Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 75 - Enemies, and the Source of Water (5)
Chapter 75 – Enemies, and the Source of Water (5)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Sssssss!
Fiery energy rose from the body of Myeong Cheon, who was sitting cross-legged.
‘Mm.’
A feeling of pleasure was etched on Myeong Cheon’s face.
The red energy that surged from his dantian instantly spread throughout his entire body. The energy circulating through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians was not lacking to be called Great Yang.
The peak of Yang is soon the symbol of an emperor. As the energy that had been stirring all the way to the fine vessels and small acupuncture points gathered toward his heart, he could feel a more fulfilled mood than ever before.
The heart is soon the source of life. If the heart is strong, the life force is bound to be strong as well.
‘As expected!’
Myeong Cheon finally became certain. That the ancestors’ martial arts were the solution to the curse that had been devouring the family.
The martial art that only the head of the Myeong Clan could practice, the Myeong-Refining Southern Fire Art, was in itself a supreme divine art under heaven.
However, it could not escape the issue of lifespan. The person who lived the longest among the successive clan heads had barely filled sixty years. The average lifespan was around the age of fifty.
Myeong Cheon was already over fifty years old. How many years had he lived with a heart aching day by day, wondering when death would find him?
‘With this, the curse that shrouded our family is also over!’
Flash!
When he opened his eyes, his visual power blazed like the sun.
His body became hot. He felt that his life force had become more vigorous than ever. Since he was overflowing with power, he felt like swinging a sword immediately.
He lifted his right hand.
Woooong! Whoosh!
Just as red energy appeared, actual flames soon surged.
Surprisingly, despite the flames covering his entire hand, his hand was fine. It was because the fulfilling energy was perfectly protecting his physical body.
“Phoenix Flame… indeed, even with just this fire hand technique, one can easily aim for the number one under heaven.”
Myeong Cheon burst into laughter.
“Khahahahat! Now, as the true number one under heaven, I shall be able to place the Central Plains under my feet.”
The Phoenix Divine Art was the most powerful and outstanding martial art among the Four Great Divine Arts. It ranked first among the Four Great Divine Arts and naturally boasted an unparalleled monstrous power.
For now, he intended to pull up his life force by first practicing the Phoenix Divine Art, and then practice the remaining martial arts step by step. The remaining three martial arts were the Spirit Turtle Divine Art, the Responding Dragon Divine Art, and the Qilin Divine Art, which, although a stage below the Phoenix, were martial arts capable of dominating an era.
Myeong Cheon intended to practice all four of the Four Great Divine Arts. By practicing them all, he intended to remain the strongest warrior who marked a chapter in Murim history.
While Myeong Cheon, puffed up with dreams, laughed for a long while and unfolded his imagination.
“Clan Head.”
Myeong Cheon spoke calmly.
“Come in.”
Creak!
The door opened, and Myeong Wu-san entered.
“What is it? I told you not to disturb me during martial practice for ordinary matters.”
“I am sorry. It was an urgent matter, so I had no choice.”
“An urgent matter?”
Myeong Cheon’s eyes flashed.
“Surely it’s not something related to that guy Yeon Ho-jeong, is it?”
“Ah, it’s not that.”
“Then?”
Myeong Wu-san took out a finely folded letter from his robes. The envelope containing the letter was luxuriously decorated in gold.
Myeong Cheon’s eyes shone.
“Is this not a secret message from the Murim Alliance?”
“That’s right.”
“Even though there is a Murim Alliance building, a current Alliance Leader has not been elected. With no temporary Alliance Leader, who sent this?”
“It is the Murong Clan Head.”
Myeong Cheon frowned.
“The Murong Clan Head? Exactly why?”
“Please read it once.”
As he unfolded the letter, astonishment arose in Myeong Cheon’s eyes.
“He is exercising the Great Meeting Rights?!”
“That’s right.”
The Great Meeting Rights was a meeting right used when the heads of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang and the Seven Great Clans proposed a specific agenda.
Meetings are rarely held by virtue of the Great Meeting Rights. Because if something goes wrong, one has to cough up an astronomical amount of money.
‘Exactly why?’
While tilting his head, Myeong Cheon suddenly discovered that there were two sheets of the letter. The letter that came to him was two sheets overlapped.
It was a method he always used when exchanging letters with the Murong Clan Head.
After meticulously peeling off and reading the back side of the letter, Myeong Cheon burst into a wild laugh.
“Khahahaha!”
Myeong Wu-san tilted his head.
“What content is it that you…”
“Hahahahat! As expected of the Murong Clan Head. Whether he didn’t when we hadn’t joined hands, since we have, he gives a solid push when he pushes, is that it?”
“Pardon?”
Myeong Cheon said with a smile.
“It’s because of the Yeon Clan.”
“The Yeon Clan?”
“He says let’s blow away the Yeon Clan, starting with this insolent fellow Yeon Ho-jeong. Since I’ve framed the guy as a heinous villain, he means he will handle publicizing this matter to burn down the Yeon Clan.”
Myeong Wu-san’s face brightened.
“It’s an unexpected help.”
“Indeed. To give such great help at an unthought-of time.”
As if truly happy, the smile did not leave Myeong Cheon’s face.
“If it’s someone who shows this much friendship, wouldn’t it be fine to take him as an in-law?”
“It’s sufficient.”
“I’ve had my eye on the Murong Clan Head’s daughter, Yeon-hwa, since a long time ago. She was an outstanding child. A girl of that caliber wouldn’t be bad as a match for my eldest son.”
“Murong Yeon-hwa’s strategy and wisdom are said to be worthy of being called the best of her generation, resembling her father, the Clan Head. If you take that child as a daughter-in-law, it will also be good for the Eldest Young Master.”
“Indeed.”
Myeong Cheon placed the letter down.
“I should send a matchmaker after this matter is over. My son will also be satisfied if it’s Murong Yeon-hwa.”
“I congratulate you in advance.”
“Hahaha!”
The two of them burst into laughter repeatedly while looking at each other.
“Ah! Then what will you do?”
“About what?”
“Since the Murong Clan Head used the Great Meeting Rights, all the leaders of the Orthodox Murim must gather. Of course, those who are truly busy with work won’t be able to go.”
Myeong Cheon grinned.
“Only now have I turned all my energy to the Phoenix Divine Art. After raising my achievement, I intend to touch the other three of the Four Great Divine Arts as well.”
Myeong Wu-san smiled.
“I will send word that you will unavoidably be absent due to a pile of work.”
“Do that. Anyway, the person who led this meeting is the Murong Clan Head, so he will fully understand.”
“He will.”
“Ah, anyway.”
Myeong Cheon tilted his head.
“How did that child Yeon Ho-jeong turn out? I heard you gave the Blue Hall as bait.”
“Half a shichen ago, I sent the White Dragon Army along with the three brothers Hak, Hwi, and Heon. At the latest, we will be able to escort Yeon Ho-jeong back by dawn tomorrow.”
“Khahahaha!”
The laughter of Myeong Cheon did not think of stopping, as if something was just that good.
Myeong Wu-san, who was smiling along while watching Myeong Cheon burst into refreshing laughter, momentarily tilted his head.
‘Eh? What is it?’
Myeong Wu-san discovered that among Myeong Cheon’s loose front, at the position above the heart, the blood vessels were particularly prominent.
‘The blood vessels?’
It was when Myeong Wu-san was about to open his mouth.
“Now, since the mood is good, you also go and do your work. I must train more.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes! I will do so.”
In the end, Myeong Wu-san had to leave the martial practice room without expressing any doubt.
On the way to his quarters.
Having been seized by a needless sense of anxiety, he peeked down at his own chest.
‘Mm.’
He too was practicing the Qilin Divine Art, one of the Four Great Divine Arts. Fortunately, he was fine.
Myeong Wu-san let out a dry cough.
‘It seems my worry has been a bit excessive lately.’
If he was fine, the Clan Head would also be fine. He believed so.
He walked with large strides into the Chief Steward’s office.
After practicing the Qilin Divine Art, his dry cough had increased a bit more than before, but he considered it of no great account.
* * *
‘How can this be!’
Bang, bang!
Against the axe being swung at a monstrous speed as if to cause a typhoon, the sword power of the Phoenix Soaring Sky Sword was being swept away just like that.
It was an unbelievable power. Even though he was clearly suffering from internal injuries, the power of the wind pressure emitted from the massive weapon became stronger as time passed.
That was not all.
Clang!
Myeong Hwi’s face distorted.
The soaring flame sword blade, the sword technique that would sweep away any enemy, collapsed in just a single move. Even though he had pulled up the Phoenix True Qi to its limit, he was pushed back.
It was not just being pushed back a few steps. His body actually floated up and flew a distance of three zhang.
Drip.
The tiger’s mouth holding the sword hilt was torn. In the five years since he refined the sword technique, the tiger’s mouth had never been torn even once.
“Kaaah!”
Swish!
When Myeong Hwi retreated, Myeong Heon charged in.
He was one who had similarly refined the Phoenix Divine Art and practiced the hand technique, the Phoenix Flame Hand.
The advancing footwork was as brilliant as a flame and as fast as a ray of light. It was a movement technique boasting exceptional speed called the Phoenix Flight.
Following the Phoenix Flight, a bizarre palm technique erupted.
Whoosh!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
The axe of the North Black was swung heavily, drawing a huge circle.
Clang!
“Urgh!”
Myeong Heon was the same.
No matter how strong the Phoenix Flame Hand was, it could not pierce the Northern Heavens Twelve Walls displayed with the Black Tortoise Qi.
Originally, it was said that the water energy is the natural enemy of the fire energy. To pierce the martial art of the Water God with the martial art of Great Yang, an overwhelming firepower was needed; with their realm, they could not pierce the Black Tortoise.
Boom!
After defense is offense.
The footwork of the Diamond Immovable changed in an instant to the White Tiger Sovereign Step, pulling up the power of a strong advance.
The claws of the Great King of the Mountains break even steel. The fierce power of the Sovereign Tiger’s Nine Thunderclaps poured onto Myeong Heon.
Clang! Thud!
“Aaaargh!”
Myeong Heon screamed. The axe had struck his left upper arm.
It wasn’t cut off, but it was no different from being cut off. The axe blade had severed the outer flesh, muscle, and bone. The arm just barely hanging and dangling was in itself providing gruesome pain.
“Y-you bastard!”
Myeong Heon looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with eyes full of dread.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression was, unexpectedly, ambiguous. He didn’t smile nor did he get angry. He was just infinitely nonchalant.
An atmosphere that could not be disobeyed.
It was as if a senior master who had practiced the number one martial art under heaven was standing there. Even amidst the gruesome pain, Myeong Heon closed his mouth without realizing it.
It was then that Myeong Hwi charged again.
“You monster-like bastard!”
Flash!
He was faster than Myeong Heon.
Approaching at a terrifying speed, he swung the Phoenix Soaring Sky Sword. As if he had given his full power, a hot fire energy and unrestrained destructive power were felt.
Boom! Woooong.
The movement of Yeon Ho-jeong, who was charging at Myeong Heon with steps overflowing with power, momentarily slowed down.
Slow, and smooth. it was a natural change like flowing water.
From Diamond Immovable to White Tiger Sovereign, and from White Tiger Sovereign back to Diamond Immovable.
He was implementing completely different martial arts according to the situation, and the speed of the martial arts change was as fast as lightning and natural.
The martial arts of the Four Gods Martial Arts were gradually sticking to his body as he experienced actual combat. Just a few shichens ago, such footwork change could not even be dreamed of.
This was exactly the Four Gods Martial Arts, the martial arts of the battlefield. The growth of the one who refined the Four Gods Martial Arts became steeper as they risked their life.
The heavy axe and the light, brilliant sword clashed head-on.
Clang!
Myeong Hwi coughed up blood and retreated.
Now he was even pushed back in strength. Those two, who had occupied the upper hand in pure skill, could not even budge before Yeon Ho-jeong, who was weaker than them, like mice who met a cat.
“You shouldn’t use it that way.”
Thud!
Yeon Ho-jeong lowered his posture.
“Blood Wing Sweeping Heavens is a footwork of extreme killing. Even if you utilize it as a movement technique, it will only end in ruin.”
“Y-you brat!”
“That martial art is excessively undeserved for you lot.”
“Aaaaaargh!”
Myeong Hwi and Myeong Heon charged in while screaming.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s visual power flashed.
Whoosh.
Before anyone knew it, his body had passed between the two people.
Simultaneously, when Myeong Hwi and Myeong Heon, who had thrust out their sword and palm, tilted their heads…
Splu-urt!
The bodies of the two people were split diagonally.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s gaze sank coldly.
“As expected, the Vermilion Bird Qi doesn’t open with the level of strength you lot have.”
He lifted his head.
The three hundred members of the White Dragon Army were looking at Yeon Ho-jeong with eyes full of dismay.
Yeon Ho-jeong looked up at the sky.
Late at night, the white moon and numerous stars were twinkling as if they would pour down.
Thud!
Yeon Ho-jeong, with the axe slung over his shoulder, lowered his head and looked at the White Dragon Army.
“Bring the Clan Head.”