Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1242

Jo Yang-jin’s eyes deepened.

His complexion was pale and his lips were blue, but his gaze was much more intense than when he had left the Wudang Sect.

“They’re not caught.”

Gi Cheon-ung and Chal Geuk-pyeong also nodded at Jo Yang-jin’s words.

“They did enter Sichuan… but they gradually faded and then disappeared at some point. Is it another sorcery?”

Heading west was the right choice. They could feel the Blood Demon Great Master’s terrible demonic energy again.

However, when they approached this area, near southeastern Sichuan, the demonic energy vanished again. It had become impossible to track them.

Gi Cheon-ung’s eyes narrowed.

“If he’s using a technique similar to the Wudang Sect’s highest-level sorcery, doesn’t that mean his power is growing stronger?”

“That’s not likely.”

Jo Yang-jin’s words were firm.

“I felt his demonic energy dispersing as we came here. He must have poisoned the escorts with demonic energy. If so, his power might have weakened.”

“Then how should we interpret this situation?”

“I don’t know either.”

Jo Yang-jin was pushing himself too hard.

His physical condition was terrible. Even at this moment, he was constantly consuming his inner energy, making it difficult for him to concentrate on anything.

Yet, Jo Yang-jin was constantly sharpening his senses. Such an act was like chipping away at his own life, yet he persisted.

It was a wonder he was still alive.

“Let’s go south for now. They’ll be wary of the Sichuan Tang family, so they’re most likely to cross the south and head up to the west.”

Even in this situation, Jo Yang-jin’s mind was working perfectly.

Just as the three were about to take flight again,

“……”

They saw someone rushing towards them from afar.

“The Tang family?”

Indeed.

The urgent movement was the Tang family’s secret technique, the Churae Shinbeop [a movement technique focused on speed]. Moreover, they could feel small but sharp metallic energy from all over his body. He was hiding throwing weapons all over his body.

The man who arrived in front of the group knelt down.

“Greetings. I am Tang Eul-han of the Sichuan Tang family.”

Gi Cheon-ung’s eyes gleamed.

‘Impressive.’

Of course, he couldn’t be compared to a Supreme Master, and he wasn’t even a Transcendent Master.

However, his insight allowed him to see that this man, Tang Eul-han, had recently made rapid progress in his martial arts. It was a skill developed by applying a new martial art to his body, not through enlightenment.

‘Did he unlock a secret martial art?’

He thought it was understandable, given the war. Even so, it was quite surprising.

Gi Cheon-ung wouldn’t know. The Tang family, which had been severely discriminatory between direct and collateral lines, was changing significantly. If someone had talent and ability, they were given secret martial arts after a thorough examination, regardless of whether they were from the direct or collateral line.

It was the Tang family’s splendid revival after a period of internal strife. Although their numbers had decreased, their internal unity was much stronger, and the inner guards were becoming thoroughly elite.

“What’s the matter?”

“Currently, the enemy leader called the Blood Demon is heading west through southern Sichuan. We know that the three of you seniors have come to capture him.”

Jo Yang-jin smiled.

“Indeed, the information network of the Sichuan overlords is impressive. That’s right. We’ve come to capture him.”

His voice was weak, but his goodwill was evident.

Tang Eul-han spoke with a somewhat solemn voice.

“Currently, the family head and the Sound Demon Ha Eun-gyo are chasing the Blood Demon. Furthermore, four elite units of the main family are supporting them, so they should be able to capture him soon.”

As expected of the Tang family. He thought that even the Tang family wouldn’t know about the small number of people who had entered Sichuan, but their information network was truly remarkable.

Gi Cheon-ung said in a subdued voice.

“Even if they’re enough, the Blood Demon Great Master possesses unimaginable sorcery. We don’t know what other tricks he might use to change the tide of the war. Everyone should go to capture him.”

He seemed to have interpreted Tang Eul-han’s words as meaning they shouldn’t interfere in this situation.

However, Tang Eul-han had not come to say that.

“Of course. Therefore, I would like to make a proposal to the three of you.”

“A proposal?”

“We are well aware that the three of you have reached the pinnacle of martial arts, but we are the ones who know this place, Sichuan, best. Being familiar with the terrain, we can quickly deploy or see through strategies and tactics, and we are confident that our ability to respond to the enemy is superior to others.”

It was a natural pride. Any sect that represented a region would naturally have this level of confidence.

“Therefore, I dare to ask you to go directly to the west with us.”

“The west?”

“If the main family’s head and the Sound Demon can eliminate the target, that would be fortunate. However, as you said, we don’t know what kind of tricks the enemy might use.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s lips curled up.

“You want us to remain as backup forces, just in case?”

“That’s right.”

He was polite but not servile, and confident but not offensive.

It was Tang Eul-han’s greatest ability as a member of the collateral line. He was talented, but his ability to deal with people was better than any member of the direct line.

Gi Cheon-ung looked at Jo Yang-jin.

“What do you think?”

“Sichuan is the Tang family’s territory, there’s no harm in listening to them.”

“Of course, that’s true. However, it seems like your life could end at any moment.”

He meant that it would be better to join forces with the enemy before he died.

Jo Yang-jin smiled.

“Don’t worry. I won’t die.”

“Are you sure?”

“My departed disciples are watching over me. Until I confirm that he is dead, nothing can kill me.”

Having said this much, they couldn’t refuse the Tang family’s proposal.

“Lead the way.”

“Thank you.”

Thus, the three of them headed straight to western Sichuan, following Tang Eul-han.

In the end, their journey to the west was a stroke of great fortune.

From the distant northwest, another dark cloud was gathering, like the cries of demons trying to set Sichuan ablaze once more.

* * *

‘Is it there?’

Unlike Gi Cheon-ung, Chal Geuk-pyeong, and Jo Yang-jin, Tang Gwan, who was constantly receiving information, was able to significantly reduce the distance to the Blood Demon Great Master’s group.

‘He’s using his head.’

Sichuan was a vast basin, so the outskirts of the cities were filled with numerous mountain ranges.

When being chased, it was natural to go through the mountains. However, the mountains of Sichuan were so rugged that even fugitives wouldn’t easily choose that path.

‘Yet, he chose the mountain path. It’s an attempt to avoid our information network as much as possible, and…’

Tang Gwan’s eyes narrowed.

Woo-woo-woong.

The power of the Myriad Return to Origin Divine Art [a powerful internal energy technique] surged, scattering a reddish aura behind him.

It was a supreme divine art that maximized the power of the upper dantian [an energy center in the body]. Tang Gwan’s reddish gaze compressed the distant space in an instant, confirming the paths the enemy had taken.

‘Due to the regional characteristics, the yin energy is bound to be strong. Yet, the density of the yin energy is extremely low.’

A murderous intent appeared on Tang Gwan’s face.

‘So, he’s a demon.’

It was clear that he was trying to recover his demonic energy by absorbing yin energy.

Even if he wasn’t an ordinary demon, he would need a tremendous amount of yin energy to replenish his demonic energy.

‘His body seems to be in much worse shape than I thought.’

Whoosh!

The Churae Shinbeop, pushed to its limit, turned his body into a streak of light.

Unlike him, who was meticulously retracing the path the Blood Demon Great Master had taken, the Tang family’s elite units were moving further north towards the west.

They would never go south. It was a formation that was possible because of that certainty.

How much time had passed?

‘……’

Tang Gwan’s eyes deepened.

‘This is strange.’

At this point, the enemy should have been visible. His intuition told him so, and considering the information he had received, they should have been in sight by now, or at least he should have been able to feel a strange energy.

Yet, the enemy was nowhere to be seen.

‘Were their abilities this outstanding?’

Tang Gwan denied the question.

‘That’s impossible. If they were fast enough to shake us off, they wouldn’t have chosen a path through southern Sichuan. Even if they had completely recovered their demonic energy along the way, it would have been a better decision for them to break into the center of Sichuan and cause chaos.’

Even in his anger, Tang Gwan’s judgment was accurate.

‘Then, this isn’t a matter of martial arts or speed.’

Swoosh.

Tang Gwan stopped his movement and looked around.

‘It’s sorcery. It can’t be explained any other way.’

Even if it was a mediocre sorcery, he would have been able to see through its flaws at a glance with his extreme upper dantian ability.

If this was sorcery, it was truly a top-level one.

Still, Tang Gwan wasn’t afraid. From the beginning, Tang family members had no fear. However, if they let the enemy leader who killed the family’s elder escape before their eyes, that would be quite a frightening thing.

Whoosh!

The power of the Myriad Return to Origin Divine Art began to fully unleash.

Flap!

A red robe made of true energy billowed around his body. It looked as if blood-stained demons were protecting their master.

Flash!

The upper dantian, stabilized by the supreme method, and his insight.

Tang Gwan’s red eyes scanned the surroundings.

“……As I thought.”

Woo-woong! Woo-woong!

There was nothing strange about the flow of air or the movement of natural energy.

“So, they were hiding.”

They had hidden themselves within that naturalness. They had completely concealed themselves so that not even a trace of demonic energy leaked out.

Tang Gwan shouted.

“Did you think you could escape our eyes in this land of Sichuan?!”

Thump!

Tang Gwan shot out with a furious movement.

The place he was aiming for was the center of a huge rocky mountain. He had discovered a spot where two layers of natural energy were overlaid on the steep slope.

It was a location that no one could have discovered unless they had Tang Gwan’s level of sensitivity. It was also unimaginable that someone with extreme demonic energy would hide themselves using natural energy.

Tang Gwan’s left hand moved like lightning.

Flash!

The surging power created a fierce gust of wind.

It was the Tang family’s Three Yang Divine Palm [a powerful palm technique]. His palm force, which was more dense and faster than before, seemed so powerful that no one in Seongcheon could easily withstand it.

Kwaaaang!!

It sounded like two or three firecrackers had exploded.

A huge hole was created in the center of the rocky mountain with the explosion. A cave large enough for two or three people to enter had been formed.

And there, surprisingly, were about a dozen men who were unharmed.

Crunch.

A chilling sound escaped from Tang Gwan’s mouth.

Even though they were so far away, their expressions were clearly visible.

Among the masters who were a chaotic mix of evil and demonic energy, there was an old man with a small but incredibly dense demonic energy.

His hair had turned blood-red, and his bent back had straightened considerably. His complexion was pale, but the terrible demonic energy in his eyes was so toxic that it could easily destroy a person’s mind just by looking at it.

“It’s you!”

At that moment, the Blood Demon Great Master raised his hand forcefully.

At that moment, Tang Gwan’s eyes flashed.

Kwarurururung!!

From the top of the rocky mountain, dozens, hundreds of rocks were falling down at an incredible speed.

The Blood Demon Great Master smiled coldly.

“Let’s see the skills of the biggest and most venomous snake in Sichuan.”

Kwakwakwang!!

The rocks swept over Tang Gwan in an instant.