Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 804

“……!!”Pure surprise filled Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.”How is it? Spacious, isn’t it?””Indeed.”The two who had left the main hall were now in a rather large open space.Behind Yang Cheon’s residence was a secret passage. After walking for more than an hour through this passage, they reached a door that led to the surface.The place where the two stood after exiting the Mukryong Clan was an open space the size of three or four training grounds of a prestigious family combined.’Where is this?’Yeon Ho-jeong looked around.Quite large trees were situated all around, making it difficult to see beyond them.”How far is this from the Mukryong Clan?””You should know by walking, shouldn’t you?””But why can’t I sense the presence of the warriors patrolling around the Mukryong Clan?”That was true.The two had walked for more than an hour from Yang Cheon’s residence. An hour for them, who were absolute masters, meant their walking speed far exceeded that of ordinary people. Even if an adult who had not practiced martial arts walked quickly without rest, it would have taken more than half a day to cover that distance.That distance was quite far from the Mukryong Clan. However, it shouldn’t have been so far that Yeon Ho-jeong’s sensitive senses couldn’t detect the presence of warriors patrolling near the Mukryong Clan.Yang Cheon chuckled.”Can’t you feel it?””No, I cannot.””Then it seems it’s well-designed.””Designed…?”In that instant, a clear light flickered in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.Yeon Ho-jeong, who had fully opened his upper dantian [an energy center in the body] by using the Light Divine Pill, maximized his senses.’Hmm.’He could feel that the flow of air was slightly, very slightly, unnatural.Only after realizing something was wrong and amplifying his senses did he barely notice it. If he hadn’t seen Yang Cheon’s reaction, he would have thought he was on a remote island, as there was no sign of anyone around.”It’s the Heavenly Palace Maze Formation.”Yang Cheon waved his hand in the air.”It’s a combination of the Heavenly Palace Formation, which perfectly blocks the energy inside the formation from leaking out, and the Illusion Maze Formation, where even a supreme master’s senses would have difficulty finding a way out.””…Was there such a formation?””I don’t know much about formations either. However, there are far more formations in the world than martial artists vaguely imagine. Their difficulty varies greatly, and their characteristics are all different. It is said that if you are trapped in a formation created by a master of formations, even a master of the Saintly Heaven realm would have difficulty escaping.”Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been looking around, suddenly focused his eyes.”Is this a hideout?””…You are indeed smart.”Yang Cheon nodded.”That’s right. This is a safe house where I, the vice-leader, would come if I needed to escape from a possible enemy attack.””It doesn’t seem like a simple safe house.””Of course. This place also has the characteristics of the best maze formation in the Central Plains. Even if a formation expert came, it would take them half a day to break it. The moment the pursuers try to find me and leave this open space, they will all be trapped in the maze formation for life.””Of course, Master, you know how to escape the maze formation.””Of course. I created this place to escape, so I can’t get trapped in the maze and starve to death, can I?”Yeon Ho-jeong looked around again.”Somehow, this place doesn’t seem to be used only as a simple safe house.””That’s right.”Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been looking around, looked at Yang Cheon.Yang Cheon, with his hands behind his back, seemed a little taller than before.”Even a master of the Saintly Heaven realm has limits if they only meditate or cultivate their inner energy.””That’s true.””Of course, you can train inside, but there are times when you need to train by pouring out everything you have.””You train here at those times.””Isn’t it amazing? Even if the world’s Fighting King unleashes his full power, this safe house won’t collapse. Not only does it not collapse, but it’s hard to even make a scratch on it. It absorbs all the impact of the force.”Each master of the Saintly Heaven realm is a disaster-level force with the power of a large sect.It was said that even if such a master poured out all their power, it would be difficult to make a scratch. Just that alone was enough to praise the person who created this formation.”It was made by a trustworthy friend I mentioned before.”A friend who had seen through the talent of the Blood Jade Demon Lord. That friend whom Yang Cheon trusted so much.Yeon Ho-jeong asked.”I’ve wanted to ask you before, but who exactly is that friend?””It’s nothing you need to know. He’s as elusive as a ghost, and you can only see his face if he comes to you himself. He’s the kind of guy you can’t even invite first.””I see.””Well, that’s not important right now.”Yang Cheon, who had taken his hands from behind his back, spread his arms wide.A small tension appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.”An area that can absorb the power of an absolute master. The width is also suitable, so even if monsters rampage, people won’t know.””Are we going to fight?””Why? Is it unexpected?””It’s a bit out of the blue.””I can see why you might feel that way.”Yang Cheon slowly turned his head left and right.”Fighting is like that. It can happen for no reason. Before you know it, the reason becomes unimportant.””Reasons are always important.”At that moment.Fwoooooosh!With a tremendous sound of tearing through the air, a long cut appeared on the left side of Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.He instinctively tilted his upper body to the right after reading the flashing killing intent. That was why it only ended up like this.Yang Cheon, who had his left fist raised, smiled.”Your reaction is good.”Fwoooooosh!Surprisingly, the next attack was not from Yang Cheon but from Yeon Ho-jeong.He shot out a left fist with almost the same speed as Yang Cheon, and Yang Cheon also dodged the fist that was flying towards his face with a similar movement to Yeon Ho-jeong.Yeon Ho-jeong calmly took a stance.”Is this how it’s done?””You learn quickly.”Pow pow pow pow!As if they had been waiting, the two men swung their fists at each other.It was the start of an unexpected fight in an unexpected place.Yang Cheon did not tell him the reason. Yeon Ho-jeong was curious about it, but his body reacted before he could even hear it.Crack!The first to be hit was Yeon Ho-jeong.He dodged the opponent’s fist while swinging his own fists at an incredible speed, but he could not avoid the leg technique that hit his thigh after lowering his body like a ghost.Thwack!Yeon Ho-jeong’s movement, as he widened the distance, faltered slightly.Fwoooooosh!It was as if Yang Cheon had been stretched out by more than ten feet.Yang Cheon’s fist, which had closed the distance like lightning, aimed for Yeon Ho-jeong’s solar plexus.Thud!Surprise flickered in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes as he moved diagonally to dodge the fist. Yang Cheon’s fist, which seemed like it would pass right through, had suddenly spread out and grabbed the clothes near his chest.’Danger!’Rip! Boom!The sound of the clothes tearing was immediately buried by the explosion that followed.Yang Cheon’s attack, which was trying to grab his collar, pull him in, and smash his face with his knee, was incredibly rough and violent. It wasn’t even a martial arts technique. It was just a fight.”Impressive.”As Yang Cheon released his grip, the torn piece of Yeon Ho-jeong’s clothing fell to the ground.”Inner energy cancellation? You were reading that far ahead?”The moment Yang Cheon’s hand grabbed his clothes, Yeon Ho-jeong released the Light Divine Pill and tore his clothes in advance. If he hadn’t, Yang Cheon’s inner energy would have flowed into the fabric, making it strong and tough, and he wouldn’t have been able to avoid it.Brushing off his front, Yeon Ho-jeong said.”It’s a technique I often use.””You’re a fighter, indeed.”Flash!Yang Cheon’s eyes gleamed.Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been brushing off his front, had already approached within half a foot and was striking his solar plexus with an upward strike. It was not a fist but a piercing hand. It was a brutal attack that pierced the vital point with his fingertips while minimizing air resistance.’Fast.’Thud! Swish!Yang Cheon’s knee rose and touched Yeon Ho-jeong’s wrist. The piercing hand, which should have pierced Yang Cheon’s solar plexus, was pushed up and grazed his shoulder.Thwack!A descending fist landed on his chest. Yeon Ho-jeong retreated with a stifled groan.In the same posture as he had struck the fist, Yang Cheon said.”You use footwork properly. It’s very effective in close-range hand-to-hand combat. Your bare-hand fighting technique is quite something.”There would not be more than three people in the world who could say such words to Yeon Ho-jeong.Yeon Ho-jeong was skilled in almost all martial arts for combat. Weapon techniques were more destructive, but his fist and leg techniques also boasted a killing intent that was not inferior to them.He had not mastered one martial art but had learned all the martial arts necessary to win in combat.In that respect, the two were different yet very similar.”I knew it, but you are skilled in one-hit kills. In other words, such habits and killing techniques can hold you back when fighting masters like me.”Yang Cheon was a legendary master who had built the Fighting King’s fortress with just his two fists.Yeon Ho-jeong was more like a soldier who used everything to win in battle.In terms of one-on-one hand-to-hand combat skills, he was bound to be inferior to Yang Cheon, the embodiment of bare-hand fighting techniques. Even if they fought to the death, it would be difficult to win due to the difference in their achieved levels, but in a bare-handed duel, Yang Cheon was absolutely superior.Yeon Ho-jeong perfectly understood that difference with just these few exchanges.”It’s the first time.”Fwoooooosh!An aura of four colors emanated from Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.He had drawn out all of the Four Divine Arts, not just one martial art.Even if he awakened all his true energy and poured out all the best moves he could use, it was an opponent he would have difficulty defeating. There was no point in testing the waters.”It’s the first time I’ve felt this kind of helplessness in a bare-handed fight.””You say you’re helpless, but your expression looks like you’re about to die of joy.””Is that so?””Indeed, my eyes were not wrong.”Kugugugung!If Yeon Ho-jeong’s aura was full of a mysteriousness that blazed like a whirlwind, the aura that Yang Cheon emitted was black like basalt and hard like granite.Grrr.It was as if the low growl of a wild beast was echoing from somewhere.Yeon Ho-jeong saw the jaws of a huge black lion roaring like an illusion behind Yang Cheon’s back.’This is.’Wonder filled Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.’This is the true power of the current Fighting King.’Quarrrrling!Even the aura of an absolute master was completely absorbed by the formation.However, it seemed that Yang Cheon’s full power could not be completely absorbed. A powerful vibration echoed from under Yang Cheon’s feet as he stepped on the ground.Yang Cheon raised his right fist.Whoooosh!The black mane of the black lion became wind, swirling around his fist and entire forearm.It was endlessly dark, but it looked more splendid than Yeon Ho-jeong’s Four Divine Arts. The rotation of the black wind on his fist and arm was so powerful that it seemed like it would steal all the air in the area.Yang Cheon said calmly.”The Black Path Alliance has no history. They only submitted to my power. There are no sacred objects or clothing that the master of the Black Path should possess.””It has always been like that.””But now it’s different. I have become the beginning of history, and you must become the person who elevates that history. In other words, our Black Path will also have a history.”Woo woong!The whites of Yang Cheon’s eyes disappeared. His eyes, completely dyed black, were like those of a demon.”What represents the leader of the Black Path is always power. And that power will be passed down through generations, like the Hundred Steps of Shaolin and the Tai Chi of Wudang.””……?!””There’s no time to look at your stance. I trust your level and understanding. Learn on your own.”Whoosh!Yang Cheon’s Whirlwind Lion Fist tore through space and reached Yeon Ho-jeong’s chest.Bang!!