That couldn't be possible (1)

That couldn't be possible (1)

After finishing dinner, during the evening self-training time.

"Wow!!!"

In a corner of the training hall in the Hall of Arhats, the very thing Mu-Jin had longed for was set up.

It was what he had asked Hyun Song, who was in charge of the children's education, to arrange.

A power rack.

Of course, it included a barbell and weight plates to be hung on the power rack, along with a bench for exercises.

"Even though the power rack is made of wood and feels a bit unstable, it should be fine since the weights are still light."

Mu-Jin had been enjoying free weights for the past four and a half months using sandbags as makeshift barbells.

But now, just increasing the number of sandbags was not satisfying enough. Moreover, using sandbags didn't allow him to properly perform the big three exercises, which are often considered the core of free weight training.

Thus, Mu-Jin asked Hyun Song, who was in charge of the novice disciples' dawn training, for help.

He requested the creation of a power rack, a barbell, and weight plates.

Although Shaolin was a temple, it was still a prestigious orthodox sect with enough resources to create such equipment.

Naturally, he couldn't just demand it outright, so Mu-Jin came up with an appropriate excuse.

"Our family's training method has several stages, and I am about to move on to the third stage. From the third stage, certain equipment is needed."

Mu-Jin had explained. Additionally, he added,

"I don't have enough time to train my own body while teaching other children. Therefore, I need these items to train more efficiently."

Claiming that he was losing time because of teaching others was partly an excuse and partly the truth. It was indeed difficult to focus on his own training while instructing others.

Thanks to his efforts, the much-desired exercise equipment was finally in front of Mu-Jin.

"Ah, doing the big three exercises in Murim."

Thinking about lifting weights made Mu-Jin's pectoral and thigh muscles throb with excitement.

* * *

Four months had passed since Mu-Jin received the exercise equipment from Hyun Song.

During that time, Mu-Jin's body had advanced by one stage, or rather, several stages.

"Phew."

Mu-Jin, after catching his breath, bent his legs while holding a barbell on his shoulders.

It was the textbook squat posture.

The barbell on Mu-Jin's shoulders was loaded with multiple weight plates.

The total weight of the barbell and plates was about 90 kg.

Compared to what the original Cho Kang-hyuk lifted, this weight would be considered suitable only for warming up. But currently, Mu-Jin was only thirteen years old.

In Korean terms, he was in the first or second year of middle school. A five-foot-four (162 cm) tall boy squatting with a 90 kg barbell on his shoulders.

After finishing his twelfth rep of the 90 kg squat, Mu-Jin placed the barbell back on the power rack and let out a deep sigh.

"Phew."

Over the past four months, Mu-Jin had reached a 230 kg total for the big three exercises at a 12-rep max. Calculating for a one-rep max, he could probably aim for close to 300 kg.

Considering his initial total weight for the big three exercises was around 170 kg when he first got the power rack, he had made remarkable progress in four months.

Given his age, even 170 kg was quite impressive. He had been consistently working out for about half a year before getting the power rack and had been doing free weights with sandbags for four months, which made these numbers possible.

However, despite his incredible achievements for his age, Mu-Jin's expression wasn't particularly bright.

And as usual, Beob Gang, who had been watching Mu-Jin's workout, approached him with a puzzled look.

"Ahem, Mu-Jin. Is something troubling you?"

"Oh, greetings, Sasuk Beob Gang."

Mu-Jin, with a sullen expression, greeted Beob Gang with a bow.

Accepting the greeting, Beob Gang asked again,

"Your expression seems troubled. Is something bothering you?"

Beob Gang wondered what could possibly trouble Mu-Jin.

Mu-Jin's progress over the past four months had been remarkable.

Just looking at the barbell Mu-Jin was lifting now proved it. Honestly, even second-generation disciples found it difficult to lift that much weight without using internal energy.

In terms of pure strength, Mu-Jin was already on par with most second-generation disciples.

Even among the first-generation disciples, most wouldn't be able to lift that weight without internal energy.

While first-generation disciples had an abundance of internal energy to compensate for their lack of strength, Mu-Jin's physical strength alone was impressive.

Shaolin's training for novice disciples involved rigorous physical training, but it was simple and crude, with a diet primarily of vegetables.

Mu-Jin had managed to overcome this by consuming an absurd amount of mushrooms and beans, but others didn't even understand the concept of protein.

In other words, their training was more akin to self-mortification than exercise. Despite training for over ten years, their muscle strength couldn't surpass a certain level.

Except for a few unique individuals who gained muscle extremely well. Among the novice disciples, Mu Gung was one such person, and there were a couple of second-generation disciples with similar traits.

From that perspective, one might think Mu-Jin also had such a unique constitution.

'Other kids who started learning from Mu-Jin also saw noticeable improvements in strength and flexibility.'

It wasn't just Mu-Jin who had grown over the past four months.

Hyun Song was even considering ordering additional power racks, barbells, and weight plates for the other children to help them advance to the next stage.

With these thoughts in mind, Beob Gang looked at Mu-Jin and spoke.

"I was practicing external techniques to clear my mind since I encountered some difficulties in my martial arts training, Sasuk."

"Difficulties in your martial arts training?"

But even this answer was hard for Beob Gang to understand.

"Mu-Jin, haven't you already mastered Chupungak (Autumn Wind Step) and Gugungbo (Nine Palace Stance) up to the Ten Stars level?"

Chupungak and Gugungbo.

Following Shaohong Fist, these were the basic martial arts taught to novice disciples in Shaolin.

In fact, Shaohong Fist, Chupungak, and Gugungbo were not only introductory martial arts but also tests to assess the potential of novice disciples.

Starting with Shaohong Fist, progressing to Chupungak and Gugungbo. The hidden test for novice disciples was to master these three martial arts to at least the Seven Stars level within a year.

Disciples who failed to master them within a year were forced to descend the mountain and could not even claim the title of Shaolin's lay disciple.

Those who succeeded in mastering them began to learn one or two martial arts worthy of being called 'Shaolin martial arts'.

Although far from the seventy-two supreme techniques of Shaolin, martial arts such as Diamond Fist or Arhat Palm, which could earn one the title of expert if mastered.

Children who mastered these during the remaining period would become True Mountain Disciples. Conversely, those who had to descend the mountain due to circumstances or who failed to reach the level would do so as lay disciples.

And Mu-Jin had already mastered the three martial arts required within a year to the Ten Stars level.

In just about half a year.

If it were just the passing standard of Seven Stars, it might be understandable. But having mastered them to Ten Stars and now learning the next stage of martial arts, what was he dissatisfied with to make such a statement?

"Excessiveness is as bad as insufficiency. Your achievements already surpass those of the other children. It wouldn't be good to rush things. Is the progress in the Prajna Heart Technique you recently learned frustrating you?"

"That's part of it, but not the main reason."

Mu-Jin recalled the Prajna Heart Technique he started learning about two weeks ago and tried to hide his bitterness.

The Prajna Heart Technique was a higher-level mind technique compared to Buddha's Heart Technique.

In simple terms, it was a technique that involved additional key points beyond those covered in Buddha's Heart Technique.

These new key points were dangerous, as mishandling them could cause physical problems. Naturally, each time one passed through these dangerous points, they had to circulate their energy in a special way.

And these special methods were described in the Buddhist scriptures in vague, mysterious phrases, much like Shaohong Fist, Chupungak, and Gugungbo.

Of course, he could ask Mu Gyeong to interpret these phrases, but unfortunately, Mu Gyeong was still stuck at Chupungak.

Though Mu Gyeong's progress was rapid, having mastered Shaohong Fist and Gugungbo, and now only Chupungak remained.

Mu Gyeong, who had started learning martial arts in Shaolin for the first time, was now ahead of those from martial backgrounds.

It was absurd to ask Mu Gyeong, who was still struggling with Chupungak, to interpret the phrases and take up his time.

Fortunately, the Prajna Heart Technique was at a level taught to novice disciples, and Mu-Jin had experience interpreting introductory martial arts phrases with Mu Gyeong.

Thanks to this, Mu-Jin had managed to interpret the phrases and circulate his energy for the Prajna Heart Technique over the past two weeks.

So what was the problem?

'The problem is it took me two weeks to interpret just the introductory technique. Phew.'

If it took two weeks for the Prajna Heart Technique, how long would it take for the seventy-two supreme techniques, which are symbols of Shaolin martial arts?

Of course, he could ask the genius interpreter Mu Gyeong for help.

'Damn, starting from the seventy-two supreme techniques, you have to learn directly from a master.'

It's been over nine months since Cho Kang-hyuk's soul merged with Mu-Jin's body. During this time, he gathered a lot of information through Mu Gung.

Aiming to become a direct disciple of Shaolin, Mu Gung had extensive knowledge.

Among the information Mu Gung shared was about the transmission system of Shaolin's martial arts.

Novice disciples usually undergo rigorous training for one and a half to two years before taking a test.

This test determines which second-generation disciple will become their master based on their physique, constitution, and disposition.

They truly become part of Shaolin and gain a real 'master' instead of just a mentor.

After becoming third-generation disciples, their dormitory changes, but basic training continues at the Hall of Arhats.

However, after accumulating some experience and learning Shaolin martial arts to a certain extent, they begin to learn the seventy-two supreme techniques directly from their master.

The assignment of a master based on physique, constitution, and disposition during the selection test for third-generation disciples is related to this.

Since the seventy-two supreme techniques are so complex, each master only learns two or three of them. Thus, they choose a disciple with a similar physique to pass down their techniques.

Eventually, after becoming a True Mountain Disciple, Mu-Jin would likely learn different martial arts from Mu Gyeong.

Well, that part was acceptable.

With luck, he might meet a master with excellent teaching skills. By then, his body would have developed further, and he could make up for the lack of energy manipulation skills with physical strength, just as he did while learning the three introductory martial arts.

But there was one area where this wouldn't work.

'You can't train your internal organs with weights. Damn.'

That was the mind technique.

If he accidentally touched the wrong pressure point and his energy flow was disrupted, causing his internal organs to rupture, what could he do? Having strong muscles wouldn't prevent internal organ rupture.

If that were possible, doctors would have heart disease patients do bench presses to strengthen their pectoral muscles instead of performing surgeries. The problem was that without mastering an excellent internal cultivation method included in the supreme techniques, one would inevitably lack the internal energy to perform the corresponding martial arts.

Don't martial arts novels often mention terrifying supreme martial arts that deplete a whole session's worth of internal energy with a single use? To use such supreme martial arts, mastering a supreme internal cultivation technique was essential.

Fortunately, Mu-Jin had one trick to boost his internal energy without mastering a supreme internal cultivation technique: Advanced Movement Technique 

Yes, the Advanced Movement Technique he learned during his wall-gazing meditation.

Inspired by the words of Beob Gang and Hye Jeong, Mu-Jin had continued practicing Advanced Movement Technique all along. As a result, he could now circulate his energy not only during exercise but also whenever he was breathing.

But it wasn't perfect.

"I've actually been troubled by issues related to Advanced Movement Technique, Sasuk."

"Advanced Movement Technique, you say?"

Beob Gang tilted his head at Mu-Jin's words, then suddenly realized something and exclaimed in surprise.

"Mu-Jin, have you perhaps mastered the Buddha's Heart Technique?"

Even while conversing with Beob Gang, Mu-Jin's energy could be faintly felt circulating around him. It meant he had reached the true state of Advanced Movement Technique, where he could continuously circulate his energy even during everyday activities.

However, Mu-Jin shook his head at Beob Gang's question.

"I can continuously circulate Buddha's Heart Technique in my daily life, but there are exactly two situations where it's impossible, and those are what trouble me."

"Huh... What are those two situations? I'm quite curious myself."

"One is when I stop breathing. The other is when I'm asleep."

"..."

Isn't that obvious?

Beob Gang looked at him incredulously, but Mu-Jin still seemed troubled.

"While being unable to circulate energy during sleep is understandable, the instances of holding my breath are more frequent than one might think. For example, when eating or drinking water, I can't continue circulating my energy."

"...So, you're saying you're troubled because you can't gather internal energy when you're not breathing or when you're asleep?"

"Yes, Sasuk."

Mu-Jin was endlessly serious, but Beob Gang found it absurd.

Continuing to circulate energy while sleeping was less an internal cultivation technique and more an advanced state of being. It was a state where the technique had become so ingrained with one's body, mind, and spirit that the energy circulation continued naturally even while sleeping.

But the problem was the former. An internal cultivation technique that allowed gathering energy without breathing didn't exist even in the great Shaolin... or did it?

"Um?"

An idea popped into Beob Gang's mind. Although it wasn't an internal cultivation technique, he remembered a martial art that involved absorbing energy through the skin.