Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 74 - Enemies, and the Source of Water (4)
Chapter 74 – Enemies, and the Source of Water (4)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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At present, Yeon Ho-jeong, who had not yet fully applied what he had enlightened to his body, was definitely below Myeong Hak.
However.
Yeon Ho-jeong had the ability to overturn this match. Even if there was a difference in skill, his experience and enlightenment were abundant enough to fill that gap.
He had insisted on a frontal confrontation with strong murderous intent, but he intended to change his tactics upon thinking that this would not do.
It was right then. The Black Tortoise Qi reacted.
Woooong.
The turbid energy that surged due to his internal injuries was discharged at a terrifying speed.
Even from minor damage to the acupuncture points, turbid energy surges. Such turbid energy interferes with internal energy cultivation and, if severe, becomes the cause of a decline in the quality of internal energy.
Yeon Ho-jeong discharged all the turbid energy in an instant with the Black Tortoise Qi, which had increased in size. With just that, he felt his internal injuries gradually recovering.
That was not all.
‘Thinking about it.’
In a split second, Myeong Hak’s fist technique routines occurred to him.
A short but smooth movement. It was a fist technique that pulled out the maximum power with minimum movement.
However, it was clear that the routine would display an even more exceptional power in defense rather than offense.
The reason being…
‘Northern Heavens Twelve Walls!’
That’s right.
Myeong Hak’s Spirit Turtle Divine Art, although its color was different, shared the same essence as the Black Tortoise Art.
It was a surprising fact. It was so unexpected that even his murderous intent and anger vanished completely.
For a moment, Yeon Ho-jeong recalled the words Zhuge Ah-yeon had spoken to him during their meeting.
‘The history of the Nine States Myeong Clan is long enough. But not as much as the five great clans, excluding your family. It’s said that the ancestors who founded the Myeong Clan contributed to ending the Blood Cult Rebellion by helping the Four Directions Martial Emperor three hundred years ago. That is how the Myeong Clan’s history began.’
The Four Directions Martial Emperor, and the Blood Cult Rebellion.
Yeon Ho-jeong recalled another word of Zhuge Ah-yeon.
‘Anyway, if the skill of the Four Directions Martial Emperor was as history records, wouldn’t he surely be worthy of being called Absolutely Invincible? It’s said that he practiced not one, but as many as four types of martial arts to the limit.’
There was no certainty.
However, Yeon Ho-jeong guessed that the person called the Four Directions Martial Emperor would be a descendant of the Four Gods Martial Arts.
‘Since they said he later even commanded a golden dragon, he was also called the Golden Dragon Emperor. Even I think that went too far.’
Four types of martial arts skilled in offense, defense, evasion, and counterattack.
And a golden dragon.
The probability of him being a descendant of the Four Gods Martial Arts was high. No, at this level, he could be certain that he was a descendant of the Four Gods Martial Arts.
And the ancestors of the Myeong Clan contributed to ending the Blood Cult Rebellion by helping the Four Directions Martial Emperor.
‘Could it be that the human called the Four Directions Martial Emperor passed down a part of his martial arts to the ancestors of the Myeong Clan?’
He had no choice but to think so.
He wondered if the Myeong ancestors had snatched the Four Directions Martial Emperor’s martial arts, but the probability of that was close to zero.
No one can defeat the person who has completed the secret technique of the Four Gods Martial Arts, the Golden Dragon Qi, namely the Golden Dragon God King Art.
A person who has generated the Golden Dragon Qi is no different from a disaster on the level of a natural phenomenon itself. A match is only possible against a person; one cannot get into a scuffle with a natural disaster, right?
In other words, the Myeong Clan could also be seen as a branch of the Four Directions Martial Emperor.
‘Such a thing…?!’
In a moment, Yeon Ho-jeong realized another thing.
The essence of discharging force; it was an orthodox art, but it was an energy with a mysterious color that differed from the martial arts of the Central Plains.
No matter how much his Upper Dantian had grown, it was difficult to remember every single characteristic of the killers’ martial arts at that time when he was busy fleeing.
Nonetheless, Yeon Ho-jeong remembered the color of their internal energy and the characteristics of their discharged force.
How?
‘Because it’s similar.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes became bloodshot.
The Jade Gauze True Qi subsided, and the Black Tortoise Qi took control of his entire body. Then, the color of the internal energy surrounding Myeong Hak’s physical body was immediately captured.
‘The colors are different. But the essence is the same.’
He recalled Myeong Hak’s fist technique force discharge.
It was completely different from the force discharge of the Northern Heavens Twelve Walls. However, in the repulsive force that generates an internal energy shield and damages the enemy during defense, there were many common points.
In other words, Myeong Hak’s fist technique is one that obtained offensive power by using the repulsive force of the Northern Heavens Twelve Walls. Although he must have suffered a loss in terms of defense to that extent.
‘How can this be. To think I didn’t know this…’
It could not be helped.
No one could easily imagine that fragments of the martial arts he practiced would be passed down to his mortal enemies. No matter how much Yeon Ho-jeong felt familiarity, it was difficult to feel a connection.
Until now, until he directly clashed with them.
Yeon Ho-jeong felt an unknown sense of emptiness.
‘The martial arts passed down by my master, the Four Gods Martial Arts, are of the same line as the martial arts of the killers who harmed my family…?’
It was absurd.
After returning to the past, he had never experienced such a great mental shock. For just a very short moment, Yeon Ho-jeong felt an impulse to tear out the White Tiger Qi and the Black Tortoise Qi to their roots.
‘That was it. That’s why I…’
Everything clicked into place.
Before fighting Myeong Chi-san and the Pure White Martial Soldiers, he had felt an unknown sense of déjà vu while thinking about Myeong On-ji’s martial arts.
It was because her martial arts were following the characteristics of the Black Tortoise Art. However, Myeong On-ji’s realm was too low, so he had not felt the water energy and heaviness characteristic of the Black Tortoise.
If he had completely mastered the Black Tortoise Qi from the start, Myeong On-ji would not have been an opponent for even a single move.
‘Four Gods Martial Arts… Four Gods Martial Arts!’
“Black Tortoise Art? What kind of nonsense is that again!”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Myeong Hak with vacant eyes.
Myeong Hak’s lips twisted.
“What’s with that expression? Hmph! Have you lost your mind after seeing my martial arts?”
“…”
“You’re speechless. Fine, I’ll finish you now.”
Thud!
Myeong Hak approached with a strong tremor.
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head without realizing it.
‘Diamond Immovable is a martial art that shouldn’t be used that way.’
Even the footwork was similar. Like the fist technique that utilized offensive power through the Northern Heavens Twelve Walls, that footwork also took the gait of the Diamond Immovable and made it a forward type like the White Tiger Sovereign Step.
“Kaaah!”
With a shout, Myeong Hak’s fist headed toward Yeon Ho-jeong’s chest.
It was a fatal blow. If received without internal energy, it was a blow that would crush everything from the breastbone to the spine.
Yeon Ho-jeong closed his eyes.
Boom!
“Huff!”
Due to the impact that was difficult to handle, Myeong Hak retreated five steps.
Whirrrr.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had lowered his axe, was spreading his hands. Hexagonal turtle shell shapes were floating in all directions from his spread hands.
It was the move of the Northern Heavens Twelve Walls, the True Martial Great Emperor Heavy Wall.
The True Martial Great Emperor is soon the Profound Heaven Supreme Emperor, and the Profound Heaven Supreme Emperor is soon a deified existence of the Black Tortoise. How exceptional the defensive power of this move is can be seen just by the name of the move.
However, the reason Myeong Hak was repelled was not simply because the repulsive force of the True Martial Great Emperor Heavy Wall was strong.
“Again.”
Ssssss!
With dark smoke, the semi-transparent internal energy shield of the hexagonal turtle shell disappeared.
Yeon Ho-jeong flicked his hand.
“Come again.”
Myeong Hak’s face turned red.
“You son of a bitch!”
Boom!
This time, he gives his full power. He doesn’t care even if he dies with this single blow.
Myeong Hak’s attack was revealing his murderous intent just as it was. Following the explosive footwork, the final move of the Spirit Turtle Divine Fist was displayed.
Myeong Hwi and Myeong Heon, who had retreated ten zhang away, shouted.
“Brother!”
“Do not kill him!”
The massive fist struck Yeon Ho-jeong’s chest just as it was.
Boom!
An explosion erupted.
It was as if he had detonated gunpowder with his fist. It was a power that was nothing short of absurd.
Crunch.
The ground Yeon Ho-jeong stepped on was dug into five inches.
‘…!!’
Dismay was cast on Myeong Hak’s face.
His fist was touching Yeon Ho-jeong’s chest. And Yeon Ho-jeong’s hands were holding that arm.
Yeon Ho-jeong slowly lifted his head.
“…It’s alright.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s face became even paler.
But that was all. Although internal injuries could not be avoided, he had prevented his bones from breaking.
It wasn’t the Northern Heavens Twelve Walls. Nor was it the Sovereign Tiger’s Nine Thunderclaps.
Before being struck by the fist, he had identified the swirling force in the reverse order of the moves of the Northern Heavens Twelve Walls and completely dismantled and blew it away.
Since the force full of destructive power had completely vanished, there was no way its true power could come out. He protected his muscles and trained fist with the Jade Gauze True Qi.
“H-how?!”
Myeong Hak opened his mouth like a goldfish.
“How… did you dismantle it?!”
“Like this.”
The Black Tortoise Qi fluctuated on Yeon Ho-jeong’s upper body.
Sssssss.
The Black Tortoise Qi, which arose in a lump, moved over his shoulder to his hands.
And the Black Tortoise Qi lingering in his hands instantly infiltrated Myeong Hak’s arm.
“Huff!”
Startled, Myeong Hak tried to pull his fist out.
However, the fist did not come out. The grip of this brat became stronger at a terrifying speed. No matter how much he tried, he could not pull his arm out.
“This bastard!”
Thump!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s head turned from the other fist that wasn’t caught. The corner of his mouth was torn, and blood erupted.
Myeong Hak’s face turned pale.
‘W-what is this?!’
He was someone who could break a log even with a fist that wasn’t loaded with internal energy. It wouldn’t be strange if the cheekbone or jawbone were all broken.
However, Yeon Ho-jeong was fine. The corner of his mouth being torn and bleeding… that was all.
Myeong Hak, who witnessed the unrealistic scene, momentarily gained a gruesome realization.
‘That bastard is gradually becoming stronger while I am becoming weaker?’
It was then that Yeon Ho-jeong spoke.
“The Black Tortoise is the North Black and is winter. As the Water God of Guihai, it governs water.”
“…?!”
“A tributary is meant to flow into the main stream. That is water. The power of countless branch lines spread throughout the world will soon result in the main family.”
“W-what kind of nonsense?!”
“The Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, the Black Tortoise. These are soon called Dragon Wave, Tiger Fierceness, Flying Kill, and Strange Wall. The Black Tortoise symbolizes the Strange Wall, namely absolute defense and the invincible shield.”
Dignity dwelled in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.
Looking into those eyes, Myeong Hak felt himself shrinking unbelievably.
“Since you loosely modified the iron wall martial art that has reached completion in such a way, within a short time, your Qi will flow backward and your original essence will break. The reason being, in the Four Gods Martial Arts, Qi and technique are one.”
“…!!”
“Implementing martial arts by whittling away your lifespan. You have turned a divine art that can sweep the world into a half-measure demonic art.”
Myeong Hak’s mouth opened wide.
To whittle away lifespan? This was a truly meaningful statement, wasn’t it?
Sssssss!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes were stained with complete darkness.
“Everything of yours, I, the Grandmaster, shall take it back.”
Crack, crack!
“Aaaargh!”
Myeong Hak knelt down. His thick forearm was crushed by Yeon Ho-jeong’s grip.
That was not all.
Gurgle, gurgle!
Myeong Hak opened his mouth wide.
The aura of the Spirit Turtle was being sucked into Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand. It was drifting away at a terrifying speed like a winding river, and he could not put up any resistance.
Fear was etched on Myeong Hak’s face.
Internal energy he had refined for decades, and which he had transformed into Spirit Turtle True Qi by practicing the Spirit Turtle Divine Art recently.
That energy was all being transferred to the opponent. So easily, so smoothly.
‘Don’t tell me, energy absorption…?!’
Sssssss!
All the internal energy was sucked into Yeon Ho-jeong. Most of the Spirit Turtle True Qi, which were impurities, flew away, and the few amount of pure Black Tortoise Qi permeated into Yeon Ho-jeong’s kidneys.
Thud!
Yeon Ho-jeong grabbed Myeong Hak’s face with one hand.
Myeong Hak could not turn his head. It was because he had even lost his muscle strength as his internal energy was drained.
Myeong Hwi and Myeong Heon, who were watching from far away, felt an unusual atmosphere.
“Brother?!”
“W-what are you doing!”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
His smile was somehow vacant yet full of dignity.
“Are they your brothers?”
“Cough.”
“I’m curious what kind of fakes your brothers have practiced. I’ll send them to where you are soon.”
“S-save…”
“Farewell.”
Crunch!
Myeong Hak’s skull was crushed just like that.
“Huff!”
“Y-you bastard?!”
Swish!
Myeong Hwi and Myeong Heon charged with immense momentum.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s visual power flashed.
Although it was a speed that was not easy to even react to, he could see it now. What kind of martial arts those two had practiced. He could tell at once which of the Four Gods Martial Arts their martial arts were based on and modified from.
Clang!
A single sharp slash and a flame-like palm force pushed Yeon Ho-jeong. If he hadn’t lifted his axe and blocked with the spear shaft in a split second, he would have died just like that.
Sssssss.
White smoke rose from the spear shaft.
It was an immense murderous intent, a terrifying killing art. A single cut was imbued with the energy of ten thousand kills, and a single gesture sprayed the blood of a thousand people.
Yeon Ho-jeong lifted his head.
Within the visual power of the North Black, a sun-like power lifted its head.
“…Vermilion Bird.”