Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 682

Right after Yeon Ho-jeong left.

‘What is going on?!’

Hwang Seok-tae, who had returned to the vicinity of the rear Cheongmok Cliff, sensed that something was wrong.

Whoosh!

The forest in the distance was shaking erratically. It was as if a strong wind was blowing, making the trees dance.

However, Hwang Seok-tae knew. That shaking wasn’t because of the wind.

‘Enemies!’

That’s right.

The enemy forces, clad in dark red uniforms, were revealing their presence and charging at a terrifying speed.

It was truly an incredible speed. How could they have suppressed their presence until now while charging at such a speed? Regardless of their skill, it was clear that they were extremely adept at manipulating their Qi [internal energy].

‘I didn’t feel anything?’

No matter how skilled they were at manipulating Qi, it didn’t make sense that he hadn’t noticed them until they had closed this distance.

Moreover, Yeon Ho-jeong was certain that enemies were approaching from the front. If even Yeon Ho-jeong, who was much stronger than him, was unaware of the current situation, then this was no ordinary matter.

In that moment, Hwang Seok-tae recalled Yeon Ho-jeong’s words.

‘Something’s strange. Enemies are definitely approaching. That’s for sure. But…’

‘It’s hard to explain. I need to see it with my own eyes.’

Hwang Seok-tae’s eyes flashed.

‘The Vice-Commander was also unsure. He was reading something I don’t know.’

That’s why he went to check it himself.

Then, what was the current situation?

‘The leaders are fighting separately, and the troops are fighting separately.’

In a brief moment, Hwang Seok-tae’s mind raced.

‘The battle between the leaders, that is, a fierce battle between masters who have entered the realm of the Supreme [a high level of martial arts mastery]. They wouldn’t have left any troops behind. Even a supreme master wouldn’t be able to interfere in the fight between monsters.’

In other words, all the troops the enemy had brought were concentrated here.

‘Instead, the guys trying to attack Jongnam are likely to have dispersed their forces. It would be difficult to break through and push in from one place due to the terrain.’

The enemy knew the terrain around the Jongnam Sect well. Even if they didn’t, they had to move with the conviction that they did.

Then?

“First and second platoons of Cheongmok Cliff, prepare the Qi Sword Formation! Third and fourth platoons, prepare to fill the gaps in the formation!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Swords clashed as numerous swordsmen scattered left and right.

Although it was an order from an unknown outsider, their movements were perfectly synchronized. It was the first time they were defending the mountain from invaders. There were orders from above, but the situation was too tense to disobey an outsider.

Hwang Seok-tae shouted.

“From the seventh to the eighth platoons, deploy a close-quarters sword formation! Absolutely do not leave your positions! Do not pay attention to enemies breaking through the formation and heading to the main camp! You must hold your ground!”

The voice, amplified by his powerful inner energy, was conveyed clearly and calmly throughout the Cheongmok Cliff area.

“The Hwasan swordsmen will form a circular formation around the palace! Enemies entering the interior will be dealt with under the orders of the Jongnam elders, and as soon as the enemies are dealt with, return to your original positions! Any other movements are strictly prohibited! Even if you see an enemy, do not leave your position without orders!”

He was working with them for the first time, so he didn’t know their combat capabilities. Some might have a flexible perspective, but their judgment should not be allowed.

They had to follow the commander’s orders thoroughly. That was all that mattered now.

Hwang Seok-tae’s eyes blazed.

“We won’t just defend! If they enter our territory, we attack first! Move as if this is an offensive battle, not a defensive one!”

Shortly after.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Near Cheongmok Cliff, murderous sword strikes and arrogant sword techniques clashed. The battle had finally begun.

Hwang Seok-tae shouted.

“The momentum of the initial battle determines the victor of the entire war! Push forward even if it costs you your head!”

* * *

Boom!

With a deafening explosion, Yeon Ho-jeong retreated backward.

The explosion of his powerful energy, the power of the Light Divine Core surging momentarily, protected his bones and internal organs.

‘It’s not working.’

Flash!

Myeong Geuk, who had been charging straight ahead, suddenly appeared from the side and struck with a hand blade.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.

It was a familiar martial art. Even if he didn’t know the aura Myeong Geuk was emitting, he knew the style of that hand technique well.

‘True Blood Hand!’

A sinister technique of the Demonic Cult that simultaneously pressured the opponent’s mind and style with a sinister force.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s left palm pressed down heavily.

Clang!

With a loud explosion, Myeong Geuk staggered.

Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t stop at just staggering him. He was able to offset the shockwave only after retreating three steps.

‘As expected, I can’t do it with my bare hands.’

The enlightenment of the Tai Chi, personally taught by the head of the Wudang Sect, Seung Hyun-jin.

He had received the enlightenment of the true form of Tai Chi, which was passed down as a secret art in the Wudang main sect, not the Tai Chi form of exercise commonly known in the world.

He had never used the true form of Tai Chi against an opponent he had fought with his bare hands. However, he had used the enlightenment of that time in his own way to deflect the opponent’s attacks or to create opportunities for counterattacks.

But now it was different.

With the Heaven Piercing Axe in his right hand, he released the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird techniques, and with his left hand, he was fully releasing the enlightenment of the true form of Tai Chi.

Even so, he couldn’t completely deflect the impact. He should have been continuing his offensive with the output of the Light Divine Core, the source of his power, but he was unable to do so because he was busy dispersing the impact.

The enlightenment of Tai Chi, the vibration control of the Light Divine Core, and even the activation of the Black Tortoise Qi at every moment.

He had to release these three martial arts almost simultaneously to avoid even a single point of damage from Myeong Geuk’s attacks. If he gave up on any one of them, he would suffer internal injuries, and the accumulated internal injuries would quickly tip the scales of victory in Myeong Geuk’s favor.

‘This is not good.’

The left palm that had released Tai Chi grabbed the end of the Heaven Piercing Axe’s shaft.

Yeon Ho-jeong swung the Heaven Piercing Axe like lightning.

Whoosh! Bang!

It was a straightforward strike of Mount Tai Pressing Down [a powerful axe technique].

It was an attack that seemed straightforward, but there were no gaps. Even Myeong Geuk couldn’t avoid this attack and had to parry it to disperse the impact.

Whoosh!

Behind Myeong Geuk, who was being pushed back, the overflowing flames were frightened and fled left and right.

Yeon Ho-jeong exhaled briefly.

‘He’s strong.’

Myeong Geuk was strong.

He was a strongman he had never met in his past life. Judging by the fact that he had stepped into this battle, he didn’t seem like a secret weapon that had been kept hidden, but when they actually fought, he had enough power to be called a secret weapon.

‘It’s not just that he’s strong.’

Whoosh! Bang!

Even after receiving a powerful blow and retreating, he flew in like an arrow on a bowstring and attacked.

He had expected the follow-up attack, but the density of the explosive force was unexpected.

Even though it was a fist strike released in an instant, it exerted an unbearable power. He blocked it with the wide axe blade of the Heaven Piercing Axe, but even while being pushed back, his back was shaking.

The veins on Yeon Ho-jeong’s forehead bulged.

‘I still can’t get used to it!’

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Myeong Geuk’s eyes sparkled.

He followed Yeon Ho-jeong, who was being pushed back, and struck with his palm, but Yeon Ho-jeong had already moved to the rear side and was striking down with his axe diagonally.

It was similar to his own attack from a moment ago, but it was a more unpredictable attack line. It was a mysterious footwork that made one’s eyes turn involuntarily.

“Impressive!”

Myeong Geuk’s left foot dug into the ground.

Boom! Bang!

At that moment, a tremendous vibration was transmitted through the shaft of the Heaven Piercing Axe.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes wavered.

It was blocked. By Myeong Geuk’s body.

After his rebirth, or even during his time as the Dark Emperor.

He had never seen anyone deflect a swinging axe with their bare body, let alone a bare-handed palm strike. At best, they would deflect it or counter it with a stronger attack.

And that was normal. Yeon Ho-jeong’s axe technique was full of a weight that even a few levels of stronger opponents could not receive with their bare bodies.

But Myeong Geuk not only received it with his body but even deflected it.

“Amazing!”

Boom!

Yeon Ho-jeong’s body was pushed back madly. He couldn’t withstand Myeong Geuk’s palm force.

Myeong Geuk frowned and rotated his shoulder greatly.

“I thought my upper body would be split even with the Guiding Calamity Divine Armor. What a barbaric attack power.”

It was a martial art with a name he had never heard before.

It seemed to be a Qi technique that changed the entire body to an incredible strength to block attacks, rather than wearing armor inside the clothes.

Masters of the leaning technique, who use their shoulders and backs to support and blow away opponents, sometimes use similar tactics. In fact, Yeon Ho-jeong had also used a similar explosive technique momentarily.

However, such a stubborn and powerful Qi technique was impossible. Myeong Geuk’s Guiding Calamity Divine Armor was close to a complete divine art with a complete formula.

‘It’s not their martial art.’

Trickle.

A stream of blood flowed down the hand holding the Heaven Piercing Axe.

It seemed that Myeong Geuk, who had received the attack, was also greatly shocked, but Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand guard was also slightly torn. That was how strong the rebound force was.

‘It’s not the Demonic Cult’s martial art!’

To be precise, it was a martial art he had never seen from the Demonic Cult’s supreme masters he had faced.

‘Damn it, there’s no need to be flustered just because it’s a martial art I’m facing for the first time.’

It wasn’t just because it was an unfamiliar martial art.

Myeong Geuk’s martial art had its roots in the Demonic Cult’s martial arts, but at the same time, it was different from any martial art from the outer realms.

‘The style is simple, but it’s hard to read.’

Whoosh!

Myeong Geuk, who had briefly reorganized his body, once again flew towards Yeon Ho-jeong.

Even during the short break, there were no gaps. Normally, Yeon Ho-jeong would have taken a hit even at a loss, but he gave up because he couldn’t be sure.

Myeong Geuk’s hand blade and Yeon Ho-jeong’s Heaven Piercing Axe collided.

Clang!

Amazing.

With a divine art that was far removed from the Demonic Cult’s true Qi, he was using the Demonic Cult’s external martial arts so perfectly.

No, it was even more so. The True Blood Hand was a sharp but not strong martial art. That was the essence of the martial art itself, which could not be changed even if one’s level increased.

But this Myeong Geuk had made the hand blade technique of the True Blood Hand, with a divine art he had never seen before, strong enough to withstand a collision with the Heaven Piercing Axe.

The two men’s eyes met right in front of each other.

‘That rebound Qi technique that blocked my axe, he can also use that power on his hand blade.’

At that moment, Myeong Geuk’s left hand, which had been gripping his right fist’s wrist, was released.

Thud!

Myeong Geuk’s left fist struck Yeon Ho-jeong’s side.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone like the sun.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Myeong Geuk retreated more than ten steps.

Trickle.

Myeong Geuk’s right hand was stained with blood. He had finally been injured by the Vermilion Bird Fire on the blade of the Heaven Piercing Axe.

“You’re a tough one!”

Even in Myeong Geuk’s voice, which had been full of admiration, tension finally settled in.

Even though he had taken a blow to his side, he had pushed forward with even more force. It was common to retreat or struggle to deflect the attack, but it was not something that could be attempted with ordinary tenacity, regardless of possibility or impossibility.

“Hoo.”

Yeon Ho-jeong took another short breath.

He had taken a blow to his side, but Myeong Geuk had also failed to put his full power into it. If he had put his full power into it, the axe blade would have cut his hand and split his collarbone.

Of course, Yeon Ho-jeong would have had a fist-sized hole in his side as well.

Myeong Geuk’s surprise attack was successful, but Yeon Ho-jeong’s combat power did not decrease. Myeong Geuk was also having difficulty controlling his true Qi for a while due to the injury to his hand.

Neither of them had suffered a clear loss. Yeon Ho-jeong seemed to be slightly pushed back, but anyone could see that it was a difference of a hair’s breadth.

“Good.”

Myeong Geuk grinned and moved his neck from side to side.

“Let’s fight slowly and leisurely. We have plenty of time.”

At first, Yeon Ho-jeong had tried to buy time, but the situation had reversed in the meantime.

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-jeong’s body was covered in a white wind.

“I hope you get beaten to a pulp quickly. I don’t have time, you bastard.”