Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 348

The flames roared, their color growing brighter. The intensity of the fire didn’t increase, but what was astonishing was how the fading vitality surged back, like a wildfire reigniting from a single spark. Tang Gwan’s eyes gleamed with interest. ‘He’s still fine even after using the Amplifying Fire Poison?’ The Amplifying Fire Poison was one of the hundred and eight poisons he could extract from the concentrated poison within his body. As its name suggested, it was a poison that amplified fire energy. Poisonous energy was inherently vulnerable to fire. However, the Amplifying Fire Poison worked by converging and amplifying the fire energy, causing it to explode in an instant. It was different from gunpowder. Gunpowder caused an explosion, but the Amplifying Fire Poison triggered a biochemical reaction, affecting the fundamental fire energy within a person. Tang Gwan had used it. Seeing Yo Roe’s martial arts, he had poured in an overwhelming amount of fire energy, intending to make his body unable to withstand it. Yet, instead of dying, the fading vitality was returning to its original state? Whoosh! The flames that had soared into the sky plunged into Yo Roe’s dantian [an energy center in the lower abdomen]. “Cough!” Yo Roe coughed up a mouthful of blood. It seemed his body had taken some damage. However, that was all. Flames roared! The Crimson Lotus Purifying Art activated once more, and intense fire energy erupted again. He had suffered internal injuries, but they didn’t seem severe. In fact, he looked refreshed, as if the blood he had coughed up had relieved him. His broken right fist, however, had not recovered. “Interesting.” Yo Roe’s eyes flashed with killing intent. “I didn’t notice the moment you poisoned me? Did you use gunpowder?” “That’s none of your concern. Anyway…” Tang Gwan tilted his head. “Why aren’t you dying?” When engaging in a fight, the Tang family never became arrogant. Though he had called him a lowly wretch, Tang Gwan’s eyes were constantly analyzing Yo Roe’s weaknesses and limitations. He had toyed with him using speed, pushed him with force, and, when he thought it was right, he had used his palm and leg techniques to drive the poison into his body. Yet, he hadn’t died. He had failed. Thud! Yo Roe stomped his foot hard on the ground. “As expected of the Tang family head. I had hoped for a fair fight, but you resort to such tricks.” Tang Gwan chuckled. “I’ve never seen a decent person who seeks romance in a fight. Life is a continuous cycle of life and death. The beauty of a fight is about killing and surviving.” “That’s a good lecture.” Yo Roe growled. “Killing and surviving, let’s see you try.” Clang! Yo Roe charged forward. His speed was the same as before. Fast, but not as fast as Tang Gwan. However, one thing had changed. Boom! Boom! Yo Roe swung his left palm. Not at Tang Gwan, but at his surroundings. From the moment he started running, he had cut off all escape routes. Whoosh! Walls of fire rose to Tang Gwan’s left and right. It was the Twin Fire Wall of the Divine Flame Palm, a technique of the Divine Flame Sect. Even then, Tang Gwan didn’t move. He simply watched Yo Roe with an intrigued look. Yo Roe thrust his fist powerfully. Clang! A large crater formed where Tang Gwan had been standing. There were two places to escape: the sky and the rear. Tang Gwan chose the sky. He had absolute confidence in his movement techniques. At that moment, Yo Roe unleashed the Divine Flame Palm in all directions. Surprisingly, flames also shot out from his broken right hand. Flames roared! A massive river of fire instantly engulfed the ground. It was as if he had poured all his strength into it. Yo Roe’s face was also flushed red. ‘He’s created a stage.’ He knew that the opponent’s poison also worked on him. So, he had created his own stage. ‘Not bad.’ Creating an environment advantageous to oneself was the basics of a life-or-death battle. ‘But.’ Flash! Tang Gwan’s body, which had been floating in the air, vanished in an instant. It was faster than any movement technique he had shown so far. Even Yo Roe had lost sight of Tang Gwan for a fleeting moment. Bang! Bang! Shockwaves indicated Tang Gwan’s position. Tang Gwan, who had moved twenty yards to the left in an instant, raised his right hand. Between his index and middle fingers, he held a small dagger. The dagger he had finally drawn. The blade, gleaming in the firelight, emitted an eerie glow. Tang Gwan flicked his wrist. Whoosh! The dagger, flying in a straight line, pierced through the wall of fire and reached Yo Roe’s shoulder. It was incredibly fast. Yo Roe quickly twisted his upper body. Thud! Thwack! The dagger, having pierced through the last wall of the Twin Fire Wall, embedded itself in a small rock. Considering Yo Roe’s fire energy and explosive power, its penetrating force was beyond imagination. If the Twin Fire Wall hadn’t been in the way, it would have easily pierced through four or five rocks. And it didn’t end there. Tang Gwan moved his hands rapidly. Flick! Flick! Flick! Seven thin daggers shot out like rays of light. They were as fast as Muk Bi’s arrows, if not faster. Now that it had come to this, there was no point in creating distance with the river and walls of fire. Yo Roe quickly moved his body. Boom! Boom! Boom! The daggers that had passed through the flames flew behind Yo Roe, embedding themselves in the ground, rocks, and trees. Tang Gwan’s eyes gleamed with interest. ‘I see.’ The wall of fire wasn’t just to create distance. ‘He’s sharing his senses.’ He could sense the moment the daggers touched the fire wall. That was why Yo Roe had been able to dodge the Seven Consecutive Flying Daggers so perfectly. Yo Roe raised his left hand. Whoosh! The chaotic fire wall seemed to collapse, then transformed into a giant dragon and charged at Tang Gwan. It was a ki technique at its peak. Despite being a martial artist specializing in fist techniques, his understanding of ki was so high that he could perform long-range attacks like this. He was doing this because he could avoid poison, read the dagger attacks, and exert power even in long-range combat. He was truly worthy of being called a top-tier martial artist. If his opponent had been an ordinary martial artist, even one of equal skill, they would have felt helpless against this kind of fighting style. But his opponent was Tang Gwan. “…You’re a boring one.” Once again, he had completed his analysis. Flash! Tang Gwan charged forward. Towards Yo Roe, who was protected by the wall of fire. ‘What is it?!’ Feeling Tang Gwan’s terrifyingly increasing momentum, Yo Roe tensed up. ‘What confidence does he have?’ Whatever it was, he was not an easy opponent. In just a few exchanges, he had figured out his attack pattern and made him collapse on his own. It was fortunate that he had filled up his fire essence with the Purifying Art. Otherwise, he would have been burned to death despite having mastered the Blazing Yang Art. ‘Whatever it is, you will never defeat me.’ He wouldn’t die from any internal injuries, dislocations, excessive bleeding, or even damaged organs. That was the power of the fire essence’s recovery. ‘I’ll take whatever you throw at me.’ Flash! Yo Roe focused the flames in front of him. Roar! The fire dragon shattered the ground and shot towards Tang Gwan. ‘He’ll definitely move.’ He couldn’t take this firepower head-on. He would surely fly to the left, right, or into the air to attack him. ‘I’m ready. Try to dodge me!’ That’s when it happened. Bang! Yo Roe’s eyes widened. “What?” Bang! Clang! Boom! The sound of firecrackers exploding echoed from the front. It wasn’t actually firecrackers exploding. The sound was similar, but the explosive power was different. ‘What on earth is he doing?!’ Was he using the same method he used to ignite the fire energy in his body to break through the fire wall? In a brief moment, Yo Roe focused his mind on the flames he was emitting. Clang! ‘Ugh!’ Yo Roe involuntarily stepped back. The shockwave transmitted through his shared senses was too intense. ‘This guy…’ Yo Roe was genuinely flustered. ‘He’s breaking through head-on?!’ Roar! Boom! Boom! Tang Gwan was smashing through the firestorm with his overwhelming explosive power. And then. Whoosh! A hand, its sleeve completely burned, but the exposed skin perfectly fine, reached for Yo Roe’s neck. Swoosh! Yo Roe quickly retreated. The killing intent emanating from Tang Gwan’s fingertips was too intense. At that moment, Tang Gwan’s body spun rapidly. Whoosh! The firestorm that had gathered around Tang Gwan soared into the sky, following his spinning motion. Right then, countless rays of light poured out from Tang Gwan’s body. They were hidden weapons. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! The perceived speed was on a different level than when he had sensed the direction of the attacks through the fire wall. Yo Roe moved his body frantically. He was trying to avoid the barrage of hidden weapons. Yo Roe’s skills were indeed impressive. With his massive body, he managed to dodge most of the hidden weapon barrage that filled the entire front, displaying excellent dynamic vision and flexibility. However, he couldn’t dodge all of them. Four or five small hidden weapons pierced various parts of Yo Roe’s body, including his shoulder, abdomen, thigh, and upper arm. Sizzle! “Ugh!” Yo Roe involuntarily groaned. The areas hit by the hidden weapons were emitting white smoke and burning. It wasn’t the Blazing Yang Art. It was poison. Among poisons, it was the Bone-Melting Acid, one of the top five in terms of dissolving power, that had been applied to the hidden weapons. Sizzle! Sizzle! Yo Roe quickly circulated the Crimson Lotus fire energy to block the Bone-Melting Acid’s penetration. Of course, the Bone-Melting Acid wasn’t a poison that could be easily blocked. However, the ki [internal energy] emitted by a master like Yo Roe had a higher density than the Bone-Melting Acid’s poison. Sizzle! The Bone-Melting Acid, which had been penetrating past the muscles and into the bones, completely evaporated. And in that brief moment. Tang Gwan had reached right in front of Yo Roe. Urgency filled Yo Roe’s face. “You little brat.” Tang Gwan’s hand struck the center of Yo Roe’s chest. Thwack! “Cough!” Yo Roe coughed up blood and retreated. The impact wasn’t as strong as he had expected. However, it was the Internal Force Heavy Hand Technique, which scattered the surging ki, leaving him defenseless for a moment. Tang Gwan seized that opportunity. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Seven palm strikes landed on Yo Roe’s upper body, like stamps. Whoosh! The flames that had been engulfing the surroundings gathered towards Yo Roe. “Are you trying to conserve your strength? It’s useless.” Whoosh! The flames that had been burning everywhere as if a wildfire had broken out vanished in the blink of an eye. Yo Roe had absorbed them all. But. “You have an unusual recovery ability. Is that why you have so many openings? When I was young, I fought some bizarre guys from the far south who carried extra lives with them. They were similar to you. They also recklessly charged forward, relying solely on their recovery ability.” Tang Gwan raised his hand. Sizzle! Blue smoke rose from his hand. “They wouldn’t die even if their limbs were cut off or an organ was destroyed. So, do you know what I did?” Yo Roe glared at Tang Gwan with bloodshot eyes. Tang Gwan smiled brightly. “I melted their entire internal organs.” The Tang Family’s Thousand Poison Hand. It was easy to learn, but mastering it was said to be comparable to the Dao-Returning Three Yang Art, the Tang family’s ultimate hand technique. And Tang Gwan had mastered the Thousand Poison Hand seven years ago. “Unless you’re a legendary zombie, no one can survive with their internal organs melted.” Trickle. Blood flowed from Yo Roe’s seven orifices. Tang Gwan held up a dagger and drew a straight line in the air. Slicing! Yo Roe’s upper and lower body separated. From the separated upper body, dark red blood and unidentified lumps of flesh that had begun to melt poured out. “That was fun, you big brat.” Tang Gwan turned around and brushed off his burned sleeve. “My clothes are ruined. Tsk, I’m still not good enough. To burn my clothes just to catch a bug, how embarrassing.” Boom! With a burst of sound, Yo Roe’s corpse was charred black. Thus, the Five Tiger General Yo Roe met a futile death.