798——————==

True Martial Home

So, I have to fight ten strong opponents who are on my level or even tougher in a row.

Of course, it’s not an impossible challenge, but it’s frustrating as hell. There are only so many experts in the world, and there’s no guarantee I’ll win.

‘When you say ten…’

First, there’s the Master of the White Lotus Sect, the Master of the Twelve Joules, and Miyamoto Musashi. Besides them, there’s the reincarnated Yong Junil. Sure, there were others, but they were all formidable foes. Even with my current abilities, I could easily be outplayed or outright killed by them. Fighting them in succession? That sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I wanted to ask Yeodong-bin more, but he was gone and didn’t return. Just then, Jin So-cheong–who had just regained his senses after a bout with Jang Sam-bong–spoke to me.

“Baek Woong. Let’s take it easy today; you look tired.”

“…Jin So-cheong. What do you think about what Yeodong-bin said earlier?”

“…….”

Jin So-cheong paused for a moment before replying.

“There’s some merit to it.”

“Seriously? You think fighting over ten formidable foes could lead to achieving the Absolute Realm?”

“The essence of the issue isn’t that….”

Jin So-cheong looked at me pointedly and then said, “Baek Woong. For you, is the Absolute Realm means to an end or just an end?”

“……?”

That was an unexpected question. When I looked at him, he continued, “I think what Yeodong-bin truly wanted to convey was that…”

“What do you mean? Is it really that important whether it’s a means or an end?”

“It is. The very fact that you’re questioning me now proves that you see the Absolute Realm as a means.”

“…Hmm.”

He had a point. As I crossed my arms and pondered, Jin So-cheong perched on a nearby rock with his spear, staring at the bright moonlight while the cool night breeze played around us.

“Baek Woong. You’re already a legendary hero.”

“Where’s this coming from…?”

“With your current abilities, while you may not be able to save the entire world, you could definitely unify the Central Plains and bring peace for a hundred years. But because you’re such a hero… you’re unable to see martial arts for what they are, just martial arts.”

“…….”

“You long for the Absolute Realm more than anyone, but your reasons differ from that of ordinary martial artists. For you, the Absolute Realm is merely a way to meet the Martial God.”

“That’s true.”

“That perspective itself is already distorted and extraordinary.”

He displayed a somewhat sad smile.

“For me, and most martial artists, this world begins and ends in the martial arts community. No matter how much the worldview expands, it won’t go beyond the Barren Lands or Tianzhu, and tales of those strange Western lands are mere fun stories. Thus, an ordinary martial artist would be satisfied just growing stronger and reaching the peak of the martial arts community.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Your worldview is too broad. Hence, you can’t concentrate solely on martial arts.”

I think I understood what Jin So-cheong was getting at.

So, I gathered my thoughts and spoke.

“You’re saying I need a pure desire and passion for reaching the ultimate goal in martial arts?”

“Exactly. I believe the new wall blocking your path is that very expanded worldview.”

“Hmm…!!”

“I think Yeodong-bin sensed this about you, hence he concluded that the only way to concentrate is to engage in life-and-death battles. The Absolute Realm isn’t that forgiving.”

That was an unexpected perspective.

I couldn’t believe I wasn’t approaching the martial arts with more purity?

‘…Maybe that’s true.’

From some point on, I began gathering the ultimate martial skills and treasures of the world, but often used the excuse of collecting the Seven Luminaries to avoid serious training, running around like a madman. Even after realizing the existence and power of the Absolute Realm, I may have unconsciously dismissed its importance compared to the chaos in the world.

As a result, I was using the excuse of seeking hope while forgetting the humility I needed in martial arts, just mindlessly approaching it like mastering techniques instead.

I realized my true feelings.

Honestly, I might have thought I could reach the Absolute Realm any time if I just met the Martial God. After reincarnating so many times, wouldn’t I get there eventually? Certainly, I thought I shouldn’t feel that way consciously, but the type of ‘desperation’ was totally different!

In that moment, I recognized that Jin So-cheong had given me a revelation. So, I sat down there and bowed my head to him.

“Thank you, Jin So-cheong.”

“I’m not criticizing you, Baek Woong. Rather, I wonder if anyone is more sincere about martial arts than you… But if the Absolute Realm is born from the essence of one’s life, then you must clash your life with the Absolute Realm.”

“I understand exactly what you mean.”

It was just one night’s sparring, and I hadn’t made any tangible progress. Yet, I felt like I’d found the path I needed to take, and the frustration I felt began to melt away.

‘Yeah. Let’s try, just like Yeodong-bin suggested!’

Battling formidable opponents with my life on the line? Isn’t that something every man should experience at least once?

Of course, it’s something I deal with daily, but to fight with the purpose of pursuing pure martial arts carries a different meaning. I said to Jin So-cheong.

“However, there are few opponents worth risking my life for in this world, and I’m not sure if the Master of the White Lotus Sect or the Master of the Twelve Joules would even agree to a direct confrontation…”

Jin So-cheong chuckled at that.

“Baek Woong. First, why don’t we avoid jumping straight into life-and-death battles and instead focus on mastering Jang Sam-bong’s techniques a bit more?”

“Hmm?”

“After all, that’s something to discuss with the strategists. But entering into life-and-death battles means you could die without achieving anything, so we need time to improve as a whole. Especially, we should wait for Mangnyang to rise in the Entrance to Power.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“And there’s still much to learn in Jang Sam-bong’s techniques, so it would be a waste if you don’t acquire them properly. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“I got it.”

So, I began to focus on training again, just as Jin So-cheong suggested.

Every day, I sparred with Jang Sam-bong while refining the Seven Great Techniques and the Eight Immortals Divine Art. Jang Sam-bong seemed to effortlessly understand even the derivative Ultimate Techniques, like the Three Treasure Technique or the King of Hell, as if absorbing them in an instant. It felt almost like he didn’t need any time to learn, which showed on my awed face to which Jang Sam-bong responded.

[Lower-level martial arts can be absorbed by the higher insights, and the Seven Great Techniques originated from me. You can easily assimilate the second-rate martial arts as well.]

“That makes sense.”

[And I’ve thought a lot while observing you, Baek Woong; you should focus on practicing the True Martial Seven Cuts Classic. Among the Seven Great Techniques, it’s the one closest to the barrier, so with just a bit of effort, you should be able to grasp its secrets.]

I dedicated myself to training the True Martial Seven Cuts Classic for the next six months, day and night, under Jang Sam-bong’s guidance. After immense effort, I finally managed to grasp a new technique.

“Haah.”

I placed my hands on the ground and took a deep breath. Then I executed the new concept.

True Martial Seven Cuts Classic

Resonance Sect

Boom!!

The energy I infused into the ground created vibrations, conveying the situation around me. By emitting my energy like waves, I expanded my sensing range and could almost pierce through the internal structure, which was essentially the essence of the True Martial Seven Cuts Classic, but now with further development, I could manipulate the waves themselves for offense and defense.

Thud thud thud

Moments later, a boulder over twenty feet away cracked and crumbled. I felt a wave of satisfaction seeing that.

“Nice!”

Moreover, I could now form waves to create protective barriers, enhancing the efficiency of my Protection Energy Technique. Although I hadn’t yet attained the ultimate protective technique known as the True Martial Seven Cuts Classic’s Seven Absolute Wings, I knew full well that if I had tried to learn this on my own, it would have taken me ten years to achieve what I did. Thanks to Jang Sam-bong, my training speed had increased exponentially.

And I had also gotten the hang of using the King of Hell to a fair extent, and my understanding of the Five Elements Qi had significantly matured. Overall, my focus on learning techniques allowed me to achieve great results.

While Jang Sam-bong watched me break the boulder with the Resonance Sect’s technique, he spoke.

[Yeonja, this is just the beginning. For about three years from now, I’ll teach you the foundational techniques and connected forms that I had constructed during my lifetime. You’ll need that level of proficiency to elevate the power of the Eight Immortals Divine Art.]

“Hmm… Is that really true?”

[Curious about something?]

“Will refining these foundational techniques really help me reach the Absolute Realm?”

[Absolutely… You’ve learned a vast array of martial arts, but you haven’t yet grasped the specifics of their flow, and the deeper you go into battles, the more weaknesses you reveal. Refining the basics is always a superb endeavor.]

Just then, a presence flowed in, and the air turned dark, almost like a gust had burst forth, and Zhuge Sa appeared nearby. Upon appearing, Zhuge Sa spoke to me.

“Is your training going well?”

“Yeah.”

“Bring me some tea. I have something to discuss.”

I went into the manor to brew some tea for Zhuge Sa. As I sat beside Jin So-cheong and faced Zhuge Sa, he took a sip of the tea before speaking.

“I heard from Yeodong-bin that you have to fight ten challengers.”

“Yeah. That’s why I’ve been training solidly for the past six months since I passed that detail to you. I was waiting for your strategy to emerge.”

“…….”

He took another sip of tea and then continued, “After hearing about that, I brainstormed several ideas and came up with a good plan.”

“Really?!”

Zhuge Sa nodded and shared his strategy.

“There are three critical points. First, whether it’s the Master of the White Lotus Sect or the Master of the Twelve Joules, you absolutely cannot fight strong opponents who could potentially trap you. Even if you don’t get caught, they probably won’t comply with a one-on-one duel. If by chance you do survive, it would deeply entangle you in cause and effect, and you’d end up struggling to escape and dying.”

“That makes sense.”

“Second, the number of opponents viable for a life-and-death battle with you barely reaches ten. It doesn’t matter what their martial level is; the sheer amount of internal power you possess is already mind-boggling, and it shifts the ranks significantly. So, the most feasible approach would be to grow your companions into masters of the Absolute Realm and then confront them.”

“…….”

“Lastly, even if the first two issues are resolved, the fact that these are life-and-death battles hangs over us. Winning is great, but if you lose, you’ll die and be reincarnated, likely gaining nothing. This could merely increase your reincarnations while pushing you into a fiery abyss.”

Zhuge Sa said that with a playful grin.

“…Then we have to leverage the advantage of being a reincarnated person.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hey, Baek Woong. Do you think the masters of the Absolute Realm are exclusive to the White Lotus Sect, the Twelve Joules, and Dongyoung?”

“Hmm… not at the moment, right?”

It’s a bit embarrassing, but from what I know, there are currently no masters of the Absolute Realm from the Central Plains. The Master of the White Lotus Sect, the Master of the Twelve Joules, Musashi, and Hong Gil-dong, etc., are all from the White Lotus Sect or the New Martial Arts World. Of course, fifty years from now, the unparalleled genius Tang San will appear and achieve Absolute Realm as the Poison King, but that’s a story for another day. I suppose people like Lee Cheong-un or the four guarding Dharma from a millennium ago might have reached the Absolute Realm, but even then, they’re more associated with the White Lotus Sect than the Central Plains.

“There’s at least one more.”

“What?”

“I stumbled upon an interesting story through various channels. I heard that a martial arts community exists in the Western Tianzhu, just like in the Central Plains, where many martial artists use Qi. And the ruler of that Tianzhu martial arts community is a guy named Pasun (波旬), who has upheld the legend of being undefeated for 300 years.”

“……!!”

As soon as I heard that, my eyes widened.

“Pasun? Wait, you’re not saying it’s him…?”

“Looks like you remembered.”

I gasped in shock.

“Is that the Asura of the Eight Parts of the Divine?! Are you saying I should fight that guy?”

Indeed.

[Is it the mercy of a warrior?]

[Ugh… My name as a human is Pasun, ruler of the Tianzhu martial arts community… If you’re ever to go back from Dark Heaven Village, please inform my friend Krishna that I have died… Please.]

Back in the 24th round, when I challenged Dark Heaven Village, the Asura of the Eight Parts of the Divine had come after me for an assassination attempt. Fortunately, I was able to drive him away easily with the help of the sorcerer Cheon Gong-pyo, but he was truly a powerful entity I could never defeat with my original strength. When I killed the Asura, I caught a glimpse of his parting words, revealing that he had indeed operated under the name Pasun during his human life.

Zhuge Sa responded to my question.

“You can fight him, or you can’t. That was just extra intel I picked up. I hear that his friend Krishna is also incredibly strong, so that could help fill in the numbers.”

“What are you saying?”

“Now we’re getting to the meat of it.”

Zhuge Sa shrugged.

“You don’t need to cling to the condition of having to duel ten times in the conditions Yeodong-bin presented. You can have ten life-and-death battles in one lifetime or die ten times in a row, whichever comes first. What’s important is how much you gain from those encounters that elevate you to the Absolute Realm.”

It was as if he was saying, “How well can you die?”

“……?!”

“It’s a way of thinking outside the box. Remember the first problem I mentioned? It’s troublesome if you rush into a fight and end up dead, so it’s tough to go against them. But if you flip that around, if you can die without any worries if you lose, then it’s a whole different story. So I’ve been researching a way for you to easily meet your end for the past six months.”

“…….”

“If you can die cleanly, then challenging the Master of the White Lotus Sect or the Master of the Twelve Joules wouldn’t matter if you just give up and die.”

What the hell is this guy talking about?!

“Here, take this.”

Zhuge Sa tossed me a vial. I caught it in surprise as he grinned.

“You remember that time you burst your acupoints in front of the Master of the White Lotus Sect when you wanted to commit suicide? He revived you on the spot, right? Preventing yourself from dying is no good. So instead, if you take this potion before a duel, if you lose, a curse will have you dead on the spot.”

“What? What did you just say?”

“I’ve been hard at work for the past six months researching. A total of 21 different ways to die. If you learn them all, you’ll be able to die quicker than anyone else.”

Setting down a large load he had been carrying, Zhuge Sa grinned.

“We should’ve done this a long time ago, right? If you’re a reincarnated person, then you need to research a way to restart without pain, and that’s the normal thing to do!”