Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Chapter 208

Transcendence

Hyun-gwang spoke.

“Mu-jin, what you need to learn from now on is how to concentrate your power on a single point.”

“Is this what you mean?”

Mu-jin lightly took a striking stance, circulating his qi from his toes and amplifying his energy.

The internal energy starting from his danjeon flowed through the Yongcheon acupoint at the sole of his foot, moved through his lower body, waist, shoulders, and finally converged in his fist.

Following the flow of qi, Mu-jin twisted his body from the tip of his foot, adding centrifugal force. When the immensely amplified energy converged in his fist, he struck with a single punch.

Watching the powerful strike, Hyun-gwang nodded slightly and said,

“Overall, it’s the same principle, but you need to refine it a bit more.”

Seeing Mu-jin still not fully understanding, Hyun-gwang asked,

“Mu-jin, your danjeon already contains more internal energy than your peers. So, Mu-jin, can you focus all that energy into a single punch?”

Finally understanding what Hyun-gwang was getting at, Mu-jin softly exclaimed, “Ah…”

“It’s impossible, Grandfather.”

“Hahaha, from now on, I’ll teach you how to do it.”

Hearing this, Mu-jin thought, ‘As expected of Grandfather.’

The martial arts Mu-jin had learned so far were mostly specialized for dealing with multiple opponents who were similar to or weaker than him.

His skin, which had reached the point of being impenetrable by swords, his strength beyond human limits, his internal energy exceeding a full cycle, and the Golden Turtle Technique for self-defense.

In prolonged battles, no one in the Central Plains could match Mu-jin’s ability to single-handedly defeat dozens or even hundreds of average martial artists.

However, against a master who could easily penetrate the Golden Turtle Technique or the Jade Vajra Technique, it was useless.

In such cases, Mu-gyeong or Mu-yul might be more effective against such masters.

‘It’s because they have a way to counteract strong energy or divine weapons.’

If that were the case, he wouldn’t have been overwhelmed like in the fight with the Wolf King.

Hyun-gwang smiled gently at the awestruck Mu-jin and slowly took a striking stance.

“Let’s start with a basic punch.”

Hyun-gwang then explained the flow of internal energy while taking a basic punching stance.

It wasn’t mnemonics derived from Buddhist scriptures, but an explanation purely about the flow of internal energy.

What Hyun-gwang was teaching wasn’t a specific Shaolin martial art, but the method of handling internal energy itself.

Naturally, the explanation was far more extensive than those compressed into mnemonics.

After a long-winded explanation, Hyun-gwang’s movement stopped at a slight twist of his heel.

In other words, all the internal energy manipulation explained so far had to be completed in the time it took to twist a heel.

It seemed unrealistic, but it was quite feasible.

Hyun-gwang had explained how to manipulate qi through all the meridians from the danjeon to the foot in the time it took to twist a heel.

When actually performing the movement, since the qi had to be manipulated simultaneously through all the meridians, it was possible to master it in a short time.

Hyun-gwang continued his detailed explanation, describing the movements from the foot through the lower body to the pelvis before relaxing his stance.

“Let’s end here for today.”

During Hyun-gwang’s explanation, Mu-jin, with a dazed look, realized an important fact.

‘I’m screwed.’

After a half-sijin of continuous explanation, Mu-jin’s mind was blank.

However, knowing Mu-jin’s limited memory, Hyun-gwang laughed it off.

“Don’t worry. I just showed you the sequence. I’ll teach you step by step from now on.”

Thus, on the first day, Mu-jin endlessly repeated the motion of twisting his heel from the punching stance.

He did it slowly, implementing the detailed and complex internal energy manipulation Hyun-gwang taught repeatedly.

Despite multiple repetitions of the same explanation, Hyun-gwang showed no sign of irritation.

Instead, it was Mu-jin’s expression that subtly twisted in frustration.

‘Damn it. Advanced martial arts are ridiculously complex.’

Eventually, Mu-jin asked Hyun-gwang tentatively,

“Grandfather, is there a simpler, more physical martial art?”

“Hahaha, what you’re learning now is precisely that.”

“???”

“Mu-jin, how do you think strong energy is created?”

“Isn’t it by compressing qi dozens or hundreds of times?”

“Exactly. So, do you know how to compress it dozens or hundreds of times?”

“I don’t know.”

“Martial artists have pondered for ages on how to amplify the power of their techniques by focusing internal energy on a single point. However, when masters release massive amounts of internal energy at once, it inevitably causes damage to the blood vessels, muscles, bones, and internal organs.”

Saying this, Hyun-gwang extended his right hand, palm up, which had been behind his back.

Then, natural qi began to gather on Hyun-gwang’s palm.

“In the meantime, some masters realized a method to compress qi externally. By continuously sending qi to the initially released qi, maintaining and further compressing it. Depending on the form of the medium that maintains and compresses the qi, it became strong energy or sword energy.”

Hyun-gwang’s palm was now swirling with highly condensed qi.

“Furthermore, some enlightened individuals managed to achieve this maintenance and compression instantaneously. However, reaching that level requires multiple great realizations.”

With that explanation, Hyun-gwang shook his palm, dissipating the condensed qi back into the natural environment.

“Let’s return to the beginning. Do you remember why this method was adopted?”

“If one releases too much internal energy at once, it causes damage to the body… Ah!”

Mu-jin exclaimed as he realized.

It felt like being struck by a hammer.

“So, only I can train this way?”

“That’s right. Instead of continuously releasing and maintaining qi externally, you’re manipulating massive amounts of qi within your body and releasing it at once. Only you, who has mastered the Jade Vajra Technique to the extreme, strengthening your muscles, bones, and skin, and fortified your internal organs with the Jade Ascension Technique, can do this. And this method, though it damages the body, is much simpler in theory.”

Mu-jin was shocked for two reasons.

First, the Jade Ascension Technique was not just to help him eat more.

Second,

‘This is the simpler method…?’

He wondered how complicated the common method for creating strong energy was if this was the simpler one.

And from his shock, Mu-jin realized,

‘If I can’t master this, I won’t advance any further.’

It was already complicated enough to make his head explode, so there was no way he could succeed with a more complex method.

* * *

From that day onward, Mu-jin began to seriously learn the punching technique from Hyun-gwang.

Hyun-gwang was only teaching him how to manipulate internal energy, so it was an unnamed punching technique.

In addition, to further enhance his physical level, Mu-jin had to combine weight training and the Jade Vajra Technique with meals that lasted for an entire sijin.

What Hyun-gwang was teaching was a method that disregarded side effects and solely pursued great power.

‘As my physical completion improves, I’ll be able to release more internal energy at once.’

To master the punch Hyun-gwang was teaching and to reach the inhuman level of three thousand jin, Mu-jin couldn’t stop training.

However, that didn’t mean he devoted every single day solely to training and exercise.

Every night after finishing his training,

“How is this place?”

“Hahaha, it’s refreshing.”

Mu-jin would massage Hyun-gwang’s body while they conversed.

Although Hyun-gwang had reached a heavenly state and regained his health through Mu-jin’s rehabilitation techniques over the past few years, Mu-jin didn’t begrudge the time spent massaging him.

And Hyun-gwang didn’t refuse Mu-jin’s dedicated care, not insisting he focus on training.

They conversed like a real grandfather and grandson.

“So, what was Shaolin like when you were young, Grandfather?”

“Hahaha, back then, it was much more boring than now. The only fun was watching the disciples make mistakes occasionally. Speaking of which, there was an incident around when the Abbot was eighteen…”

Hyun-gwang would tell Mu-jin stories about his past that he didn’t know.

“Can you tell me about your grandfather, Mu-jin?”

“…He was a good man. I’m sorry I couldn’t repay his kindness before we parted so soon…”

Mu-jin would also talk about his past life as Choi Kang-hyuk to Hyun-gwang.

Of course, he couldn’t mention being in a novel or modern life.

Instead, he adapted stories about his real grandfather and grandmother to fit this era and shared them with Hyun-gwang.

Thus, Mu-jin spent time with Hyun-gwang.

By day, as master and disciple, and as an elder and a young man, Mu-jin learned martial arts and various wisdoms of life from Hyun-gwang.

And during breaks from training, Mu-jin would carry Hyun-gwang around Shaolin or to sunny spots on the mountain, just like a grandson caring for his grandfather.

Filling in the gaps of what he couldn’t do while away from Shaolin.

Perhaps preparing for their farewell.

Time passed like this.

At first, Mu-jin wondered if he could master the challenging punching technique, but thanks to Hyun-gwang’s compassionate teaching, he slowly improved.

And one day, about a year later.

“I did it!! Grandfather

!! I really did it!”

Mu-jin finally succeeded in the punching technique.

However, the speed was still exceedingly slow. Though powerful, it was impractical in real combat.

“Hahaha, it seems you’ve memorized and understood all of my explanations. Now, train to use it naturally.”

Following Hyun-gwang’s advice, Mu-jin continued to practice the punch.

Initially, it took over ten seconds to perform the punch, but as time passed, the duration gradually shortened.

Like sand running out in an hourglass.

Another half-year passed.

“Hoo.”

Taking a deep breath to stabilize his mind and body, Mu-jin assumed the punching stance.

After a year and a half of training only this technique, the stance felt more natural despite appearing similar.

The following movements were just as natural.

It wasn’t just the physical movements. The countless explanations from Hyun-gwang and the flow of internal energy contained in them.

Every bit of qi flowing through the numerous meridians in his body moved naturally at every moment.

Because the flow of qi and the movement of muscles and bones were natural.

The actions flowed without hesitation, finishing at a speed deserving the term “momentary.”

Mu-jin, who had taken the stance, was now in the position of delivering a right punch.

Whooosh!!

From Mu-jin’s right punch, golden starlight burst forth.

It was a scene reminiscent of Hyun-gwang’s punch that nullified Namgung Sword Emperor’s sword energy two and a half years ago.