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True Martial Home

I started swapping out countless masks just like the Divine Thief ordered. I thought changing a bunch of them was the essence of the task, but what the Divine Thief wanted was a bit different.

“What’s the point of changing so much? You need to start by trying different masks first.”

“Different masks?”

“You can work on the details later. For now, make sure you thoroughly try out all the varieties. But don’t try to steal emotions every day.”

Whoosh!

I got used to putting on and taking off masks more and more. By the end of the first day, I was so sleep-deprived from constantly swapping them that my mind was foggy, and it felt like I had worn over two hundred masks. I could’ve swapped more, but if I slacked off even a bit on stealing emotions, the Divine Thief would consider it a failure and make me start over, which limited me.

‘Still, starting with two hundred means I might finish this training in about seven weeks…’

So, I kept swapping masks for thirteen weeks straight.

“Hmm…”

No matter how I thought about it, it felt like I had already surpassed a thousand masks by now.

When I mentioned to the Divine Thief that I felt I had surpassed the training, he bluntly replied.

“Did you think you’d just hit a thousand and call it quits? Naturally, you need to master beyond that.”

“Then how many do I need to master?”

“What a ridiculous question. How many human emotions do you think there are?”

“…”

“A smart person wouldn’t just say there are seven – joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, and desire. Human emotions are countless. Naturally, the emotions a mask user has to express are also innumerable, and when you dive into specifics, it’s beyond imagination. It can’t just be a thousand.”

“Even so, if I’m going to train, I need some kind of goal. It’s unrealistic to train all those emotions.”

“Ahem… why don’t you transform using the Thousand Masks Technique and try changing into a different form?”

Swish!!

When I transformed into an ordinary-looking thirty-year-old man, the Divine Thief crossed his arms and said,

“You’ve transformed into a non-existent form using the masks. That human might exist in reality, but it’s likely they don’t. So, how do you think that human lived?”

“…I can’t know that.”

“You fool. That’s the point. Every time you wear a mask, you not only steal emotions but also have to ‘steal’ a non-existent life. You have to take it, create it, and recreate a history that doesn’t exist. That way, the duration increases and the discomfort disappears. You need to support that mask with the ‘history’ of other masks.”

“Hmm…”

“As the number of stolen masks increases, the Thousand Masks Technique improves. More is better, so just keep increasing the numbers. Once you reach the stage of identity, I’ll tell you.”

“I understand.”

It made sense, and I definitely felt the need to deepen my skills, so from that point on, I kept quiet and practiced mask techniques. As days went by, the number of masks I changed grew fewer, but my practice for precision deepened, demanding more focus. It felt like this training consumed a lot of mental and physical energy, which left me a bit astonished.

‘If it weren’t for my experiences from numerous hell trainings, I might have gone crazy by now…’

The world of mask skills seemed quite profound. To reach this level of training in reality would likely take decades. The only reason I could endure it was thanks to the resilience I gained from hell training and my immense energy and perseverance.

Flap, flap, flap…

The Divine Thief stopped my training after about a hundred and ninety days.

“Stop.”

I turned around, having almost forgotten time in that infinite space. The Divine Thief spoke.

“That’s enough. You’ve accumulated what a typical mask user would gather in a lifetime.”

“Already done?”

“Really, don’t make me laugh. You’ve purely invested that much time into training without eating, sleeping, or resting, right? A normal human would need a lifetime to invest that much time in mask skills. It’s rare to find someone with that kind of perseverance.”

Smirking, the Divine Thief continued.

“Seems you’ve lived a rather complicated life.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Honestly, I expected to hear you say you were close to death at least ten times. But you didn’t say it once. That means your life isn’t simple at all. Seeing you endure this grueling training without complaint shows that.”

“I’ve had a lot of hell training.”

Actually, compared to the hundred thousand slashes or the sword strength training, this training wasn’t that difficult.

“Alright, let’s move on to the next stage.”

“The next stage?”

He nodded and said,

“Even at this level, the Thousand Masks Technique is good enough for real combat. You’re already a master of techniques in the Jianghu. However, since you crafted your ‘intent’ while wearing a mask, there’s a high chance of discomfort being detected by the top-level martial artists in the world. To put it bluntly, it’s similar to the strange techniques you use.”

“Hmm.”

“Though it does have the advantage of being much longer lasting and consuming less energy than your strange techniques.”

That meant there was a possibility of being detected by top experts in the martial world like the Master of the White Lotus Sect, the Master of the Twelve Joules, Pasun, or Yong Junil. They were all either in the Absolute Realm or close to it.

“That’s why to make the Thousand Masks Technique more perfect, advanced training is needed. Once I teach you this, my passing down will be complete.”

“What is it?”

“It’s the training to extract the [Essence].”

“The Essence?”

“Until now, you’ve stolen non-existent masks and lives as a mask user. Essentially, that’s void, so someone with insight can detect the discomfort. But it’s possible to draw out the essence that exists within the deeper abyss through a mask.”

“…?”

The essence of the abyss?

Does such a thing even exist?

Seeing me confused, the Divine Thief said,

“I didn’t know at first either. With just the first stage of the Thousand Masks Technique, I roamed the Tang Dynasty martial world without a hitch, never experiencing difficulty. But when I aimed for the Xuanyuan Sword, I ran into top experts hidden all over the realm, and my techniques didn’t work on them.”

“Top experts? Like the Ten Great Masters of the Tang Dynasty?”

The Divine Thief hissed in annoyance.

“Are you kidding? Those guys were merely overrated fools. Given time, I could kill them all on my own. Don’t compare me to that sort of trash.”

“…”

“However, hidden within the obscure depths of the martial world, there were indeed a few peerless masters who could even trouble Yeodong-bin. Like Ximenliang of the Shadowless Gate… or the Sea King defeating the Imugi… or the Wandering Hero Blade Emperor Hwang Yu-seong… to name a few. Anyway, after burying myself for a few years training, I stumbled upon this advanced stage from the secret techniques.”

“Wait?! There were three experts at Yeodong-bin’s level?”

Realizing he might have said too much, the Divine Thief waved his hand.

“Just talking in general. In terms of actual strength, they were all around my level, but Yeodong-bin is set apart. He is the top martial artist in the Tang Empire, and that fact will never change. Just to say, there are surprisingly many who’ve stepped close to the threshold of the Absolute Realm.”

“…Hmm.”

“Anyway, after training… damn it! You made me lose my train of thought.”

The Divine Thief grumbled before collecting his thoughts and spoke again.

“For example, um, could you transform into Yeodong-bin using a mask?”

“If it’s just the exterior…”

“You can duplicate Yeodong-bin’s appearance as the Thousand Masks Technique, but you can’t imitate his abilities, right? You can’t use the sword technique of the Absolute Realm, Six Intent Saintly Heaven.”

“Right.”

Actually, I might be able to do it if it were me transforming because my body would inherit Yeodong-bin’s progress to mimic Six Intent Saintly Heaven. But if it was through a mask transformation, mimicking the fundamental abilities would be impossible.

“What’s the reason?”

After thinking, I replied.

“Because I maintain my essence while wearing a mask and only ‘steal’. The essence doesn’t blend.”

“Exactly. You understand well. This isn’t just a limitation of the Thousand Masks Technique, but it’s also true for the transformation techniques of the Daoist masters. When you use Qimen Dunjia’s purification transformation skill, you can follow the physical capabilities of that appearance, but you can’t follow the mental powers. The reason is exactly what you said: the essence of the mind cannot be fused or confused.”

“Hmm.”

“Of course, transformation skills are powerful, so copying the abilities of a weaker being temporarily is possible. It can adapt.”

With hands clasped, the Divine Thief continued,

“So, how do you withhold the abilities of the transformed opponent?”

“…Why? Didn’t you just say it was impossible?”

“Breaking that limitation is the second stage training of the Thousand Masks Technique. Hehe. It eliminates the discomfort of transformation while simultaneously becoming the ultimate technique in the world.”

“……!!”

Is it really possible?!

I widened my eyes in surprise as the Divine Thief said,

“It’s simple. The Essence of the Abyss! If you can awaken that, the Thousand Masks Technique will become the most perfect utilization and transformation technique in the world, and at the same time, you will be able to copy the strength of the opponent.”

“Is it real? I can copy the strength of beings stronger than me?”

“There are limitations, but yes! It’s possible.”

No way!

I got overly excited and exclaimed,

“Please, teach me!”

“Hoho.”

The Divine Thief, pleased with my reaction, grinned and then said,

“It’s about stealing the opponent’s mask.”

“Huh? I’ve already stolen the mask…”

“This mask and that mask are different. The mask and emotions you stole in the first stage are what I’d honestly call a ‘fictional’ existence, right? They are just your inner projection. Because your proficiency as a mask user is high, the difference between the illusion and reality is blurred. However, the mask you steal in the second stage encompasses the essence that dwells in their soul… the essence of the abyss.”

The Divine Thief’s eyes sharpened.

“You become a true master thief of character. By stealing their character, you gain the ability to temporarily use the same powers as them.”

“I don’t quite see the difference.”

“You wouldn’t. The first stage is just donning the mask to overlay the intent, but starting from here, secrets of ancient arts from the era of the Three Sovereigns come into play… it’s in the realm of power.”

Ending his sentence on a vague note, the Divine Thief added,

“I should warn you, all the training you’ve done so far has just been a foundation for this.”

“……”

“You might die, so steel your heart.”

The basics of thievery included in the manual of transformation.

The world’s best stealing technique, Technique of All Things.

And the Thousand Masks Technique based on Technique of All Things.

All of these were steps toward achieving the ultimate stage of the Thousand Masks Technique. Feeling a surge of tension, I clenched my teeth.

“Yes, I’m prepared.”

I wasn’t afraid of death at all.

At this point, if I feared death, it would be laughable.

What I truly feared was wasting time and opportunities.

Seeing my determination, the Divine Thief slowly raised his hand.

“The mask of the abyss has ‘eyes’. If you awaken those eyes, you can claim it as your own.”

“Eyes…?”

“If you recite the incantation I’m about to teach you…”

The incantation slowly flowed from the Divine Thief’s mouth. It was a jumble of characters that made no sense, and upon closer inspection, I noticed it contained a lot of ancient language. My knowledge couldn’t fully determine its origins, but it felt like it came from the Oracle Bone Script era.

After repeating the 108-character incantation over and over, the Divine Thief said,

“This incantation has the ability to gaze at the opponent’s mask and enables you to awaken the eyes. As you master it, you’ll start visualizing the masks that exist behind the opponent, and you will witness the scene of those eyes awakening.”

“What happens when they awake?”

“It means the essence of the opponent’s soul has awakened. You must quickly steal the mask in that state.”

“Quickly? Is there a reason I should rush?”

The Divine Thief hesitated before replying,

“I’d say it’s a ‘natural disaster’. A colossal calamity will occur.”

“A calamity?”

“When the eyes of a mask awaken, it distorts reality. Nothing good comes of it. I warn you, once you awaken those eyes, you have to either close them again or steal them quickly. You must never let the mask’s eyes stay open for long.”

“……”

“Whether it’s you or the opponent, you will confront destruction.”

The Divine Thief seemed somewhat reluctant to explain that ‘disaster’.

‘Why is that?’

Could there be secrets he couldn’t share even with his thousand-year junior and successor?

“I understand.”

I cocked my head but began diligently repeating the incantation as instructed. I’d heard that the more I recited it, the stronger it would become and easier to use.

How much time passed as I continuously recited?

The Divine Thief appeared to judge that my accomplishments were sufficient and said,

“Good. This marks the end of my instruction.”

“……”

“It feels like it’s time to part ways. Take care now.”

“Hold on a second.”

“Why?”

I panicked and said,

“But the second stage training of the Thousand Masks Technique just consisted of learning and reciting an incantation, right? Aren’t we going to try it out practically to master it?”

“You really are a training addict…”

Murmuring in exasperation, the Divine Thief said,

“Sorry. Normally, I would put you through that, but it’s too dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“This is my seat. If my main body were to die and manage things directly, that’d be one thing, but I’m just a residual thought. Practicing the second stage of the Thousand Masks Technique here like it’s real would cause major issues. So, you’ll have to return to reality to complete the remaining training.”

“Major issues? What kind of issues?”

“…That’s something I can’t disclose. It’s a very painful memory for my main body.”

A painful memory?

“……”

The Divine Thief murmured with an apologetic tone.

“I can only tell you to use caution with the ability to steal the essence of the abyss. I hope you refrain from using it unless it’s a truly urgent situation. For the rest, please ask the main body.”

“Wait a minute…”

“What now?”

“You mentioned you would teach me the techniques to reach the outer dimension and how to survive there. That’s something you need to disclose.”

“Oh dear, I completely forgot that!”

The Divine Thief clapped his knee and exclaimed.

“To reach the outer dimension, you need to pass through the Death Sea of Aokigahara! And to survive there, just make good use of the Thousand Masks Technique I just taught you. Simple, right?”

“……”

That’s everything I already knew!

Learning to pass through the Death Sea was precisely the information I had heard from the Prophet, so this was absurd.

‘Well, what can I do about it?’

But this information was available because I knew the Prophet and had a special deal with him, so I couldn’t obtain it under normal circumstances. I had simply acquired it quickly, while the Divine Thief’s information seemed quite reasonable.

Instead, I inquired about the survival technique.

“What do you mean by surviving in the outer dimension using the Thousand Masks Technique?”

“Once you get to the outer dimension, you’ll understand. It’s the secret to exploring for over a thousand years.”

“……?”

“It will solve the issues of food, water, and air. Just think smartly.”

As he spoke, the Divine Thief’s figure began to fade.

Swish, swish, swish.

Is he sending me out from this space?

Before he vanished, he made a strange remark.

“Hey, Yeodong-bin. Watching you train has been a bore, hasn’t it? Just feeling bored without someone to talk to.”

Yeodong-bin?

Whish!

“……”

I felt like I had returned to reality in the blink of an eye. Despite spending nearly a year there, the scene before me seemed to change in the blink of an eye. As I blinked in surprise, Zhuge Sa asked,

“What’s wrong?”

“Zhuge Sa, I just met the Divine Thief.”

“What?!”

I handed Zhuge Sa the obsidian and explained my encounter with the Divine Thief. After receiving the obsidian, Zhuge Sa pondered for a moment before saying,

“…That’s interesting.”

“So what do we do now?”

“Now we get moving.”

Zhuge Sa opened his mouth.

“Go and subdue Musashi immediately. With your current strength, you won’t have to drag it out any longer.”