Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 639

“Hoo-ooo!”

Even as he exhaled forcefully, his face remained serene.

‘It’s incredible.’

Gang Ryang, sitting cross-legged and gazing at his own hands, appeared more composed than ever.

‘This is the Body of No Extremes, the flesh of those who have transcended human limits.’

After the fight, he had received treatment and spent the entire day examining his body.

Even after such prolonged scrutiny, it was still astonishing. A body with all meridians [energy channels] opened, with true energy filling every minute point, even the tips of his fingernails, circulating throughout his being.

Without conscious effort, his energy was autonomously protecting his body. It wasn’t perfect yet, but if he increased the purity at this level, it seemed his body would automatically deflect any ordinary surprise attacks.

‘It’s unobstructed and free.’

While the methods of manipulating true energy and the divine arts themselves differed, the higher the level achieved, the more everyone converged to a similar point.

Gang Ryang was certain that the majority of transcendent masters shared his current state.

‘The same conditions.’

Before the Body of No Extremes, there were many masters with strong individual characteristics, but after that, everyone began to share similar traits.

To gain a competitive edge over others at this level, one shouldn’t focus on petty tricks.

“I don’t think so?”

Gang Ryang turned his head to the side.

There, leaning against a tree with a red spear in his arms, was Hwang Seok-tae.

“It’ll be different from what you think.”

Gang Ryang tilted his head.

“Can you read my thoughts?”

“I don’t have that ability, but I somehow feel like I know.”

“That’s amazing.”

“And you’re an easier person to read than you think.”

“I didn’t know that.”

Gang Ryang dusted off his bottom and stood up.

He wasn’t interested in what Hwang Seok-tae wanted to say, or whether he had truly read his thoughts. What mattered was his own perspective and how he would forge his future.

Since reaching this level, he hadn’t even attempted to train properly yet. Seeking advice wouldn’t be too late when he hit a wall.

“By the way, what brings you here?”

“The Tang Clan Head wants to see you.”

Gang Ryang blinked.

“Me?”

“You, me, the Moyong Clan Head, and even the elders of Jeomchang.”

‘What’s going on all of a sudden?’

Hwang Seok-tae said to the puzzled Gang Ryang.

“We’re leaving soon. It seems they’re going to give us some things as a token of gratitude for the help we’ve given. The Tang Clan is very particular about debts and favors.”

“Ah.”

Gang Ryang gave a wry smile.

“If it’s a favor, they should repay it to my brother.”

“It seems they’re repaying it well.”

“Hmm?”

“I heard you went to get something from the Dark King.”

“…Dark King.”

Gang Ryang’s eyes gleamed.

The masters of the Outer Heavens who had ascended to the heavens by opening the No Extremes.

Just as he had broken through a wall, Yeon Ho-Jeong had also broken through a wall. Naturally, the world Yeon Ho-Jeong saw would be different from his own.

Gang Ryang was curious. What could be seen in that realm, and what could be done?

He really wanted to ascend to that realm right away.

“It’s still too early.”

“…Hmm?”

“It’s like a guy who’s just started walking wants to fly.”

Surprise flickered across Gang Ryang’s face.

“It wasn’t an empty word when you said I was easy to read, was it?”

“To add to that, if you’re thinking of approaching things differently just because you’ve reached a new realm, that’s also a misunderstanding.”

“…!!”

“A person’s individuality doesn’t change no matter what level they reach. Just look at the Moyong Clan Head and the Tang Clan Head, their methods of implementing martial arts are different, aren’t they? Not to mention Vice-Commander Yeon. Even if Vice-Commander Yeon reaches the Saintly Heaven, he won’t try to change his fighting style.”

A subtle shock washed over Gang Ryang’s face.

Hwang Seok-tae shook his head.

“Breaking through the No Extremes at that age is definitely amazing, but it’s arrogant to perceive that level as too special. If you’ve reached this realm, it’s better to push forward with your own path with conviction. At least, that’s what I’ve seen from the people I’ve met.”

“…”

“Of course, a shift in thinking is necessary at crucial moments.”

Gang Ryang’s expression turned blank.

Hwang Seok-tae turned his body.

“If you’re done meditating, let’s go. The Tang Clan Head is waiting.”

“Is it okay to tell me all this?”

“What do you mean?”

Gang Ryang’s eyes sharpened.

“The Mukryong Faction Leader is my mortal enemy. If I get stronger and try to kill the Mukryong Faction Leader in the future, you might regret it.”

Despite the rather provocative words, Hwang Seok-tae scoffed.

“Don’t worry. He’s not someone who would be defeated by a brat like you, and besides, my spear will pierce your heart before that.”

“Your confidence is impressive.”

“Enough with the useless talk, let’s go.”

Hwang Seok-tae strode away. His imposing back looked like a solid fortress.

Gang Ryang gave a wry smile.

“…There are so many strong people in the world.”

And so many wonderful people as well.

* * *

Thud!

With a booming sound, the iron mace flew into the sky.

The shaft of the iron mace flying in the sky was bent in the middle. It couldn’t withstand the sharp collision of forces.

“Cough!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong let out a groan-like cough and grabbed his knee.

Surprisingly, his body was drenched in sweat. His face was flushed, and his breathing was quite ragged.

It was hard to imagine that this was the appearance of a master who had opened the No Extremes and entered a new world, even if it was just the beginning.

On the other hand, Tang Hyeong was perfectly fine. Except for his slightly disheveled clothes, nothing had changed from when they first clashed.

‘What is this?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong wiped away his sweat and straightened his back, his face filled with surprise and disbelief.

‘It’s like he’s become a completely different person.’

From the thirty-move spar, Tang Hyeong’s martial arts had changed drastically.

It was hard to believe that this was the martial art of someone who had sealed two dantians [energy centers]. Tang Hyeong was incredibly strong. While maintaining the palm strike technique he had shown at first, he blocked all of his martial arts with mysterious speed and incomprehensible martial principles.

He couldn’t counter with the Azure Dragon Art, and he couldn’t defend with the Black Tortoise Art.

The White Tiger Art’s attack power was futilely cutting through the air, and the Vermilion Bird Art’s killing techniques vanished before they could even touch Tang Hyeong’s body.

‘How the heck?!’

At that moment, Tang Hyeong spoke.

“Your subtlety is improving as time goes on. I don’t know about the Immortal Emperor level, but your ability to manipulate true energy is definitely worthy of being called more than the Three Armies. It was impressive.”

“…”

“But you’re too consistent.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Tang Hyeong, who had been quietly watching Yeon Ho-Jeong, tilted his head.

“Someone with such keen perception is so dull in this area.”

“…”

“What do you think about this level?”

“Excuse me?”

“Is it just another level beyond a single wall, or is that all you think it is?”

“…?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t understand what Tang Hyeong was saying.

Tang Hyeong’s face looked quite stern. It was like a schoolteacher teaching a student.

“Let me ask you one thing. You’ve definitely become stronger than before you opened the No Extremes. You’ve become a little faster, much stronger, and the true energy you possess has reached a completely different dimension.”

“…”

“Besides that, what has changed?”

“…?!”

“You’re still charging in the same way, attacking the same weaknesses, and trying to shake my mind to induce carelessness. What’s next? Is that all there is?”

“That’s…”

“Besides having stronger power, more destructive palm strikes, and emitting more imposing energy waves, what has changed from before? Tell me.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was shocked.

Hearing these words from Tang Hyeong, he realized that he was indeed being mediocre.

“When you first realized my ability to use the upper dantian [energy center in the head] and demanded an imposing iron mace, that was a creative attack method. I couldn’t help but be impressed. The upper dantian is the power of the mind, and if you amplify that power, you can glimpse a new world of true energy manipulation, but at the same time, if your mind shrinks, it becomes difficult to implement martial arts. In other words, it was a double-edged sword, and you saw through it in an instant.”

“…”

“But that was an attack method, not a change in you. You were already capable of that, weren’t you?”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean…”

“Do you think that using the upper dantian is just about increasing the speed of palm strikes and making your inner energy shield invisible?”

“…?!”

“Where did your ability to wield a hundred-pound object in the air, without me even noticing, come from?”

“…!!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

The corners of Tang Hyeong’s mouth twitched. It seemed that Yeon Ho-Jeong had finally understood what he was trying to say.

“I’m not saying to abandon what you’re used to. You need to make what you’re used to bigger and sharper, stronger and faster. But that’s not something you can achieve with the newly acquired true energy.”

Tang Hyeong tapped his temple with his finger.

“It’s here. Depending on how you use this, the person who saw you as a wolf will suddenly start to see you as a tiger.”

Whoooom!

The White Tiger energy gathered in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s right hand.

Tang Hyeong stared intently at his hand.

“What are you going to do there?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at Tang Hyeong, slowly closed his eyes.

‘The upper dantian, that is, the mind.’

The power of the mind is the power of will, and the center of will is in the soul.

‘It’s not about attacking with the soul. What does my soul, my true nature, seek? What kind of creativity does my mind exhibit?’

A moment later.

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had opened his eyes, punched the ground.

Kwa kwa kwa kwang!!

At that moment, a storm erupted from the ground where Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist had landed, and the entire thirty-foot-wide open space began to shake and split apart.

“Gasp!”

Startled, Tang Yun grabbed a tree to steady himself.

Whoosh!

The storm that spread out from the point of impact danced wildly in all directions.

Crack!

Several trees near the open space broke in half.

Coo-goong.

Soon, the storm disappeared, and the stuffy air turned soft.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around with surprised eyes.

“This is?!”

He couldn’t believe that he had achieved such a result with just one punch. Even during his time as the Dark Emperor, he had never unleashed such a powerful single strike.

At least, not when he was in his right mind.

“That’s very like you.”

Tang Hyeong shook his head.

“Instead of suppressing and restricting the opponent’s abilities with the power of the upper dantian, you combined it with true energy to further enhance the destructive power of the martial art itself?”

“…”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such an extreme master. Well, the ways to use the upper dantian are limitless, so it’s not bad to use this method. It’s a bit too simple, though.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Tang Hyeong.

Tang Hyeong smiled.

“While fighting me, your true energy wasn’t flowing smoothly, and you were getting breathless, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“The culprit was naturally me. I was interfering with your true energy circulation and disrupting the air entering your lungs with my upper dantian’s divine energy.”

“Huh…!”

“Do you think it’s just a petty trick?”

“Absolutely not. If it were a real fight, I would have died without even knowing how.”

“Haha.”

Tang Hyeong nodded.

“All the masters of the No Extremes that you will meet in the future will have the same abilities. In other words, it’s a basic requirement.”

“A requirement…”

“No Extremes is limitless. Don’t limit what you can do. You’re a perceptive and intelligent person, so once you get used to it, you’ll be able to use the upper dantian in much more diverse ways than this old man.”

“…”

“Don’t forget. That’s where it starts. You need to get used to that to surpass the Three Armies and reach the realm of the Immortal Emperor.”

“Senior.”

“Let’s stop here for today.”