Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1333

Just as Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist was about to shatter Sa Mun-Hyang’s skull,

‘……!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong, with his extraordinary mental power, managed to detect a subtle killing intent he hadn’t sensed before.

‘What is this?’

In a split second, it felt as if the thick, tough senses that were spread like a spiderweb across a vast area were collapsing from one side.

No, it wasn’t an illusion.

His internal energy was almost depleted, and he couldn’t even draw in external energy. Because he was pouring all his remaining strength into killing Sa Mun-Hyang, his enlightenment, which had briefly touched the realm of a celestial being, was showing a gap.

And someone was approaching, taking advantage of that moment.

A speed that only a master of the Supreme Extremes [a martial arts realm beyond the ordinary] could display.

‘That guy’s subordinate.’

The fist was still moving forward. Sa Mun-Hyang’s hair could be seen writhing terribly slowly.

Even in a world where everything had slowed down, his perception was as fast as lightning.

‘It’s not Jeok Heum. The guy standing next to him, a master of the Four Kings level, is flying in with his life on the line.’

Having seen almost all of Sa Mun-Hyang’s life through the Mind Sword Synchronization [a technique allowing one to see another’s memories and thoughts], he realized that the unknown master was the Law-Protecting Elder of the Evil Sound Cult.

‘Too fast. I don’t have enough power to knock him away and kill Sa Mun-Hyang again.’

However, he couldn’t ignore the Law-Protecting Elder’s attack.

Right now, Yeon Ho-Jeong was in a situation where even moving was a miracle. Because his mind was dominating his body, he was able to gather the strength to deliver the final blow.

In other words, there were no second chances.

‘If I attack the Law-Protecting Elder, Sa Mun-Hyang will counterattack. If I kill Sa Mun-Hyang, I will die too. The Law-Protecting Elder has at least that much power.’

An ordinary master would explode upon entering this energy net. They wouldn’t be able to withstand the killing intent of the Divine King’s Art [a powerful martial arts technique].

Even a supreme master would only be able to approach halfway. But a master of the Supreme Extremes, an attack from a master of the Supreme Extremes, would surely reach him.

Especially since it was an attack launched with their life on the line.

A look of conflict flickered across Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

‘This isn’t easy.’

But in moments like these, one shouldn’t dwell on their worries for too long.

‘There’s no point in dying with him.’

He had to live.

If it were a situation where he could die with the last person of the Three Teachings [a major faction in the martial arts world], maybe, but there were still many remnants of the Three Teachings and the Evil Sound Cult left. Killing just Sa Mun-Hyang wouldn’t be the end of it.

Decisively, Yeon Ho-Jeong wanted to live.

He didn’t deny that he had a strong desire for life. He had always lived assuming the worst-case scenario, but he was still human. He couldn’t die here.

He had gone from a patriot to a military general.

Whoosh!

The flow of time was gradually speeding up.

Sa Mun-Hyang was still unable to move, but the speed at which his hair fluttered in the wind was gradually increasing. At the same time, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist was already more than halfway to the top of Sa Mun-Hyang’s head.

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s will spread in all directions.

That will was no different from the speed at which real lightning moved. It was truly a moment. It was the transmission of pure will, not telepathy, a Mind Sword’s telepathy technique used with the heated Divine King’s energy.

And.

The flow of time returned to normal.

Han Jung-Myung’s eyes widened.

“My Lord!!”

Bang! Crash! Boom!

With a merciless explosion, Yeon Ho-Jeong was pushed back more than ten yards.

“Kuhhh…….”

The Law-Protecting Elder, who had approached Sa Mun-Hyang, had his left arm and leg completely crushed. It was an irreparable serious injury, and even his internal injuries were severe.

That wasn’t all.

“Cough!”

Sa Mun-Hyang was also spitting blood, having been blown back three yards.

Yeon Ho-Jeong hadn’t targeted either of them definitively. Instead, the moment the Law-Protecting Elder came within range, he spread the destructive power of his absolute fist widely, pouring it out on both of them.

The power would be halved, but he thought he could definitely kill one of them. That was Yeon Ho-Jeong’s choice.

It would have been better if Sa Mun-Hyang had died, but unfortunately, it seemed that the heavens didn’t think it was time to take the leader of the Evil Sound Cult yet.

“Uweeek!”

Sa Mun-Hyang vomited blood several times. The black blood looked like he was spitting out mud.

“C-Cult Leader.”

The Law-Protecting Elder, who had collapsed on the spot, began to lose his vitality.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s final blow was that powerful. It was an attack that could kill Sa Mun-Hyang, so if it had hit the Law-Protecting Elder directly, his body would have disappeared without a trace.

“Are you alright!”

“Cough! Uweeek!”

Sa Mun-Hyang, who had vomited blood several times, trembled and turned his head.

“Protect the Lord!”

The Honor Guard rushed to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s side, who had been blown away.

Yeon Ho-Jeong hadn’t died either. However, the shockwave caused by the collision with the Law-Protecting Elder’s attack had made his condition the worst it could be.

Killing intent flickered in Sa Mun-Hyang’s eyes.

‘I’ll kill him!’

If he didn’t kill him now, he didn’t know when he would be able to kill him again.

Decisively, that guy reminded him of the Young Cult Leader. He had to kill that guy to move forward. His instincts were whispering that to him.

‘I can kill him now!’

Just as Sa Mun-Hyang was about to get up.

Flash!!

A brilliant light burst from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes as he raised his head.

In that instant, Sa Mun-Hyang felt his heart drop. The shock was so great that it felt like his heart had actually fallen out.

“Keok!”

Blood flowed from Sa Mun-Hyang’s eyes as he turned his head.

Just by making eye contact, his heart meridians were damaged, and the tiny blood vessels in his eyes burst.

It was the extreme Mind Imprint Injury [a technique that damages the mind and body through mental power]. It was a move possible because Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mental power was completely overwhelming Sa Mun-Hyang, even before the Mind Sword.

Sa Mun-Hyang clenched his teeth with his eyes closed.

“Kill those guys!”

Even in the midst of all that, the fact that he was giving such an order meant that Sa Mun-Hyang’s mental power had also reached the realm of a superhuman.

In such cases where the difference in mental power is so extreme, one should struggle to get out of that place. Sa Mun-Hyang had suppressed even that fear.

“B-But, Cult Leader.”

The Law-Protecting Elder couldn’t carry out that order.

He had become incapacitated in a single blow. One of his limbs was crushed, and he couldn’t even move.

Sa Mun-Hyang opened his eyes again. The world looked red because of the blood tears.

“It’s the Cult Leader’s order! Kill that guy right now……!”

At that moment, Sa Mun-Hyang’s eyes flashed.

‘What is this?!’

What did he see on the Law-Protecting Elder’s face?

‘……I see.’

Sa Mun-Hyang glanced at Jeok Heum and forced himself to get up.

“I’m leaving.”

He was going to leave his subordinate, whose life was in danger, and go alone. In the meantime, his voice and even his hands were trembling slightly.

Fear dominated his body. He was clearly not the leader type.

However, the Law-Protecting Elder’s expression was bright.

“It was an honor to save the Cult Leader’s life.”

Sa Mun-Hyang didn’t answer. He just turned his back in a hurry and used his movement technique towards Jeok Heum.

The Law-Protecting Elder, who was watching the scene with a smile, slowly closed his eyes. It was a hopeless situation, and he had given up on everything.

“My Lord! Are you alright? My Lord!”

“……I’m fine.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Sa Mun-Hyang, who was quickly moving away.

His vision was blurry, but Sa Mun-Hyang’s back was clearly visible.

‘Is he terrified?’

Due to extreme energy consumption and the absence of the Mind Sword due to the annihilation of his military order, Sa Mun-Hyang had become incredibly weak. Even if he were to replenish his strength, he wouldn’t be able to show the same power as today.

That’s right. That would be the case for the current Sa Mun-Hyang.

‘That guy has a purpose.’

The Mind Sword Synchronization was over, but he could read Sa Mun-Hyang’s thoughts.

Yeon Ho-Jeong gritted his teeth.

“Honor Guard Captain. Dark Guard Captain.”

“Yes, My Lord!”

“That…….”

He wanted to give an order, but the words wouldn’t come out.

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t know if that was fortunate or unfortunate. He had to strike those guys right away to eliminate future threats, but if he did, he couldn’t guarantee the lives of the Honor Guard and the Dark Guard.

However, letting those guys go like that was also unacceptable. Rather, because they had been thoroughly defeated by him, their next attack would be more meticulous and sharp.

‘Get a grip!’

The Divine King’s energy, which had been decreasing, pulsed again due to his will.

‘If I have the will, it won’t be difficult to move. If I can kill them, I have to kill them now. Move!’

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was about to stand up by hitting the ground with his fist, suddenly felt that the movement of the Divine King’s energy was becoming strange.

‘What is this?!’

An unknown force was felt from somewhere, whether it was north or west.

Even with his upper dantian [an energy center in the body] so devastated, the Divine King’s energy was clearly indicating the presence of those who had transcended the human body. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s level was that great.

‘Sama Gong? The Evil Sound Cult!’

The direction was Hebei.

For them to be coming from Hebei to Shandong meant that the masters of the Evil Sound Cult, who had left the Shanxi war, had arrived here.

That wasn’t all.

‘Gang Ryang, Jin Yang. Where are you…… Huh?’

He couldn’t feel Gang Ryang and Jin Yang. The only presences that the devastated Divine King’s energy could pick up were those of the masters of the Supreme Extremes.

That’s why Yeon Ho-Jeong was surprised.

‘Ten Thousand Streams Return to One Divine Art [a powerful martial arts technique]? Clan Leader Tang!’

That’s right.

Behind the two masters of the Evil Sound Cult, he could feel Tang Gwan’s energy. An energy he wanted to forget but couldn’t, an energy full of anger and impatience, had reached a different level than when he had seen it before.

‘If Clan Leader Tang has come…… I can at least rest easy…….’

The moment he felt relieved, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body collapsed.

Even the mental power that had reached the realm of a divine being had its limits. He had briefly touched a level similar to his master from three hundred years ago, but his body was still that of a human.

Moreover, he had only reached his master’s level for a very short time. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, he was still human.

‘No…….’

Eventually, Yeon Ho-Jeong lost consciousness.

Han Jung-Myung’s eyes were bloodshot.

‘My Lord!’

He had not only displayed divine martial prowess and fought a life-or-death battle with the enemy’s last leader, but he had also made the enemy flee in terror.

It was truly a proud moment, but Han Jung-Myung couldn’t just feel moved.

‘It’s dangerous!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body, which had looked so firm and strong, had noticeably withered. It was as if he had used up all the strength in his body.

In fact, even his vitality was wavering, so the situation was very bad.

“Honor Guard, clear the way! The Lord is in danger! Dark Guard, search for the nearest physician!”

With that, the Honor Guard took Yeon Ho-Jeong and moved west. They hadn’t annihilated the enemy, but their priority was the safety of their Lord.

The long and desperate battle of the monstrous beings.

The heavens, which had not yet allowed the results, were looking down on the world with indifferent eyes, as always.

* * *

“Chief! Something terrible has happened!”

“What is it now?!”

“The Black Emperor Lord and the Evil Sound Cult Leader have retreated! It seems to be the result of a mutual loss!”

Ga Deuk-Sang gritted his teeth.

Regardless of his worry, admiration, and gratitude towards Yeon Ho-Jeong, he felt that the situation hadn’t improved at all.

“Contact the disciples! Tell them to gather in Shandong as quickly as possible! And you guys, go to that village behind that hill!”

“There’s something else to report!”

“What is it?”

“Two masters of the Supreme Extremes level who have mastered the Sama Gong [a martial arts technique] and five hundred soldiers have entered Shandong!”

“……What?!”

“And Clan Leader Tang and some of the Moyong Clan’s forces are chasing after them!”

What on earth was going on?

After pondering for a moment, Ga Deuk-Sang shouted.

“I’m going to see the Black Emperor Lord! Take care of the people and protect the area!”