Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 505

“So, does everyone agree?”At Jeagal Mun-Ho’s words, all the elders nodded.”Very well.”Jeagal Mun-Ho stamped the document on the table and handed the permit to Yeon-Wi.”I officially grant permission for the dispatch of Yeon Ho-Jeong, the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon Family and the Vice Commander of the Righteous Army, to the Mukryong Unit. Clan Head Yeon, please deliver this permit to Vice Commander Yeon.””Understood.””Afterward, you must go through official consultations with the Mukryong Unit. I expect that to take at least a month. However, considering the future actions of the Martial Alliance, it’s burdensome to allocate that much time, so we should try to expedite the process as much as possible.”Jeagal Mun-Ho looked at Yeon-Wi.”Clan Head Yeon.””Speak.””It seems we need to meet directly with the leadership of the Mukryong Unit. I believe at least two elders, including myself, should participate. Would you take responsibility for one of those positions?”Yeon-Wi nodded.”Of course. I would very much like to do so, if possible.”Beyond his own abilities, the person being dispatched was his son. Any parent would be eager to step forward.”We need at least one more person to go. To put it nicely, it’s to have a full complement; to be serious, we need someone to verify the character of the Mukryong Unit leader.”Jeagal Mun-Ho glanced at Moyong Gun.Moyong Gun was leisurely drinking tea. He was the one who had engaged in secret dealings with the Mukryong Unit leader in the past, but now he was completely detached.Normally, he would have been the first to volunteer, but now he was silent. He, too, was reluctant to meet the Mukryong Unit leader again.At that moment, Great Master Gong Gong spoke.”If the military advisor and other elders are in agreement, this humble monk would like to join.”Everyone was surprised.”Are you speaking of yourself, Great Master?”Gong Gong laughed heartily.”Isn’t this an opportunity to meet another powerhouse of the Saintly Heaven? I have only met the Venerable Mu Heo of our temple and the Sword Immortal Tak Mu-Ja of the Wudang Sect among the esteemed individuals who have reached the Saintly Heaven [a realm of martial arts mastery].”The strongest martial monk of the Shaolin Temple, Great Master Mu Heo.The strongest swordsman of the Wudang Sect, Tak Mu-Ja.They were living legends, invincible powerhouses who held an unrivaled position even among the Thirteen Seats of the Saintly Heaven.It was said that the masters who had reached the Saintly Heaven were constantly growing even at this moment. Although it was said that the ten Divine Immortal Emperors were superior to the three Sovereigns, it was unknown how much that gap had narrowed by now.However, what was certain was that their martial prowess was beyond the heavens. If it was said that they were not inferior to the absolute masters of three hundred years ago, the peak of the martial world’s golden age, then it would not be strange for any of them to claim the title of the strongest in the world.Even among them, the positions of Mu Heo and Tak Mu-Ja were special. They were the oldest and had made their names the longest.Those who liked to rank people were certain that the true strongest in the world was one of those two.”There are countless masters in the world. And the Thirteen Seats of the Saintly Heaven are the best masters in martial arts. Even if their positions are similar, if their methods and areas of expertise are different, I think it would be good to experience their greatness on this occasion.”He wanted to experience the greatness of Yang Cheon, the leader of the Black Moon, who was also their enemy.It was a statement that could easily be taken as a provocation, but no one could say anything to him. Rather, listening to Gong Gong’s words, some of the elders who had looked down on Yang Cheon felt ashamed.No matter what path one walked, if they had made a name for themselves in the Saintly Heaven, they were worthy of respect. Before their character and actions, they could be evaluated as great enough as martial artists walking the same path.Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.”Understood. Then, I will send a letter to the Mukryong Unit immediately. Great Master Gong Gong and Clan Head Yeon, please make full preparations so that you can depart at any time.”* * *”Brother!”Gang Ryang, who burst through the door, flinched for a moment.Whoooosh.A subtle aura was emanating from Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the courtyard.It was not the usual energy that Yeon Ho-Jeong produced. It was a chilling aura, like looking at a sharply honed sword, similar to Yeon-Wi’s.’What is that?’It was a power completely different from the usual internal energy he circulated. Gang Ryang waited quietly until Yeon Ho-Jeong’s meditation was over.Half an hour later.”Hoo.”With a light sigh, Yeon Ho-Jeong rose from his seat.”You’ve been waiting a long time.”Gang Ryang smiled and said.”Yes, I’ve been waiting a really long time.””Anyway, what’s the matter?””The Clan Head told me. He said the Martial Alliance has sent a letter to the Mukryong Unit. The Clan Head and some elders are going to have a meeting with the Mukryong Unit leader.”Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.”That’s natural. It’s a matter of a Martial Alliance warrior being dispatched to the Black Moon, so they need to make some kind of agreement.””They said it might take about a month. They asked me to tell you to prepare within that time.”Normally, he would have spoken to him directly. That meant his father was that busy.”Understood. Are you ready?”Gang Ryang chuckled.”I’m ready to leave right now.””Keep training hard until the dispatch date. That place is another battlefield. In some ways, it might be even more brutal than the Martial Alliance.””I know. I’m from the Black Moon myself.”Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.”Good.”From that day on, Yeon Ho-Jeong and Gang Ryang each focused on their training.Gang Ryang swung his sword all day, and Yeon Ho-Jeong tried to incorporate the newly developed divine art, Sword Extremity Thought Energy, into his Yeon Family Divine Core.Surprisingly, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt like he had hit a wall while developing the Sword Extremity Thought Energy.The divine art itself was not a martial art that suited him. Its nature and aura might suit his father, Yeon-Wi, and his younger brother, Yeon Ji-Pyeong, but it did not suit Yeon Ho-Jeong, who valued the destructive power and speed of martial arts.However, Yeon Ho-Jeong did not give up on the Sword Extremity Thought Energy. Rather, he pondered it more deeply and focused more intently on accumulating energy.He was entrusting himself to change.Until now, he had focused on maximizing his strengths. He had done so during the Black Moon Emperor era, and he had done so after his regression.It was different now.He focused on filling his weaknesses rather than maximizing his strengths. It was right to focus on what he could do rather than what he could not, but now he thought it was important to make what he could not do possible.About fifteen days passed like that.After a blood-spitting effort, Yeon Ho-Jeong finally succeeded in melting the Sword Extremity Thought Energy into his Yeon Family Divine Core.Not only that, but he went one step further. He also touched the fourth divine art of the Five Great Divine Arts, Divine General Energy.Divine General Energy was a divine art that was good at overwhelming enemies with its momentum. Its destructive power was inferior to Dragon Robe, but its secret formula for controlling the energy of space was the best among the Five Great Divine Arts.Yeon Ho-Jeong was surprised while developing Divine General Energy. He knew the secret formula and characteristics, but when he actually developed it, the differences were enormous.And he realized why the Five Great Divine Arts were grouped together and called the martial arts representing the Yeon Family.’Different yet the same. Divided but one. One but completely different.’Like the Four Divine Martial Arts.The Five Great Divine Arts were also closely connected to each other. Although they were martial arts of completely different natures, their fundamental principles were similar, like twins.That was why it was difficult to learn them together. The principles were the same, but the strengths and feelings were completely different, so if one tried to learn them carelessly, one would end up being neither one thing nor the other.At the same time, if one delved deeply into one divine art like Yeon-Wi, one would naturally be able to understand the other divine arts.The culmination of that was the Yeon Family Divine Core. Even if one did not develop each divine art to its extreme, once the Yeon Family Divine Core was formed, one would focus on melting them into one rather than utilizing the characteristics of each divine art.That was the difference between Yeon Ho-Jeong and Yeon-Wi.Yeon Ho-Jeong tried to make everything one, while Yeon-Wi tried to create another realm by mastering one divine art to its extreme.It was not a matter of who was right or wrong. The important thing was that both of them were extremely well-versed in the Yeon Family’s martial arts.’There’s still one left, but this is enough for now.’Azure Wave True Scripture, Dragon Robe Divine Art, Sword Extremity Thought Energy, Divine General Energy.The four divine arts merged into one, and the Yeon Family Divine Core became more compact.It was not that the power had decreased, but that the density had increased. More precise control was needed than before, and at the same time, the same moves could be unleashed much more sharply.’I see it.’Another ten days passed like that.Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been meditating cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes.’Finally, I’ve ascended.’The world of chaos leading to the world of the Limitless.It was a long journey, but he had gained the confidence to move forward without getting lost, at least.Whoooosh.The flashing realization gave a stronger shock than ever before.”Ugh!”Yeon Ho-Jeong suddenly vomited blood.Gang Ryang, who was resting nearby, was startled and approached him.”Brother! Are you okay?!”At that moment, Paeyul, who had arrived unnoticed, threw out a word.”How could he not be okay?””Huh?””In the Taoist’s Mysterious Gate, it is common to cough up blood when one gains a great enlightenment.”Paeyul shuddered as if he was disgusted.”That guy is just awful. Did he already climb another step?”Yeon Ho-Jeong wiped the blood from his mouth and said.”I’ve already gained the enlightenment. The important thing is that I haven’t been able to melt myself into that enlightenment. But not anymore.””Well, well. You sure do speak difficult words that are hard to understand.”Although he said that, Paeyul’s eyes were filled with undisguised awe.’This guy is really…’A genius? A monster?He was not someone who could be defined by such words.He knew what realm Yeon Ho-Jeong had stepped into.Not only had he gained martial prowess that was more powerful than the leaders of major sects at the young age of his mid-twenties, but he had now begun to open the door to the Limitless, which was considered a legend.No one knew how long it would take to enter that door. But he kept thinking that if it was that guy, he would enter the Limitless realm within five years at the latest.”But why are you here, Senior?”Paeyul said curtly.”The preparations are done.””What preparations?””The dispatch. I’m going with you. The Sect Leader and all the other elders have given their permission.”Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly.He was being stubborn, but what could he do? He said he would go with him.”Please take care of me.””Yeah. You get ready too.””Huh?””The military advisor, Great Master Gong Gong, and Clan Head Yeon have returned after finishing their meeting with the Mukryong Unit leader, Yang Cheon.”Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened.”Already?””They said they’re running the Martial Alliance in a semi-closed form, right? They wouldn’t have had time.””That’s true.””Change your clothes. We have to go to the conference hall. We’re leaving today.”Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.”Very well.”