803——————==

True Martial Home

Peerless Technique, huh.

I looked down at my trembling hands. If it had been just words, I wouldn’t have believed it, but the manifestation of Tai Chi I felt moments ago exceeded the limits of my martial arts. Nullifying the Hwonwan Pacheongang with just one shot was beyond any defensive technique I knew.

I felt like I could burst into tears at any moment.

It wasn’t that I hadn’t felt fatigue during that time when I almost forgot my ego. Rather, I felt both physical suffering and continued mental pressure. As I finally thought I had gained something while swimming in that agony, I felt my strength slipping away.

“Thank you, Grand Master Jang…”

I had no thoughts of questioning or arguing. It wasn’t that kind of situation anymore. Grand Master Jang Sam-bong acted on his words, promising that if I trusted him, I would gain what I desired, and all I could do was be grateful to such a teacher.

As I knelt in the snow, trembling with emotion, Grand Master Jang spoke.

[Baek Woong. Stand up.]

As I slowly regained my composure and stood up, Grand Master Jang continued.

[You’ve been suffering from confusion for a year, and it’s been three years since you immersed yourself in serious questions… You barely reached the expected four years. Originally, my plan was for you to experience more forgetfulness, shake off your inner contradictions, and settle into the Absolute Realm, but everything doesn’t go my way…]

“… I’ve obtained the Peerless Technique, so that’s enough.”

I tried to brush it off nonchalantly, but he sighed.

[Hah…!! It’s not something you can say you’ve obtained yet.]

“What?”

[Now, again.]

Swoosh!

Without any warning, the Hwonwan Pacheongang, a combination technique of the Seven Great Techniques, flew at me again. I tried to manifest the Tai Chi energy once more, but my complexion turned pale.

‘No!!’

How could it be so different?

What I manifested just moments ago was the Peerless Technique, but now, what I unleashed was merely the Tai Chi energy manifestation. It’s obvious that a Tai Chi energy manifestation couldn’t block such an attack. Instantly realizing the overwhelming difference, I desperately used the Three Treasure Technique and the Soul Removal Technique simultaneously to dodge the range of the Hwonwan Pacheongang.

Boom!

As the ground shook violently before finally settling, I felt lost. I couldn’t help but shout with my eyes wide open.

“What… what is this? Didn’t I acquire the Peerless Technique?!”

[If you had truly obtained it, you wouldn’t even have to ask such a question.]

“I want to know what’s happening.”

[For the past four years, I’ve been guiding you to fall into forgetfulness.]

Grand Master Jang looked at me with serene eyes.

[You are a type of human with a very strong ego… Your mind and body’s cultivation is deep, but because of that, you can’t forget yourself and seem to be struggling. That’s why I chose repetitive Tai Chi practice as training to help you realize the foundation of the Peerless Technique, allowing you to question yourself. Essentially, that was also the Peerless Technique.]

“……”

[Ego is the foundation of strong will, but if it becomes too excessive, it obstructs enlightenment.]

Too strong of an ego.

‘I have to admit…’

I profoundly understood Grand Master Jang’s words. The more the pain grew, the louder the echo of “me” that was not actually me grew within. It wasn’t like a split personality, but rather, the myriad thoughts and desires I had buried inside were entwining around me like brambles! If that intensified, it would surely lead to what the martial world called a Heart Demon.

[I approached it relatively systematically… From what you’ve done, it seemed like it would take over a century, but thanks to the advice of your companions, you were able to pose questions about the essence of consciousness within a year. And when you faced your own ego directly, at that moment of contention between the self and the non-self, I engaged alongside you with Tai Chi to shape your martial heart with the power of the Great Immortal.]

“……!!”

[In simple terms, I impressed upon you the completed form of the Peerless Technique. Before sinking into the unconscious, there must be a final representation that consciousness can perceive so that you can realize without falling into the Heart Demon safely.]

Could it be that Grand Master Jang suddenly practicing Tai Chi with me in tandem was meant to achieve that?

As I contemplated Grand Master Jang’s words deeply, I spoke.

“I was swimming at the boundary of the unconscious, and suddenly I was pulled out. Was that your intention, Grand Master Jang?”

[Indeed. I woke you intentionally.]

“Why?”

[I decided it was perilous after observing you for three years…]

Grand Master Jang sighed.

[Hah! No matter how good the realm of unity is, if you’re exposed to it for too long, you end up unable to overcome yourself and destroy yourself. Not to mention, within you lay an endless stream of unidentified thoughts festering in your depths… If things continued as they were, you would fuse with the Heart Demon and turn into a monster.]

“……!!”

[Originally, I hoped you would throw yourself into forgetfulness for about ten years and realize fully, but it seems you weren’t fully prepared to take that final step.]

I didn’t understand. I was just contemplating my own issues while immersing myself at the boundary of the unconscious—what kind of thoughts were stashed in my unconscious? But since Grand Master Jang’s judgment couldn’t be wrong, I realized that I must have been holding myself back.

“What are my thoughts?”

[Hmm… It’s hard to describe. However… it was definitely not the level of thoughts a normal person would possess. Rather, there was something in you that could be viewed as pure madness, akin to something lifeless. So while normally martial artists worry about being consumed by their Heart Demons, I wondered if the Heart Demon itself might be your essence.]

“……?”

[Embracing chaos that you don’t consciously realize, it’s quite bizarre… Anyway, I had to stop your training because I felt something terrible might happen.]

“I’m… frustrated.”

I ended up shedding thick tears.

“Sniffle…”

I didn’t understand what Grand Master Jang meant, nor did I grasp what thoughts were, but at least the sadness I felt now was real. I simply cried, dazed.

I was sincere.

In the early stages of training, I was distracted and couldn’t focus properly, but that had happened when I was disproportionately anxious standing in front of the Law of Destiny. All my companions’ fates were on my shoulders, so I was trying my best to immerse myself seriously. I had earnestly practiced Tai Chi thousands of times a day for four years while oscillating at the boundary of the unconscious, yet still failed to obtain the Absolute Realm.

It’s unfair…!!

As I couldn’t continue my words and bowed my head, a momentary silence followed.

[Baek Woong. Lift your head.]

Swoosh.

Grand Master Jang took a stance in Tai Chi and gradually transitioned to the next basic technique. After demonstrating all 24 forms of Tai Chi silently, he once again grasped the Tai Chi with both hands. Although it seemed like a simple demonstration of Tai Chi, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from it.

That wasn’t just movement.

It contained ‘flow.’

As I wiped my tears and gazed at Grand Master Jang performing Tai Chi, he said.

[As you can see… you now know what the Peerless Technique is and can wield it. Your two eyes were not observing basic techniques just now, but tracking the flow instead. However, Baek Woong, you also subconsciously fear the power of the Peerless Technique. In fact, the reason you can’t truly use the Peerless Technique is due to that fear.]

“Fear…”

[Understanding the essence of the Peerless Technique, your body refuses to take a step forward.]

The essence?

I thought over it and spoke.

“I felt perfect harmony and effortless transformation in the Peerless Technique. I’m not afraid of it.”

[Do you really think that’s all there is to the Peerless Technique?]

“Hmm…”

[Initially, I planned to name this level Tai Chi Wisdom Martial (太極慧武), but felt it didn’t fit, so I named it Peerless Technique. Because I believe it hides the dominance that cannot be rivaled in the world (無雙) beneath it (覇).]

Dominance?

I felt puzzled. Given that I had experienced firsthand the divine skill that nullified all powers through effortless transformation, the Peerless Technique was pure softness itself. It wasn’t overly strong, fierce, or aggressive, so how could it be called a dominance?

Chills!

However, at that moment, I sensed a shiver running down my spine. That was because I understood Grand Master Jang’s words with my body, not just my head. I couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but I recognized the dominance of the Peerless Technique.

That was the result of the past four years of training.

‘Yeah… this is…’

I felt every hair on my body stand as I finally grasped with my mind. And I spoke to Grand Master Jang.

“… Grand Master. The Peerless Technique is… a skill that leads to self-destruction if it fails even once, right?”

[Yes. You’ve understood.]

I probably became the first human, after its creator Grand Master Jang, to understand what the Peerless Technique truly entailed.

Softness overcomes hardness and hardness can cut softness—it’s two sides of the same coin.

That is the driving force of the Peerless Technique!

No matter how excellent the defensive capabilities of the effortless transformation created by embodying Tai Chi may be, there’s a limit to simply implementing basic techniques. Just the pursuit of ‘softness’ seen across the Wudang Sect’s martial arts comes with limitations when overcoming strength.

For that reason, practitioners of the Peerless Technique must master the Seven Great Techniques. More specifically, they must understand the ultimate secrets of the six techniques besides the Peerless Technique one after another while learning the essence of pure strength at surface level. Furthermore, the six techniques themselves contain a mysterious balance that leads through Yin and Yang and the five elements to the enlightenment of the six harmonies.

Once a practitioner becomes strong enough to feel like there’s no peer in the world and regains humility, true training will commence. By approaching Tai Chi with sincerity, only then will the core of the six techniques be established within Tai Chi as its heart and core.

The symbolic techniques, which no one had ever understood until now, gain meaning only after such training begins. Because they metaphorically represent the transformation of the seven great techniques into effortless transformation aligned with Tai Chi, the symbolic techniques of the Peerless Technique serve as effective suggestions for practitioners to embrace forms of transformation.

In such a manner, no genius could interpret the symbolic techniques of the Peerless Technique. It was neither an initial martial art technique nor merely a representation of the Seven Great Techniques based on Tai Chi.

Indeed, the Peerless Technique is the absolute martial art allowed only to those who have trained in the six techniques to their limits and wish to return to the basics of Tai Chi! The humility of wanting to feel the essence of martial arts as a Daoist Master while abandoning the high-level martial arts of superiority is what the entry condition of the Peerless Technique entails.

Trained to the peak in the six techniques, those starting from Tai Chi inevitably discover the existence of the Peerless Technique. Initially, Grand Master Jang designed it so that only those with that degree of talent could challenge it, which is almost natural. Without talent, it wouldn’t be possible to grasp the profundities of the six techniques.

‘If it were just that…’

But that’s where the real problem lies. There’s a process of gathering all the ‘strength’ of the six techniques within oneself, honing it into a tremendous dominance that has no equal in the world.

The power created by concentrating all the might of the six techniques into a single point would likely match the Thunder Spirit. Then, the practitioner would transform this dominant power into Tai Chi, sublimating it through effortless transformation. The overwhelming power unfolds alongside gentleness, so theoretically, the Peerless Technique can digest any formidable strength.

It’s truly the Tai Chi of contradictions, putting everything on the line from one’s inner self to practice both softness overcoming hardness and hardness cutting softness!

This gives birth to an ‘absolute realm’ that ‘never loses’ instead of defeating enemies with immense power. This answer is what Grand Master Jang set forth to the Martial God.

However, this is only the story when the effortless transformation of the Peerless Technique and the embodiment of Tai Chi succeed. Achieving effortless transformation and Tai Chi demands a moment so unfathomably brief and requires immense speed to transform power, even for masters of world-class caliber.

If the casting of the Peerless Technique fails even once, the caster dies. Even failing to read the attributes of the six harmonies in time, thus failing to align with the opponent’s attack, leads to death.

It’s not death due to another’s attack; it’s dying because one cannot withstand one’s own Peerless Technique. It could be said to be the price of an absolute defense. That price would also apply to Grand Master Jang, the current Great Immortal, creator of the technique.

And even seasoned experts can’t guarantee they will successfully use the Peerless Technique ten times and succeed each time.

“……”

It’s an impossible martial art to wield while completely sane. Understanding Grand Master Jang’s words, I finally spoke with a trembling voice.

“I… during my four years of training, I ingrained in my body that failing in the Peerless Technique means death, so I can’t consciously use it?”

[It’s not that complicated. If you try to use it consciously, you could do so… But as you know, the Peerless Technique requires perfect harmony of the six techniques, simultaneous cultivation of effortless transformation, power transformation, and embodiment of Tai Chi must all occur at once. If there’s even a hint of hesitation or distraction of will in your mind, you’ll inevitably fail.]

“……”

[Unwavering strength of will and cultivation are prerequisites.]

“It’s… insane.”

I fell into a state of panic and shouted out loud.

“How can you, Grand Master Jang, use this so casually?!”

If I were just an ordinary human, I’d brush off the notion of the Peerless Technique being dangerous. However, as a reborn person, I had seen Grand Master Jang engage in countless battles, leaving me in shock. Grand Master Jang had fought against divine beings, apostles, demon kings, and all kinds of tremendous individuals, wielding the Peerless Technique without a hitch. That’s why I never even thought of the Peerless Technique being dangerous, yet the reality is a single failure means death!

And then Grand Master Jang replied.

[That’s why you’ll qualify to open the door along with the Martial God.]

“……?!”

[If you fail, it’s merely the outcome of my shortcoming… I believe that surrendering yourself to martial arts conveys that meaning.]

I couldn’t grasp it at all.

“What happens when you open the door with the Martial God?”

[……]

Grand Master Jang did not answer my question. It was clear he wouldn’t divulge secrets to someone who lacked the qualifications to open the ‘door.’ As I stood there in a daze, Grand Master Jang spoke.

[However, Baek Woong… If you relax the conditions of the Peerless Technique, it could certainly be used as a technique worthy of contending with the Master of the White Lotus Sect. You may not yet be skilled enough to wield the Peerless Technique entirely, but since you understand it fully, it is indeed possible.]

“Relax the conditions?”

[Yes. Theoretically, the Peerless Technique can potentially deflect the attack of an Old Ruler, but it requires every capability to be at their peak to showcase such potential. If you lessen the dominance of the Peerless Technique, the difficulty of effortless transformation will significantly drop.]

“Hmm…!!”

So there’s a way!

As I expressed my admiration, Grand Master Jang said.

[Baek Woong, it won’t take long to teach you how to lower the difficulty of the Peerless Technique. Once your training is done, will you challenge the Master of the White Lotus Sect immediately?]

In response to Grand Master Jang’s question, I shook my head.

“No. I will practice more.”

[Very well.]

During the years I spent training in Tai Chi diligently, I came to realize something. No matter how much I practiced, I still felt inadequate, lacking, and further lacking. It also hit me hard that challenging strong opponents while I was inadequate would yield nothing.

Right now, all I needed was effort.

Thus, I devoted another two years to training the Peerless Technique. I grasped the fundamentals of the technique but was still lacking in so many areas that I could not use it properly. Therefore, I had no choice but to refine and refine again. And just when I felt like I was endlessly training without end.

“Are you Baek Woong?”

An unexpected visitor arrived after over a decade of closed-door training. I stared at the mysterious figure who had come to my shabby manor, my expression transforming into one of disbelief.

What brings you here?

As I blankly stared at the guy, he slowly walked into the room.

“Bring me Obsidian. I was told that was the promise I had made with you.”

The current Grand Astronomer, also known as a treasure of the Central Plains, Zhuge Bu had come to find me!