Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1353

‘Strong.’

*Puh-puh-puh!*

The successive bursts of fist energy in the air were truly terrifying.

The power of a single strike wasn’t that great. However, such attacks were unleashed without a moment’s respite. It wasn’t just a series of attacks; it was closer to a barrage of overlapping blows.

Tang Gwan violently swung his left hand.

*Chiriring!*

The sound of clashing metal fragments was urgent. Sharp hidden weapons, swirling diagonally, blocked the fist power of Jo Hol’s unleashed *Gunhwangshinkwon* [Tyrant God Fist].

A glint of fighting spirit flashed in Jo Hol’s eyes.

*Hwook!*

Tang Gwan’s eyes wavered.

As soon as the attacks ceased, Jo Hol dove into his space as if he had been waiting for it, his movements so elusive that words could not describe them.

‘Footwork!’

The speed was one thing, but the footwork that instantly nullified what he thought was a perfect defense was astonishing.

Unique and sharp. The footwork perfectly complemented the relentless barrage of overlapping attacks that ignored the opponent’s breathing.

Tang Gwan couldn’t help but acknowledge it.

‘This is going to be difficult.’

Even in perfect condition, this was an opponent hard to beat. He had gathered his inner energy and spiritual power with his utmost mental strength, but just enduring was exhausting.

‘Damn it!’

Leaving the iron fragments floating in the air, he unleashed both palms.

*Kwaang!*

He countered the relentless overlapping attacks with powerful strikes. The Tang family’s *Jeokryeon Shinjang* [Crimson Flame Palm], refined with extreme spiritual power, covered Jo Hol’s front.

Jo Hol’s foot cut through the air.

*Kwarung!*

With a booming sound, the *Jeokryeon Shinjang* was split vertically. The sharpness of his footwork was greater than a sword. He had neutralized the steel-like palm force with his sharpness.

‘Extremely practical!’

The hidden weapons imbued with upper dantian spiritual power were neutralized by the relentless overlapping attacks, and the openings read by spiritual power were exploited to break the attack pattern, allowing him to get close and dismantle the hidden weapon attacks themselves.

He retreated from the incoming speed attack and unleashed a powerful blow, only to have it neutralized by sharp footwork. Then, he slipped through the gap in the split palm force and unleashed a swift palm strike.

He was reacting to the opponent’s martial arts with the best possible attacks. His natural adaptability was like flowing water, a master of practical combat that even Tang Gwan had rarely encountered.

‘He’s on par with Ssagaji.’

Regardless of the level he had reached, his practical combat ability was no less than Yeon Ho-Jeong’s. [Ssagaji is a nickname for Yeon Ho-Jeong, implying a cheeky or mischievous nature.]

There was also a difference. Yeon Ho-Jeong instinctively reacted based on experiences he had somehow gained, while this opponent had trained to the point where he could unleash the highest level of martial principles even in his subconscious, making the most rational counterattacks.

It was impossible to say whose practical combat ability was superior. However, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s training was something that only he could unleash, while the training of this amazing opponent was a level of martial arts that could be passed on to others.

‘Interesting.’

Flawless practical combat ability.

‘If there isn’t one, I’ll have to create it.’

Tang Gwan’s pupils turned red.

*Hwook!*

Tang Gwan, who had brushed past Jo Hol, headed back to the mountain peak.

Jo Hol’s footwork was clearly at the pinnacle of the martial world, but Tang Gwan’s footwork was not far behind. The Tang family’s lightness skill, which dealt with poison and hidden weapons, was considered the best in the martial world.

Tang Gwan waved his hand.

*Chiririring!*

The iron fragments floating in the air spread out widely and ascended to the mountain peak.

There wasn’t enough time to unleash *Mancheonhwau* [Ten Thousand Heavenly Flowers]. Still, he poured out spiritual power in the *Mancheonhwau* style. It was an attack with considerable shockwaves.

Jo Hol’s body blurred.

*Pa-pa-pang!*

He flew straight up into the air and shot out horizontally. It was an extreme-speed aerial step that consumed a large amount of inner energy.

Jo Hol waved one hand.

*Chwarururuk!*

More than nine-tenths of the hidden weapons, which had been spreading out, twisted and changed their trajectory to the left at Jo Hol’s gesture.

It was spiritual power nullification followed by spiritual power penetration. He wasn’t just great in practical combat; he was a true master with no flaws in the operation of the upper dantian [a key energy center in the body according to traditional martial arts].

However, there were a few hidden weapons that flew in their original direction.

Urgency appeared on Jo Hol’s face.

*Puh-uh-ung!*

Tang Gwan’s palm force, which had flown from behind, struck his back.

Surprise flickered across Tang Gwan’s face.

‘He predicted it?!’

It wasn’t that he had predicted the attack with spiritual power. Yet, it seemed he had protected his back with a shield of inner energy.

The impact wasn’t completely nullified, but it was only a minor injury. He even used that attack to propel himself to the peak. He was going to retrieve the remaining hidden weapons.

He was a skilled fighter with no openings. He was truly a martial artist who deserved to be called complete.

‘But it’s too late.’

The hidden weapons that had escaped the power of *Manryugwionshingong* [Ten Thousand Streams Returning to Origin Divine Art] were beyond help. However, the remaining hidden weapons would have more concentrated power of *Gwionshingong*, making them impossible to block even with spiritual power nullification.

*Pa-pa-pang!*

He chased after Jo Hol, controlling the hidden weapons to the end, and unleashed the Tang family’s *Cheondoksu* [Heavenly Poison Hand].

*Puh-pung!*

Jo Hol’s figure wavered.

Even if he had superior skills, taking an attack from a *Mugeuk* [Limitless] master with his bare body was a huge shock. Moreover, the *Cheondoksu* was imbued with poison.

Even though he had abandoned the Emperor Poison Art, he hadn’t lost the ability to concentrate poison.

Jo Hol’s face turned somewhat pale. The seeping poison had begun to interfere with the flow of his inner energy.

‘I have no choice.’

*Woo-woong!*

He concentrated the *Gunhwangsagi* [Tyrant God Evil Energy] to the fullest in his outstretched hand.

The extending true energy shook the trajectory of the hidden weapons. The power he possessed was so great that it could even shake the power of *Manryugwionshingong*.

But it was too late.

*Puh-puh-pung!*

The hidden weapons, falling perpendicularly, created a powerful shockwave near the *Chaejeongmajin* [Essence Gathering Demonic Formation].

It was then.

*Kwaaang!*

With a thunderous sound, the *Chaejeongmajin* shattered.

Jo Hol’s eyes widened.

“No!!”

It seemed as if the *Chaejeongmajin* had been broken by the shockwave of the hidden weapons. His reaction was natural.

However, his shock was soon overshadowed by an even greater shock.

*Kurururung!*

The dark clouds in the sky unleashed thunder, and an indescribable energy poured down on the area.

*Hwaaaak!*

Dark demonic energy spread in all directions.

‘……!!’

Jo Hol and Tang Gwan stopped in their tracks.

Both of them stared at the source of the shockwave with their mouths agape, as if they had been struck by lightning.

‘What is it?!’

Tang Gwan couldn’t even swallow his saliva.

‘What is this tremendous demonic energy!’

*Pusss-sss.*

As if darkness was engulfing the world, the overflowing demonic energy dyed the earth black.

The blackened earth crumbled, raising black dust.

Anyone could tell that the land was dead. A deathly aura, so potent that even a person’s foot would rot if they stepped on it, covered the area, let alone a single blade of grass.

‘Crazy!’

It was meaningless to measure the quality, density, or quantity of the demonic energy.

It was different from any other demonic energy, like an energy forged in a completely different world. It was an extremely hot and humid demonic energy that neither the human body nor this world could contain.

Happiness appeared on Jo Hol’s face.

“Master!!”

Unlike Tang Gwan, this demonic energy was as welcome to Jo Hol as it was terrifying.

A density that far exceeded human imagination, and its evil nature.

It was an energy that the heavens would never allow in this world. He knew it the moment he felt the energy.

The true power of defying the heavens.

The worst power that only the demon king of hell, who opposes the heavens, could possess.

“Congratulations!”

Jo Hol trembled all over as he worshipped the divine achievement.

Even with Tang Gwan behind him, he didn’t put up a shield of inner energy. He didn’t care if he died at this moment. He simply wanted to praise the greatness of the divine.

Tang Gwan gritted his teeth.

‘This can’t be happening.’

There was no way a person could possess such a terrible demonic energy. Whatever it was, this situation was the worst. That thought came to him naturally.

‘I’ll kill at least one of them.’

Jo Hol’s back was completely unguarded.

Tang Gwan poured out his palm force towards Jo Hol with all his might. It was a power that could take the life of anyone in the world with a single blow.

It was then.

‘……?!’

Tang Gwan felt the world slowing down.

His outstretched hand, the wave of red true energy contained in his hand, everything was slow. The air was so heavy that it was hard to breathe.

‘Why……?’

At that moment, Tang Gwan realized.

‘This can’t be.’

It wasn’t that the world had slowed down.

It was he who had slowed down. Jo Hol, who was trembling with joy, and the weeds swaying in the wind were all within the normal flow of time.

‘Why the hell?’

*Hoo-woong!*

Then, something black flowed out from behind the blackened, dead earth.

It was like a snake, or a wave. It was a black demonic energy that was hard to describe.

And that demonic energy wrapped around Tang Gwan’s hand.

*Chiiik!*

It slowly caressed the *Manryugwion* true energy as if there was no hurry.

At that moment, the *Manryugwion* true energy vibrated violently and scattered. It looked as if it was melting into the demonic energy.

Alarm appeared on Tang Gwan’s face. The true energy based on spiritual power was scattering just by touching the energy.

*Umjil!*

A terrible headache struck him.

The true energy based on the upper dantian was being dismantled by someone else’s will. His upper dantian ached as if it was being torn apart.

‘No.’

The *Manryugwion* true energy was almost completely extinguished.

Yet, the demonic energy didn’t stop. At this rate, it seemed like it would engulf his arm beyond his hand.

It was a demonic energy that could not be controlled by force. Tang Gwan tried to pull his arm out with his inner energy, which he had raised beyond his limit.

*Bururururu!*

His arm trembled madly.

Not just his arm, but his whole body was doing the same. It was difficult to even move his feet, and trying to pull out his arm caused pain as if his shoulder was being torn off.

Tang Gwan’s face turned pale.

He was slowly pulling it out, but it was too late at this rate.

‘I have no choice. I have to cut off my arm……!’

But even if he wanted to cut it off, he couldn’t. To cut off his arm, he had to use his other arm, but due to the immense pressure, his other arm wouldn’t move well either.

A moment of desperation.

*Jiiiiiing!*

The demonic energy that had been terrifyingly engulfing him shook madly and then rose into the air.

It was like a living creature. Tang Gwan intuitively realized that the understanding of the one who controlled this demonic energy was not perfect.

He had unleashed the demonic energy, but he had lost control for a moment. It was a stroke of luck for Tang Gwan.

And.

‘It’s an attack!’

It was possible to predict the demonic energy that was not imbued with spiritual power.

Tang Gwan poured out the true energy that was rising again as much as he could. It was a shield of inner energy that was much more powerful because he had poured out all of his inner energy, just like Jo Hol’s inner energy shield.

The demonic energy, which had been trembling madly, stopped for a moment and then shot towards Tang Gwan at an incredible speed.

*Kwaaang!*

With a booming sound, Tang Gwan’s body flew into the air.

It wasn’t just a few yards. Tang Gwan, who was flying while emitting white smoke, was floating in the air dozens of yards away. It seemed like he would fly all the way to the foot of Mount Tai.

It was a demonic energy that could render a *Mugeuk* master, who had reached the pinnacle, incapacitated with a single blow. Even Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had grown by fighting Sa Mun-Hyang, couldn’t do it, but blowing away a *Mugeuk* master with just energy was a different dimension of martial arts.

“Ah-ah!”

Jo Hol shouted.

It was the true power of a god who had achieved defiance of the heavens. It was truly the descent of a god.

*Pusss-sss.*

Bare feet appeared on the black earth.

He was naked, as if he were a primordial being.

Yet, he was sacred. A man who exuded a mysterious aura that was unimaginable for someone who was spreading such terrible demonic energy was there.

“I have finally achieved defiance of the heavens.”

A single demon god, looking down at Mount Tai and the world with a languid face.

“The Heaven-Defying Divine Pearl has chosen me. With this, I have gained the power to reverse the heavenly order.”

Sa Mun-Hyang smiled brightly.

“I hereby declare the Blood Cult’s advance into the Central Plains.”