Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 194

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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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Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 194
The Tang Siblings radiated joy with their entire beings.
I sat down on the floor, watching the scene unfold while feeling a pleasant exhaustion wash over me.
‘Thank goodness. Success on the first attempt.’
I’d thought there was a possibility, but I hadn’t been certain we’d succeed on the first try.
After all, utilizing ice crystals in the first place deviated from orthodox martial theory.
Many people commonly mistook ice crystals for a type of spiritual medicine, but in truth, ice crystals weren’t a spiritual medicine that could increase inner qi when consumed.
‘Rather, they’re closer to a crystallized form of natural energy.’
Whether it was the inner core of a spiritual creature or ancient spiritual herbs, the essence ultimately stemmed from life itself.
In other words, natural energy filtered and accumulated through the acceptance of life—not natural energy in its raw form.
That meant consuming spiritual medicine was equivalent to one living being absorbing the energy of another living being.
Therefore, ice crystals weren’t spiritual medicine, and while rare, they weren’t prohibitively expensive.
Though they did contain concentrated energy suitable for formation bases, they had little other practical use.
‘That’s why I thought the possibility was low.’
Ice crystals were just the beginning; I’d planned to try various other approaches.
For instance, hundred-year snow ginseng was a spiritual herb that actually accumulated yin-cold energy in the dantian, making it superior to ice crystals in terms of energy manipulation.
Yet the reason I chose ice crystals for the first attempt.
‘Because the energy was concentrated enough to achieve crystallization.’
To rapidly complete the Tri-Origin Returning-to-Origin technique, the key was achieving energy density through yin-cold energy, just as positive and toxic energies had already accumulated and clumped.
In other words, ice crystals were the highest difficulty but most optimized choice.
“Congratulations, Sister Dang.”
“It’s all thanks to you! Kyaaaah!”
“I’m truly grateful, Hwi’s Younger Brother!”
For now, since this was the first attempt, I’d had to guide the energy using the mysteries of Hwa-cheon Seon-gi for a full six hours.
But having succeeded in taking the first step, future attempts would be far easier.
By observing the Tri-Origin manifested in Dang-yeon’s dantian, I could fill in the gaps in my martial theory.
“I’ll report this back. I need to attempt manifesting the Tri-Origin Returning-to-Origin technique right away!”
When the Dang Family Head received Dang-gun’s report, the entire family was thrown into upheaval.
Combining what they’d learned from Dang-yeon over several days, they attempted to manifest the Tri-Origin through ice crystals this time without my assistance.
The result.
“Success, Hwi’s Younger Brother! We succeeded!”
Though it took considerable time, Dang-gun successfully formed the Tri-Origin in his dantian.
From then on, all the promising disciples challenged the Tri-Origin manifestation using ice crystals.
“We’ve exceeded ten successful cases of Tri-Origin manifestation!”
The Dang Family’s decision was remarkably swift.
In mere days, Dang Yang, the Dang Family’s greatest eccentric, attempted Tri-Origin manifestation.
An elder-class master personally conducted the experiment.
The greater inner qi he possessed, the more ice crystals he required, but he managed to succeed nonetheless.
“Phew. I nearly fell into demonic cultivation.”
“Elder, that’s hardly something to say with such a relieved expression.”
“Regardless, we’ve succeeded. This proves that the Tri-Origin Returning to Source technique can be applied to everyone in the main family.”
That was true. Regardless of the quantity of inner qi or the level of cultivation, it had been demonstrated that the Tri-Origin Returning to Source technique could be applied to all.
‘In essence, I’ve succeeded in creating a new inner cultivation method.’
The fundamental martial principles underlying it are flawless.
While it’s not yet worthy of being called a divine technique, if all the Dang family members work together to develop it further.
The Tri-Origin Returning to Source technique will come to be called the Tri-Origin Returning to Source Divine Technique.
‘For now, the three energies cannot be wielded separately due to the principles of returning to source. But the future will be different.’
All martial arts develop and evolve with the passage of time.
Perhaps one day it could handle yin and yang energies separately, much like the Shaman’s Yin-Yang Divine Technique, and maximize power through the mysteries of mutual restraint and mutual generation.
Well, from now on it’s the Dang family’s responsibility to develop it further.
‘I suppose this means I’ve succeeded in breaking the shackles that bound the Dang family.’
As could be seen from the martial duel between Dang-gun and Namgung Cheon-hu that took place before, the Dang family’s warriors were inherently at a disadvantage in matchups against the warriors of Gu-pa and the Five Great Families.
But that would change now.
The Tri-Origin Returning to Source technique. And the lineage of the Blazing White Mystical Transformation Technique.
These two gifts bestowed upon the Dang family would transform it into a completely different martial clan than before.
‘I’m looking forward to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.’
A martial tournament was inevitable at a gathering where dragons and phoenixes converged.
Originally, the Dang family could never achieve good results at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering’s martial tournament.
But this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering would be very different.
‘I’m already curious what expressions the successors of Gu-pa and the Five Great Families will wear.’
The Dang family members were the ones who felt this sentiment most strongly and intensely.
“I hereby declare in the name of Dang Seong, the Dang Family Head, that from this moment forward, the Tri-Origin Returning to Source technique shall be the foundation for all warriors of the main family.”
“Roooaaarrr!”
“Roooaaarrr!”
“Roooaaarrr!”
Watching the Dang family members erupt in cheers without exception, Yang Hwi smiled with profound satisfaction.
‘I suppose I’ve completed most of what I needed to do in Sichuan.’
It had been nearly a year since I arrived at the Dang family. The time to return to the Baek family was drawing near.

* * *
Clop, clop.
Five carts laden with treasure piled high as mountains crossed the quiet official road.
-Kiiiaaa!
Won-woo flew down from afar and perched on my forearm, fluttering his wings as he conveyed various messages.
Of course, I couldn’t understand a hawk’s speech directly, so I connected through our spiritual link to interpret.
“Chu Dal, Seo. There’s a bandit nest about half a shichen ahead. Go clean it up thoroughly.”
“….”
“….”
The two of them remained silent for a long while before finally opening their mouths.
“Young Master… I feel like I’m dying….”
“I need… rest….”
“Hmph. Want to train through the night again? Granted.”
“G, granted….”
“Damn it….”
The two rushed off at a stumbling pace. I remained composed watching them go, but the man beside me grew restless and spoke up.
“Baek Sohyeop. Are you truly certain this is alright?”
“It’s fine, Supervisor.”
The man accompanying us was Jin Dal-bong, Jin Yeong-gil’s only son.
He had joined us on the road back to the Baek Family at Jin Yeong-gil’s request.
“Both of them are completely exhausted. Won’t there be serious trouble if they make a mistake?”
“Ah, it’s fine. I’ve made it clear that any injuries mean hell training.”
If they didn’t want to endure training worse than death, they’d keep their wits sharp.
“You deliberately chose a route with many bandits, thoroughly searched it, and wiped out all the bandits along the way. Was there really a need for all this?”
He had a point.
We were even carrying precious items the Dang Family had provided, plus gifts from Jin Yeong-gil.
But there was a necessity to training those two younger brothers.
“At their age, neither has reached the first-rate level yet.”
“…You mean first-rate masters?”
“First-rate level.”
“…Yes. But wouldn’t reaching first-rate at sixteen be extraordinary?”
Since he had a point there too, I changed the subject.
“To extract maximum profit, one must always combine multiple benefits. Escort duty and training, all at once—quite efficient, wouldn’t you say?”
“That’s not two birds with one stone, that’s reckless… Hmm. Now I understand why the Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom grew so rapidly.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Though it didn’t seem like he meant it as praise, I accepted it as such anyway.
‘Both are growing faster than expected, but it’s still not enough.’
The Baek Family intended to participate in the Yong-Bong Conference this time.
To achieve good results in the martial tournament, I needed to push both of them hard.
“By the way, you mentioned this was your first time leaving Sichuan, Supervisor. We should arrive at the main residence soon—how are you feeling?”
“I must admit, I’m a bit nervous about this. I’ve already sent the deposit, so everyone should be aware, but as the Supervisor, I’ll need to discuss things again.”
“They’re all good people, so you needn’t worry too much. Just trust me.”
“…I heard you didn’t receive permission to return home…”
“…”
The two fell into companionable silence.
Though it felt odd to need permission to return home, I had rushed off to Sichuan as if being driven out, so there was an uncomfortable feeling lingering.
Surely Father wouldn’t scold me after a whole year had passed?
“Supervisor. I hastened my return to the main house because you asked me to.”
“What?!”
“Let’s go with that!”
“But didn’t you say to trust only you! And I haven’t even been able to help with life at the Baek Family!”
“Life is about trusting and helping each other. In that spirit, let’s speak comfortably with each other too, Jin.”
“Baek Je! Don’t ruin my first impression just to save your own face!”
The two bickered back and forth until Chu Dal and Baek Heon-so returned.
“Tch. Fine then. I’ll just take the scolding alone.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Though my excuse had disappeared, I smiled inwardly.
‘Finally opening up a bit, are we?’
Jin Dal-bong had used formal speech from the moment we first met until now.
Though it varied by person, from my perspective this was wariness.
‘We’ll be walking hand in hand together going forward, so it’s better to open up quickly.’
The landscape of Akan County, where the Baek Family Head resided, was gradually coming into view in the distance.
‘There’s so much to do once we arrive.’
Having presented the Yangtze River Smuggling Network as a blueprint and unified it under the name Il-Ik Alliance, I needed to make appropriate preparations.
For example, creating new martial techniques.
Though I had demonstrated the Eum Hu Ming Jin Convergence, only I could perform it.
‘Learning both the Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom and sound techniques would be too difficult.’
So it would be better to create one new martial technique with characteristics suited for dealing with multiple enemies, combining the two subtleties, and distribute it to my retainers.
I had left the Dang Family right after laying the foundation for the Triple Origin Qi Origin Technique for this reason.
I could have invested more effort and built greater depth, but there was simply too much to do at the main house.
‘Besides, I need to deal with the Black Mirror Faction too.’
To conduct Yangtze River smuggling in Jiangxi, I needed to occupy the Jiujiang area.
In other words, I had to compete with the Black Mirror Faction, which controlled Jiujiang and Yuanzhou.
However, the Black Mirror Faction had backing elsewhere, so considering this point…
‘How is it that my tasks keep multiplying?’
It seemed I would need to finish my report immediately upon arriving at the main house and then tackle these tasks one by one.
Such were my thoughts.
“Hwi. You’ve returned.”
“Father! Your son has returned!”
“Good. Welcome home.”
“Huh?”
My vision spun as a whirlwind swept past.

* * *
Let me sort through what just happened.
I arrived at the Baek Family estate with the others.
Rather than waiting for the gatekeeper, I opened the main gate—crafted from blackened steel—myself, and found Father and the senior elders waiting in the outer courtyard.
We exchanged warm greetings, and Father immediately bid me farewell.
And now.
“It’s been a while, Sohyeop.”
Atop a towering cliff, a beautiful fifteen-year-old girl smiled at me.
“Master, it’s been ages since we’ve met, but isn’t kidnapping me a bit much?”
“Is there nothing else you’d like to say?”
I flinched. There were far too many things I could be called out for.
‘Master probably won’t approve of how I’ve elevated Seolha to the pinnacle realm so quickly…’
And there’s so much more beyond that. Besides, I was planning to add a couple more things to that list.
Forget it. In times like this, the best defense is a good offense.
“Master!”
“Speak, Sohyeop.”
‘Rather than waste time apologizing and awkwardly not knowing where to put myself, it’s better to cleanly shift to a new topic.’
I needed martial techniques that could suppress subordinates by actively utilizing inner qi.
I also wanted to seek her guidance on advancing my martial prowess personally.
“Your disciple requests your assistance, Master!”
I deliberately omitted what kind of help I needed, but Eum Hu nodded.
“Good timing. Prepare yourself, Sohyeop.”
“Huh?”
Eum Hu’s expression was utterly bleak.
This doesn’t feel like what I expected.
Is there something I’m missing?
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“What exactly will become of me going forward?”
“There is only one form of aid a martial master can give to a martial disciple.”
It sounded like she meant to work me to death.
‘Seolha I understand, but me? Why suddenly? What’s the reason?’
I found out immediately.
Eum Hu ground her teeth as she spoke.
“Sohyeop, you will be participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, won’t you? I’ve found an opponent you absolutely must defeat.”

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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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