Myth of Martial Arts - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 3
At that moment, Mu Heon Heon suddenly lifted her head. A flash of resolve crossed her eyes.

“No, I’ll go to Changung Academy myself tomorrow and find him!”
* * *
Jang Wook saw Mu Heon Heon off, then returned alone to his dwelling,

the Fragrant Retreat.

Just as he reached the gate, a gray-furred mutt came bounding toward him, tail wagging frantically.

【So Gang】

【Gender: Male】

【Age: 8 years】

【Constitution Aptitude: None】

【Five-Star Aptitude: None】

【Special Aptitude: None】

【Cultivation Realm: None】

So it’s the Three-Nothing

—or rather, Four-Nothing

model!

“So Gang.”

Jang Wook chuckled and petted the mutt’s head as it wagged its tail endlessly before him.

“Hungry? Wait, I’ll cook you some food right away.”

After eating, the gray-furred dog scratched at its rounded belly with its claws, then lay languidly on the threshold of the Fragrant Retreat.

Jang Wook came out of the kitchen after tidying the bowls and let out a soft laugh at the sight of the lazy gray-furred dog sprawled out.

“What a fortunate life you lead.”

Shaking his head, Jang Wook stepped into his room and settled comfortably onto the bed.

‘Can I see my own information with Insight?’

Having only recently acquired Insight, Jang Wook found it fascinating and decided to experiment at once.

The moment that thought crossed his mind, a flood of information rushed into his consciousness.

【Jang Wook】

【Gender: Male】

【Age: 23 years】

【Constitution Aptitude: Normal Bloodline, Three-Star Low-grade】

【Five-Star Aptitude: Wisdom Low-grade】

【Special Aptitude: None】

【Cultivation Method: Extreme Martial Way
(Spirit-tier Intermediate, eleven stages total, maximum advancement to Waseon Realm
Middle Stage, average of 44 flaws per stage)】

(Spirit-tier Low, 231 flaws), Falling Leaf Sword Technique
(Spirit-tier Low, 285 flaws)】

【Cultivation Realm: Gyeseon Realm 4th Stage】

】

【Three-Star Constitution Aptitude: Nation-tier Genius
】

】

【Five-Star Constitution Aptitude: World-tier Genius

【Six-Star Constitution Aptitude: The Pinnacle of Martial Aptitude】

Jang Wook found himself profoundly satisfied. In this world, no one wished their aptitude to be anything less than extraordinary, and he was no exception.

【Martial Arts: Dragon Phase Realm (Spirit-tier Lower Grade, 231 Flaws), Falling Leaf Sword Technique (Spirit-tier Lower Grade, 285 Flaws)】

“Cultivation method? Martial arts?”

Jang Wook felt a flicker of confusion. When he’d reviewed Mu Heon Heon’s information this afternoon, he didn’t recall seeing these two properties listed.

Yet Jang Wook didn’t dwell on it; instead, he found himself more curious about what this so-called “flaw” actually meant.

He furrowed his brow and posed the question silently in his mind.

‘System, what exactly does “flaw” mean?’

The moment Jang Wook asked, a mechanical voice resonated in his thoughts.

“Simply put, flaws refer to defects within cultivation methods and martial arts. The more flaws present, the slower the cultivation speed and the weaker the martial art’s potency.”

‘Give me a bit more detail.’

“For instance, the host’s Extreme Martial Way comprises eleven stages in total, with forty-four flaws per stage, amounting to four hundred and eighty-four flaws altogether. This is why, despite years of cultivation, the host remains at merely Gyeseon Realm 4th Stage.”

Before Jang Wook could even blink, the system continued its explanation.

“The sole advantage is that it permits cultivation up to Waseon Realm Middle Stage, which is why it was rated as a Spirit-tier Middle Grade cultivation method.”

Cultivation methods and martial arts are divided into four grades: Mortal-tier
, Spirit-tier
, King-tier
, and Divine-tier
.

Mortal-tier methods permit cultivation only up to Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage, while Spirit-tier methods allow advancement to Waseon Realm.

King-tier and Divine-tier methods, by contrast, enable cultivation even into the legendary realms of legend.

After absorbing the system’s explanation, Jang Wook’s eyes fell upon those dazzling numbers once more—and they widened in shock.

“This can’t be right! The Extreme Martial Way has four hundred and eighty-four flaws?”

The thought was deeply unsettling.

The realization that the cultivation method and martial arts he’d spent years training in harbored so many defects made his heart sink.

He was grateful, at least, that he hadn’t fallen into demonic cultivation.

Of course, seeing as these methods and techniques had been passed down through countless ages, even with so many flaws, they surely weren’t severe enough to drive someone into demonic cultivation.

At worst, they would merely slow his cultivation pace.

Jang Wook understood this logic, yet he couldn’t shake the discomfort that settled in a corner of his heart.

“With four hundred and eighty-four flaws, it makes sense why I’ve remained at Gyeseon Realm 4th Stage despite my Three-Star Aptitude.”

Jang Wook finally understood. His constitution aptitude had never been the problem—he had simply chosen his cultivation method and martial arts poorly from the outset.

“But…”

Even if he wanted to change his cultivation method, the advanced techniques and martial arts in the Library Pavilion had already been claimed by others, leaving only mediocre methods and techniques behind.

Whatever remained in the Library Pavilion now—even if offered free to Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy—they likely wouldn’t bother accepting.

Jang Wook had never harbored such hatred for Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy as he did now.

After hurling a few curses at Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy, Jang Wook slowly brought his mind to rest. He shook his head and drew a deep breath.

“Never mind. Let me just go to the Library Pavilion. Maybe there’s a cultivation method or martial art that suits me after all.”

Jang Wook climbed out of bed, put on his shoes, and headed straight for the Library Pavilion.

As he walked, Jang Wook posed a question to the system in his mind.

‘System, why couldn’t I see the cultivation method and martial art attributes when I looked at Mu Heon Heon’s information?’

The mechanical voice responded at once.

“Unless she deploys her cultivation method or martial art before the host, the host cannot view her cultivation method and martial art attributes. The host can view your own cultivation method and martial art attributes because your Insight extracts the relevant information directly from memory.”

Upon hearing this, Jang Wook fell into thought.

The Library Pavilion was situated between the main lecture hall of Changung Academy and the dormitory, only a few hundred meters from Jang Wook’s quarters.

Because no one had maintained it for so long, the surroundings of the Library Pavilion were overgrown with weeds, and the floor was blanketed with layers of thick dust.

As Jang Wook pushed open the Library Pavilion’s gate and stepped inside, the smell of mold hung in the air. Walking slowly in, he gazed at the books crammed densely on the shelves and wore a wry smile.

“Should I thank Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy? How considerate of them to leave behind so many cultivation methods and martial arts.”

The advanced cultivation methods and martial arts were kept on the second and third floors of the Library Pavilion; what remained on the first floor were all worthless methods and techniques that no one bothered with.

Jang Wook did not climb to the upper floors. He already knew that the second and third floors had been emptied out.

Approaching the shelves, Jang Wook casually pulled down a book recording a cultivation method. As he opened it, he simultaneously activated Insight.

【Hong Tian Jue

: Mortal-tier Middle Grade, six total stages, trainable up to Gyeseon Realm 6th Stage maximum, average of 56 flaws per stage】

“Fifty-six flaws on average per stage? Are you joking? Someone would die if they trained with a method like this.”

Jang Wook hastily reached for another book.

【Lian Hua Gong

: Mortal-tier Low Grade, three total stages, trainable up to Gyeseon Realm 3rd Stage maximum, average of 63 flaws per stage】

Worse than the last one. Let me try another.

【Zhang Chun Bao Dian

: Mortal-tier Low Grade, three total stages, trainable up to Gyeseon Realm 3rd Stage maximum, average of 42 flaws per stage】

Jang Wook forced himself to continue examining other books.

【Zhi Zun Jue

: Mortal-tier Middle Grade, six total stages, trainable up to Gyeseon Realm 6th Stage maximum, average of 45 flaws per stage】

【Di Long Gong

: Mortal-tier Lower Grade, three stages total, can be cultivated up to Gyeseon Realm 3rd Stage maximum, average of 38 flaws per stage】
* * *
One hour later.

Jang Wook’s mood had hit rock bottom after reviewing every cultivation method and martial technique on the first floor of the Library Pavilion.

“Among thousands of cultivation methods and martial techniques, not a single one has an average of fewer than 30 flaws…”

The highest grade these methods and techniques could reach was Mortal-tier Middle Grade at best, and many of them contained more flaws than the Extreme Martial Way.

“Finding a cultivation method with fewer flaws shouldn’t be this difficult!”

Jang Wook sighed. Any faction with even a shred of foundation wouldn’t give these worthless cultivation methods and martial techniques a second glance.

He gazed down at the book in his hand and exhaled deeply.

【Jian Tian Jue

: Mortal-tier Middle Grade, six stages total, can be cultivated up to Gyeseon Realm 6th Stage maximum, average of 31 flaws per stage】

This was the cultivation method with the fewest average flaws he’d found so far. But it was merely Mortal-tier Middle Grade.

A Mortal-tier Middle Grade method could only be cultivated up to Gyeseon Realm 6th Stage.

Had it been Mortal-tier Upper Grade, he might have considered it—but Mortal-tier Middle Grade? He’d never switch to this method unless water had somehow gotten into his brain.

“System, got any good suggestions?”

Jang Wook rubbed his temples and sighed. He was completely at a loss.

After a moment of silence, the system’s mechanical electronic voice gradually emanated through his mind.

“Different cultivation methods have flaws in different sections. Since Insight allows you to see the flaws in a cultivation method, the sections not marked as flaws are correct. The host can replace the flawed sections of the Extreme Martial Way with the correct sections from other cultivation methods.”

Modifying a cultivation method.

It was a notion that defied imagination—an audacious suggestion indeed.

Jang Wook stared blankly for a moment, then his eyes widened. Excitement flashed across his face.

“That’s it! Since every cultivation method is different and the flaws vary, I can replace them with the correct sections from other methods!”

With a sufficient collection of cultivation method references, Jang Wook could refine the Extreme Martial Way to have not a single flaw.

Though he was still a novice and couldn’t create cultivation methods from nothing, he could certainly draw from existing ones.

Others couldn’t modify cultivation methods, but Jang Wook was different.

With Insight, he could pinpoint every flaw precisely, find the corresponding correct sections from other methods, and make the substitutions.

This way, he had a real chance to create a cultivation method with no flaws at all.

“Cultivating with a flawless method… just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.”

The mere thought of it sent Jang Wook’s excitement soaring.

He immediately set to work in the Library Pavilion, putting the ideas in his head into action.

But as he set about the task, Jang Wook encountered a problem.

“Each cultivation method has different training techniques for different stages of advancement. If I’m going to correct them, I need to separate the training methods for each stage. If they’re all tangled together, there’s no way to fix them.”

He hesitated for a moment, then drew in a deep breath.

“Then I’ll start from Gyeseon Realm First Stage.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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