Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 164

The next morning.

Whoosh!

The light dragon axe, cutting through the air, glittered in the sunlight.

“Hmm.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sweat-soaked body trembled faintly.

It was the first full-power training session since breaking through the Wall of No Form. He couldn’t unleash destructive techniques, so he carefully controlled his inner energy to prevent the surrounding objects from being destroyed.

‘I still can’t control it well.’

It was actually easier to use the Azure Dragon Art he had learned recently. The Azure Dragon Art itself focused on evasion and counterattacks, minimizing the waste of power.

On the other hand, the Vermilion Bird Art was a vicious killing technique, and the White Tiger Art was a forward-charging attack that knew no retreat. The Black Tortoise Art was an impenetrable defense, but if he couldn’t control his power, it would create openings.

‘Even if the other three divine energies are said to be more difficult to control than the Azure Dragon, how can there be such a difference when I learned them so much earlier?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘It’s because of the Byukra True Scripture [a foundational martial arts scripture].’

With the mastery of the Azure Dragon, the Four Divine Energies were complete, and the completed Four Divine Energies ascended to a higher level through the effect of mutual generation.

The problem was the Byukra True Scripture. The Byukra True Scripture, the foundation of the Four Gods, had grown on its own to achieve the Ten Great Perfections in order to have a form suitable for high-concentration energy.

‘I need to perfect the Byukra True Scripture before touching the Four Divine Arts. The Four Divine Arts are just branches.’

The Byukra True Scripture was different from the Hongcheon Energy [a type of internal energy]. If it were the Hongcheon Energy, which only aimed at amplifying internal energy, this problem wouldn’t have been so noticeable.

‘But with the Hongcheon Energy, I can’t aim for anything more. Either way, it’s all my fault for being inadequate.’

When a problem arose, he didn’t look for excuses but took responsibility seriously. It was one of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s strengths.

‘If I refine the Byukra True Scripture and melt all five great divine arts into it…’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘I should ask my father about it tonight.’

Unfortunately, his father was not currently at his residence.

They were both serving the same cause, but their tasks were not the same. Yeon-wi had an excellent eye for commerce and was temporarily serving as an advisor in managing the Murim Alliance’s [a martial arts alliance] funds.

Along with Jeagal Mun-Ho, Yeon-wi was the busiest person among those serving the cause.

“Are you done training?”

“Hmm?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Muk Bi.

Muk Bi was also soaked in sweat. She must have been training before Yeon Ho-Jeong came to the back garden, so she must be very tired.

“Have you made any progress?”

Muk Bi smiled wryly.

“I don’t know.”

Indeed, she was also a master close to the Wall of No Form [a metaphor for a bottleneck in martial arts cultivation]. To face that wall of enlightenment, she would need deep contemplation in addition to simple training.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked up at the sky.

‘There’s plenty of time.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong, readjusting the light dragon axe, said to Muk Bi.

“How about we try a shot?”

“Pardon?”

“They say enlightenment is important to reach higher levels. But enlightenment is surprisingly nothing special.”

Curiosity arose on Muk Bi’s face.

These were the words of a master who had broken through the Wall of No Form, no less. Regardless of their friendship, it was worth listening to.

“Then?”

“Before that, what do you think enlightenment is?”

“Enlightenment is, as it says, enlightenment.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue.

“How did you reach that level? Did something suddenly click?”

“Ah……”

“No, right?”

Muk Bi nodded with a sullen face.

“I just worked hard, and somehow……”

“That’s it. Working hard. But that’s the basics, and what’s important is how much useful effort you put in.”

“Useful effort?”

“Do you remember why I taught you the Hongcheon Energy?”

Muk Bi’s eyes sparkled.

“I remember.”

“Learning the Hongcheon Energy didn’t make your Nine Dragons Archery grow. But through Hongcheon Energy and close combat training, you were able to add a sense of intuitive shooting to your archery.”

“……!”

“It’s true that you need to aim higher, but it’s also important to have fully obtained what you can from where you are now.”

Muk Bi’s eyes wavered.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tapped the light dragon axe.

“My martial art, the Four Divine Arts, is a true beginning after mastering all four arts. In other words, I was fully prepared to break through the Wall of No Form even before I obtained the Azure Dragon Art.”

“I, I see.”

“Don’t just look up, look around. If you look around and feel your way, you’ll realize that you’ve risen higher than before.”

Enlightenment was just a word game. Martial arts grew simply by changing one’s perspective and breaking free from fixed ideas. That was enlightenment.

Enlightenment, which could not be described in words or writing, was not something to discuss at their level, at least for now.

“You are an archer. Archers find it harder to feel the intensity of life and death than fist fighters or swordsmen. This is not because of the level of martial arts, but because of the nature of the weapon.”

“That was also the reason why you taught me close combat, right?”

“Yes. That’s why you need to face people. After all, martial arts is a discipline that is difficult to develop without an opponent.”

Muk Bi looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with a curious expression.

“Where did you get all that knowledge?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong snorted.

“Experience.”

“You’re not old enough to have gained that kind of experience, are you?”

“Experience is similar to martial arts prowess. Age doesn’t matter. There are plenty of middle-aged masters who are worse than you.”

“I guess so.”

Thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong drew a line on the ground with the light dragon axe.

“I’ll stand right here, so shoot me. With the intent to really kill me.”

Tension settled on Muk Bi’s face.

“Are you sure?”

“Who’s worrying about whom?”

Muk Bi chuckled at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s playful words.

“It’ll be too late to regret it after getting a hole in your head.”

“Hmph.”

Whoooosh.

Blue energy rose from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body. It was the Byukra True Energy.

“It’s one shot. If you can’t catch me with that one shot, you’ll die. Shoot with that in mind.”

“……Okay.”

Thump.

Muk Bi widened the distance.

Too close a distance was easier to read. Whether it was archery or hidden weapons, a proper distance was needed to unleash their full power.

“Are you ready?”

Click.

Muk Bi loaded an iron dart onto the Crimson Lotus Bow.

There was no reply. Her eyes were already focused on Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong laughed inwardly.

‘Seeing this, you’re definitely not an ordinary savage.’

More of a hunter than a martial artist. Instead of exchanging blows with an opponent, she honed her martial arts to thoroughly kill her target.

In the past, it was said that the Black Demon Emperor and the Divine Archer could kill even the greatest master of all time. It wasn’t for nothing.

The Black Demon Emperor was a warrior, and the Divine Archer was a hunter. There was no better combination when trying to kill an enemy.

And now.

Now, back in the past and the future, the two were training day by day to regain their former glory.

Whoooosh.

The flow of the atmosphere changed.

The flow of air bending towards a single point of the Crimson Lotus Bow was eerie.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face hardened.

‘Good.’

No matter how much he had reached the realm of transcendence, he would die if he made a mistake.

Moreover, Muk Bi was a master of archery. Yeon Ho-Jeong could see what she couldn’t, but Muk Bi’s archery was a threat to anyone.

If he let his guard down, he would die. If she was going to unleash a life-threatening blow, he had to risk his life as well.

Ts ts ts ts.

Yeon Ho-Jeong aimed the light dragon axe at Muk Bi.

Just lifting the long, heavy axe and aiming it at an opponent required tremendous strength.

It was possible before, but it was different now. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s posture of lifting the light dragon axe and aiming it straight at his opponent was unwavering yet flexible.

A state where contradictory principles could exist in one body.

A cold sweat trickled down Muk Bi’s forehead as she looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong, the transcendent master, the Wall-Breaking Tiger, Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘…….’

A cool breeze blew.

‘I can’t see it.’

Muk Bi, who had already recognized her opponent as prey, had transformed into a death god solely to take her opponent’s life.

Even with the eyes of such a death god, she could not see an opening.

‘No, to be precise…’

There were too many openings, that was the problem.

It seemed like she could hit anywhere. But it also seemed like she would fail no matter where she aimed.

‘It’s natural.’

He slightly shifted his posture while aiming the light dragon axe at her.

He had narrowed the range of impact. It was the ideal posture when facing an archer.

‘If I shoot haphazardly, I’ll definitely miss, and in the blink of an eye, he’ll come and blow my head off.’

The picture was drawn.

The picture of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s unique explosive power and merciless killing intent blowing her head off.

‘Then…’

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

The Crimson Lotus Bow moved little by little. She was moving the firing point to confuse the direction and timing of the shot.

It was a textbook response. With just that strange movement, defense and evasion became twice as difficult.

Whoooooosh!

The wind grew stronger.

Muk Bi smelled the wind. The unique musty smell of metal heightened the tension.

‘It’s the White Tiger Energy.’

The white energy rising from her feet seemed to be gauging the timing of the attack.

The wind of the White Tiger was warning her.

If you miss, I will attack immediately. And with that one attack, you will die.

Trickle.

Another cold sweat trickled down.

‘What should I do? Where should I aim to catch him? The Dragon Fang Cannon [a powerful archery technique] is powerful, but Yeon Gongja [a respectful title] would be able to block it without difficulty.’

That’s when it happened.

‘Huh?’

Muk Bi’s eyes wavered.

‘Why do I have to use the Dragon Fang Cannon?’

The Dragon Fang Cannon was the most confident technique she could shoot from the Nine Dragons Heavenly Bow.

But that destructive power would not work on her opponent. Yet, should she stick to the Dragon Fang Cannon until the end?

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words came to mind.

‘What’s important is how much useful effort you put in.’

She couldn’t catch Yeon Ho-Jeong with the Dragon Fang Cannon.

Then?

Whoooooosh!!

A strange gray energy surged from Muk Bi’s feet.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘Hongcheon Energy?!’

Then, Muk Bi released the bowstring.

Thaaaaang!

The iron dart, enveloped in gray mist, shot out like lightning.

Even for Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had broken through the Wall of No Form and had maximized his senses and the quality of his inner energy, it was a speed that he could not perceive slowly.

‘The lower body.’

In that split second.

Yeon Ho-Jeong realized that Muk Bi’s arrow was aiming for his thigh. It seemed to be flying straight, but at some point, it shot a short-range curve that curved downwards.

‘Is it still too much?’

Even so, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand was already moving downwards. The moment the arrow was fired, his sixth sense read the killing intent and moved his hand.

‘It’s a failure anyway.’

That’s when Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left hand was about to grab the gray iron dart.

Bang!

Surprise flickered in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

The fired iron dart split vertically in an instant, increasing to five.

‘The Wandering Dragon Scattered Lightning Shot [a complex archery technique]?!’

Pa pa pa pa!

Yeon Ho-Jeong hesitated.

Four of the five split arrows hit the ground, and one was caught in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand. The tip of that one arrow slightly pierced his thigh.

If he hadn’t caught it in time, it would have pierced right through.

“……Huh.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was involuntarily impressed.

“Wasn’t the Wandering Dragon Scattered Lightning Shot an archery technique that couldn’t be used at this distance?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned around.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Hah! Hah!”

Muk Bi, panting, was behind him, with the bowstring drawn but no arrow.

And the light dragon axe was also touching her collarbone.

Muk Bi said, panting.

“Hah! Hah! I, I forcibly reversed my energy, but it didn’t work, did it?”

“It’s a shame. It’s a shame, but……”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“You did well. You unleashed a life-threatening blow.”

Muk Bi grinned.

Her smiling face gradually turned pale, then blue. Her internal injuries had worsened due to reversing her energy and strongly contracting her breathing.

Clang!

The Crimson Lotus Bow, unable to withstand the tension, fell to the floor. Muk Bi also lost consciousness and collapsed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong quickly caught her.

A look of pride appeared on his face.

“Well done.”