Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1353: What a Coincidence! Almost Spit Out My Drink

"This sword was forged by the esteemed Sword Casting Master, Xuanyuan Fengchen. However, in the nick of time, Master Xuanyuan had to depart due to an urgent family affair, leaving the treasure sword unfinished. He vanished thereafter. Despite my long wait, he never returned. Consequently, I enlisted several other Sword Casting Masters to complete it. Alas, Xuanyuan’s unparalleled artistry proved too profound for them to replicate, and the sword forging has remained in limbo ever since," Yan Zishu explained with disappointment, his tone laced with deep respect when mentioning Xuanyuan Fengchen.

"Xuanyuan Fengchen!" Han Yan exclaimed, nearly sputtering in shock.

Xuanyuan Fengchen—wasn’t that the notorious charlatan who had brazenly swindled customers on the grand opening day of the Nanyan Commerce’s Anyun City branch? It was precisely because of the sword he supposedly crafted that Han Yan had so outrageously deceived Mo Yanhong, subsequently earning the infamous reputation as the Capital’s foremost playboy. Naturally, this outcome was far from Han Yan’s original intention.

Ever since that incident, Xuanyuan Fengchen had disappeared from the public eye. Perhaps he met his end while on the run, or perhaps his elaborate scam was exposed, forcing him to abandon his deceptive ways. Han Yan suspected the latter was more probable. The Xuanyuan Fengchen of this world only rose to true continental renown in recent years. Her transmigration had drastically altered his destiny, and he hadn't yet ensnared many victims. Furthermore, he wasn’t facing continent-wide pursuit as he had in her previous life, thereby likely evading a tragic demise.

As for Mo Yanhong, having suffered such an egregious, unacknowledged loss, he would undoubtedly seek retribution from Xuanyuan Fengchen. Yet, even if the Mo Family Ancestor himself intervened, apprehending Xuanyuan Fengchen would prove to be no simple feat. Though the old trickster’s combat prowess was lacking, his evasion skills were second to none. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have required a coordinated continental effort for his demise in the previous timeline.

In a peculiar twist of fate, she might have inadvertently saved Xuanyuan Fengchen’s life.

"Is something amiss?" Yan Zishu inquired, perplexed by Han Yan’s peculiar smirk.

"It’s nothing, absolutely nothing," Han Yan replied, firmly resolved to keep Xuanyuan Fengchen’s secret. After all, she still intended to assist that old scoundrel in forging a legendary treasure sword.

"Do not disregard Master Xuanyuan lightly. While his renown may not be widespread, in my estimation, his swordsmithing techniques are extraordinarily profound and utterly unmatched. Had it not been for an unforeseen domestic crisis, he would undoubtedly have ascended to become the most celebrated master swordsmith in the annals of the Holy Court Continent. Attempting to complete his partially forged treasure sword is no trivial undertaking," the old man remarked with a trace of bitterness, observing Han Yan’s faint smile.

"Mhm, mhm, understood, understood," Han Yan responded, suppressing a chuckle. Witnessing the old man’s earnest conviction was almost amusing. Swordsmithing techniques unparalleled? In her view, it was his fraudulent schemes that were truly unprecedented and unmatched. Judging by the elder’s demeanor, he had likely been taken in by Xuanyuan Fengchen, perhaps even assisting him in tallying his ill-gotten gains.

Having exhausted her patience for further discussion, Han Yan promptly produced the sword-casting furnace.

Having already witnessed Han Yan’s mastery of alchemy, Yan Zishu and the others were not particularly astonished by her possession of a storage artifact. However, what transpired next left them utterly dumbfounded.

"Light the flames, open the furnace!" Han Yan declared with accustomed authority. Rolling up her sleeves, she grasped the sword-casting hammer, her previous delicate demeanor vanishing, replaced by an aura of bold determination and martial prowess.

Huayue and Jiang Yuzhe immediately sprang into action, one tending to the fire and the other expertly working the bellows. Their extensive experience assisting Lady Mu through countless trials had honed their skills to a fine edge.

"You intend to forge the sword yourself?" the old man inquired, his eyes wide with disbelief as he observed Han Yan. He had initially assumed one of her companions would undertake the task, never imagining she would personally wield the hammer.

It was common knowledge that alchemists, artificers, and swordsmiths constituted the three most prestigious professions on the Holy Court Continent. Although their callings shared some similarities, their disciplines were vastly distinct. The young woman's astonishing alchemical aptitude was already remarkable; that she also possessed formidable swordsmithing skills was a revelation.

"If not me, then who else? Are you volunteering?" Han Yan retorted curtly to the old man, whom she found thoroughly disagreeable.

"Hmph, do not presume upon your arrogance simply because you rectified the Eight-Door Purple Cloud Furnace. Do you possess any inkling of the immense time Master Xuanyuan dedicated to forging this blade? Do you comprehend the vast sums expended on the Chenyun Gold and Heavenly Blue Sand utilized in its creation? Should you mar this treasure sword, can you possibly afford the restitution?" The old man’s words were sharp and accusatory, his glare fixed upon her.

This same monotonous refrain… Han Yan found the old man’s incessant nagging increasingly tiresome.

"Rest assured, Miss has more than enough money, and abundant meteorite gold," Han Yan stated casually, waving a thick stack of silver notes before the old man's eyes. She then brought out a pile of meteorite gold, waving it enticingly before him.

To suggest she couldn't afford it was a direct insult. While Lady Mu might lack in some areas, silver was never one of them; she had enough to bury this fellow multiple times over. As for the Outer Heaven Meteorite Gold, it was worth remembering that Lady Mu possessed her own meteorite gold mine, ample enough to entomb people as well.

The old man was utterly mesmerized by the sheer volume of numbers on the silver notes and the unique luminescence of the Outer Heaven Meteorite Gold, leaving him wide-mouthed and speechless.

Although his standing wasn't as high as Yan Zishu's, he hailed from the distinguished Shangyue City lineage. He had encountered numerous affluent and influential families, but family riches were distinct from liquid silver. Forget about young masters around Han Yan's age; not even minor family patriarchs could possibly carry such a quantity of silver notes.

Noticing the old man had finally quieted down, Han Yan calmly proceeded to inspect the longsword in her hand.

Having personally witnessed a longsword forged by Xuanyuan Fengchen previously, she understood that the old man's sword-casting skills were not genuinely bad; otherwise, he wouldn't have managed to deceive so many. However, his technique was indeed lacking, preventing him from forging true divine weapons and leading him to employ certain shortcuts for deception.

The so-called treasure sword before her was precisely like this: it initially employed conventional methods, exuding the aura of a master craftsman, but later encountered a bottleneck, making further forging impossible.

If Han Yan's deduction was correct, his abrupt departure from Shangyue City stemmed from his inability to complete this sword, a fear of his deceit being exposed, with the urgent family matter merely serving as a pretext.

To cover his tracks, he incorporated some peculiar techniques before leaving. In Han Yan's estimation, given her current foundation in sword casting, these methods, while appearing unusual, were ultimately ineffective. They were incomprehensible to others and likely even baffling to the practitioner himself.

Subsequently, the swordsmiths employed by Yan Zishu, overwhelmed by Xuanyuan Fengchen's reputation, became fixated on deciphering the sword's mysteries before beginning their work, ultimately choosing to abandon the task.