Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 911

Clang!

A single strike of a steel sword decapitated two demons.

It was a clean, precise cut. More than the sharpness of the swordsmanship, the swordsman’s own decisiveness stood out.

Swish, swish, swish!

Yeon Ji-pyeong, spinning to avoid the downpour of curved blades, gripped his sword with both hands.

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

Holes appeared in the foreheads of the charging demons.

It wasn’t a sweeping slash, but a thrust. Though swords were originally developed for thrusting, Yeon Ji-pyeong’s lightning-fast swordsmanship, which pierced the heads of four demons in an instant, seemed impossible for anyone to imitate.

“What is that?” Mok Won asked, and Yeon Ho-jeong replied with a peculiar expression.

“It’s the One Sword Pierces the Heavens of the Steel Sword Grand Formation. He’s using it in a continuous sequence.”

“The movement itself isn’t something that can be implemented in a continuous sequence…”

“Indeed.”

Mok Won sighed.

“They say there are many geniuses in the world. You’re one, and your younger brother is extraordinarily talented.”

“His talent is better than mine.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened as he watched Yeon Ji-pyeong’s movements.

Unnecessary movements were absent, and his swordsmanship was utterly decisive.

There was not a moment’s hesitation in killing the enemy. He was maximizing efficiency with minimal movement, adapting the martial arts he had trained to real combat in this short time.

It was an incredible talent.

‘But he still has a long way to go.’

Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face was grim.

It was the moment when a person killed another person. Even in an unavoidable situation, it was impossible to feel good.

‘It’s naturally difficult. I have to acknowledge that. You’re still confused.’

It was a problem that couldn’t be taught. It was a part that couldn’t be explained with a thousand words or ten thousand sentences.

He could only wait for him to realize it on his own. That was the only thing Yeon Ho-jeong wanted from Yeon Ji-pyeong.

On the other hand.

Crack!

Bu Seon, who had been calmly killing enemies one by one with efficient movements, suddenly destroyed the bodies of three demons with a burst of internal energy [qi or life force].

The bodies of the demons, destroyed by a single blow, fell in a bloody mess as if they had been struck by the foreleg of a giant beast.

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

‘He’s internalized it.’

In his fight against Doje Jongri Baek, he had implemented a form similar to claw techniques with the Lion’s Roar Divine Fist. [A powerful martial art technique]

Bu Seon was different. Although he hadn’t reached Yeon Ho-jeong’s level, he had incorporated the Lion’s Roar Divine Fist into his claw techniques, incapacitating enemies with a single blow.

The power wasn’t sufficient, but he had implemented his realization in actual combat. It was a growth worthy of praise.

‘In the end, all battles in the world depend on who is more immersed, who breaks common sense first, and whose heart is more resolute.’

Thwack! Thwack!

Bu Seon’s martial arts, tearing the necks of two demons with his fingers as if a lion were swinging its forelegs, were brutal.

Not only that, but Bu Seon’s footwork and posture, which had been somewhat formalized and rigid, gradually changed to become more intense.

Since the power of his claw techniques wasn’t coming out as desired, he changed his movements to better utilize the power and form.

Even if it was just for a moment, the fact that he had stepped into that realm was a great achievement. It was the talent of a grandmaster. If he focused more on this talent, Bu Seon would also be able to walk the path of creating new martial arts like Pae Yul in the future.

“It seems we won’t have to step in this fight.”

“That’s right.”

“Was it intentional? From the beginning of the expedition?”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“I intended it to some extent, but not entirely. I don’t have the clairvoyance of the Small Thunder Sound Temple, so how could I know how they would come out?”

“True, I sent myself first, thinking there was a sorcerer.”

“However, I knew that this was a path where the people with us now could definitely grow.”

“How so?”

Yeon Ho-jeong pointed to Yeon Ji-pyeong.

“Ji-pyeong’s attitude towards enemies was soft. Because of that mindset and attitude, he hasn’t been able to reach higher, even though he knows he can.”

“Hmm.”

Yeon Ho-jeong then pointed to Ok Cheong.

“Compared to him, Ok Cheong is someone with a certain level of experience. It’s inevitable. He’s been in countless battles in both the Myeolsa Army and the Uijeong Army. However, he doesn’t know that the sword of the Wudang [a famous martial arts school] and the killing sword are not different.”

“Hoo.”

“Muk Bi is receiving instruction in archery from the Tang Clan Head. Muk Bi’s archery is exceptionally outstanding and unique, a martial art that defies common sense. But to break through common sense, one must also know the existing common sense. Muk Bi needs the orthodox martial arts that have been proven through long history.”

The firing method, perfected over hundreds of years, was being passed down to Muk Bi. Through this, she would come to know the power of traditional archery.

“Pae Yul needs to elevate the level of the martial arts he has completed, and this fight itself is important for Bu Seon. He’s only ever fought in the shadows.”

“I see.”

Mok Won glanced at Tang Gwan.

Tang Gwan was completely focused, imparting various insights to Muk Bi. Watching Muk Bi absorb the teachings as if possessed, Tang Gwan also seemed to be secretly pleased.

“Then, what about the Tang Clan Head?”

“The Tang Clan Head is the one person who absolutely must be here.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone brilliantly as he looked at Tang Gwan.

“We still don’t know how many masters have reached the Three Teachings and the Limitless Realm.”

“…”

“In the wars of the martial world, there are battles fought with numbers, and battles that only masters can fight.”

“It’s good to bring even one more person to the Limitless Realm, is that it?”

“Of course.”

“Even I can see that the Tang Clan Head is born with outstanding talent. Enlightenment is one thing, but especially his internal energy is enormous. Frankly, just in terms of quantity, it’s more than yours.”

“That’s exactly what’s important. The Tang Clan Head is someone who has already broken through a limit in one aspect of martial arts.”

Mok Won nodded.

“He’s different from your father.”

“Completely opposite. My father’s internal energy was also great, but compared to masters of the same level, his internal energy was rather lacking. He wasn’t someone who cared much about internal energy in the first place.”

“He was someone who reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship through thorough enlightenment.”

“The Tang Clan Head is the opposite. I hope that in this trip to the Divine Demonic Forest, the Tang Clan Head will overcome everything and move towards the light.”

In particular, Yeon Ho-jeong could feel Tang Gwan’s change more clearly.

Tang Gwan at the end of the Sichuan battle was also a great master, but Tang Gwan, who had reorganized his clan and returned to the Martial Alliance, carried countless things.

Of course, it was because he had received teachings from the Dark King Tang Hyeong. But what couldn’t be obtained through teachings alone was that internal energy.

The amount of internal energy, which seemed like it could no longer increase, had exploded. Whether it was poison or medicine, or a separate enlightenment, Tang Gwan was someone who had broken through his limits with his body.

A person who has broken through a limit even halfway can break through it again.

That was what Yeon Ho-jeong expected from Tang Gwan. Tang Gwan’s poison and hidden weapons could unleash devastating power in group battles, but even if he couldn’t demonstrate his skills, he would have brought him along.

For the sake of a single possibility.

Thwack!

“Kuaaak!”

After a few slashes, Hwa Hyang, with a brutal kick, struck Wi So-gang’s abdomen and cut off his right arm.

With a slicing sound, Wi So-gang shuddered.

With a practiced gesture, Hwa Hyang tapped Wi So-gang’s demonic blood points and threw him towards the carriage.

Thud!

Wi So-gang, who had flown through the air and fallen, lay sprawled on the ground in a miserable state. He had landed awkwardly on his shoulder, breaking his left arm as well.

Whoosh!

As if they had been waiting, Yeon Ji-pyeong, Ok Cheong, Pae Yul, and Bu Seon retreated. Muk Bi, who had been continuously firing arrows, also temporarily released her bowstring and relaxed her hand.

“…”

A strange silence descended.

The Homa Troop was now reduced to about two hundred and fifty members. Just five of them had wiped out half of the Homa Troop.

A one-sided battle. And even their leader had been captured. The Homa Troop was flustered, merely pointing their swords at them, unable to advance any further.

Pae Yul glanced at Yeon Ho-jeong.

“What should we do? Should we kill them all?”

He wasn’t at all nervous, even with over two hundred troops in front of him. From the start, he and Bu Seon were still in top condition.

Conversely, white haze was rising from Yeon Ji-pyeong and Ok Cheong’s bodies. It had been a fierce battle, and they had wounds all over their bodies.

Yeon Ho-jeong closed his eyes once and then opened them, glaring at the Homa Troop.

Kugugugung!!

A subtle energy wave flowed out.

Behind Yeon Ho-jeong, who was enveloped in a golden haze, the massive body of a dragon was appearing like a phantom.

The curved blades of the demons, which had been pointed towards them, slowly lowered.

Pressing the enemy with overwhelming energy, even if their numbers exceeded two hundred, they couldn’t help but feel fear. Faced with the superhuman power of a demigod, the mysterious energy of the Yellow Dragon Art, the Homa Troop members completely lost their will to fight.

Yeon Ho-jeong opened his mouth.

“I know nothing about the Divine Demonic Forest. I only know that you are dogs who have chosen the wrong master, and that you are fools who were dragged out without even being able to lament the changed heavens.”

The demons swallowed hard.

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly glaring at them, looked at Cheon Hyo-rak.

“What will you do?”

“…”

“Whatever the reason, the Divine Demonic Forest has been corrupted. I don’t think we can assume that only one unit is like this.”

Cheon Hyo-rak sighed and looked at the Homa Troop.

The Homa Troop was in a state of indecision. They had received orders, so they had to fight, but the outcome was clear, so they hesitated.

Cheon Hyo-rak hated seeing them like this.

The orders of the Divine Demonic Forest were absolute. Even if Wi So-gang, whom he hated to see, had become the unit leader, they should have at least had the spirit to burn their lives to the end.

They had become the same as their superior, Wi So-gang. They had come to know hesitation, and they had come to know the fear of death.

“Can my opinion influence the Deputy Leader’s decision?”

“Of course. Because you know much more about this place than we do.”

Cheon Hyo-rak closed his eyes.

He thought about the normalization of the Divine Demonic Forest. After everything was corrected, could the Divine Demonic Forest be re-established as a steel organization like before?

‘We are also standing in the middle of a battlefield. Whether we want to or not.’

Cheon Hyo-rak opened his eyes again.

The faces of the Homa Troop members were filled with fear.

“If a fight breaks out because I don’t want to forgive them, could it harm you?”

The harm Cheon Hyo-rak was referring to was whether there could be a problem with the combat power of their side.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“How could that be? The vanguard leaders have done well enough. Now it’s time for Mok Won and me to step in.”

“I see.”

“Don’t worry too much. It’s best to conserve our strength, but there’s also the option of resting.”

Cheon Hyo-rak smiled bitterly.

“Kill them all.”

Flash!

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yeon Ho-jeong and Mok Won charged forward.

Quarrrrrl!

The one-sided massacre was over in just half a moment.