Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1334

1335. The Blooming of the Celestial Eye (1)

“Are you alright?”

While Jeok Heum would answer anything Sa Mun-Hyang asked and follow any of his orders, it was rare for him to ask if he was alright first.

Sa Mun-Hyang’s condition was that bad. He looked fine on the outside, but his internal injuries were not healed, and his energy consumption was extreme. He was on the verge of mental collapse due to deserting his post.

Sa Mun-Hyang nodded silently.

Jeok Heum’s eyes narrowed.

‘He’s changed.’

What was visible on Sa Mun-Hyang’s face was clear emotion.

A man who had been endlessly indifferent and stingy with emotions other than pleasure and enjoyment was now showing all sorts of emotions on his face.

The biggest of them was, of course, ‘fear.’

‘For this man to show such a side of himself.’

Jeok Heum unconsciously looked back.

They were already far away, but he could sense the presence of the Black Emperor Castle warriors. His deep, ocean-like energy made it possible.

‘Black Emperor Lord, Yeon Ho-Jeong.’

The leader of the Black Path Alliance of this era, a genius who had achieved a martial prowess that rivaled the best in the world before the age of thirty.

In fact, the word genius was not enough to describe him. The monster, who was already strong, had grown terrifyingly through his fight with Sa Mun-Hyang, who was called a wicked god, and had developed into a divine powerhouse that could be discussed throughout history.

‘As long as such a person exists, expanding our influence will be impossible.’

Jeok Heum knew about the Yellow Dragon Emperor. And how much Sa Mun-Hyang hated the Yellow Dragon Emperor.

The hatred was as immense as his loyalty and affection.

‘If that man is truly a disciple of the Yellow Dragon Emperor, then the Yellow Dragon Emperor’s martial arts must be greater than the Five Colors Hellish Art.’

In Jeok Heum’s eyes, which had always been filled with indifference, a terrifying greed flickered.

‘I want it.’

It was then.

“I’m exhausted.”

“Shall we rest for a moment?”

“Yes.”

As they climbed the foothills of Mount Tai, he felt the mountain’s energy becoming distorted.

The Essence Gathering Demonic Formation [a technique to gather and amplify energy] was working properly. No, considering the time they had fought, it was gathering power at an unimaginable speed.

“Hoo…”

Sa Mun-Hyang, who had sat down, gasped for breath.

He, who had been a powerhouse capable of killing even a celestial being, was showing a terribly human side. Due to the excessive use of his divine techniques, his internal injuries had worsened, and his face had turned blue.

His energy was unstable, and his face, with dried blood tears, was as gruesome as if it had been tattooed. His rough breathing carried the scent of death.

Jeok Heum’s hand twitched.

‘Is now the chance?’

Sa Mun-Hyang’s physical condition was at its worst. He seemed unable to handle even a single warrior of the Supreme Yin level, let alone display his peak skills.

‘This man’s power is limitless. He may be in this state now, but he will surely regain his former abilities soon.’

Jeok Heum knew Sa Mun-Hyang better than anyone else. He was the one who had taught Sa Mun-Hyang more than eighty percent of his knowledge.

There was only one reason.

‘If not now, I might be devoured soon.’

Jeok Heum knew that Sa Mun-Hyang was after his body.

Although he had not taught him about it, Jeok Heum was born with an exceptional intellect. He had been able to understand the Soul Separation Grand Art, the Transformation, and the Soul Subjugation, which Sa Mun-Hyang had not told him about, through long study.

From that, Jeok Heum realized one very important fact.

‘If you can take everything from me, I can also take everything from you.’

That was the great thing about Sa Mun-Hyang.

For hundreds of years, he had not shown any greed to his sacrifices. He thoroughly managed himself and made his opponents follow him.

Maybe it was possible for about two generations. If luck was on his side, it might be possible for three generations.

However, Sa Mun-Hyang had done such a thing over several generations, to dozens of people. It was a testament to how thorough he was, and furthermore, how much of a monster he was, born with a great ability to manipulate minds.

‘But you won’t know. That I have already laid the groundwork for a reversal.’

The only one who possessed a mind-manipulating ability comparable to Sa Mun-Hyang, the Immeasurable One, was Jeok Heum.

He glanced at the summit of Mount Tai.

‘It’s progressing well. It will be completed in less than half a day.’

The energy of the Fire Jade had entered. That was why the completion was faster than expected.

‘It would be better to get this man in my hands before the Reverse Heaven Divine Pill is created.’

At that moment, Sa Mun-Hyang spoke.

“Jeok Heum.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

“I saw the heart of that Yeon Ho-Jeong.”

Jeok Heum’s eyes flashed.

‘Is he talking about Mind Sword Synchronization?’

He had reached the realm of extreme death through a technique, not martial arts. Although he had not mastered the Mind Sword, he knew that two people could look into each other’s hearts through Mind Sword Synchronization [a technique that allows two people to share thoughts and feelings].

Sa Mun-Hyang said in a trembling voice.

“That man is a disciple of Cheon In-Ryong, the last young leader of the Blood Cult. He is a direct disciple of the Yellow Dragon Emperor.”

“Yes.”

“The one most suitable to be the sole god of the Blood Cult betrayed the Blood Cult and burned us. I remember him from that time. He was a man who truly possessed a power that was nothing short of invincible.”

“……”

“That man is also like the young leader. No…”

“……”

“He’s more terrifying than the young leader.”

“……!”

“With a talent that doesn’t even reach the young leader’s heels, he has already reached the same level as me. There’s no need for words like being chosen by the heavens or destined by fate.”

Sa Mun-Hyang, who was trembling all over, looked up at the sky and gasped for breath.

The face of the wicked god who had tried to put the heavens under his feet was gone, and there was ‘human Sa Mun-Hyang,’ who had come to fear even the sky.

“That man reached the ranks of the celestial beings with nothing but a fanatical obsession that he had to.”

“……”

“……Hahaha.”

Sa Mun-Hyang laughed while trembling.

“Kuhahaha!”

“……”

“Isn’t it interesting? Desire and obsession are the essence of evil. If that man had been born in the Blood Cult, he might have become a true demon god surpassing the young leader.”

Many had helped him grow, but without his own desires and obsessions, he would never have reached his current level.

That was why Sa Mun-Hyang was not trying to evaluate Yeon Ho-Jeong with things like the will of heaven or fate. If the will of heaven and fate were truly with him, that too would be a result that Yeon Ho-Jeong had created himself.

‘I’ve never heard such high praise before.’

To Sa Mun-Hyang, any genius in the world was just a tempting prey and a source of amusement. But he was giving unprecedented praise to a man named Yeon Ho-Jeong.

At that moment, Jeok Heum felt a strange emotion rising.

It was jealousy. For Jeok Heum, who hated Sa Mun-Hyang but knew how great of an achievement he had accomplished, the unprecedented high praise for Yeon Ho-Jeong was not easy to accept.

Jeok Heum hid his feelings and said,

“Please rest well.”

Sa Mun-Hyang shook his head. His hand, which he slowly raised, was still trembling, as if his fear had not disappeared.

“I can’t rest.”

“……”

“I’ve never felt such fear even with the young leader. I was someone who feared nothing in the world. But I was overwhelmed by him. I’m feeling fear.”

“……”

“I even feel like going back to Yeong-Eum Mountain right now.”

Jeok Heum felt a surge of annoyance.

It was his right to say weak things, but he hated hearing him say things that didn’t suit him. If he wanted to, he should just go back to Yeong-Eum Mountain right now, he wanted to snap.

But Jeok Heum held back.

He held back and held back again.

How long had he endured to escape from that man’s grasp, and then tried to devour him and become the god of a new era? He couldn’t let his efforts go to waste just because he was annoyed.

However, he couldn’t even look down at Sa Mun-Hyang. He felt like he would really start cursing.

Jeok Heum turned his head and looked at the distant land.

And at that moment.

Sa Mun-Hyang’s eyes, which had been blankly staring at the sky, slowly moved to Jeok Heum.

“……”

A little time passed.

‘……?’

Jeok Heum felt a little sweat forming on his palms.

‘What is it?’

For some reason, his back was tingling.

He felt like it was hard to stand still. Even though his stamina and energy were still fine.

It was as if he wanted to get out of this place. The back of his ears was getting hot. His throat felt tight, and he felt like he wanted to cough.

Suddenly, Jeok Heum realized.

‘Tension?’

That’s right. He was tense.

To be precise, his body, not his consciousness, was tense.

It was similar to when he had first met Sa Mun-Hyang after escaping from the Immeasurable Cave. The feeling of thousands of demons piercing his body, the desire to get out of this situation somehow, surged up.

‘Why……?’

At that moment, a hot voice was heard from his neck.

“Jeok Heum.”

Instantly, goosebumps rose all over his body.

When was it? He hadn’t even heard the sound of movement, but Sa Mun-Hyang was already standing behind him.

Sa Mun-Hyang’s voice was low and calm. There was no trace of the fear he had shown so far.

Jeok Heum unconsciously swallowed.

The hot breath he felt on his neck made him tense.

“……Speak.”

“Your voice is trembling.”

“……!”

“While doing Mind Sword Synchronization with that man, I was able to see his past.”

“……”

“That man has met me in the past. It’s because he’s a man who has gone back in time through the miracle of the Blood Jade.”

“……!!”

“I was too busy fighting, but as I rested and calmed my mind, one strange thing came to mind.”

Jeok Heum swallowed again.

“What is it?”

“The me that that man fought in the past was weaker than I am now. Even though it was a more distant era.”

“……”

“Why was that?”

Jeok Heum slowly clenched his fist.

His hand felt like it would tremble if he didn’t put strength into it. Just like Sa Mun-Hyang.

“I don’t know.”

“Is that so?”

“……Yes.”

“You really don’t know?”

“I have no choice but to not know. Because I didn’t do Mind Sword Synchronization.”

“That’s true.”

There seemed to be a faint smile at the end of his voice.

It felt like the most venomous snake in the world had licked his neck with its tongue. Jeok Heum controlled his body with superhuman patience.

But that was only for a moment.

When a huge hand touched his shoulder, Jeok Heum flinched.

“In my life, you are the first talent better than me. To be precise, you are the only one I’ve ever seen who was born with a talent comparable to mine.”

“……”

“You are like me. Terribly so.”

“……”

“If, just if, what if I were you?”

“……!”

“The guys who got into my head were so rampant, but what if you, who were born with a much smarter and superior talent than them……?”

At that moment, Jeok Heum moved.

Whack! Kwaaang!

The extreme death blade of his hand, swung with all his might in a rotation, caused an explosion in front of Sa Mun-Hyang’s neck.

Jeok Heum’s eyes widened.

His wrist was already grabbed. Sa Mun-Hyang was staring at him with snake-like, eerie eyes.

“As expected, it’s good.”

Blood was dripping from Sa Mun-Hyang’s eyes, nose, and mouth. He had suffered internal injuries from blocking the extreme death blade.

But he was not dead.

And seeing him like that, Jeok Heum felt his whole body freeze.

“I’ve created a wonderful piece. To give this much of an impact with just a clumsy blow, it’s perfect as a new garment.”

“Eek!”

A large hand covered Jeok Heum’s head. Jeok Heum could not stop it.

A wide, torn smile was etched on Sa Mun-Hyang’s face.

“I learned from the fight with that man that you shouldn’t just save the best for when it’s most delicious.”

“No!!”

Whoooosh!!

Jeok Heum’s eyes turned white.