Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1283

From the moment he launched the first surprise attack and erected the Twelve Walls of the North, Yeon Ho-Jeong had grasped the entire situation.

‘They’re strong. The Martial Alliance forces alone won’t be enough.’

The Divine Flame Order’s Scorching Yang Energy was incredibly powerful.

The shield of the Twelve Walls of the North, formed with the Yellow Dragon Divine Art, had more than half of it evaporated. Since it was a barrage of fire techniques unleashed by hundreds of Divine Flame Order members, even the vast power of the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art struggled to withstand it.

The key was the density and nature of the fire techniques.

‘The Scorching Yang Energy these guys have trained in is similar to the Golden Restraint Purification Art. In fact, their unity is even greater. Even if half of them are wiped out, the power of their martial arts will remain the same.’

They even combined and shared their inner energy. It was truly a bizarre martial art that embraced the very characteristics of fire and flames.

Yeon Ho-Jeong roared,

“Martial Alliance forces, form the Heavenly Defense Qi Formation!”

The Heavenly Defense Qi Formation was a formation designed to block the powerful qi techniques of experts that were difficult to handle with a simple formation.

The formation itself was simple, but it required extreme concentration. Since they had all mastered different inner energy cultivation methods, the coordination of power had to be delicate. If they made a mistake, their inner energies could clash, causing internal injuries.

In other words, it was a perilous qi formation created with high-level combat in mind. It was also a formation that the Martial Alliance had trained in with great effort.

Swish!

The Martial Alliance forces spread out, forming the Heavenly Defense Qi Formation.

“Defense is the priority, not offense! Block their attacks as much as possible!”

The only force they could overwhelm was the cavalry. Having witnessed the power of the Divine Flame Order, he couldn’t rashly order a full-scale attack.

Chiiiiik!

The moment the Twelve Walls of the North completely evaporated.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet pushed off the ground.

Whoosh!

The Yellow Dragon Footwork transformed his body into a bolt of lightning.

By now, Namgoong Seung was wielding his sword against the Crimson Dragon Goma Han, while the Second Flame King Gujo and the Fourth Flame King Cheol Mok-Hu were gritting their teeth, urging on the Divine Flame Order.

And just as Jongli Baek was about to leap into action.

“Wait!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung the Mad Dragon Axe.

The Mad Dragon Art’s Mountain Shattering Strike was unleashed directly towards the side of the Divine Flame Order.

Kwarurung!

It was the Mad Dragon Art, which could be said to have the greatest destructive power in the Central Plains [a region in the story’s world].

With that single axe strike, the bodies of five Divine Flame Order members were shattered into pieces.

‘Five, huh?’

Considering their skill and the power of the Mad Dragon Art, he should have killed at least ten. Yet, it was only five.

‘A special formation, I see.’

The Divine Flame Order’s formation, the Divine Flame Spiritual Connection Formation, was one of the two great formations of the Divine Flame Order, which thoroughly countered external attacks with unified fire energy.

By pouring fire energy into the area where the enemy’s attack was concentrated, they could form a powerful defense. It was as if they were all connected, quickly assessing and responding to situations in various locations.

It was not just a simple defensive formation, but also a formation that could be used for attack, a highly regarded formation study within the Divine Flame Church.

‘I’ll have to handle this myself.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong remained calm.

If he only had to deal with the Divine Flame Order, it would have been relatively easy. But even if he left Cheol Mok-Hu to Jongli Baek, Gujo would still remain.

Moreover, Gujo’s martial arts were no less than Namgoong Seung’s. Facing such an expert and the Divine Flame Order simultaneously was a difficult task even for Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘But I have no choice.’

He couldn’t let the Martial Alliance forces die in vain.

Yeon Ho-Jeong powerfully stomped his foot.

Kwaaaang!

With a resounding stomp, the Yellow Dragon Divine King Qi spread out in all directions.

Hwaaaaaak!

Following Yeon Ho-Jeong’s will, the writhing Yellow Dragon Divine King Qi fiercely boosted the morale of the Martial Alliance forces, and even all the experts.

“Uwaaaah!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, unleashing the burning fighting spirit from his gut with a roar, unleashed the first move of the Mad Dragon Art, the Dance of Slaughter.

Puhbuhbuhbuk!

The heavy Mad Dragon Axe was swung as if it were bending, slicing off the heads of seven Divine Flame Order members.

In terms of raw power, the Mountain Shattering Strike was stronger, but the Dance of Slaughter was a simple yet refined move.

By imbuing the eighty-two-pound Mad Dragon Axe with finesse and swinging it along the flow of qi [internal energy], he was able to cut down even more enemies.

Not relying solely on power, but choosing the method of attack based on the enemy’s response, that was his talent.

His terrifying combat experience and god-like martial prowess combined to make him a death god.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s Mad Dragon Axe moved like a gale.

Puhbuhbuhbuk! Kwaaaang!

The Dance of Slaughter followed by the Mountain Shattering Strike, the Ascending Strike, and the Gale Slash were unleashed in succession, causing a section of the Divine Flame Order to collapse.

He had surpassed the Three Sovereigns and was ready to face the Two Immortals, or even the Martial God Mu Heo Dae-Sa. Unless Mu Heo Dae-Sa was willing to risk his life and draw out his demonic nature, even he would not easily defeat Yeon Ho-Jeong.

In other words, his martial prowess was at a level that could contend for the title of the greatest in the world. Even if the Lord of the Demonic Forest, Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi, were to confront him with his full power, he would not be able to defeat the current Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Victory and defeat were often separated by a hair’s breadth, and a single variable could decide the outcome, but the difference in the levels they had reached was also undeniable.

Having gained an early enlightenment on his way to Shanxi [a province in the story’s world], the current Yeon Ho-Jeong was a martial god, a warrior who had grown into a figure who could truly be called the greatest in the world.

Kwaaaang!

Even with just the basic moves of the Mad Dragon Art, he shook the Divine Flame Order, but their response was not to be underestimated.

In an instant, seventy members were killed, but Yeon Ho-Jeong’s inner energy consumption was also considerable. Moreover, the fire energy that occasionally pierced through the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art’s protective barrier caused small burns all over his body.

Furthermore, these were not just ordinary burns, but burns imbued with inner energy. They were far more dangerous than ordinary burns.

However.

Chiiiik!

The Yellow Dragon Divine King Qi was a divine energy that combined the four divine energies, possessing a higher dimension of quality.

He could either expel the intruding fire energy with the Yellow Dragon Hand Technique or use the Yellow Dragon Fire Energy to make it his own. In other words, these burns had no effect on Yeon Ho-Jeong.

That would be the case if his only opponents were the Divine Flame Order.

Jjeoooooong!!

The power of the crescent blade that suddenly approached and struck down was truly immense.

It was as stealthy as an assassin’s movement, yet the force of the strike was devastating. It was similar to the attack when Yeon Ho-Jeong first threw the Mad Dragon Axe to attack the Divine Flame Order.

“Impressive!”

The Second Flame King Gujo was genuinely impressed.

“I heard that the Black and White Emperor was a martial artist who contended for the title of the greatest in the world at a young age. But I never imagined he would be this strong!”

“Is that so?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong used the elasticity of his upper body to swing the Mad Dragon Axe. It was the Dance of Slaughter.

Jjeoooooong!

Gujo’s body was pushed back a full ten feet.

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed and said,

“Whether you imagined it or not is none of my concern. I just wish you would die.”

“That’s not going to happen!”

A faint madness flickered across Gujo’s grinning face.

It wasn’t that he was truly insane. Gujo was a fighter who was mad about fighting, a warrior who considered fighting to the death with an opponent his lifelong pleasure.

“How could I die when I’ve found such an interesting opponent!”

“You may find it interesting, but I don’t.”

The Mad Dragon Axe and the crescent blade collided head-on.

Kwaaaang!!

The shockwave that erupted caused thirty Divine Flame Order experts to stagger.

At that moment, Cheol Mok-Hu approached from behind Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Gujo’s eyes widened.

“Don’t interfere!”

Cheol Mok-Hu didn’t even pretend to listen. This was war. The side that won, by any means, was the side that was right.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body rotated.

Buaaaaang!!

The Mad Dragon Axe, enveloped in a storm-like force, unleashed a powerful shockwave in all directions.

Puhpuhpuhpung!

Gujo, who had blocked with his crescent blade, created some distance, and Cheol Mok-Hu also unleashed his Scorching Flame Palm to block the Mad Dragon Axe.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attack didn’t end there.

Paang!

The White Dragon Axe, which was hanging at his waist, was drawn like a flash of lightning, flying towards Cheol Mok-Hu’s chest. In that short moment, the Gale Slash of the Mad Dragon Art was unleashed.

Flash!

Taking advantage of the opening, Gujo swung his crescent blade towards Yeon Ho-Jeong’s head.

It was the Divine Flame Church’s ultimate technique, the Blazing Demon Blade. It was a sword technique, but Gujo had modified it to suit his weapon, evolving it into his own unique skill.

No matter what, if there was an opening, he would attack. It was instinct.

Without even looking back, Yeon Ho-Jeong raised the Mad Dragon Axe above his head.

Pung! Jjeoooooong!

The moment Cheol Mok-Hu deflected the White Dragon Axe, Gujo’s crescent blade was deflected by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s Mad Dragon Axe.

Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a heaviness in one corner of his head. The shockwave from the crescent blade was pressing down on his upper body.

Gujo’s eyes wavered.

‘He blocked it with one hand?!’

He had blocked the Blazing Demon Blade with one hand, wielding that heavy weapon. It was an unbelievable display of resilience.

“Hup!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s chest swelled greatly.

Kwaang!

In that same stance, he transferred his force to the weapon, deflecting it.

A storm of force swept through. Shock was etched on Gujo’s face.

His entire body was thrown backward, creating an opening in his upper body. Gujo, who never created openings in any situation, had his defenses easily breached by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s explosive force.

‘Unbelievable! If it were before I mastered the Blazing Demon Art, I would have struggled to last thirty moves!’

The power he had gained by serving the new leader.

Uuuuuuung!

A vicious demonic energy surged from Gujo’s body.

It was a demonic energy based on fire energy. It was a more dangerous and desperate power.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression changed.

At that moment.

Paang!

Cheol Mok-Hu charged towards Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘I guess it can’t be helped.’

He had intended to send him after he had been sufficiently weakened. Even so, he didn’t want to put Jongli Baek in unnecessary danger.

But if the situation was like this, there was no other choice.

Paang!

Moving in a zigzag pattern, Yeon Ho-Jeong aimed for Cheol Mok-Hu’s waist with the Mad Dragon Axe held in both hands.

It was the moment when the Yellow Dragon Footwork was unleashed to its extreme. For Cheol Mok-Hu, it was a strike that he could block but not evade.

Kwaaaang!!

The Mad Dragon Axe, swung with the power of the Mountain Shattering Strike, sent Cheol Mok-Hu’s body flying far away.

Cheol Mok-Hu’s face turned pale. He had used the power of the Scorching Flame Palm to prevent his body from being split in two, but the shockwave had caused internal damage.

And in front of him.

Jongli Baek’s eyes, who had been waiting as if he were about to join the battle, flashed with lightning.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shouted,

“Senior Jongli!!”

“I’ve been waiting!”

Jongli Baek swung the Tyrant Blade towards Cheol Mok-Hu.

Cheol Mok-Hu, terrified, also unleashed the Yama King Eight Fists. He hadn’t even been able to treat his internal injuries, so his power was not at its usual level.

Kwaaaang!

The moment the two experts collided head-on, Gujo brought his crescent blade down on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s head.

Papang! Kwang!

The crescent blade, which had struck the spot where Yeon Ho-Jeong had been, caused a shockwave that was like an earthquake.

‘He’s really fast.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s movements were truly ghost-like. Regardless of the difference in martial arts levels, the speed of experts at this level was usually not that different, but Yeon Ho-Jeong was different.

Kwajik! Buuuuung!!

He immediately pulled out the crescent blade and swung it horizontally, aiming for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s back.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left fist moved like lightning.

Kwang!

Gujo’s eyes wavered.

‘He deflected it with his fist?!’

He had deflected the crescent blade’s axe blade with his fist and was still unharmed.

Not only that.

Pusssseusss.

The Blazing Demon Energy lingering on the axe blade dissipated with a strange sound.

“That martial art, it’s not from the Divine Flame Church.”

Even as he spoke, he didn’t stop his attacks on the Divine Flame Order. The bodies of two Divine Flame Order members were split in half by the Mad Dragon Axe swung vertically.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Did you graft the Demonic Art of the Evil Sound Sect onto it?”

“How do you know that?!”

“So that’s what it was. I thought I smelled something familiar.”

The Yellow Dragon Divine King Qi roared fiercely.

A ghostly murderous intent settled on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

“You made a mistake.”