Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1413: Reincarnation Fire

"Then I won’t hold back. You’re truly remarkable. That old fellow was no match for you after all," Yan Yuchu rarely showed such genuine admiration for a peer, speaking his mind without any reservation.

"No match for him? You underestimate him," Qian Ji replied with a faint, bittersweet smile.

It was only then that Han Yan noticed a subtle, unhealthy flush on his face and his breathing was uneven, clear indicators that he had sustained injuries.

"You’re injured?" Han Yan inquired, surprise lacing her tone. Instinctively, she reached out to grasp his wrist, her divine sense probing deeper.

A wicked, dark Qi was wreaking havoc within his body. Even his formidable Ninth Rank Sword Master Qi, though suppressed, was utterly incapable of resisting it. Wherever this corrupted Qi traversed, his meridians were left shattered, and his Qi Sea suffered severe damage. Had it not been for Qian Ji and Huayue possessing exceptionally resilient defenses, he would have been crippled long ago.

"How could this have happened?" Han Yan attempted to employ the Heavenly Heart Technique to refine the invasive Qi, but her efforts proved futile, leaving her even more bewildered.

"Divine Prison Refining Fire, it is the Reincarnation Fire. Unless one comprehends its ultimate mysteries, each deployment results in enduring a cycle of life and death," Qian Ji's voice wavered slightly. Beads of sweat, like droplets of dew, trickled down his forehead, betraying the immense pain he was enduring.

Han Yan recalled that he had not exhibited such agony even when poisoned by the Ten Thousand Ants Devouring Heart Pill previously. This observation underscored the sheer, destructive dominance of the Divine Prison Refining Fire.

"But it’s nothing serious, I won’t die," Seeing Han Yan's face etched with worry, Qian Ji added, attempting a forced, comforting smile that only amplified the surrounding bitterness.

"Just now, thank you..." Han Yan conveyed, her expression a complex mixture of emotions.

Having overheard Gai Huangji's parting words, she was acutely aware that this matter would by no means conclude here. Her and Huayue's rescue would undoubtedly plunge Qian Ji into a vortex of endless trouble.

"Do you recall what you stated last time at Long Yan Academy?" Qian Ji fixed his gaze upon Han Yan, enunciating each word, "We are friends."

"Yes, we are friends," Han Yan affirmed with a firm nod, her eyes welling up with unshed tears.

"Alright, I must depart now. Be mindful of yourselves," Qian Ji managed a smile as he turned and began walking towards the exit.

"Wait, what is the purpose of your presence on the Holy Court Continent?" Han Yan suddenly called out, posing the question.

She harbored a reluctance to ask, as she had already surmised that Qian Ji's arrival on the Holy Court Continent was unequivocally linked to her. Otherwise, the betrayal in their past lives would lack context. This rebirth had inflicted profound anguish upon her, a pain she couldn't easily release, yet she now perceived another underlying reason, a question buried deep within her heart that threatened to metastasize into an inner demon.

"I have come to the Holy Court Continent for all of you. The power wielded by the Guardian of the Gods is exceedingly potent, presenting a significant threat to the temple. Only by eradicating you in your nascent stages can the temple preempt future calamities. Naturally, this applies equally to the Holy Court.

For countless millennia, the serene coexistence between the Divine Continent and the Holy Court Continent has been maintained by the existence of the North Abyss Misty Plain and the concerted efforts of both the Holy Court and the temple to eliminate each other's Guardians of the Gods," Qian Ji's body trembled almost imperceptibly as he spoke with disarming candor.

Huayue and the others exchanged surprised glances, their expressions shifting subtly. They instinctively tightened their grips on their sword hilts before consciously relaxing their fingers. If Qian Ji had truly intended to harm them, there would have been no need for his earlier intervention, nor his defiance against Gai Huangji.

Furthermore, he was presently severely wounded, and both Han Yan and Yan Yuchu still possessed considerable fighting capabilities. If his intentions were malicious, he would not have divulged his true motives.

"We are friends." Reflecting on Qian Ji's earlier declaration and observing the clarity in his eyes, reminiscent of stars twinkling in the night sky, Huayue and the others felt a profound sense of shame, accompanied by self-deprecating smiles.

"So, you won't be killing us now, will you?" Han Yan inquired playfully, a smile gracing her lips.

Had Qian Ji remained evasive, Han Yan might have struggled to fully reconcile with the past. The sting of the betrayal in her previous life had inflicted immeasurable pain, a suffering that Qian Ji too had endured. Though he had not been reborn as she had, he remained ensnared in that agonizing nightmare from which he could not escape.

However, Qian Ji's forthright explanation of his objectives on the Holy Court Continent served as a profound release for Han Yan. It appeared that, much like the altered fate of Huayue's group, Qian Ji's life path had also undergone a transformation, suggesting that the tragedies of their past lives might indeed be averted.

Seeing the contentment on the faces of Huayue and Han Yan, Qian Ji offered a gentle smile, his gaze softening with warmth. This kind of camaraderie was a novel experience for him, and such unwavering trust was beyond anything his past self had dared to envision.

"The matter concerning the Jiuyou Netherworld might still be unknown to the Divine Lord. Should the seal of the Jiuyou Netherworld be completely shattered, it will herald an era of chaos. Not only will the Holy Court Continent face annihilation, but the Divine Continent itself will perish. I surmise that under such dire circumstances, he will undoubtedly revoke his decree," Qian Ji explained.

"Are you planning to return?" Han Yan, perceiving the unspoken implication in his words, inquired.

"My departure is imminent, but not just yet. I will remain until you achieve advancement to the Sword Saint Realm," Qian Ji stated with unruffled composure.

Upon hearing this, Han Yan was momentarily surprised but quickly grasped the gravity of his statement. Even though Qian Ji had deviated from his original mission and openly disregarded the Divine Lord’s commands, the temple's operatives embedded within the Holy Court Continent would not abandon their allegiance based solely on his word. After all, besides him, the Divine Language Priest, there were also Divine Guardian Priests like Gai Huangji. While the precise hierarchy among the temple priests remained unclear to Han Yan, he could discern that a Divine Guardian Priest’s standing was arguably on par with that of a Divine Language Priest.

This situation bore a resemblance to the Holy Court Continent, where the Twelve Saints commanded immense prestige, largely due to their status as direct disciples of the Holy Master and potential successors. However, in terms of influence within the Holy Court, an official like Tian Wenliang, a Law Enforcement Elder, might wield comparable power.

It was a certainty that the temple's forces would not permit Han Yan to amass further strength and would eventually make their move. While the adversaries operated in the shadows, their own position was exposed. Given that the temple priests employed a variety of arcane and mystifying techniques, entirely distinct from those prevalent on the Holy Court Continent, Han Yan's safety would remain precarious until she attained the Sword Saint Realm. Qian Ji's decision to stay was to ensure Han Yan's protection, as, by all accounts, he, the Divine Language Priest, possessed a more profound understanding of the temple experts' methodologies.

"Qian Ji..." Han Yan, comprehending the profound reason behind Qian Ji's decision to remain, was deeply touched.

"There is no need for further thanks. As friends, refrain from uttering those words so readily," Qian Ji interjected, cutting off Han Yan's expression of gratitude.