Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 882

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having been pushed back, spat out blood-mixed saliva and raised his fist.

Jongli Baek, who had faltered in his spot, lifted the Great Evil Blade above his head and adjusted his stance.

Flash!

A straight downward cut.

A single, honest, and simple slash. Yet, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt as if the world was being split in two.

Clang!

Instinctively, he twisted his body and slammed his fist into the side. The steel blade energy, flying like a thunderbolt, shattered like broken glass, scattering in all directions.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist, which had struck the blade energy, swelled up red. The density of the blade energy that Jongli Baek had unleashed was beyond imagination. Even though there had been no growth in the divine art itself after reaching the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art, it contained a more powerful true energy density than before, causing a tingling pain that went beyond his fist and wrist, all the way to his elbow.

‘Strength against strength is meaningless. It’s not about who is stronger, but the concept of power each of us pursues is different.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s power was the pure power itself that everyone thought of.

A faster, more intense martial art. Faster speed creates stronger destructive power. The martial arts Yeon Ho-Jeong had shown so far were a simple yet firm expression of power.

However, the power that Jongli Baek pursued was different.

The power he saw was about confronting the opponent, sometimes evading, but at the best moment, with the greatest power, blowing the opponent away.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was also skilled in that method. Rather, creating openings and somehow landing a fatal blow on the opponent was one of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s greatest strengths.

But now?

‘I’ll carry that realization with me. But that’s not the essence of my martial arts.’

The Yellow Dragon Divine King Art is different from the Four Divine Arts [The Four Divine Arts are martial arts based on the four cardinal directions and their associated mythical creatures: Azure Dragon (East), White Tiger (West), Vermilion Bird (South), and Black Tortoise (North)].

To be precise, the profound enlightenment that encompasses the characteristics of the Four Divine Arts is the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art.

What can be done with the Four Divine Arts can also be done with the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art. In fact, until just a moment ago, he had revived the speed of the Vermilion Bird Art, the power of the White Tiger Art, and the counterattack ability of the Azure Dragon Art to fight Jongli Baek.

However, was that really the end?

Although his body instinctively used the Four Divine Martial Arts that it was so familiar with, the true power of the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art he had obtained was not like that.

Woong.

The yellow dragon roared within his chest.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having realized the true nature of the energy he had been using like the Bright Light Divine Pill [A powerful pill that enhances one’s inner energy], realized in a split second that he had not properly unleashed the Yellow Dragon Martial Art.

‘Then what is the yellow dragon?’

How were the Golden Dragon True Evil Fist and the Golden Dragon Sky-Turning Palm created?

For what purpose was the Dragon Form Seven Technique Footwork created?

How did the Yellow Dragon Energy change my body?

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes blazed with fire.

Hook!

Yeon Ho-Jeong rushed towards Jongli Baek.

Jongli Baek’s eyes flashed.

‘Has he slowed down?’

The absolute speed is fast.

But the terrifyingly fast footwork he had shown until just now was gone. It was not the way of Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been appearing from all directions, folding space as if realizing the legendary Shrinking Earth Technique [A technique that allows one to travel great distances in a single step], and launching incredibly fast attacks.

However.

‘His aura has changed.’

If the previous footwork was light and flashy like fire, the footwork Yeon Ho-Jeong was now showing was much heavier.

It was as if a divine beast from the stories of ancient immortals, who lived rampaging, was running with its huge four feet, thudding.

And the identity of that divine beast?

‘A dragon?!’

The golden aura rising from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

In Jongli Baek’s eyes, which were gleaming with divine energy, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s appearance was no longer visible. The aura he exuded, the essence of a huge golden dragon, seemed to be rushing in with its mouth wide open.

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung his fist.

Koo-oong!

It was a punch that was much slower than before, but with a terrifying weight.

But for some reason, Jongli Baek found it difficult to avoid that simple punch.

Kaaaaaang!

The Great Evil Blade, which must have weighed dozens of pounds, collided with Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist, making a chilling sound.

Jongli Baek’s eyes widened.

‘There’s nothing.’

There were no wounds on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist.

Until just a moment ago, when they were exchanging flashy attacks, even if they avoided direct hits, wounds remained. This was because each other’s attack power was so powerful.

But now, the Great Evil Blade, which was directly facing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist, could not leave a cut on his fist. Rather, it even felt as if the blade was being pushed back by the pressure of the fist, which was overflowing with compressed golden true energy.

‘This is…’

Hook!

Once again, Yeon Ho-Jeong moved.

He was still fast, but definitely slower than at the beginning. It was a movement that was clearly visible to the naked eye, without needing to sense it.

With this speed, Jongli Baek’s footwork could have allowed him to seize the position first and quickly establish an attack line.

In fact, Jongli Baek tried to do so.

But.

‘What?!’

Jongli Baek was flustered.

Clearly, Yeon Ho-Jeong was slow. So, he tried to seize the position first and blow him away with a heavy blade wind.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong was already there.

This was beyond the realm of understanding. The eyes and senses of the greatest swordsman in the world could capture everything. Without that level of perception, he would have already suffered losses from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s surprise consecutive five punches at the beginning.

Yeon Ho-Jeong gently extended his hand.

It was a palm, not a fist. Looking at the gentle movement from the lower to the middle level, it was impossible to think it was powerful.

Urgency appeared on Jongli Baek’s face.

Bang!

A short, intense explosion erupted.

Jongli Baek, who had blocked Yeon Ho-Jeong’s palm strike with the blade of the Great Evil Blade, was pushed back madly.

‘It’s heavy.’

It felt like a rock weighing tens of thousands of pounds had flown and struck him.

It wasn’t a martial art that amplified power with speed. The martial art itself was simply heavy and strong.

But it wasn’t fast, and strangely, he couldn’t avoid it.

Jongli Baek powerfully kicked the ground.

Thud!

The powerful energy that spread from under his feet pushed back Yeon Ho-Jeong’s menacingly writhing energy wave.

Flash!

Jongli Baek’s eyes emitted a fierce light.

The image of Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was already clenching both fists and charging, was reflected in his eyes in white.

‘Dragon…’

He couldn’t come to his senses.

He couldn’t tell if his opponent was a human or a dragon. Thanks to his extremely activated upper dantian [An energy center in the body], his eyes were seeing things similar to those of a shaman possessed by a divine spirit.

And at this moment, that very insight that had reached the divine was making it difficult to manifest his martial arts. This was the first time he had experienced such a thing in his life.

‘That is a human. It’s just that the young man’s energy wave, his presence, is so large and clear that it’s showing these illusions.’

Even while being pushed back, Jongli Baek couldn’t help but admire.

‘He has completely unified. He has become one with the divine art he is mastering. Having reached that level, he must have learned to perfectly control his power.’

Jongli Baek closed his eyes.

‘I am a swordsman. I must not be deceived by appearances.’

Jongli Baek, holding the Great Evil Blade with both hands, coldly raised his sword.

Kaaaaang!

It was blocked.

It was inevitable that it would be blocked. It was a strike with all his might, but the opponent’s true energy had a density that was no less than his own.

However.

‘So that’s how it was.’

Jongli Baek’s eyes flashed open.

Yeon Ho-Jeong had already come right in front of him and was swinging his rock-like fist.

Swoosh!

With a chilling sound of flesh tearing, blood splattered into the air.

The image of Jongli Baek, who was passing by Yeon Ho-Jeong and raising his sword, was as beautiful as a painting.

Trickle.

A diagonal cut was etched on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s chest. The Great Evil Blade had pierced through the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art and left a wound.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was touching the wound, smiled.

“You are amazing.”

It was not the time to smile. The true energy of Jongli Baek that remained in the wound was constantly trying to penetrate his body and cause internal damage.

Yet, Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

Crack.

Jongli Baek grabbed and twisted his left pinky finger.

At that moment when he passed by Yeon Ho-Jeong, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand had grabbed his pinky finger and broken it.

A person who uses a destructive palm strike with no subtlety whatsoever had read such a minute gap and broken his finger.

But Jongli Baek did not feel pain.

Rather, he smiled brightly like Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“I thought I could win with just a sword strike with all my might, without needing to use my original martial arts.”

“Is that so?”

“It was my mistake. It wasn’t me who dragged the fight into a battle of single strikes, reading gaps and swinging, but you.”

Whoooosh.

From Jongli Baek’s body, who was holding the Great Evil Blade with both hands, an even sharper energy wave than before flowed out.

He didn’t seem to care about his broken finger. The true energy of the Martial God had already fixed the broken bone and completely hardened it.

Hwaaaak!

The image of Jongli Baek holding his sword upright with both hands was reminiscent of a seeker walking only one path.

“I can’t do that anymore. I won’t fight in the arena you created.”

“Me neither.”

“Then, it seems there’s no other way but a head-on confrontation. I’ll tell you in advance, the same trick won’t work anymore.”

“Good.”

Jongli Baek closed his eyes and opened them again.

Yet, there was no gap at all. That was why Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulder twitched.

“Now, let’s go.”

Hook!

Jongli Baek, who had raised his sword up to his shoulder, rushed towards Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Jongli Baek’s left hand, which had been holding the lower part of the sword, slightly loosened.

‘One Cut, Mountain Severing.’

The martial art that Jongli Baek had refined, the Soul-Cutting Cross Blade, finally revealed itself.

Too simple of a technique name, One Cut and Mountain Severing. It was a combination of a single cut and a technique that split mountains.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened.

The martial art of a master who has reached the Limit is to unleash the enlightenment that he aims for and imagines.

Jongli Baek’s martial art was the same.

‘It’s huge!’

One Cut, a single slash.

It was as if a huge sword, like a mountain peak, was falling down, calling forth a storm. It seemed as if that single slash could even collapse mountains.

This was the true martial art of the Sword Saint Jongli Baek. It was the reality of the giant sword technique, boasting maximized slashes and the power of a single fatal blow.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong was not behind either.

Thud!

Not the one step of the Western Golden God, the White Tiger.

With one step of the Dragon Form Seven Techniques, the earth shook. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist, which had drawn up all that earth power, was burning like a golden sun.

The two men’s sword and fist collided. It was a clash of pure power.

Kwaaaaaang!!

At the tremendous explosion, the onlookers screamed and covered their ears.

Crack! Crack!

The dueling arena was split in half by the merciless shockwave. Fortunately, it did not affect the surrounding buildings, but the gust of wind that blew in confused people’s vision.

Trickle.

He didn’t know how he was hit, but the blood from his head ran down Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes, cheeks, and chin.

Jongli Baek was the same. His messy white beard was stained red. He had vomited blood due to the internal injuries caused by the strong pressure.

“Uwaaaah!!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, letting out a sound that was neither a scream nor a shout, lowered his stance and penetrated into Jongli Baek’s gap.

He managed to overcome the shockwave that was pushing his whole body away and entered. Jongli Baek’s Great Evil Blade moved urgently.

Thwack!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left palm struck Jongli Baek’s chest.

Jongli Baek spat out blood, but with a terrifying passion, he straightened his upper body and swung the hilt of his sword.

Thwack!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was hit in the face by the hilt, spat out blood and was thrown back.

Flash!

Even though he was old, his passion was no less than that of a young man. He took a step forward, ignoring the pressure, just like Yeon Ho-Jeong, and used the Soul-Cutting Cross Blade, Wave Breaking, towards Yeon Ho-Jeong’s upper body, which had fallen.

Kwarururung!

The edge of the dueling arena crumbled into dust.