Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 865

He inhaled lightly.

It was just breathing in the empty air, nothing visible. However, in Hwa-hyang’s eyes, it seemed as if golden particles scattered in the air were entering her master’s nose.

“Hoo.”

He exhaled heavily.

Whether it was the breathing method of internal energy cultivation or the Danjeon breathing for Taoist health [a breathing technique focused on the lower abdomen], the basic principle was to inhale thinly and deeply, and exhale slowly.

However, Cheon Hyo-rak’s breathing was different. Despite having a clear purpose for internal energy cultivation, it was on a different path from ordinary breathing methods.

A light inhale, and a heavy exhale.

It wasn’t leisurely or slow. Rather, it seemed faster than the breathing of an ordinary person who had never practiced martial arts.

Hwa-hyang’s eyes trembled.

‘He has already reached the Seventh Stage of Gong [a level of martial arts mastery].’

She swallowed unconsciously.

‘He truly has great talent. If not for the physical limitations caused by his heavenly curse, he would have gained power comparable to the Shaolin Abbot by now.’

Hwa-hyang felt sorry.

Cheon Hyo-rak’s talent was great and unique. His talent was for ‘analysis’; he could reproduce any martial art he saw once.

Not only that, but he could also completely break down and interpret any complex martial arts formula just by reading it once. The anecdote of him perfectly analyzing a top-tier demonic martial arts manual that the Divine Devil Forest Lord had jokingly thrown at him when he was young was still told as a legend.

It was one of the reasons why Cheon Hyo-rak, who could be called the epitome of the survival of the fittest, had survived in the Divine Devil Forest.

He had a body that couldn’t properly learn martial arts due to his heavenly curse, but his talent was so outstanding that he could be called the best in the Divine Devil Forest.

Fortunately, there was a way to utilize his talent, and thanks to that, he gained an incredibly powerful internal energy.

However, he couldn’t properly control that internal energy. Not yet.

‘The Heavy Vigor Demonic Art, which he started practicing only three years ago, is already at the Seventh Stage. How happy would the Lord be if he knew this?’

Hwa-hyang sighed inwardly.

How much time had passed?

Whoosh!

With a strong inhale, Cheon Hyo-rak opened his eyes.

Hwa-hyang knelt down.

“Congratulations on your great achievement, young master.”

“What great achievement?”

Cheon Hyo-rak smiled bitterly.

“I knew how to reach the Seventh Stage from the moment I first read the manual. It’s just that my body wasn’t suitable for it, so I couldn’t practice it.”

“Even so, reaching the Seventh Stage of Heavy Vigor in just three years is an unprecedented feat in the history of the Divine Devil Forest, is it not?”

“It’s a martial art that can’t be properly implemented. It’s not a feat.”

An expression of pity appeared on Hwa-hyang’s face.

Cheon Hyo-rak repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists.

“Still, it’s good.”

In the past, he couldn’t even amplify his five senses with internal energy. Because he possessed an unimaginable amount of internal energy, the overall functions of his body had improved, but he couldn’t go beyond that.

But now it was different.

If he wanted, he could make his vision several times clearer, and he could exert hearing and perception comparable to any master.

‘Although martial arts implementation is impossible, this alone is something.’

The first time he used internal energy to maximize his physical senses.

He could not forget the pleasure and surprise of that time. It was as if the senses that had been suppressed were all released, and he gained senses more sensitive than any master.

‘……Hmm?’

And now, with his perception beyond the five senses becoming active, Cheon Hyo-rak realized that his sixth sense, which naturally stretched out according to his perception, was sending a flickering signal.

“Who is it?”

“Yes?”

Cheon Hyo-rak looked out the window.

His expression became strange.

“Someone else is coming.”

“Someone is coming? Could it be… Bong Gong [a group of influential figures in the Martial Alliance]?”

“No, not this guest room.”

Flash!

A subtle demonic aura filled Cheon Hyo-rak’s eyes.

Upon reaching the Seventh Stage, he was finally able to possess a decent glint in his eyes. He himself was not even aware of that.

“It seems to be a master who has reached the Demonic Saint… but it’s a bit different.”

A master who has reached the Demonic Saint.

Hwa-hyang thought it was hard to be surprised anymore. How many supreme masters were gathering in this Martial Alliance?

“The distance is incredibly far. It doesn’t seem to be anywhere in the outer city, but rather hundreds of miles away.”

To recognize the approach of a master hundreds of miles away was truly an unbelievable ability. It was a divine skill that only the masters of the Saintly Heaven, who had not neglected their training even after reaching the Limitless Realm and had awakened their own Martial God’s Path, could imitate.

Even the Saintly Heaven would find it extremely difficult to read another person’s energy from this distance unless they were strongly aware of them or their own true energy was compatible or antagonistic to it.

It was another of Cheon Hyo-rak’s talents.

The moment he awakened his senses with internal energy, his extremely developed brain and sixth sense allowed him to exert an ability close to clairvoyance.

Although it was not an ability that could be exerted at any time like those of the Saintly Heaven.

“It’s the first time I’ve felt someone approaching from this distance. It seems to be because of the energy that person possesses.”

“Energy?”

“It’s similar to ours. Not the same, but it has the same origin.”

“Then…?”

“It’s the true energy of a heretical demonic path. Not demonic arts, but evil arts.”

A supreme master who has mastered evil arts among the masters listed in the Saintly Heaven.

Cheon Hyo-rak’s eyes flashed.

“What’s going on? Why is a supreme master of the black demonic faction coming to the Martial Alliance? Surely they wouldn’t try to fight alone.”

“……”

“Do they have some business?”

Whatever the purpose, Cheon Hyo-rak felt a chill run down his spine.

‘How many masters are gathering in this Martial Alliance?’

The Sword Saint of the Namgoong Clan, and a master presumed to be the Sword Master.

Mok Won, the White Weapon Divine Lord, one of the three military leaders, and the unprecedented hero, the Overlord Yeon Ho-jeong, who had recently been listed in the Saintly Heaven.

That alone was terrifying, but now even the Evil Lord, said to be the master of all evil arts, was coming.

‘But something is different.’

It didn’t feel like they were gathering for a single purpose. At least, that’s how it seemed to Cheon Hyo-rak.

And that was more of a problem.

The fact that such amazing masters were gathering at the Martial Alliance even though they didn’t share a single value was proof of the Martial Alliance’s immense status.

‘It’s indeed a den of intrigue. The saying that it’s the greatest Martial Alliance in the world is not an exaggeration. I knew it, but I’m realizing it more and more as time passes.’

A shadow fell over Cheon Hyo-rak’s face.

‘Is this okay?’

Although he didn’t show it, he was as proud of the Divine Devil Forest as anyone else.

However, as he stayed here, he felt a growing unease. He had come to ask for help and to join hands, but somehow he felt a sense of unease that the Divine Devil Forest would be swallowed by the huge shadow of the Martial Alliance.

‘……No, I still have to push forward. I need to think of a way to not be pushed back by the Martial Alliance, and I can’t neglect the current problem because of an uncertain future.’

Furthermore, rather than the Divine Devil Forest being dismantled by those cruel traitors, it might be better to enter the shadow of the Martial Alliance.

Cheon Hyo-rak, who had been pondering, sighed and said,

“Hwa-hyang, bring me my robe.”

“Ah, yes!”

As he put on the robe that Hwa-hyang handed him, a polite voice was heard from outside the door.

“Is the honored guest inside?”

“Yes.”

“There is a message from the Martial Hall. The Bong Gong members wish to see the honored guest now.”

Cheon Hyo-rak nodded.

“I will go out now.”

“Yes.”

Hwa-hyang’s face turned cold.

“Even though we are in a position to ask for help, this is too much. It’s not like we set a time to meet, but to ask us to come just because they want to see us is…”

“It’s consideration.”

“Yes?”

Cheon Hyo-rak smiled.

“It’s their consideration. I was the one who asked first, and they had to be cautious. Nevertheless, the fact that they want to see me right now is to quickly calm my anxious mind.”

“Th, then?”

“Yes. It seems they will grant our request.”

Hwa-hyang opened the door.

Cheon Hyo-rak smiled brightly.

“Let’s go with a smile.”

At that time, three people were gathered in the conference room. The Great Master Gong Gong, the Taoist Master Seung-hyeon, and the strategist Jeagal Mun-ho.

Cheon Hyo-rak bowed his head.

“I am grateful that you have made a decision so quickly.”

Jeagal Mun-ho smiled and asked,

“How do you know what decision we have made to be already thanking us?”

“Whatever decision you have made, it is better than just waiting.”

“Haha, it seems that Young Master Cheon already has an idea of our decision.”

“Yes, I do.”

Jeagal Mun-ho looked at Great Master Gong Gong.

“Great Master.”

Great Master Gong Gong slowly opened his eyes.

For some reason, the smile that was always on his face was gone. His face looked a little troubled, and he looked exhausted.

However, his voice was as deep and pleasant as ever.

“I will accept Young Master Cheon’s proposal.”

“Thank you.”

“However, there are conditions.”

“Please speak.”

“I believe that Young Master Cheon is aware that the current atmosphere of the Martial Alliance is somewhat chaotic.”

“……”

“We have been deliberating on the selection of the Martial Alliance Leader for a long time. Without a proper leader, it was impossible to respond immediately to the incidents and accidents occurring in the Central Plains. We were always slow because we had to assume minimal damage before making a decision.”

“……”

“But that will not happen anymore. Just like now.”

Cheon Hyo-rak slightly lowered his head, but was inwardly flustered.

‘Why is he saying this?’

It was unnecessary for the Shaolin Abbot, of all people, to talk about the Martial Alliance Leader and make a similar pledge to him, who had been dispatched from the demonic martial world.

Great Master Gong Gong, who had been quietly looking at Cheon Hyo-rak, continued.

“You must tell us exactly what the situation is in the Divine Devil Forest.”

“Yes?”

“The situation and condition of the Lord, the leader of the rebellion and the size of their forces, as well as their ultimate goal. You must tell us the number of masters in the Divine Devil Forest, the available forces and their exact locations, and even the weaknesses and attack points of the demonic arts in detail.”

Cheon Hyo-rak was flustered.

“Great Master.”

“Is there a problem?”

“It is only natural to tell you the situation of the Divine Devil Forest and the enemy’s forces in detail. However, it is difficult to tell you the weaknesses and attack methods of the demonic arts.”

“Why is that?”

“Yes?”

“We intend to help Young Master Cheon restore the Divine Devil Forest to its normal state. For that, we will have to dispatch our precious warriors of the Alliance, but can Young Master Cheon guarantee their lives?”

“G, Great Master.”

“You cannot. If you had the power to do so, you wouldn’t have needed to come here, would you?”

“But the demonic arts are…”

“In order for our warriors to be safe, and in order to correct the Divine Devil Forest, Young Master Cheon must also show that much sincerity.”

“Is that part agreed upon by all the Bong Gong members?”

“There was no need for that. They just follow my opinion.”

“……Yes?”

A subtle golden aura began to form in Great Master Gong Gong’s tired eyes.

“This humble monk is the first Martial Alliance Leader.”