up, which was something I'd never seen before.


This was what it meant to put all eggs in one basket. And, that was how true geniuses were, they were good at one thing and stood at the summit of that mountain.


In my view, that was better for Sun Lingling. After all, a pure sword cultivator that had no connections to other paths whatsoever was a terrifying existence in itself. With this, I understood how to train these disciples of mine.


"Sun Lingling, you are free to use the lecture time for other paths as you wish as long as you memorize the books here." I handed her five books, each as thick as a dictionary. They were about sensing, disrupting, dismantling, and destroying formations based on terrain along with information on different types of formations.


The books were compiled from knowledge of various sword grandmasters, past and future, and their know-how about dealing with formation users after years of experience. It was pure knowledge and didn't need explanation from me, just remembering would be enough.


"Ok." Lingling's answer was as short as the time it would take her to memorize the books.


Taking the books, she left the lecture room and headed for her cultivation room. Now, I turned to Wang Yang and he already sensed that he'd have to read books. However, I won't be as kind as last time.


"You have to finish these books in the next week." Three stacks of books as tall as me appeared nearby, each book as thick as a diary.


"T-That's too much!" He moved back in horror.


"If you don't memorize ten books before midnight, no sleep for you~." He had four hours and fifty minutes.


"Noooooo!!!"


As promised, I decided to be strict with him about reading. He couldn't sleep for the next two days, but that wasn't so bad in hindsight.


It was the fourth day since the lecture that something happened. I walked into the kitchen area around noon, only to see the two disciples snooping around the place. In truth, it was only Wang Yang who was opening and closing shelves and taking off jar lids with a serious look.


"What happened?" I asked.


"The Food array is empty." Sun Lingling answered.


"But I refilled it yesterday." I said looking over at Wang Yang since Sun Lingling rarely ate food from there, so it should've been enough for the week.


"I only ate two dishes for breakfast, and it was all gone." Wang Yang claimed his innocence. "Someone is stealing our food!"


"Hmm? Like who?" I leaned against the doorframe.


"Like a food thief that sneaks in the dead of the night when it is past dinner time and eats without supervision." Wang Yang clenched his fist.


"So, you?" Sun Lingling's words made him take a step back.


"…I don't eat everything though." He didn't deny it.


Normal people had three meals a day, Wang Yang had six. Since becoming a cultivator, his body has started to demand more energy so it was understandable, and I made the food according to that. So, it couldn't be him, if he had eaten everything he would've admitted to it.


"There has to be a secret tunnel or something around here." He went back checking the floorboards and walls with narrowed eyes, then he swung around his arm making a big arc. "Or the culprit could be invisib—ah!"


He froze up, his arm was caught causing his sharp twirl to come to an abrupt stop. The air moved, creating a ripple that showed a small silhouette on the table. Soon, the form took definition, it was a nine-year-old girl with shiny red hair tied in two buns on each side of her head and blazing golden eyes.


"Rude." Indignant, the girl's lips, smeared with chili oil, turned crooked.


Wang Yang looked at the little child in the red clothes with a golden collar sitting cross-legged on the table, then at the bowl in her hand. He repeated this another time before it finally registered.


"That's my chili oil fried rice with roasted pork!" He lunged at her, trying to grasp what was left.


But he could only grasp air. The kid had already jumped and now stood right on top of Wang Yang's head.


"Can't you see I am eating?" She flipped through the air once again, dodging the attempt to catch her legs.


Landing on the windowsill, she took another bite as if it was nothing special.


Wang Yang looked ready to try and catch her again, even Sun Lingling seemed alert. So, it was a good time to stop here.


"What are you doing, Mei'er?" I asked, bringing them to a halt.


"Hmph!" However, the kid refused to meet my eye. "Mei doesn't talk with liars."


"Liar? Me?" My head tilted to the side.


"See? You forgot about it, uncle!" Mei's anger exploded alongside the fiery qi filling the room.


"U-Uncle?" Wang Yang repeated.


"That kid…" Sun Lingling felt the realm of this little kid, the pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.


"Now now, calm down Mei'er." This was quite the situation.


What did I forget? No, it would be better to think what Li Muchen before my regression had promised her. What could it be?


"There! You are using sweet words to buy time to think, just like Mother said." She pointed at me with the white chopsticks. "Mei is too smart, I won't fall for your excuses this time!"


Damn her mother, giving away my tricks like this. But before that, excuses in situations where Mei was involved, huh? That helps in narrowing it down, and given her age it could only be that.


"Come on Mei'er, forgive your uncle for not taking you to the Immortal forest this time. I was truly busy." I took her to that forest almost every two to three months, but with the regression and the little time I had, it slipped my mind because we had grown out of that routine in the later years.


"I won't hear it, uncle even went on a fun trip outside too without Mei." She puffed her small face like a squirrel.


If only I could tell her how fun that trip was, regardless I had to bring out my trump card before the situation got any worse.


"It was for the disciples you know? And I went on a short note so I couldn't tell you." I stepped closer gauging her reaction.


"Mei is not listening!" She stomped the windowsill ready to run away.


I closed my right eye and took out a small plate from my ring. A soft, creamy white dish that gleamed under the warm glow of the room. A drizzle of honey glistened over the top and slivered almonds upon its jiggly surface.


"I see, it is too bad then. I was planning to give you this brand-new Almond Pudding I made."


"M-Mei won't falter in front of food." She sneaked a few glances anyway.


"I see, then you can have the first taste, Wang Yang. I wanted Mei'er to have the first taste, truly such a shame this is."


The faint aroma of sweet almonds and vanilla had already caught the attention of his hunger. He was reaching for the plate when the plate was snatched by the blur. The trap worked.


"Mei is willing to listen this one time!! Just this one time!!" Like a mother shielding her child, she hid the plate behind her so it wasn't taken away.


This method works everytime as Mei'er loved eating new dishes, so I always kept a few new dishes in my pocket, just in case they had to be used by me or someone else.


"So, this is my niece, Hua Mei, the princess of Tiger Peak." I introduced the defiant kid, now sitting in my arms like a docile cat, to my two disciples. "She has a habit of sneaking in for food so don't mind her."


"Yesh, niceh to meeth youg!" Mei was too lost in the pudding to speak normally. She was kicking her legs while taking the bites so I knew it was successful.


"The Princess of Tiger Peak…" Lingling muttered not stopping at the adorable exterior of the kid.


"Yes, she is the daughter of Tiger Peak's Peak Master, Hua Jiahao." Although through ties, I would be her Martial uncle, she still referred to me as an uncle.


"Now that I think of it, this is a good chance." Since the opportunity arrived, it's best to make use of it.


"What is?" Wang Yang wiped his drool, trying to distract his mind from the pudding.


"I'll show you around Immortal Forest, the first wondrous sight of Azure Sky Sect."


It makes me wonder. Would it happen this time, too?
...
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Thanks for reading, and see you in the next chapter!

 

[Lillie Jones]

thanks for the chapter