NOVEL NEXT Chapter 800
Chapter 800: The True Martial Home
“That argument has some merit.”
If I could resurrect someone like Master Dharma or the Divine Maiden, I might discover tremendous secrets. But I shook my head.
“I’ve thought about it, but this doesn’t seem like the right time.”
“Are you focused on martial arts?”
“Exactly.”
As Jin So-cheong said, I wasn’t fully committed to martial arts yet. I shouldn’t be wandering around aimlessly, looking for mythical clues when I should be focused on one goal, even if it meant not trying that method in this life.
“None of these plans are ideas previously unconsidered by the strategists.”
“Hmm…”
“That’s not the issue. The biggest problem is the lack of ‘power.'”
Indeed. Around me, talented strategists like Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang casually mentioned the possibility, but circumstances were hardly favorable, and I found myself swept up by the situation repeatedly, unable to avoid adversity. Continuing like this, no matter how brilliant the strategies, they would only flutter uselessly around me.
“I need the simplest approach.”
I had to grow stronger.
Of course, even if I did grow stronger, there were countless beings in this world that surpassed those limits. However, I had not only my inherent strength but also numerous treasures, information, strategists, and heroes by my side, which amplified my potential for growth. And once the power of unity reached a certain level, I could finally gain the momentum to pierce into the core of these problems.
The Zen Master nodded as if he understood my words.
“You have become someone who won’t be easily swayed by others’ words. I look forward to your achievements in this life.”
“Master, could you assist the Leader of the Bancheon Alliance in the future?”
“Of course. I will provide unlimited resources to him and his companions. Also, I’ll ensure that the True Heaven Alliance does not hastily treat the Bancheon Alliance as enemies.”
At that moment, Zhuge Sa interjected.
“I have a question: doesn’t the Shaolin Temple possess passed-down knowledge regarding the Four Great Artifacts?”
“Hmm… I expected that question. Our origin is Master Dharma, and because of that, the White Lotus Sect is like kin to us.”
“An important question. Answer carefully.”
“Even if I received all the secrets of the Shaolin Temple, I have not heard about the Four Great Artifacts from the monks. If I had, I would have mentioned it long ago during Baek Woong’s twenty-fourth life. If we were talking about a similar legend…”
The Zen Master pondered for a moment before speaking.
“…it’s probably just the legend of Maitreya.”
“Maitreya?”
“Yes. The Maitreya… a legend that our Shaolin Temple and the White Lotus Sect probably uniquely share. According to that legend, when the principal temple has the heart of birth and extinction’s gate, it is said that Maitreya will descend into this world after five hundred sixty-seven million years have passed since the Buddha Shakyamuni entered Nirvana.”
Zhuge Sa responded with a slightly uninterested tone.
“And Maitreya is said to rescue beings and spread his teachings in this world until everyone reaches the state of enlightenment. Isn’t that a well-known legend even scholars who have delved into academia would know? Why act as if you’re saying something grand…”
Though Zhuge Sa grumbled, the Zen Master calmly continued.
“However, I just inherited Baek Woong’s memories, which raised a profound doubt. This is due to the fact that the legend of Maitreya passed down within the Shaolin Temple is slightly different from the folk versions.”
“Different? How so?”
The Zen Master exclaimed in discontent and calmly explained.
“Though Maitreya descends beneath the Dragon Flower Tree, he is said to be an imperfect being who has gained the eight consciousnesses but lost the true mind. Originally, the world transforms from the true mind reflecting indistinct and nameless thoughts within the chaos… However, Maitreya uniquely descends from the Tusita Heaven without that true mind, merely possessing enlightenment.”
“……”
“Thus, it is said that the monks of the principal temple and all practitioners of Buddhist teachings worldwide have the duty to convey the truths to Maitreya to help him achieve perfection… Assisting him completes the Buddhist Law and spreads the teachings of the Shakyamuni across the world.”
What on earth?
I was not well-versed in Buddhist studies, so I found the Zen Master’s words overly convoluted. However, Zhuge Sa, being a genius, appeared to understand immediately, his expression taking on a serious grimness.
“Interesting… That sounds very similar to the Gnostic Demiurge. Not merely a savior, but does he also possess attributes of a false creator?”
“Um… I might not understand Gnosticism well, but your expression of Maitreya as a false creator may not be entirely incorrect. After all…”
The Zen Master’s following words were astonishing.
“Maitreya is a being destined to lose.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“To listen to the voices of countless beings spanning millions, one needs to possess not just the eight consciousnesses but the true mind as well. Thus, even after descending from Tusita Heaven, he endures infinite years of suffering. He is inherently a being that continuously loses.”
“Such a legend exists? In the Shaolin Temple, the center of all Buddhist teachings?”
“I have my own doubts. This legend is so bizarre that the Shaolin Temple could not reach a conclusion on it for a thousand years. However, probably this is the only legend shared with the White Lotus Sect; in other words, the White Lotus Sect likely holds a similar legend about Maitreya.”
“……”
Zhuge Sa wore a serious expression. Then he said to the Zen Master.
“Master, it seems I will soon be putting you to use for something. You must risk your life to help guarantee the success of my scheme.”
“Understood.”
Even though Zhuge Sa was openly stating he would use the Zen Master, the Zen Master seemed to accept it nonchalantly. Perhaps he could react that way because he knew this world revolves around me.
We left the Shaolin Temple. Then Zhuge Sa turned to me.
“Baek Woong, do you have an arch-rival or plan you want to challenge first?”
I shrugged.
“Not at the moment.”
“Why not?”
“I’m learning the techniques of Jang Sam-bong, but there are so many deficiencies and so much to learn. It feels like it’ll take at least ten years to sort this out…”
“I see. Then I’ll present you with your first opponent.”
Zhuge Sa’s eyes glittered.
“The first opponent in the life-and-death match to reach the Absolute Realm must be the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Keep that in mind.”
“What? It’s not like I can’t do it, but…”
“There’s no way it won’t happen, then, shall it? Silly.”
“……”
Zhuge Sa continued tersely.
“For now, practice for ten years. Then, after evaluating your condition in ten years, you will challenge the Master of the White Lotus Sect. It’s best to set your plan that way.”
“Do you think the Master of the White Lotus Sect will fight me one-on-one?”
“I’ll make sure that situation arises. And…”
Zhuge Sa addressed Jin So-cheong, who was trailing behind.
“Jin So-cheong, let’s have a word.”
“Understood.”
Then they spoke alone for a while before returning. I was curious about what secret they were scheming, but their expressions were so calm it seemed pointless to dig any further. I felt a twinge of disappointment towards Zhuge Sa.
“Tsk! Why are you keeping me in the dark?”
“Because with your big ears, knowing would likely cause more harm than good. Can’t you consider your conscience?”
“……”
“Don’t worry. We didn’t discuss anything major. And starting today, Jin So-cheong will be training at the facilities of the Shaolin Temple instead of by your side. This will help accelerate her path to peak internal power.”
“Got it.”
“Take care.”
Though it was unlikely that they hadn’t said anything significant, I had no choice but to let it go.
‘So starting today, I’ll be training alone…’
Since my martial arts progress was different from Jin So-cheong’s, we weren’t able to help each other, yet it still felt disappointing. Nonetheless, I was sure that learning from Jang Sam-bong would make time fly by, so I turned my back on Zhuge Sa and returned to the training grounds of Sichuan.
When I called upon Grandmaster Jang Sam-bong and shared the events that transpired at the Shaolin Temple, he responded.
“Hmm… So your target is the Master of the White Lotus Sect, is it… What is his primary martial art?”
“It’s the martial arts of the White Lotus Sect, but he knows how to execute all the techniques of the Four Great Families. Furthermore, he possesses the Absolute Realm and likely has comparable martial prowess to Yeodong-bin.”
“Whoa! That’s incredible. The Master of the White Lotus Sect in my time wasn’t nearly that strong… How can a mere human be so powerful?”
“It’s clear that he exceeds human limits.”
“Seems the White Lotus Sect has produced remarkable successors.”
Jang Sam-bong appeared genuinely surprised. I thought to myself.
‘The Master of the White Lotus Sect during Jang Sam-bong’s era must have been from the generation just above the current sect leader…’
It seems the previous sect leader wasn’t as strong as the current Master of the White Lotus Sect. Thus, Jang Sam-bong must have easily claimed the title of the strongest in the world.
After contemplating for a moment, Jang Sam-bong said.
“Certainly, your opponent fits perfectly for your life-and-death training. However, in your current state, if you were to fight him, you’d be slain within a hundred seconds at most.”
“…….”
“However, no matter how much you train for this life-and-death match, if you’re unaware of your opponent, fighting desperately won’t yield any results. You need to at least know the basics of his techniques or methods to form counterplans.”
“You mean counterplans?”
“Exactly. Right now, you’re wisely focusing on your deficiencies, but training tailored to your opponent would elevate your focus considerably.”
“Hmm! Should I describe the techniques of the Master of the White Lotus Sect?”
“If he’s that level of a skilled fighter, chances are they can’t be adequately conveyed in words. It’s best to see them firsthand…”
“…Understood.”
I had no choice but to use the obsidian.
Upon deep contemplation, I filtered the battle scenes of the Master of the White Lotus Sect out from my memories and relayed them to Jang Sam-bong. Of course, since the opponent was either Yeodong-bin, Dalgi, or a divine being, I was wary of provoking Jang Sam-bong’s suspicions, so I deliberately blurred certain parts of my memories to keep the opponent’s appearance hidden. I couldn’t expose every detail, but I thought this much would suffice.
Buzzing
[……]
Jang Sam-bong seemed to be visualizing the techniques of the Master of the White Lotus Sect, including the Primordial Spirit, with his eyes closed. Then, he broke into a cold sweat as he spoke.
[Indeed, your words are true. Even I would want to fight against such an opponent, risking my life.]
“…Well, after all, he’s the strongest in the martial arts world.”
[The essence of the Primordial Spirit seems to stem from infinite chaos, while the techniques of chaos are fundamentally untraceable. Unfortunately, I cannot teach you techniques to combat chaos in my current state.]
“Can’t you do it with the Peerless Technique?”
“That may be possible, but it’s unlikely you’ll master the Peerless Technique within ten years. Even a hundred years might prove quite challenging.”
“Uhgh…”
[However….]
Grandmaster Jang Sam-bong smiled faintly.
[If you were to battle the Master of the White Lotus Sect without using chaos, there’s a solution… Building upon everything you’ve learned thus far, I can ensure that you grow strong enough to withstand him over the next ten years.]
“Thank you!”
[First, it’s a three-year commitment. After solidifying your fundamentals as promised, we will commence training in preparation against the Master of the White Lotus Sect.]
And from that day forth, I diligently began training in the Seven Great Techniques and the Eight Immortal Divine Art under Grandmaster Jang Sam-bong’s guidance. The more I learned, the clearer it became how superficially I had approached martial arts techniques, and the more intensely I delved into the Seven Great Techniques, the more I realized its tremendous power. I didn’t learn any particularly special techniques or secret arts, but even just solidifying my linked techniques and basics met with a daily elevation of insight.
‘It felt like when I was learning the Thunder God Lineage from Lee Cheong-un…’
As the training stretched into a year, Grandmaster Jang Sam-bong remarked.
[You hardly engage in eating and drinking anymore.]
“My internal power has reached its peak, so my metabolism is under my full control.”
At this point, I could probably maintain my vitality for thirty years without consuming a single morsel of food or a drop of water. I didn’t care whether I slept for an entire year. My internal power was so potent that it made such feats possible, which made me feel a sense of pride, but Grandmaster Jang Sam-bong appeared bewildered.
[…But why hasn’t your Rebirth of Flesh occurred yet…? Your internal power is virtually invincible in this realm.]
“That’s something I can’t quite…”
Rebirth of Flesh!
I felt like I had previously discussed this with Jin So-cheong in the future.
[In the past, the Bright Dragon explained to you that Rebirth of Flesh is a phenomenon that occurs when one’s energy reaches its pinnacle and the body transforms into its optimal state. However, that’s only half of the truth.]
[Achieving exceedingly high levels of internal power is merely a basic condition for Rebirth of Flesh. The real keys are necessity and will. These two elements are essential.]
[Will refers to the will of the body itself.]
[In the realm of martial arts, it differs. The martial achievements you have accumulated bind and manifest in the body, thus transforming it to reach the peak of martial artistry. And it manifests the intentions of your mind. However, you are…]
[The Reborn Person. The achievements of your spirit and those of your body are in conflict, causing perpetual contradictions. This is because, despite having honed martial arts for over a hundred years, your body is that of a mere teenager. Thus, contradictions arise where the spirit and body do not align, and the body doesn’t respond to your level of mastery, preventing you from achieving Rebirth of Flesh.]
[I believe what you need more than talent is to resolve the inner contradiction—your own breakthrough. And a firm belief in your absolute state will be essential.]
Suddenly, his words came to mind, and I spoke to Jang Sam-bong.
“Now that I think about it, someone once told me something similar…”
I recounted Jin So-cheong’s hypothesis, and Jang Sam-bong’s expression turned earnest as he listened, deeply focused on my words. He pondered for a moment before speaking.
[The one who explained this to you, who are they? That being seems to be quite significant, perhaps even above the Absolute Realm… I can’t provide an accurate description of your state beyond what you’ve mentioned.]
“Haha…”
I couldn’t bring myself to admit I was Jin So-cheong from fifty years in the future, so I just laughed awkwardly. Jang Sam-bong said.
[Then, perhaps the solution might be simpler than we think.]
“What? What do you mean?”
[If the issue lies in the disharmony with your body, then you simply need to grow older, no? Patience is key to allowing yourself to grow into a body that matches that qi during a natural aging process.]
“……!!”
[It’s a fact that with a child’s body, it’s naturally challenging to bear qi that is originally beyond your capacity.]
Growing older!
His words rang true. After repeatedly dying and coming back to life, I had rarely experienced proper aging.
“Uhm… How many years do I need to live?”
[I don’t know either. However, as you train and align your temperament with your martial proficiency, you’ll recognize it over time.]
“Hmm.”
[That’s a matter for the future. Right now, it’s best to concentrate on the present.]
“Understood.”
I took another two years to solidify my fundamentals under Jang Sam-bong’s guidance. Training intensity was high, and I nearly sacrificed sleep to refine my weaknesses. I confidently claimed my skill level rose incredibly compared to the start of my training, but the Absolute Realm continued to elude me.
During my training, Zhuge Sa or other companions never came to visit. I had no updates on the world outside, but trusting in my companions, I felt little worry.
Then on the third anniversary of my training, Jang Sam-bong spoke.
[Thanks to your diligent efforts, we have successfully concluded our foundational training within the set period.]
“I feel embarrassed… it seems like something so simple to do.”
[Not at all. A person with ordinary talent could never finish such training in three years. You’ve worked hard; take pride in that.]
Having been praised, Jang Sam-bong continued.
[From now on, we will begin an intense training regimen over the next seven years in preparation against the Master of the White Lotus Sect.]
“You hadn’t mentioned what kind of training that would be until now. What kind is it?”
[The techniques of the Master of the White Lotus Sect’s Primordial Spirit revolve around the chaos-based transformation of the Five Elements. For example, like this…]
Buzzing
At that moment, Jang Sam-bong placed his hand over a pond, and a fiery blaze appeared to engulf the entire surface. I was startled by this sudden change and exclaimed.
“Ah!”
[Simply combining water with fire. If this technique is further developed, you could use it to apply what he does—overcoming water with fire.]
“Can you also handle the powers of chaos, Grandmaster?”
[Not at all… I possess no such powers. While our principles share similarities, they are fundamentally different.]
Shaking his head, Jang Sam-bong continued.
[Even without using chaos, manipulating and altering the Five Elements can be performed purely through intention. This technique is embedded in the Seven Great Techniques that I leave behind in the world. Though it’s meant for the practitioner to realize themselves, if you can’t grasp this methodology, you won’t be able to defend against the Master of the White Lotus Sect when he genuinely seeks to kill you, so I’ll teach you now.]
So does that mean I’ll now be able to wield powerful techniques like the Five Elements overcoming water?!
I cheered excitedly.
“Oh! So once I understand the transformations of the Five Elements, I can counter the Master of the White Lotus Sect’s current techniques?”
Jang Sam-bong shook his head.
[That won’t be possible. You’ll need to learn separate techniques to counter those current tactics. That’s also a technique of the Absolute Realm, so just learning how to counter would prove challenging. But I have some ideas prepared, so worry not.]
“……”
[Three years spent training techniques for the transformations of the Five Elements, three years for countering the current techniques… I anticipate it will take a year to finish the techniques, but honestly, it will be tight… Unless you’re prepared to train with a death resolve, it’ll be nearly impossible to learn even one within ten years.]
“What?! Why is it so hard?! I haven’t even achieved the Absolute Realm properly yet…”
I was astounded.
To reach the Absolute Realm would not take a decade; it would simply take ten years just to learn counter-techniques? Then Jang Sam-bong said.
[You should know this. With your talent, there’s no guarantee you’d achieve the Absolute Realm even with a thousand years of training. Truthfully, you still have numerous deficiencies. If you wallow in pity here, you’ll never reach your goals.]
“……”
I gritted my teeth.
“Understood.”
Lacking talent means there’s no other option.
At least there’s a path forward, right? I resolved to quit complaining and fully dedicate myself to training.
And as my training in the transformation of the Five Elements continued into a third year,
“Damn… I still don’t think I’ve fully learned it…”
Despite being just techniques, it was exceedingly challenging to manifest and manipulate the Five Elements with intention. I originally thought I would grasp the transformation of the Five Elements in about three years, but the journey felt far longer. I never expected learning one technique would turn out to be this tough.
This was far more difficult than mastering each aspect of the Seven Great Techniques. When I asked Jang Sam-bong why it was challenging, he explained it was primarily because this operation differed slightly from the types of martial arts I had known.
This was high-level difficulty he felt I couldn’t learn initially as a result of the foundation laid from mastering the Seven Great Techniques. Given that level of hardship, it would be faster to learn the arts of magic and use elemental techniques instead, which also contributed to the rarity of practitioners in the world. After all, someone like the Master of the White Lotus Sect, who could manipulate the Five Elements with the Primordial Spirit freely, was truly a rare breed in the martial arts world.
With no other choice, I said to Jang Sam-bong.
“…I’ll extend my training for another year…”
[Good choice.]
At that moment.
“Baek Woong! It’s been a while.”
Hearing a familiar voice from behind me, I turned around. Upon seeing the figure, I exclaimed.
“Mangnyang!”
Mangnyang looked drastically different from before. I gasped in surprise at his appearance.
“You can’t be….”
His eyes glistened with emotion, and he wiped away tears.
“This is all thanks to you, Baek Woong. I wanted to be the first to tell you.”
He was dressed as a scholar, his head adorned with an unfamiliar adornment. His appearance was entirely transformed, and it was a sight I never witnessed even in my previous life. Mangnyang grinned.
“I am formally a Geoseon (Earth Immortal) now.”