Chapter 57

“It’s alright, senior. But if you feel sorry, please teach this poor junior. My master ran away in the middle, so I couldn’t learn the advanced Jeonjin Sect techniques.”

People from prestigious families like Sososo receive proper etiquette training from a young age, so even if they politely decline, they feel indebted and take care of things themselves. However, naive people who are not worldly-wise might not understand indirect refusals.

After talking, it seems Wang Miaoyang is a decent person who knows how to admit mistakes and apologize, but her interpersonal skills didn’t seem particularly high.

So, instead of being overly humble and beating around the bush, it was better to clearly state what I wanted.

Moreover, regardless of the truth, Wang Miaoyang and I are both from the Jeonjin Sect.

A junior who hit a wall after the master disappeared, asking a senior from the same sect for guidance—this is an extremely common situation.

Since it wasn’t an outsider asking to be taught martial arts, there was no reason to refuse.

“You’re the first junior I’ve met in the Martial Arts World… If you want to learn… I can teach you. But… well…”

Wang Miaoyang hesitated, slightly turning her head and glancing at me. It seemed she wasn’t unwilling to teach, but something was bothering her.

“…Aren’t you ashamed of being from the Jeonjin Sect?”

Ah—so that’s what she was worried about.

I, Sima Mantian, the genius who even deceived the heavens, whose name is proudly engraved on the Immovable King’s plaque, the guardian of the Martial Arts World acknowledged by Jesus, trembled by Buddha, and made Socrates drink poison.

A guardian must be fair. One should not be bound by past events, discriminate against descendants, or engage in petty bullying.

And, in my view, sects are like chocolate wrappers or crab shells—not that important.

What matters is the content—the martial arts.

The Jeonjin Sect’s martial arts were worth learning, worth passing down through generations.

To feel ashamed of learning such excellent martial arts because of pride—that’s what’s truly shameful for a martial artist.

I bowed deeply to my young master.

“The martial arts of Jeonjin are the best in the world. This unworthy junior humbly requests your teachings. Please accept me as your disciple.”

Wang Miaoyang silently looked down at the tall man bowing deeply to a young girl without a hint of shame.

‘The martial arts of Jeonjin are the best in the world… How long has it been since I heard those words from someone else’s mouth…?’

I looked up at the night sky, gazing at the Big Dipper, which guides the lost.

The Demon Sect, composed of martial artists who betrayed their sects and families.

The Ilwol God Sect.

My first journey into the Martial Arts World, leading a young body despite my age, to hunt down the senior sister who fled with the sect’s martial arts to that place.

A journey where death is possible. Was it the arrangement of Wang Zhongyang, the founder of the sect and my ancestor, to ensure the sect’s legacy wouldn’t be severed?

I ended up taking in this young junior who, despite mixing various teachings and spouting nonsense, isn’t ashamed of the core teachings.

***

Since talking near the restroom was awkward, Wang Miaoyang and I moved to a suitable open area.

The large moon and twinkling stars made it a perfect place for night training.

Wang Miaoyang was a bit bothered by Mantian’s statement that the master hadn’t revealed his name…

But since this was her first disciple, and Mantian, whose basics were already solid, was the most suitable candidate to inherit the Jeonjin Sect’s advanced martial arts, she decided to teach him the secret techniques.

“The martial arts I’m about to teach you will be quite different from what you’ve learned in the Jeonjin Sect.”

“What do you mean…?”

Wang Miaoyang slowly raised her hand, pointing to the brightest star in the sky, the Big Dipper.

“As you know, the symbol of the Jeonjin Sect is the Big Dipper.”

In the Martial Arts World, the Big Dipper isn’t just a simple constellation shaped like a ladle.

It’s the symbol of peak masters who have transcended limits—Gangqi (罡氣).

Here, Gang (罡) refers to the Big Dipper, as the character itself suggests.

For an ordinary martial artist, facing someone who uses Gangqi means death. When a master uses Gangqi, which consumes a lot of internal energy, it signifies their determination to kill.

In other words, in the Martial Arts World, the Big Dipper is the star of death, and fighting a Jeonjin Sect martial artist who uses it as a symbol means death.

But honestly, I didn’t feel that way while learning Jeonjin Sect martial arts.

The Mystical Taoist Inner Energy Technique, which gathers pure energy, was slower in building internal energy compared to other sects’ techniques, putting me at a disadvantage in same-level fights.

The Empty Clarity Fist was an excellent technique, but it was more about deflecting the opponent’s fierce attacks to protect oneself rather than directly killing.

The Heavenly Polar Bear Formation, which involves seven people ganging up on one, was closer to the star of death, but if we’re talking about group tactics, the Shaolin’s 108 Arhat Formation, which surrounds and beats the enemy, is considered the strongest martial art in the Martial Arts World.

Wait… Is that why Shaolin is the strongest righteous faction in the Martial Arts World? I just realized something huge.

As I pondered this and made a doubtful expression about the Jeonjin Sect’s martial arts being called Gang (罡)…

“Since your basics are already solid, there’s no risk of internal injury… It’s better to show you than explain.”

Wang Miaoyang, perhaps tired of explaining, stretched out her doll-like white hand toward a large rock to demonstrate.

“Watch closely. This is one of the Jeonjin Sect’s ultimate techniques that once shook the Central Plains.”

Frankly, it was a scene so mysterious and intense that it instantly dispelled my doubts.

Energy flowed from Wang Miaoyang’s fingertips. Lightning burst forth.

To be precise, like lightning falling from the sky, strands of energy split the void and extended forward.

The lines of energy created from her hand split the space, spreading like a spider’s web.

It shattered the world like a broken glass window.

Crack-crack-crack!!

It mercilessly advanced, crushing and destroying everything in its path.

Under the twinkling Big Dipper and the swirling dust of shattered rocks on a dark night.

Wang Miaoyang, with pride, introduced the sect’s secret technique to her stunned young disciple.

“The palm technique that lightly tramples the enemy like frost and shatters them like ice—Frost Shattering Palm (履霜破氷掌).”

Uh… Is that the real secret technique…? Then what have I been calling secret techniques all this time…?

I quietly glanced down at the self-proclaimed secret technique, Tagujang, held in my right hand.

I had my doubts before, but today confirmed it.

Hey—Tagujang, you’re officially kicked out of the martial arts party starting today.

…But then again, thinking about it, since you were one of the original members, kicking you out seems too harsh.

I decided to demote you from soul partner to regular member. Anyway, that’s not the important thing right now.

As I calmly met her sparkling golden eyes, which seemed to measure my worth as a person while assessing whether Jeonjin’s martial arts were worth learning.

With a confident face, I slowly, boldly, step by step, closed the distance toward my new partner martial art.

To dare measure the worth of Sima Mantian, the genius who even deceived the heavens… Even if you’re a senior and a master, I need to show you a bit of my true self.

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Teeeng… Frost Shattering Palm (履霜破氷掌)… It’s too difficult…

I expected it to be hard to master given how impressive it looked, but it was even tougher than I thought.

The basic principle is using vibrations to create shockwaves, releasing internal energy to make it seem like space is being split. It’s a high-level martial art that requires a lot of internal energy and precise control, making it difficult to master.

Wang Miaoyang watched Mantian, who was struggling to pass the training of releasing energy with an open hand to crush a stone placed on his palm, and tilted her head in confusion.

His internal energy was pure, and he didn’t seem unintelligent, so it was strange.

‘…Does he have some bad habits he’s unaware of?’

Having never taken a disciple before, Wang Miaoyang was unsure how to handle this situation. After carefully observing Mantian, she decided to ask his body directly.

“Enough, I understand your level.”

“…Huh?”

“First, I need to figure out what the problem is. Get into position.”

Though startled by the sudden sparring, I raised my staff and prepared to unleash the Dog Chasing Stick Technique, knowing that direct guidance from such a high-level master was rare.

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To conclude the results of the night training, I failed to master the Frost Shattering Palm in one go.

…And under the pretext of fixing my bad habits, Wang Miaoyang took away my Tagujang.