Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1048

“Hoo.”

A soft sigh escaped his lips.

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

‘He’s changed.’

Just by observing his breathing before meditation, he could tell.

Moyong Woo’s breathing was long and unbroken, reminiscent of the Wudang Sect’s breathing techniques, which granted inexhaustible stamina and a continuous flow of internal energy. [Wudang Sect: A famous Taoist martial arts school known for its internal energy cultivation.]

The difference was that Wudang’s breathing was like a river that built up and broke a dam, easily generating intense power, while the Eight Extremes Heart Method maintained infinite stamina but sought a balance of hardness and softness, using strong breathing only when needed. [Eight Extremes Heart Method: A martial arts technique focused on balanced power and stamina.]

Therefore, before engaging in actual combat, Moyong Woo always maintained deep, even breathing. That’s why he appeared calm and relaxed.

But now?

‘It’s ragged.’

His breathing was uneven.

He was doing it deliberately, to be able to unleash powerful breaths at any moment and enable explosive power manipulation.

‘Amazing. How long has it been since he started training, and he’s already so adept at it…!’

The breathing techniques of internal energy cultivation could cause internal injuries if used incorrectly, with internal energy even flowing in reverse.

Moreover, if that internal energy was strong, it could even lead to death. Therefore, unless one possessed the insight of a master, one could not easily change their breathing, nor should they.

Moyong Woo had received instruction in the Thunderclap Dance from Moyong Gun a little over a month ago.

In that short time, he was freely modifying the breathing techniques of the Thunderclap Power, recreating them to suit his own needs.

It was truly a heaven-sent talent. It was not an easy feat for anyone.

‘No, it’s not just that.’

Everyone knew Moyong Woo’s talent was outstanding, but not to this extent.

‘The insight and experience he’s accumulated so far must have played a significant role. His enlightenment is also profound.’

But decisively.

‘That Thunderclap Dance is a perfect fit for his body.’

He had also heard that the Heaven and Earth Dance and the Thunderclap Dance were one. Since he had properly trained in the Heaven and Earth Dance, that must have also helped him learn the Thunderclap Dance. [Heaven and Earth Dance: A foundational martial arts technique related to the Thunderclap Dance.]

However, as Gong Gong Dae Sa observed, the Thunderclap Dance was so well-suited to Moyong Woo that it was no exaggeration to say it was a martial art created just for him.

Whirring.

From the tip of the Tangma Sword, two or three streaks of blue lightning slowly moved, traveling across the sword’s blade. [Tangma Sword: A type of sword, likely a fictional one in this context.]

‘It’s different.’

Gong Gong Dae Sa had witnessed Moyong Gun’s Thunder Sword.

Moyong Gun’s Thunder Sword and Moyong Woo’s Thunder Sword were completely different.

While the former used uncontrolled, explosive power to strike with the sword, Moyong Woo’s Thunder Energy surrounded the Tangma Sword as if it were alive.

It was a dangerous energy, but it seemed to recognize its master. It was such a destructive energy that one might think it would damage the sword, but strangely, there was no sign of that.

‘However, it seems difficult to use in actual combat right now.’

That’s when it happened.

Flash!

With a quick and deep step forward, a single swing of the sword instantly turned the entire training ground white.

It was a blinding strike. With a single sword, the entire area held its breath. The flash of the exploding Thunder Sword made the air feel cold.

Gong Gong Dae Sa’s eyes widened.

Moyong Woo, who slowly relaxed his stance, muttered in a calm voice.

“This is it.”

Moyong Woo looked down at the Tangma Sword.

Woo-oo-oong.

The sword hummed.

Body and sword as one, mind and sword as one. A sword swung with the unity of essence, energy, and spirit, pouring out all the enlightenment he had accumulated so far.

It was truly a strike like a divine judgment. How many in the world could block this single strike, flashing with lightning?

“There were five.”

Strength entered Moyong Woo’s hand holding the Tangma Sword.

“It originally had five forms.”

The Peerless Sword Technique used with Thunderclap Power, the Unfeeling Heavenly Thunder Style, consisted of a total of thirteen forms. [Unfeeling Heavenly Thunder Style: A powerful sword technique.]

Normally, ten were used, and the last three were secret techniques that could not be used carelessly.

Moyong Woo nodded.

“Heaven and Earth and Thunderclap are one… Brother was right.”

Swoosh.

At the sound of his clothes rustling, Moyong Woo turned his body.

Gong Gong Dae Sa was standing with his hands behind his back. He still maintained a calm breathing, but his expression was clearly surprised.

“Alliance Leader.”

Moyong Woo bowed his head.

He hadn’t even noticed Gong Gong Dae Sa had arrived. Although he was focused on his martial arts, the difference with Seongcheon was indeed significant. [Seongcheon: Likely a reference to a character or a state of being, implying a high level of focus or skill.]

“I watched your training from afar. I erased my presence, thinking I might be a hindrance.”

“Thank you.”

“I was watching to see if there was anything I could help with, but instead, I was surprised.”

It was truly high praise. But Moyong Woo’s expression was calm.

One who knows how to look into oneself would not be swayed by a thousand criticisms or ten thousand praises.

Gong Gong Dae Sa couldn’t help but be impressed. Not just his martial arts, but his indifference, as hard as a diamond, was something that few monks in the Shaolin Temple could match. [Shaolin Temple: A famous Buddhist monastery known for its martial arts.]

“The martial art itself hasn’t grown much, but the change in the martial art seems to have induced a big change in your heart. Your middle dantian has become very solid.”

Moyong Woo smiled and said.

“My brother said that the Thunderclap Dance is a divine art that puts a lot of strain on the body, so one must focus on managing the lower dantian more than any other martial art.”

“That’s a valid point.”

“But as I practiced the martial art, I realized that my brother was wrong.”

Confusion arose on Gong Gong Dae Sa’s face.

“Your growth is so astonishing that you seem to be no different from the Clan Leader, but Moyong Clan Leader’s enlightenment is truly high. I don’t think he would have incorporated a wrong theory.”

“I misspoke. It may be right for my brother, but it’s not right for me.”

“Oh?”

“I was fortunate enough to grow greatly through several fortuitous encounters. My lower dantian has become vast, and I haven’t neglected my upper dantian training either.”

“And?”

“Since the upper and lower dantians have been trained, the middle dantian has also grown accordingly. However, it seems that its quality is not as good as the other two.”

Gong Gong Dae Sa understood Moyong Woo’s words.

Moyong Woo was a strong and virtuous person. He had a brain as good as anyone, but his benevolent nature prevented him from revealing himself.

A gentleman is always calm. Moyong Woo was a martial artist who could be called a gentleman even in this harsh martial world.

However, he had not been able to lead his own life independently. He had made all the decisions himself, but he did not truly know what his path was.

As he began to comply with the position Yeon Ho-Jeong had forced him into, he began to understand the world and vowed to live his own active life.

Worries are not a big deal. If you are repeating a slight confusion or an uncertain choice, you are still not free from worries.

Moyong Woo had only recently found his path, and in the process, he had passed on the Thunderclap Dance to Moyong Gun, and even that martial art suited him so well.

That was what had greatly changed Moyong Woo.

“Now, my middle dantian has grown correctly. The martial path I see is the Heart-Moving Sword, so naturally, I must focus on the middle dantian rather than the lower dantian to reach my full potential.”

“Moyong Clan Leader was different.”

“My brother has also changed a lot, but his martial path is still moving straight forward. My brother’s martial path aims for absolute victory using the fastest and most powerful attacks. Naturally, he would focus on the power of the martial art, but his enlightenment is so high that there was no flaw.”

“Yes, the Clan Leader’s martial art was like that. Although it is centered on the lower dantian, the unity of essence, energy, and spirit did not put any strain on the body.”

Gong Gong Dae Sa smiled.

“Amazing. Your level and enlightenment are at an amazing level for your age, but the wisdom gained from experience cannot be ignored. You have transcended all of that and are implementing martial arts with your own interpretation, so you deserve to be called a great master.”

“You flatter me.”

“I thought it would be difficult to use in actual combat yet. But after seeing that single strike just now, I know my judgment was wrong.”

Moyong Woo gave a wry smile.

“It will take time to get used to it.”

“With your level, you can learn it in actual combat without any problems.”

“I agree with that.”

Gong Gong Dae Sa smiled.

Moyong Woo put his sword away and asked.

“But why did you come all the way here at this hour? You must be very busy.”

“I was about to bring it up. Let’s walk for now.”

Shortly after, the two left the training ground and walked towards the Alliance Leader’s residence.

Gong Gong Dae Sa took out two neatly folded documents from his pocket and handed them to Moyong Woo.

“What is this?”

“Read it.”

Moyong Woo checked the contents of the documents.

His eyes widened slightly.

“Is this true?”

“The Martial Alliance’s intelligence department and the Beggars’ Sect have both confirmed it. It must be true.”

Moyong Woo’s face hardened.

“Is it a preemptive strike?”

“At first, everyone thought so, but now we believe the probability is low.”

“Why is that?”

Gong Gong Dae Sa drew a picture in the air with his finger.

“If ‘they’ were sent by the Three Teachings, they wouldn’t have needed to take the path to Shaanxi. They would have rather gone straight down, passing through Hebei, where the Imperial Palace stands.” [Three Teachings: Likely a powerful organization or faction in this world.]

“Of course, that would be more typical.”

“Shaanxi is a region where Mount Hua and Chongnan, two of the Nine Factions, are located. It’s not as strong as Sichuan, where the Three Powers are gathered, but Shaanxi is also a difficult region for enemies to attack rashly.” [Nine Factions: A group of influential martial arts sects; Three Powers: Another group of powerful factions.]

“Then what do they want…?”

“The North Sea Ice Palace has been called a mysterious sect since ancient times, and they have rarely shown themselves in the Central Plains. However, since the Three Teachings belong to the north of the new world, we believe they must have tried to make contact with the Ice Palace.” [North Sea Ice Palace: A reclusive and mysterious martial arts sect.]

Moyong Woo’s eyes flashed.

“An alliance?”

“We believe that’s highly likely.”

“The timing is very coincidental.”

“It is coincidental. But the risk of war has been there for a while. From a moderate perspective, they may have judged that the time was ripe and are coming here directly.”

Moyong Woo tilted his head.

“I don’t know much about the Ice Palace, but I don’t think they are as powerful as the Three Teachings.”

“I think so too.”

“In other words, if the Three Teachings had decided to destroy the Ice Palace, it would have been difficult for them to avoid destruction.”

“That’s right.”

“Since we don’t even know what kind of connection they have with the Three Teachings, we must make a very careful decision.”

“Of course.”

Gong Gong Dae Sa stopped walking.

“That’s why I came to find you.”

“…”

“We have already sent a letter to those coming down from northern Shaanxi. We have told them that if they come down below Little Mount Hua, it will be considered an attack, and they must stop their advance there.”

“Then?”

“Yes. As the next Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance, you will lead a unit and go to figure out their intentions.”

“…Understood.”

Moyong Woo looked up at the sky.

It was cool weather. It was almost winter.

“The North Sea Ice Palace…”