942——————==

True Martial Home!

Wuwei Transformation!

The black blade of the Immortal Sword cut through the air, leaving a faint line in its wake. At first glance, it looked meaningless, but that trajectory allowed not a single error, just one perfect answer, and as the black blade passed, the Black Hand adjusted the balance of Yin and Yang. Simultaneously, the intense mass of curses barreled in, only to be obliterated by the might of the Peerless Technique.

There wasn’t a sound, yet I could feel sweat beading on my forehead.

‘Defending against formless attacks is this hard…’

To put it another way, this wasn’t a wind or a lightning phenomenon, nor some Qi attack. It was simply the will to cast a curse colliding through time and space, heading right for me. Normally, such an attack would be physically impossible to block, but since the Peerless Technique dealt with the Six Harmonies, it could erase even formless curses or magic.

But actually doing it was no joke. Physical attacks were something you could at least respond to with reflexes or senses, making them a bit easier to block with the Peerless Technique. However, conceptual attacks were tricky; detecting even the slightest aura in my Peerless Technique was a challenge.

Second attack incoming!

‘The Peerless Technique…’

Yin and Yang energies swirled, creating a Taiji behind me and unleashing a powerful blade aura. The force of the aura dissipated for a moment, negating the attack. Even in a state where I could feel the tiniest muscle in my fingertips, balancing this was no easy feat.

Swish!

The second blow must have been pretty strong; I could visually confirm the dark energy flying off into the horizon after dodging it. Sometimes, when facing an attack too powerful to stop, it was better not to force a block but let it slide.

By the time I managed to defend against the second attack, I felt my strength draining from my legs; fatigue washed over me. In that moment, I painfully felt the gap between me and Jang Sam-bong.

‘No… I can’t push this…’

I had started off with enthusiasm, but executing the Peerless Technique perfectly in real combat without a single mistake was tough as nails. Each failure stacked up, leading inevitably to a catastrophic failure. Sure, I succeeded twice, but I couldn’t guarantee I’d succeed the third time.

How could Jang Sam-bong pull this off all day long?

Had he really executed the Peerless Technique hundreds or thousands of times without a hitch?

Truly a superhuman. There’s no way I could ever reach that level.

But I have to try.

Shaking off my weak thoughts, I focused on harmonizing my Mind, Qi, and Body. Jang Sam-bong’s teachings flashed through my mind.

[It’s not that complicated. If you consciously aim for it, you can do it… But as you know, the Peerless Technique requires the perfect harmony of the six supreme arts, the coordination of Wuwei transformation, the conversion of power, and the manifestation of Taiji all at once. If your intent or spirit wavers even slightly, you will fail.]

[An unwavering, robust mind and discipline are essential.]

[A failure means the fault lies with me… to devote oneself fully to martial arts, that’s what it signifies.]

The Peerless Technique is a contradiction of dedicating everything within oneself while practicing the abilities of Wuwei and refining one’s skills. If the execution of the Peerless Technique fails even once, the practitioner dies. When I asked Jang Sam-bong how he managed to win every time in that gamble, he had answered that he devoted himself utterly to martial arts.

Am I truly devoting myself to martial arts right now?

I don’t know.

What does it mean to devote oneself to martial arts? I’ve repeated Hell Training countless times, but I still don’t have the answer to that question. It’s too abstract and a problem without a solution. Just losing myself in oblivion can’t be the only way to devote oneself to martial arts.

… Wait.

What exactly is martial arts?

Is it merely referred to as overwhelming power?

But in this world, there exists power even more tremendous and terrifying than martial skills. Whether it’s supernatural abilities, innate powers, spells, magic, divine energies, or scientific prowess, martial arts can’t just symbolize ‘power’ in its entirety. They’re not synonyms; rather, one can distinguish martial skills from power’s essence.

‘If I’m not pursuing martial arts for the sake of power, then why did I plunge into the world of martial arts…?’

Thud thud.

As countless thoughts crossed my mind in that brief moment of losing myself, I successfully executed the fourth Peerless Technique. It’d be fair to say it was my first time executing the Peerless Technique consecutively in real combat. My expression remained unchanged, but my thoughts stormed in my mind, beating on my heart.

Devoting myself to martial arts and sacrificing my life was a given for me, Baek Woong, up till now.

The martial world was a cauldron of ‘power’ that could fulfill my fantasies, and there was a time when my goal was to gain honor and power within that realm. Since there was no other way to enhance power than through martial arts, they naturally became synonymous.

But what of now?

If martial arts aren’t power itself, then why do I still seek the pinnacle of martial skills?

Why am I striving against the Absolute Realm?

Clash!

The Immortal Sword hummed. It had never cried out on its own before, yet somehow I felt its cry resonating within my heart. Moreover, the sound of the sword harmonized with my Peerless Technique, balancing it with the energy of my arm, transcending into the Peerless Technique.

Boom!!

The wave of curses that had seemed to engulf the world suddenly vanished. In that moment, the clear sky emerged, and around me, a whirlpool of radiant flames began to erupt. The [Old Ruler] Tezcatlipoca was continuously summoning magic without pause.

Even amidst this dire crisis, my thoughts didn’t cease.

‘If I’m simply stacking power… I don’t need to challenge the Absolute Realm anymore.’

I could just reincarnate, focusing on supernatural abilities. Gathering the Power of the Constellation once more, further developing Spirit Power to pursue a realm beyond greatness while offering treasures to the [Old Ruler] to gain supernatural powers.

If I could repeat that task about five times, I’d probably be strong enough to defeat two Absolute Realm cultivators at once. Not being of the Absolute Realm, but stronger than those masters nonetheless. It’s an external method, but in just stacking power, one might come to see it that way.

And yet, I don’t think of abandoning the arduous journey towards the Absolute Realm. I’ve already realized that standing in the Absolute Realm is inefficient in opposing deities.

Why is that?

Am I feeling regret for all I’ve done?

Did I endure all this suffering just to be left empty after reaching the brink of the Absolute Realm?

“……”

No, it’s not just that…

If my inability to let go of the Absolute Realm was based solely on that, I likely would never achieve peak mastery. The path of martial arts isn’t so easy, nor is that the mindset of a true warrior. The true aspiration for the ‘higher’ is different from just seeking immediate gains.

Swoosh!

I swung the Immortal Sword, slicing through the inferno that surrounded me. This time, I didn’t execute the Peerless Technique because it was something I could bypass without one. Even a brief moment of peace could yield significant advantages in the next execution of the Peerless Technique. As I burst through the fiery tempest like a lightning bolt, dark, shadowy figures seemed to swarm around me, shrieking as if they were human-shaped.

Creeeak – !!

Seeing the dark mists that seemed to surround and tackle me with no escape, I felt neither distress nor fear.

I merely thought of myself.

[You’re too strong of an ego type of person… Though your mental and bodily cultivation is deep, it rather seems to prevent you from forgetting yourself, which is why you seem to be struggling.]

Yeah… Jang Sam-bong had told me that my strong ego meant he had to guide me into oblivion, cultivating a state of wuwei. By imbuing my subconscious with the perfected Peerless Technique, I could learn it.

Even now, not being able to forget myself, I was tormented by fierce inner struggles. I found myself pitiful, yet at the same time, it felt strangely intriguing.

What marks the boundary between ‘I’ and ‘not I’?

A new understanding altered the boundaries of my perception. I’m getting better at the Peerless Technique, slowly overcoming the indecision while growing skillful in its execution without a moment’s hesitation.

Clang!!

As I struck out with a single palm in rhythm with Taiji, the dark mists around me vanished completely. The fresh, clear air embraced me once more, and a cool breeze swept through my hair.

‘What is this… even the energies of magic are resonating with the flow of Qi.’

The hand of magic bestowed by the Dharma Master was pure energy that did not lend itself to releasing or manipulating Qi. Yet somehow, I transitioned from the formlessness of the Peerless Technique into the Yang form and achieved its execution.

Something within me is changing…

Could it be that this was there all along?

Whoosh!

I found myself unknowingly dancing with the Sword Dance. It was a form I had once seen between Jang Sam-bong and Yeodong-bin during their spar. The first step heralded the commencement of my dance, flowing gracefully with the movement.

Sixth. Seventh.

Eighth. Ninth.

Tenth…

‘Wait… this isn’t the Taiji Sword Technique.’

Having successfully executed the tenth Peerless Technique in succession, I realized that. While dancing, I was continually neutralizing every curse with each move, mistakenly thinking that my actions were the Taiji Sword Technique from Jang Sam-bong. However, upon reflection, this wasn’t the Taiji Sword Technique at all.

Rather, it was another martial skill I had learned before.

Upon realizing the identity of that martial skill, a funny feeling washed over me.

“Thunder God Sword Dance!”

The final technique of the Thunder God lineage!

The Thunder God Sword Dance I had learned from Dokgo Seong was undoubtedly a martial art of the Stage of Intent; powerful yet originally a ceremonial martial art, only suited for the Master of the White Lotus Sect.

So why was I practicing the Thunder God Sword Dance now with my Immortal Sword?

Whoosh!

As I stepped into Yin and Yang, they formed a transparent circle, overlapping. From the merged boundary, another circle emerged, stretching out as if it was showing me the way. I was entranced, casting the basic moves of Thunder God Sword Dance as I advanced into the state of no self.

Sword Thunder dances.

And just as the dance reached its peak, I sensed something was blocking it, causing a mismatch in strength. I didn’t understand why that feeling arose but soon realized it.

[The key lies in how freely you can manipulate the Thunderbolt Technique. Only when it responds to your will while still can one say they have mastered the Thunder God Sword Dance.]

Ah, I see.

‘I need the lightning.’

The world’s mightiest force of lightning must respond to me effortlessly, assisting in my endeavor.

Flash!!!

The moment that thought crossed my mind, the raised Immortal Sword drew down a bolt of lightning from the sky, fully charging me with electric power. I could not tell whether it was a coincidence or what, but it likely resulted from my intent sent skyward.

With the Immortal Sword, I felt an invisible aura enveloping me.

And without an ounce of hesitation, I drove that formless energy straight through the crown of a water snake.

Splat!

The water snake’s head was pierced as if it were soft tofu. However, that was just the beginning; for certain, I couldn’t fully penetrate its chaotic head. This must be the boundary of the standard power of the Thunder God Sword Dance.

Sizzle!

In that instant, I felt my entire body transform into a mass of Thunder Energy. The formless energy spreading through my sword naturally led me into a state of oblivion. I opened my eyes slightly and readjusted my stance, and soon I found myself experiencing something unbelievable.

White Lotus Sect.

Heavenly Thunder God Martial Arts!

The title of a perfected martial technique echoed within my mind as if someone had already constructed it.

Boom, boom, boom!

My body transformed completely into the Thunder Spear itself, piercing right through the head of Tezcatlipoca! A radiant spear, shining like a million white lotuses, burst forth.

Fueled by the lightning, it shot through and impaled his head like a spike, the brilliance shining like a beam of sunlight across the horizon. And as the moment unfolded, I found myself submerged in the waters of the Great Ocean.

Gurgle!

[Khwaaaaaa!!]

From the outside of the sea, the anguished cry of the [Old Ruler] echoed in response. Hearing that scream assured me that I had managed to land a fatal blow against him. Yet before I could rejoice, a significant realization struck me.

‘What just happened…’

It was unmistakable.

It felt like I had unleashed the Thunder Spirit!