Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 594

“……!”

Having breached the west wall and engaged in combat within the outer compound, Paeyul’s next objective was the outer compound guard headquarters.

However, actually attempting to cause a disturbance proved to be a daunting task.

He had managed to conceal himself within a building and was observing the headquarters. Even at a glance, the vigilance of the warriors guarding the headquarters was remarkable.

‘They’re on a completely different level.’

It was a miscalculation to assume that the forces in the outer compound would be significantly weaker than those in the inner compound.

In fact, it was common practice to deploy more troops to the outer compound when necessary. Although some enemies might secretly infiltrate the inner compound, most attacks typically began with a step-by-step approach from the outer compound.

Even considering that, the warriors at the headquarters were formidable.

They didn’t possess the same level of danger as the formation he had risked his life to break through earlier. However, their eyes were truly ferocious. They were genuine warriors, teeming with those who never lowered their guard, even within their own territory.

‘At least it’s been relatively easy so far.’

Paeyul inwardly shook his head.

Apart from that cursed formation, the battle to breach the outer wall hadn’t felt particularly difficult. He had even briefly thought, ‘Is this all the mighty Dang Clan is capable of?’

But as expected, the Dang Clan was indeed the Dang Clan.

He recalled his conversations with Yeon Ho-Jeong and Tang Gwan.

‘The west wall.’

‘Because it’s the closest to the outer compound guard headquarters, they don’t actually station a large number of troops there. In fact, the terrain itself is quite secure from enemy intrusion, regardless of the direction they infiltrate from.’

‘Paeyul, you’ll be fine.’

‘That’s why it’s the west wall. When divided into four directions, it’s the safest place. But that’s also dangerous. If, by any chance, the masters from the headquarters were to mobilize all at once, even a supreme master would be in danger.’

‘Are they strong?’

‘Beyond being strong, they’re individuals who risk their lives. That’s how we trained them. My father and I, personally.’

‘That’s why, more than ever, the Clan Leader must keep their attention focused.’

‘I’ll tell you in advance. When I feel it’s enough, I’ll move too.’

‘Just promise me this. That you’ll move when you judge that enough forces have been drawn away from the Dang Clan. Otherwise, even if we win, it won’t be a true victory.’

‘Alright.’

Paeyul frowned.

Various conversations came to mind, but the most crucial point was that the outer compound guard headquarters was strong.

‘But there’s no other way.’

Any operation required risking one’s life.

Risking one’s life wasn’t their exclusive domain. Paeyul, too, had been fully prepared to die while fighting the Yin Soul Clan.

The important thing wasn’t whether one risked their life, but whether one properly completed the mission assigned to them.

‘Even if all our allies have infiltrated, it’s important to tie up some of their forces, even for the sake of a contingency.’

Paeyul took a deep breath.

‘Then, shall I go fight with a clear mind again?’

It was then.

Thud!

‘……?!’

Paeyul looked down at his body.

He saw his body, but his consciousness was within it.

Tsss tsss tsss.

‘It’s leaving?’

The medicinal power that had permeated his body was slowly dissipating.

To be precise, it wasn’t leaving, but weakening.

‘Damn it!’

The exact name escaped him. He vaguely remembered it being called something like ‘Fire Poison’.

Depending on the person, it was said that they would be immune to almost all of the Dang Clan’s poisons for at least half an hour. It was said that this was possible because he had compressed it with his own true energy [internal energy], whereas if someone else had made it, it might not have worked.

‘Has half an hour already passed?’

He didn’t know. He thought it probably hadn’t, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

‘Damn it all.’

Even at this moment, the medicinal power was continuing to weaken. However, he felt that the speed at which it was disappearing was accelerating.

Paeyul stood up.

‘There’s no choice. I have to break through as quickly as possible…….’

It was then.

‘Huh?!’

Paeyul’s head turned towards the inner compound.

From that direction, he sensed a fiery aura. It was a very familiar aura, one he had felt in countless battles.

It was familiar, but it was an energy that contained a storm of killing intent within it.

“You?!”

Fwoooosh!

Paeyul moved at a terrifying speed.

He realized that causing a disturbance in the outer compound was no longer meaningful.

“…….”

Tang Gwan paused for a moment.

‘That brat?’

From far to the left, he faintly sensed a fiery energy.

Except for the fact that it was an artificially created energy from a human body, its concentration seemed to be several times more condensed than the energy created by the Dang Clan’s fire weapons. It was that explosive.

Tang Gwan’s eyes wavered.

He knew that Yeon Ho-Jeong’s true energy had reached a high level. There was nothing new to be surprised about.

The important thing was, why was Yeon Ho-Jeong running towards this place from that direction?

Frost settled on Tang Gwan’s face.

“……He never does what I want.”

To deceive the enemy, deceive your allies first.

He must have used such an obvious logic to not say anything to him.

Well, if he had said he was going to target ‘that side,’ he would have vehemently opposed it. That’s why he wouldn’t have even hinted at it to him.

‘There’s no choice.’

He was angry, but Tang Gwan remained calm.

Perhaps, from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s perspective, targeting ‘that side’ was the most rational thing to do. If it were another clan and not the Dang Clan, he too would have aimed for the most rational option.

So, he understood. But understanding and anger were different things.

Tang Gwan muttered to himself.

“No matter how eloquent you are, you’re not one to move.”

In any case, if Yeon Ho-Jeong was also coming here, then he too had to pick up the pace.

His aura was unusual. He wouldn’t reveal such intense fire energy unless it was a life-or-death situation. In other words, it meant that there was someone he absolutely had to kill.

And that someone was highly likely to be Dang Ho.

Whoooosh whoooosh whoooosh.

A massive internal energy poured out from his dantian [energy center] like a waterfall.

An indescribable power, a force more dangerous than an Imugi’s [mythical serpent] fangs, was contained in his hands.

Tang Gwan gently extended his hands forward.

Kwaaaaaang!

With a tremendous explosion, the door leading to the inner compound caved in and then fell backward.

“Huuuh!”

“G-get ready for battle!”

The iron gate of the inner compound was over ten feet tall and more than a foot and a half thick.

If such a massive iron gate was pushed down with a single strike of force, it was not the power of a human.

Tang Gwan shouted.

“Everyone, step back!”

Fwoooosh!

The fiery aura that was erupting was dazzling.

The fire energy emanating from his body actually created the shape of red flames. The burning energy repeatedly gathered and scattered, forming a wide aura around Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left and right shoulder blades.

The aura looked like a pair of wings. Like the other divine beast techniques, the Vermilion Bird Technique (朱雀功) also began to be influenced by imagination as its mastery increased.

The White Tiger with a beast-like power, with the majesty of a mountain king.

The Black Tortoise as a bulwark like an iron wall, with an overwhelming grandeur like a waterfall.

The Azure Dragon with the softness of a willow tree, with the mystery of a dragon from mythology.

Each time he used a martial art, he immersed himself in that martial art and began to awaken the original power of the divine beast techniques. True energy (眞氣) moved through intention, and what created that intention was strong concentration and belief.

Beyond that concentration and belief, he poured an extreme immersion as if he had actually become a divine beast, transforming the concentration and shape of the true energy that extended out to match it.

Imagination became reality. Yeon Ho-Jeong had already reached that level.

“Huk!”

“W-what is that?!”

“It’s killing intent! Block it!”

Perhaps because it was the inner compound, things were different. Masters were pouring out one after another from the guard and the headquarters.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shouted.

“Get out of the way!”

He swung his palms.

Fwoosh fwoosh fwoosh fwoosh!

Flames soared.

“It’s fire!”

“S-step back!”

It was a terrifying martial art that shattered the earth and created a massive blaze.

Although the Divine Flame Sect’s Scorching Yang Technique was said to be the best in the world, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s Vermilion Bird Technique was now no less than theirs.

What ultimately determined whether the energy (氣) was stronger or weaker was the user’s understanding and mindset. There were disciplines that reached the pinnacle of a field due to the excellence of the martial art itself, but when one reached the extreme, what was ultimately important was the enlightenment of understanding true energy rather than the type of martial art.

That’s why this was possible.

Kwaaang!

Like a feather, or like a weightless flame.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been moving at a terrifying speed, forcefully stepped on the ground, and at that signal, a sea of flames soared high into the sky, creating a massive curtain.

“Huuuh!”

“Step back!”

Fwoooosh!

It was an overwhelming sight.

Each strand of fire energy, reading its master’s will, was sweeping through the surroundings as he imagined.

It was as if a fire god had descended to earth. Even the warriors of the Divine Flame Sect would doubt if they could control fire energy so freely.

Trickle.

A trickle of blood flowed from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s nose.

He had prevented many masters from approaching with overwhelming firepower, but even if his imagination or enlightenment was extraordinary, it was not easy to achieve such a feat.

‘It’s severe.’

The consumption of internal energy was extreme.

The Yeon Family Divine Core was rotating at high speed, generating a massive amount of energy, but the amount of true energy he was pouring out was greater than the energy being generated.

In addition, the impact of receiving Tang Hyeong’s strike was also considerable. It wasn’t a big problem, but it was a clear issue when dealing with such a massive amount of internal energy.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

It was okay.

It was a fight that he couldn’t win without getting hurt anyway. Whether he would actually capture Dang Ho would be determined by the situation.

The important thing was that a ‘violent incident’ was occurring within the Dang Clan, where no one was allowed to intrude.

It was then.

“You fiend!”

There was a master flying in from the left.

The martial power he felt was tremendous. He was a supreme master who had broken through the Wall of Martial Arts. Judging by the age of his true energy, he was clearly an elder-level figure.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

He wouldn’t directly attack those who were trying to stop him. The person to judge them was Tang Gwan. Unless they were directly trying to take his life, it was enough to make them step back if they weren’t hindering his path.

But a strong person like that was a different story. He hadn’t pushed the temperature of the fire energy to its limit, but if they could break through the barrier of the Vermilion Bird fire energy, they were no ordinary master.

“You are an invader! No questions asked! I will not capture you alive!”

Fwoooosh!

With an explosion, a dense killing intent poured in.

What was creating that killing intent was feather needles. Feather needles, invisible to the naked eye, were flying towards Yeon Ho-Jeong’s rear.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s pupils turned as red as fire.

He roughly swung his hand.

Krrrrrr!

The many feather needles were all burned and evaporated by the claws of fire that tore through the air.

“Huk!”

Horror spread across the face of Dang Jong-Heon, the master who had been charging in.

It wasn’t the Mad Blood Needles, but the Rain of Plum Blossom Needles was also a difficult hidden weapon to block, if not avoid. The opponent had rendered that secret hidden weapon useless with a single wave of his hand.

“Did you think you could stop me with such toys?”

Whoosh!

Flames flickered in the breath that was exhaled.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shouted.

“Do not block my path! Anyone who rashly approaches, regardless of their position, will be reduced to ashes!”