Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 401

“Hmm?”

“What is it, Senior Brother?”

“Just a moment.”

When Beom Oh stopped, Lee Cheol-gyeong also halted his movement technique.

Lee Cheol-gyeong said,

“If we go a little further, we’ll reach Mount Bul. Unless it’s urgent, shouldn’t we meet the masters first…?”

“That’s not it.”

Beom Oh looked around with sharp eyes.

“This fighting spirit…?”

Killing intent, or fighting spirit, fundamentally means a person’s will being released outside the body through their energy.

Even at the level of a supreme master, it’s not easy to discern the characteristics of fighting spirit and killing intent. Unless it’s being directly emitted right in front of you, it’s extremely difficult to identify who is emitting it, even if there’s a slight distance.

However, things were different for someone like Beom Oh. Especially with his mastery of Shaolin martial arts, he could deduce who the opponent was just from the residual fighting spirit.

Of course, that was only possible if he had felt that fighting spirit at least once.

“It’s a familiar fighting spirit. I’ve definitely felt it somewhere… Ah!”

Beom Oh exclaimed in a moment of realization.

“It’s the Yu troops. I don’t know if it’s the Myulsa or Tangma troops, but this is definitely the Yu troops’ fighting spirit.”

It was a fighting spirit he had felt a couple of times while wandering around the Maeng Nae. He hadn’t been able to figure out which unit’s fighting spirit it was because he was so out of it, but he knew it was the fighting spirit emitted by the Yu troops during training.

And this residual fighting spirit was quite vivid. It meant they hadn’t passed by here long ago.

“Junior Brother.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

Beom Oh’s face hardened.

“This fighting spirit doesn’t seem ordinary. I’ll follow this trail, so you head to Mount Bul first.”

Lee Cheol-gyeong’s eyes wavered.

“Did you sense something?”

“…I don’t know. It’s not certain, but I feel like something is urgent.”

Whoooong.

A faint golden true energy flowed from Beom Oh’s body.

“See you later.”

There was no time to stop him. Before anyone knew it, Beom Oh had activated the Vajra Immovable Body Technique [a Shaolin martial art focusing on defense and speed] and was running in the direction of the fighting spirit.

Lee Cheol-gyeong clicked his tongue.

“He’s definitely changed. Not just his martial arts, but his personality too.”

Of course, a person’s core wouldn’t change. However, at least the current Beom Oh seemed much more serious and cautious.

Lee Cheol-gyeong lightly tapped his cheek.

“This isn’t the time for this. Should I run too?”

Paahng!

And so, the two brothers split up before reaching Mount Bul.

* * *

Flames ignited in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.

Whoooooooong!

The Gwangryong Axe roared like crazy. It wasn’t because of true energy, but because Yeon Ho-jeong’s fierce will was directly imbued into the axe.

In terms of swordsmanship, it was the level of sword cry [a technique where the sword resonates with the user’s spirit]. The true unity of sword and self, the supreme level of imbuing a weapon with a person’s heart, giving it new life.

Yayul Jeok’s eyes deepened.

“…This is truly amazing.”

The martial arts of the Central Plains and the martial arts of the outer regions are different.

However, even though the paths they take are different, the final destination of the martial path is the same. The murderous axe cry that Yeon Ho-jeong was displaying was a level that fewer than ten people in the Saim Cult had reached.

That was an area unrelated to the strength of martial arts, the so-called realm of enlightenment. Moreover, if it was a level that was naturally unfolding while his emotions were heightened, then it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this young man’s enlightenment was at the level of a demigod disciple.

It was truly astonishing. The power of the true energy being emitted was clearly below his own, but the aura was so great that even he felt his bones ache. Furthermore, that enlightenment was building a realm beyond the aura.

At this point, it was not something to laugh at for not having harmony between mind and body. Just how much had he delved into martial arts to achieve such enlightenment at such a young age, not even thirty?

“They say Byeoksan Hojang is the best of the younger generation, but this is beyond imagination. With that level of enlightenment, he’ll become a master comparable to the strong of the Sacred Heaven within ten years.”

So Bang coldly muttered.

“Don’t overestimate the opponent. He just looks impressive…”

“You shouldn’t underestimate the opponent either. That guy’s axe looks like it’s about to come alive and split us in half. There isn’t anyone in our cult who has reached that level, except for the elders.”

So Bang bit her lip.

She was one of the most talented among the illegitimate children of the cult leader. In other words, she was a genius.

But the world was vast. A young man much younger than her had already reached the realm of a demigod disciple in terms of enlightenment.

“Whatever. It doesn’t matter. If we kill him here today, that’s all there is to it.”

“That’s true.”

Yeon Ho-jeong took a step forward.

“Your cult… you’re clearly stating it.”

Yayul Jeok smiled wryly.

“You’re the one who knows So Bang’s Blood Sound Evil Energy and has completely broken through the Blood Sound Palm’s style. It’s clear that you already know about our cult, so what’s the point of hiding it?”

“I suppose so.”

Yeon Ho-jeong calmed his boiling killing intent.

In his heart, he wanted to rush in and swing his axe right away. He was so filled with killing intent that he wanted to make the two of them combat-incapable and then mince them like pieces of meat at a butcher shop.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong held back. His killing intent towards the Saim Cult was no different than before, but now he knew how to control his killing intent, and furthermore, he knew what was a priority.

Yeon Ho-jeong took a light breath and opened his mouth.

“I heard there was an earthquake at your main base. According to the reports, such an impact wouldn’t happen unless there was a fierce battle between supreme masters.”

“So that’s what it was.”

Yayul Jeok’s eyes turned cold for a moment.

His pale complexion and gaze were emitting a chilling killing intent.

“It was your scheme. To make us fight each other.”

“It’s a shame it failed. Judging by the looks of it, that earthquake was also a trick to make us lower our guard.”

“You’re smart.”

“I thought things were going too easily.”

Yeon Ho-jeong pointed at So Bang with the White Dragon Axe.

So Bang’s face contorted. Just being pointed at with the axe made her killing intent surge. Not only was she defeated by that damned guy, but she had also used up her Yin Essence Pill, so she couldn’t help but be angry.

“Judging by that woman’s personality, it seems unlikely she’ll live a long life. However, even if her personality is terrible, one needs more than just talent to reach that level. It was true that I was trying to stir up conflict, but I felt it was strange that we clashed too early.”

“……”

“Indeed, my guess was right. It was a trap. And the fact that you guys appeared here means…”

Yeon Ho-jeong glanced at Sama Hyeon.

“That reckless fool must have made some mistake.”

Yayul Jeok exclaimed in admiration.

“You’re really smart.”

His mind was truly outstanding. Not only did he deduce the cause and effect from the revealed situation, but his insight to see through the entire process was truly divine.

Yayul Jeok said,

“That’s right. I knew that that reckless fool had broken my Soul Subjugation Technique a long time ago.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes wavered.

He could tell from that one sentence. Yayul Jeok had been watching his movements for a long time.

‘I’ve been had.’

Sama Hyeon inwardly gritted his teeth.

‘It was true. It wasn’t the Martial Alliance’s mistake, it was my mistake. The Yin God was watching me and dispatched troops here.’

It was clearly an attempt to wipe them out all at once. They probably intercepted one of the letters sent to the Martial Alliance.

‘…Damn it.’

Sama Hyeon felt a bitter sense of defeat.

He had thought he had completely deceived the opponent, but that wasn’t the case. Rather, he had been dancing in Yayul Jeok’s palm without knowing anything.

“I knew you were aiming for something, but I didn’t know what it was. Of course, you’ll ultimately try to kill me, your enemy, but I didn’t know how you were planning to do it…”

“Well, that’s enough.”

Yeon Ho-jeong cut off Yayul Jeok’s words sharply.

“It doesn’t matter anymore how we’ve moved so far. That’s enough. What’s important is this moment, isn’t it?”

“……”

“Judging by the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like only the two of you came.”

So Bang sneered.

“What else do you need to take down the likes of you…”

“A defeated dog should keep its mouth shut.”

“Wh-What did you say?!”

Hwaaaaaak!

The Blood Sound Evil Energy blazed fiercely from So Bang’s body.

“You damned bastard! If it weren’t for your ridiculous formation, you would have been dead already! Just because you know how to break the Blood Sound Palm, you think you can beat me…!”

“I know. That’s why I used the formation.”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“And you lost. Whatever the reason, you lost, so you deserve to be called a loser. If it weren’t for my generosity, you wouldn’t even be able to bark like that right now.”

As the conversation continued, he was gradually finding mental stability. Now, he could recognize those two as ordinary enemies, not as members of the Saim Cult.

On the other hand, So Bang was different.

“You…!”

Hwarururuk!

The Blood Sound Evil Energy gathered in her hands flickered like flames. She looked like she was about to strike at any moment.

At that moment, Yayul Jeok raised his hand.

“Calm down, So Bang.”

“……”

“He’s a cunning one. It’s not good to move rashly.”

So Bang bit her lip.

She wanted to tell him to stop talking nonsense and kill him right away, but she couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth. She instinctively knew that if she got agitated here, it would be a disadvantage.

Hoo woo woong.

So Bang tried hard to calm her Blood Sound Evil Energy.

It was then.

“That’s right, a dog should listen to its master to protect its food bowl.”

“……?!”

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

“You should keep listening to that guy in the future. At least he seems better than you.”

Yayul Jeok’s eyes wavered.

Chiiiiiiiiik!

The Blood Sound Evil Energy that she had tried so hard to calm down exploded.

So Bang shouted like a demon.

“You bastard…!!”

Kwaang!

In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s body slid backward.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t So Bang who had shot out the fist wind at him. It was Yayul Jeok.

Yayul Jeok said in a sinister voice,

“There’s no point in dragging out the conversation any longer.”

“…I knew it.”

Yeon Ho-jeong grinned.

He had blocked it with the Gwangryong Axe, but the power of that one blow was so intense. A thin stream of blood trickled down the corner of his mouth.

“You’re definitely smarter.”

“Enough. I’ll have to kill you first.”

Flash!

No sooner had Yayul Jeok finished speaking than a pure white moonlight sliced through the air. It was a slash created by Yeon Ho-jeong’s White Dragon Axe.

Yayul Jeok’s hand blade was drawn in a straight line.

Jjeooooooong!

The slash that flew through the air was easily shattered as if it were nothing.

Flash!

Yeon Ho-jeong’s figure appeared above Yayul Jeok’s head.

Yayul Jeok’s eyes gleamed.

He had already read all of Yeon Ho-jeong’s movements. He unleashed the Yin Fire Crimson Flow energy.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-jeong said,

“Your main base is empty right now, isn’t it?”

Kwaaaang!

The two men’s martial arts collided head-on.

Yeon Ho-jeong flew backward. But surprisingly, Yayul Jeok also took a couple of steps back.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s power was stronger than he had imagined, but the meaning behind his words was ominous. That was why his true energy had wavered slightly.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you know?”

Chiriririring!

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had climbed onto a tree and released the Azure Dragon Chain, spun the chain with the Gwangryong Axe attached to it.

“Since ancient times, bloodless entry into a city has been considered the greatest victory.”

“……?!”

“You came at the right time. Thanks to you, we were able to seize the high ground first.”

At that moment.

Thud thud thud thud!

Five hundred Tangma troops had reached the front of the Yin God’s main base.