“Hey, have you heard?”

“Heard what? That’s completely out of the blue.”

“About the Eleven Great Masters of the martial world.”

“Don’t even bring that up! What nonsense is this about ‘Eleven Great Masters’? I’m well-versed in martial world history, and never has there been a time when the greatest masters were classified by the number eleven!”

This was just one of the countless taverns scattered throughout the martial world.

Inside, wealthy young idlers with a love for gossip had gathered, raising their voices in heated debate.

From martial tradition fundamentalists to new-school martial arts pioneers, they represented a diverse range of perspectives.

And right now, they were debating the controversial topic of the Eleven Great Masters.

“It lacks foundation! Eleven Great Masters? What even is that? If we go down this path, next we’ll have Sixteen Great Masters or Twenty-Four Great Masters!”

A man wearing a white scholar’s cap was ranting passionately.

“My, my. Scholar Sim, it’s precisely this lack of flexibility that earns you the reputation of being a martial tradition fundamentalist.”

“What’s wrong with that? Tradition is essential! Prestigious sects become prestigious precisely because of their tradition and history—that’s what makes them major powers. Why else would we call Shaolin the ‘Mountain and Northern Star of a Thousand Years’? That’s why this notion of Eleven Great Masters is utterly absurd! Ten Great Masters is Ten Great Masters! What’s this nonsense about Eleven?”

Scholar Sim bellowed, his voice rising with each word.

One of the other two men at the table clicked his tongue in response.

“Tsk, tsk. Such thinking is exactly what makes the world stagnant. Have you forgotten the meaning of ‘the later waves of the Yangtze push the earlier waves forward’?”

“Hmph! That’s exactly why people call you a new-school martial arts pioneer, Scholar Jang. What? The earlier waves of the Yangtze pushed by the later ones? Don’t you understand that this very process of old things fading away and new things emerging with the passage of time is tradition itself?”

The later waves of the Yangtze push the earlier waves forward[1].

This saying was frequently used by elderly masters of the martial world whenever new prodigies emerged.

“Scholar Sim, Scholar Jang. Please don’t argue.”

“When did I ever argue? Not once.”

“Hmph! Scholar Sim stole my words.”

“There’s no need to fight anyway. The classification has been readjusted back to Ten Great Masters.”

“As expected! It seems all the martial brothers agree with my opinion!”

Scholar Sim puffed up with pride while Scholar Jang made a face of disgust. However, both their expressions turned curious at Scholar Man’s next words.

“It’s not because the martial world accepted your opinion, Scholar Sim. There’s another reason.”

“Another reason? What is it, Scholar Man?”

“This is piping hot information I just heard this afternoon…”

Scholar Man rubbed his fingers against his empty wine cup.

“Bring a bottle of Golden Flower Kaoliang wine!”

Scholar Sim shouted at the waiter, who immediately darted off and returned with the premium liquor.

After gulping down a cup with a satisfied “Ahh!” Scholar Man finally spoke.

“I heard the Saber King, Hae Yeong-do was defeated.”

“What?”

“And completely, utterly defeated by one of the Eleven Great Masters. That’s why he was expelled from the Ten Great Masters.”

“That’s impossible!”

“When did this happen? And who defeated him?”

“Well, about that…”

Scholar Man paused to pour himself another cup of wine. Then another gulp!

“Mmm… free wine truly is the best.”

“Come on, out with it already!”

When Scholar Jang finally exploded, Scholar Man raised his hand to calm him.

“The genius who newly entered the Eleven Great Masters. The direct disciple of Divine Doctor White Dragon. And… one who has earned the title of ‘First Light[2].’ With these hints, you should know who I mean.”

“White-Robed Mad Dragon’s Jin Cheonhee! Are you saying he defeated the Saber King?”

“And not just defeated—they say he won decisively, without leaving any room for doubt. One of the witnesses is my wife’s cousin’s older brother, so I heard it in vivid detail.”

“So it’s information from the Hwangbo Clan.”

Both men nodded upon hearing this, not doubting the authenticity for a moment, knowing Scholar Man’s wife was from a branch of the Hwangbo Clan.

“My, my… He was called the ‘Divine Dragon,’ a rising star of the martial world, and already he’s defeated the Saber King…”

“So the Saber King was expelled, and First Light took his place?”

“Remarkable.”

“The martial world is…”

The three began discussing how Jin Cheonhee had become one of the Ten Great Masters and how the Saber King had been expelled.

This wasn’t limited to just one region. The entire martial world was in an uproar.

The emergence of a new absolute master.

Moreover.

He had defeated one of the kings and taken his position—naturally, those who had looked down on physicians were all shocked.

However.

Those who knew Jin Cheonhee’s true nature all nodded in agreement.

That crazy bastard was definitely capable of such a feat.

***

“Amitabha. Benefactor Zhuge was right.”

“Hohoho. Hearing you say that, Great Master Won Jin, this humble Zhuge is overjoyed.”

Zhuge Rin of Divine Doctor White Dragon.

Everyone who had actually met this man was shocked by Zhuge Rin’s current appearance.

The Blood Lotus Killer, known for his maniacal revenge and massacres.

His meticulously calculated plots were terrifying.

Moreover, Zhuge Rin was someone who had never shown a genuine smile beyond his professional facade.

He always wore a cold, expressionless face that revealed nothing of his thoughts, and even when he did smile, it was either a cold sneer or contemptuous mockery.

Such a person had now changed.

Like a sunflower. Amitabha. How did Benefactor Jin manage to melt Benefactor Zhuge’s heart so thoroughly?

Looking at Zhuge Rin, Won Jin couldn’t help but imagine a sunflower blooming brightly in a field, facing the sky.

“So. What do you plan to do?”

“I would like to make a deal. I will send you a portion of the Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing[[역근세수경(易筋洗隨經)]].”

A weighty statement came out.

Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing!

One of the Shaolin Temple’s supreme martial arts manuals!

Counted among the Eight Great Sutras, it was said that throughout Shaolin’s long history, only a handful of people had truly mastered it.

Rumors claimed that those who perfected the Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing could achieve true Diamond Indestructibility—impervious even to energy weapons.

True Diamond Indestructibility, beyond mere physical strength! It was one of the legends of the martial world.

“Very well. Our White Dragon Medical Pavilion will be a good partner to Shaolin. And not just in words… as proof of our alliance, we will provide various forms of support.”

“Amitabha.”

“I truly thank you for accepting my request.”

Won Jin softly chanted the Buddha’s name. Zhuge Rin’s words also revealed one fact:

It was Zhuge Rin himself who wanted a portion of the Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing!

“Benefactor Zhuge. May I ask you one thing?”

“What would you like to know?”

“I understand that twenty years ago, you already obtained the ‘Da’ volume from the four Anuttara books of the Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing. It was to cure your heaven-sent affliction. Why do you now seek the ‘Ra’ volume?”

The Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing was an incredibly massive and thick sutra.

This martial arts manual, which was also a Buddhist scripture, consisted of four books collectively called Anuttara.

Anuttara or, in its full name, Scripture of Unsurpassed, Perfect, and Complete Enlightenment[3].

It was a term signifying the perfect enlightenment attained by the Buddha, originally the Sanskrit “Scripture of Unsurpassed, Perfect, and Complete Enlightenment” transcribed into Chinese characters.

The four volumes were named after this, collectively called Anuttara.

And.

The fact that Zhuge Rin already possessed the third volume, ‘Da,’ was shocking.

“Of course, it’s for my disciple. I’m requesting it to support what that kid wants to do.”

“Benefactor Jin is certainly an exceptional person… Benefactor Zhuge. I hope you will accumulate virtuous deeds.”

“Well… I wonder if it’s already too late for me.”

“Amitabha…”

Won Jin rose before Zhuge Rin.

“Then I shall see you again, Benefactor Zhuge.”

“Take care on your journey.”

Won Jin made a half-palm gesture (a Buddhist greeting using only one hand instead of both), and Zhuge Rin lightly cupped his fist and bowed his head.

As Won Jin left the room, Yoo Ho, who had been standing behind, spoke up.

“Master, what’s in the ‘Ra’ volume that made you willing to suffer such a significant loss to obtain it?”

“The ‘Da’ volume contains clues about Diamond Indestructibility. The ‘Ra’ volume holds clues to life regeneration.”

“I see.”

“Normally, they would never release a copy of the Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing… but throughout Shaolin’s thousand-year history, it has occasionally leaked, making this possible.”

No martial artist was unaware that the Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing was Shaolin’s supreme martial art.

This martial art, classified among the Eight Great Sutras, had surprisingly been leaked many times during Shaolin’s long history.

Sometimes, fallen monks who had learned demonic arts while at Shaolin leaked it.

Sometimes, supreme thieves like Thieving Phantom stole it.

Sometimes, it leaked when half of Shaolin burned during wars.

However, the complete Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing was never leaked; only fragments were scattered, with major sects each possessing perhaps one piece.

Moreover, since the Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing wasn’t a specific martial technique but rather an internal energy cultivation method and external strength training system, it wasn’t easily noticeable.

That’s why even Shaolin didn’t punish those who possessed the Scripture of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing.

If Jin Cheonhee knew this, he might have said, “So Shaolin has free-source martial arts! Seems like the licensing is okay?”

Furthermore.

The fact that these leaked portions were incomplete was another reason Shaolin didn’t move to recover them.

“Hee will like it. Life regeneration is similar to the abilities of that demonic yet divine art, the Immortal Divine Art.”

“Master, you seem to spoil the young master too much… And that’s not your only reason, is it?”

“Hohoho. I can’t hide anything from our Chief Administrator Yoo. You’re right. It’s also to establish a loose alliance with Shaolin.”

“As I thought, you had another purpose beyond what was apparent.”

“Yes. Shaolin holds significant influence in the Martial Righteous Alliance, and in this perilous martial world, they’re among the few who understand justice and righteousness… Having the Hao family on the demonic side and Shaolin on the righteous side as allies will make our movements much smoother.”

“A move with many layers of strategy. Seeing you so motivated makes me happy as well, Master.”

“At this rate, I should easily live another hundred years. What do you think? Won’t you get bored?”

“Bored? With the young master constantly pestering to see his third sibling… don’t even mention it.”

“Hahaha. You’ve certainly had your share of troubles because of that.”

The conversation between Zhuge Rin, the master of White Dragon Medical Pavilion and a monster in his own right, and Yoo Ho, his confidant and chief administrator, continued a while longer.