Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Tri-Origin Return to Origin
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Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art. Even among the Tang Clan, it was one of their top-secret techniques.
It refines three streams of yang energy into the ultimate pinnacle.
As the name implied, the Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art was an internal art that handled extreme yang-rigid energy.
'The only drawback is that it can't reach the Ascendant Realm, but otherwise, it's perfectly suited to the Tang Clan's martial arts.'
The foundation of the Tang Clan rested on two pillars.
Poison techniques and hidden weapons? Those were merely the results derived from the foundation.
'A group of doctors and blacksmiths who had lost their families to the martial world gathered and formed the Tang Clan.'
In other words, the Tang Clan's true foundation was medicine and metallurgy.
And the Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art offered advantages in mastering both crafts.
Its intense yang-rigid force, like molten iron, aided in working metal with fire.
Moreover, the yang energy could burn away invasive poisons in the body, allowing safer and freer practice of medical poison arts.
'Looking at it this way, the Nine Schools and Five Great Clans did create martial arts best suited to the Tang Clan's traits.'
That was why, despite over a century of history, the Tang Clan couldn't abandon the Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art.
It led to a predetermined end, but it was the most well-paved path.
'The problem is how excessively biased it is.'
While full-body circulation or energy cycling might be impossible, the Harmonious Heaven Principle Origin Art could replicate the properties of other schools' internal energies almost identically.
He transformed his internal energy into yang-rigid form according to the Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art's formulas and descriptions.
Whoosh! Fwoosh!
When he exhaled the energy from his fingertips, flames erupted.
Triune True Fire. A blaze only masters with profound internal energy and high cultivation could produce.
In essence, qi-flame.
Flames burned away impurities and filth, so qi-flame inherently purified.
Thus, any Daoist sect with advanced alchemy techniques invariably possessed theories on wielding Triune True Fire.
This applied to the Tang Clan, which handled poisons, so they couldn't discard the properties of yang-rigid energy.
'The same holds for hidden weapons. Yang-rigid energy has explosive qualities.'
Even while wielding such extreme yang energy as now, the imbalance had to be resolved.
So, it needed contemplation.
Could the scales balance if weights kept piling on only one side?
It was biased toward one direction, and the further it progressed, the worse the energy's extremity would become?
'Of course it's possible.'
One side overloaded, tipping the scales?
Then simply stack something on the opposite side to balance it.
'Whether the same yang energy or a different one.'
If he chose to stack the same yang energy and weave an Ascendant insight from it.
The Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art would follow the path of the distant Southern Manor's Sun Divine Art.
It would take the path of utmost extremity, balanced nonetheless, running straight without deviation.
However...
'The foundation of the Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art is the Three Talents of half-Taiji.'
Yin-Yang Taiji was the origin of all things, a cycle.
Taking only half made it extreme yang, a halt in the cycle and incompleteness in perfection.
That severed principle was filled with the subtleties of the Three Talents.
Though different from yin-yang circulation, the Three Talents contained the principle of intercourse.
It was like veiling the empty half with the Three Talents.
Clearly empty, yet bridging over it; rather than filling the lack, it was like covering one's eyes.
'The easiest path is balancing solely with yang energy.'
Reaching the Ascendant Realm via extreme bias was possible.
p>But naturally, it was far more difficult than pursuing balance and harmony.
It wasn't for nothing that orthodox martial arts were said to reach greater heights than unorthodox or demonic ones.
'Plus, pursuing extreme yang would conflict with poison arts.'
The core subtlety of the recently established Carbon-White Subtle Transformation Formula was fusion.
Uniting differents. Uniting similars.
Which was easier was obvious without thought.
Considering fusion with poison martial arts in the Carbon-White Subtle Transformation Formula, the new Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art should also head toward unbiased harmony.
'I must guide them. Read what the Tang Clan can't see and set the direction.'
In ancient times, travelers gazed at the heavens to find their way.
He blankly lifted his head. His gaze pierced the ceiling, reaching the constellations in the night sky beyond.
In truth, reforming the Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art itself wasn't difficult.
Without past-life memories, he might not have known, but for Yang-hui, it had been one of his lifelong quandaries.
The issue was that the new martial art had to align with all of the Tang Clan's martial traditions.
Otherwise, the Tang Clan's elders would need to relearn it.
'So, change the half-Taiji Three Talents to the Six Unions Harmony of Three Talents and Three Origins.'
From one and three.
To three and six.
Mix-Origin. Taiji. Three Talents. Four Images. Five Elements. Six Unions. Seven Stars. Eight Trigrams. Nine Palaces. Ten Stems.
The ten fundamental principles forming the world's myriad phenomena.
Among them, the one he could claim mastery over was the Six Unions.
'My clan's foundational art, Principle Harmony Six Unions Art. From it stem Heaven-Covering and Harmonious Heaven. My foundation is... the Six Unions.'
So, what were the Six Unions?
The four directions plus heaven and earth, making six.
Thus, Six Unions.
'Three Talents are heaven, earth, man. Six Unions are heaven, earth, four directions. Distributing two of Six Unions to one of Three Talents... doesn't fit.'
Two of Three Talents are heaven and earth; two of Six Unions are also heaven and earth.
The numbers mismatched, so it was literally off-balance.
Forcing principles together would surely create discrepancies.
'Another way... another path...'
In lotus position, he endlessly chased thoughts.
Thoughts became intent, and intent was humanity's power opposing heaven and earth's natural energies.
Vital Intent Energy. Energy united with will, gaining life, naturally circulated through his body.
Unaware, Yang-hui's body had risen a foot from the bed.
'Another path... no. This is the right one.'
The Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art must be reborn with Three Talents and Three Origins' Six Unions Harmony as its foundation.
But how?
'The Dao's founder, Supreme Elder Lord. He left this teaching.'
One begets two, two begets three, three begets the myriad things.
Thus, Three Taiji.
Not merely Three Talents, but Three Talents and Three Origins.
In truth, Three Talents couldn't become Three Origins.
Originating from heaven and earth, yet standing tall between them as man—how could it be an origin equal to them?
It could stand at equal height, but not become an origin.
However.
'If it's Three Taiji instead of Three Talents.'
Three Taiji equated to the myriad things.
Though each pole of Three Taiji matched heaven, earth, man, the foundational principle differed.
If Three Talents were three separate pillars.
Three Taiji was three fused into one.
'Haha, wordplay if there ever was.'
But enlightenment was always grasping at clouds.
Finding truth in wordplay was the Dao.
Thus, the Tang Clan's Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art would gain its own Dao through wordplay.
A path to the distant Ascendant Realm—that is, the way.
Woooong!
Energy circulated on its own.
Eyes closed, yet the unseen became visible.
Indeed, "seeing" something had always been a symbol and concept of enlightenment since ancient times.
Woooong!
Energy was inherently colorless, formless, symbol-less.
Yet at this moment, the energy circulating through Yang-hui's body began to take on color and form.
'Watching grass blades flutter in the morning breeze.'
'Marveling at a tiger's movements while hunting deer.'
'Lost in sentiment at the sunset from a mountain peak.'
Great martial scholars of old often gained enlightenment from everyday natural scenes, creating peerless arts.
'From an eagle's wings blanketing the sky, I drew Heaven-Covering.'
Creating martial arts was thus imitating nature.
At its essence, internalizing so man embraced heaven-earth nature.
Perceiving nature's flow through man's eyes and defining it as one's own.
In other words, wordplay was the essential Dao.
'Come, let's add more wordplay to Tri-Yang Return to Origin.'
Floating spirit. Blossoming qi.
The supreme joy felt reaching higher places.
He continued no-mind thoughts.
What was Three Taiji?
Internalize and define it.
From three, the myriad things were born, so before the myriad was three.
'Returning heaven-earth-man to mix-origin, forming one qi.'
Also, Three Taiji added man—the one standing tall between heaven and earth—to yin-yang Taiji.
Thus, man needed definition to harmonize with Taiji.
What was man?
...Man between heaven and earth. Humanity was a being of the "between."
'Born between heaven and earth. Yet striving to stand equal to them.'
Merely part of nature, yet facing nature at equal height.
Truly, venomously poisonous things.
In other words, man was poison.
'Thus, of the Three Origins, heaven is yang qi. Man is poison qi.'
The principle of yang qi was already inherent.
The principle of poison qi was established via Carbon-White Subtle Transformation Formula.
The empty direction was earth. Thus, yin.
There, the core subtlety of the reborn Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art was summed in one line.
Tri-Origin Return to Primal.
Three principles, Three Origins.
Return to mix-origin—that is, Return to Primal.
Pursuing harmony of the myriad phenomena.
Woooong!
Enlightenment on the three.
Yang-hui still didn't know.
But above his head, three flower buds were delicately budding.
Not yet bloomed, but this was unmistakably Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Days passed discussing martial arts daily, tending to Chui-dal and Baek Heon-so.
The deepest focus was probing the martial.
With rare leisure, he meditated exhaustively, immersing in Zen contemplation.
Even now, after long circulation and introspection in lotus position, hunger opened his eyes.
"Phew... That was fun."
Establishing martial theory unifying principles from Three Talents to Three Taiji and Three Origins.
He called it wordplay, but it was the basic way all martial arts were born.
In that process, Yang-hui immersed in sudden enlightenment.
"Three Talents. Tri-Yang. Three Origins. Three Taiji. Perhaps... a new path to three."
He hadn't mastered one of the three enlightenments for Super Peak: Vital Intent Energy, Void Grasping, Spirit-Sword Unity.
Playing with threes wasn't erecting pillars but crafting a vessel.
'Three. Heaven-earth-man is three, Three Taiji is three. Body-heart-qi is three, essence-qi-spirit is three.'
To reach Peak Realm, unify body-heart-qi for change, then erect three pillars within.
But Super Peak was the opposite.
Erect three enlightenments as pillars, then roof them with essence-qi-spirit unity.
Standing atop that roof, gazing at the heavens.
That was Super Peak Realm.
'Perhaps... I can bloom three new flowers.'
Three Flowers Gather at the Crown. Three flowers atop the head.
Here, flowers were enlightenments, internalized forms of nature.
'Hahaha, absurd. Why do I always walk backward?'
He hadn't gained Vital Intent Energy, Void Grasping, or Spirit-Sword Unity, yet obtained enlightenment refining essence-qi-spirit.
Turning back time made even his path reverse.
'First, record it before flying off.'
On prepared white paper, he inscribed the Tri-Origin Return to Primal subtleties in one stroke.
He'd only grasped the basics, so no formula yet.
But tossing this would have the Tang Clan begging for the latter formulas.
'Incredible. Truly. Who wrote this?'
The content and script were exquisitely beautiful—like comparing to a peerless beauty.
With such idle thoughts, he stepped outside.
"Ah, Brother! You're awake!"
Baek Heon-so beamed delightedly, yet puzzled.
"Awake?"
He'd holed up midday; it was still midday.
Meaning time hadn't passed much despite the hunger.
"You've emerged after seven days. Seemed enlightenment came, so I waited without disturbing."
No wonder the hunger was intense.
"Go ask for a meal. I'll meet Tang Brother and return."
"Understood, Brother."
He headed straight to Dang Gun's office and proffered the booklet.
"Hui Brother. This is...?"
When he first heard the Tri-Yang Return to Origin Art's formula.
Three months ago.
Yang-hui had uttered "Tri-Origin Return to Origin Art."
And the four characters on the booklet's cover: Tri-Origin Return.
"No way...?"
"Yeah. Roughly established it. Just the basics for now."
Only basic formula given, so only basics out—natural.
The key was newly laying the foundation and cornerstone.
"Read it. Curious about Tang Brother's thoughts."
Dang Gun devoured the booklet.
Finished, he returned to the start, savoring every word like licking.
About half a shichen passed.
Bam!
Dang Gun, clutching the booklet wordlessly, kicked open the door and left.
"Uh, Tang Brother?"
Returned, hoisted Yang-hui over his shoulder, and dashed off.
Their destination: Clan Leader Dang Seong's office.
"Clan Leader!"
"Young Clan Leader."
Dang Seong eyed his nephew—book in hand, Yang-hui over shoulder—with puzzlement.
"Undignified behavior. But you always have reason when acting so."
"Look first! No—summon all elders before reading!"
Still a youth not beyond Later Heaven, yet Dang Gun was among the most trusted by Dang Seong, including elders.
Summoning a maid to announce a meeting, Dang Seong slowly read the booklet.
Soon, Dang Seong's body trembled.
"This... established in just three months...?"
Just then, a maid reported.
"All elders gathered in the grand meeting hall."
Tucking the booklet away, Dang Seong hoisted Dang Gun and Yang-hui over each shoulder and leaped off.
'Feels like I've become luggage.'
Moments later, a different feeling arose.
Standing center-stage in the grand hall, receiving all gazes at once.
'Now I feel like a prisoner on trial.'
Well, truthfully, something like an interrogation awaited.
He'd have to field the barrage of questions for a while.