Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 757

Thud! Thwack! A large amount of blood splattered across the frost-covered royal road.

The gruesome sounds of tearing flesh and slicing echoed chillingly through the silent royal court.

Jeagal Ayeon’s face turned pale. Yeon-wi, gripping the fallen Gi Woo-heon’s neck and wildly swinging his sword, looked as savage as a beast tearing apart its prey.

“L, Lord!”

At that moment, Peng Mu-gang grabbed Jeagal Ayeon’s shoulder.

“Stay still.”

“But!”

“We shouldn’t interfere. Lord Yeon must break free on his own.”

“Break free? From what?!”

Peng Mu-gang silently gazed at Yeon-wi.

His deep eyes were filled with worry and astonishment.

‘I thought he had reached the peak of enlightenment, but…’

Peng Mu-gang’s eyes twitched slightly.

‘To think he actually reached the level of Mind Sword.’

Mind Sword.

It refers to the state of wielding a sword with the mind.

However, it could be interpreted in various ways. A dancer who performs a sword dance, swinging her sword as her heart desires, could also be said to have reached the level of Mind Sword.

But the Mind Sword that martial artists speak of is the highest level of martial arts, meaning that one can cut down an opponent without wielding a physical sword, simply by using the mind.

Mind Imprint Injury. If one wills to kill an opponent with their mind, the opponent dies without being able to resist.

If such an ability truly existed, it would be worthy of being called a god. If a person could die instantly just by someone thinking it, without even wielding a sword or making eye contact, wouldn’t that be true invincibility?

Of course, no one has actually reached the level of Mind Sword. Thus, the level of Mind Sword has remained nothing more than a legend.

However, the level that Yeon-wi has reached is also on the path to Mind Sword. To be precise, it could be called the Mind Sword of a Swordsman, not the Mind Sword of a Martial God.

Even though his physical body hasn’t reached the ultimate state, he has developed his upper dantian [an energy center in the body] through tremendous enlightenment. With his strong spirit and mind, he can show opponents inescapable illusions or destroy their minds, driving them insane.

It’s not about killing an opponent with the mind, but about cutting the opponent’s mind.

Directly striking the invisible spirit, this is a supreme martial principle that cannot be compared to any other technique in the world.

But there was a problem with that level.

‘Mind Sword begins with the manifestation of an extremely developed mental power. It’s similar to killing intent, but much more delicate and dangerous. It can exert great power depending on the situation, but if one’s will is weak, it can’t even scratch the opponent.’

Peng Mu-gang’s eyes deepened.

‘He defeated that formidable enemy with his powerful mental strength, but excessive use of the upper dantian can also harm the individual. Depending on how one wields that sharp double-edged sword, it can become a divine sword or a demonic sword.’

Twitch!

Yeon-wi’s sword, which had been cutting and stabbing Gi Woo-heon’s body, stopped.

‘Lord Yeon. The killing sword you showed was incomparably ferocious. Furthermore, if you naturally immerse yourself in it based on Mind Sword, you might truly become an Asura [a powerful, wrathful demigod].’

Shudder.

Perhaps sensing Peng Mu-gang’s concern, or perhaps resisting it.

Yeon-wi’s arm holding the short sword trembled faintly.

‘Break free from the immersion. You wielded the killing sword to kill a traitor, but you are not an Asura, you are the head of the Byeoksan Yeon Family.’

Peng Mu-gang’s fist clenched.

‘If you cannot break free with your own power, you will be swayed by the killing sword again in the future!’

It was then.

Whoosh!

A blue aura surged from Yeon-wi’s body.

By throwing himself into the killing intent and changing the sword strike itself, the color of the true energy tainted by killing intent inevitably darkens. The reason why Yeon-wi’s true energy turned dark blue the moment he drew the Asura Eight Swords was because of that.

But now, the true energy rising from Yeon-wi’s body was its unique true blue color.

Saaah.

The formless killing intent that had been dominating the royal court like a spider web disappeared, becoming an invisible haze.

A smile spread across Peng Mu-gang’s lips.

“Hoo!”

Yeon-wi, who had taken a light breath, slowly rose from his spot.

Jeagal Ayeon’s face brightened.

“Lord!”

“Cough!”

Suddenly, Yeon-wi coughed roughly and vomited a mouthful of blood.

“Lord?!”

Thwack!

Jeagal Ayeon quickly approached Yeon-wi’s side.

“Cough! Cough, cough! Ugh!”

Yeon-wi’s face, as he bent over and vomited blood, was terribly pale.

Jeagal Ayeon asked worriedly.

“Are you alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

Yeon-wi, who had caught his breath for a moment, said as if embarrassed.

“I’m sorry. I showed you an unsightly sight.”

“No! You fought and won against such a master! You’ve done a great thing!”

Yeon-wi’s gaze naturally turned to Gi Woo-heon.

Twitch! Twitch!

Gi Woo-heon’s torso, which had been mangled by the ferocious sword strikes, was writhing.

Both arms were gone, and one leg was also severed. Gi Woo-heon’s appearance, with spiderweb-like sword marks all over his face, neck, and upper body, was truly gruesome.

Yeon-wi’s eyes darkened.

‘…He’s become a beast.’

The Asura Eight Swords was not a martial art that boasted particularly bizarre or mysterious techniques. Looking at the techniques themselves, they were almost identical to the Gentleman’s Eight Sword Styles.

However, it was a killing sword that actively accepted the boiling killing intent, not stopping at the point where it should have, but taking the opponent’s life.

And the reason why Yeon-wi hadn’t drawn the Asura Eight Swords until now was because he wasn’t confident in fully controlling that sword.

‘It’s still far off.’

If he hadn’t reached the level of Mind Sword, if he had stopped right before it, he wouldn’t have shown such an unsightly sight.

After breaking through the supreme level of Mind Sword, the power of the Asura Eight Swords increased, but at the same time, his mind was shaken due to the excessive consumption of divine energy.

A true master must have their essence, energy, and spirit united, with none of them wavering.

When the spirit collapses, the path wavers, and when the path wavers, the energy goes berserk.

This was similar to the process of demonic cultivators who had cultivated demonic arts becoming mad, bloodthirsty demons due to demonic possession.

‘No.’

Yeon-wi shook his head.

‘It’s all just excuses. If I was captured by killing intent without setting my mind straight because of an unfamiliar situation, then it’s ultimately because my cultivation is lacking. If I wasn’t confident in controlling myself in the first place, I shouldn’t have drawn it.’

His hand holding the short sword tightened.

‘I told Ho-jeong not to do that, yet here I am, her father, showing such a sight. I’m truly ashamed.’

Fsssh!

White smoke rose from Yeon-wi’s body.

The sword energy was circulating throughout his body, healing his damaged blood points and expelling the increased impure energy.

In reality, the wounds he had suffered from Gi Woo-heon’s attacks were not severe. The impure energy being expelled from his body now was all internal damage caused by the aftermath of Mind Sword.

‘The spirit is connected to the body, so if my spirit becomes impure, my body also weakens.’

Whooosh!

A cool breeze cleared his mind.

‘Let’s reflect later. Now is not the time for this.’

Yeon-wi asked Jeagal Ayeon.

“Did you persuade the Imperial Guards?”

“Yes.”

“Well done.”

“I didn’t do anything. Lord Peng did it all.”

Yeon-wi nodded and looked at Peng Mu-gang.

Peng Mu-gang smiled and nodded.

Yeon-wi opened his mouth.

“Please wait a moment. I will clear the area and return.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I feel ashamed to face Lord Peng, as I seem to have caused you concern. I’ve returned to my original state, so this won’t happen again.”

“Of course, it shouldn’t.”

Peng Mu-gang’s face, with a grin, was the epitome of a chivalrous hero.

Yeon-wi patted Jeagal Ayeon’s shoulder.

“Guard the royal court until the Imperial Guards arrive. I will go and deal with the hidden enemies around here.”

“Yes!”

Clang!

Yeon-wi, who had broken the short sword that still carried killing intent, reached for the iron sword that was lying far away.

Whooong.

With a pleasant resonance, the broken iron sword was grasped in Yeon-wi’s hand.

Even though it was broken, its length was similar to the short sword. It was not lacking in being held and swung. In the first place, Yeon-wi’s level was not bound by weapons.

Thwack!

Yeon-wi, who had leaped out of the royal road with the Thousand Miles Swift Steps, instantly detected the presence of Yeol Yang-gong.

“Kyah!”

“Agh!”

Short screams erupted from here and there.

It was an incredible speed. The cult members, who had been frightened by the Asura’s killing intent that Yeon-wi had exuded and had hidden themselves, lost their lives in an instant.

After a while.

Whoosh!

Yeon-wi returned, his iron sword not stained with a single drop of blood.

And at that moment, the Imperial Guards led by Hwangbo-jeok arrived in front of the royal court.

Hwangbo-jeok’s eyes trembled.

“T, this!”

The area around the sacred royal court was utterly devastated.

It was unknown what kind of energies had collided, but the ground was deeply pitted in various places. There were places where the soil was scorched black, and the shattered and collapsed palace walls and gates looked very shabby.

Among them, the highlight was the gate of the royal court.

The gate, which had been cut by extremely sharp sword energy, could not be found in its original majestic form.

“What kind of bastard dares to!”

Hwangbo-jeok felt like his vision was spinning from the absurd situation.

“Your Majesty!”

Mun-seok, who had appeared from among the Imperial Guards, looked around the royal court in surprise.

“Is Her Majesty alright?!”

Peng Mu-gang raised his sword and stopped Mun-seok’s words.

“This is Her Majesty’s royal court. Calm yourself.”

“… !”

Mun-seok and Hwangbo-jeok unknowingly shut their mouths.

They were the officials of the imperial palace, but strangely, they felt their bodies stiffen at Peng Mu-gang’s words, who was guarding the front of the royal court.

Peng Mu-gang looked at Yeon-wi.

Yeon-wi nodded and threw the iron sword away carelessly.

Whoosh!

Yeon-wi, who had instantly passed Peng Mu-gang, headed into the open royal court.

Hwangbo-jeok’s eyes were bloodshot.

“You!”

Thwack!

Hwangbo-jeok, who had moved to the bottom of the stairs in an instant, unleashed a ferocious aura.

“How dare an unpermitted person enter the royal court! Come down immediately!”

It was then.

“Is everything settled?”

In an instant, everyone gathered around the royal court froze.

A voice flowing from inside the royal court, from the deepest part of it.

A languid yet dignified voice. It was the voice of the emperor, who had neglected state affairs and indulged in pleasure for decades.

But it was different from his previous voice. The voice, which contained a sharp resonance as if he had learned internal energy, reached the royal road and spread clearly.

Yeon-wi knelt down on the spot.

“Your Majesty.”

“Rise.”

“…”

“You are not people of the imperial palace. I have heard that the etiquette of the martial world is concise and efficient, so you may act as you see fit.”

“But…”

“Furthermore, you have eliminated the head of the evil cult that was eating away at the imperial palace and helped me regain my senses, so you are worthy of being called benefactors of the entire imperial palace, including myself.”

“…”

“Be at ease.”

“I am honored.”

Hwangbo-jeok’s face was filled with shock.

Not only that. Mun-seok, the Grand General of the Palace Guards, as well as the soldiers of the Imperial Guards, and even Peng Mu-gang and Jeagal Ayeon were also surprised.

“So, is everything settled?”

“I apologize, but not yet.”

“I suppose not. If it were a mandate that could be regained by killing the eunuch and a few of his subordinates, I wouldn’t have lived so dissolutely for decades.”

“…”

“How much is left?”

“It is impossible to estimate. However, from now on, I intend to clear them one by one, starting with Your Majesty’s residence and the royal court.”

“Are you confident?”

“No.”

Yeon-wi closed his eyes.

“I will simply act with all my heart.”

A smile appeared in the Emperor’s voice.

“You will need time to clear the surroundings. Why don’t you have a cup of Longjing tea [a type of green tea] with me for a while?”