Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1326

Plot (2)

Even before grabbing his neck, Yeon Ho-Jeong anticipated Sa Mun-hyang’s actions.

‘This is it.’

It wasn’t a preemptive strike read through his Mind Sword [a technique that allows one to perceive and predict an opponent’s actions].

Against an opponent who has enveloped their entire body with the Mind Sword, one can predict their next move by using the mysteries of the Mind Sword. However, Sa Mun-hyang’s current action didn’t use the Mind Sword.

Being able to predict without burning his Divine King Energy meant that he was reading his opponent’s expressions and emotions.

Yeon Ho-Jeong could grasp Sa Mun-hyang’s actions, who had transformed from a demigod back into a human, with a very familiar sense.

And even now.

Shudder.

The strength in Sa Mun-hyang’s hand, which was gripping Yeon Ho-Jeong’s neck, was draining away.

Conversely, the strength in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand, which was clutching Sa Mun-hyang’s neck, increased.

“You bastard…”

Sa Mun-hyang’s eyes blazed with fire.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes also gradually turned red as he met Sa Mun-hyang’s eyes, which were stained with a crimson hue.

“Die!”

A powerful explosion erupted from Sa Mun-hyang’s hand.

Bang!

A powerful reverse field occurred around the two of them, accompanied by a deafening roar.

‘……!’

Sa Mun-hyang’s eyes widened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t die. Even though he had directly placed his hand on his neck and unleashed a strike of maximum power, his head didn’t fly off.

‘Synchronization?!’

It was the synchronization of the Mind Sword.

Since he could read his opponent’s emotions, he could also read what kind of Mind Sword, what kind of strike, and what kind of incantation they would use to exert their power.

Using the same Mind Sword, synchronization, he was in sync with him.

Going beyond nullifying the attack, even his mind and spirit were in sync.

‘I’m going in.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gradually became the same as Sa Mun-hyang’s.

He was penetrating his inner self through Mind Sword synchronization. It was a forced synchronization. It was a method that suddenly came to mind, but he was certain it would work, and his boundless imagination soon rummaged through even Sa Mun-hyang’s absolute power, penetrating his subconscious.

The Mind Sword unification of two arch-enemies standing at the extreme.

The two of them were leaving behind only their shells, plunging into each other’s minds, hearts, pasts, and souls.

* * *

“Hah! Hah!”

Sa Mun-hyang’s face, panting roughly, was filled with extreme frustration and fear.

“Impressive.”

A voice filled with admiration was heard from beyond the shadows.

It was a voice he had heard before. Sa Mun-hyang was puzzled.

No, Yeon Ho-Jeong was puzzled.

‘Who is it?’

Then another voice was heard.

“The Second Generation of the Peerless One… I thought, how could he be better than me, but this is beyond expectations. To think he’s unharmed even against three Blood Generals.”

He was far from unharmed.

Both arms were broken, and one ear was gone. If he hadn’t dodged the last blow, one of his eyes would have been gouged out.

Even in the Interdimensional Cave, he had never been in such a life-threatening situation. He would rather die cleanly than go through such a terrifying fight again.

“I like it. You’re enough to be raised as a demonic insect of our Demonic Clan.”

A hand emerged from the shadows.

A huge, scarred hand.

“Go to sleep. You’ll have a lot to do in the future.”

When he opened his eyes, his hand was covered in blood.

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t feel any disgust at the sight of the hand. Rather, he felt a strange thrill at the sensation of the blood becoming increasingly sticky.

“Indeed, amazing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong instinctively knelt down.

Now was not the time to be intoxicated by blood.

“How old are you?”

“I’ll be forty-seven this year.”

“Hahaha.”

The hearty laughter, filled with satisfaction, was very sinister and grotesquely twisted, unlike the emotion it conveyed.

“In the history of our sect, only a handful have become Blood Kings before sixty. Yet, you’ve grown to the point where you can kill a Blood King before fifty.”

“You flatter me. If it weren’t for the blessing of the Blood God, how could I possibly be in this position.”

“Haha! The blessing of the Blood God… Does that mean you’re a talent chosen by the Blood God?”

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong realized he had made a mistake.

“Please kill me.”

He immediately bowed and slammed his head on the floor.

There were many excuses, such as that wasn’t what he meant, that he was talking about the sect leader, and so on. It was also true.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s straightforward attitude seemed to please Cheon Gwak-ryong.

A person who serves a god, all they have to do is believe, follow, and bow their head. If such a talented person, without making excuses, speaks of death first, he could really become the greatest priest in the history of the Blood Sect.

“It would be foolish to discard a talent like you for just one slip of the tongue. Rise.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong rose.

His head was cracked and bleeding profusely, but he didn’t feel any pain.

“You have enough ability to become the next sect leader’s teacher. However, skill and the ability to teach are separate matters, so stay in the sect for three years and learn a lot as an instructor.”

“It is an honor, Sect Leader.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong bowed once more and raised his head.

Turning his gaze to the sudden presence he felt, he saw two children there.

One seemed to be old enough to be called a boy, and the other was a young child, probably around three or four years old.

“The future of that young child is uncertain. But the firstborn is different.”

Even though they were the same sons, the second son was called a young child, and the eldest son was called the firstborn.

They were children, but not the same children. It was a ruthless sect that would discard even their own flesh and blood to create a single, perfect god.

“The child you will teach in the future is the one and only hope of our sect, the firstborn In-ryong.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong slammed his head on the floor again.

“I humbly greet the seed who will become the god of the new era! Mun-hyang from the Saeum Demonic Clan pays his respects with all his heart!”

Even as he spoke, Yeon Ho-Jeong was astonished.

In-ryong? The firstborn?

The boy spoke with an indifferent face.

“I hope you learn a lot in three years.”

The way the boy, who seemed to be only ten years old, spoke was so mature that it was unimaginable.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes trembled.

Again, darkness descended.

“How is it?”

He was now a full-fledged young man.

Although he was only seventeen, his gaze and dignity were those of a ruler who had reigned for decades.

Yeon Ho-Jeong knew. He knew that Cheon In-ryong was an incredible talent, so much so that he would treat the dignity that didn’t suit his age as ‘nothing’.

“Does it look alright?”

“It’s astonishing.”

His voice trembled involuntarily.

“To fuse existing demonic arts and create a higher level of demonic learning in just three days, there’s no such thing in the entire history of the past and present.”

“I don’t want to hear such empty flattery.”

Cheon In-ryong’s face was cold.

He didn’t sincerely think that the achievements he had made were great. He was seriously contemplating whether there were any flaws in the martial arts he had created, and whether its completion was truly acceptable.

“No matter how I look at it, the twelve-stance thirty-six-form part is bothering me. It’s good as a continuous attack, but it feels like it lacks power. If I were to clash with a martial artist skilled in counterattacks, I would be defeated.”

That was likely true.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong thought that meeting such a martial artist was difficult even once in a lifetime. That was how great the power of the demonic arts created by the seed of god was.

“I need a test. Can you take it?”

“Of course.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong fought with Cheon In-ryong.

It was a strange feeling.

He was Sa Mun-hyang, but he remembered himself as Yeon Ho-Jeong from time to time.

Was that why? Even though he was fighting in the body of his disgusting arch-enemy, this moment of sparring with his young self’s teacher felt so precious.

And that feeling of his disappeared as soon as the fight ended.

“Cough!”

Cheon In-ryong coughed up blood.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was startled.

“Young Sect Leader!”

“Uweeek!”

Cheon In-ryong’s face, after spitting out a bowl of blood, was extremely pale.

He was a genius who could use martial arts that could threaten him, who had reached the extreme realm, even though he had not yet reached the extreme death. He had been fighting with increasing excitement, but in the end, he couldn’t control his emotions and ended up counterattacking properly.

“Young Sect Leader!”

At that moment, Cheon Gwak-ryong appeared.

“In-ryong!”

His face, as he rushed to support Cheon In-ryong, was filled with worry.

And that worry soon turned into anger that surpassed imagination.

“This crazy bastard dares!”

Bang!

Cheon Gwak-ryong’s eyes were filled with madness as he slammed Yeon Ho-Jeong’s head on the floor and repeatedly kicked him.

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t resist. He didn’t have the skill or the position to resist.

He simply accepted the sect leader’s merciless violence, filled with fear.

“Stop it.”

Cheon In-ryong, who had regained his senses, stopped Cheon Gwak-ryong.

“It was a match I insisted on. He is not at fault.”

But Cheon Gwak-ryong didn’t let go of his anger.

“Lock this bastard in the Demonic Prison!”

Was it a month later, or three months later?

Was it a day later, or three days later?

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been collapsed without even opening his eyes, suddenly heard the sound of an iron door opening.

He wriggled, raised his head, and somehow opened his eyes.

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt an unknown emotion.

Someone was standing in front of the open iron door. And behind him was a halo of light.

‘Ah!’

Beautiful. Sublime.

It was as if a true god had descended, filled with a sacred aura. The halo of light, spreading light to every corner of the rotten prison, was astonishingly beautiful.

“Are you alright?”

How could such a stoic voice contain such vibrant emotion?

Yeon Ho-Jeong tried to get up. But he couldn’t get up easily.

Even a master of the extreme realm was tortured with his inner energy sealed. He had spent a long time locked in the prison without eating anything. It was a miracle that he was still alive.

Still, he had to get up.

“Wait a moment.”

Whoooosh.

Powerful demonic energy seeped into his back.

Even though it wasn’t demonic energy that had reached the extreme realm, or even the Blood Demon realm, his whole body was overflowing with vitality. The demonic energy spread throughout his body, like the touch of a mother he had never seen.

Yeon Ho-Jeong slowly raised his body and bowed.

“Young Sect Leader.”

“Father shouldn’t have done this.”

Cheon In-ryong’s face, as he knelt on one knee and placed his hand on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulder, was filled with unspeakable emotion.

“He lives only for the sake of his successor, for the new era. I still remember the smile and warmth my father showed me when I was young.”

“…….”

“But my father has changed. His madness… now no one will be able to stop it.”

“…Young Sect Leader.”

“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have been treated like this because of me.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t stop his tears.

“It’s all my fault. How could I hope to live after laying a hand on the Young Sect Leader’s body.”

“Nonsense.”

He didn’t shout, but it was more powerful than any scolding.

Cheon In-ryong, the god, spoke.

“I am the Young Sect Leader, and you are the Blood King. But both you and I are the same people. We can never become gods.”

“Young Sect Leader?!”

“It will take some time. I’m doing my best to persuade my father, so don’t worry and take care of your body. I’ve told the guards to take special care of you.”

“Young Sect Leader.”

“You haven’t done anything wrong. You’re suffering like this because of a useless Young Sect Leader. I’m truly ashamed.”

Because of his tears, he couldn’t see the god’s appearance.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong made a decision.

‘This person is my master.’

The spy of the Saeum Demonic Clan, the Second Generation of the Peerless One, who was raised as a demonic insect to devour the Blood Sect.

That kind of past was now meaningless.

For Yeon Ho-Jeong, Cheon In-ryong was a god that could not be replaced by anything. For him, he could sacrifice his life, no, even his soul.

That was truly the case.