Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1309

Something severed flew through the air. It looked so familiar, yet so strange.

I’ve killed countless enemies. I’ve killed enemies by blowing their heads off, and I’ve killed them by crushing their sternums. When the demonic energy raged, I even tore them apart and made them food for wild beasts.

I’ve seen countless enemies’ limbs flying through the air. So, it was familiar.

But it was the first time I saw one of my own limbs flying through the air. So, it was strange.

An arm, filled with the power of the Yin-Void Divine Fist, an arm capable of killing anyone in the world with its Yin-Void Demonic Energy, was sliced off from the shoulder and flew away.

In an instant, Dan Gong was greatly flustered. The sensation of his arm being cut off was bizarre. There was no pain; rather, it felt refreshing.

However, the emptiness of losing a part of his body fueled his anger more than that strange sensation.

Thud.

Why did the sound of his trained arm falling to the ground sound so vulgar?

‘Damn it…’

Dan Gong, who was about to turn his body and unleash the Yin-Void Divine Palm.

In that instant, the energy that had penetrated through the severed shoulder section shook his heart meridian [a key energy center in traditional Chinese medicine].

“Ugh!”

A mouthful of blood spurted out. He couldn’t stop it with his will.

Chiiiik!

The Yin-Void Demonic Energy surged, and his entire body was enveloped in a hazy smoke.

‘Penetration Realm?!’

It was the Penetration Realm, but it wasn’t the Penetration Realm.

The moment the enemy’s sword cut off his arm, a terrifying bundle of sword energy flowed into his body. That sword energy instantly tore through his blood vessels and acupoints, rushing towards his heart meridian.

Just like the Yin-Void Demonic Energy.

‘This isn’t an ordinary Penetration Realm!’

It was the Penetration Realm because it penetrated, but it wasn’t a simple Penetration Realm because it was destroying everything from the entry point.

‘Such an absurd sword energy technique!’

Dan Gong, staggering, was clearly in a dangerous state.

But Yeon-wi was in the same condition.

His face was pale, and blood was flowing from his nose and mouth. Even though he was the one who landed the blow, the extent of his internal injuries seemed similar.

‘I overdid it.’

The moment of realization was too short and profound.

Of course, the power of that realization filled his entire body, but he had wielded a sword technique that contained a level of swordsmanship that was impossible to realize with his current body. The realization was so immense that his body couldn’t keep up.

Zhiing! Zhiing!

The rotation of the Yeon Family Divine Core [a core of energy within the body] became unstable. Holes were punched through the meticulous Sword Energy Barrier.

It felt as if all the upper, middle, and lower dantian [energy centers in the body] were distorting haphazardly. It was a pain that was difficult to describe in words.

‘Pain is nothing.’

Uuung!

He overcame the extreme pain with his will alone.

Yeon-wi, straightening his back, pointed his sword at Dan Gong. His face was distorted, but his upright posture was that of a great man.

‘That bastard!’

Dan Gong realized. The opponent had also suffered severe internal injuries from this attack.

If that wasn’t the case, he would have rushed in and cut off his head. The fact that he was adjusting his posture first meant that something was wrong internally.

“You overdid it, Yeon-wi.”

Yeon-wi didn’t answer. He simply took another deep breath and ignited his fighting spirit.

Yet, he was calm. His clear eyes, without a single tremor, made the person facing him feel a strange fear.

Dan Gong flinched.

His noble demeanor, his cold gaze, and the ever-growing fighting spirit.

He was truly a warrior who had reached completion. His posture, gaze, and energy were all perfect. It was like watching a scene from a masterpiece painted by a master who had poured their soul into it.

Dan Gong moved without realizing it.

Paaaaaang!

His movement, pushing out the Penetration Realm with Yin-Void Demonic Energy and simultaneously stepping with the Mountain-Shadow Step, was still formidable.

Even a instinctive attack could not be ignored. Yeon-wi’s Imperial Sword drew a smooth curve.

Swish!

The two men crossed paths as if brushing past each other.

Fwoosh!

A deep sword wound was etched into Dan Gong’s side.

It was an unbelievable blow. Dan Gong felt more bewildered than shocked.

‘How did he cut me?’

It seemed as if the sword was aiming for his neck, but it had already brushed past his side. Even then, it felt more like cold water had brushed past his side than being cut.

‘Hmph!’

He had almost let his intestines spill out due to a moment of carelessness. Dan Gong blocked his side with his left hand and tightened his muscles with Yin-Void Demonic Energy.

Paaaang!

Even with such a serious injury, Dan Gong’s martial arts, as he rushed in again, were beyond human comprehension.

Pa pa pa pang!

Even though his side should have been a concern, the power of his released energy had hardly diminished.

Not a single drop of blood came from his severed shoulder. He had perfectly controlled his body with true energy, a state of extreme mastery where he could control even a single nerve.

The Imperial Sword danced.

Hooong! Thud! Swish! Hooong!

He let some of the energy flow, shattered some with sword energy. He sliced some away, and wrapped some around to counterattack.

Dan Gong’s eyes wavered.

The more he attacked, the stronger his energy became.

The opponent’s response also became more and more perfect. A much smoother and higher-level martial art than before, a sword that flowed like an endless river, blocked all attacks.

‘Just what is this guy…?!’

Now, the sword techniques were no longer visible.

Even Dan Gong, who was facing him, was only able to follow Yeon-wi’s sword.

‘…Beautiful.’

The curves drawn by the sword were the epitome of exquisite.

There were only lines without points. It was a free and unhindered sword technique. Watching the sword that mocked and cut down all the martial arts he unleashed, even Dan Gong was feeling admiration rather than anger.

Thwack!

Blood seeped from his side, which had been cut along with the activation of the Mad Soul Formation.

Whoosh!

He retreated, instead, and unleashed five streams of Yin-Void Finger Force.

Even Yeon-wi, who had deflected all the power of the fist and palm techniques, could not properly deal with this fast and insidious finger force.

Cling! Cling cling! Thud!

He managed to block four streams of finger force, but the remaining one grazed his left shoulder.

In that instant, Yeon-wi’s eyes wavered. The Yin-Void Demonic Energy that had penetrated through the wound was paralyzing his left arm.

The corners of Dan Gong’s mouth curled up.

“That’s more like it!”

Paaaaaang!

The yellowish energy swirled in his left hand as he approached again.

It was the power of the Desolate Wind Embraces the Mountain, one of the ultimate techniques of the Yin-Void Divine Palm.

“Who do you think you can face with an imperfect sword technique!”

Imperfect?

‘He’s right.’

Yeon-wi closed his eyes again.

‘I haven’t even made three-tenths of this sword technique my own yet.’

Moreover, he had suffered internal injuries due to the imbalance between his upper dantian and his body. It was far from perfect; it was the epitome of clumsiness.

‘But now that I’ve reached enlightenment once, my way of the sword is complete.’

Now, he just had to walk that path.

Kwarururung!!

A massive energy poured in with the sound of thunder.

Timing, the size and density of power, direction, everything was perfect. Although Yeon-wi had been momentarily captivated by his sword technique, he was also a strongman who had glimpsed the ultimate. He read the opponent’s condition and delivered the optimal blow, so it seemed that even Yeon-wi would not be safe this time.

‘That’s why it’s meaningful.’

Zhiiiing!!

The unstable rotation of the Yeon Family Divine Core returned to a stable state.

The world didn’t slow down like before, but it clearly showed the gaps in the incomparably powerful force.

The Imperial Sword moved on its own towards that one point.

‘This is it.’

Enlightenment has no name. It is simply a principle that must be accepted.

But with that enlightenment alone, he had cut off Dan Gong’s arm.

Furthermore, now, he was drawing a part of that enlightenment and incorporating it into the finishing move of the Gentleman’s Eight Sword Stances. It was a great growth that might have taken years if he hadn’t fought a life-or-death battle.

‘By establishing my martial arts through enlightenment, I thank you.’

Flash!

With a flash of light, the power of the Desolate Wind Embraces the Mountain scattered in all directions.

Fuh-uh-uh-uh!

The straight sword pierced through Dan Gong’s palm, shattered his elbow and shoulder, and exited.

“Kuaaak!”

The aftermath of the force blew Dan Gong’s body away. Considering his charging power, it was clear how destructive this single sword strike was.

‘It was just a move wielded with enlightenment. I didn’t pour in more internal energy. Yet, it has this much power.’

Yeon-wi’s eyes shone brightly.

‘If you wield a move according to the principle, you can pierce through a mountain without internal energy.’

Thud!

Dan Gong, who rolled madly on the ground, looked miserable.

His only left arm was twisted haphazardly, covered in blood. Blood was also seeping from his severed right shoulder, and the wound on his side had opened up.

‘…I can’t win.’

Unexpectedly, Dan Gong’s face, as he lay fallen, was calm.

“They say it’s hard to win against someone who has the will of heaven with them. I thought it was a bunch of dog crap, but seeing you, I understand what it means.”

At the decisive moment, he gained enlightenment and pushed him back, and even when the enlightenment faded, he brought another martial principle and brought him to this state.

There was no way to win. It felt like he was wrestling with the sky.

“Defeat… I can’t repay this sin with death, having lost to an enemy general. But surprisingly, I feel relieved.”

He didn’t seem to genuinely fear death or defeat. His expression and voice were impressive.

“But still, we will win.”

Trickle.

The blood flowing from his nose and mouth was black.

At the same time, the skin of his entire body gradually darkened. The Yin-Void Demonic Energy was flowing in reverse.

“Killing me won’t win you this war. Even if you win this war, the moment the Blood God descends, your defeat is certain.”

Dan Gong smiled.

It was a somewhat bitter smile.

“But… saying such things at this moment, I don’t feel very good.”

It was then.

Whoosh!

The intense energy emanating from Yeon-wi made Dan Gong flinch.

“Yes, it would be better to kill me now. I don’t want to live with this kind of body…”

“There’s more.”

“…?”

“The demonic energy is gradually rising… no, should I call it madness? Explosive emotions and strange energy are gathering in one place. It’s truly an incredible density.”

“…!”

“A bead, it’s a bead.”

Dan Gong’s eyes shook greatly.

“Is it there?”

Yeon-wi passed by Dan Gong without hesitation.

“Kuh!”

Dan Gong, forcing his body to turn, tried to reach out to Yeon-wi. But with his broken left arm, he couldn’t even grab Yeon-wi’s ankle.

Yeon-wi looked down at Dan Gong and said,

“We met as enemies, but this fight was definitely clean. It’s an honor to have fought a warrior like you.”

“Eek!”

“But regardless, the fact that you are invaders of this land does not change.”

The Imperial Sword, slowly rising, emitted a ferocious killing intent.

“I don’t need to forgive you for trying to mock the lives of hundreds and thousands with your absurd fanaticism.”

“You bastard!!”

The Imperial Sword was swung coldly.

Swish!

With a chilling cutting sound, Dan Gong’s head was severed.

Yeon-wi immediately flew away.

Paaaang!

The Sword Energy Barrier was still raging, and the Yin-Void Demonic Energy that had penetrated could not be driven out even with the spiritual power of the upper dantian.

But his movement technique did not slow down at all.

It was as graceful as a gentleman, as free as the wind, and as fast as lightning.

‘That’s it.’

Numerous demonic beings were stationed in front of him. It was a similar energy to Dan Gong’s Yin-Void Demonic Energy, but it was more unstable and had a strong bloody aura.

And beyond that.

He saw an old man holding a bead preciously in both hands.

Yeon-wi’s eyes flashed.

‘That’s it!’

Red, red blood was sloshing. The blood almost filled the bead.

Thwack!

The Imperial Sword, flying with the activation of the stance, pierced through numerous demonic beings and reached the bead.

Crack!