Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 532

“Hoo.”

The sweat dripping down had already formed a puddle on the floor.

Bu Sun, who was gasping for breath with her hands on her knees, took a deep breath.

Whoooong.

As she inhaled deeply, the amount of natural energy pouring in increased.

She circulated this large amount of natural energy according to the secret formula, and it gradually turned into a rough and ferocious dark red energy, which accumulated in her dantian [energy center below the navel].

Krrrreung.

The internal energy seemed to make a beast’s cry.

‘Amazing.’

Bu Sun repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fists.

She was so exhausted that it wouldn’t have been strange if she had collapsed, but after repeating the breathing and energy circulation a few times, her body was already full of vitality.

‘The more I refine it…!’

She thought of the Blood Lion Energy.

The Blood Lion Energy was also a divine art worthy of being called the best in the martial world. Unlike the martial arts of the righteous sects, which emphasized mental and physical cultivation, it was a martial art solely for combat, truly representing the dark path.

The Black Lion Energy was different.

It added depth to the martial art itself, to the endlessly rough and combative nature of the Blood Lion Energy.

The density and rotation of the true energy, the recovery power of the energy circulation, and the amount of accumulated energy were also much greater.

Of course, not just anyone could achieve this level of efficiency. Bu Sun had refined the Blood Lion Energy at the risk of her life, and because she was well-versed in the Blood Lion Energy, which was the foundation of the Black Lion Energy, she was able to utilize almost all of the advantages of the Black Lion Energy.

In any case, Bu Sun had no doubt that this Black Lion Energy was the absolute martial art that ranked first in the entire history of the dark path.

“Impressive.”

Bu Sun was startled and turned around.

When had he arrived? Yeop Seong was there.

Interest sparked in Yeop Seong’s eyes.

“I knew that your level had far surpassed the third. Seeing it in person, you’ve shown truly remarkable growth. But I knew it. That you had refined a different martial art than before.”

Bu Sun’s eyes turned cold.

“Even if we are siblings, isn’t it rude to peek at someone’s personal training?”

“Don’t worry. I just arrived too.”

“……”

“Even if I had peeked, what could I possibly gain from your martial art?”

It was a great display of confidence.

Bu Sun shook her head.

“What brings you here?”

Yeop Seong chuckled.

“I don’t think we siblings are close enough to have a cup of tea together. Of course, I came with a purpose, and you know what that purpose is.”

Whoooong.

A faint dark red true energy rose from Bu Sun’s body.

“Is it about deciding on a successor?”

“Deciding on a successor is our master’s authority. However, eliminating rivals is the authority of the successors.”

It was a threatening remark.

A subtle tension appeared on Bu Sun’s face.

Even in perfect condition, Yeop Seong was a difficult opponent to beat. No matter how miraculous the Black Lion Energy was, she had no chance of winning against Yeop Seong now, having consumed more than half of her internal energy.

‘I let my guard down too much.’

She thought that someone like Yeop Seong would openly set a date to fight. She didn’t expect him to suddenly show up and propose a fight for succession like this.

However.

‘It’s my fault. I’m standing in the middle of the wilderness right now. I should have been aware that there are beasts that could tear at my throat at any time.’

That was the dark path. Even the successors of the Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance], the Black Dragon Faction, were bound to take advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses, as they were also members of the dark path.

Bu Sun glanced to the side.

There was a small passage there. It was a passage she had made herself so that she could escape in case of an emergency.

‘I have no choice but to find an opening and flee.’

There was no need to fight a battle she couldn’t win. She was confident in her ability to escape.

At that moment, Yeop Seong spoke.

“There’s no need to be so tense.”

“……?”

“Actually, I came to test you. If I thought it would be easy, I was going to launch a surprise attack right away. Even if you were weak, there’s the third, so I have to be careful not to get hurt.”

Bu Sun’s eyes turned cold.

“Does that mean you’ve changed your mind now?”

“I heard a strange rumor on the way here. I won’t be targeting you for a while.”

“A rumor?”

Yeop Seong leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

“What do you think of that guy, Yeon Ho-jeong?”

Bu Sun frowned.

Why was he suddenly bringing up Yeon Ho-jeong?

“I think he’s an amazing person.”

“Is that all?”

“He’s refining martial arts stronger than my brother’s at the age of mid-twenties. That alone makes him a monster.”

At that moment, Yeop Seong’s eyes flashed.

He had a mocking smile on his lips, and it looked very eerie.

“Are you sure?”

“That’s how it looks to me. Honestly, I don’t even know if he’s that strong.”

“And yet you say such things?”

“I trust our master’s eyes more than my own.”

“Hoh.”

Yeop Seong twisted his head from side to side.

A chilling sound echoed through the cave.

“Did our master say that he is stronger than me?”

“He didn’t make a direct comparison. But he did say this about Yeon Ho-jeong. That another strong person of the Saintly Heaven level would appear in the world within ten years at the latest, or five years at the earliest.”

“……”

“He said that he was already so strong that it was hard to find anyone to match him, except for the Thirteen Seats of the Saintly Heaven. So, even if you look at it in the lowest way, he wouldn’t be below my brother.”

“I see.”

Yeop Seong frowned. It was hard to tell if he was expressing anger or ridicule.

“Our master said that? That’s quite an evaluation.”

Unlike his expression, his voice sounded leisurely.

Bu Sun didn’t care. Whether Yeop Seong believed in Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial power or not, it was none of her business.

“Anyway, he seems to be an amazing person. There wouldn’t be many who are capable enough for the rigid Murim Alliance to make him their representative.”

“That’s probably true.”

“A young master with an amazing reputation as the best of the younger generation, and a decisive role in bringing down the Guju Myung Family, who were the heads of the Seven Great Families of the White Path…”

A cold smile spread across Yeop Seong’s face.

“I like him.”

Bu Sun frowned.

“Don’t tell me, brother, are you thinking of trying to win him over?”

“Why? Do you think it’s not possible?”

“At the very least, it’s an interesting idea. To make the representative of the White Path your ally, of all people… Wouldn’t that be crossing the line, even in a succession battle?”

“Crossing the line? What is the line?”

“……”

“Then, even if it’s a succession battle, we are still siblings, but isn’t my act of coming here to try to take your head while you’re weak not crossing the line?”

Bu Sun glared at Yeop Seong without a word.

Yeop Seong chuckled.

“I didn’t want to say this, but you and the third can never beat me.”

“……”

“You’re speechless?”

“Whether I say yes or no, it doesn’t mean anything.”

“The result is unknown?”

“It’s none of my business how you interpret it.”

“Hahaha!”

Yeop Seong laughed loudly.

“You’ve really grown a lot. You can even play word games in front of me.”

“It’s the fault of the other person’s character if they can’t accept sincerity with sincerity, not mine.”

“Your skill in wagging your tongue has improved as much as your martial arts.”

“It’s good to be good at something.”

Yeop Seong, who had been quietly looking at Bu Sun, shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s quite fun. Before coming here, no one dared to play such word games in front of me. It’s refreshing and I like it.”

He turned his body.

“Train hard. Who knows? If I become the next Vice Chief, I might make you the head of the assault team in the main headquarters.”

Bu Sun asked without realizing it.

“What’s the rumor?”

“Hmm?”

“You said you heard a rumor on the way here. Wasn’t that what you were going to talk about?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I was just telling you the reason why I’m not attacking you, not that I was going to explain the reason.”

Yeop Seong waved his hand without looking back.

“You’ll have to be nervous when we meet again.”

With that, Yeop Seong disappeared.

As if her tension had been released, Bu Sun sighed.

“Damn it, he’s really strong.”

It was then.

Crack!

“Kuek!”

Bu Sun was startled and looked ahead.

Yeop Seong, who had silently approached, was holding her wrists and glaring at her with sharp eyes right in front of her.

‘……!’

It was an immense power. Her wrists hurt as if they were about to break. Even with the Black Lion Energy, she couldn’t shake him off.

“Second.”

Yeop Seong’s voice, which was heard right in front of her, was gentle yet extremely murderous.

“Don’t struggle too much. If you keep trying to beat me, won’t my heart, which is trying to forgive you, waver?”

“……!!”

“The next time we meet, I will see your attitude. I will see if your training was truly to beat me, or if it was the refinement of martial arts for me.”

Bu Sun’s cheeks trembled.

Yeop Seong chuckled and tapped her forehead with his own.

“Get a grip. There are positions you can aspire to and positions you can’t. If you want to live out your days, you need to know your place.”

Yeop Seong released his grip on Bu Sun’s wrists.

Bu Sun continued to glare at Yeop Seong.

Yeop Seong turned his body.

“You’ve worked hard. You’ve really put in a lot of effort to reach that level.”

Srrr.

Yeop Seong disappeared. This time, he had truly disappeared.

“Ugh.”

Bu Sun rubbed her left wrist. Her right wrist was fine, but a sharp pain was coming from her left wrist. It was fractured.

He had fractured her wrist with just his grip. It was a terrifying power.

‘Yeop Seong has mastered the Blood Lion Energy. I have mastered the Black Lion Energy, which is superior to it. And yet, this difference in power…?!’

It wasn’t just power, but the difference in internal energy was enormous. Both in quality and quantity, it was incomparable to her own.

However.

“I’m sorry, but I won’t give up.”

If she were to be intimidated by this level of threat, she would have given up a long time ago.

She was Yang Cheon’s disciple. And she was the first among her siblings to receive his recognition.

Bu Sun believed in her efforts and her tenacity.

‘Wait.’

Bu Sun’s eyes deepened.

‘He asked about Yeon Ho-jeong… Then that rumor must be about Yeon Ho-jeong.’

From the looks of it, Yeop Seong seemed to be thinking of bringing Yeon Ho-jeong to his side.

Bu Sun’s eyes narrowed.

‘I need to find out.’

It was basic in the wild to attack when the opponent was weak.

And that weakling was not always herself. Even the strong could be injured at any time, and if you targeted that time, even the strongest in the world could be threatened.

Srrr.

Bu Sun’s figure disappeared from the spot.

The battle had already begun.

* * *

“Hmm?”

Yeon Ho-jeong looked to the side.

He had passed through the maze-like cave and arrived in front of the outer cave of the Black Dragon Faction.

And next to it, there was a middle-aged man exuding a fierce presence.

“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

Yeop Seong’s face, as he spoke as if throwing a stone, was full of composure.

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“Do you have some business with me?”

“I wouldn’t have waited here if I didn’t.”

“Say what you have to say.”

Yeop Seong looked around.

“This place is too open. And it’s dark.”

“……”

“I know a good tea house outside, would you like to have a cup of tea?”

“I don’t know much about tea. I’d prefer alcohol.”

“Haha!”

Yeop Seong laughed loudly.

“I like your taste. I prefer alcohol to tea too. Let’s go, it’s on me.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shrugged his shoulders.

“My father told me not to refuse free alcohol.”