Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1429: If I Had Known, I Would Have Followed Han Yan

The previous encounter in Fang Town had left Dan Tai Xuan so utterly humiliated that he departed prematurely, never witnessing Mu Hanyan unleash her true power. He had assumed her strength couldn't possibly match her years; regardless of her innate talent, bridging the vast gulf between a Ninth Rank Sword Master and a Great Sword Master at such a tender age seemed an insurmountable feat. Yet, to his astonishment, Mu Hanyan had indeed ascended to the Great Sword Master realm.

Observing the sheer force contained within that single sword strike, it became evident that her actual combat prowess far surpassed her cultivation level. Declaring her strength comparable to a Semi-Saint would scarcely be an exaggeration.

Luo Pengcheng was rendered even more speechless, his astonishment leaving him without words for a considerable duration. He had initially believed that a young woman of Mu Hanyan’s age possessing the might of a Fifth or Sixth Rank Sword Master would be an impressive achievement. However, the revelation that she was, in fact, a Great Sword Master, explained the unshakeable confidence of the scions of noble families who followed her; it stemmed from her formidable foundation.

It wasn’t merely the onlookers who were astounded; even the rampaging Exotic Beasts momentarily faltered in their onslaught. Clearly, they had not anticipated that the terrifying entity they feared would be vanquished by a mere human cultivator with a single, decisive sword stroke.

Under normal circumstances, such a display would have sent these Exotic Beasts fleeing in terror, but the present situation was undeniably different. Their shock was fleeting, lasting but a moment before they let out renewed roars, launching into a ferocious assault once more.

Mu Hanyan, naturally, perceived this subtle shift in their behavior. If her intuition served her correctly, this surge in their aggression was likely connected to that enigmatic Netherworld Beast.

Her initial intention was to immediately enact the Divine Beast Contract after the demise of the Angry Dragon Beast. However, reassessing the unfolding situation, she decided against it. While her confrontation with the Netherworld Beast in Beiguan Town had not diminished her overall strength, it had completely depleted her Divine Thought Power, rendering her incapable of repeatedly employing the Divine Beast Contract. She resolved to await a more opportune moment.

"Summon your Sword Pets and unleash your full might!" Mu Hanyan commanded Yan Yuchu and the others decisively.

Upon hearing her directive, a spark of excitement ignited in He Qingzong and the others. They understood the unspoken rules of the battlefield: where reality and illusion often intertwined, revealing one's ultimate strength was a tactic best reserved for dire necessity. Without Mu Hanyan's explicit order, they had been reluctant to showcase their Sword Pets. Now, however, the moment had arrived to reveal their trump cards.

"Roar... Roar..." With a series of brilliant flashes, dozens of Sword Pets materialized beneath He Qingzong and his companions.

Dominating the scene with their sheer presence and power were the four colossal Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephants. Encased in a shimmering golden aura, their strength was equivalent to that of a Ninth Rank Sword Master. While the Sword Pets belonging to the others were of a lesser rank, most possessed the ferocity of Sixth or Seventh Rank Sword Masters, adding significant combat power to their formations.

Luo Pengcheng watched, completely dumbfounded. It became apparent that their true strength lay not solely in Mu Hanyan's personal abilities, but also in the formidable arsenal of powerful Sword Pets they commanded.

Dan Tai Xuan and the assembled sons of noble families were equally taken aback. Being well-acquainted with the capabilities of their peers from the Capital's elite circles, they knew that individuals like He Yan had not possessed any Sword Pets prior to their departure. It was evident they had acquired them after leaving the Capital.

Based on their existing knowledge, none of these individuals had undertaken any training in Beast Taming Techniques. Therefore, the acquisition of such potent Sword Pets could only be attributed to Mu Hanyan's influence and guidance.

As they looked anew at Mu Hanyan, a complex tapestry of emotions welled within them, culminating in a singular, shared sentiment: If only they had pledged their allegiance to Mu Hanyan from the very beginning.

Alas, such a decision was not theirs to make; it rested solely with their Young Master. Consequently, when their gazes turned towards their own Young Master, their eyes were filled with undisguised resentment.

Oblivious to their internal turmoil and with no time to entertain such thoughts, Mu Hanyan waved her hand, signaling the charge. Over five hundred scions of noble families surged forward, descending upon the Exotic Beasts milling below Beining Pass.

At the forefront, Zirong and Jiang Yuzhe wielded their swords with blurring speed. Each arc of light unleashed from their blades resulted in a macabre dance of blood. Flanking them were two Dragon Scale Fire Pattern Rhinoceroses, their iron-hard hooves pounding the earth and their formidable horns clashing, serving as unwavering, sturdy shields.

Behind this vanguard, the noble family scions accompanied by their Sword Pets fought with burgeoning fervor, unleashing volleys of sword energy. Their Sword Pets, too, joined the fray, brandishing razor-sharp claws and baring formidable fangs. Though individually their Sword Pets might not have been overwhelmingly powerful, their fierce offensive capabilities, combined with the synergy they shared with their masters, dramatically amplified their overall combat effectiveness.

The remaining noble family scions, who lacked Sword Pets of their own, were nonetheless inspired by the escalating battle. Their morale soared as they bravely charged into the fray, their swords slicing through the ranks of the Exotic Beasts.

Riding their Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephants, Yan Yuchu, Zhang Chihua, Yan Yi, and Zhang Chihua guarded each flank, their might surpassing that of other noble families' heirs. Shielded by the powerful elephants, they felt no apprehension. The four Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephants were not idle; while fending off attacks from the sides, they diligently used their trunks to hurl massive stones like catapults at the approaching enemies.

The ferocity of battles amongst Exotic Beasts far eclipsed the conflicts of human nations. These Exotic Beasts, now serving as tamed Sword Pets, displayed no leniency towards their own kind.

Having sustained prior injuries, Huayue and Tang Bufan, though not gravely wounded, found their combat efficacy somewhat diminished. They positioned themselves at the rear, accompanied by the Iron-Backed Saber-Toothed Tiger and the Earthly Ferocious Bear, to thwart any attempts at an outflanking maneuver by the Exotic Beasts from behind.

Yet, their concerns proved to be unfounded. Despite the Exotic Beasts rapidly recovering from the awe-inspiring might of the Beast God emanating from the Divine Beast Contract, their frenzied and bloodthirsty nature returning, they still harbored a deep fear of Mu Hanyan. Having barely escaped the blades of Zirong and the others in the front, they dared not attempt to encircle her from behind.

The pair managed to eliminate a considerable number of stragglers, dispatching no fewer Exotic Beasts than those slain by Zirong and his companions at the forefront.

Eventually, the wild frenzy in the eyes of the Exotic Beasts began to subside, replaced by a palpable fear, and they even started a cautious retreat.

"In the name of Aolai, I command all beasts under heaven: those who heed my call shall prosper, and those who defy me shall perish!" Mu Hanyan, discerning the shift in the Exotic Beasts' demeanor, seized the moment to recite the Divine Beast Contract once more.

A peculiar resonance filled the air between heaven and earth, and an ancient pressure from the Beast God descended from the skies. All the Exotic Beasts were left trembling, their will to fight utterly crushed, with nearly half collapsing onto the ground in submission.

This time, it should be possible to secure Sword Pets for the other noble family's heirs, Mu Hanyan mused, exhaling slowly.

However, at that precise moment, a distant beastly roar echoed, accompanied by a searing pale red light that sliced through the heavens. The ancient pressure of the Beast God from the Divine Beast Contract abruptly faltered, as though held in suspension by an unseen force.

Those Exotic Beasts, previously quaking in terror and on the verge of willingly forging a Master-Servant Contract, found themselves able to breathe once more.

"Awoo..." A sudden howl erupted from an Exotic Beast, which then turned and bolted towards the canyon.

Influenced by this lead, the other Exotic Beasts joined in with mournful cries, fleeing the battleground with their tails tucked, residual fear of Mu Hanyan still lingering in their hearts.