Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1422: Fateful Encounters

A profound silence enveloped the surroundings. While no blades clashed or shadows fought, the palpable tension made every heart pound in unison.

The flow of time itself seemed to halt. Then, with a deep growl, the Netherworld Beast turned its immense form and vanished into the enveloping darkness.

Released from the crushing pressure, each Exotic Beast took a collective breath and, like strays without a home, fled from the confines of the city.

Han Yan watched their retreat, a sense of helplessness washing over her. Her initial plan was to summon a Sword Pet for every young noble and even for the brave soldiers and citizens of Beiguan Town. However, the intense confrontation with the Netherworld Beast had nearly depleted all her Divine Thought Power, leaving her only to witness their escape.

Despite this, a measure of relief settled within her. The Divine Beast Heavenly Might, inherited from the Aolai Divine Beast's memories, proved its might and was not inferior to the Netherworld Beast. She knew that a future encounter would be far less trouble because of this.

For a long time, she had harbored suspicions linking the Exotic Beast incursions in Shangyue and Anyun to the Netherworld Beast. Today's direct confrontation, however, was the very first. The thought that even the ancient power of the Aolai Divine Beast struggled against it meant reaching Lu’an City would surely bring significant limitations.

Fortunately, the outcome had not been a disappointment, and Han Yan exhaled a long, steady breath.

As the Exotic Beasts receded, the City Lord swiftly ordered the city gates opened. He welcomed Han Yan and her companions inside before promptly securing the gates, ensuring no chance of a surprise counter-attack from the beasts.

"Young Master Mu, our lives are indebted to you today. Without your intervention, Beiguan Town would undoubtedly have faced utter disaster," the City Lord conveyed his profound gratitude to Han Yan.

Behind him, the soldiers and townsfolk of Beiguan Town looked upon Han Yan, their eyes glistening with tears of thankfulness.

Had Han Yan not been present, it was certain that the formidable Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephants alone, let alone the monstrous entity at the end, could have easily shattered Beiguan Town, transforming this ancient bastion into a scene of carnage.

The young nobles who followed looked at Han Yan with hearts full of awe. Though the sudden appearance of the Netherworld Beast thwarted their chance of obtaining Sword Pets, Han Yan's prior display had undeniably showcased her formidable strength. Without her, not only the people of Beiguan Town but their own lives would likely have been forfeit. Furthermore, they mused, there would surely be other opportunities, and with this hopeful expectation, their respect for Han Yan deepened.

"Lord City Master, your words are too generous. Beiguan Town's resilience until this moment is truly commendable; I merely contributed a small effort," Han Yan replied with practiced humility.

The previous assault on the city served as a stark reminder of the brutal battles fought to defend it. Even though the soldiers and citizens of Beiguan Town, including the City Lord himself, might not possess the highest cultivation levels, Han Yan held a deep and genuine respect for their unwavering bravery.

"The hour is still early; perhaps you would prefer to rest a while longer before continuing your journey to Lu’an City?" the City Lord suggested kindly, noticing Han Yan's apparent weariness.

"No, we must depart as soon as possible," Han Yan stated firmly.

The unsettling appearance of the Netherworld Beast earlier had instilled a sense of urgency in Han Yan; reaching Lu’an Town at the earliest possible moment was paramount.

"Very well, I shall not delay you further. May your path be smooth and your endeavors victorious." The City Lord, though not intimately familiar with the Netherworld Beast, possessed generations of knowledge passed down within Beiguan Town regarding Exotic Beasts. He sensed the unusual nature of the creature's appearance and did not press Han Yan to stay.

After exchanging farewells with the City Lord and his retinue, Han Yan and her group expeditiously set forth under the nascent morning light, their destination: Lu’an City.

Lu’an City lay merely a few hundred miles from Beiguan Town. However, the terrain was characterized by winding paths and rugged landscapes. Even with their sturdy Red Charcoal Cloud Smoke Beasts serving as mounts, the group's progress remained notably slow.

As midday approached, after navigating another series of hills, they spotted a contingent approaching from a different mountain trail. Leading this group was none other than Dan Tai Xuan.

It truly held that fate often brings unexpected encounters. Having parted ways after departing the Capital, and despite taking different routes and facing various delays, their paths had unexpectedly converged on the final leg of their journey to Lu’an City.

"Hmph, you certainly make haste," Dan Tai Xuan remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice, followed by a cold snort upon seeing Han Yan.

"What troubles you all? You appear utterly exhausted," Han Yan observed, noting that Dan Tai Xuan no longer exuded the same vibrant energy as before. His complexion was noticeably poor, and the young members of the five great families and their retinues behind him seemed equally drained and weary.

In stark contrast, the young cultivators trailing Han Yan remained exhilarated, their hearts still thrumming with the thrill of her recent success in taming Exotic Beasts. Each one was ignited with battle fervor.

Having witnessed Han Yan’s capabilities firsthand, these youths were eager to display their own valor and strength before her, all hoping to be the first chosen should another fortunate encounter arise.

"Hmph, do you truly believe everyone possesses your uncanny luck? We have battled innumerable Exotic Beasts on our path, pushing ourselves to the absolute brink," Dan Tai Xuan’s voice flared with irritation as he observed the spirited demeanor of Han Yan's retinue of young nobles.

A clash with Exotic Beasts, was it? Han Yan’s group exchanged questioning glances. They too had encountered their share of formidable beasts along the way, particularly during the harrowing ordeal just outside Beiguan Town. However, bolstered by the formidable presence of Han Yan and Huayue, coupled with Han Yan's exceptional Beast Taming Technique, they had emerged completely unharmed, far from the depleted state Dan Tai Xuan’s companions were in.

A closer inspection revealed their numbers had dwindled by over two hundred since their departure, and numerous individuals bore visible injuries.

"What are you gaping at? Do you have any comprehension of the sheer number of Exotic Beasts we've slain on this expedition, or the fact that in Wind Pool City, we faced thousands of them? Some beasts possessed a might comparable to Seventh Rank Sword Masters, and others even rivaled Ninth Rank Sword Masters! Hundreds of the city’s defenders fell upon the walls, and despite our full commitment, over two hundred of our family’s elites perished assisting in their repulsion. In your situation, you likely would have been annihilated long ago," Dan Tai Xuan declared, clearly bristling under their scrutiny and attempting to bolster his position.

"Thousands of Exotic Beasts, Seventh Rank Sword Masters, Ninth Rank Sword Masters?" To Han Yan’s group, his pronouncements only deepened their bewilderment.

Merely encountering such powerful Exotic Beasts had already pressed them to their limits, and this, coupled with the loss of over two hundred family elites? Earlier, the horde of Exotic Beasts that descended upon Beiguan Town numbered in the thousands and possessed similar strength. Even the few Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephants, if their power were truly assessed, were not far removed from the might of Ninth Rank Sword Masters. Yet, what was the outcome?

Aside from a handful of unfortunate souls caught off guard and struck down by the colossal stones hurled by the Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephants at the city ramparts, the soldiers and citizens of Beiguan Town remained entirely unscathed. The young nobles within their ranks hadn't even been afforded an opportunity to engage. Ultimately, not only had they successfully repelled the onslaught of Exotic Beasts, but they had also assisted He Qingzong and the others in taming dozens of formidable Sword Pets.