Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 330

The thunderous roar that erupted echoed beyond the training grounds and reached the sky.

Pa-ba-ba-bak!

Yeon Ho-Jeong quickly retreated. He couldn’t withstand the pressure of the formation.

“Kuh-euk!”

“Euda-da-da-da!”

About a dozen soldiers at the front involuntarily stepped back about ten paces. They had been pushed back by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist pressure.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s power, which had forced back even the top-tier experts, was immense, but what was even more impressive was that the formation was maintained despite so many people being pushed back.

This was because the formation itself was very flexible. If they had been rigidly lined up, half of the formation would have collapsed with this one blow.

“Hoo-uk.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gradually turned red.

Whirr-rrr.

The Vermilion Bird’s flames blazed.

Jing! Jing!

The Yeon Family Shrine [a family ancestral hall] rotated at high speed, continuously releasing the power of the Dragon Robe Divine Art. Empowered by the explosive momentum, the Vermilion Bird energy emitted a terrifying aura.

The Vermilion Bird energy itself was both firepower and killing intent. Yeon Ho-Jeong had been freely manipulating killing intent while using the Vermilion Bird Art, but not now.

Throb! Throb!

His heart rate surged, and his blood flow accelerated.

Cheeeeee!

Red smoke rose from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body. It wasn’t the Vermilion Bird’s fire energy, but the killing intent that was ignited by that fire energy, taking a tangible form.

‘……!!’

Muk Bi’s face hardened.

She knew how much Yeon Ho-Jeong cared for the Myulsa Army. No matter how much it resembled a real battle, he had never genuinely unleashed his killing intent, not just for intimidation.

It wasn’t ‘like’ a real battle; it was a real battle. Yeon Ho-Jeong was genuinely fighting against the Myulsa Army.

Just as Muk Bi was about to speak again,

[It’s alright.]

Startled, Muk Bi looked at the front of the Myulsa Army.

There, Okcheong was rotating his shoulders.

[It’s a rare opportunity to fight an expert as skilled as the Commander. It’s okay.]

[But!]

[It’s also an opportunity to confirm the Commander’s greatest talent that I’ve seen. If that talent I saw is real, we can become stronger.]

[What……?]

Okcheong smiled faintly.

His face was smiling, but his eyes were extremely serious. It was about to explode, but even that was enough to feel how dangerous Yeon Ho-Jeong’s killing intent was.

[Also, we have received great grace from the Commander. That Commander, in my eyes, seems somewhat precarious right now.]

[……!!]

[It’s an opportunity for us to not only become stronger but also repay even a fraction of the grace we received from the Commander. Please leave it to us.]

After finishing his telepathic message, Okcheong shouted.

“From now on, the formation leaders will be Bindo and Yeo Guk!”

Yeo Guk looked at Okcheong.

Okcheong nodded.

“Let’s properly receive the Commander’s martial arts.”

Yeo Guk grinned.

“Sounds good.”

Pa-ba-bak!

Yeo Guk, who quickly stepped forward three paces and stood at the front of the Myulsa Army, raised his sword to the middle stance.

Hooo-oo-oong.

In an instant, the atmosphere of the Myulsa Army changed.

It was completely different whether the formation leader was outside or inside the formation. While the field of vision narrowed, the combat power and reaction speed at the front were much higher.

In other words, Okcheong and Yeo Guk leading the formation meant they would properly face Yeon Ho-Jeong.

The formation that the Myulsa Army had trained in, a formation only for the Myulsa Army.

The Myulsa Three Kill Formation, opening the formation.

Yeo Guk shouted.

“Front-Center!”

Pa-ra-ra-rak!

The Myulsa Army’s formation, which had been freely scattered, changed sharply like a cone.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

It was a smile that felt somehow cold.

“Impressive.”

He could feel the Myulsa Army’s will without them saying a word.

Chwa-rrr-rrr!

The Coiling Dragon Chain, extended by internal energy, writhed wildly. Red flames surged on the writhing Coiling Dragon Chain.

“…….”

Despite the air trembling due to the formation and the noise of the aura from the Four Divine Beasts shaking the atmosphere, a strange silence seemed to descend.

Pak! Pa-ba-bak!

The fierce wind couldn’t penetrate into the training grounds. The energy emitted by Yeon Ho-Jeong and the Myulsa Army sharply opposed each other, creating an invisible barrier of true energy.

Okcheong, standing in the center of the formation, opened his mouth.

“Capture Attack.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than fifty Myulsa Army soldiers moved.

Kwaaang!

It was an incredible speed.

The sound of an explosion erupted just from them kicking off the ground. The true energy circulating organically within the formation doubled everyone’s speed.

The Myulsa Army charged towards Yeon Ho-Jeong like lightning.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s reaction was immediate.

Swaaaaaaak!

Before the soldiers could get close, the Coiling Dragon Chain was swung horizontally.

It was the Vermilion Bird Art’s Crimson Flame Six Kill Strike, imbued with the explosive power of the Dragon Robe Divine Art.

Kwarururung!

The Myulsa Army’s formation swayed greatly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts, attacking with deliberate killing intent, were shockingly powerful. It was such an immense force that the speed of the charging soldiers dropped by thirty percent in an instant.

But the Myulsa Army was not flustered.

Chwaaaaaak!

Sword energy was fired, covering all directions.

It was a response that anticipated Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attempt to disrupt the formation with powerful force and target individual soldiers. Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had intended to quickly go to the end and take down the spear users of the Ami [a group of spear users], had to immediately change his tactics.

Jjeo-jeo-jeong! Puh-uh-ung!

Various parts of the training grounds were blown up or dented by the force and shockwaves.

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung his fists and kicks.

Puh-uh-uh-ung! Jjeo-uh-uh-uh-uh-ung!

It was an incredible rebound force.

With his right hand, he used the Coiling Dragon Chain’s Crimson Flame Six Kill Strike, and with his left fist, he unleashed the White Tiger Art’s Tiger King Nine Wall Stance, using the Azure Dragon Cloud Stepping and White Tiger Monarch Steps to minimize damage while implementing an efficient attack.

Yet, the formation did not break at all. Rather than breaking, it seemed to be regaining its resilience. It felt like every attack was being absorbed.

‘If that’s the case.’

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had soared into the air with the Blood Wing Soaring Sky, took a deep breath.

Pa-a-a-ak!

As if they had anticipated his jump, Yunho and Dongho of the Hwasan Sect [a famous sword sect] unleashed the Plum Blossom Triple Edge Sword.

Whiriririririk!

Formless force scattered like dozens of flower petals, surrounding Yeon Ho-Jeong.

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong focused his strength in his lower abdomen.

Keo-heo-uh-uh-uh-ung!!

It was an enormous Lion’s Roar.

No, it should be called the White Tiger’s Roar, not the Lion’s Roar. The sound waves, released by expanding his lungs to the limit with the White Tiger Golden Energy, unleashed a tremendous shockwave.

Chae-chae-chae-chae-chaeng! Puh-uh-uk!

The rising plum blossom sword energy was completely shattered.

Not only that, but the Myulsa Army’s formation was disrupted by the unexpected sonic force, and more than half of the soldiers staggered.

If an invisible barrier of energy hadn’t been created, more than ten people would have had their eardrums burst. It was that powerful of a shockwave.

Pa-a-a-ak!

The Coiling Dragon Chain writhed in the air, attacking the soldiers.

Jjeo-ung! Jjeo-jeo-jeong! Jjeo-uh-uh-ung!

The movement of the Coiling Dragon Chain was truly astonishing.

It moved as if the chain itself were alive.

It was majestic like a dragon writhing and sinister like a snake writhing. The soldiers were busy deflecting the Coiling Dragon Chain’s subtle and magnificent attacks.

Pa-a-a-ak!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had landed on the outer edge of the training grounds, swung the Coiling Dragon Chain again.

Chwa-rrr-rr!

Dongho’s eyes wavered. The Coiling Dragon Chain, which had flown like a ray of light, had already wrapped around his sword.

Yeon Ho-Jeong forcefully pulled the Coiling Dragon Chain.

‘……!’

Surprisingly, Dongho did not get pulled. Nor did he drop his sword.

He was holding on. Dongho, who was incomparable in terms of both physical strength and internal energy, was withstanding Yeon Ho-Jeong’s power.

It was the power of the Myulsa Three Kill Formation. Even if the formation was disrupted, it was possible to focus energy on a few people if the will was united.

Pa-a-a-ak!

At that moment, Okcheong led the spear users of the Ami and charged into Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left and right sides.

It was a truly exquisite moment. Even Yeon Ho-Jeong was surprised by the attack that targeted the moment his breath was coming in.

Pa-a-ak!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had released the Coiling Dragon Chain, rotated his body on the spot.

Pi-pi-pi-pi-ping!

Four spears and one sword left shallow cuts on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

Puh-puh-puh-pung!

Okcheong and the spear users were thrown back by the Half Dragon Palm that was released as he spun.

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had penetrated the core of the formation even faster than Okcheong and the spear users who had been thrown back, wildly unleashed his fists and kicks in all directions.

Puh-ung! Jjeo-uh-uh-uh-ung! Puh-uk!

Three or four people retreated, five held on, and two staggered while spitting blood.

Although he wasn’t wielding an axe, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist and kick techniques were powerful enough to kill a person if they landed properly. The two soldiers who had been hit by his fist and spat blood eventually lost their strength and collapsed.

Woo-oo-oong!

The formation wavered.

The formation didn’t collapse just because two people had fallen. But Yeon Ho-Jeong did not miss that opportune moment when the formation wavered.

Kwaang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had gathered his strength with the most powerful leg strike since the start of the sparring, rushed towards Yeo Guk. He intended to disrupt the flow of the formation by taking down the person who was the core of the formation.

That was when it happened.

‘……?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was rushing towards Yeo Guk, suddenly turned his body and ambushed Peng Man-Ho.

“Huk!”

Startled, Peng Man-Ho swung his greatsword with the force of a single cut. It was a nimble reaction that didn’t match his large size.

Yeon Ho-Jeong spread his palm and swung it horizontally.

Jjeo-uh-ung!

The greatsword was deflected to the side. Blood also burst from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand.

Puh-uh-uk!

“Kuh!”

Peng Man-Ho collapsed on the spot from the elastic short kick.

Hoo-uk!

In an instant, the formation violently fluctuated.

‘As expected.’

Yeo Guk and Okcheong were the core of this formation.

However, there were some soldiers who were leading the formation from unseen places. One of them was Peng Man-Ho, and when he unleashed his intimidating attack power, Peng Man-Ho played an even more important role than Yeo Guk.

‘This was the weak point…….’

That was when it happened.

Puh-uh-uh-ung!

Yeon Ho-Jeong staggered, spitting blood. A faint white smoke rose from his back.

‘……?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.

Cheeeeee!

Amidst the white smoke, a red smoke briefly rose, then disappeared with a whoosh!

“Hoo, as expected.”

Srrr-rr-rr.

The fluctuating formation calmed down. The soldiers had calmed their true energy.

“As expected of the Commander. To attack Manho in an instant in that tense and chaotic situation.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned around.

Okcheong was smiling. He was breathing quite heavily, though.

“My eyes were right. The innate talent hidden by the Commander’s tremendous combat ability, I have properly confirmed it at this moment.”

“Talent?”

“It’s talent. You instinctively see through the weak points, don’t you?”

“……!”

“The strategist said this. That with this formation, even Grandmaster Gong Gong or our sect leader would not be able to withstand it. Of course, we would also suffer considerable damage.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.

“I know that the Commander’s martial arts are still lacking compared to those two. Yet, you attacked the weak points of the formation and gradually broke down the formation. Thanks to the Commander, we have learned what the weak points of this formation, no, our weak points are.”

Joo-roo-rook.

Blood flowed from Okcheong’s mouth. He had also suffered internal injuries from the reckless attack.

“It’s not much of a reward, but I have blown away the wicked madness that was lurking within the Commander.”

The force that had pierced Yeon Ho-Jeong’s back.

It was the Sword Immortal Tak Mu-Ja’s Severing Silk Palm. It was a martial art of enlightenment that freely placed form and style, and led to the truth by containing the enlightenment of the immortal path within it.

“How is it? Do you feel a little better?”

“……Heo-uh.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong stroked his chest.

He felt like the dark and stuffy feeling had improved a bit.

“I could have blown it away immediately, but I thought that if I evaporated it when the emotions were heightened, I could more clearly see the difference, so I had to be rude.”

Okcheong took a fist salute.

At the same time, all the soldiers took a fist salute. All of the Myulsa Army knew Okcheong’s intentions and had gathered their strength.

“We have learned well!”

The resounding voices swept through the training grounds.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly watching Okcheong, soon gave a wry smile.

“……This is something.”

He had tried to teach them a lesson, but instead, he had received help from the soldiers.

But why? He wasn’t offended. He was sorry that the soldiers had to worry about him, but somehow, he felt a warm feeling in his heart.

In the end, all Yeon Ho-Jeong could say was this.

“I look forward to working with you in the future.”

“We look forward to working with you!”

The sparring, which had started fiercely, ended with a gentle atmosphere.