Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 848

‘……!’

The moment Namgoong Seung drew his sword.

An even heavier silence settled over the training grounds, which were already quiet.

The sound of the wind, the rustling of clothes as people brushed against each other, all faded away.

In that silent training ground, a chilling sound began to spread.

Whoooom.

The iron sword was trembling faintly.

It was a sword’s cry. It was the ultimate enlightenment that only those who had reached the realm of oneness with the sword, and further, oneness with the heart and sword, could demonstrate by imbuing their soul into an external object, the sword.

It was a lofty enlightenment, but not only those who had reached the ultimate could achieve a sword’s cry. Even Yeon Ji-Pyeong was capable of imbuing his soul into his sword with his remarkable enlightenment.

However, the level was different.

The sword’s cry of an absolute master who had entered the realm of infinity was quieter, colder, and more imposing than any other sound.

Whoooooooooom!!

A constant sound that neither grew louder nor softer.

However, the martial artists who heard the sword’s cry felt as if the sound was growing louder, piercing their eardrums and shaking their very core.

It was then.

Weeeeeeeeng!!

A fierce sound echoed from the black great axe, the Radiant Dragon Axe, held by Yeon Ho-Jeong.

He too was producing a weapon’s cry. Or rather, since the weapon he held was an axe, it should be called an axe’s cry.

If Namgoong Seung’s sword’s cry was cold and noble, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s axe’s cry was rough and fierce.

If Namgoong Seung’s aura was like a blizzard raging through a winter canyon, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s aura was like a three-headed, six-armed monster swimming through a river of fire.

Whoooom! Weeeeng!

The vibrations grew stronger.

And then, at some point.

“……”

As if by agreement, the vibrations of the souls created by the two men stopped simultaneously.

A strange smile appeared on Namgoong Seung’s face.

“Not bad.”

“Is that so?”

“I had my doubts. I knew you wouldn’t show such an opening, but I guess I couldn’t shake off the unease that comes from your age.”

His tone had changed from before. The tone, which had been clearly condescending, now had a more refined air.

He had fully acknowledged Yeon Ho-Jeong’s skill, his true power.

“With so many people here, I must be careful not to involve them in the fight.”

“Indeed.”

“I won’t be giving you any advantages.”

A subtle tension flickered in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Here I come.”

Whoom.

It was the moment a small tremor occurred.

‘……!’

The moment he felt something blur, Namgoong Seung had already reached three lengths in front of Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes shook.

‘Fast…….’

Swish!

Before he could even finish his thought, the attack came. The well-maintained, dark iron sword sliced past his shoulder in an instant.

It only grazed his clothes, but it was a strike that jolted him awake. There was no pre-motion, nor could he read any killing intent or aura.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s Radiant Dragon Axe was swung diagonally.

Claaaaaang!!

Namgoong Seung retreated more than ten steps.

Surprise flickered in his aged eyes.

“Such brute force.”

Even if his realm was higher, it was difficult for him to match Yeon Ho-Jeong in terms of raw power. Unless he used a technique that channeled internal energy, Namgoong Seung, the best in the world, was inferior to Yeon Ho-Jeong in terms of the ability to clash weapons directly.

“I know you didn’t bother to dodge.”

He spoke calmly, but the fingertips of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand holding the Radiant Dragon Axe were white. It was a strike that he had gripped and swung more powerfully than ever before.

Namgoong Seung nodded.

“The sword’s cry, and one exchange. That’s enough.”

“Is that so?”

“Now, let’s start to enjoy ourselv….”

Whoooosh!

Before he could finish his sentence, Yeon Ho-Jeong rushed at him.

In terms of speed, there was no difference between him and Namgoong Seung. However, unlike Yeon Ho-Jeong, who could not read Namgoong Seung’s presence, Namgoong Seung clearly read Yeon Ho-Jeong’s movements.

‘Good.’

Namgoong Seung’s sword moved smoothly.

It seemed like he had only swung it once, but the sword blossoms that bloomed around his wrist had exploded in number. Dozens of sword blades created a beautiful shape, blocking Yeon Ho-Jeong’s approach.

Namgoong In, who was watching the scene from afar, exclaimed.

“Heavenly Flower Sword!!”

It was the Heavenly Flower Sword Technique, a supreme art of the Namgoong family, grouped with the Heavenly Wind and Heavenly Thunder as the Three Heavenly Heart Swords. [These are the three core sword techniques of the Namgoong family.]

It was the pinnacle of illusionary swordsmanship. If one were to be mesmerized by its beauty and reach out, their entire body would be torn to shreds.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet powerfully kicked off the ground.

Thud!!

Namgoong Seung’s eyes widened.

‘True Step?’

Despite approaching so quickly, he ignored the inertia, stopped his body, and used the True Step right in front of the sword blossom’s range. [True Step is a martial arts technique that allows for sudden stops and changes in direction.]

Whoooooooosh!!

A white whirlwind rose from under his feet, enveloping Yeon Ho-Jeong’s entire body.

Tick tick tick tick!!

Deflecting the wind shield and the sharp edges of the sword blossoms, it created the image of a beast stretching its limbs.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hands gripped the Radiant Dragon Axe.

Wham!

A diagonal upward slash of the giant axe.

With that one strike, the divided illusionary swords were completely destroyed.

It contained the mystery of controlling ten thousand changes with one strike, and the subtle use of preemptive action to nullify a quickly approaching attack with a delayed move.

It was a simple-looking axe swing, but it was a profound strike filled with layers of the highest-level martial arts. With the powerful internal energy to support that profundity, even Namgoong Seung could not dare to advance.

‘Amazing!’

He wanted to shout those words. But such an exclamation would be an insult to his opponent.

Namgoong Seung, who had retreated using the Heavenly Wind Step, drew a zigzag pattern with his feet for a moment. [Heavenly Wind Step is a movement technique that allows for rapid and unpredictable movements.]

Flash!

Namgoong Seung, who had been facing forward, suddenly appeared in the upper left corner of the air.

It was a lightning-like movement that could appear anywhere. Even Yeon Ho-Jeong could not grasp Namgoong Seung’s movements.

It was not that he could not read his presence, but that he could not catch him even though he knew.

Namgoong Seung struck down with a powerful sword.

Claaaaaang!

The sword was blocked by the shaft of the Radiant Dragon Axe.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong had no choice but to receive the full impact of the sword. The powerful sword was so strong that Yeon Ho-Jeong’s right foot dug into the training ground floor.

Thud!

The axe blade of the Radiant Dragon Axe was buried in the ground.

Just as Namgoong Seung, who had planted his feet on the ground, was about to extend his sword towards Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘……?!’

His hair stood on end from the chilling pressure.

Under the shaft of the Radiant Dragon Axe, which he was holding with only his left hand, a palm strike filled with fierce power was rushing in, diagonally covering Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

It was the Yeon family’s secret technique, the Reversing Dragon Palm. [A powerful palm technique unique to the Yeon family.]

Wham!

Namgoong Seung staggered backward.

‘This guy.’

The opening was clear. Namgoong Seung thought that not exploiting an opening was an act of disrespect to his opponent. So, he extended his sword without hesitation.

But that was a mistake.

‘It’s not that an opening appeared. He created the opening himself.’

In other words, he had induced the attack. And he was prepared with the martial art to counter the induced attack.

Namgoong Seung could not help but be impressed.

‘To think there is such a person.’

They had only exchanged a few blows. Yet, to openly show an opening meant that he had already seen through how he would attack.

If he had slashed instead of piercing, the deliberately created opening would have been useless. Yeon Ho-Jeong was certain that Namgoong Seung would pierce instead of slash.

And it didn’t end there.

Whoooom!!

He swung his axe, rotating towards the retreating Namgoong Seung.

The range of the Radiant Dragon Axe, swung in a semicircle, was incredibly wide. Unlike Namgoong Seung, who wielded an ordinary three-foot sword, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s Radiant Dragon Axe was a six-foot-long polearm.

Clatter!

He changed the trajectory of the axe with a swift sword technique.

For a master, the length of a weapon is not very important. They are adept at controlling the pace of distance, and they can even use internal energy techniques with their weapons to attack opponents from afar.

Yet, Namgoong Seung could not gauge the distance of the weapon that Yeon Ho-Jeong was swinging. He thought it was a little further in, but when he looked, it was aiming for his entire torso.

Fwoooosh!

White smoke rose from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet.

“Hoo.”

More than the White Tiger Descent. The White Tiger Qi was burning at full power, activating his legs to their limits. [White Tiger Qi is a type of internal energy associated with speed and power.]

Namgoong Seung, who was watching Yeon Ho-Jeong from a distance, had a look of determination on his face.

“That’s enough of weapon techniques.”

Rumble!!

A thunderous roar erupted from Namgoong Seung’s body.

Zzzzzing! Zzzzzzzing!

An unusual sound. It was a sound similar to the lightning energy created by Moyong Gun’s Lightning God Technique. [A martial arts technique that utilizes lightning energy.]

However, it sounded much more solemn and much more refined. Namgoong Seung’s appearance, which emitted a blue haze as if containing the sky itself, was as faint as an elusive cloud.

‘Is it finally coming out?’

The divine art that represents the Namgoong family.

The ultimate Great Heavenly Sky Evolution Divine Art was unleashed. [The most powerful martial art of the Namgoong family.]

Whooooooosh!

The overwhelming aura that spread in all directions caused thousands of people to step back involuntarily. They were overwhelmed by Namgoong Seung’s presence.

Namgoong Seung took a light step forward.

Tension rose on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

‘He’s really coming!’

It was then.

‘……?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was glaring at Namgoong Seung, felt a chill run down his spine.

‘The sword!!’

A chilling killing intent rising from below his chin.

Yeon Ho-Jeong quickly leaned his upper body backward.

Flash!

Namgoong Seung, who had sliced through the space where his chin had been, soared high into the sky.

Even though he had been watching him closely, he could not tell when he had approached his lower body.

He was not only fast, but he could not grasp his presence at all. The same was true when he first approached, and even now, after unleashing the Great Heavenly Sky Evolution Divine Art, he had lost track of his movements.

For Yeon Ho-Jeong, these were absurd moments.

He had never experienced this even when fighting Yang Cheon. Even when he clashed with the fast Bi Wang, he was overwhelmed by speed, but he was not unable to sense his presence.

But Namgoong Seung was different. He was not particularly fast, but he had already lost track of his presence twice.

‘This is no time to think about that!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong quickly regained his stance.

Above him, in the air, Namgoong Seung had already taken a strange stance.

His left hand pointed at Yeon Ho-Jeong, and the sword in his right hand pointed at the sky. His legs, pulled up to his abdomen, were in a dynamic posture as if they were about to leap out at any moment, and the blue light in his eyes seemed to be piercing through the weaknesses of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts.

Whoooooooooom!!

The pure sky-blue true energy gathered into the sword.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s pupils turned a mystical emerald green.

Flash! Crash!

Five streams of sword energy rose from the swung iron sword, causing an explosion.

It was the Namgoong family’s supreme swordsmanship, the Boundless Heavenly Sky Sword Technique, which only direct descendants of the family could master. [A powerful sword technique passed down through the Namgoong family.] It was the pinnacle of swordsmanship that had made the Namgoong family the greatest sword family in the Central Plains in the past.

Whirrrrr!

Dust billowed across the entire vast training ground, which was large enough to accommodate thousands of people. It was a powerful, unrestrained swordsmanship.

It was when the mouths of the onlookers were all agape.

‘……?!’

Surprise flickered on Namgoong Seung’s face once again.

‘What is this?’

The power of the Five Dragons Piercing Strike of the Boundless Heavenly Sky Sword was not like this. [The Five Dragons Piercing Strike is a specific move within the Boundless Heavenly Sky Sword Technique.]

To be precise, it was not a technique that caused such an explosion. It was meant to penetrate with an unfathomable depth, not to collide and shatter.

It was then.

From within the thick dust, a huge dragon illusion with beautiful emerald green scales arose.

‘This!’

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had emerged from the dust, rushed at Namgoong Seung with a terrifying expression.