Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 881

882. The Moment of Creation is Short and Eternal (1)

“It has begun.”

Namgoong In’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Down on the martial arts stage, two unparalleled masters rushed towards each other.

Bang!

With a powerful explosion, the two were thrown back.

It was a magnificent exchange of blows. They were trying to gauge each other’s strength and capabilities with a single move.

Whoosh!

The wind carrying the shockwave spread in all directions, ruffling the clothes and hair of the leaders.

Even at this distance, the shockwave was this powerful. The density of the energy carried by the wind was immense. Normally, the released energy from a strike loses its momentum quickly unless controlled by internal energy, but the energy from the clash of these two supreme masters maintained an incredible density even at this distance.

It meant that the density of the energy generated at the point of impact was unbelievably high, not that they had maintained their internal energy until the end.

Truly, masters of a different dimension.

The power of the martial gods, who had reached realms beyond what is permitted to humans, was this extraordinary.

“Impressive, indeed.”

Peng Mu-Gang’s face showed admiration.

“When I fought Sword Saint Senior, we didn’t show this level of impact.”

Gong Gong Dae Sa shook his head.

“That’s because the opponent is different. Back then, he was trying to control the spreading energy, keep it close to his body, and even use the shockwave to attack his opponent.”

“Is that so?”

“In the fight with Sword Saint Senior, enlightenment was important. The intention of the young sect leader was to guide everyone to a higher level by witnessing that enlightenment.”

“Then what about now?”

“It’s a pure clash of power. If the fight with Sword Saint Senior was for everyone, then the fight with Blade Saint Senior is filled with the intention to show all of his own power.”

Gong Gong Dae Sa’s face broke into a smile.

“He doesn’t usually care about what others think, and he doesn’t like to show off, but for some reason, he seems determined to go all out today.”

Everyone’s faces showed shock.

Did that mean that he hadn’t shown his full power in the previous fight against Sword Saint Namgoong Seung?

‘Terrifying!’

Namgoong In’s face showed undisguised astonishment.

Of course, he knew his father hadn’t shown everything he had. That’s how it seemed, and that’s what he believed.

But to hear that Yeon Ho-Jeong had also held back, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of shock and jealousy.

‘Still.’

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Namgoong In’s forehead.

‘Still, he hasn’t reached the level of the Three Emperors.’

Now… he wasn’t so sure.

He didn’t know if his thoughts were the analysis of a calm observer or just wishful thinking.

‘Why is the world!’

Why did the world bestow such unbelievable talent on one person?

If he had that kind of talent.

Then, the world would already be praising the Namgoong family as the true greatest family under the heavens.

‘…Damn it.’

Namgoong In bit his lip.

“Hmm.”

Jang In-Ryung’s eyes deepened.

“After the first clash, they’re not moving anymore.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong and Jongli Baek were staring at each other from a distance.

Jang In-Ryung looked at Gong Gong Dae Sa as if seeking an answer.

Gong Gong Dae Sa shook his head.

“Unless you’re inside, I can’t read their intentions. We’d only know if we clashed with them.”

“Hmm.”

While everyone was silently watching the two masters’ standoff.

Yeon-Wi had his eyes closed.

‘Mind’s Eye…’

He recalled what his son had said last night.

‘At that festival, this magnificent eldest son will show you. How beautiful strength can be, and how terrifying perfectly controlled power is.’

The beauty of strength, and the dignity created by perfectly controlled power.

Yeon-Wi opened his eyes.

He saw the clash between the two with his eyes. But that was it.

He closed his eyes again and tried to feel their energy, and he could understand their state more clearly than when he was looking at them.

‘With just one clash, they were sure that the other was not an easy opponent. Senior is calm, and Ho-Jeong is…’

Moderately excited.

Even though he was excited, there was no mistake in his eyes as he looked for an opening. It was the unwavering battle eye that could only be obtained on the razor’s edge of life and death.

‘Amazing.’

His son’s combat ability, after going through the dark years, was already worthy of being called the best under the heavens.

‘Even after reaching such a high level, you haven’t lost any of the abilities you’ve accumulated and made them all your own. It’s an incredible skill.’

Suddenly, Yeon-Wi felt a gaze on him.

It was Gong Gong Dae Sa. Gong Gong Dae Sa was looking at him with profound eyes.

Yeon-Wi nodded awkwardly. Gong Gong Dae Sa nodded back, a strange smile on his face.

He had noticed. That Yeon-Wi was watching them with his Mind’s Eye.

And the reason why Yeon Ho-Jeong was burning so fiercely today.

While the leaders were watching the martial arts stage with their own thoughts.

Finally, the two moved.

* * *

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong was the first to move.

Bang!

He closed the distance of three yards in an instant and threw a powerful punch.

Jongli Baek swung his Evil Slaying Blade diagonally.

Whoooosh!

A gust of wind, carrying a diagonal slash, tore through the air with a powerful explosion.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was about to charge in again, instantly adjusted his energy and stopped like a thunderbolt.

Bang!

The explosion echoed in the air as he stopped, showing how fast his approach had been. His movement was faster than the sound.

Woo woo woo woo!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

‘…This is just brutal.’

The invisible, deadly blade wind.

That formless gale was swirling around Jongli Baek’s body, blocking any reckless approach.

Unless one protected their body with considerable power, stepping into that range would result in countless cuts all over the body.

‘Even with that level of blade wind around him, there’s no sign of his internal energy decreasing.’

His internal energy was immense. Just in terms of the amount of internal energy, he seemed to have more than Gong Gong Dae Sa, and even Sword Saint Namgoong Seung.

Furthermore, that blade wind wasn’t just a martial art generated by consuming internal energy.

That too was enlightenment. By harmonizing the flow of the air with his extreme blade techniques, he created an invisible barrier, which was a level higher than a blade wind simply imbued with internal energy.

It was much freer, much richer, and much sharper.

‘That’s not his usual style.’

From the first exchange, Jongli Baek’s personality seemed very aggressive.

In his previous duel with Sword Saint Namgoong Seung, he had shown a high level of enlightenment and perfect sword principles. Offense and defense were one, and he had mastered all swordsmanship, so any sword technique he used had a perfect balance of strength and flexibility.

The Blade Saint’s martial arts were different.

He pursued offense over defense, and even more offense than that. Limitless, powerful, and direct martial arts were the essence of the Blade Saint.

Yet, he was observing his opponent’s reaction with an invisible blade wind around him.

‘He wants to see.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist tightened.

‘He wants to see how sharp and powerful my opponent’s strength is, to see if he’s a worthy opponent to dance a true sword dance with.’

If that’s the case.

‘I’ll have to break through.’

The energy flowing from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body surged in an instant.

Kwakwakwakwang!!

The released Yellow Dragon Energy created an immense pressure.

Numerous cracks appeared on the ground where Yeon Ho-Jeong stood. The hard martial arts stage floor cracked and crumbled like dry earth, raising white dust.

Jongli Baek’s eyes flashed.

‘Is he coming?’

His right hand, holding the Evil Slaying Blade, tightened.

‘Show me, your martial arts.’

His empty left hand was now holding a blade.

The giant blade, held in both hands, emitted a faint glow.

‘Prove to me that you have the skill to make me show everything I have!’

Then, Yeon Ho-Jeong moved.

Whoosh!

There was no loud explosion.

Yeon Ho-Jeong disappeared from sight in an instant, and Jongli Baek looked up at the sky.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had appeared above him in an instant, swung both fists.

Kwakwakwang!

It was an immense pressure.

The power in each punch was great, but the five consecutive punches that struck down, enveloping the air, seemed to make gravity several times heavier.

Pshhh! Pshhh! Bang!

The formless blade wind was distorted by the golden energy of the twin fists, and soon, it could no longer hold and created holes in various places.

Once the blade wind’s barrier was breached, it could no longer be maintained. Jongli Baek’s eyes widened.

Kwadududuk!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist slammed into the martial arts stage floor. Half of the wide martial arts stage floor was dented.

Jongli Baek, who had quickly created distance, grinned.

“Good!”

Bang!

Now, finally.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts, which had met Jongli Baek’s desire to feel the magnitude of his power, which he had guessed but wanted to experience, ignited the true heart of the Blade Saint, who was revered as the greatest blade master in the Central Plains.

Fabababak!

Jongli Baek, kicking off the broken martial arts stage floor, swung his Evil Slaying Blade.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was about to raise his head to counter, felt his vision darken for a moment.

‘Incredible!’

One exploration was enough. Jongli Baek had no intention of sharing enlightenment for a long time with an opponent who could match him like Namgoong Seung.

Each strike was full power. That was the way of a martial artist’s duel. A duel where one conserved power or stamina was not what Jongli Baek wanted.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face, having read his mind in an instant, changed into that of a battle-hungry warrior.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body moved diagonally.

Kwaaang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body was cut in various places as it collided with the giant blade wind.

There were no deep wounds, but it had pierced through the Yellow Dragon Energy’s internal energy shield. The Blade Saint’s martial arts, going all out from the start, were terrifying.

Whoooosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s Golden Dragon Mountain-Crushing Fist flew towards Jongli Baek’s torso.

It was the first time he was using this martial art since creating the Golden Dragon Two-Form, two six-form techniques. It was a martial art created in an instant, but it contained all the enlightenment Yeon Ho-Jeong had gained.

Kwang!

It felt like the strongest steel ball in the world had flown in.

Jongli Baek’s left sleeve crumbled like dust. He had tried to block it directly, but realizing it was an unstoppable force, he let it flow.

Even so, the fist pressure that he couldn’t completely deflect turned his sleeve to dust. It had pierced through the internal energy of a master who had reached the level of the Saintly Heavens.

Jongli Baek’s face was filled with joy.

“Magnificent!”

Flash! Bang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body was thrown back by the giant blade that was swung diagonally upwards.

He blocked it with all his energy in his crossed arms. Even so, his forearms were cut. Again, it wasn’t deep, but the blade pressure was so strong that he was thrown back over ten yards.

Fabababak!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been thrown back, didn’t try to regain his balance. He had no intention to, and he shouldn’t have.

Because his opponent was already charging at him.

Flash!

Jongli Baek, who was charging with a smile on his face as if he was about to burst into laughter.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes, which now had the same smile as Jongli Baek, were filled with madness.

The two supreme masters, who had become immersed in the duel, clashed their blades and fists.

Whoooosh! Slash!