Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1233

The Jeongui Army was tenacious.

It seemed that the more time passed, the stronger they became, blocking the advance of the demonic forces with increasingly sophisticated and faster formations.

‘This isn’t good.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong was amazed by the Jeongui Army’s struggle, but he wasn’t just excited about his former subordinates’ improved skills.

‘It’s getting more intense.’

While it was welcome that the Jeongui Army’s stamina and tactical sophistication were increasing, the problem was the enemy’s response.

The fact that the Jeongui Army’s movements had become more active meant that the enemy was pushing harder. Indeed, the demonic forces, which had been simply advancing, were gradually transforming into a charge-type formation that formed ranks and crushed the enemy.

‘There might be casualties at this rate.’

It was an accurate assessment.

In fact, some of the Jeongui Army had already suffered minor injuries. It couldn’t be said that they were defeated, but as the injuries deepened, the fighting would become more intense, and eventually, some would die.

‘That can’t happen.’

Whether they came to stop them or annihilate them, a fight was a fight.

It meant that it was the same thing, risking their lives. In such a battle, it was nearly impossible for everyone to survive without a single death.

‘We have to achieve that near-impossible feat. The current Jeongui Army is strong. It’s not just about being strong. This troop’s tactical operation is truly genius. Even the Yongacheolgi unit [Elite cavalry unit] wouldn’t be able to do this.’

The war wasn’t over. Just stopping the Gwanghyeol Church wasn’t the end.

The Jeongui Army was a group that would create numerous legends in the future. Suffering unnecessary losses here was something to be avoided for the sake of the future.

“Brother!”

At Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shout, Mak Won turned his head and looked at him.

“Break through the front!”

“Understood!”

Mak Won was a smart man. He seemed to immediately understand why Yeon Ho-Jeong had made such a request.

Fwaaaang!

Mak Won, having arrived at the front of the demonic forces with the White Steel Flying Steps, unleashed the spear techniques of the One Heart Red Spear.

Kwakwakwang!!

The attacks of the Limitless Hand were astonishing.

The martial arts he displayed with a single Divine Weapon, the White Lightning Spear, were like art. About thirty vanguard soldiers who had formed a charge formation lost their lives under the merciless spear techniques.

Mak Won never overdid it.

Fwaaaak!

If breaking through and destroying the vanguard was instantaneous, then retreating was like lightning.

If Mak Won were to overexert himself and unleash another secret technique of the Heavenly Martial Divine Weapon, the Heavenly Martial General’s Power, he could temporarily exert much greater power.

However, if he did that, Mak Won would become a force that couldn’t be used when needed. The power of the Heavenly Martial General’s Power was amazing, but after using such power, recovery was inevitable.

Jjeojeojeong! Peobeobeok!

The spots Mak Won had vacated were filled by Peng Man-Ho, Yeon Ji-Pyeong, and Dong-Ho of the Mount Hua Sect.

The Chaotic Thunderclap Blade falling from the sky, the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques of Mount Hua, and the Gentleman’s Eight Sword Stances of the Yeon family pierced through the gaps, scattering the vanguard of the demonic forces that had begun to crumble.

“Song Yeon-Gyeong!”

As soon as the three men retreated, the spear masters of the Emei Sect, led by Song Yeon-Gyeong, and the spear soldiers of the Tangma Army, who were eligible for joint training, mercilessly charged in, blowing away the remaining remnants.

They charged and retreated, retreated and charged again.

It was a battlefield with no time to catch their breath, but the Jeongui Army’s movements were extremely smooth and relaxed.

“As expected!”

Cheok Gang shouted, slicing off the head of a demon with his sharp sword.

“It’s much better with the Great Leader here!”

In reality, Yeon Ho-Jeong hadn’t done much.

However, he had placed Mak Won in the right place, and signaled Peng Man-Ho and Dong-Ho to time their attacks. He also accurately pointed out the timing of the charge and retreat to Yeon Ji-Pyeong, the owner of the horse he was riding.

They were strong without Yeon Ho-Jeong, but they were stronger with him.

It was a relationship of trust bound by life. Furthermore, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s tactical insight was the best in the world. Especially in such localized battles, his abilities were far superior to those of the experienced military strategists of the Jeagal family.

His life, stained with struggle, had transformed his nature into a ruthless killer, desensitized to murder, but it had also developed his abilities to a terrifying degree.

It was no exaggeration to say that there was no greater master with more practical experience than Yeon Ho-Jeong in the current world. Moreover, he had experience leading thousands and tens of thousands of troops, making him truly one of the greatest generals representing the Central Plains martial world.

“Kuaaaaaa!”

However, even such a great general could not completely overcome the numerical disadvantage.

The number of demonic forces was still large. On the other hand, the Jeongui Army had just over five hundred soldiers. Although they had the powerful card of Mak Won, they couldn’t stop them all with this force alone.

‘It can’t be helped.’

The demons, screaming and covered in chains, rushed in wildly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened.

“Retreat!”

Kwaaang!

“Kuek!”

Eventually, one soldier was knocked down, flying away with his horse.

The demons, emitting ominous demonic energy, were still numerous. In between, demonic humans were mixed in, adjusting the movements of the demons, seemingly playing a similar role to Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was adjusting the movements of the Jeongui Army.

Uuuuuung!!

Golden true energy began to blaze from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

The powerful energy wave felt from behind made Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s face look urgent.

“Brother! Take care of yourself!”

“I’m fine.”

Beonjjeok! Peoeok!

The launched Twin Dragon Chain flew back after blowing off the heads of two demonic humans next to the demons.

His body, with little internal energy left and internal injuries, still displayed martial arts that were so powerful that no soldier of the Jeongui Army could match them.

Jureureuk.

Blood flowed from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s nose and mouth.

Just using one martial art was causing his insides to be a mess. It felt like someone was scraping his insides with an invisible knife. If he hadn’t been holding onto Yeon Ji-Pyeong, he might have collapsed, clutching his stomach.

Hwaaaak!

But he had experienced such pain countless times.

He suppressed the pain with his willpower and corrected his shaken insides with the power of his upper dantian [Energy center in the body].

Peopeopeopeong!

As soon as he recovered, he unleashed the Golden Dragon Sky Piercing Palm with his left palm. The bodies of three demons that were approaching flew backward. He didn’t kill them, but he broke one of their limbs.

Yeo Guk shouted.

“Lord! Don’t overdo it!”

“You guys are the ones overdoing it. You’re not destined to die at the hands of these worthless bastards.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s calm words ignited the hearts of everyone.

“Take it slow. Just because their reactions have changed doesn’t mean you have to be swept up in that atmosphere. Block them as much as you can, but if you can’t, it can’t be helped. Don’t risk your lives in a place like this.”

Peng Man-Ho, who had put a fallen soldier on his horse, shouted.

“Brother is right!”

Beonjjeok!

The Chaotic Thunderclap Blade changed to the Iron Blood Crimson Blade.

The Thunderclap Blade consumed a lot of internal energy as it was a power-based sword technique. On the other hand, the Iron Blood Crimson Blade had varying internal energy consumption depending on the stance.

Even if they couldn’t kill the enemy, they could gradually pressure them. Peng Man-Ho immediately accepted Yeon Ho-Jeong’s intentions.

“Let’s take it easy! We didn’t think we could block them forever anyway!”

The soldiers’ eyes changed.

Kwakwang! Peopeopeopeong!

The battle situation changed in an instant.

The Jeongui Army’s retreat speed increased, and the demonic forces’ advance speed increased accordingly. It was almost twice as fast as the previous battles.

‘Even though I said that.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

‘It would be better to hold them for as long as possible. We don’t know the current state of the vanguard that entered Hubei.’

If it was Gong Gong Daesa and Jeagal Mun-Ho, they would have surely prepared an effective move.

However, believing in them and seeing it with his own eyes were different. If, by any chance, they achieved what they wanted, the martial world would be in a situation where they had accepted the enemy’s forces in the middle of the Central Plains.

If a chaotic battle broke out in the meantime, they would suffer extreme damage.

‘I thought I would block them even if it was just me, so the current situation is very good. But I can’t see the end. That’s also natural.’

The hand holding the Mad Dragon Axe tightened.

‘Was it a difficult fight after all?’

It was then.

‘……?!’

His physical condition was the worst, but his senses were not dead.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked east, and Mak Won looked northeast.

“This energy…?!!”

Fwaaaak!

Even amidst the surging military flags and demonic energy, the two could read the energy wave coming from beyond the mountains.

Mak Won’s eyes widened.

“That… ! Did they have so many troops left?!!”

A group was approaching at a rapid pace, crossing the northeastern mountain range. Surprisingly, their number seemed to be over a thousand.

“Jongnam Sect!”

They were swordsmen of the Jongnam Sect. However, not all of them belonged to the Jongnam Sect.

Including the forces of the secular sects affiliated with the Jongnam Sect, over a thousand troops were rushing towards this place.

And it was the same in the east.

“Huh?!”

The next people to read the energy after Yeon Ho-Jeong were Yun-Ho and Dong-Ho.

“It’s the energy wave of the Violet Cloud Divine Art!”

“There’s even the Six Harmonies of the Jade Box, Senior Brother!”

Uuuuuuung!!

They were much closer than Jongnam. It was clear that they had departed before Jongnam.

They were the swordsmen of the Mount Hua Sect. It seemed that they had also brought the forces of the secular sects, and like Jongnam, they were rushing in at a terrifying speed with over a thousand warriors.

And at their center were Cheon Hyo-Rak and Hwa Hyang.

Jongnam and Mount Hua.

The two pillars supporting the Shaanxi martial world. They had been devastated by the Shaanxi battle, but their will to stop the war was stronger than before.

They were rushing in with poison in their hearts to stop the advance of the demonic forces, or rather, to annihilate them.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shouted.

“The Jeongui Army, lure them back to the southern valley!”

The appearance of Mount Hua and Jongnam.

The furious twin swords that would tear apart the enemy’s rear were raising sword energy that seemed to cover the entire mountain.

* * *

Peok! Peobeobeok!

Lee Cheol-Gyeong’s body, which was killing demonic humans as if possessed, was covered in blood.

‘This won’t do.’

He had gone into the heart of the enemy, killed them, and come out several times.

He had already forgotten how many enemies he had killed with his own hands. He was just directing the forces of the Henan martial world as needed, blocking the enemy, and now his head was even dizzy.

‘This… won’t do.’

He thought it would be difficult. It couldn’t be easy. The enemy’s numbers were over fifty thousand.

But still.

He believed that if it was the divine art of Shaolin, the pinnacle of subduing demonic power, they could block the enemies much more efficiently. Not only Lee Cheol-Gyeong, but everyone who came here believed that.

But the reality was different.

The power of the opposing forces was certainly meaningful, but it wasn’t great enough to overturn the overwhelming numerical advantage. Martial arts were just martial arts, and the absolute difference in troop strength couldn’t be helped.

‘Even the Eighteen Arhats and the One Hundred and Eight Arhats are fighting at the front. I thought they would have killed the enemy commanders and pushed forward…’

Lee Cheol-Gyeong couldn’t help but sigh.

‘Was it impossible after all?’

It was then.

Uwaaaaaaa!!

A tremendous shout flowed out on the military flags.

It wasn’t the power of the Henan martial world. The nature of the military flags and the density of the energy wave were different.

Startled, Lee Cheol-Gyeong killed a demonic human, then stepped on his back and flew up.

And soon, his eyes captured an unbelievable scene.

In the distance, a large army of ten thousand was rapidly moving south from the north.

They were much more organized than the Henan martial world forces. Furthermore, at their forefront was a master of tremendous energy that could not help but draw anyone’s attention.

A spirited old warrior with a huge sword on his back.

The energy wave that far exceeded imagination was that of someone who had surpassed the limits of humanity.

“Senior Doje!!”

Doje Jongri Baek was coming south with his disciples and the ten thousand troops of the Martial Alliance who had deployed the Heavenly Net of Earth, and Sky.