Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1366

Cheon Hwa-Ryong was dumbfounded.

‘To think that I and the Black Corpses are being held back by just that one woman.’

He had believed that even with only eight hundred and ninety of them, attacking Sichuan would be no problem. He was confident he could handle those who had reached the Saintly Demonic level, and the sects and riffraff wouldn’t stand a chance against the Black Corpses.

Yet, he and five hundred Black Corpses were unable to advance south because of a single sound master. He truly never imagined such a thing could happen.

‘Indeed.’

Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s eyes narrowed.

‘Was that woman right?’

The annoying woman with the same Cheon surname had said that he wouldn’t be able to destroy Sichuan with just that.

Her languid voice, which grated on his nerves, echoed in his mind.

‘Does Sichuan look easy? It’s not what you think. You might believe you can easily take it with just the Black Corpses because more than half of Sichuan’s forces have already been destroyed, but that land will never crumble.’

‘It’s not just because the martial artists living there are strong. There’s a very powerful will pulsating in that land. You might not know it, but the entire Central Plains is filled with a huge golden will right now. But Sichuan is different. That land is filled with the spirits of stubborn people who were born and raised there. No matter how powerful you or the Black Corpses are, you won’t be able to swallow Sichuan.’

‘If you’re still suspicious, go and see for yourself. But don’t forget, you promised not to kill my brother if you met him. Even if he dies by someone else’s hand, you’ll be breaking your promise. And you know very well what will happen to me then.’

The damned woman he had kidnapped from the Divine Forest was unbelievably a genius of demonic studies.

To the point where her soul had reached the heavens while studying demonic arts. She was only a little over twenty years old, yet she could read the heavenly secrets. What an amazing talent.

But he hadn’t believed the young woman’s words. There had been too many sacrifices to believe that, and decisively, he had confidence in himself.

He might be lacking compared to his father, but his talent was greater than his father’s. He was confident that if he could hold out for ten years, he would surpass his father’s realm and reach the Blood God level.

That he couldn’t take Sichuan? Even though the Sichuan martial world’s forces had been halved long ago.

‘But…’

Cheon Hwa-Ryong was always a man full of pride.

However, he didn’t want to make mistakes or fail because of excessive pride. He meant to avoid arrogance.

‘I have no choice but to admit it.’

He still didn’t believe in the spirits or whatever she had talked about.

However, he had to admit that he couldn’t conquer Sichuan with just these forces. Right now, he couldn’t even advance because of that sound master, Ha Eun-Gyo.

‘If I burn everything I have, it might be possible, but…’

If that happened, Sa Mun-Hyang, who had obtained the power of the Reverse Heaven, would try to absorb even the Blood Fiend. The Blood Fiend Sect, which had temporarily lost its power to resist, would be swallowed by the Four Evils.

He would rather die than see such a sight.

‘Okay, I admit it.’

Whoosh!

Black flames engulfed his entire body.

The swirling black flames that soared into the sky looked like a black dragon. Dark Dragon Flame Origin, a power that perfectly matched its name.

‘I admit it. That I was wrong.’

The Jiangshi [undead corpses], who were approaching, hesitated at the enormous flames.

Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s lips curled up.

‘I won’t be stubborn.’

Either way, if he couldn’t take Sichuan, he would be cornered.

Cheon Hwa-Ryong took out a small flute from his pocket.

Ha Eun-Gyo, who was watching him from afar, felt an intense sense of crisis.

Bang!

She released the power of the Ten Thousand Pound String Plucking Power [a technique that uses zither strings to unleash immense force] and immediately shot out a Dark Void Strike.

The Dark Void Strike, which pierced through the air, exploded on Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s chest.

Screech! Bang!

The shockwave was more powerful than ever before.

Cheon Hwa-Ryong staggered back. The flute in his hand was now broken in half.

Ha Eun-Gyo’s face hardened.

Before the Dark Void Strike hit him, the sound of the flute swept all around.

‘What is he doing?’

It seemed like he was summoning something threatening. But she couldn’t tell what it was.

Then, Cheon Hwa-Ryong swung both hands.

The martial arts of the Dark Dragon and Thunder Dragon swept through the Black Corpses.

Boom! Whoosh!

With a roar, about fifty Black Corpses were smashed and burned.

“You morons who can’t even recognize your master, how dare you disgrace me.”

Cheon Hwa-Ryong distorted his face and unleashed the Demonic Dragon Roar.

“Come to your senses now! Remember who your master is! Then I won’t kill you!”

It was then.

“What nonsense are you spouting to those who are already dead?”

Whoosh!

Ha Eun-Gyo, who had compressed space and flown in, flicked her finger at Cheon Hwa-Ryong.

A finger wind that was much faster than any movement technique was shot out. It was the Zither Finger.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Cheon Hwa-Ryong blocked the Zither Finger with the Thunder Dragon Steel Body’s martial art and charged towards Ha Eun-Gyo.

The distance, which was already close, narrowed quickly. Moreover, his body was filled with the energy of the Thunder Dragon Steel Body. Just getting close would cause one to be invaded by the thunder energy.

But Ha Eun-Gyo wasn’t just going to stand there and take it.

Zzzzzzzzzzz!

The energy of the Sound Flower Demonic Divine Art, which spread from her palm, enveloped her entire body in a powerful protective energy.

It wasn’t an ordinary protective energy. It was a supreme protective energy that vibrated thousands of times per second.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Crackle! Crackle!

The energy of the Thunder Dragon Steel Body couldn’t penetrate her protective energy and was deflected.

“You’re really amazing.”

Cheon Hwa-Ryong said with a stiff face.

“I didn’t think there would be someone who could block the Grand Demonic Art with just their martial art ability, even if it’s not complete. I didn’t think the Sound Master Ha Eun-Gyo would be this strong.”

“Shut up.”

Ha Eun-Gyo unleashed the Zither Heavenly Maiden Technique again.

It wasn’t the Three Great Forbidden Melodies, but a vibrating force. The moves of One Sound Shatters Rock, Jade Hand Severing Veins, and Jade Color Separation poured out relentlessly.

Bang! Boom!

It was a hand technique that maximized destructive power by controlling vibrations. Her understanding of controlling the strength of her attacks with extreme concentration was truly the epitome of delicacy.

Cheon Hwa-Ryong kept retreating while receiving her martial arts.

The destructive power of the Grand Demonic Art was clearly superior to the Sound Flower Demonic Divine Art. However, Ha Eun-Gyo’s understanding was drawing out more than twice the original power of the Sound Flower Demonic Divine Art.

Even with the most powerful Grand Demonic Art in the world, he had no choice but to be pushed back. If his realm had been just two levels higher, or even one level higher, it would have been Ha Eun-Gyo who was being pushed back.

‘Father.’

Red demonic energy surged in Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s eyes.

‘I’m trying to walk the path of the greatest demon of all time, the path my father couldn’t reach. But it’s not easy.’

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Explosions, and more explosions.

Before he knew it, the shockwaves had penetrated the power of the Dark Dragon Flame Origin and Thunder Dragon Steel Body and were pounding his insides.

Sizzle!

The internal injuries were instantly healed. His enormous internal energy and the Reverse Heaven’s demonic energy made it possible.

‘But that’s why it’s more meaningful. I will show the world that possibility here today.’

As a demon, as a martial artist.

And as the leader of the Blood Fiend Sect.

Whoosh!

The force of the Zither Heavenly Maiden Technique curved and aimed for Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s rear.

At that moment, Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s left hand twitched.

The movement was so small that even Ha Eun-Gyo didn’t know what he was doing.

Boom!

The force that had been aiming for Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s rear was shattered with a roar.

Ha Eun-Gyo’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear.

“That’s?!”

“Not bad.”

Bang!

Cheon Hwa-Ryong, who had retreated like lightning using thunder energy, lowered his stance for a moment.

He swung his right hand wide.

Ha Eun-Gyo felt death for a moment.

Boom!

She instinctively moved away from the spot, and ten Black Corpses, swept away by an invisible force, were shattered into pieces.

Surprisingly, the bodies of the shattered Black Corpses turned bright red and then turned into black ashes. The force that had struck them contained the power of the Dark Dragon Flame Origin.

Ha Eun-Gyo’s face hardened.

“How did you?!!”

“It’s not perfect yet.”

Whoosh!

The thunder energy that had been filling Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s left hand disappeared in an instant.

This time, even Ha Eun-Gyo couldn’t avoid it. The speed of the thunder energy’s movement was too fast.

She quickly swung both hands and deployed the Zither Heavenly Maiden Technique, the Ten Thousand String Curtain.

Boom!

Ha Eun-Gyo’s body was pushed back like crazy.

Her face, which was gritting her teeth, turned a little pale. This was because the invading thunder energy had instantly stirred up all the meridians in her body.

Fortunately, the amount was small, so she was able to extract it with the power of the Demonic Divine Art, but the mental shock was considerable.

‘Dark Void Strike!!’

That’s right.

Surprisingly, Cheon Hwa-Ryong had stolen Ha Eun-Gyo’s technique, the Dark Void Strike, and made it his own.

No, it wasn’t just stealing it. He had infused the power of the Dark Void Strike with the Dark Dragon and Thunder Dragon, making its lethality even greater. It was possible to avoid it if one could catch the moment when the fire and thunder energy disappeared, but that didn’t mean that Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s greatness should be underestimated.

“Amazing. It’s a really high-level martial art. Even in our sect, there are only a few martial arts of this level.”

Cheon Hwa-Ryong smiled.

Ha Eun-Gyo saw a demon in that face.

“I’m lacking, so there’s nothing I can do. It’s better than being stubborn and failing.”

He was a terrifying man.

For a moment, Ha Eun-Gyo saw Yeon Ho-Jeong’s figure in Cheon Hwa-Ryong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong had also taken the understanding of the Dark Void Strike. He had completely made it his own and embodied it. Cheon Hwa-Ryong had also done that.

Moreover, Cheon Hwa-Ryong, unlike that Yeon Ho-Jeong, didn’t ruin what he had to do because of his pride.

‘I must eliminate him.’

Of course, she didn’t think of Yeon Ho-Jeong and Cheon Hwa-Ryong as equals. No matter how she looked at it, Yeon Ho-Jeong overwhelmed Cheon Hwa-Ryong. That thought would never change.

However, the fact that he had made her think of Yeon Ho-Jeong meant that Cheon Hwa-Ryong was a dangerous man.

‘If I don’t catch him here, I don’t know how much more he’ll grow and come back. His talent overwhelms all of the Saintly Heaven.’

Ha Eun-Gyo spread both hands wide.

Kugugugugung!!

The power of the Ten Thousand Pound String Plucking Power, which had been released, was terrifyingly revived.

Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s face hardened.

‘This is really amazing.’

He had seen that power before. But at that time, it was during a chaotic battle, and the heavy pressure was only unleashed for a moment, so he wasn’t very impressed.

But now it was different.

It wasn’t a simplified version, but the real thing. Already, the air within a radius of several dozen feet around Ha Eun-Gyo was becoming heavy.

‘I can’t copy this either. I can’t even see how the energy moves to amplify the power.’

But Cheon Hwa-Ryong didn’t feel any danger.

Bang!

He appeared in front of Ha Eun-Gyo like lightning and unleashed the Demonic Dragon God Palm.

Boom!

Blood gushed from Ha Eun-Gyo’s mouth.

Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s face, which had been wearing a triumphant smile, hardened.

‘What is this rebound force?!’

He knew she was wearing a protective energy. But he didn’t think it would be enough to block the Demonic God Fist, the Demonic Dragon God Palm, which he had unleashed with all his might.

But it was blocked. He had only inflicted a little internal injury.

Normally, Ha Eun-Gyo’s body should have been shattered by that blow.

“…So you finally came.”

Crack!

Cheon Hwa-Ryong knelt down without realizing it.

Only then did he realize that the terrifying pressure had prevented the force of the Demonic Dragon God Palm from exerting its full power.

‘Did she predict even that and lure me in?!’

The talent to steal an opponent’s martial arts after seeing it a few times, anyone would praise it as amazing.

However, Cheon Hwa-Ryong lacked experience in fighting against a master of the Limitless Art.

Furthermore, even if they reached the same realm, he would first ignore a woman. Since he was calling himself the leader of the Blood Fiend Sect, what more could be said about his arrogance?

Ha Eun-Gyo had seen right through that.

“Don’t be arrogant, little boy.”

Cheon Hwa-Ryong’s face showed urgency.

Krrrrrr!

An invisible pressure poured down with the force of tens of thousands of pounds.