bookbashuk Chapter 53: Enlightenment
Chapter 53: Enlightenment
In the secluded chamber of the global headquarters of the Ultimate Martial Arts Academy, Hong is in seclusion.
A pure black sphere, over a hundred meters in diameter, completely enveloped Hong's figure. It devoured all approaching light, plunging the entire secret chamber into pitch-black darkness.
This is the concrete form of Hong's "Light Domain" after it has been fully unfolded.
It represents the highest realm that countless martial artists on Earth dream of.
However, at this moment, this domain, which symbolizes absolute control, is like an extremely unstable bomb.
The surface of the sphere was a deep, dark expanse of irregular bulging and depressions, and the chaotic energy fluctuations caused subtle distortions in the surrounding space.
Hong sat cross-legged in the very center of the area, his brows furrowed.
His face was pale, and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat. After a long period of seclusion, he not only failed to break through but also found himself in a predicament.
"Freeze!"
Hong gave a low shout in his heart, mobilizing all his mental will, and tried to forcibly control this rampaging area.
His response was an even more violent tremor in the field.
Instead of shrinking at all, the black sphere suddenly expanded outward by several meters!
"Sizzle...crunch..."
The edge of the sphere struck the specially reinforced walls of the sealed chamber, producing a sound of energy friction. Visible cracks were rapidly spreading across the walls.
It failed again.
Hong suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with undisguised irritation.
He could clearly sense an immense power within his domain, a power far exceeding his current level. Yet, he was utterly unable to truly control it.
He forced himself to calm down.
Especially in times like these, it's crucial to keep your mind focused and calm.
He slowly closed his eyes, no longer paying attention to the almost out-of-control area outside, letting it crash and rage in the secret room, and began to sort out his martial arts path in this life from the beginning.
His consciousness returned to the period before the Great Nirvana.
This was the first time he had picked up a spear since he had just transmigrated.
Day after day, year after year.
Thrust, chop, flick, smash... He repeated the most basic gun techniques millions of times until the gun became an extension of his arm and a part of his body.
Images flashed before his eyes.
It was precisely because of this absolute obsession with guns, coupled with the catalyst of the "Light" manual, that he, by chance, and in a daze, comprehended the domain when he broke through to the planetary level.
Upon calm reflection, Hong realized a problem he had never noticed before.
From its inception, his domain was deeply intertwined with his gun. Rather than saying he comprehended the domain, it would be more accurate to say that his gun intent evolved the domain on its own.
This field is more like an extension of his marksmanship than an extension of his own will.
This kind of understanding is like a castle in the air built on the beach; it looks magnificent, but it lacks the most solid and fundamental foundation.
His relationship with the field is more like a bizarre parasitic existence.
The domain parasitized his gun intent, and he could only be passively dragged forward by this uncontrollable and powerful force.
"Foundation... what exactly is my foundation?"
"Is it a gun? Or... myself?"
Hong repeatedly questioned himself in his heart.
Just as he was feeling agitated and lost in confusion, a fragmented memory from his past life, like a lightning bolt piercing through endless darkness, exploded in his sea of consciousness!
That was a vague description of the original novel, *Swallowed Star*.
"Hong, the strongest person on Earth, his domain is the ultimate state of 'human-body unity' achieved by cultivating the ancient Chinese internal martial arts to its peak, reaching absolute control over every muscle, nerve, and even cell of his body. It was only after this state that it was naturally born from within..."
"His domain is an extension of his body, a manifestation of his life field! He himself is the strongest weapon!"
boom--!
Hong's body jolted violently, and his eyes snapped open!
An unprecedentedly brilliant light burst forth from those deep eyes!
He finally understood the fundamental difference between himself and the real "Hong" in the original work!
In the original work, Hong follows a true path of martial arts that is "from the inside out." He first cultivates himself, refining his body to perfection, making his body a microcosm. His domain is the natural fruit that grows from this extremely solid foundation. With a firm foundation, it is a perfect, innate achievement.
However, he himself, as a transmigrator with foresight regarding the plot, embarked on a shortcut of "from the outside in" to achieve quick success! He obtained the "Light" manual, relied excessively on the spear in his hand, and forcibly created an unstable domain by using the intent of the spear as a guide.
My personal realm is one with the gun. As long as the gun exists, the realm exists; when the gun is destroyed, the realm declines.
In the original work, Hong's realm was "unity of body and soul." He himself was the strongest divine weapon! His domain was merely a natural extension of his physical power, the most direct manifestation of his will!
This is the true path to becoming a strong person. This is the true foundation of a cosmic powerhouse!
A profound sense of enlightenment washed over Hong, like a sudden awakening, cleansing every nerve in his body and making every cell tremble.
All the previous confusion, anxiety, and bewilderment vanished at this moment. His mind became clear and serene like never before.
It turns out that he needed to make up for the most fundamental and important path of "self-cultivation" that he had skipped using shortcuts and the prophet.
Having figured this out, Hong slowly loosened his clenched fist.
The black spear, nurtured for decades, emitted a soft hum as it flew out from behind him and hovered silently beside him.
A slight smile appeared on Hong's face as he slowly closed his eyes.
This time, he no longer focused on the out-of-control area outside his body, but instead concentrated all his attention inside his body.
He gave up seeking from the "external" and turned to exploring the "internal".
He began to guide the primal energy within his body according to the basic operating methods recorded in the "Light" manual.
However, he no longer pursues explosive power. Instead, like practicing "listening to the energy" in internal martial arts, he uses the gentlest and most subtle will to "listen" to the sound of the genetic energy flowing through every meridian.
He "saw" the crimson blood flowing merrily through the dense network of veins, "heard" the steady, resounding beat of his powerful heart, and even "felt" the subtle tremors of the billions of cells that make up his body, nourished by primal energy.
This was an unprecedented and wondrous experience. His body seemed to have transformed into a vast and intricate microcosm. And his will was the sole ruler within this universe.
Just as Hong was focused on gaining control of himself, the huge black sphere outside, which was about to burst the entire secret room, began to undergo astonishing changes.
It no longer expands outward, but slowly contracts inward.
All the darkness, light, and distorted, chaotic energy poured into Hong's body like rivers flowing into the sea!
In the end, the huge black sphere with a diameter of 100 meters completely disappeared, and was completely swallowed and absorbed by Hong's body.
The secret room was restored to its original state, and the cracks on the walls stopped spreading. Hong, who sat cross-legged, exuded a restrained and profound aura, as if he had merged with the surrounding space.
He sat there quietly, without leaking a single ounce of energy, yet he resembled an ancient beast slowly gathering power in the endless darkness, about to open its eyes.