Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 362

Thump-thump!

The Vermilion Bird energy surged into his heated heart, driving it to beat even stronger.

Throb-throb!

The blood coursing through Yeon Ho-Jeong’s veins raised his body temperature.

His temperature soared abnormally high. Such a temperature would have felled even the most skilled martial artist, yet, astonishingly, Yeon Ho-Jeong endured it without any issue.

Fsssh!

Wisps of white smoke rose from various parts of his body. The heat radiating off him screamed as it met the cold air.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong tossed Cheon Gang behind him.

Thump!

Cheon Gang, who had fallen to the ground, twitched. He wasn’t dead, but the Black Tortoise energy that had penetrated his wounds had completely suppressed his Golden Restraint Purifying Art [a technique that enhances the body’s defenses and healing].

Thwack!

“Kuh-ack!”

Cheon Gang screamed. Moyong Gun had driven his Tangma Sword into his abdomen.

That rendered Cheon Gang unable to fight. Thanks to Hwajeong, he wouldn’t die immediately from the pierced stomach, but even if he recovered, his meridians [energy channels in the body] would be damaged, making it difficult for him to wield the same martial power as before.

Yeon Ho-Jeong took a powerful step forward.

Boom!

The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck, due to his powerful step.

Just like when he signaled the start of many battles in the past.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having finished his battle preparations with a powerful step, lowered his stance.

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, closing the distance in an instant, swung his Dragon Fury towards Beonjak’s head.

Clang!

The Dragon Fury was blocked by the Fiery Dragon Demon Blade.

Beonjak, who was about to deflect Yeon Ho-Jeong, felt the sharp energy of a divine sword targeting his side at that moment. It was Yeonwi’s sword strike, launched at a perfectly timed moment.

Beonjak swung his left hand.

Clang! Thud!

Yeonwi’s sword strike was deflected, and Yeon Ho-Jeong was sent flying backward.

Whoosh!

Tang Gwan’s poison palm, taking advantage of the gap, approached right in front of Beonjak’s face.

Beonjak, about to strike down with his palm force, was startled.

Fsssh!

The poison palm dissipated into smoke right before his face.

It wasn’t that he had dispersed it. The palm force had scattered on its own, spreading a cloud of poison in all directions.

“Tang Clan Head, you rat.”

Beonjak’s pupils blazed with golden light.

Whoosh!

Tang Gwan’s poison wouldn’t disappear even with ordinary fire.

However, Beonjak’s fire was on a different level. The ultra-high temperature fire instantly disintegrated Tang Gwan’s poison.

Thud!

Beonjak’s face contorted.

‘An archer?’

He had taken a blow to his back. The protective energy of the Golden Restraint Purifying Art prevented his body from being pierced, but the impact was considerable.

Whoosh!

Enraged, Beonjak unleashed his Underworld King Fist.

It was as fast as Muk Bi’s arrows, but even more terrifying was the fire that could inflict burns before even reaching its target.

Swoosh!

Muk Bi soared high into the sky. It was a choice to avoid the fire.

Beonjak, like a ghost, caught her movement.

Thud!

Another burst of fiery fist wind.

Flash!

Beonjak’s fist wind didn’t reach Muk Bi. A green-blue sword light that had sprung from below had cleaved the fist wind in two.

“Yeonwi!”

As if expecting it, Muk Bi remained unfazed and drew her bow in mid-air. A chilling aura emanated from the bowstring, even without an arrow.

Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!

Formless arrows curved through the air, heading towards Beonjak.

Clang!

Yeonwi unfolded his Gentleman’s Sword, and Tang Gwan unleashed his hidden techniques of the Flying Dagger Seven Styles. Moyong Gun’s Thunderclap Killing Sword Cannon was the finishing touch.

It was a combined attack from the top experts of the Central Plains. Even Beonjak couldn’t help but feel rushed.

Beonjak clenched his hands like a tiger’s paws.

Whoosh! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The attacks unleashed by the four supreme experts were all scattered by the storm of flames.

“It’s not time to be relaxed.”

Fsssh!

Beonjak, with golden flames engulfing his hands, pushed the Golden Restraint Purifying Art to its limit.

“I’ll kill you all…”

Flash!

A crescent moon-like light fell, aiming for Beonjak’s collarbone.

Clang!

Beonjak, having grabbed the axe blade of the Dragon Fury with his bare hand, glared at Yeon Ho-Jeong with murderous intent.

Beonjak focused his fire energy into his hand.

Fsssh!

The Dragon Fury turned red-hot. He intended to destroy the Dragon Fury with the overwhelming firepower of the Golden Restraint Purifying Art.

However, it was Beonjak’s misjudgment.

Whoosh!

A huge flame erupted from the Dragon Fury.

Surprise flickered across Beonjak’s face. He had intended to melt the Dragon Fury, not to ignite it like this.

‘It’s not my Golden Restraint energy.’

Beonjak’s gaze met Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s pupils contained a flame that was so red it was almost like sticky blood.

‘Fire energy?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong forcefully pulled the Dragon Fury.

Clang!

With a thunderous sound, the Golden Restraint Fire Energy and the Vermilion Bird Fire Energy burst out in all directions.

The heat was so intense that even Yeonwi, Tang Gwan, Moyong Gun, and Muk Bi had to retreat.

Yeonwi shouted.

“Ho-Jeong!”

Boom!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been charging with the White Tiger Descent [a powerful movement technique], unleashed the Blood Wing Sky Dance [a fast movement technique].

The Blood Wing Sky Dance, unleashed by gathering all his strength with the White Tiger footwork, enabled movement as fast as lightning.

The Tiger King’s Defense [a defensive technique] and the Fiery Dragon Demon Blade collided.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A tremendous shockwave swept through the surroundings.

Yeon Ho-Jeong coughed up blood. As expected, he couldn’t help but be pushed back by the sheer force.

However.

Clang!

Simultaneously with retreating, he unleashed the Blood Wing Sky Dance again.

It hurt as if his bones and muscles were being crushed. But Yeon Ho-Jeong ignored the pain.

‘I will win.’

In Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes, which were glaring at Beonjak, there was a blind killing intent along with an absolute confidence towards victory.

‘I will win!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung the Dragon Fury.

Flash!

Beonjak, who had expected him to use a technique again, was momentarily startled.

It wasn’t the Tiger King’s Defense. The Dragon Fury was spinning at high speed, aiming for Beonjak’s torso.

He didn’t swing it, he threw it. It was an incredible move.

Beonjak unleashed his Underworld King Fist.

Clang!

With a thunderous sound, the Dragon Fury was sent flying far away.

This time, Beonjak felt a strong pain in his fist. If he had poured in just a little less internal energy, his fist would have been split in half.

‘To throw away his weapon, he’s completely lost it!’

It was then.

‘……?!’

In a flash, a look of bewilderment crossed Beonjak’s eyes.

‘Where?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong had disappeared from his sight.

Swoosh!

At the same time, an explosive leg technique surged from the lower left.

Thud!

The Tiger King’s Defense was unleashed as a leg technique. Beonjak, having blocked the blow by overlapping his arms, took three or four steps back.

Clang!

Another step.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having regained his vitality with a powerful step, immediately unleashed a double fist strike.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two men’s fists collided madly.

Swoosh! Whoosh!

The overflowing flames grew stronger. The shockwaves created by the two were stimulating the fire energy.

It was a life-or-death arena surrounded by a wall of flames. None of Yeonwi, Tang Gwan, or Moyong Gun could break through. The fire was too intense to push through.

However.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Yeonwi frantically swung his sword, scattering the wall of fire.

Tang Gwan’s eyes wavered.

“Clan Head Yeon!”

“Uwaaaah!”

Yeonwi unleashed his right sword and left palm in succession.

Clang! Boom! Whoosh!

The Yeon Family’s secret sword techniques and supreme hand techniques erupted, gradually clearing the fire barrier.

With Yeonwi’s internal energy, it was impossible to break through so easily. It was a moment when a human’s unwavering will made the impossible possible.

Swoosh!

Flames engulfed Yeonwi’s body as he broke through the wall of fire. Thanks to his powerful internal energy shield, he wasn’t burned, but if his internal energy wavered, his skin would be scorched immediately.

But he didn’t care about that either.

“Ho-Jeong!”

Clang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong coughed up blood and retreated.

Whoosh!

Yeonwi unleashed a sword strike towards Beonjak’s legs.

It was an incredibly fast sword strike. Even the mighty Beonjak felt a chill in his heart at this strike.

“You bastards!”

Clang!

Yeonwi dropped his sword.

A swordsman would die before letting go of his sword. Yeonwi, being a traditional swordsman of the Central Plains, had that much pride.

But the current Yeonwi was not a swordsman.

He was just a father with two sons, a parent who would give his life a thousand times over for his family.

Boom! Boom!

Yeonwi, having pushed Beonjak away with his Half-Dragon Palm, quickly approached Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“Are you alright?!”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

Clang! Thud!

Flames erupted on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulder as he pulled Yeonwi’s body away. It was a flame created by Beonjak’s Underworld King Fist grazing him.

“Uwaaah!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, suppressing the pain with a scream-like shout, unleashed the Northern Sky Twelve Walls [a defensive technique].

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body shook madly.

But surprisingly, he was blocking Beonjak’s attacks. He was pouring all the power of the Yeon Family’s Divine Pill into amplifying the Black Tortoise energy.

‘Father.’

While blocking Beonjak’s attacks, Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Yeonwi.

Yeonwi’s eyes wavered as he met his son’s gaze.

‘Ho-Jeong.’

His son’s eyes looked more determined than ever. His eyes were filled with the will to win at all costs.

Yeonwi reached out his hand.

Swoosh!

The sword he had dropped was drawn into his hand on its own. It was the divine skill of telekinesis.

Thud! Boom!

The flames that had attached to Yeonwi’s clothes burst with a loud sound. The Golden Restraint Fire Energy was burning Yeonwi’s body, whose internal energy shield had been dulled by the continuous sword strikes, and whose protective barrier had been shaken.

But Yeonwi didn’t feel the pain.

Swoosh!

With a chilling sound, green-blue lightning swirled from his sword.

It wasn’t that he had mastered lightning energy like Moyong Gun. What was actually on that sword wasn’t lightning energy.

But a more savage and rough lightning pattern than Moyong Gun’s Thunderclap Energy was constantly pounding the sword. The fire barrier even hesitated at the sword’s power, which was amplified in an instant.

Beonjak’s eyes widened.

‘What is this?’

Behind the translucent black energy shield.

A truly terrifying power was gathering. The density of that power was so great that even Beonjak’s fire energy was afraid and retreated.

‘Where did this power come from…?!’

Then, the black tortoise shell shield disappeared.

Swoosh!

As soon as the shield disappeared, Yeon Ho-Jeong charged forward.

Beonjak reflexively attacked Yeon Ho-Jeong. It was a priority to figure out the nature of this power, but Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attack was too fast for that.

Thud! Boom! Thud!

He thought he would finish him off quickly and retreat.

But this time, the course of the battle deviated from Beonjak’s expectations.

Boom! Boom!

Amidst the exploding shockwaves, a fist as hard as a rock struck Beonjak’s thigh.

Crack!

‘Kuh!’

A vein bulged on Beonjak’s neck.

‘This guy?!’

It was the first time he had been hit in the leg by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist. He had been distracted for a moment, but even considering that, this was an impossible situation.

Enraged, he unleashed a series of Underworld King Fists.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s upper body moved like a snake.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Beonjak’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was dodging all of the consecutive double fists that had been unleashed like lightning, just by moving his upper body.

“Now I see it.”

Crack!

Beonjak staggered backward.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having extended his fist to the mid-section, smiled coldly.

“Your weakness, I see it now.”

In the past, Ok Cheong had said that Yeon Ho-Jeong’s greatest talent was his ability to instinctively see his opponent’s weaknesses.

That talent was beginning to show itself during a battle where the difference in power was quite significant. Not only was he dodging all of Beonjak’s attacks, which had felt so overwhelming, but he was also counterattacking. In the face of death, his talent for death was beginning to awaken.

Beonjak roared for the first time.

“You bug-like bastard!”

At that moment, a calm voice flowed into Beonjak’s ear.

“I didn’t raise my son carelessly enough to hear such words from a petty man like you.”

Flash!

Yeonwi, having leaped up by stepping on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulder, glared at Beonjak with terrifying eyes.

In that moment, Beonjak felt a chill run down his spine. He felt an overwhelming energy from the sword Yeonwi was holding.

Yeonwi’s final secret technique, a culmination of all the Yeon Family’s swordsmanship, honed thousands of times in pursuit of the absolute sword.

“Just die now.”

Flash!

Green-blue lightning struck Beonjak’s head.

Krrrrrr!