Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 270

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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 270
To be honest, there was much to gain if I became a disciple of Daehaeyongwangdo Peng Fan.
‘Even now, I’m known as a disciple of Cheonmu-sip-jon Pa-cheon-eumhu… but I’m merely an outer disciple.’
Becoming a direct disciple of Daehaeyongwangdo would elevate my very status.
Unlike Eum Hu, who had a direct disciple in Jegal Seol-ha, Daehaeyongwangdo was famous for searching the realm for thirty years—even among the Peng Family, the greatest under heaven—without finding a suitable disciple.
In other words, to the reputation of being the greatest prodigy of the latter age, would be added a single line: one whose talent even satisfied Cheonmu-sip-jon.
‘Moreover, I could develop a close relationship with the Peng Family.’
Unlike the Seongeumok-ryeongmun, which continued through single-person succession, Daehaeyongwangdo was the head of the greatest family under heaven.
The Baek Family could receive considerable assistance in its growth.
‘The greatest benefit would naturally be martial arts.’
If I obtained the true martial arts of Cheonmu-sip-jon, truly many things would change.
In a position where I must grow stronger by the day, shouldn’t I unconditionally become Daehaeyongwangdo’s disciple?
But.
Even so.
“The reason I cannot become your disciple, Honored One, is simple.”
I turned my head to look at Eum Hu.
Our first meeting, when she was disguised as a Waitress Girl, felt like yesterday, yet already more than ten years had passed.
“Because my Master would dislike it.”
“Namgung Cheon-yeong….”
I continued with a slight smile.
“My Master has given me much. No matter how much more you might offer, Honored One, since I have already received so much, I cannot do what my Master would not wish.”
If I simply walked down every path that promised gain, what would distinguish me from the Demonic Path?
What matters is walking my own path.
Becoming Daehaeyongwangdo’s disciple lay outside the path I wished to walk.
“Is that truly the entire reason, Junior Disciple?”
“Yes. If I must add something… I suppose I’d be scolded by my father if I abandoned Eum Hu. My father values righteousness and benevolence greatly.”
Peng Fan fell silent. For him, it was a reason beyond imagination.
Though I felt as though he might have known it all along.
Because his expression seemed pleased.
“Hahahaha! Hahahaha!”
Peng Fan burst into hearty laughter and rose to his feet.
“You cannot betray righteousness and benevolence! So you rejected this Peng Fan’s offer of discipleship for such a reason!”
‘To be honest, there is one more reason.’
If I became Peng Fan’s disciple, I could receive support from the greatest family under heaven.
But conversely… if something conflicted with the Peng Family’s interests, I might not receive Peng Fan’s aid.
The interests of his children and grandchildren. The interests of his disciple.
Even Peng Fan himself could not know which way the scales would tip.
‘Whereas Eum Hu would roll up her sleeves and help if my family needed assistance.’
The Eum Hu I had come to know was such a person.
With no faction to constrain her, she could step forward freely.
I would never turn away a disciple’s request for help.
‘If the interests of the Jegal Family and my own family conflicted, that might be different, but such a situation won’t arise.’
Well, it wasn’t a calculation I needed to voice aloud anyway.
Compared to my bond with Eum Hu, it was a trivial reason.
“Junior Disciple.”
“Yes, Venerable One?”
“You’re becoming even more desirable to me.”
“Pardon?”
Peng Fan turned his head toward Eum Hu.
After sending her a gaze for a moment, he lowered his head.
“Eum Hu. As a friend who has walked beside you for a hundred years, I make this request. Please, give me your disciple.”
“Yongwang-do….”
The Cheonmu-sip-jon lowered his head.
The Supreme Family Head of the greatest family under heaven bowed his head.
To gain a disciple.
Eum Hu understood better than anyone the weight contained in Peng Fan’s gesture.
Though he possessed a nature so carefree it seemed frivolous, he was a man who never bowed.
‘Yongwang-do… he’s sincere. But Namgung Cheon-yeong is….’
Her disciple had been revealed to be one chosen by the heavens.
Handing over Yang Hwi to become Yongwang-do’s disciple carried far greater significance than she had anticipated.
For a disciple inevitably falls under the influence of their master.
‘The Great Sea Dragon King—Yongwang-do of the Peng Family. He is a being who can never escape the logic of the secular world.’
I wished for Yang Hwi to walk a path entirely of his own choosing.
That was why I made the journey through the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly a process of confirming his path.
So that I could release him if his direction differed from my own.
And beyond that….
I did not wish to part with my disciple Yang Hwi.
How could I not cherish a disciple who absorbed everything I taught so thoroughly?
Yang Hwi had already become one of the most precious beings in the world to me.
“Just a moment, please.”
A clear, ringing voice broke through the silence of the two Cheonmu-sip-jon.
Yongwang-do and Eum Hu turned their gaze toward Yang Hwi.
“It seems my respected Master and Venerable One are being put in a difficult position because of me. I didn’t intend for such a situation to arise… but would it be acceptable if I offered a solution?”
“A solution?”
“Speak.”
The moment Yang Hwi displayed that characteristic crooked smile.
Eum Hu felt a sense of unease.
That unease became reality.
“Venerable One, you must grant me one wish, must you not? Is that not so?”
“That’s right. You became Jeil-ryong and won the wager of Inner Qi.”
“Teach me a martial art. I’ll study diligently. And if I come to understand your greatness even more deeply, perhaps I’ll wish to become your disciple?”
It was a statement so absurd that even the Cheonmu-sip-jon himself stood slack-jawed.
“Namgung Cheon-yeong, what are you saying…?”
“Did you just ask for martial arts without even offering a formal bow of respect?”
Yang Hwi replied shamelessly.
“I don’t want the two of you, who are both my masters, to grow distant over me alone. So I had no choice but to offer a compromise. I know my request is unreasonable… but is there a better way?”
Yongwang-do and Eum Hu exchanged glances.
Mouths agape in astonishment. Eyes filled with bewilderment.
They realized they were wearing the same expression.
If their expressions matched, then their feelings must align as well.
“I like it!”
“Yongwang-do!”
“After wandering for decades, I’ve finally found a worthy disciple! And with such a noble reason to boot! I’ll grasp at even the thinnest thread!”
Eum Hu’s head swiveled frantically between Yang Hwi and Yongwang-do.
With her youthful appearance, the way she shook her head side to side looked endearingly cute.
Soon, Eum Hu let out a long sigh.
“Sigh… I can’t say anything about my disciple receiving martial arts from another. Do as you wish.”
“Thank you, Eum Hu! You truly are my cherished friend! Hahahaha!”
Eum Hu shot Yongwang-do a sharp glare as he laughed heartily.
“But mark my words. I have no intention of giving up my disciple. Namgung Cheon-yeong is my disciple.”
“We’ll see about that!”
“Yes, we’ll see. And on that note.”
Eum Hu’s deep eyes fixed upon Yang Hwi.
“Namgung Cheon-yeong.”
“Yes, Master.”
“You rejected the position of direct disciple to the Cheonmu-sip-jon for the sake of loyalty to me.”
“It was only natural.”
“But I felt grateful. What a master returns to their disciple is but one thing.”
Yang Hwi’s eyes widened slightly.
Until now, Eum Hu had never transmitted her own martial arts to him.
Even the Gi-cheon Step he used so effectively was something he’d created by copying Eum Hu’s Il-do, not something he’d been taught.
“I will transmit to you Il-do, one of the two supreme techniques of the Seongeumok-ryeongmun.”
Words failed him. A single thought arose unbidden.
‘They say you really should live righteously.’
He’d chosen loyalty over practical gain, and suddenly found himself obtaining the martial arts of two Cheonmu-sip-jon.
What an incredible windfall!

* * *
The transmission of martial arts from both Cheonmu-sip-jon occurred immediately.
In order, Eum Hu went first.
Daehaeyongwangdo stepped away briefly, and I knelt to listen carefully to Eum Hu’s words.
“Namgung Cheon-yeong created the Gi-cheon Step merely by witnessing the Il-bo-cheon of our sect’s fundamental techniques.”
“It was only thanks to my Master’s consideration in showing me the details so thoroughly.”
“Enough with the modesty. Given that you are Namgung Cheon-yeong, I believe you will master Il-bo-cheon quickly.”
“I will surely live up to your expectations.”
The breathing technique of the Seongeeum Okryeong School is counted among the finest under heaven.
To think I could receive the transmission of such Il-bo-cheon!
I’ll only know once I practice it, but as I dissect the enlightenment and blend it with other techniques, I should be able to add several breathing techniques of comparable caliber to my family’s inherited martial arts.
“First, recite the incantation for me. Listen carefully.”
“Yes!”
The incantation of Il-bo-cheon had an overall feel befitting a sect that pursued the Immortal Way.
One must grasp the underlying principles precisely within the cryptic Taoist dialogues.
Fortunately, it didn’t feel difficult.
This was thanks to Swordmaster Yeo Dong-bin, who had opened my path in this regard.
One step, thousand transformations. One step, ten thousand changes. One step becomes wind. Wind’s intent transforms endlessly.
Summarizing the profound meaning contained in Il-bo-cheon, it was this:
Contain thousand transformations and ten thousand changes in a single step.
The step itself becomes wind.
The meaning contained in wind is boundless transformation.
‘I see now. This was why the Gi-cheon Step I created didn’t produce power equal to Il-bo-cheon.’
The Gi-cheon Step I had created back then contained only the transformations of Il-bo-cheon.
I had failed to recognize that wind was the fundamental enlightenment behind the transformations.
This was also why I had felt a whirlwind whenever Eum Hu deployed her breathing technique.
“The melody flows upon the wind. Thus we too flow upon the wind, transforming into it. That is Il-bo-cheon.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Master.”
“Now that you know the incantation, let me see if you have truly grasped it. Demonstrate it for me.”
“Yes.”
Rather than rising immediately, I closed my eyes and fell into deep meditation.
One step, thousand transformations. One step, ten thousand changes. One step becomes wind. Wind’s intent transforms endlessly.
Now.
Wind swept violently through the guest room.
Despite both the door and windows being completely shut.
“Splendid. Truly, Namgung Cheon-yeong’s talent is….”
Eum Hu trailed off, and I grinned as I continued.
“The greatest under heaven, yes? I’m well aware, Master.”
“…If only your humility were proportional to your talent.”
“I believe it is proportional—this is simply the level it reaches.”
“You won’t say a word back to your Master, I see.”
A gust of wind swept through. I reacted immediately and conjured a counter-wind, but it was too late.
Thwack!
“Ow!”
Eum Hu, having disciplined her impudent disciple with a flick to the forehead, cast a sharp glare at me as I rolled about clutching my brow.
“Swift comprehension does not necessarily mean swift advancement in realm. Apply yourself diligently.”
“Yes, Master…”
“Sigh. Then next, go receive martial instruction from Yongwang-do. He will be waiting in the back mountain.”
I had thought she cleared the space out of consideration for Eum Hu, but it seemed she had simply moved to a location more suitable for transmitting martial arts.
“Understood. I shall return shortly.”
“Brother, learn well while you’re there.”
“Right. Thank you.”
I waved to Seolha before launching myself toward the back mountain.
‘Certainly far faster than before—almost unbelievably so.’
It was thanks to mastering Il-bo-cheon, the original form of the Gi-cheon Step.
Considering I hadn’t yet achieved proficiency, it was a movement technique with remarkably superior capability.
As I advanced with such thoughts, Yongwang-do’s silhouette came into view.
“Honored One.”
“Junior Disciple. You’ve come.”
Yongwang-do smiled mischievously.
“You’re likely the first late-stage master to remain intact after committing the rudeness of requesting martial arts as compensation for Inner Qi from a Cheonmu-sip-jon. Wouldn’t you say?”
“My apologies.”
“Never mind. Your talent is coveted enough that it’s only natural. Do allow me to become your disciple after witnessing this body’s martial prowess.”
Yongwang-do sat in lotus position, and I naturally followed suit.
“The martial art I shall transmit to you is the Tiger Transformation Great Sea Divine Art. It is the heart method of this Great Sea Dragon King.”
A heart method is the foundation of all martial arts.
Rather than merely teaching a few sword techniques, he was bestowing a heart method.
‘It seems he truly wishes to accept me as his disciple.’
I felt a slight pang of guilt.
After all, the Great Sea Dragon King had consistently shown me goodwill.
“A divine art that no one under heaven can learn. It’s so rare for someone among the Dongnyang-jijae to possess the qualifications that the entry requirements are extraordinarily high.”
“When you speak of qualifications…”
“Junior Disciple. What do you think this body’s Inner Qi amounts to?”
At the level of Cheonmu-sip-jon, the quantity of Inner Qi loses meaning.
Their enlightenment and non-action transcended Inner Qi to the point of commanding the heavens and earth themselves.
But.
Yongwang-do was precisely the Cheonmu-sip-jon whose reputation was established by Inner Qi as vast as the great sea itself.
“The magnitude of inner force this body commands is… precisely one hundred sixty-year cycles.”
I let out a low whistle.
One hundred sixty-year cycles of inner force? Ordinarily, even with a full day of breathing exercises, it would take six thousand years to accumulate such an amount.
Is this truly a power that a human body can contain and wield?
“And the qualification to enter the Splendid Sea Divine Art is a body capable of holding ten cycles of Inner Qi.”
Merely to meet the entrance requirement, one must be able to handle ten cycles of Inner Qi.
This is no trivial matter either. There was a reason he couldn’t find disciples even after searching the entire realm.
‘A monster. Truly a monster.’
They said that the Cheonmu-sip-jon, whom heaven favors most, met his destined encounter after a hundred chances—and he exceeded even my imagination.
‘Conversely, this divine art could lose its meaning without tremendous Inner Qi backing it.’
I won’t know until I hear the incantation, but it might be a divine art with more limitations than expected?
“I have a question. What is the function of the Splendid Sea Divine Art?”
Yongwang-do quickly discerned the true intent behind my question.
“You’re thinking it won’t have any power without Inner Qi, aren’t you?”
“…Honestly, yes.”
“Your guess is correct. The Splendid Sea Divine Art grows more powerful the more Inner Qi you possess.”
Inner Qi doesn’t increase simply by consuming elixirs indiscriminately.
Inner Qi—in other words, a concentrated mass of energy that defies nature’s order.
To increase Inner Qi beyond a certain threshold, one must either cultivate through enlightened breathing techniques or consume elixirs with sufficient spiritual essence.
‘This is troublesome. Even though I found an elixir field in Sichuan, I don’t have elixirs with enough spiritual essence to benefit me.’
It was strange that Daehaeyongwangdo had accumulated Inner Qi reaching a hundred cycles.
With that level of spiritual essence, it seems he would have needed to consume something like a dragon’s wish orb.
“Don’t worry. The Splendid Sea Divine Art has a core function separate from that. You’ll understand what it is once you learn it. Tell me, Junior Disciple—are you becoming curious about the incantation?”
A different function, then. Yes, whatever it may be, it’s the heart method of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
Learning it will surely prove useful somewhere.
“Yes. If you teach me, I will regard it as a lifelong debt of gratitude.”
“Regarding it as gratitude—that doesn’t mean you’re only thanking me with words, does it?”
It wasn’t quite that, but Yang Hwi, feeling a sting of conscience, bowed his head.
“How could that be? From now on, I will address you as my Benefactor Master and serve you with respect.”
“Neither Master nor Teacher, but still a Benefactor Master. I find that quite satisfactory. Now I shall recite the incantation for you.”
One Tiger Bestows Doubling. Two Tigers Bestow Doubling. Four Tigers Bestow Doubling. Eight Tigers Bestow Doubling.
When I heard the incantation up to this point, my thought was simple.
‘Compared to the Ilbo-cheon… the enlightenment itself is quite crude.’
One born as mediocre talent who reached the heights of the Cheonmu-sip-jon through destined encounters.
Daehaeyongwangdo Peng Beom.
This shouldn’t be the case, but disappointment was beginning to creep in.
Doubling Begets Doubling. Doubling Begets Vastness. Tiger Transforms to Great Sea. Great Sea Becomes One Path. One Contains the Great Sea.
“Double upon doubling. Multiply by two repeatedly, until at last it becomes immense. One tiger becomes a great sea through multiplication. Thus the great sea becomes one path. One contains the ocean. That is the Splendid Sea Divine Art.”
The Splendid Sea Divine Art.
I understood what Yongwang-do meant by the core function.
The important thing was not handling Inner Qi as vast as the great sea.
The essential mystery was creating a great sea with a single tiger.
‘The tiger is the energy. One energy, made as vast as the great sea.’
I sink deeper. I become fully immersed.
Merely listening to it draws me into a state of transcendence. The Splendid Sea Divine Art contained profound enlightenment within it.
A path had been laid out, forged from everything an untalented mediocrity like myself had endured.
“Junior Disciple… hmm.”
Peng Fan, who was about to ask if I had understood all the incantations, quickly closed his mouth.
‘Just hearing the incantations has sent him into a state of transcendence. Truly, what extraordinary spiritual aptitude.’
Satisfaction welled up within him. With such exceptional spiritual aptitude, he would surely come to desire the Splendid Sea Divine Art, this Great Sea Dragon King’s martial techniques.
The reason was simple.
Since he possessed the qualifications for entry, he could not help but recognize martial arts that could maximize his advantages to the fullest.
It was then.
Peng Fan’s expression changed drastically.
—Kiiiiiaaaaah…!
A cry echoing from the deepest depths of Yang Hwi, who sat in lotus position.
With it, the surroundings began to resonate.
‘No, surely not…!’
Even as Peng Fan gasped in shock, I continued searching for the threads of enlightenment.
‘Splendid Sea. Splendid Sea.’
A tiger transforms into the great sea.
This aligned perfectly with Eum Hu’s teachings.
‘Transform the great into the small. The sound becomes truth.’
Sound is vibration. Through vibration, power can be layered or canceled out.
What if I could unify sound art and sea art in the same direction?
‘That direction. A new martial way. A path containing everything—neither sword art nor sound art nor technique.’
The Heaven-Splitting Sword I had created myself.
The teachings on rhythm that Pacheon Eumhu had imparted.
The power of the great sea transmitted by the Great Sea Dragon King.
Three things became two characters.
That is, amplification.
It was that moment.
‘My inner qi… is increasing.’
I opened my eyes. My gaze met the Great Sea Dragon King’s.
“Junior Disciple. You….”
“Master.”
Was it not said that the qualification for entry into the Splendid Sea Divine Art required a body capable of wielding ten decades of inner qi?
Originally, my inner qi was merely three hundred years, five decades.
But now.
I realized I had become capable of manifesting the power of ten decades.
Transcending the limits of inner qi, I had obtained power beyond that.
The reason was simple.
I had obtained the power of the great sea—amplification.
“To master it so quickly. Unbelievable.”
“It was only possible because there were aspects that connected with the martial path I’ve walked thus far. But if I may ask for your indulgence, might I take my leave? I wish to contemplate this alone and deepen my understanding.”
Peng Fan replied with a pleased expression.
“There’s no need for such courtesy. I shall take my leave now. Return once you’ve completed your cultivation.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Peng Fan departed.
I waited a moment, then withdrew a book from my robes.
The Swordmaster’s Manual. Unlike before, a change had occurred that only I could perceive.
‘So there was a reason I couldn’t read it before. The time simply hadn’t come yet.’
The “time” referred to here meant possessing inner qi equivalent to ten heavenly stems.
I opened the first page of the Swordmaster’s Manual.
Most of the characters were still indecipherable.
Yet four characters became clear to me.
Sweep away the bandits and attain the way.
Eliminate the thieves and find your path.
“Bandits” likely referred to those wretched brigands and such.
The “way” in attaining enlightenment meant the path to becoming stronger than I am now lay in that direction.
“Ah, I see now, Swordmaster. This is a directive of sorts.”
The timing was fortuitous.
With the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering concluded, it was time to advance to the next stage.
‘It’s time to expand our influence beyond Gangxi. So then… the Yangtze River Alliance. This time, you shall become the sacrifice for us.’
The second great evil faction under heaven—the Yangtze River Alliance.
The next target for the Baek Family’s ascent.

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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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