Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1286

Gi Cheon-Woong’s face contorted.

‘That won’t do!’

‘Won’t do, my foot!’

Kwaaang!

Even with the Azure Flame Divine Art, an explosion erupted.

In that instant, Gi Cheon-Woong’s eyes wavered. He felt a chilling sensation from the immense heat behind him.

‘Danger!’

Flash! Krrrruuuumble!!

The fist that struck the ground shattered and melted the earth for five yards around.

Instinctively moving to the side, Gi Cheon-Woong dodged the Azure Dragon White Fist, but white smoke billowed from his body.

This meant that he hadn’t even had time to react to the sudden release of the Azure Flame Divine Art, which had been absorbing the heat. Even if he had activated the Azure Flame Divine Art, he wouldn’t have been able to absorb the heat that Gi Woo-Hwan was now emitting.

‘Flame Fire Demon God!’

Gi Cheon-Woong’s cheek twitched.

‘How did he get that far?!’

The secret technique of the Azure Flame Divine Art, the Flame Fire Demon God.

It was a technique that condensed the Azure Flame Divine Energy gathered around the fire point [a specific point in the body used in cultivation] to its limit and then exploded it. The exploded Azure Flame Divine Energy was a double-edged sword that pushed internal energy and physical abilities to their limits.

Though a double-edged sword, it was a technique that doubled movement, strength, and reaction speed. By uniting the Azure Flame Divine Art with the fire point, the body gained a strength close to the Vajra Body [a body as hard as diamond, a concept in Buddhist martial arts], and the true energy that filled the entire body allowed for a moment of invincibility.

When Gi Cheon-Woong killed the young leader of the Blood Madness Sect and the subordinates of the Heavenly Fire Dragon in Sichuan, he had used a slightly opened version of the Flame Fire Demon God. If he had fully opened the Flame Fire Demon God at that time, he could have killed them all, but he himself would have been unable to stop the rampaging energy and would have exploded.

Gi Woo-Hwan had mastered that very secret technique.

Moreover, he was attacking him with a full opening, not a slight one.

Although there was a difference in internal energy, Gi Cheon-Woong would not be able to easily withstand Gi Woo-Hwan’s martial arts, which had doubled in all abilities.

However, Gi Cheon-Woong’s urgency was not because he was in danger.

‘Stop it! That technique is too early for you! No, it’s a secret art that you shouldn’t use in the first place!’

‘Shut up!’

Whoosh!

It was impossible to tell whether the movement came first or the heat approached first.

The moment he kicked off the ground, he was already right in front of him. An unbelievable speed, considering Gi Cheon-Woong’s level, Gi Woo-Hwan’s speed was truly transcendent.

Kwa kwa kwa kwang!!

The explosions in the air were far more powerful than the energy techniques the two exchanged.

It was faster than the speed of sound. The shockwaves alone tore and burst parts of Gi Cheon-Woong’s body. If he hadn’t instantly deployed the Azure Flame Divine Art, his entire body might have exploded and died.

But even more terrifying than that was Gi Woo-Hwan’s attack.

The punching fist, the retracting hand, the extending foot, the twisting upper body.

That series of movements seemed to repeat dozens of times in an instant. Before he knew it, the overflowing blue flames were no longer visible.

Kwa kwang! Puuuuung!

Gi Cheon-Woong coughed up blood and flew backward.

It was an unbelievable power. If it hadn’t been for the instantaneous exchange of the Azure Flame Divine Art and the Flame Imprint Art, either his upper dantian [energy center in the body] would have gone berserk or his body would have been blown away, one of the two results would have occurred.

‘I’m going to die like this.’

Me and my son.

But the urgent emotions had already cooled down.

It was instinct. The will not to be helplessly defeated like this, the thought that he had to maintain his composure to resolve this situation, calmed his mind.

‘Prediction is impossible. It’s not a level that can be reacted to with experience.’

It was natural.

If not properly controlled, it would eventually lead to self-destruction, but until self-destruction, the Flame Fire Demon God was a secret technique that boasted invincible power. Moreover, if it was the Flame Fire Demon God that had been unified with the fire point that had devoured countless followers and increased its density, it was impossible for the current Gi Cheon-Woong to withstand it.

‘It’s hard to withstand with the Flame Imprint Art. Then…’

At that moment, Gi Cheon-Woong thought of Tak Mu-Ja’s martial arts.

When he was in the imperial palace, he had talked quite a bit with Tak Mu-Ja. Tak Mu-Ja also couldn’t use proper martial arts because of his upper dantian, but he was able to demonstrate the Tai Chi Fist, which was full of the principles of martial arts.

In addition, since Yeon Ho-Jeong had also learned Tai Chi Fist from the head of the Wudang Sect, he had deeply examined the martial arts that the two of them practiced.

‘The Wudang’s Circle-Movement-Opposite-Form Method, and the Wudang’s Tai Chi Fist.’

He had a deep understanding of Taoist martial arts, to the point that he had referred to Taoist mind techniques when creating the Azure Flame Divine Art.

Although he had not thought of using it as a secret technique, the Tai Chi Fist of Yeon Ho-Jeong and Tak Mu-Ja was vivid in his memory. Since he had also learned the Circle-Movement-Opposite-Form Method, he was able to naturally acquire the principles of Wudang martial arts.

‘Instead of receiving it, I’ll let it flow.’

Paaaaaang!

The sound meant that he had already moved.

Gi Cheon-Woong was using Tai Chi Fist as if he were possessed. He skipped the starting stance and immediately went into the White Crane Spreads Its Wings and the Brush Knee Twist Step.

Kwaang!

Gi Cheon-Woong’s body shook greatly.

It was a vision that had reached a dizzying height even in the realm of Heavenly Transformation. It was a level where he could master deep principles after seeing them a few times.

However, even that Tai Chi Fist was not properly implemented when used in a life-or-death battle. Moreover, it was a fight against a monster with absolute speed and power.

‘Again.’

Gi Cheon-Woong did not waver.

Having experienced the abnormality of the upper dantian, he had thoroughly honed his lower and middle dantians. He believed that the three dantians corresponded to each other, so if he diligently trained the two dantians, the upper dantian could also be stabilized.

Thanks to that, once he concentrated, he could maintain a state close to equanimity.

‘Hoo.’

A light exhale.

He maintained the basic essentials of Tai Chi Fist, such as containing the chest and pulling the back, and keeping the tailbone straight, and completed it with the final sinking of energy into the dantian.

It was a circulating circle. Gi Cheon-Woong’s movements as he unfolded the Tai Chi Fist, neither slow nor fast, were even majestic.

But to Gi Woo-Hwan, that appearance was ridiculous. Suddenly dancing in the midst of a life-or-death battle? Moreover, with such slow and relaxed movements.

‘How pathetic!’

Kwaang!

Gi Woo-Hwan charged again.

Before he knew it, his skin was cracking all over. Blue flames overflowed from the cracks in his skin.

He wasn’t even aware of it.

‘Your era is long over.’

Gi Cheon-Woong, magnified in his vision.

His two feet, planted firmly on the hot earth, and his legs, spread wide to the left and right, looked as stable as if they were supporting the heavens.

‘I will kill you and reign as the one and only Fire God in all the world!’

Gi Woo-Hwan’s fist opened and turned into a hand sword. He intended to pierce Gi Cheon-Woong’s chest with a narrow surface area.

‘It’s over!’

That was when it happened.

‘……?!’

Gi Woo-Hwan’s eyes widened.

Suddenly, the world turned upside down. It was before he had even entered Gi Cheon-Woong’s range.

‘What?!’

Kwa kwa kwa kwang!!

His body, rotating as it moved forward, smashed the ground like crazy.

Gi Cheon-Woong’s half-opened eyes shone.

But that was all. He relentlessly unleashed the stances of Tai Chi Fist.

The stances of Tai Chi Fist, which were originally supposed to be unfolded slowly, became faster and faster. But even as they became faster, they did not lose their smoothness. Rather, the movements of the hands drawing curves and the legs moving forward and folding seemed much smoother and more natural than the existing Tai Chi Fist.

‘I see.’

The stances of Tai Chi Fist were disappearing one by one.

‘This is it.’

It was the Tai Chi Fist that he had suddenly realized and unfolded in a life-or-death battle.

If he hadn’t properly embodied it, he would have died immediately. Yet, he unfolded the Tai Chi Fist.

It was an action that an experienced fighter would never have done. Even if you practice hundreds of stances, you use less than ten in actual combat. In the face of the harshness and variables of actual combat, nothing other than simple and familiar movements is needed.

‘It’s the Circle-Movement-Opposite-Form Method.’

This was also thanks to the Circle-Movement-Opposite-Form Method. The Circle-Movement-Opposite-Form Method had called forth the Tai Chi Fist.

The Divine Flame Sect’s Scorching Yang Art could not defeat the current Gi Woo-Hwan. But Tai Chi Fist could.

Even if he couldn’t win, he could respond. He could not die.

The Tai Chi Fist that he used according to that instinct had already melted into the Divine Flame Sect’s greatest martial god, compressing numerous stances into just three.

‘Kuaaaaak!’

Fwaaaak!

The Azure Flame Divine Art, burning even more fiercely due to anger.

Kwang!

Gi Woo-Hwan, who flew like a shot, was already a ball of fire.

Gi Cheon-Woong closed his eyes and drew a circle with both hands.

In an instant, the world turned upside down. The extremely fierce heat melted into his thoughts and movements, turning into the softest firepower in the world.

Kwa kwa kwang!

Gi Woo-Hwan rolled on the ground again.

Since his speed was extraordinary, the impact of crashing was also enormous. Although his body, which was of the Flame Fire Demon God, did not break anywhere, his insides were shaken and the opened fire point was shaking wildly.

‘Keheok!’

Gi Woo-Hwan coughed up blood.

The blood that spurted out of his mouth immediately evaporated and disappeared.

‘Stop it.’

Gi Cheon-Woong had already released his stance and was standing.

Even that was natural and harmonious. The Tai Chi Fist that he had embodied with a moment’s realization had even changed his stance.

It was the natural state that only those who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts could show. It was not simply a natural state that seemed to have many flaws, but an ultimate natural state where even the energy melted in as if it was completely assimilated with the surrounding environment.

‘Release the incantation of the Flame Fire Demon God. Then you can live.’

‘Shut up!’

Gi Woo-Hwan charged once more.

Before he even kicked off the ground, Gi Cheon-Woong’s left hand drew a circle in the air.

Kwadudududuk!!

Gi Woo-Hwan’s body, which had fallen over in a bizarre way as if his spine had been folded in half, repeatedly flickered with heat.

Gi Cheon-Woong shouted in a stern voice.

‘The Flame Fire Demon God is a technique that annihilates the enemy with its absolute power! But because the power is excessive, ten years of training is needed to properly control it! For you now, it’s just a demonic art that eats away at your bones and flesh!’

The reason why Gi Woo-Hwan kept charging and charging was precisely there.

The power gained from the Flame Fire Demon God was extremely powerful. Because he could not properly control that overflowing power, he kept charging and charging.

A person who properly uses the Flame Fire Demon God never moves so violently. They strike with the necessary amount of power at the optimal moment and with the best speed. Only then could it be said that they had properly mastered the Flame Fire Demon God.

‘The Azure Flame Divine Art is not right for you! No, it’s a martial art that’s not right for anyone! How did you pick up and learn a martial art that even I have half abandoned!’

‘Ughhh.’

‘Release your energy and close your fire point right now! Or you’ll really die!’

Chiiiiik!

The ground within a radius of three yards around Gi Woo-Hwan melted.

That area gradually widened. The uncontrolled heat was gradually being released, turning the area into a realm of death.

Gi Cheon-Woong gritted his teeth.

‘You stupid fool!!’

Fwaaak!

Opening his fire point, he pulled up the Azure Flame Divine Art and rushed towards Gi Woo-Hwan.

That was when it happened.

Puk!

Gi Cheon-Woong’s eyes wavered.

Gi Woo-Hwan’s hand, which had flown into his arms before he knew it, pierced into his abdomen.

‘……Cough!’

Gi Woo-Hwan coughed up blood.

The blood no longer evaporated and soaked Gi Cheon-Woong’s shoulder.

Gi Cheon-Woong, who was quietly looking down at Gi Woo-Hwan’s back, closed his eyes.

‘Woo-Hwan.’

‘I am……’

‘……’

‘I, only I, am the leader.’

Gi Woo-Hwan bit Gi Cheon-Woong’s shoulder.

He seemed to have no more strength, and he couldn’t even pierce the skin. Yet, he kept wriggling. It was as if he was about to attack Gi Cheon-Woong at any moment.

Gi Cheon-Woong opened his eyes again.

His eyes were filled with emptiness.

Slowly, his hand moved towards the crown of Gi Woo-Hwan’s head.

Tueo-eong!!

A soft penetrating energy pierced through Gi Woo-Hwan’s Baihui point [the crown of the head, a vital point in traditional medicine].