Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 953

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s heart pounded in his chest.

It was the first time he had heard such a detailed account of his master’s past.

‘So, that’s how it was.’

His master’s master, essentially Yeon Ho-Jeong’s grandmaster, must have been a divine being with incredible mental fortitude.

Though he had never met him, anyone his master held in such high regard must surely be a sage who left an indelible mark on the world.

“Then, what about the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art…?”

“The Yellow Dragon Divine King Art was originally part of the Four Divine Arts. Even the secret formulas were clearly there.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened.

The Yellow Dragon he had learned was a martial art without specific formulas. It was, in the truest sense, a divine art of enlightenment. While there were similar teachings, there were no secret formulas explaining the flow of true energy or the framework of the divine art.

The Thousand Sky Dragon smiled.

“However, the original Yellow Dragon Divine King Art was incomplete.”

“Ah!”

“Originally, the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art was divided into the Yellow Dragon Energy, which governed the middle and lower dantian [energy centers in the body], and the Divine King Energy, which governed the upper dantian. That’s why it was called the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art.”

“I see. So, Master…”

“Yes.”

Even though they had walked slowly, step by step, they had already circled the peak once.

Yet, the two disciples did not stop walking. They were treading the same ground for the second time, but that was of no importance to them.

“The Five-Colored Hell Art was the strongest and most wicked demonic art in the history of the Blood Cult and the demonic martial world. It boasted such bizarre methods of operation that I wondered what kind of madman had created it.”

“And you fixed it.”

“To be precise, I separated the secret formulas of the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art and the Five-Colored Hell Art and combined them.”

This meant he had disassembled two divine and demonic arts so advanced that the prefix ‘ultra’ would not be out of place, and combined them into one.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was also quite adept at implementing martial arts and transforming techniques, but he had not reached his master’s level of ability.

“After combining the two martial arts, I pondered whether I should leave it as a secret formula. The Four Divine Arts itself was already among the strongest martial arts in the world. Did we really need a divine art that fought through enlightenment, which was a step further?”

It was an enormous change.

A man who had once sneered that justice without power was empty, as a successor of the Blood Cult, now felt unease towards excessive power and even gave up on creating secret formulas.

He had completely changed his iron-clad convictions. This clear change was proof that his master’s enlightenment was glimpsing the ultimate.

“So, I also changed the Four Divine Arts.”

“Yes?”

“The Four Divine Arts, the Four Divine Energies you have trained in, are a new martial art that this master has created through subtle adjustments. It is almost identical to the previous one, but it functions as a divine art with clear differences.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was taken aback.

To think that the Four Divine Arts he had learned were different from the original.

“There’s no need to be so surprised. From the beginning, the Four Divine Arts was a martial art of the battlefield, so it has undergone numerous modifications and developments over the generations. There was no reason why I couldn’t touch it.”

“…I see.”

“Unlike the original Four Divine Arts, the Four Divine Arts you have cultivated contains all the secret formulas of the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art. However, the secret formulas of each of the Four Divine Energies have become much more extensive than before, and the methods of operating the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art are scattered throughout those extensive formulas, making it difficult to reach.”

“In other words.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

“To awaken the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art, one needs to completely disassemble the entire Four Divine Arts, align it with one’s own enlightenment, and then go through the process of creating it anew.”

“That’s right.”

The Thousand Sky Dragon’s face showed pride.

“Just as the way you ascended to the Yellow Dragon was exactly like that.”

The ability to discard the old and create something new.

Although he had awakened the Yellow Dragon according to the creator’s intention, he had reached that point through enlightenment alone, without knowing anything. He was worthy of being called a great master.

It wasn’t just Yeon Ho-Jeong.

All martial artists in the world develop and grow in that way, leaving behind greater gifts for the next generation before they depart.

“How is it?”

“Yes?”

“It’s different from what you thought, isn’t it? The Four Divine Arts, I mean.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Regardless of the essence of the Four Divine Arts, the fact that it is a martial art that changed my life remains unchanged. Whether it is the same as the original or different, it has protected my people and myself, so it is enough.”

“Huhu.”

He didn’t say that he liked it because it was a martial art he had received from his master.

The Thousand Sky Dragon liked Yeon Ho-Jeong’s honest attitude. In fact, they both already knew that he liked it because it was a martial art he had received from him, so there was no need to mention it.

He was simply pleased that his disciple had grown up properly in his own way with the martial art he had passed on.

“However, there is one thing I am curious about.”

“What is it?”

The Thousand Sky Dragon’s voice was full of generosity, as if telling him to say everything he wanted to say.

“You said that the Four Divine Arts is a martial art of the battlefield, with the physical power to end any war.”

“I did.”

“I understand that the martial arts of the Four Divine Arts are more combative and superior to any other martial art. But can a single person’s skill really end a war? If that were truly possible, wouldn’t it be because of the high level of the person who mastered the martial art, rather than the Four Divine Arts itself?”

It was a polite yet direct question.

And Yeon Ho-Jeong’s question aligned with what the Thousand Sky Dragon had wanted to tell him.

“Can one person really end a war where thousands, tens of thousands of people clash… Do you really think such a person can exist?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“It is impossible.”

He could end a group battle between dozens of people. A master who had reached the pinnacle could even resolve a group battle of hundreds of people cleanly.

However, when it came to a battle of thousands, the situation changed. Unless their individual levels were insignificant, they could change the tide of the war, but they could not end it.

In the end, the ability to harm people with strong force and the power to end a war were different concepts. Even for an extraordinary powerhouse like the Thousand Sky Dragon, it was impossible for a human being.

“You are right. One individual cannot end a war where tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of people clash. That is, if we exclude political factors.”

“That’s right. It is impossible with physical force.”

“But the masters of the Four Divine Arts have always ended wars.”

“How is that possible?”

“Because they are not alone.”

“Yes?”

The Thousand Sky Dragon stopped walking.

“I must have told you how I passed on the Four Divine Arts to you.”

“…?”

“If we only look at martial talent, you are not a suitable person to inherit the ancient divine art.”

“That’s right.”

“But I saw your innate nature. I saw your character.”

“Yes?”

“Why are those who have mastered the Four Divine Arts called generals (武將) [military commanders], not martial artists (武人) or martial gods (武神)?”

“…?!”

“Because they are commanders.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened.

“Those who have mastered the Four Divine Arts can easily kill enemies on any battlefield. If we only consider killing power, it would not be an exaggeration to call it the best of all time.”

It wasn’t simply about inflicting more powerful attacks that made killing power high.

Murtial arts were about dealing with people. Even with a small amount of force, if you hit an enemy’s vital point, you could kill them in one blow.

The Four Divine Arts was such a martial art. It was an art that used minimal force to defeat enemies with extremely free forms, a killing technique, and a culmination of combat skills.

“Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, Azure Dragon. Although the four martial arts have different characteristics, when they reach their peak, they react freely in all aspects of offense, defense, evasion, and counterattack. That is to say, they can find the best way to annihilate the enemy at any moment.”

“…”

“What would happen if such a martial art were passed on to a murderer with a bad character?”

“They would become a killing machine.”

“That’s true of all martial arts. But the Four Divine Arts is even worse. The martial art itself makes you accustomed to fighting and killing. This creates an even stronger temptation than the demonic arts of the Blood Cult, which is why we prioritize innate nature over the successor’s talent.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

“However, if it falls into the hands of someone with a character who knows how to restrain themselves, someone who can display courage when needed, the Four Divine Arts becomes the best martial art.”

“…!!”

“And those with such a character tend to gather people around them with their strong mental fortitude and outstanding charm.”

It felt as if a sudden lightning bolt had struck his crown and flowed down.

“The master of the Four Divine Arts always stands at the forefront. They fight in the most difficult battles, against the most difficult enemies. Then, would there be no one behind such a commander?”

The Thousand Sky Dragon pulled his chin in and looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“Before you went against the times, did you survive alone?”

That was not the case.

Yeon Ho-Jeong always had people by his side. He had comrades, and he had friends.

The Black Zenith Fortress was not something he had originally intended to create. People gathered around him, and he couldn’t leave them alone, so the organization was formed. That was the beginning of the Black Zenith Fortress.

“And now that you have gone against the times, do you exist alone?”

That was not the case.

Besides his father and younger brother, he had countless friends by his side.

He had formed bonds with people from the Black Zenith Fortress, as well as many people he had never spoken to before, and fought against the Three Sects.

And he always stood at the forefront of those battles.

Just like his master, who had ended the Blood Cult rebellion three hundred years ago.

“Furthermore, the Four Divine Energies permeate the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, strengthening the five viscera and six bowels. As you said in the past, strengthening the five viscera and six bowels and establishing the middle dantian, when the Four Divine Energies are balanced, they align with one’s original character, making it easier than anyone else to handle the five desires and seven emotions.”

“At the same time, one can become extremely intense and violent by being deeply immersed in one emotion.”

“Such emotions are necessary when facing an enemy.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong exclaimed in admiration.

He was someone who analyzed enemies without much surprise and sought the safety of his allies. That was thanks to his innate nature, experience, and natural intelligence, but it was the Four Divine Energies that had laid the foundation for him to demonstrate such abilities.

It was also the power of the Four Divine Energies that had allowed him to break his composure when facing an enemy, push his anger to the limit, and crush the enemy with overwhelming power.

‘So that’s it!’

The Four Divine Arts was called the culmination of combat martial arts, but it was said to be suitable for the martial arts of the battlefield.

Everything that Yeon Ho-Jeong had lived by, all the abilities he had demonstrated, were embedded within the Four Divine Arts.

The Four Divine Arts was a martial art of the battlefield.

Those who mastered the Four Divine Arts became commanders.

“And you, who have transcended the Four Divine Arts and reached the Yellow Dragon, have now finally entered a realm where you control your life and martial arts according to your own will, beyond the power of divine arts.”

“…!!”

“You have grown up exactly as I had hoped.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong swallowed hard.

The Yellow Dragon Divine King Art. It was a true divine art that controlled the power of martial arts with imagination alone.

As he had expected, the Four Divine Energies were a bridge to the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art, and at the same time, it was a study of a vast system that completed oneself.

The Thousand Sky Dragon burst into laughter.

“I have given the eternal treasure sword to the hands of a worthy person, and that alone makes me feel the worth of being born and raised in this world. How can I not ascend to immortality?”