Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1134

The Great Battle of the Three Demons (9)

Krrrrrr!

The dust cloud billowed outwards in concentric circles, creating a barrier that seemed impossible to penetrate.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes narrowed, a glint of recognition in them.

‘Dark Blood.’

It wasn’t the same demonic art he had encountered before, but it resonated with a similar dark energy. This being exuded a demonic aura akin to the priest leader he had fought in Sichuan and the ghost he had battled in Qinghai. It was a power that felt fundamentally the same, yet different.

Jima Hoo’s voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding.

“Jima Spirits, attack the fortress wall!”

Whoosh.

Over a thousand demonic beings, disregarding the ongoing clash between the Silver Phantom Horsemen and the Geumcheon Cavalry, surged towards the fortress wall. Their speed was astonishing, far exceeding what their appearance suggested, rivaling even the fastest cavalry.

Whoooosh.

The wind, which had been whipped into a frenzy by the demons’ charge, gradually subsided, leaving an eerie calm in its wake.

Jima Hoo’s voice, laced with sinister amusement, echoed across the battlefield.

“They’re not chasing us.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s response was immediate and resolute.

“I’ll deal with you first.”

Jima Hoo scoffed, her eyes glinting with challenge.

“Do you truly believe you possess the skill to do so?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s reply was simple, devoid of any unnecessary bravado.

“Let’s dispense with the pointless chatter and engage in a proper fight.”

His voice was calm, almost detached, a stark contrast to the fiery hatred he once held for the Three Teachings. Looking at his eyes, his voice, and his demeanor, it was clear that he was a different man from the one who had been consumed by vengeance.

Jima Hoo’s gaze intensified, her mind racing.

‘He’s different from what I heard.’

Before this war had erupted, she had meticulously gathered information about the continent, storing it all in her memory. Among the many figures she had studied, Yeon Ho-Jeong stood out.

The eldest son of the Yeon family, one of the six great martial arts families of the Jianghu [the martial arts world], renowned for their orthodox swordsmanship. He had been considered a troublemaker in his youth, but at some point, he had begun to shine, growing into a formidable master.

His martial prowess was not to be underestimated simply because of his young age. In fact, the fact that he had become a top-tier master of the Jianghu at such a young age made him an even more significant threat.

‘I heard he harbored a fanatical hatred for the Three Teachings.’

She had heard tales of his brutal actions against followers of the Three Teachings, acts that bordered on massacres. It was said that the bodies of masters defeated by Yeon Ho-Jeong were often left unrecognizable. She didn’t know the source of this hatred, but she knew that more and more people within the Three Teachings were actively avoiding confrontations with him.

However, the Yeon Ho-Jeong she faced now displayed no such hatred. His aura was calm, his eyes unwavering.

The massive, blood-soaked axe he wielded was intimidating, but that was all. If she had seen him from afar, she might have wondered if he had even come to fight, given his composed demeanor.

‘Still, he’s strong.’

Her hand tightened around the hilt of her Demon Slayer Blade.

‘Strong. Even more so than the Tang Clan leader I encountered in Gansu.’

It was a difference that transcended mere realms of power. Jima Hoo felt an inexplicable pressure emanating from Yeon Ho-Jeong. Even without any visible killing intent, hatred, or anger, she found it difficult to draw her sword with ease.

An indescribable presence. Jima Hoo recognized that such a presence was the hallmark of the truly powerful.

‘But you can’t win.’

The corners of Jima Hoo’s lips curled into a confident smirk.

‘If it’s a commander’s battle, that’s exactly what I wanted.’

Srrrk.

As she lowered her stance, a faint black-gray mist began to emanate from her body. It was a demonic energy that instilled unease with its very color, regardless of sensation or touch. Any master in the world, even a Saintly Heaven [a high-level martial arts realm] stronger than her, would have felt a sense of dread in the face of such demonic energy.

Yet, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face remained impassive. He seemed unaffected even as Jima Hoo unleashed her full power.

Uuuuuuung.

The Light Dragon Axe, imbued with the essence of the Yellow Dragon, vibrated faintly.

Jima Hoo’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of unease crossing her face.

‘That power… it’s unsettling.’

If it was unsettling, she would simply crush it.

She took a powerful step forward.

She expected a resounding impact, but her foot made no sound as it touched the ground.

Whoosh.

A strong, silent rebound propelled her forward.

In an instant, Jima Hoo was right in front of Yeon Ho-Jeong. It was a speed that defied belief, as if Yeon Ho-Jeong was witnessing the Blood Wing Sky Dance of the Vermilion Bird before he had awakened the Yellow Dragon.

Jjeoeoeong!

The Demon Slayer Blade descended with the force of ten thousand pounds.

It was a simple, direct attack, yet Yeon Ho-Jeong found it impossible to evade. It was fast, profound, and contained all the martial principles she had accumulated throughout her life.

Yeon Ho-Jeong retreated a few steps, and Jima Hoo immediately followed, her Demon Slayer Blade a blur of motion.

Jjeojeong! Jjeoeong! Jjeoeoeong!

It was like striking an iron ball with a sledgehammer. The ground cracked under the force of the vibrations. Jima Hoo unleashed twenty-four strikes in the blink of an eye.

Jjeojeojeong! Kwang! Kwakwang!!

It was an incredible display of speed and destructive power.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was genuinely surprised by Jima Hoo’s level of enlightenment.

While not as powerful as the Light Dragon Axe, the Demon Slayer Blade was still a heavy weapon of considerable weight. The fact that she could wield it with such speed and flexibility indicated a supreme understanding of weapon techniques.

This was not something that could be achieved through mere strength and internal energy. The subtle movements of her fingers, the resulting smooth changes in direction, and the flow of internal energy synchronized with the weapon’s movement allowed her to seamlessly transition from one attack to the next.

Jjeojeojeojeojeong!!

As the heavy weapons collided, blue sparks flew in all directions. It was a clash of titans, the Light Dragon Axe, weighing over eighty pounds, against the Demon Slayer Blade, weighing over fifty pounds. Jima Hoo’s attacks were swift and precise, while Yeon Ho-Jeong’s defense was impenetrable.

Peoseok! Peopeopeong!

The power unleashed by the axe and sword exploded outwards, creating shockwaves that rippled through the air and shattered the ground. The pressure was immense, yet both combatants remained focused and cautious.

It was a fierce battle between top masters, a battle that even a supreme master would struggle to endure for three exchanges. Yet, neither had fully unleashed their true power. This was true for both Yeon Ho-Jeong and Jima Hoo.

How much time had passed?

Jima Hoo, who had been trying to find an opening by applying relentless pressure, realized that her strategy was flawed.

‘There are no openings. No, they don’t appear.’

Jjeong! Jjeojeong!

The afterimage of a thick, cold axe blade lingered in the air where the Demon Slayer Blade had passed.

Jima Hoo’s eyes wavered, a hint of disbelief in them.

‘Is there such a person?’

The demonic arts of the Dark Blood Sect were renowned as some of the most powerful in the world.

They were particularly effective at generating internal energy, and even those who had only mastered them to a certain extent possessed an amount of internal energy that far surpassed other warriors of similar realms.

Perhaps that was why? Most masters of the Dark Blood Sect relied on their overwhelming power and stamina, using their abundant internal energy to crush their opponents.

Jima Hoo was different. She had long since realized that she could not reach the pinnacle by relying solely on the power of demonic arts.

Therefore, she had delved into all aspects of martial arts, including weapon techniques, over many years, becoming one of the most enlightened individuals in the Dark Blood Sect.

She took great pride in this, and as she faced an opponent who possessed an enlightenment equal to or greater than her own, she began to feel a sense of impatience.

‘He’s strong. The depth of his enlightenment is immense. He’s strong enough to withstand my sword without wavering, and he’s solid enough not to reveal any openings while wielding that huge axe.’

Since her opponent also wielded a giant weapon, she knew that he was confident in his strength and could use martial arts that maximized his strengths while minimizing his weaknesses.

She was wrong.

Even before he had awakened the Yellow Dragon, he had mastered the martial arts of the Four Divine Beasts, which were exceptionally skilled in attack, defense, evasion, and counterattack. Although his focus was on destructive power, Yeon Ho-Jeong was capable of seamlessly integrating offense and defense if he chose to.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts had blossomed after he awakened the Yellow Dragon, and with the supernatural power of his highly developed upper dantian [an energy center in the body], he had reached a point where he could incorporate the enlightenment of the Four Divine Beasts into every movement.

Jima Hoo’s enlightenment could not surpass Yeon Ho-Jeong’s. Even before he had awakened the Yellow Dragon, it would have been difficult for her to defeat him with her understanding of weapon techniques.

Kwang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body was pushed back three yards by a particularly powerful strike.

Jima Hoo’s cheek twitched slightly.

She didn’t feel like she had inflicted any real impact on her opponent. She didn’t experience that unique sensation of connecting with a solid blow.

“You…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression remained calm.

There was no change in his posture or aura. The fact that he had retreated after receiving the last blow was simply to offset the impact, and he didn’t feel any particular threat.

Jima Hoo’s face gradually contorted with frustration.

“Can’t you do it properly?!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong simply stared at her, offering no response.

His silence only fueled Jima Hoo’s anger. Everyone she had fought so far had displayed some kind of emotion. Whether it was anger or fear, she was adept at reading her opponent’s emotions and exploiting their openings.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong showed none of that. He was calm and indifferent.

Jima Hoo had never encountered an opponent like him before. If it were a normal sparring match, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but this was a battlefield.

In a situation where their allies were under attack, anyone would inevitably become impatient. But why was her opponent so calm?

“I see.”

A cruel smile spread across Jima Hoo’s face.

“I almost fell for my own trick. No matter how much you pretend to be indifferent, it’s hard to be indifferent to me.”

“…”

“If you won’t fight properly, shall I make it so you have no choice but to fight properly?”

Whoosh!

Jima Hoo’s body shot into the air. Her intention was clear as she changed direction and headed towards the fortress wall. She was going to attack the enemy soldiers instead of the enemy commander to create chaos.

Paak!

Yeon Ho-Jeong pursued her, his speed incredible. His Heavenly Flight technique was reaching speeds comparable to the Blood Wing Sky Dance.

Sensing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s presence close behind her, Jima Hoo’s eyes flashed.

‘Here!’

Hwaaaak!

At the same time as she unleashed the Dark Blood Sect’s Heaven and Earth Demonic Art, she deployed the Jima Flying God’s movement technique. She descended with tremendous speed, as if using a Thousand-Pound Drop, and swung her sword towards the sky.

Jima Hoo’s technique, the Dragon Demon Ten Swords’ Dragon Flight Slash, was about to be unleashed.

No, it was about to be unleashed.

‘……?!’

In that instant.

Jima Hoo’s sensitive senses registered that Yeon Ho-Jeong’s figure in the air was slightly blurry, and that his presence was strangely weak.

Flash!

Instinctively, she turned her body and swung her sword forward.

A black dragon-shaped sword energy, surging along with the slash of the Demon Slayer Blade, rushed like lightning.

Kwang!

A loud explosion was followed by a cloud of dust.

At the same time, a hand that pierced through the dust cloud flew towards Jima Hoo’s face.

Horrified, Jima Hoo deployed the Jima Flying God’s secret technique once more.

Flash!

She retreated with lightning speed, but from the sleeve of the hand that appeared through the clouds, a chain was fired with an ominous sound, faster than her movement technique.

She couldn’t avoid it. Jima Hoo gritted her teeth and raised her Demon Slayer Blade.

Chiriririring!!

The Coiling Dragon Chain wrapped tightly around the blade of the Demon Slayer Blade.

Amidst the dust that had settled, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s golden eyes were revealed.

‘What is this?!’

She thought he was following behind her, but it was an illusion?

And what is this chain? What kind of artifact is it that can extend so long?

Her thoughts were brief. Jima Hoo realized that she had revealed an opening while trying to lure her opponent into one.

“Uwaaaap!!”

Jima Hoo, who had tried to cut the chain by forcefully striking down with her Demon Slayer Blade, soon discovered that her two feet were rising into the air.

‘Damn it!’

Chiriring! Chiriring!

Even as she rose high into the air, the extended Coiling Dragon Chain wrapped around her sword, wrist, and even her forearm.

Yeon Ho-Jeong forcefully twisted his upper body.

Kwaaang!

Jima Hoo, who had drawn a semicircle, was slammed into the ground.