Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ultimate Martial Body
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"Junior Monk, you mean a spar?"
"Exactly. Of course, in my current condition, I wouldn't stand a chance. Can you do it without using internal energy?"
Hyegang pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Very well. That much is no trouble. A spar, though—quite an unexpected request. Do you still have lingering attachments to martial arts?"
"Of course. Even though my dantian is damaged, I'll heal it someday."
"Looks like it's in a recoverable state. That's fortunate indeed."
Contrary to Hyegang's expectations, Yuseong's dantian was beyond treatment by this world's common sense.
Yet with his divinity awakened, Yuseong could heal it if he kept progressing as he was now.
Lately, he'd focused on accumulating divine power, but the day would come when he'd face the final boss. He couldn't abandon martial arts.
Sparring with Hyegang would let him gauge his current level and improve further.
"Then let's head to the open clearing."
"Thank you."
The two moved to a clearing far from the Fire Spirit Herb field.
Hyegang assumed a fist stance, showing consideration for Yuseong.
"I'll yield the first move to you, Junior Monk."
"I won't hold back."
The Baek Family Manor's signature martial arts didn't include fist techniques.
What Yuseong practiced daily was the common Six Harmonies Fist mixed with insights from other arts he'd encountered.
In contrast, many of Shaolin Temple's Seventy-Two Supreme Arts were fist and kick techniques.
As one of the Four Great Vajras, Hyegang had naturally mastered them.
Their realms differed vastly, putting Yuseong at a severe disadvantage.
'That just means I'll gain more from it. I'll test my limits with everything I've got. Even without a dantian, my martial talent hasn't gone anywhere.'
Those fond of labeling called those born with supreme talent 'Heavenly Martial Body.'
Yuseong had seen it in the character creation trait list.
Yet he hadn't chosen it.
Why pick Heavenly Martial Body when the ultimate trait, Ultimate Martial Body, was available?
In essence, Yuseong's talent was the greatest in history.
"Here I come!"
Yuseong thrust a fist at Hyegang's chest, starting the spar.
Hyegang deflected the light strike with ease, his interest piqued.
"Impressive!"
No internal energy, yet the form was sharp.
Unlike the straightforward Six Harmonies Fist Hyegang knew, it incorporated clever variations.
Blending different arts risked clumsiness, but Yuseong's modified version was harmonious.
'It may not match Shaolin's supreme arts, but I can see how diligently this lay disciple has trained.'
Yuseong's flurry of attacks posed no real threat to Hyegang.
One step.
The effect came from that single step before the fist connected.
Even without internal energy, rippling muscles powered Shaolin's top footwork, Shadowless Step, nullifying Yuseong's assault.
One might wilt under such a skill gap, but Hyegang saw fire still in Yuseong's eyes and began counterattacking.
"Then I'll strike back!"
Shaolin's basic Arhat Fist met Yuseong's modified Six Harmonies Fist.
Thrust, evade, counter.
Fists clashed in a frenzy.
'Hmm. It looks crude at a glance, but trading blows reveals Arhat Fist struggles to break through. Time for Five Forms Fist.'
Mimicking dragon, tiger, crane, snake, and mantis, Five Forms Fist was far more versatile than basic Arhat Fist.
As its animal-inspired forms unfolded, Yuseong fell on the defensive. He twisted his body repeatedly with slightly flawed footwork.
"Ha! You dodge remarkably well!"
A wind-cutting whoosh grazed Yuseong's face as a fist passed.
'Amazing. One art with such endless variations. His proficiency is incredible—slip up, and I'd lose in an instant. This is a Great Vajra!'
Yuseong hadn't focused this intensely in ages.
He'd started the spar hoping to learn a move or two.
But as his body moved, competitive spirit surged.
When a man draws his sword, mustn't he cut something?
Eyes wide, Yuseong read the changes in Hyegang's fists.
Left? Right? Left!
Whoosh—
He predicted the shift.
Next, chest!
Whoosh—
A feint at the head turned into a chest strike—he saw through it.
Left again!
Whoosh—
The trajectory was clear. He dodged effortlessly.
With astonishing focus, Yuseong pierced Five Forms Fist's changes and gradually regained momentum.
Hyegang hid his shock at Yuseong shifting from desperate evasion to composure.
'This lay disciple is extraordinary. Even without my internal energy, for him to read my movements so easily!'
Hyegang had pride too.
Spar or not, he couldn't look sloppy against an inferior.
Bent on dominance, he unleashed kicks.
After Boundless Kick came Anti-Demon Chain Kicks, met by Yuseong's modified basic Seven Star Kick.
'Facing my supreme arts with basic kicks—his adaptability is phenomenal.'
Even in kick exchanges, Yuseong only faltered at first, soon matching Hyegang blow for blow.
Hyegang decided he couldn't drag it out.
'He's no middling foe. Slip, and I'll suffer great humiliation. Time for full power.'
Hyegang dropped Five Forms Fist and unleashed Great Power Vajra Palm in a blitz.
Boom—
No internal energy, yet intent warped the air. A ferocious fist poured toward Yuseong.
"Urk...!"
Yuseong, who'd defended decently, yielded ground and retreated hastily.
The palm's force was too overwhelming to meet head-on.
Hyegang closed in with Shadowless Step.
In expert duels, footwork was key. Theirs differed vastly.
Yuseong teetered on the brink of conceding a fist and defeat.
'Tch, no choice? I want to win. First time trying this—can I pull it off?'
Yes, he could.
Yuseong trusted his talent.
His legs, retreating with the shallow Baek Family footwork, suddenly moved strangely.
His stride shortened, sliding sideways.
"...!"
Hyegang's eyes widened hugely, his foot catching slightly.
His open side was exposed.
'Opening!'
Scree!
Wind whistled as Yuseong's Six Harmonies Fist shot toward Hyegang's flank to end it.
Hyegang frantically lowered his arm to block.
Yuseong's fist slithered snake-like up his arm.
He'd stolen and applied the snake form from Five Forms Fist.
'I win! Nowhere to escape!'
The fist, poised to smash Hyegang's face, suddenly lost aim and sliced empty air.
"...!"
Yuseong steadied his stance, eyes falling on Hyegang—hands clasped, a palm's distance away.
Yuseong knew the name of that astonishing movement art.
"Immovable Vajra Divine Method...!"
Hyegang was even more shocked.
"That footwork just now resembled Shadowless Step. Was I mistaken, lay disciple?"
Martial artists loathed showing their arts to others.
Fear of counters or theft.
Even one glimpse didn't guarantee mastery, yet they were sensitive—especially Yuseong displaying Shadowless Step's traits before his eyes.
Hyegang couldn't help but feel perturbed.
A friendly spar turning into arts theft?
"It was just my legs moving instinctively in desperation. I don't even know if it's Shadowless Step."
"What nonsense... You executed it yourself and claim ignorance?"
"It's true. Time seemed to slow, and I just followed my feet to escape danger. Like this..."
Yuseong demonstrated the footwork again.
It shared the gliding trait.
But compared to Shadowless Step's fluid grace, Yuseong's was crude and jerky.
Had Hyegang stayed calm, he could've dismantled it easily.
'Ah, my mistake. Foot placements differ entirely. It just looked similar, and I panicked.'
Hyegang concluded mimicking supreme Shadowless Step after a few glimpses was impossible.
Even identical steps varied endlessly by timing, pressure, and emphasis.
"Forgive me, lay disciple. I misunderstood."
"No need. It was similar enough to confuse."
"I concede defeat."
Immovable Vajra Divine Method, traversing a palm's gap in prayer stance, required internal energy.
Yuseong's legs buckled at his ready admission.
"Hoo..."
Daily morning practice, but a real spar was long overdue.
A bit longer, and stamina would've cost him victory.
Dodging the arts theft accusation was a blessing.
'Intentionally mimicking Shadowless Step crudely worked. The plan to strike once decisively succeeded.'
Oblivious, Hyegang asked.
"Lay Disciple Baek Yuseong, your origins intrigue me. I haven't reached Peak Realm, but I thought myself unbeatable at my level."
Yet Yuseong had won, leaving Hyegang baffled.
"I'm a physician at Luoyang Medical Hall now."
"What..."
No words could convince him the man who'd beaten him was a physician.
"I reached Peak Realm at seventeen but damaged my dantian. To find a cure, I became a physician."
"...!"
***
When Hyegang arrived at the Four Great Vajras' exclusive training ground, the Pill Refining Pavilion Leader sat lamenting to the others.
Having loved children since his novice monk days, he'd practically raised the Four Great Vajras.
They were nearly like father and sons.
"I lack the face to show. I never imagined the Abbot's stubbornness ran so deep. Truly, we must leave it to Buddha's will... Still, we have ten days' leeway. Past that, the antidote's effect won't match my method..."
"No choice but to try it now. You've done your utmost, Pavilion Leader. Don't be so downcast."
"Thank you. Ah, Hyegang, you've arrived."
Spotting him, the Pavilion Leader and comrades approached, but Hyegang excused himself to a corner.
He had much to mull over from his recent insights.
'A dantian injury scatters qi, driving most to despair and abandoning martial arts. Yet Lay Disciple Baek became a Peak Realm prodigy at seventeen, and upon failing to heal, forged himself into a physician with unyielding will.
Meanwhile, I lamented missing one Great Returning Pill. How shameful. My dantian is intact, and I've taken ample spirit medicines. Steady refinement will lead to Peak Realm. No rushing—trust in myself.'
Releasing his Great Returning Pill obsession, newfound confidence flooded Hyegang with memories.
Sweaty childhood training of the Seventy-Two Supreme Arts rose and faded.
Comrades and the Pavilion Leader endlessly chanting 'You can do it' appeared and vanished.
Other recollections.
And Yuseong's image, battling him to victory with crude arts, flickered and dissolved.
Unconsciously, his mind emptied.
He'd slipped into no-mind state unaware.
The other Great Vajras gathered silently around Hyegang, emitting steady astonishing aura mid-meditation, to stand guard.
'I don't know what happened, but he's breaking through his wall at last. Well done, Hyegang.'