Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 899

At Yeon Ho-Jeong’s unrestrained remarks, the Blood Monk’s face grew increasingly red.

Especially, the face of the Great Golden Buddha, who was sitting with his arms crossed behind the hundred Rakshasa troops, contorted more horribly than the masks worn by the Rakshasas.

‘That lowly, ignorant fool!’

The Great Golden Buddha jumped up.

At that moment, the Blood Monk spoke.

‘Our guest from the continent has a very rough tongue.’

Before long, the Blood Monk’s complexion returned to normal.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘Not bad.’

The Blood Monk’s voice continued.

‘What does it matter whose feet we lick? We are merely walking the path we desire, the path we dream of.’

‘That’s a pathetic excuse.’

‘Furthermore, this humble monk did not come here to make excuses to you. So, wouldn’t it be better to stop this pointless talk?’

‘I have no reason to listen to you. It’s a wonder I haven’t cursed out an enemy who brought these menacing thugs to kill people.’

The Blood Monk’s lips curled up.

‘Is that so?’

How strange.

Yeon Ho-Jeong thought. What a strange master.

The energy flowing from the Blood Monk was so strong and upright that it reminded him of Great Master Gong Gong of the Shaolin Temple [a renowned Buddhist monastery].

But the atmosphere was different.

It was equally heavy and equally upright, but while Great Master Gong Gong’s energy was full of righteousness, this Blood Monk’s energy was filled with a chilling evil aura.

‘Even if they pursued power, weren’t they still supposed to serve Buddha?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong suddenly looked at the Blood Monk’s beard.

His abundant gray beard was braided into three sections. At the end of each braid, he had attached surprisingly elaborate ornaments of evil Buddha heads.

He thought it was a strange hobby, but in the end, the shape of those ornaments signified that they had strayed far from the righteous path of Buddhism.

‘I can’t get a grasp on him at all. He’s endlessly heavy, but when I look at him, he’s also as light as smoke.’

One thing was certain.

‘He’s stronger than the Alliance Leader. Definitely.’

Great Master Gong Gong had ascended to the Supreme Extremity [a high level of martial arts mastery] and, upon freeing himself from all his accumulated worldly desires, had instantly gained the inner strength of a Three Armies level [a measure of martial power].

This man was even more so. Beyond enlightenment, he exuded the confidence of a true master who had cultivated the Supreme Extremity for a very long time.

‘At least Three Armies level. A martial art of the Emperor class.’

The Blood Monk opened his mouth.

‘I had expected you to send a great master, but I didn’t know you would send such an amazing one. What is your name?’

‘Yeon Ho-Jeong.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not bother to hide his name.

The Blood Monk nodded.

‘I heard that an unparalleled martial arts genius, the likes of which are hard to find in the history of the Eastern Continent, has emerged. That young genius wields an axe as big as a man’s body and has been at the forefront of the battles against the Three Teachings [a collective term for rival religious and martial sects] with unconventional tactics and ruthless methods.’

‘It seems news travels far in that area as well.’

‘I don’t know the details, but yes.’

The Blood Monk sighed.

‘If only our headquarters had a genius like you.’

‘Enough with the chatter.’

Clang.

Yeon Ho-Jeong placed the Gwangryong Axe on his shoulder.

‘Do we have to fight?’

The Blood Monk smiled.

‘I don’t want to fight either. But there is a condition.’

‘You want the human in that carriage?’

‘That’s right. You guessed it.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

‘Did you join hands with the Three Teachings? Or did you go under them?’

‘You don’t need to know that far.’

‘You went under them.’

‘…….’

‘The Thunder Sound Temple, known as the Shaolin of the outer regions, has fallen so low.’

The Blood Monk’s face turned expressionless.

‘Do you want to fight that badly?’

‘No, I don’t want to fight. So, I’ll set a condition too.’

‘……?’

‘Get out of the way. If you don’t, you’ll all die.’

The Blood Monk, who had been quietly looking into Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes, smiled again.

‘It seems we were destined to fight after all.’

‘I just want you to know one thing.’

Whooong.

Golden light filled Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes again.

‘Since you started this fight, don’t blame us even if you die.’

‘Don’t worry. We will return to Buddha’s side even if we die. We have given our lives for him.’

‘That’s the first time I’ve heard such nonsense in my life.’

Though he spoke calmly, Yeon Ho-Jeong inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘There’s no opening.’

There was no need for such a conversation. These guys came to kidnap Cheon Hyo-Rak. And they had to head to Shinma Forest with Cheon Hyo-Rak.

Of course, a fight was inevitable. It wasn’t for nothing that Mak Won was sent elsewhere.

The problem was.

‘There’s no easy task in this world.’

He had intended to drastically reduce the opponent’s power with a surprise attack, but there wasn’t even the slightest opening.

And that wasn’t all.

‘Not one, but two?’

Behind those masked figures, there was another Supreme Extremity master.

He had to concentrate all his attention just to fight this strange monk. Yet, there was another master who had reached the Supreme Extremity.

If it were a head-on confrontation, there would be no reason to lose, but it was difficult to fight another Supreme Extremity master while fighting someone of similar skill.

‘Well, I did set up some countermeasures… I was thinking too much for nothing. Is my brother not here yet?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been staring at the Blood Monk, opened his mouth.

‘I have a question.’

‘Ask away.’

The Blood Monk seemed quite relaxed.

He already knew that Yeon Ho-Jeong was looking for an opening. He also knew that he couldn’t easily launch an attack. That fact alone gave him considerable leeway. At least, he didn’t feel like he would lose in a fight against this extraordinary master.

‘Did you use a clairvoyance-like spell?’

The Blood Monk’s eyes trembled slightly.

‘You noticed that?’

‘I knew it.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

‘It seems you can’t use it often. Still, it wasn’t a good feeling knowing that someone I don’t know was openly watching us.’

‘……You are truly amazing. I thought you would only feel a sense of unease, not be able to identify it as a spell.’

‘I’m not the only one. One of my companions felt the same thing.’

‘A companion?’

The Blood Monk looked around at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group.

‘They are all extraordinary masters, but I don’t see anyone who is skilled enough to recognize a spell.’

‘I sent them separately.’

‘……?’

‘I sent them to crush the spellcasters first.’

The Blood Monk chuckled.

‘That’s a pity. The person who used that spell isn’t separate…’

‘It’s you.’

‘……?!’

‘I know, that it was you who was watching us with a clairvoyance-like spell.’

‘You know?’

‘Yes.’

‘And you still sent them?’

‘I didn’t know until I faced you.’

The Blood Monk’s smile deepened.

‘That’s a pity. If you hadn’t sent that master, we would have been much more cautious.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed.

‘You’re right. I thought I was good at strategy and tactics, but it seems I’ve become quite arrogant. I’m even making mistakes like this.’

‘It’s been fun talking to you, but I don’t want to waste any more time. So, I’ll ask one last time.’

‘Let’s fight.’

The Blood Monk frowned.

Yeon Ho-Jeong naturally got off his horse.

Twitch!

The Blood Monk flinched involuntarily. He had thought of launching a surprise attack on Yeon Ho-Jeong as he dismounted.

But there was no opening. Even though he was openly bending down to get off, it didn’t seem like a surprise attack would work.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having sent his horse back, struck the ground with the Gwangryong Axe.

Thud!

The dust on the prairie rose up in a cloud.

‘If we can’t give each other what we want, then the only conclusion is a fight. If I can’t find an opening, then all that’s left is a clash of strength.’

‘So it has come to this…’

In an instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes blazed.

Kwaang!

His left hand, moving as fast as lightning, unleashed the Golden Dragon Sky Piercing Palm [a powerful martial arts technique].

The Blood Monk’s response was dazzling. He instantly raised his own left hand to block the Sky Piercing Palm, perfectly sealing it so that not a single ounce of power leaked out.

‘As expected.’

A fight that had suddenly broken out.

It wasn’t about looking for an opening, but simply starting the fight first.

‘I’ll go all out from the start.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet stomped on the ground.

Thud!

With a tremendous vibration, a brilliant golden aura blazed up.

The Blood Monk shouted.

‘Attack them!’

At the same time, Yeon Ho-Jeong moved.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had drawn all his inner energy in a single moment, swung down the Gwangryong Axe.

The Blood Monk, having unleashed the Blood Drinking Bodhi Divine Art [a dark martial arts technique], felt a chill run down his spine.

‘……!!’

The massive axe was coming down with the force to shatter even a mountain.

Its sheer size was so enormous that it was truly jaw-dropping. It was as if a double-edged axe the size of a mountain peak was falling, burning the air, and the pressure was so strong that his limbs felt heavy.

‘This is bad!’

A simple movement, yet the power contained within was so immense that it could shatter a mountain.

‘Can I block it……?!’

To think he would unleash a secret technique with all his might from the very first strike.

There was no time to think about anything. The Blood Monk instinctively leaped to the right. Since he couldn’t immediately unleash a power to counter the opponent’s inner energy, evasion was the natural choice.

And the Blood Monk regretted it.

It was because of the destructive power created by the Gwangryong Axe that had plunged down, burning the air.

Kwaaaaaang!!

The slash that devastated the earth reached past the spot where the Blood Monk had been and even reached the Hong Nahan [elite warriors] and Rakshasa troops waiting behind him.

‘Huk!’

‘Dodge, dodge!’

Thud, thud, thud!

Three Hong Nahan and two Rakshasas, unable to dodge or block the giant’s strike, were turned into a bloody mess on the spot and sent flying.

‘This bastard!’

After unleashing a strike with all his might, a slight opening was bound to appear.

The Blood Monk chose to move skillfully rather than get angry. The Blood Monk, who had instantly plunged into Yeon Ho-Jeong’s embrace, stabbed Yeon Ho-Jeong’s side with his Vajra [a ritual weapon].

Kaaang!

The Blood Monk’s eyes widened. With a strange metallic sound, the Vajra was slightly deflected.

‘As expected.’

Flash!

The Blood Monk, who had already retreated far away, had a red line etched on his chest.

It was the Baekryong Sword [a magical sword].

Without even touching it, he had used the secret technique of sword control, attacking the Blood Monk with the Baekryong Sword that was hanging on his back.

‘Your killing intent was right at your side.’

Whooong! Weeeeeeeng!

The Black and White Twin Dragon Swords, which had already risen above Yeon Ho-Jeong’s head, began to rotate menacingly.

In his hands was the Gwangryong Axe, and above his head were the black and white twin dragons.

It was Yeon Ho-Jeong’s complete armament, utilizing his overwhelming inner energy.

Paah! Paah! Paah!

The rotating Black and White Twin Dragon Swords flew like rays of light towards the Hong Nahan and Rakshasa troops.

Krrrrrr!

A terrifying gust of wind was shot from the Blood Monk’s fist. It was a power that even Yeon Ho-Jeong could not easily block.

Yeon Ho-Jeong moved his lips.

‘Horizontal Slash.’

The Gwangryong Axe moved like lightning.

Kwaaang!

With an explosion, Yeon Ho-Jeong and the Blood Monk each retreated three lengths.

And at the moment of the explosion, Yeon Ho-Jeong took out a small pill and ate it as he retreated. Although he felt suffocated by the pressure, he managed to swallow it.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Black and White Twin Dragon Swords that had been sent flying were blocked by the Great Golden Buddha’s palm and bounced high into the sky.

‘This bastard!!’

The Blood Monk rushed at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘Kill them! Bring back Cheon Hyo-Rak alive!’

At the Great Golden Buddha’s hysterical shout, the Hong Nahan and Rakshasa troops moved.

At the same time, Yeon Ho-Jeong shouted.

‘Clan Leader!’

Krrrrrr!

A translucent black cloud rose around the carriage.

The battle in the prairie was finally beginning.

Beneath the sky, looking down through the scattered clouds, the prelude to a foul-smelling bloodbath had begun.