Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1194

When discussing who is the best among the six great martial families of the Murim [martial arts world], opinions always vary.

The Jeagal family was more renowned for their wisdom in divination than their martial prowess. The Byeoksan Yeon family had gained a reputation as the greatest martial family after producing two Limitless Masters [masters who have reached the pinnacle of martial arts], but their actual power was smaller than that of most medium-sized sects, making it difficult to argue they were the best as a complete martial family.

That leaves four remaining families.

Further south, many would choose the Namgoong family, considered the best sword family in the Central Plains, or the Moyong family, who were said to have mastered all martial arts. If you go north, many would choose the Hebei Peng family, known for their strategic and tactical skills and their innate divine power.

Similarly, if you go west, many would choose the Sichuan Tang family. People had different families they considered the best, based on their own environments and interests.

However, if you were to discuss who was the best in terms of potential and war-fighting capabilities, the family that everyone would reluctantly have to acknowledge was the Tang family of Sichuan.

They had elevated poison and hidden weapons to unparalleled levels, and they possessed various iron-making technologies as well as gunpowder weapons, giving them power close to that of a small nation.

That was why, when talking about the best in Sichuan, everyone would choose the Tang family over Qingcheng and Emei [two famous martial arts sects]. The Tang family was the last bastion and symbol of Sichuan, and thanks to their unique geographical advantages, they always had the upper hand in the wars that broke out within the Central Plains.

And the people who knew this best were the leaders of the Tang family.

Tang Gwan had been making constant efforts to reorganize the family after it had suffered a period of turmoil due to Tang Ho’s rebellion.

The organization, rules, and atmosphere had become much more relaxed than before, which brought vitality to the entire family. In particular, they actively recruited talents who had been looked down upon as members of the side branches, placing them in important positions, while those from the main line who lacked ability were instead pushed out to the periphery.

It was a truly unconventional personnel change, but thanks to Tang Gwan’s absolute power and martial arts, as well as the terrifying presence of the Dark King Tang Hyeong, no one dared to say that this change was wrong, even if there were minor complaints.

It wasn’t as if they had neglected the main line either, so the family’s atmosphere and direction were definitely changing. The rotten apples that caused the conflict were removed without hesitation, so the change was rapid. In particular, when the family head killed his own son, Tang Yang-Seon, the Tang family was reborn once again.

Thanks to this, Tang Pae, who had been promoted to the leader of the Serpent King Corps, one of the newly reorganized large-scale armies, was able to cast aside even the slightest doubt about the family head.

He was said to be the most talented among the side branches of his generation. Even while he was stuck in a corner focusing on martial arts training, he was creating new poisons and developing hidden weapon techniques. He was truly a genius with all-around talent.

However, the geniuses from the side branches all had tragic lives. The poisons and hidden weapons they painstakingly developed would, over time, be falsely attributed to the main line, and they wouldn’t even be able to show off their great talents in the Murim in the first place.

But now, Tang Pae was satisfied that his life, where he had endured with his brothers for so long, was finally blossoming.

And he decided to risk his life to live an even more satisfying life in the future.

“Serpent King Corps, deploy the Netherworld Poison Serpent Formation.”

Sss sss.

The sound of five hundred elites moving was not loud.

It was similar to the sound of a snake crawling on the ground. Yet, they were fast. It was a chilling movement technique.

Tang Pae’s eyes deepened.

‘That is the Wind-Torn Soul Binding Formation.’

Two hundred men were watching the Wind-Torn Soul Binding Formation, forming a battle array, while three hundred men surrounded them, defending against external attacks.

‘The main family’s best formation must not be broken, but.’

It was said that this formation was created by Tang Yu-Gwang, a distant elder of the side branch, and completed together with the Dark King Tang Hyeong. Before coming here, Tang Pae had heard directly from the family head about the operational principles of the Wind-Torn Soul Binding Formation.

‘The more I look at it, the more amazing this formation is. Just the fact that it regenerates based on the life force of those trapped within it already surpasses the limits of a formation.’

He was also called a genius, but he thought that he would never be able to catch up to Tang Yu-Gwang when it came to formations. It was that great of a study.

However.

‘There is no perfection in this world. Moreover, the opponent is one of the leaders of the Three Teachings [referring to the three major religions/philosophies in China: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism]. If they are a master that even the strongest of the Saintly Heavens [a group of powerful martial artists] would struggle to defeat, then we must be even more vigilant.’

He had heard that even Tang Hyeong would have been defeated if Tang Yu-Gwang hadn’t been there.

If even Tang Hyeong, who was an undeniable powerhouse in the Murim, had almost died, then it meant that the Wind-Torn Soul Binding Formation could also be broken.

‘Even if it comes out again, I will stop it with the lives of the Serpent King Corps.’

If the elders had risked their lives, then it was now the turn of those who were responsible for the current generation to risk their lives.

Just as Tang Pae was burning with fighting spirit, a terrifying roar echoed from afar.

“What is that sound?”

Tang Ak, the vice-commander of the Serpent King Corps and Tang Pae’s younger brother, had a question on his face.

Tang Pae said in a stiff voice.

“It’s the sound of a thousand demons fighting our forces.”

“What, what did you say?!”

Tang Ak clicked his tongue.

“How far away is it that the sound is….”

“It means that they are clashing that fiercely. The enemy’s forces are as strong as two of the Nine Great Sects [the nine most powerful martial arts sects], and our side has the eldest son of the Yeon family, who is said to be the next strongest in the world.”

Tang Pae’s fist clenched.

“The fight between those who are trying to stop them and those who are trying to break through, both sides will be fighting without regard for their lives. The damage will be great.”

“What do you think, brother? Do you really think our side can stop them?”

“It will be difficult.”

Tang Pae’s voice was low and deep.

“If the numbers are small but the overall power is great, then they might be able to stop them. But if the power of both sides is equal, then it’s hard for the side with fewer numbers to take down the side with more. Regardless of the outcome, if even one of them comes this way, it will be a failure.”

“Even if a few of them come here, we don’t know what they’ll do, do we?”

“That’s why it’s a failure. Because we can’t even imagine what they’ll do.”

“……!”

“It means that it will be difficult to deal with them. If some of the enemies rush towards this place, then the three hundred members of the Serpent King Corps must go out and eliminate them no matter what.”

Tang Pae’s eyes turned to the Wind-Torn Soul Binding Formation.

A hint of anxiety could be seen in his otherwise cold eyes.

“……This formation was created by the sacrifice of the main family’s greatest elder. Therefore, we must win no matter what.”

* * *

‘Amazing!’

Tension filled the face of Jang Gon, the central axis of the Dragon Tiger Wind Cloud Cudgel Formation.

Even at this moment of rushing forward, his back was chilling. The closer he got to the enemy, the greater the burden on his body became.

Even while he was using the Cudgel Formation to create momentum and charge forward!

‘It’s hard to even imagine how they’ll come out. The fact that they are better at defense than offense means that, conversely, they are good at moving as one.’

Jang Gon could see beyond what others could not.

He had a completely different perspective from Ga Deuk-Sang, who thought that it would be difficult to break through because they were better at defense. Rather, he thought that because they were good at defense, the formation would be more complete, and even if they lacked explosive offensive power, they would be strong at steadily pushing forward.

And that was the truth. Even if each sect had different formations, they all shared the same core principles. If they pushed forward like a solid rock, then blindly crashing into them would be suicidal.

‘Moreover.’

Whoosh!

The surging demonic energy was like the atmosphere of a ruin swept by a fierce fire.

Black smoke billowed from everywhere. It was a heavy demonic energy that made it feel like your breath would be cut off just by smelling it.

‘Indeed! The elites are different!’

The demons, with their faces covered from below their eyes to their chins with black masks, looked like several identical dolls lined up.

They wore black light armor that seemed to be made of an unusual material, and over that armor, they wore black cloaks. They wore greaves over their black pants, and even wore black gloves, so there was no exposed skin except for their eyes.

It was truly a unit of all black. It was like a black wave was crashing down.

And at the center of that wave was a rider who was particularly large, with a dark red cloak fluttering as he charged forward.

‘That man is the leader of this unit!’

His eyes were different. His presence was not easily felt due to the demonic energy of the thousand-man force, but he was definitely strong enough that it would be difficult to find someone among the Old Nine Hall members who could match him.

‘This will be a difficult fight.’

But, even so.

Even while being tense about the enemy’s presence, Jang Gon charged forward with fighting spirit.

Not only him, but everyone else was the same. The Old Nine Hall members, who never reacted seriously to anything, were now rushing forward with fire in their eyes.

An amazing fighting spirit that no one knew where it came from.

Just as Jang Gon was about to unleash an offensive towards the enemy with a burning heart, he heard the voice of ‘someone’ that was released at the right time.

“Weave the net!”

A voice that covered hundreds of feet in radius, even though it wasn’t thunderous.

Jang Gon, the center of the Dragon Tiger Cudgel Formation, and the Great Bamboo Beggar, the center of the Wind Cloud Cudgel Formation, shouted without realizing it.

“Dragon Tiger Divine Net!”

“Wind Cloud Heavenly Net!”

Fwip fwip fwip!

The Dragon Tiger Cudgel Formation, which was charging to the left, spread out widely, forming a dense net. The Wind Cloud Cudgel Formation, which was charging to the right, overlapped in two layers, creating momentum.

The formation that boasted the most perfect defense among the Dragon Tiger Wind Cloud Cudgel Formations was deployed. Unlike Jang Gon and the Great Bamboo Beggar, who had intended to crush the enemy’s vanguard to break their momentum, someone watching this battlefield was trying to create a perfect shield from the start.

At that moment, the large rider wearing a dark red cloak shouted.

“Tear the Net.”

Upon hearing that voice, the Old Nine Hall members momentarily distorted their faces.

It was a voice that made them feel suffocating demonic energy. Just by hearing it, their vision seemed to shake, and it felt like their inner energy would go berserk.

‘Incredible demonic energy!’

The density of the demonic energy was beyond imagination. Furthermore, it wasn’t just that they had reached a high level, but it felt like the demonic energy itself was mixed with the ability of soul-snatching, which shook their minds and hearts.

Fwip fwip fwip!

The demons’ battle formation, which had split into two sharp points like awls, instantly clashed with the Dragon Tiger Wind Cloud.

Kwaaaang!!

The battle formations collided, and an explosion that seemed to overturn the heavens and the earth echoed.

“Kuaaak!”

“Ugh!”

It was a spectacular collision from the start. It was a reckless charge formation by the demons, who had sensed that they would not be able to break through the widely spread Dragon Tiger Wind Cloud formation in an instant.

About a dozen Old Nine Hall members collapsed, spitting blood, and about a dozen demons who were hit by the power of the Old Nine Hall members who had formed the net crumbled on the spot.

At that moment, an astonishing thing happened.

Crack!

They just stepped over their fallen comrades.

The stepped-on demons couldn’t even scream, and their inner energy reversed, causing them to spit blood, and they died with their spines and limbs broken.

Jang Gon’s eyes shook.

‘These ruthless bastards!!’

Just by seeing that scene, he could tell what kind of resolve these guys had come with. If these guys were brought into the Evil Mountain, he was overwhelmed with the anxiety that something big would happen no matter what.

“Stop them! Don’t let a single one get through!”

But it was uneasy from the start. The net of the Dragon Tiger Wind Cloud already seemed to be losing its power due to the demons’ continuous charging formation.

At that moment, when Jang Gon and the Great Bamboo Beggar’s eyes were shaking.

Flash!

Two black gusts of wind that flew in a straight line shredded the two vanguards of the demons, the Blood Fiend Corps.

Crack!!