Chapter 53: Three Talents Unified Qi Art

‘I am finally learning Master Zhang Sanfeng’s martial arts.’

The martial arts I had learned from Master Zhang Sanfeng were not few. There was the Clear Brightness Mind Method, which had been of the greatest help among the martial arts learned from my master, and I had learned the true Supreme Ultimate Fist based on softness overcoming hardness.

However, they were not the martial arts that could be considered Master Zhang Sanfeng’s true ultimate techniques.

‘Compared to the Heavy Earth Divine Art and the Heavenly Demon Boundless Hand, they are indeed a bit lacking.’

Furthermore, Master Zhang Sanfeng had grinded his teeth for a while upon seeing the true value of the Heavy Earth Divine Art, which Master Bodhidharma had refined and transmitted to me. And he had occasionally mentioned that he would prepare an even better martial art.

The masters were individuals who could whip up a martial art like the Cloud-Soaring Golden Light Step in the blink of an eye right where they sat. I naturally looked forward to how great it would be if it was something Master Zhang Sanfeng had released after refining it for such a long time.

[The martial art I will teach you is the Three Talents Unified Qi Art.]

“Three Talents…”

How should I put it? Since it was a martial art Master Zhang Sanfeng had poured his heart and soul into creating, it was bound to be spectacular, but the name was a bit…

In the Martial World, there were martial arts with the highest level of recognition called the ‘Three Talents Mind Method’ and ‘Three Talents Sword Art’.

They were third-rate martial arts that even non-martial artists knew about, which, bluntly speaking, even ordinary martial arts academies hesitated to teach out of a guilty conscience.

They were so simple and basic that it was said one could even master them from a book. It was questionable whether they could even be called martial arts.

[Why? Are you worried I’ll teach you the Three Talents Mind Method and the Three Talents Sword Art?]

“If it is something Master teaches, why would I not learn even the Three Talents Mind Method? I will train diligently.”

I meant it truly, not as a joke.

There was no way Master Zhang Sanfeng would recommend something pointless to me. Even if it were the Three Talents Mind Method, if Master Zhang Sanfeng was teaching it, there had to be a reason.

The experiences so far proved that there was no need to question it.

[Look at this fellow. You’ve learned how to oil your tongue quite well.]

It seemed Master Zhang Sanfeng took my words as flattery rather than sincerity.

But I meant it. It was unfair.

Regardless of my feeling of injustice, Master Zhang Sanfeng continued speaking.

[What are the Three Talents?]

“Heaven, Earth, and Man. Heaven, earth, and human.”

It was not a particularly difficult question.

I wondered if such a question was even necessary, but I answered with a sincere attitude.

[In all martial arts, there is something that holds the center of that power. It is said that the martial arts of the Western Regions divide that vessel into up to eight, but the martial arts of the Central Plains usually divide it into three. They are the commonly known Three Dantians: the upper dantian, middle dantian, and lower dantian. Since these three dantians have different roles and pursuits, their uses are also different. Each has its own outstanding advantages, so there is no distinction of which one is greater.]

Is that so?

I had heard that those who realized how to utilize the upper dantian came into contact with mysterious supernatural abilities that others did not possess.

For that reason, martial artists valued the upper or middle dantian, which were in the realm of supernatural abilities, higher than the lower dantian, which represented physical strength or the actual vessel for storing internal energy.

[If you are not convinced, let me give you an example. Bodhidharma’s Heavy Earth Divine Art is a martial art that takes place in the lower dantian. It is a martial art that raises the vessel containing ‘oneself’ to the limit. Could someone who has opened their eyes to using the upper dantian and wields supernatural abilities defeat the strength of one who has completed the Heavy Earth Divine Art?]

A completed Heavy Earth Divine Art.

The masters had evaluated that if one reached the Eighth Step of the Heavy Earth Divine Art, they could adequately withstand the power of the Heavenly Demon Boundless Hand. Although it was just barely holding on, they managed to withstand it anyway.

A realm where one had completely perfected such a Heavy Earth Divine Art.

I could not imagine what kind of power that would be.

“…It would be difficult, right?”

[It is impossible. Unless they are in a realm of the same level.]

Come to think of it, during the war of nerves between Master Bodhidharma and Master Heavenly Demon, did Master Bodhidharma say he had crushed the latter’s legs?

Although Master Bodhidharma’s arm was said to have been torn off, in any case.

Ultimately, the two must be considered evenly matched, right?

[As I said, Bodhidharma’s Heavy Earth Divine Art is a power that completes the essence containing that strength to the limit, and the place where that strength resides is the lower dantian. It is in the position to complete the vessel that holds your spirit and flesh.]

[The Heavenly Demon’s Heavenly Demon Boundless Hand is the power of void and emptiness. It is a martial art that sprouts from the realm of supernatural abilities from the very beginning. Therefore, it has no choice but to reside in the upper dantian, which holds the soul, spirit, thoughts, and imagination.]

[Then, where does the Clear Brightness Mind Method take its place?]

Since the Clear Brightness Mind Method was a mind method that always made the heart clear and peaceful, its place was predetermined.

“The middle dantian.”

[Exactly. The middle dantian is the source of the mind and courage, and the center of the joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure that a human feels. Therefore, its place is set at the heart.]

In the upper dantian, Master Heavenly Demon’s Heavenly Demon Boundless Hand.

In the middle dantian, Master Zhang Sanfeng’s Clear Brightness Mind Method.

In the lower dantian, Master Bodhidharma’s Heavy Earth Divine Art.

Everything had settled in quite evenly.

[Furthermore, you possess two of the five divine powers of the Five Elements.]

“It is cluttered.”

The divine power of the earth and the divine power of metal.

The dharma treasure fragment I swallowed at Master Bodhidharma’s recommendation had somehow settled in a strange position between my chest and dantian.

There were practically so many energies that had taken up residence inside me.

[A martial art only exerts its proper power when there is the integration of essence, qi, and spirit. Only when all the inner forces are united in alignment can it be called a proper martial art. However, you have too much qi right now. No, it would be more accurate to say that the roots of your qi are too diverse. Until now, you could exert power as long as they didn’t interfere with one another, but as you grow those energies larger, a day will eventually come when they clash. That will be the day your growth stops and regression begins.]

“I think so too.”

Hearing Master Zhang Sanfeng’s words, I understood once again what kind of power the martial art my master was trying to transmit possessed.

Heaven, Earth, and Man. Heaven and Earth, and that which connects them is Man.

“It is a martial art of unification.”

[Yes, it is the martial art you need most right now.]

“Then, where is the place for the Three Talents Unified Qi Art?”

The forces residing in my body had diverse roots, yet they were strong and possessed distinct traits. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every single one of their temperaments had reached the extreme.

Gathering them into one was bound to be a difficult task in itself.

[The Clear Brightness Mind Method will be the body and shell of the Three Talents Unified Qi Art.]

“Ah…”

After hearing those words, I understood immediately.

The Clear Brightness Mind Method, which had embraced and endured the bad things whenever a problem arose. That would become the backbone of the Three Talents Unified Qi Art.

As expected, Master Zhang Sanfeng had everything figured out.

[I will teach you the mnemonic formula.]

Master Zhang Sanfeng’s lecture followed.

Every single word was engraved into my body like the movements of a skilled stonemason.

A sensation that led to realization, not just understanding.

The masters’ martial arts had parts that fit me surprisingly well. The Three Talents Unified Qi Art was no different.

Acquisition went quickly and well.

But.

‘Why is this so difficult?’

Wielding it was a different matter.

Moving and controlling five energies simultaneously was trickier than imagined.

To use a metaphor, it felt like shaking one’s head, hopping on one foot, while executing Wudang Fist and Shaolin Fist with each hand respectively, and writing one’s name with one’s buttocks?

‘This difficulty is no joke.’

Although it was largely because I wasn’t used to it yet, the perceived difficulty of this martial art was practically bleak. It was to the point where I felt like I needed a couple more heads.

[I didn’t say it would be easy.]

“Yes!”

In the end, it was a part that required effort.

Although I didn’t know by what principle it became like this, the fact that rapid acquisition of martial arts became possible was heaven’s help, so I should be grateful.

‘Anyway, if Master says that much… it will really be hell to fully master it.’

Even by the masters’ standards, it was said not to be easy. It seemed a lot of effort would be needed.

‘Though this might also be a spoiled complaint.’

If the me from the Mount Wudang days saw the current me, he would have hurled curses all day long. Threatening to split my stomach open if I kept making such spoiled complaints.

Chewing over the meaning of the phrase ‘sense of a generation’s change’, I began to fathom the depth of the Three Talents Unified Qi Art that had taken place inside my body once more.

***

How much time had passed?

Since I had been frantically clinging to training after returning home, my sense of time had grown dull.

There were numerous instances where the sun had disappeared by the time I regained my senses while training.

The Three Talents Unified Qi Art was a profound martial art that demanded concentration to that extent.

‘Three Talents…’

Thinking about it, it suited me very well.

Heavy Earth Divine Art. Just looking at the name, the earth was evoked.

In the case of the Heavenly Demon Boundless Hand, it evoked the sky above one’s head in that it dealt with the power of emptiness.

‘Then the Three Talents Unified Qi Art is a human’s martial art.’

Humans are beings who stand on the earth with two feet and gaze at the sky.

‘Containing Heaven and Earth inside myself.’

Heaven and Earth, and the human contains and binds the space between them.

I cleanly guided the wondrous flow occurring within my body.

‘The divine power of the earth strengthens the vessel containing heaven and earth.’

‘The divine power of metal fills the deficiencies in the required shape and position according to my will.’

I am a person who must take a new step now.

Even if the first step of an immature person is slow, it is nothing to be ashamed of.

If there was something to be ashamed of, it was walking the wrong step.

‘The first step of one who wishes to go far, even if slow and heavy, must be straight and clear.’

Only then can one proceed in the right direction.

What would be the meaning if the place reached by running in a hurry turned out to be the wrong one?

I did not rush.

I calmly walk the best path in the right direction.

In my slowly extending hand, the fruit of an immature person wriggled.

*Rumble!*

For a brief moment, the energy underwent a distinct materialization to the point where it was visible to the eye.

An upper-tier energy that was different from the sprout, albeit immature and unstable.

The dizzying energy, hard to measure easily, slowly subsided.

[You finally succeed once.]

“Yes.”

Success after countless, innumerable attempts.

At Master Zhang Sanfeng’s words, an emotion called a sense of accomplishment surged in like a tide.

[But you are slow. Seriously slow. If it takes you fifteen minutes just to use your power once, how many times do you think your head would fall in the meantime?]

Although it vanished like a lie at the words that followed next.

I hadn’t realized because I was too focused, but taking fifteen minutes was indeed a bit excessive. It meant taking enough time to eat half a meal.

[Do not be so harsh. Isn’t it true that a first step cannot possibly be skillful? Since he succeeded once, he can succeed a second time, and as the numbers increase, a day will eventually come when he deploys it naturally.]

Hearing Master Bodhidharma’s words after receiving bitter remarks from Master Zhang Sanfeng made my mind feel much more at ease.

Indeed, as expected of someone who ascended to the heavens through the great mercy and compassion of Buddhism, every single word…

[Now you just have to turn that fifteen minutes into a split second.]

“……”

Strange. Why do I feel like I’ve been hit by what Master Bodhidharma said?

There’s no way?

[As Bodhidharma said, since you succeeded once, you can succeed next time too.]

“Yes, I think it’s possible.”

Although succeeding just once out of the attempts made over several days was all, perhaps because the record of success remained, I feel like I’ve caught the hang of it now.

[Then this time, let’s reduce it to seven and a half minutes.]

“……Isn’t suddenly asking to cut it in half a somewhat unscrupulous goal?”

[Who told you to whip it up instantly? I’m saying let’s set it as a goal. And even if you reduce it to seven and a half minutes, it is just as useless, you brat.]

Master Zhang Sanfeng’s scolding pierced my chest. It was even more so because it wasn’t wrong.

Wielding the Three Talents Unified Qi Art properly would likely be after a considerable amount of time.

The point targeted right now felt distant, and even if that goal was achieved, there was still no practical utility.

“Sigh.”

It seemed my troubles would not cease for the time being.

‘But I feel like I’m forgetting something.’

Don’t you have that kind of feeling? A feeling that there was something, although it doesn’t clearly come to mind.

I wondered if I felt this way because I was too focused on the Three Talents Unified Qi Art, but as soon as I concentrated on training again, other thoughts vanished.

***

“Interesting.”

The boy who wore a strange smile while looking at the dharma treasure handed over by Zhang Sanfeng, the Great Divine Deity of the Heavens, Emperor Xuantian, quietly stood up.

“Though teasing is not my preference.”

The eyes of the supreme being, no longer languid, observed Yeon Cheong-un in the mirror.

“It’s a pity to just watch. How can I make it more interesting?”

A thick playfulness began to gather on Emperor Xuantian’s face.