Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1107

‘Fate is truly unpredictable.’ Kwa-rung! With a single swing of his sword, a cavalryman was completely severed. The immense sword force was enough to bisect not only the man but also his horse. It didn’t even seem like he had put his full strength into the swing, yet the terrifying horse soldier was killed along with his steed. ‘It’s been over eighty years since I became a spy for the Demonic Sound Sect and entered Mount Hua.’ Even in this situation, the Sword Saint suddenly recalled his past. His master, who had taken him in despite knowing he was a spy from the outer martial world. The puppet, who had been brainwashed to the point of not listening to anyone, had gradually become human thanks to his master’s boundless love and grace. Having ended his life as a spy and honed his skills as a sword of Mount Hua for a long time, he had come to be called the First Sword of Mount Hua, revered by all. Paba-bak! The dozens of scattered flower petals were each condensed sword energies, and five cavalrymen swept away by those petals fell, their bodies gushing blood. Flower petals scattered in all directions. And following them, a trail of blood. ‘The title of First Sword of Mount Hua is just an empty name. Yet, I was obsessed with it.’ His talent was exceptional. To be precise, there were more talented individuals if you only considered talent, but no one was more obsessed with the sword than he was. His training was akin to that of a fanatic reciting scriptures every day. The Sword Saint had become a new person in Mount Hua, and he risked his life for Mount Hua, which had given him a new life. However, as time passed, he became intoxicated by the words of the Mount Hua swordsmen who revered him, forgetting his duty as a Taoist and a swordsman. He was lazy and arrogant. That was what held him back. The plum blossoms blooming from his sword tip faded, and the sharp sword energy that had surged in all directions became as murky as ink soaked in rainwater. Harboring such arrogance and merely retracing the training he had repeated, it was natural that he could not reach the pinnacle. It took him twenty years to shed that arrogance. Finally, he realized that everything was futile. There were many geniuses in the world, and many who had awakened to the will of heaven. There were plenty of people who spread clear light in this world, so why was he so desperately clinging to things? Thus, he abandoned his attachments. Surprisingly, when he abandoned his attachments, a new path of the sword appeared, and the new path soon became a signpost toward another realm. However, the Sword Saint did not walk that path. He realized that being immersed in the Tao [the Way, the natural order of the universe] as a Taoist was more righteous and happier than reaching the pinnacle as a martial artist. Besides, there was no guarantee that he would reach the pinnacle even if he walked that path. But it was certain that walking that path would distance him from the Tao, whether he liked it or not. Therefore, the Sword Saint did not make that sword path his own. He merely returned it to the embrace of Mount Hua. However, regardless of his rejection of new enlightenment, his inner energy and divine aura deepened day by day. To what extent did it deepen? His inner energy and depth of enlightenment were comparable to those of a master of the pinnacle. The current Sword Saint was using that power, the power he had gained as a Taoist, against the enemies of Mount Hua. Peo-peo-peok! The Sword Saint’s sword path was elegant. It was beautiful and full of mystery. It was a stark contrast to the battlefield where life and death were at stake, where everyone was swinging their weapons wildly, forgetting even their own martial arts. There was no force in his light movements. Yet, when he swung his sword, enemies died. At least one, and at most three or four cavalrymen, were reduced to bloody pulp and scattered. The number of horse soldiers killed by the Sword Saint’s sword had already exceeded eighty. It was an unbelievable sight. It was as if an old Taoist, over a hundred years old, had single-handedly annihilated a small unit. ‘Isn’t it amazing, Senior Brother?’ Mok Gang’s words made Mok Yang nod. ‘Yes, it’s amazing and incredible. Where does such amazing power come from in our master’s slender body?’ Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeong! Peo-eong! Though he said that, the sword skills of the six true disciples of Mok Ja Bae were also impressive. Although not as effortless as the Sword Saint, they were using the ultimate Dark Fragrance Palm and unfolding the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword, causing the cavalrymen to die without even being able to counterattack. The number of enemy cavalrymen killed by the six true disciples, led by the Sword Saint, was a staggering one hundred and fifty. It was a feat that could not be described with the word ‘old age.’ Although they had ignored more than half of the attacks from the rear for the sake of the charge, considering the armor of the cavalrymen and the skin strength of the horses, it was by no means a feat to be underestimated. Pu-hwa-ak! Watching his master’s back as he once again sliced through two cavalrymen, Mok Yang felt a pang of sadness. ‘Master.’ For a Taoist who has broken free from attachment, only ascension remains. In Mok Yang’s eyes, his master was someone who had gained enough enlightenment to ascend. Yet, such a person was wielding a sword to protect Mount Hua, killing enemies. It was as if he had completely abandoned all the Taoist skills he had accumulated over the long years. That was why Mok Yang tried to stop his master. Naturally, his master did not budge. In the end, all Mok Yang could do was assist his master with his fellow disciples. Of course, there was also the pretext of doing it for Mount Hua. ‘We, your unworthy disciples, are far from the Tao. Now that things have come to this, spending our final years as swordsmen with our master wouldn’t be so bad.’ How long had they been driving back the enemy? Hook! Suddenly, it felt as if the air had changed. Mok Yang’s eyes wavered. ‘Master!’ The Sword Saint’s sword moved like lightning for the first time. Jjeo-eo-eo-eong! The Sword Saint’s sword, having deflected a heavy spear, let out a mad cry. A long wound appeared on the Sword Saint’s forearm. Even though he had deflected the attack, the sharp energy of the spear strike had caused the injury. It was truly an amazing blow. It was clear that at least none of the previous masters of Mount Hua would have been able to withstand it. ‘Impressive.’ So Hyun-jong, who had arrived in front of them, exuded a fierce aura. ‘Are you the previous masters of Mount Hua?’ ‘Who are you?’ Despite having been injured, the Sword Saint’s voice did not waver. So Hyun-jong’s eyes sparkled. ‘I have no name to give to corpses like you. Just die.’ ‘What a nasty brat.’ Bbeonjjeok! The Dragon Light Flash of the Sea-Fog Sword became lightning and targeted the Sword Saint. ‘Master!!’ The true disciples of Mok Ja Bae rushed to block it, but So Hyun-jong’s Dragon Light Flash far surpassed their movements. Jjeo-eo-eo-eong! Another powerful reverberation erupted. So Hyun-jong’s eyes widened slightly. ‘Cough!’ Blood stained the Sword Saint’s white beard. But that was all. He had only coughed up blood due to internal shock, and was otherwise unharmed. There were no holes to be found anywhere on his body. ‘Master!’ ‘Don’t make a fuss. You must continue to pursue the enemy and reduce their numbers.’ His calm voice was filled with an irresistible authority. Mok Yang shouted. ‘Disciples, hold the rear! I will stay with Master!’ ‘You go too.’ ‘No! This guy is a monster! Even Master…!’ Shwee-ik! Peo-eo-eong! The gust of wind that flew toward Mok Yang was exploded by the Sword Saint’s palm. Mok Yang’s eyes wavered. The lightning-like strike from just now was truly powerful. He had seen it, but it would have been difficult to block. Yet, his master had saved him from the enemy’s attack. ‘Go. That is my order as your master.’ Mok Yang gritted his teeth. He realized with this one move. That his presence could be a hindrance to his master. It was hard to believe, but it was true. In other words, it was better to leave, as his master had said. But he couldn’t bring himself to leave. How could any disciple leave when facing a formidable foe who could take his master’s life? The Sword Saint shouted angrily. ‘How can you be so old and still not see the greater good! Are you going to leave a burning field because you are reluctant to let go of a single falling petal!’ With that scolding, Mok Yang had no choice but to leave, gritting his teeth. Whee-ing! The wind carried a strong scent of blood. The Sword Saint spoke calmly. ‘You have great mercy. I didn’t expect you to wait.’ So Hyun-jong’s cheek twitched. Waited? That was wrong. So Hyun-jong had no choice but to wait. The unknown aura emanating from the old man in front of him was so surprisingly sacred and abundant that even he, who had mastered the ultimate demonic arts, could not easily ignore it. ‘How can this be, when he hasn’t even reached the level of a Saintly Demon?!’ At that moment, the Sword Saint straightened his sword. ‘You’re badly injured. I wonder if you can even show three-tenths of your original strength.’ ‘Don’t worry. It won’t take twenty moves to deal with an old man like you.’ Peo-eong! No further conversation was needed. So Hyun-jong, who had closed the distance in an instant with his Lightning Step, wildly swung his spear with both hands. Paba-ba-bak! The spears scattered from his fingertips were like blooming flowers. They were phantom spears, but at the same time, they were not. Each spear blade had the same power as an actual spear strike. He intended to overwhelm with explosive force and momentum, taking their lives in an instant. ‘Impressive.’ The Sword Saint could see through every single one of the enemy’s attacks. That was due to their incompatibility rather than skill. The Sword Saint’s inner energy, honed over many years of pursuing the Tao, was pure essence itself, allowing him to read the flow of attacks from those who had mastered the inverse demonic arts. In other words, he could anticipate how they would move even before they executed their attacks. Even without reaching the pinnacle, the depth of his years and enlightenment made it possible. This was the reason why incompatibility, the divine and the immortal, could suppress the evil and the demonic. ‘To have immersed such amazing martial arts in the ink of the demonic, it is no different from having poisoned a peerless sword.’ The Sword Saint’s sword unleashed a heavy movement. It went straight into the center of So Hyun-jong’s many divided spears, and within it was the power of the Purple Haze, which burned away all demons. So Hyun-jong’s eyes widened. Kwa-ang! A single, light swing caused a tremendous explosion. It was the true energy of the Mount Hua’s First Purple Haze Divine Art, spreading along the flow. The demonic arts of So Hyun-jong, which had been intertwined from the middle, could not exert their full power against the pure inner energy refined through extreme training. Staggering back, So Hyun-jong unleashed a surge of killing intent. ‘Old man!’ Kwang! So Hyun-jong charged again. The Sword Saint closed his eyes. ‘Behind.’ Bbeonjjeok! So Hyun-jong, who had been charging from the front, suddenly appeared behind the Sword Saint. It was a movement technique that was unbelievable even when seen. It was a technique close to shifting forms. In an instant, the Sword Saint let out a sigh. ‘Even a peerless sword cannot fulfill its purpose if it does not meet a suitable owner. Even if I have the power to suppress all demons, this old body cannot properly unleash it.’ No matter how many more moves he dragged out, defeat was certain. Even with incompatibility, it was impossible to bridge the gap between those who had reached the pinnacle and those who had not. However. ‘I can take one of your arms with my life.’ Peo-eo-eok! The spear that pierced through his back emerged from his lower abdomen. At that moment, the Sword Saint’s hand was able to grasp So Hyun-jong’s wrist. Buru-ru-ru-ruk! The Sword Saint did not even mind the pain of being pierced by the spear. The Purple Haze energy, gathered from his entire body, moved like a waterfall. ‘Kuh-euk!’ A groan involuntarily escaped from So Hyun-jong’s mouth. He was someone who could endure any pain without batting an eye, but the unpleasant energy that had entered through his wrist, scattering the demonic energy throughout his body, was so agonizing and terrible that it was beyond description. Peo-beo-beo-beok! The places where the Sword Saint held So Hyun-jong’s arm exploded, causing a large amount of bleeding. So Hyun-jong’s complexion turned pale. ‘Y-you bastard!’ Peok! Only after kicking the Sword Saint away did So Hyun-jong gain his freedom, and he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. So Hyun-jong turned his body. Bbeonjjeok! The lightning that had become one with the sword had already reached So Hyun-jong’s front.