Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1230

1236. Subduing Demons and Eradicating Evil (11)

“Alliance Leader! A massive force of nearly fifty thousand demonic beings is currently crossing southern Shaanxi, heading towards Hubei! The message came from southern Shaanxi, so they must be very close to Hubei by now!”

Gong Gong did not panic.

He had received a report just three days ago that they had entered Shaanxi. And now, they were practically at the doorstep of Hubei.

It was an incredible speed. Even if they had marched without eating or sleeping, it was still an incomprehensible pace.

It would be different if it were a small number of experts. But they were a massive army of nearly fifty thousand. For such a large group to cross southern Shaanxi in three days without proper rest was no ordinary feat.

“Initially, we thought the enemy’s advance was aimed at the Henan Martial Alliance, but they are moving in a straight line, breaking through rivers and mountains. It seems they intend to bypass the Martial Alliance territory and advance into Hubei.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked extremely gaunt, as if he had been through a lot. His hair was also turning white in patches, making him look like he was in his fifties.

However, his deeply sunken eyes still held a clear, bright light. It was as if he had gained some enlightenment while managing the Martial Alliance. Unlike his weakened body, his deep and gentle aura was much stronger than before.

“Then it must be….”

“Yes. It seems to be what we discussed before.”

Gong Gong’s eyes gleamed.

“They are heading to the place where their cult leader died.”

He and the strategist, Jeagal Mun-Ho, knew a top-secret piece of information about the Blood Demon Cult Leader, Cheon Wi-Ryong, that most people were unaware of.

To be precise, it was just a conjecture, but now they considered it a certainty. The reason they thought so was due to a letter from Yeon Ho-Jeong.

It contained a request for help from Shaolin, along with the information that the Blood Demon Cult Leader had been defeated at Mount Wudang in Hubei.

In the process, Yeon Ho-Jeong did not directly reveal who had killed the Blood Demon Cult Leader. That was why the two of them could guess that Yeon Ho-Jeong was the one who had killed him.

However, due to the potential impact of the information, they had kept it sealed until now. Since they had not actually confirmed it, it was natural that they had not informed their subordinates either.

“After consulting with the sorcerers of Mount Mao, they said that even the most extreme techniques of the heretical sects could potentially perform soul capture [a technique to control a person’s mind] on a thousand people, though it would require an unparalleled upper dantian ability [an energy center in the body] to withstand such soul capture power. They also said that they could not directly control those who were soul-captured, but could only impose a very simple mental restriction (心靈禁制).”

Even that alone was a great anomaly. To sway the minds of tens of thousands with overflowing spiritual power? Even if they didn’t act as they were told, it was no different from controlling thousands of puppets.

“They also said that if the target of the soul capture pledged their loyalty to the master of the soul capture, the soul capture power could exceed ten thousand units. In that case, the targets of the soul capture would be completely bound under the master’s authority, becoming true puppets who would offer their lives, deaths, and even souls to their master.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes flashed.

“If it’s the Blood Demon Cult, and especially the Blood Demon Cult Leader at its peak, he might have been able to exert that level of soul capture power on his followers.”

He had combined information accumulated over a long time with the current situation, and even acquired the knowledge of sorcerers.

A power greater and more magnificent than martial arts. It was the intellect that observed the world. Jeagal Mun-Ho’s aura seemed to have grown and developed further, nurturing the intellect he already possessed.

“Are there no side effects?”

“Of course, there are. If such a soul capture relationship continues for a long time, the target’s spiritual power becomes subordinate to the master down to its roots, and eventually, even their life force is shared.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho picked up a document.

“This is why the Blood Demon Cult Leader’s guard unit of one thousand recklessly charged into the Sichuan mountains.”

“Hmm.”

“Furthermore, the fact that almost all of the Blood Demon Cult’s forces are now heading to the heart of the Central Plains seems to be an attempt to reverse the little time they have left due to the side effects of soul capture.”

A truth that no one knew, not even Yeon Ho-Jeong had only vaguely guessed.

Only Jeagal Mun-Ho had reached that clear truth. Even though the amount of information they had was different, it required exceptional insight to draw such a conclusion.

“There were many puzzling things. Looking at the current situation, it is impossible for the entire Blood Demon Cult to attack the Central Plains, no matter how you look at it. It is too sudden, even when considering common sense and various strategies and tactics. Moreover, this behavior of only advancing, not attacking… It must be true that they are heading to the area where the Blood Demon Cult Leader was defeated.”

“However, even if they are only advancing without engaging in combat, they would not completely ignore those who block their path.”

“That’s right. If they were to strike the Heavenly Net that spans southern Henan and northern Hubei….”

“Their waist would be severed.”

“You are exactly right.”

For the waist of a large army that has spread out the Heavenly Net in several layers to be severed does not simply mean that one army is divided into two.

It is like the number ten (十) being divided into two threes (三) or two twos (二), rather than two fives (五).

It would be different if they had intended to divide the army from the beginning, but if not, no army could react quickly. The decrease in reaction speed would be a decisive factor in weakening the army’s power.

“Currently, the Heavenly Net forces have reached the vicinity of Mount Wudang. Some of them are heading to Sichuan, chasing the top-secret individual known as the Blood Venerable (血尊).”

“Their waist might really be severed.”

“I don’t know if it was because Yeon Seong-Ju reported this and asked for help from Shaolin, but if the Henan Martial World can prevent them from entering Hubei, their waist might not be severed.”

From the start, it was impossible to deploy all of the Heavenly Net forces to Sichuan. Although they had to secure the Blood Venerable, they could not leave the Martial Alliance defenseless.

“Then….”

Gong Gong spoke with a calm face, uttering terrifying words.

“Since the Heavenly Net has already been rendered useless, let’s just split it ourselves first.”

Whether they enjoyed unconventional methods or preferred the orthodox, military strategists generally possessed far more extensive knowledge of strategy and tactics than others.

A military strategist with insight, not just a mediocre one, always knew how to listen to others.

Jeagal Mun-Ho was such a person. Yet, he could not help but be surprised by Gong Gong’s statement.

It was not because it was unconventional. Gong Gong possessed various knowledge besides martial arts and Buddhism, but he was bound to be lacking in strategy and tactics.

Yet, Gong Gong’s statement was one that could only come from someone who had accurately grasped the weaknesses of a large army. That was what surprised Jeagal Mun-Ho.

Just as Jeagal Mun-Ho had grown, Gong Gong had also grown. Their passion to constantly learn more, despite their age and position, was what had made them who they were today.

“We cannot send half of them. There is no need to. The Tang Clan is still intact, so I will contact them separately.”

“Very well.”

“We will gather the remaining Heavenly Net forces and support the Henan Martial World, which is working with Shaolin. If we attack the flanks and rear of the advancing Blood Demon Cult forces, they will also suffer great damage.”

“Let’s do that.”

Gong Gong’s clear, sparkling eyes turned cold.

“This is a situation where we could potentially completely destroy one of the three sects, so let’s stake the Martial Alliance’s survival on this operation.”

* * *

“They’re coming!”

Beom Hang’s shout made Beom Oh grab his iron staff.

“The sect leader will step forward.”

“Yes!”

Lee Cheol-Gyeong was the head of Shaolin’s best secular sect, and before Yeon Ho-Jeong and Moyong Gun appeared, he was one of the most famous figures among the younger generation of the martial world.

Now in his mid-thirties, the young leader of the Geumgang Fist Sect was displaying a mature level of skill. Despite being from a secular background, he had been taught the unparalleled Shaolin main temple techniques, and his aura was incredibly powerful, surpassing even the martial arts masters.

Lee Cheol-Gyeong shouted.

“Instead of blocking them head-on, we will crush them from the left and right flanks and sever their heads! With the Double Head Severing Formation (斷頭雙陣)!”

Woo-woo-woo-woong!!

A tremendous voice swept through the surroundings.

The voice, filled with Shaolin’s secret Brahma [a divine power] divine skill, contained the power of the Lion’s Roar (獅子吼), the best sound technique in Buddhism.

Hwaaaak!

The momentum of the demonic army, advancing two hundred yards away, was thrown into disarray.

It was a powerful sonic attack that boosted the morale of their allies and broke the enemy’s momentum. Despite unleashing such an amazing internal energy technique, Lee Cheol-Gyeong’s face was full of composure.

He was worthy of the title of the best martial talent in Shaolin’s secular world. It was the martial art of a genius who was praised for reaching the pinnacle within twenty years, or even ten years if he was blessed with luck.

Koo-roo-roong!!

There were many sects in Henan, but most of the five thousand soldiers who had come here had ties to Shaolin. In the first place, the Henan Martial World itself was practically within Shaolin’s sphere of influence.

When these people divided their formation into two with one mind, a truly terrifying aura arose.

They were on a different level from the sects that had fought the enemy in Gansu and Shaanxi. Under the glorious seven words, “The source of all martial arts is Shaolin,” their martial arts and formations, inherited from a part of the legend, were among the best in the entire Central Plains.

Lee Cheol-Gyeong led the one hundred and eight masters of the Geumgang Fist Sect and stood at the front.

“They’re coming! Prepare!”

Chiri-ri-ri-ring!!

The warriors drew their swords.

The masters of the fist sect were empty-handed, but the sects under them held various weapons such as swords, spears, and halberds. Yet, they were in harmony with Shaolin’s divine techniques and secret arts.

Thus, the enemies closed the distance.

One hundred and fifty yards, one hundred and thirty yards, one hundred yards.

And finally, when the enemy’s forces entered within eighty yards.

Lee Cheol-Gyeong unleashed the Lion’s Roar once more.

“Open the formation (開陣)!”

Kwa-kwa-kwang!!

The left and right armies charged towards the flanks of the demonic army at tremendous speed.

Even though they were using incredibly swift footwork, it felt as if the heavens and earth were shaking. It was not because of the charge of the fifty thousand demonic beings, but because of the charge of the five thousand soldiers.

Each movement of kicking off the ground was imbued with a powerful explosive force. The famous Shaolin Stomp (少林震脚) doubled their combat power.

“Wuaaaaaa!!”

“Kuaaaaaa!!”

The subordinates of the Bright Kings (明王) [Buddhist deities] and the minions of the Demon Kings (魔王) charged towards each other with tremendous momentum.

It was at that moment.

“The Eighteen Arhats to the left, the One Hundred and Eight Arhats to the right.”

Beom Oh’s calm shout revealed a much deeper level of power than Lee Cheol-Gyeong’s.

Pa-ba-ba-bak!

One of the genius monks of the Beom lineage led the One Hundred and Eight Arhats Formation and charged to the right. Beom Oh led the Eighteen Arhats and charged to the left.

The explosive force-enhancing techniques were also present in their footwork, but unlike the five thousand soldiers, there was no sound. When a skill reached its peak, it would paradoxically not even produce the sound of the earth-shaking stomp.

“Shaolin!!”

On the left, behind a thousand demonic beings, a Demon King was grinding his teeth.

It seemed that all of the Blood Demon Cult’s forces had come, and even the remaining supreme masters had arrived. There were two of them.

“Don’t block us!!”

Pa-a-a-aang!

A swordsman who had rushed from the left like a gale unleashed a terrifying demonic aura.

Beom Oh shouted.

“With the Eighteen Arhats Formation!”

The moment the legend of the martial world, the Eighteen Arhats Formation, raised its head after a long time.

Beom Oh’s iron staff, empowered by the demon-subduing power (降魔法力) emanating from the Arhats, swung towards the sword-wielding Demon King.

The start of the Great Blood Battle of Demons and Fiends (狂魔大血戰) was announced by Beom Oh’s iron staff, the representative of Shaolin.