Chapter 5 — Martial Arts Are Too Easy?
Blue letters floated through the air.
Without a doubt, they were the contents of the strange voice that had just echoed inside my head.
Startled, I quickly looked around—
But no one else seemed capable of seeing the words before my eyes.
Everyone remained focused solely on the Taoist’s explanation of the breathing technique.
“Focus your mind beneath the dantian!”
And at that moment—
[Input Received: “Dantian Breathing” of the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique]
“Close your eyes and sense the natural energy around you.”
[Input Received: “Natural Energy Detection” of the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique]
“Once you sense the energy, circulate it throughout your body!”
[Input Received: “Internal Energy Control” of the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique]
Every time the Taoist’s voice reached my ears, the unfamiliar voice inside my head echoed alongside it.
And those voices transformed into blue text floating before my eyes.
As the two voices and countless floating words intertwined chaotically inside my mind—
[Complete analysis of the “Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique” has been successfully finished.]
[Rank Evaluation: Lowest Grade]
[Danger Level: None]
[Determined to be a basic internal cultivation method beneficial to the Awakener’s body.]
[The Awakener is capable of learning this technique immediately.]
[Would you like to acquire the “Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique”?]
I stared blankly at the blue letters filling my vision.
‘No way… this is…?’
For a moment, panic overtook me—
But I quickly regained my composure.
As someone with twenty years of experience devouring web novels, I instantly recognized what kind of situation this was.
Looking at the floating words, I spoke in a trembling voice.
“Acquire the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique.”
The moment I answered, the strange voice responded.
[The Awakener’s decision has been confirmed.]
[The Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique is being optimized and acquired.]
In that instant, my mind—
No, more precisely, every single brain cell within my brain—began moving furiously.
The entirety of the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique engraved itself into each of my countless neurons.
Those fragments of information soon aligned themselves into one perfect body of knowledge.
It wasn’t simply understanding it intellectually.
“I can feel everything.”
The depth and rhythm of breathing.
The circulation of internal energy.
The flow of drawing natural energy into my body and circulating it throughout my meridians.
My body itself was reacting automatically.
I was already operating the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique as naturally as breathing itself.
Like a Taoist who had practiced it for decades.
And—
This wasn’t the end.
[The Awakener’s pre-regression martial arts knowledge and experience are being reflected into the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique.]
[The Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique is entering the Transcendent Mastery stage.]
.
.
[Due to the Awakener’s influence, the rank of the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique has risen from “Lowest Grade” to “Low Grade.”]
[“Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique” has evolved into “ ‘Mid-Celestial Breathing Technique.”]
[The “Mid-Celestial Breathing Technique” has been acquired.]
“Huu…”
I slowly drew in a deep breath.
The breath transformed into energy.
That energy then became a flowing current that spread throughout my entire body.
Like raging waves, the flow of energy surged through every corner of me.
From the deepest parts of my body to the outermost edges.
It circulated freely without obstruction.
The tireless flow gradually calmed,
Before finally settling into one place.
Below my navel—
The dantian.
I knew exactly what this phenomenon meant.
It was a sensation I had experienced before regression.
Firmly rooted deep within my dantian was—
“…Internal energy.”
The amount was tiny—
Less than a grain of rice.
Yet the emotion overwhelming me was indescribable.
“To think a day would come when I could cultivate internal energy normally…”
In my previous life, I had possessed a cursed body incapable of learning martial arts.
I eventually obtained internal energy after being kidnapped by the Shadow Corps—
But that had only been through the shortcut of the Life-Stealing Pill, which exchanged lifespan for power.
The internal energy obtained through the Life-Stealing Pill was always unstable and dangerous.
There were countless cases where the energy suddenly rampaged and turned the user into a cripple.
But the internal energy I felt now was completely different.
“It’s real…! This is real internal energy!”
Unable to contain my overwhelming emotions, I shouted without realizing it.
At that instant, everyone inside the Martial Training Hall turned to look at me simultaneously.
‘…Guess I said that louder than I thought.’
The countless gazes aimed at me weren’t exactly shocked—
They looked more like, “What’s wrong with this guy now?”
“Ahem.”
Just as I tried to brush the atmosphere aside with a cough—
“You there. Repeat what you just said.”
A mocking voice rang out.
Turning my head, I saw that Kunlun Taoist again.
His face was filled with irritation.
I had intended to ignore him and move on—
But then—
“Yes, you. The Affairs Hall servant.”
The Taoist suddenly used a movement technique and instantly appeared right in front of me.
Leaning his face close to mine, he spoke.
“I’m certain you just said ‘internal energy.’ Did I hear correctly?”
There was no reason to lie, so I answered honestly.
“Yes. I said internal energy.”
The Taoist immediately let out a scoffing laugh.
“Internal energy? A clueless idiot like you dares talk about internal energy already? Do you think martial arts are so easy that trash like you can casually speak of them?”
The Taoist openly sneered at me.
His tone clearly implied: How dare a lowly servant pretend to know anything about internal energy?
His sermon dripping with contempt continued.
“You overheard one lecture on the Lesser Celestial Breathing Technique and now you dare speak of internal energy? Ridiculous. A fool who doesn’t even know basic palm technique!”
Sweeping one arm dramatically toward the crowd, he raised his voice.
“Everyone, listen carefully! Those who recklessly flap their mouths without knowing their place like this fool will never again receive my teachings!”
The Taoist stared at me with eyes overflowing with ridicule and disdain.
And how did I feel at that moment?
Surprisingly—
I didn’t care at all.
If anything, I simply wanted to knock this arrogant bastard down a peg.
Looking directly into his eyes, I asked:
“The basic palm technique you mentioned… would that happen to be the Three-Section Palm?”
“Oh? So the ignorant fool at least has a decent memory. Correct. It is a supreme martial technique I have demonstrated several times before.”
I almost laughed out loud internally.
‘Supreme martial technique, my ass. It’s a basic palm art as common as the Six Harmonies Palm.’
In my previous life’s memories, this Taoist had demonstrated the Three-Section Palm quite often.
The Three-Section Palm was a foundational martial technique.
Its forms were simple and straightforward, making it convenient for demonstrations.
Deliberately using a respectful tone, I spoke.
“As you said, I am ignorant. Would you kindly demonstrate the Three-Section Palm for me once more?”
“What?”
“I wish to personally witness the Taoist’s supreme Technique and reflect upon my own inadequacies.”
“Hmm…”
The Taoist tilted his head.
His expression clearly said: What’s gotten into this guy all of a sudden?
But he didn’t hesitate long.
After all, in his eyes I was nothing more than a stupid servant.
“Very well. It is necessary for fools to witness superior martial arts and understand their own limitations. I shall personally show you what lies beyond heaven itself.”
‘Beyond heaven”? “Supreme martial art”?’
The nonsense pouring from his mouth was absurd.
But I simply nodded along.
The Taoist scanned the surroundings and loudly declared:
“Watch carefully, all of you! This is what true martial arts infused with internal energy look like!”
Lowering his stance, he began the demonstration.
“The beginning of the Three-Section Palm is this! The fist becomes the wind that binds the clouds!”
Thud!
The Taoist stomped his left foot onto the ground and thrust his right fist forward.
At the same time, explanations flowed from his mouth.
“One does not merely extend the arm. One channels the qi of the dantian into the limb!”
Watching his demonstration, I inwardly rejoiced.
Why?
Because things were unfolding exactly as I expected.
[Martial arts information is being transmitted near the Awakener.]
[Beginning analysis of the acquired martial arts information.]
[Martial Art Name: Three-Section Palm]
[Input Received: First Form of the Three-Section Palm — Cloud-Locking Palm]
Yes.
This was it.
That was the reason I had deliberately bowed my head and asked that damned Taoist for instruction.
“Second! Circulate the flow of internal energy swiftly, like a violent wind chasing the clouds!”
[Input Received: Second Form of the Three-Section Palm — Cloud-Chasing Palm]
“And finally! Like a dragon destroying the clouds, pour all your true qi into both arms!”
[Input Received: Third Form of the Three-Section Palm — ‘Cloud-Annihilating Palm’]
I focused every one of my senses on the Taoist’s demonstration of the Three-Section Palm.
And soon after—
[Complete analysis of the Three-Section Palm has been successfully finished.]
[Rank Evaluation: Lowest Grade]
[Danger Level: None]
[Determined to be a foundational palm technique capable of improving the Awakener’s combat power.]
[Difficulty Level Suitable for Immediate Acquisition.]
[Would you like to acquire the “Three-Section Palm”?]
There was no need to hesitate.
‘I accept.’
[The Three-Section Palm are being optimized and acquired.]
[The Awakener’s pre-regression martial arts knowledge and experience are being reflected into the Three-Section Palm.]
[Due to synergy between the Awakener’s accumulated combat experience and the previously acquired Mid-Celestial Breathing Technique, the Three-Section Palm have reached Transcendent Acquisition.]
[The rank of the Three-Section Palm has risen from “Lowest Grade” to “Low Grade.”]
[Due to rank advancement, the name “Three-Section Palm” has evolved into “Cloud-Shattering Three Absolute Palms.”]
As the message echoed in my mind, my brain cells vibrated once more.
Soon after, everything about the Three-Section Palm—
No, the Cloud-Shattering Three Absolute Palms—
Was completely engraved into both my mind and body.
Just as I closed my eyes briefly to assess my newly gained power—
“You seem deeply moved by my teachings. To the point you even closed your eyes in emotion.”
An unpleasant voice shattered my precious moment of concentration.
Opening my eyes in disbelief, I saw the damned Taoist standing before me with an arrogant grin.
“At this point, you must understand. Between an ordinary servant and a martial artist like myself lies a wall that can never be crossed.”
“…”
I stayed silent simply because the situation was too absurd for words.
Yet the Taoist interpreted my silence however he pleased and continued his meaningless lecture.
“True understanding of the Dao comes from not greedily desiring what lies beyond one’s limits. So from now on, you too should live according to the station you were born into—”
“It didn’t seem impressive enough to desire that badly.”
“What… what?”
My response instantly filled the Taoist’s face with anger.
Of course, I had no reason to care about the mood of a bastard like him.
Looking directly into his face, I continued speaking.
“The ‘Dao’ you taught? It seemed perfectly manageable to me.”
“W-What did you say?”
“Should I repeat myself? Your martial arts teachings really aren’t anything special.”
“…Y-you bastard!”
“That ‘supreme martial art’ you called the Three-Section Palm… isn’t it actually just a basic technique you could learn at any street-side martial school?”
“You insolent brat! How dare you speak such nonsense! It seems you need a proper lesson before you regain your senses!”
The Taoist’s face turned bright red instantly.
Looks like my comment about street-market martial arts had struck his pride directly.
“Ignorant fool! Someone like you dares speak of martial arts? What could trash like you possibly know about the Three-Section Palm—”
“I understood it just fine. Just hearing the explanations once was enough.”
“W-What? Don’t spout ridiculous nonsense—”
“This is it, right? The Three-Section Palm.”
Cutting off the Taoist’s words, I openly demonstrated the first form of the Three-Section Palm right before his eyes.
My left foot, infused with internal energy, stomped against the ground.
BOOM!
The floor of the Martial Training Hall shook violently.
“First — Locking the Clouds. The raging gale binds the clouds.”
Using the energy cultivated through the Mid-Celestial Breathing Technique, I poured qi into my right fist and thrust it forward powerfully.
Toward where?
Straight toward the annoying Taoist’s face.
SHWEEEEEEEK!
My fist tore through the air before stopping right in front of his nose.
“Hiiik!”
The startled Taoist stumbled backward on the spot.
Ignoring the shock filling his widened eyes, I smoothly continued into the next movement.
“Second — Chasing the Clouds. Two storms pursue the fleeing clouds!”
As both my arms sliced sideways through the air,
The energy dispersing from my sleeves shook the surrounding atmosphere.
FWOOOOOOOSH!
Dust from the Martial Training Hall floor rose into the air following the trajectory of my arms.
“And finally — Destroying the Clouds. The storm becomes a dragon that annihilates the clouds!”
I gathered every last strand of internal energy from my dantian into both arms.
Then I slammed my qi-filled fists downward toward the ground.
BAAAAAANG!
An explosive sound erupted as the ground trembled violently.
Dust and dirt scattered upward like shrapnel into the air.
“Ghk…!”
Perhaps startled by the explosive sound shaking the ground,
The Taoist collapsed backward onto his rear.
“W-What was that?!”
“…What did I just witness…?”
“M-My heavens…”
Gasps erupted all around us.
Some swallowed nervously.
Others stood frozen with their eyes wide open.
The emotions filling their gazes weren’t mere surprise—
They were shock.
“So? Was I wrong when I said I could handle it just fine?”
“…”
The Taoist couldn’t even open his mouth, as though struck speechless.
Well, of course he was shocked.
The lowly Affairs Hall servant he had mocked had just performed the Three-Section Palm perfectly.
“No—not just the Three-Section Palm. This was the Cloud-Shattering Three Absolute Palms, a completely different level altogether.”
With a calm expression, I looked down at the Taoist sitting collapsed on the ground.
“…You… h-how could you possibly use martial arts like that…?”
His voice trembled violently.
The hypocrisy of the man who had always looked down on the Affairs Hall workers with his pathetic level of skill had just been torn apart in a single strike.
Smirking faintly, I spoke to him.
“Surely that wasn’t all there was to the Taoist’s teachings, right? You’re about to show me the true teachings that I supposedly can’t handle now… aren’t you?”
“Y-you bastard…!”
The Taoist’s face turned so red it almost looked gray.
A face twisted together with humiliation and fury.
‘There’s no point wasting more words on trash like this.’
Spending any more of my precious regressed time on someone this insignificant felt wasteful.
Just as I turned around and began walking toward the exit of the Martial Training Hall—
“D-Die, you ignorant little bastard!”
With that short scream, I heard the sound of robes cutting through the air from behind me.
Instantly, I realized it.
This pathetic fool had lost control of himself and launched a killing strike at me.
‘This crazy bastard!’
No matter how angry he was, a disciple of the Kunlun Sect using a killing move against an ordinary person?
If a normal civilian got hit by a martial artist’s killing strike, they would die on the spot.
But I didn’t panic in the slightest.
The direction of the killing intent.
The sound of his feet scraping the ground.
Even the subtle distortion of the surrounding airflow.
My senses had already completely read his movements.
‘Come then. I’ll make you piss blood for the rest of your life.’
Twisting my body, I prepared a counterattack.
Just as I was about to drive my fist into that cowardly Taoist charging at me—
BAAAANG! KWAKAAAANG!
Suddenly, the Kunlun Taoist vanished from before my eyes.
More precisely—
His body was sent flying into the wall of the Martial Training Hall.
“…W-What?”
I blankly stared at the Taoist embedded unconscious in the wall.
And then—
“Keheheh… well now, look at this. Seems there’s a very interesting little brat here. Boy, where exactly did you crawl out from?”
A low, rough voice echoed out.
Instinctively, I turned toward the source of the voice.
“…Huh?”
And the moment I saw the owner of that voice, the very first thought that entered my head was—
‘…Holy shit. I’m fucked.’