Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 873

“That’s the seat.”

“Yes, it is.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho bowed his head respectfully.

Gong Gong Dae-Sa looked at the grand master’s chair with profound eyes.

Indeed. What he was looking at was the grand master’s chair.

However, it was not the kind of grand master’s chair that others would look up to, the kind that was splendid and magnificent.

It was simple, so much so that the expression ‘unadorned’ suited it. The floor was flat but looked solid. The armrests and backrest also looked excessively stiff.

“Only the frame has been made. The prototype is like that, and I plan to call in artisans to complete it in a classic style.”

“Why go to such trouble? It seems sufficient as it is.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

“Yes, I knew you would say that.”

“Then you must have prepared words to persuade this humble monk.”

“Of course.”

“What is the reason?”

“The Martial Alliance Leader is a position with immense power, enough to shake the entire White Path Martial World [a term referring to the orthodox martial arts world] in one hand, but at the same time, it is a position that comes with great responsibility.”

“I know that.”

“That is why it must shine even more. While it is good to value simplicity, I believe that the seat where the leader, the very core of the Alliance, sits should have a proper dignity.”

“As the strategist says, simplicity is a virtue. There’s nothing wrong with being unadorned.”

“The first Alliance Leader must be the one who creates and establishes everything for the first time. There will be so many things for you to leave your first mark as the leader in the already established Martial Alliance.”

“……”

“Please order the grand master’s chair to be made comfortable.”

He was a person who had to work for the world at any time, in any situation.

Therefore, Gong Gong Dae-Sa thought that the grand master’s chair should be made uncomfortable so that he could be more alert.

However, Jeagal Mun-Ho’s thoughts seemed to be different. It seemed to be his intention to relieve fatigue even for a moment when sitting in the grand master’s chair, as he always had to work for the world.

Gong Gong Dae-Sa nodded.

“If that is the strategist’s intention, I will follow it. However, I think it is excessive to be luxurious and classic, so please aim to make it calm and comfortable.”

He accepted the opinion but clearly set a line that he would not give up.

Although he had not yet been formally assigned a proper task as the Alliance Leader, Jeagal Mun-Ho realized from his words and actions alone that Gong Gong Dae-Sa was more than qualified to be the leader.

“Thank you.”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa’s eyes deepened.

Strange emotions dwelled in his clear eyes, where the purity of a child and deep wisdom coexisted.

“Just a few days ago, I couldn’t have imagined that this humble monk would become the first Alliance Leader.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

“Do you resent us?”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa burst into laughter.

“How could I resent the people who made me the most powerful person in the White Path Martial World?”

“Haha.”

“However, I am worried that my abilities are insufficient to lead the Martial Alliance well in the future. I entered this realm to enhance the authority of the Alliance since I lack ability, but the work of the Alliance Leader is not something that can be done with power alone.”

The reason why Gong Gong Dae-Sa voluntarily entered the Limitless [a realm of martial arts beyond the ordinary] was because he had half given up.

He was a person who could have lived peacefully his whole life without reaching the Limitless. He was curious about the Limitless Realm, but for him, the increase in martial power was closer to a poison that caused agony.

However, if he did not have a brain and wisdom as outstanding as others, he had to have something exceptional so that others would not look down on the Martial Alliance.

So he reached the Limitless.

And only after reaching the Limitless did he know how to face the agony he had been so worried about.

Jeagal Mun-Ho bowed his head.

“There are many people who will become your hands and feet. Including myself, the elders and the staff will support you, Dae-Sa. Please do not worry too much.”

It was a confident statement. It could also be said to be a statement that made Gong Gong Dae-Sa’s heart feel secure.

Gong Gong Dae-Sa, who nodded with a smile, suddenly looked up at the ceiling.

“……”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa, who had been looking at the high ceiling without a word, opened his mouth.

“What do you think?”

“Yes?”

“I mean the experts of the Saintly Heavens [a term referring to the highest level of martial artists] who have gathered here, and those who will gather in the future.”

The words ‘those who will gather in the future’ caught his attention.

Jeagal Mun-Ho said.

“Do you want to bind them in the name of the Alliance?”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa smiled.

It was a strange smile that seemed like a bitter smile or an embarrassed one.

“I only realized after reaching the Limitless. No, I knew it, but I should say I truly felt it.”

“Yes?”

“This realm is dangerous.”

“What do you mean…?”

“This realm, which is simply called the Limitless because there is no way to express it, is actually a realm that is too much for the small brain and soul of a human to endure.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes wavered.

A master who had reached the Limitless was discussing the Limitless.

Jeagal Mun-Ho also knew that those who had reached that realm all had personality flaws. Of course, there were some who did not, but they were a very small minority.

In other words, it is difficult to say that only those with personality flaws gain great talent and reach the Limitless. However, it should be seen that the way those who have reached that realm perceive the world is different from ordinary people.

‘What is it?’

Gong Gong Dae-Sa was talking about that very part now.

He was the head of the Jeagal Clan, known as the Divine Jeagal and regarded as a symbol of wisdom, but even he could not know what he had not fully experienced. Moreover, he could not even dare to guess about the Limitless, which was said to be the realm of transcendents.

“Are you saying that there is a risk of madness or inner demon possession?”

“It is possible to go mad. However, there will be no inner demon possession. If the inner demon possession you are talking about means that a person’s body and mind collapse and they die or become disabled, then that is unlikely.”

At that moment, Jeagal Mun-Ho felt a chill.

“You mean there is no chance of falling into inner demon possession, but there is a chance of going crazy?”

“If you do not constantly recognize your own state, you may fall into madness at any moment.”

“……!”

“And if that madness leads to a desire to destroy myself……”

Jeagal Mun-Ho swallowed.

“A mad demon wielding the power of a martial god that no one can handle will descend.”

“That’s right.”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa shook his head.

“The Great Ability of the Supreme of this temple is the best mind cultivation method that governs all three dantians [energy centers in the body]. In particular, it is a mind cultivation method specialized in controlling the mind by taking many Buddhist scriptures.”

“Yes, I remember you mentioning it before, Dae-Sa.”

“This humble monk has completely excluded the power of the Great Ability of the Supreme from the upper dantian.”

“……Yes?”

“Shaolin has two great abilities. One is the Supreme, and the other is the Prajna.”

“……!”

“The Prajna Great Ability is the martial art of enlightenment. I awakened that ability but deliberately abandoned it. I thought that if I cultivated the Prajna Great Ability, I might reach the Limitless without realizing it.”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa closed his eyes.

“However, the moment I reached the Limitless, I completely filled my upper dantian with the Prajna Great Ability.”

The Prajna Great Ability is the power of wisdom, the martial art of enlightenment. The Great Ability of the Supreme is also the ultimate Subduing Demon Buddha Energy, but it is somewhat more secular compared to the Prajna Great Ability.

That is why the masters representing Shaolin learn the Great Ability of the Supreme. Although the Prajna Great Ability is a martial art that cannot be learned at will even if one wants to, the Supreme is superior to the Prajna in terms of pure martial power.

However, without the wisdom energy of the Prajna Great Ability, there is a possibility of being caught in all sorts of delusions. In that respect, the Supreme cannot follow the Prajna.

“That is why I abandoned a piece of enlightenment even though I could have become stronger. I abandoned more powerful martial arts and instead entrusted my upper dantian to the Prajna.”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa opened his eyes and smiled bitterly.

“If, by any chance, even one in ten million, the Martial Alliance Leader goes mad and causes an accident, how would the world view the Martial Alliance?”

“……I see.”

“For me, protecting my mind and soul correctly is ten thousand times more important than becoming stronger.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho bowed his head without realizing it.

Gong Gong Dae-Sa, who had reached the Limitless, could have become even stronger than he was now.

If you are a martial artist, everyone risks their lives for stronger power. The stronger you become, the more your greed will grow, and the desires of those who have reached the Limitless will be on a different level from ordinary people.

However, even in that realm, Gong Gong Dae-Sa knew how to look back at himself.

His mental strength itself is on a different level than his martial power. There are many transcendents called martial gods in the world, but there is no other transcendent as great as Gong Gong Dae-Sa.

“Do you understand what this humble monk is saying?”

“……”

Jeagal Mun-Ho sighed.

“You have reduced the possibility of mental breakdown with the power of the Prajna Great Ability.”

“That’s right.”

“However, other experts of the Saintly Heavens may not have such countermeasures.”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa sighed.

“Everyone will have their own way. Who in the world would want to become a mad demon who has lost himself? Among those who have made a name for themselves in the Saintly Heavens, there will be no one who has not tried to correct their unstable minds.”

“……I suppose so.”

“Nevertheless, most of the Saintly Heavens have their own personality flaws.”

“Are you saying that the transcendents who are revered as martial gods live in the world with more anxiety than ordinary people?”

“It will be different for each person. However, what you said is not far from the truth.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho sighed.

“Then, aren’t the experts of the Saintly Heavens like walking around with a firebomb in their heads?”

“That’s an accurate analogy. Yes. The experts of the Saintly Heavens live with the risk of their minds being invaded by divine energy at any time. And……”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa thought of Namgoong Seung and Jongri Baek.

“The Sword Saint and the Saber Saint, the two seniors, have already been somewhat invaded by divine energy.”

“……!!”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes wavered.

The divine energy that Gong Gong Dae-Sa was talking about was not the divine energy in martial arts, but the divine energy that literally meant ghosts and spirits. It was the same divine energy that shamans suffering from divine sickness would say, ‘I am possessed by divine energy.’

“So this humble monk.”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa sighed again.

“I want to embrace them all under the name of the Martial Alliance. To be precise, I want to keep them from leaving this place.”

“……Do you think they will agree to that?”

“I don’t know. If they refuse, I have no choice but to persuade them to stay in the Alliance.”

It was easy to create a position. Since they were experts who discussed the best in the world, and they were also highly respected and old, it would be okay to give them the position of Martial Advisor or Protector.

Anyway, he never thought that the conversation that started with the grand master’s chair would lead to this. Jeagal Mun-Ho, who was touching his lips with anxiety, swallowed hard at a thought that suddenly came to mind.

“Dae-Sa.”

“Speak.”

“You said that the Sword and Saber Emperors have already been invaded by divine energy.”

“That’s right. A little bit.”

“Then……”

Tension appeared on Jeagal Mun-Ho’s face.

“What about Vice Leader Yeon…?”

It was then.

“Are you inside?”

It was a voice that was heard from a distance, but it was as vivid as if it were spoken right in front of him.

It was Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice. And it seemed like someone was coming with him.

“It’s the Vice Leader. May I enter the Martial Sage Hall?”