Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1172

“Heeok! Heeok!”

The surviving Spirit Guis felt something unbelievable.

“Such an absurd attack…”

At that moment, the space trembled.

Thwack!

With a gruesome sound of flesh tearing, his head shattered into pieces.

Jin Yang, who was about to deliver the final blow, hesitated for a moment.

“Hoo.”

Ha Eun-Gyo, gasping for breath in front of the castle wall, was pale, beyond just pale; her face was blue.

Jin Yang hurriedly asked,

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

She had come to save her disciple. Although she had taken on a support role in the battle due to the situation, she needed to defeat the enemy as quickly as possible to get to her disciple.

That was why she had no choice but to push herself.

“How about you?”

“I’m fine.”

Of course, he wasn’t completely fine.

The Spirit Guis’ killing techniques were so powerful that they were threatening even to top-tier masters. To be honest, it was fortunate that Jin Yang was an experienced master who had been through the wringer in the martial world; if he had been less experienced, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had lost an arm in that fight.

What was fortunate was that he had mastered the Scorching Yang Art. Thanks to that, he didn’t even need to detoxify most poisons.

“Go to Commander Gang’s side. Help him and then come back. I’ll take care of myself for now.”

“Understood.”

At that moment, Gang Ryang came running from afar.

“Brother!”

“You bastard, are you already done?”

Relief washed over Jin Yang’s face. Gang Ryang’s energy was also unstable, but it didn’t seem like he had been seriously injured anywhere.

Gang Ryang immediately approached Ha Eun-Gyo.

“Senior, are you alright?”

Ha Eun-Gyo gave a bitter smile. To be a burden to her juniors after becoming a Supreme Master, it was truly a nuisance.

“I’m fine. Just give me a moment.”

“Of course.”

She wanted to fly away immediately, but she knew. Even if she chased after Yeon Ho-Jeong in her current state, she would only be a burden.

No matter how urgent she felt, reality was reality. Ha Eun-Gyo had learned something from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attitude.

As Ha Eun-Gyo entered a meditative state, Gang Ryang also sighed and sat down on the spot.

“It was tough, wasn’t it?”

“It was really dangerous. If I hadn’t fought so dirty, this place would have been my grave.”

“I can see exactly how you fought.”

Although he was from a prestigious family, Gang Ryang was a direct descendant of a Black Path sect. Moreover, he had learned from Yeon Ho-Jeong that discussing methodology in life-or-death situations was meaningless, and he had even internalized it.

Furthermore, Jin Yang was a genius who had grown up in the harsh environment of the Black Path. Both of them were used to fighting without any regard for dignity.

“You should meditate for a bit too. Your energy is very unstable.”

“I’m fine. If I start meditating and then stop halfway, my body will be even more exhausted.”

“Okay, then just rest.”

Gang Ryang, who had been adjusting his breathing and clenching and unclenching his fists, suddenly remembered something and looked north.

“I wonder how things are going on Brother’s side…”

“That guy is someone you don’t need to worry about.”

“That would be true normally. But right now, isn’t Brother Yeon just as exhausted as Senior Ha here?”

“He’ll be fine.”

Jin Yang’s eyes sparkled.

“The Great Leader is someone who can fight even dirtier than you or me. He’s not the leader of the Black Path for nothing.”

* * *

As she fell into the river, Ji So-Hyun instinctively held her breath. It was a natural reaction.

‘Lord Yeon!’

Ji So-Hyun screamed inwardly.

‘I don’t have any internal energy right now!’

It was then.

Whoooom!

A stream of golden true energy seeped into Ji So-Hyun’s body.

Ji So-Hyun was startled for a moment. She was still holding her breath, but somehow her body felt comfortable.

‘Water energy!’

She realized that this incomparably sacred and dense power flowing from Yeon Ho-Jeong was based on water energy.

‘No way. Even with water energy protecting the body, it shouldn’t be this comfortable?’

It was as if her body was filled with air. She felt like she could last for more than a moment even without internal energy.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong had not given her the Yellow Dragon Water Energy to keep her submerged.

[The human body is filled with water energy. And water energy is heavier than fire energy, but it is one of the energies that can freely permeate and escape.]

Ji So-Hyun’s ears twitched. The transmitted sound heard underwater was particularly intense, making her head feel like it was ringing.

[Carefully observe the movement of water energy. My water energy is filling not only the external environment but also your body, so if you understand the flow of water energy, you will be able to expel or absorb the true energy of the one trapped in the sealed acupoints, just like water energy.]

Ji So-Hyun’s eyes widened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s telepathic message was close to enlightenment.

[No matter what kind of fight is happening here, focus on yourself.]

Krrrr!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had pushed Ji So-Hyun away, moved at an incredible speed.

Even moving underwater, he was almost as fast as a first-rate master’s movement technique. The rapid speed caused shockwaves in the water.

Thwack!

A loud explosion echoed on the surface of the water.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes were completely dyed golden.

‘He’s here.’

He saw Sau, who had broken through the surface of the water and descended from afar.

Surprisingly, Sau’s movements were extremely natural. He was a Spirit Gui who had mastered almost all martial arts in the world, but he didn’t know that he was also skilled in water techniques.

‘He’s amazing as expected. But…’

Yeon Ho-Jeong threw the Mad Dragon Axe upwards.

Krrrr! Thwack!

The Mad Dragon Axe, shot out with a burst of bubbles, exploded through the surface of the water and fell to the ground.

‘You came to the wrong place.’

Whoosh!

The Yellow Dragon True Energy exploded, and Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body flew near Sau.

In his right hand, he was now holding a pure white White Dragon Axe.

Whoom!

A reddish glow emanated from Sau’s eyes. He had pushed his Shattering Sound True Energy to its limit.

Kuururung!!

He unleashed a Mountain Crushing Palm towards the incoming Yeon Ho-Jeong, causing the already high pressure of the water to surge even higher.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong extended his left hand.

It was the Black Tortoise Palm, a technique from the Northern Sky Twelve Walls [a martial arts school], utilizing Yellow Dragon Water Energy.

Puh-roo-roo-rook!!

The spiraling force of the rotating palm, twisting as it advanced, easily disrupted the power of the Mountain Crushing Palm and surged towards Sau.

Thud!

Sau’s body spun and was pushed backward.

Even with his mastery of water techniques, he was more accustomed to fighting on land. Being attacked in the water, where there was nothing to brace against, meant he had no choice but to be pushed back. This was true even for a Supreme Master [a title for the most powerful martial artists].

Koo-rung!

Yeon Ho-Jeong shot forward again like an arrow.

Saa-aak!

Sau, who had been retreating while spinning wildly, swung both arms.

In an instant, six streaks of light shot out like arrows along with the water bubbles. Their speed was even faster than the Spiraling Tortoise Palm.

It was the Fiery Divine Bird, unleashed underwater. Even though he knew his opponent was a master of water techniques, he had deliberately followed him into the water because he knew he had a sure way to kill him.

The Fiery Divine Bird’s sharp energy was even more concentrated than a blade.

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung the White Dragon Axe horizontally.

The water, pressing in from all sides, moved heavily with the White Dragon Axe, creating a massive hexagonal shield.

Per-per-per-pung!!

The force of the Fiery Divine Bird that struck the hexagonal shield exploded, violently shaking the water’s surface.

It didn’t end there. The hexagonal Black Tortoise Palm, which had generated a strong rebound force, propelled Sau’s body back even faster, crushing his internal organs with unimaginable pressure.

The Black Tortoise Palm unleashed underwater displayed overwhelming power. When used on land, it focused on defense with the abundant and infectious power unique to water energy, but in the water, filled with water energy itself, it became both offense and defense the moment it was unleashed.

‘Damn it!’

Even the most profound divine arts based on water energy had their limits.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s Black Tortoise Palm was a power that Sau, who had mastered water techniques, couldn’t comprehend. No matter how skilled one was in water techniques, no one in the world could display such terrifying control, even underwater.

‘Being underwater is definitely a disadvantage. I trusted in the killing power of the Fiery Divine Bird, but I didn’t expect it to be this ineffective.’

He had to make a decision now.

Even in the water, Sau could sense Ji So-Hyun’s subtle presence.

‘I have to take her with me, no matter what.’

In this state, he would lose his target. That would mean failing his mission.

At the same time, his pride as a hunter, which had become more important than the mission, would also crumble. Like a hunter who patiently waits for months to catch his prey, Sau also wanted to capture Yeon Ho-Jeong at all costs.

‘I have no choice.’

Sau made his decision.

‘I’ll have to go for a long-term battle.’

His feet kicked off the water’s surface.

Koo-roo-rung!!

With all his might, he used his movement technique to break through the surface of the water in an instant.

It was then.

Per-uh-uh-uh-pung!!

With a tremendous vibration, the water’s surface exploded once more, and a woman shot out of the river.

It was Ji So-Hyun. Following Yeon Ho-Jeong’s advice, she had adjusted her water energy and finally broken free from Sau’s pressure point seal.

Sau was shocked.

“How did you?!”

Ji So-Hyun had no time to answer. Her opponent was a Supreme Master. The moment she uttered a single word, he had the ability to ambush and take her life.

She clapped her hands together with all her might.

As if to blow away all the frustration she had endured, it was a strike filled with the power of the Yin Flower Demonic Divine Art [a powerful martial art] to its limit.

Jjeo-eo-eo-eo-eong!!

The formless dark energy wave, spreading in concentric circles, shot out in all directions.

The power, moving at the speed of sound and filled with true energy, was something that even Sau, a master of the world, could not withstand unscathed.

“Kuh!”

He had protected his body with Shattering Sound True Energy, but his body was already five yards back. It was a powerful martial art that could have caused internal injuries if he hadn’t blocked it properly.

‘This crazy woman!’

This was the power of sound-based martial arts. It was, in a way, the most dangerous martial art in the world, capable of injuring even a Supreme Master if they weren’t prepared.

Pa-a-a-ang!

However, since it wasn’t Ha Eun-Gyo herself, she couldn’t handle Sau, who was deliberately unleashing his power.

Sau, who had charged like lightning, instantly took Ji So-Hyun’s rear. He was planning to apply pressure points again.

It was then.

Per-eong!

The Azure Dragon Chain, shot out from the water’s surface, accurately targeted Sau’s hand.

Peok!

“Kuh!”

He had momentarily twisted his wrist to block with the blade of the Flying Sound Bird, but the tremendous shock that traveled from his hand to his forearm temporarily paralyzed one of his arms.

Per-uh-uh-uh-pung!

The moment the Azure Dragon Chain hit the ground, Yeon Ho-Jeong broke through the surface of the water and unleashed Blood Wing Sky Dance [a powerful movement technique].

Pa-a-a-ak!

With the tremendous heat, a hazy mist rose, and behind Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was sprinting with the mist, a pure white vapor surged.

Yeon Ho-Jeong reached Sau in an instant.

Sau’s reaction was blindingly fast.

Thwack!

No one would have thought that he would unleash the Formless Illusion Fist in that short moment.

The moment the formless fist wind struck Yeon Ho-Jeong’s abdomen, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body was sent flying back towards the water’s surface.

Chwa-a-a-a-ruk!

“You bastard!”

Of course, Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t just fly away. The Azure Dragon Chain, which had become more resilient as if it had gained life from the Yellow Dragon Wood Energy, instantly wrapped around Sau’s neck.

“Cough!”

Sau’s body rolled on the ground. The tightly secured Azure Dragon Chain constricted his windpipe, turning his face dark purple.

Thud!

Along with Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had re-entered the river, Sau’s body was dragged into the water.

Clang! Clang!

He tried to tear off the Azure Dragon Chain with one hand, but even with his peak Shattering Sound True Energy, he couldn’t tear off the Azure Dragon Chain, which was filled with Yellow Dragon Wood Energy, strengthened by the power of water.

‘No way!’

He gave up and stabbed the Flying Sound Bird into the ground, but the small blade couldn’t support his weight.

Sau’s eyes gradually rolled back.

‘No!!’

Thud!

The two Supreme Masters disappeared into the river once more.

It was an entry into the water that wouldn’t allow both of them to emerge unscathed, unlike before.