Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 324
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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 324
I had finally stepped into the realm of a Transcendent Master.
Thanks to my past-life experience and the insights I’d gained, I could have ascended whenever I wished, but I had postponed this breakthrough—this ascension—to climb even higher.
It was almost laughable to call a mere single-stage advancement an “ascension,” yet Yang Hwi was genuinely experiencing something close to true transcendence.
All the patience I’d exercised had finally borne fruit.
‘I’m probably the only one who nearly died from the frustration of holding back when I could have advanced.’
The exasperation had been truly unbearable.
So much so that I had even created a combined technique with Seolha that could manifest Transcendent Master-level martial prowess.
‘I never expected to reach Transcendent Master status less than a month after creating it.’
Twin Wings, Twin Birth, Three Talents Transformation. I harbored no regrets about creating that technique.
The insights and knowledge gained in the process had greatly aided me in inscribing my new Transcendent Master’s mental image—the Shattering Heaven Response.
‘Without the profound mysteries of Twin Wings, Twin Birth, Three Talents Transformation, I would never have conceived the idea of using the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword and Tai Chi Reverse Sword as wings of their own.’
In that sense, Seolha’s contribution to this breakthrough was quite substantial.
‘Now that I think about it, Seolha did ask me to play with her after the banquet. I should give her a proper time.’
As I smiled at that thought, I sensed a shift in the atmosphere.
“Hmm?”
I turned my head and met the eyes of people whose mouths were firmly sealed.
“…?”
It had been roughly half an hour since Seon had vanished after leaving those bitter words, yet the banquet hall remained in complete silence.
More precisely, everyone stood motionless, their eyes fixed solely on me.
“….”
I raised my hand. All eyes immediately converged upon it.
This time, I gazed upward with a wistful expression, then broke into a broad grin.
Tiny whispers began to ripple through the crowd.
“…Ohhhhh!”
“It seems Eung-hyo Je-il has completed his enlightenment.”
“Judging by that smile, it’s no trivial breakthrough…!”
“Ohhhhhhh….”
‘…I certainly did gain a substantial enlightenment.’
Every single person gathered in this banquet hall was a senior figure of Baek Do.
Even the Hu Gi-jisu were exclusively direct disciples of the sect.
That such individuals would react this way meant….
‘My influence from this point forward will be extraordinary.’
Of course it would be. I had just headbutted a Cheonmu-sip-jon, and that Cheonmu-sip-jon had yelped and fled immediately after.
In other words, they had directly witnessed a mere Hu Gi-jisu earning the acknowledgment of a Cheonmu-sip-jon.
‘I have now proven myself to be someone capable of killing a Cheonmu-sip-jon.’
A Cheonmu-sip-jon is evaluated as an existence capable of bringing the Nine Great Sects to their knees single-handedly.
A Hu Gi-jisu barely approaching twenty-two years of age had become someone who could kill such a being?
What this fact signified was….
“Ahem, my son-in-law!”
Jeongal Pae approached with a benevolent expression, spreading his arms wide.
This man had never called me by any title other than Young Master Baek until now—why the sudden change?
“Your injuries look severe. It would be best to go to the main family’s medical hall for treatment. I’ll make sure they spare no precious elixirs for my son-in-law.”
“Pardon? I haven’t sustained injuries that serious, actually.”
To be frank, every time I fought, I would condense my innate energy into a healing pill and swallow it, but today I hadn’t even chewed one.
“If you keep pushing such a precious body around like that, you’ll suffer in your old age. Ahem, what are you all doing! Attend to my son-in-law!”
“Yes, Family Head!”
Even if support were needed, one or two people would suffice, yet the Jegal Family members came rushing over in droves.
This clearly looked like an attempt to block the gazes of outsiders from other sects, didn’t it?
I’d bet my life that the Jegal Family Head had issued orders through sound transmission.
“The banquet is still ongoing. It would be proper to remain at my seat.”
When I politely declined, Jeongal Pae raised his voice instead.
“Propriety? When I’ve just saved everyone in this banquet hall from Susa Jaeseol himself! If anyone dares speak of propriety, then I, Jeongal Pae, Head of the Wa-ryong Jegal Family, will not stand idle!”
His voice rang out magnificently. Wait—this man who always carried himself with cold, blade-like precision could produce such passionate tones?
‘For the first time, I’m seeing my uncle’s father act like a true father.’
“Never mind that. I’ll escort you personally, my son-in-law. Come along now.”
Jeongal Pae seized my forearm. Judging by the grip strength I felt, he had no intention of letting go easily.
A sudden sense of foreboding washed over me.
‘…If I get dragged away like this, I think they’ll hold the wedding ceremony tomorrow.’
“Wait, please… My enlightenment training isn’t quite complete yet.”
“Ah, is that so! Then allow me to guide you to a quiet place!”
I couldn’t let myself be dragged away. I didn’t know exactly what it was, but something terrible would happen.
The fact that my opponent was Jeongal Pae made it even more frightening.
Watching how this old man shifted his approach, he was clearly someone capable of doing anything in a different sense.
As Yang Hwi pondered escape routes, cold sweat began to form on my brow.
“Grandfather.”
Seolha descended gracefully beside me, gently prying Jeongal Pae’s hand away before crossing her arms.
“I’ll take my brother.”
“Hmm? Ahem, Seolha. Wouldn’t it be better if grandfather came along too?”
Seolha smiled sweetly. It was a smile that somehow conveyed a certain barrier.
“Brother, I’m all you need, aren’t I?”
-Just say yes. If I get dragged away like this, we won’t get to play tonight.
“Right. Of course.”
I answered quickly, and Seolha called out brightly.
“Though an incident occurred, honored guests, please continue to enjoy the banquet!”
Seolha unleashed the Thousand Wind technique and leaped into the air.
With her arm linked through mine, my body was pulled skyward.
-But where are we going?
-Who knows? Shall we watch the town from a nearby rooftop?
-That’s what you always do. You said you wanted to play—is that enough for you?
-Of course.
I lowered my gaze downward.
My clothes were shredded to pieces and drenched in blood.
I supposed it shouldn’t matter what I wore while fighting, but…
-Sorry. You picked this out and matched it for me, but I’ve ruined it.
My eyes met Seolha’s as she turned her head.
Those mysterious eyes held a violet hue.
Soon a crescent moon appeared as her lips curved upward.
-It’s fine. I prepared two sets knowing this might happen.
I let out a small exclamation of admiration.
-Wow, such thorough preparation… Wait. You knew this might happen?
-If you go even a single day without causing trouble, you wouldn’t be my brother.
I had nothing to say to that.
Though honestly, it was unfair—how could anyone have predicted Seon would appear?
* * *
I treated my injuries and changed into fresh clothes.
Judging by how identical they felt to my previous outfit, Seolha had indeed prepared two sets in the exact same measurements.
“Fortunately, they fit perfectly. I was a bit worried.”
This was what Seolha said as she adjusted my collar.
Yang Hwi nodded.
“Since I’ve reached the Transcendent Master realm?”
“Yes. Usually the body changes dramatically, doesn’t it? So much so that it’s called metamorphosis.”
Everyone underwent transformation during breakthroughs in martial power, but the ascension from Master to Transcendent Master was specifically called metamorphosis—a term reserved for that singular leap.
The reason? Simple enough.
One of the hallmarks of reaching Transcendent Master was bone restructuring and rebirth.
‘If I were attacked during the moment my body was being reconstructed, it would all be over.’
A butterfly is most vulnerable when emerging from its chrysalis during metamorphosis, and predators often devour them at that precise moment.
The ascension to Transcendent Master carried the same peril.
Gain enlightenment mid-battle and advance, and your neck would likely be severed before the bone restructuring even finished.
‘Now that I think about it, that was close. Though I didn’t advance without some plan.’
I had faith in something.
Because the Great Sea Dragon King had said something to me before.
“The Great Sea Dragon King said there was a high probability I wouldn’t undergo bone restructuring and rebirth.”
Since I already possessed a body that was nearly perfect, such restructuring wouldn’t be necessary, he had said.
Though considering that bone restructuring and rebirth is a phenomenon where the body reconstructs itself based on the martial power a warrior has achieved, his explanation seemed somewhat unclear.
But since the bone restructuring and rebirth didn’t actually occur, the Great Sea Dragon King’s words proved correct.
“I see. I’m glad the clothes fit, hehe.”
Seolha hummed contentedly as she finished adjusting my attire.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?”
“Then wouldn’t that be a bad thing?”
Hmm. When you put it that way, I have nothing to say against it.
“Let’s go.”
Seolha surrendered herself to the wind.
I too walked upon the breeze.
“Thank you. I could reach the Transcendent Master realm because of you, Seolha. Your contribution was truly immense.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. If I hadn’t trained with the Twin Wings Twin Life Flower Three Calamities, I would never have reached it.”
And if I hadn’t set foot in the Transcendent Master realm.
Even if I had reached it, without the enlightenment worthy of being called an ascension.
“I would have died at Seon’s hands today. I owe my life to you.”
“So I’m owed a life debt. I’m curious how my brother intends to repay it.”
“I’m already repaying it.”
“What? I haven’t received anything.”
I walked ahead of Seolha with a silent smile.
‘In your past life, you died by my hand, Seolha.’
In my previous life, it was I who marked the final end of Seob Hon-ma-hu, who had caused the Blood Calamity.
Though Seob Hon-ma-hu was a great demon capable of easily killing and dominating even Transcendent Masters.
Strangely, despite being merely at the peak realm at that time, I possessed an unusually strong resistance to Seob Hon-ma-hu’s soul-binding technique.
‘This life will be different. Before I die, you will not meet death.’
Chu Dal, my sworn brother who remained with me until my final breath.
I saved him before he could experience the misery of my past life, made him part of the main family, and helped him become the successor of the Divine Striking Vein.
Dang-gun, my sworn brother who died in my stead.
Following my sworn brother’s final request, I formed a blood oath with the Dang Family in this life and removed the shackles from my heavenly brother.
‘Though our paths have diverged… I must repay the debt to Elder Yok as well… and the debt owed to the Hwa-san Sect.’
Seolha was also included in that list.
Seolha too had become someone I would protect with my life.
“You don’t need to know. In any case, I’ll repay it steadily, so don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried. My brother is the type who can’t live with debts.”
“Me?”
That’s not true. I live well with debts.
It’s being wronged that I can’t live with.
“Anyway, explain it to me. I’m curious what realm you’ve entered.”
“Ah, right. The Shattering Heaven Response is….”
“Shattering Heaven Divine Conduit.”
“Huh?”
“Not Shattering Heaven Response, but Shattering Heaven Divine Conduit.”
Wait, I think of my enlightenment as Shattering Heaven Response, but this is Seolha’s advice—she can perceive enlightenments.
“Right. The function of Shattering Heaven Divine Conduit is simple. Incredibly complex and difficult, but it’s still only the beginning.”
I reached my hand toward the sky.
The sky gradually tinged with sunset hues seemed within reach of my hand.
“Shatter Heaven. To break the heavens, one must first grasp them.”
The sky was captured in Yang Hwi’s grip.
It was as though heat shimmer bloomed across the space itself.
“The first step of Shatter Heaven Divine Technique. In other words, one stride.”
A heart that yearns to reach all things, wherever they may exist.
Its name was Tread Heaven.
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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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