Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 327

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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 327
“Seolha.”
“Yes?”
“What if I was actually a genius?”
“You’re always saying you’re the greatest talent under heaven, though?”
“That’s about martial talent. Teaching is a different matter entirely.”
I had achieved remarkable results teaching martial arts until now.
But it was all thanks to the martial theory I’d systematized from my past life—encountering various martial arts and creating divine techniques.
I was indeed an outstanding warrior and martial scholar, but being a good teacher was something else entirely.
“It seems I’m the greatest teacher under heaven.”
“I’d like to deny it, but I can’t.”
The results were right before our eyes.
Two weeks. It had only been two weeks since I began lecturing on the Heart Sutra.
Yet a Transcendent Master had been born.
Whoooooosh—
The surrounding energy surged and swirled, enveloping someone in a vortex.
It was an excessively massive phenomenon for the aftermath of a realm ascension, but this was normally how entering the Transcendent realm appeared.
It was Yang Hwi who was strange—blocking Seon’s attacks the moment of enlightenment without any visible change.
“Metamorphosis… is happening.”
Entering the Transcendent realm is typically called metamorphosis.
The Peak—the realm of human limits.
Having reached the end, called Peak, one transcends into the Transcendent.
Just as a chrysalis transforms into a butterfly, a human who has reached the extreme transcends into something greater.
‘Well… none of that matters. It’s called metamorphosis because of the complete rebirth of bone and flesh.’
Crack! Crack-crack-crack!
Bone sounds echoed throughout the body. Old skin shed like a shell, fluttering away, revealing far more resilient flesh beneath.
“If someone were to reach the Transcendent realm,”
“I would have thought it would undoubtedly be the Nong-o Daoist.”
Yang Hwi turned his head toward where Nong-o stood.
Nong-o watched the metamorphosis unfold in silence, his lips pressed firmly together.
The one who had reached the Transcendent realm in merely two weeks was not Nong-o.
‘I thought Nong-o would be the next among us to reach the Transcendent realm after me.’
Nong-o had already mastered the three enlightenments of the Peak realm: the Vitality of Living Motion, Grasping the Void, and Unity of Sword and Spirit.
Moreover, he had cultivated the most resolute mind, grounded in the Extreme Technique.
Yet it was Adu, not Nong-o, who reached the realm first.
‘Is it because of his size? The transformation is taking quite long.’
I had thought he was already the owner of a perfected body, but it seemed there was still much to refine.
Then again, the metamorphosis of the Transcendent realm transforms one’s martial prowess into its most perfect form.
‘Does this mean Adu has comprehended things at a higher and deeper level?’
This thought arose naturally.
Why didn’t I undergo a complete metamorphosis?
I had attained an enlightenment so profound it should be called ascension rather than mere transcendence, and I had firmly inscribed a corresponding immense mental image within myself.
‘Shouldn’t I have undergone a complete metamorphosis at this level?’
“Elder brother, how did this happen? I thought Adu wouldn’t be able to reach the Transcendent Master realm.”
“So did I.”
The Transcendent Master realm was called the Mental Image Realm, where the study of the mind was more important than anything else.
Despite possessing exceptional martial prowess, Adu’s mental age was merely around seven years old.
‘Martial arts is no joke. No matter how precocious one’s enlightenment, it cannot be explained away with words.’
Yang Hwi’s eyes deepened.
Adu, who had already departed from this world in my past life.
Adu, about whom rumors spread that he possessed such exceptional talent that even the Thousand-Year Shaolin was shaken.
Adu, whom Yeoilrakbul, one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, took as a disciple despite his mental affliction, disregarding all propriety.
That big, gentle fool who loves rice cakes—what in the world are you?
Among all the connections I had made in this life, Adu was the most mysterious existence.
Moreover, mystery was often synonymous with secrecy.
‘Inconceivable.’
A word meaning something that cannot be grasped by human thought.
Adu was truly an inconceivable existence.
Whoooosh…
The golden light swirling around Adu began to fade.
All the energy settled into Adu’s transformed body and was inscribed within it.
If I had to guess, Adu’s body had now become something close to diamond-hard indestructibility, even without conscious effort.
“Mmm…”
Adu’s feet touched the ground. With a slight drowsy murmur, Adu opened his eyes.
Those clear, gentle eyes like a cow’s appeared before us.
“Adu. How do you feel?”
“Yang Hwi. What?”
What do you mean ‘what’? You just reached the Transcendent Master realm.
You should at least share your impressions.
“Oh!”
Adu clapped his hands together.
“I’m hungry. When do we eat dinner?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
It was an utterly deflating remark—no, one that brought not just disappointment but actual anger.
“You brat! How does it feel to have reached the Transcendent Master realm!”
“Huh? I’m a Transcendent Master? Wow!”
This fool doesn’t even realize he’s reached a new realm?
This is exactly like not being aware that he’d attained enlightenment in the first place.
“You just underwent a complete transformation.”
“No wonder I’m so hungry.”
A deep sigh escaped me. It wasn’t just me—everyone shared the same sentiment.
“Seolha. I want rice cakes.”
“Adu. We don’t have any rice cakes today.”
“Why?!”
“Monk, you’re making everyone feel quite deprived.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Dou, would you mind testing me with a strike?”
“Huh? Sure.”
Neung-o drew his sword and unleashed the first form of Huye’s technique.
For the record, it was just a single form, not a secret art.
Clang!
Flesh and sword tip collided, and a metallic ring echoed through the air.
“Adu, did you just use force?”
“No?”
“Neung-o. Want to try again with sword energy this time?”
“Understood, Baek Dou.”
A razor-sharp sword energy thrust forward, yet even this time it failed to pierce through Adu’s skin.
“The hardness is absolutely insane.”
“Monk, I can’t even call you human anymore.”
“Seol Ha-ya, what does Adu’s inner form look like?”
“Just a moment.”
Seolha observed Adu through her Flame Eye and continued speaking.
Or rather, fell silent.
“….”
“What’s wrong?”
“Well….”
Until just moments ago, Adu’s inner form had been a brightly shining wooden fish drum.
A form befitting a Buddhist disciple, emitting clear and melodious sounds at regular intervals.
But now….
“It looks like rice cake.”
“What?”
“Did you perhaps misspeak the wooden fish drum?”
“Or maybe you meant something else?”
“Rice cake. The kind you eat.”
“….”
“….”
“….”
How could an inner form possibly be rice cake?
“I’m not entirely certain. It’s quite vague, but… I think it’s like a rice cake made of light that shines brightly.”
There’s no choice but to ask Adu directly… Wait, could it be?!
“Adu.”
“Yeah, Yang Hwi!”
“You’ve become a Transcendent Master. You understand now, right?”
Adu laughed brightly and bounced up and down.
“Yeah. Now that I think about it, my body feels different. Wow, I’m a Transcendent Master!”
“Since you’ve recognized it, tell me. What sudden enlightenment did you gain?”
For reference, Adu had been conversing with me right up until he reached this realm.
“The last thing I told you was to think of your mental image like a rice cake. If you’re hungry, eat it; if you’re bored, knead it and play with it—basically, whatever you like most.”
“Yeah. That’s what Yang Hwi said.”
I asked with an anxious heart.
“So… you’re saying your mental image is a rice cake?”
“Yeah!”
“….”
An enlightenment of “The Mind Is Rice Cake.”
Heh. Hehehehe.
‘This… is the enlightenment of a Transcendent Master?’
Adu truly was an incomprehensible existence.
No ordinary person could ever fathom him.
“The mind is a rice cake. Something good. Something you want to have. Something enjoyable. Something you must strike down with force. Something you mold and shape.”
Hearing Adu’s continued words, I began to understand somewhat.
‘This fellow really did take my words literally.’
Adu’s mind was clearly different from others.
To put it kindly, he was a pure blank slate; to put it harshly, he was underdeveloped.
‘Yet, throughout all of history, there’s never been anyone as strong as Adu despite possessing such an underdeveloped mind.’
Foolish and simple. Absurd and unexpected.
But at the same time.
Pure and intuitive.
To the point where he could receive and break through even a koan that doesn’t seem like a koan at all.
‘The greatest condition of mental image cultivation is self-mastery—truly trusting one’s own mind, making it so firm it’s engraved.’
In other words, it was like this.
Adu seriously and firmly believed his mind was a rice cake!
And he ascended to Transcendent Master!
“Have you ever seen someone with such insane talent?”
It was Dang-gun’s lament, and everyone nodded in agreement.
“Really? Hehehehe. Yes!”
Adu, taking the praise to heart, threw a punch excitedly.
“Transcendent Master Fist!”
The fist wind shot forward, completely obliterating the carriage in front of it.
“Huh…? Why won’t it break?”
“Hey, you bastard! I’m telling you, you’ve reached Transcendent Master!”
“Hehe, sorry.”
“This damn fool, I need to teach you how to control your strength first.”
Yang Hwi reproached him while Adu scratched his bald head sheepishly.
Neung-o quietly observed them from a step away.

* * *
Due to Adu’s complete transformation, we arrived at the Baek Family Head’s residence a few hours later than scheduled.
The surroundings had already grown dark, and Baek Moo-ryang, who had received word of our arrival, was waiting at the main gate.
“It’s been a long time, Brother.”
“Brother! It truly has been ages…”
Jegal Seon approached eagerly, reaching out to grasp his hand, but suddenly froze.
Baek Moo-ryang was certainly smiling, but his smile seemed far too pleased.
“So the eldest son of my older brother has suddenly taken a wife.”
“Well, to be precise, we haven’t actually married, so calling her a wife is…”
“The Jegal Family Head openly called him a live-in son-in-law and sent Yang Hwi out to handle Jegal Family affairs.”
“That may be true, but Brother. The thing is… wait, hold on.”
Jegal Seon, who had been stammering in defense, suddenly lit up.
“Brother, strictly speaking, it is my loss! And what a loss! A loss that burns the blood! A loss that grinds the bones!”
Jegal Seon whipped his head around toward Yang Hwi.
Yang Hwi, who had been sitting quietly and suddenly caught in the crossfire, shrank back timidly.
“You bastard! My daughter! My daughter!”
He turned his head away and averted his gaze.
By the way, Jegal Seon still believed the false identity of Jeong In from the Yongbong Conference to be the truth.
-Seol Ha-ya, shouldn’t we tell him the whole story soon?
-Me?
-Yes.
-Why?
-Why, you ask…?
-If you’re going to do it, you do it, Brother.
…If I did that, it would be Baek/Yang-hwi instead of Baek Yang-hwi.
-By the way, I’m going to deny it. I’ll cry as if I’m hurt.
-Why on earth…?
-Because it’s fun? You like fun things, Brother.
Only you would find this fun, only you.
“Brother! Regardless of my circumstances, the Baek Family Head Baek Moo-ryang can only view the Jegal Family’s declaration as disrespectful! Moreover, how can you say it’s a loss when our Yang Hwi is lacking in any way!”
“Just look at our Seol Ha-ya’s face!”
“And look at our Yang Hwi’s face too! Furthermore, he’s already earning the epithet Eung-hyo Je-il! He’s being called the next greatest under heaven!”
Yang Hwi remained silent for a moment, watching the two men’s heated exchange.
I gestured to my companions.
“This will take a while, so let’s head inside first.”
“That sounds good, Hwi.”
“I should catch up with Yeon-yeon and have some fun too.”
I was about to enter with my companions when something gave me pause, and I stopped in my tracks.
‘Sigh. I can’t just leave Father behind like this.’
It looked like he was prepared to argue for at least another half hour.
As a dutiful son, it felt wrong to simply walk away.
But telling him to stop arguing would also be disrespectful.
The most effective approach would be to make him stop on his own, wouldn’t it?
“Father, wouldn’t you like to become a Transcendent Master?”
“Jegal Brother, so what I’m saying is… What? Hwi, what did you just say?”
“If you wish to become a Transcendent Master, I believe I could elevate you to that realm within a month.”
With anyone else, I could never make such a guarantee.
But Father was different—we had learned the same martial arts and knew each other better than anyone.
So this wasn’t mere confidence; it was certainty.
If Father desired it, he would reach the Transcendent realm within a month.

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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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