Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1433: One Step, One Sword, Forcing Back the Crowd

The arrival of Mu Hanyan and her companions dramatically reshaped the battle's momentum at Beining Pass, profoundly altering the spirit within its walls. Gone was the suffocating despair of impending doom; in its place, an electrifying surge of confidence and vigor now permeated the atmosphere.

Along the narrow thoroughfares, soldiers and townsfolk congregated in small clusters, their conversations animatedly recounting the day's intense confrontations, a noticeable relaxation etched upon their faces.

A similar air of ease graced Mu Hanyan's countenance. After the prolonged, arduous engagements, the remarkable absence of any critical injuries or fatalities among the pass's defenders brought her considerable satisfaction.

However, the continued silence of the Netherworld Beast gnawed at Mu Hanyan, leaving a persistent knot of apprehension in her chest. She found it improbable that the formidable creature would simply abandon its assault. The preceding days' skirmishes with lesser beasts might well have been mere prelude, the calm before a tempest.

After a final sweep of the battlements, confirming no vulnerabilities, and observing no unusual disturbances emanating from the distant Longyan Mountain, Mu Hanyan made her way back to her quarters. Despite the daytime assaults, the inherent nocturnal advantage of these beasts was well-understood, posing a greater night-time threat. Mu Hanyan's heightened Six Senses, however, granted her an edge, allowing for earlier detection of emergent dangers.

Upon reaching her residence, Mu Hanyan's first priority was to check on Ye Yanran. It had been over a month since their departure from the Capital for Beining Pass, yet Ye Yanran remained unresponsive, lost in a state of emptiness. Her physical injuries had long since mended, and a healthy flush now graced her cheeks, indicative of returning vitality.

Mu Hanyan discerned subtle shifts occurring within Ye Yanran's meridians, mirroring the progress seen in Huayue and others. It seemed almost a certainty that upon awakening, she would manifest an Innate Divine Ability, much like her companions.

What form would this divine skill take? Mu Hanyan felt a keen sense of curiosity, tinged with hopeful anticipation.

Deep night had descended, and all within the pass had sought rest earlier than usual.

Back in her chamber, after completing her nightly ablutions, Mu Hanyan prepared to retire. The recent days had been physically and mentally draining, leaving little time for dedicated cultivation. Yet, she sensed the Qi within her body growing increasingly potent, a clear sign of an impending breakthrough.

Indeed, the relentless crucible of battle served as the most effective catalyst for advancing one's cultivation!

Abruptly, an unseen, potent aura descended upon her, its sheer power causing Mu Hanyan's heart to pound and the fine hairs on her arms to rise, even with her formidable Great Sword Master cultivation.

Could this be the Netherworld Beast? Mu Hanyan wheeled around with swift reflexes, propelling herself out the window.

A figure clad in a silver mask and a dark sword robe stood poised outside her window, their gaze cold as they fixed upon Mu Hanyan as she launched herself through the opening.

"It's you?" Mu Hanyan exclaimed, a note of disbelief in her voice.

She had anticipated a confrontation with the Netherworld Beast, but never had she expected this particular individual to appear.

"Leave Beining Pass, depart Lu'an City," the masked man commanded, his voice devoid of any discernible emotion.

"Why?" Mu Hanyan inquired, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"If you wish to live, abandon Beining Pass and Lu'an City. This is for your own preservation," the masked man replied coolly, sidestepping her question.

"And what if I refuse to leave?" Mu Hanyan pressed.

"I have stated my counsel. Should you remain, no one will be able to shield you," the masked man stated calmly.

"Do you comprehend that the security of Beining Pass and Lu'an City directly impacts the lives of millions of Anyun Country's citizens? Should Anyun descend into chaos, the entirety of the Holy Court Continent could face annihilation," Mu Hanyan countered, meeting the man's gaze directly.

Ordinarily, she would not have offered such an extensive explanation. However, based on information received from Ye Lanfeng, this enigmatic masked figure was none other than Yun Qianmo, a person Ye Lanfeng deeply respected as a mentor, friend, and elder brother. This understanding made it difficult for Mu Hanyan to perceive him as an outright adversary, despite his threatening demeanor.

"The fate of the Holy Court Continent is not your burden to bear. You need only grasp this one certainty: remaining in Beining Pass or Lu'an City spells your inevitable demise, and your salvation is beyond anyone's reach," the masked man declared, his gaze locked onto Mu Hanyan, each word delivered with grave emphasis.

"You presume the demise of Young Master Mu is so easily achieved?" At that precise moment, a dozen shadowy figures materialized atop the courtyard walls. Drawn bows were nocked, their taut strings humming ominously. The sword tips, imbued with palpable Qi, cast a chilling glint under the moonlight, emitting a foreboding resonance.

The courtyard gate burst open as the Fifth Prince and Qu Fengting strode in with unwavering resolve, immediately positioning themselves protectively before Mu Hanyan.

Despite the brutal combat earlier in the day, the Fifth Prince's martial spirit remained unyielding, his eyes burning with absolute determination.

Though bereft of an arm, Qu Fengting stood with the unshakeable presence of a mountain, his remaining hand gripping his sword hilt with fierce intensity, radiating a palpable aura of lethal intent.

The archers, revealed to be a dozen elite warriors, possessed eyes as sharp as lightning, their arrows aimed with deadly precision at the masked man's vital core.

Do not underestimate these individuals; each one was an expert far exceeding the Sword Master level. The longbows they carried, meticulously crafted by the imperial Sword Casting Workshop specifically for the border fortress, bore the formidable name of Cloud Piercing Stone Shattering Bow. While not classified as Magic Artifacts, their power, when fully infused with Qi, rivaled that of low-level magic artifacts, enabling them to pierce through giant stones from a hundred paces away.

Beining Pass had managed to repel the relentless assaults of exotic beasts up to this point, largely thanks to these potent bows shattering stones from afar. Unless one had attained the Sword Saint level of cultivation or possessed an innate defense as robust as high-level exotic beasts, no one dared to dismiss these formidable bows lightly. Even experts within the Sword Saint Realm risked severe injury if struck in a vital area without adequate defense.

"Do you believe your strength alone can protect her?" regrettably, the masked man was beyond the Sword Saint realm, completely unfazed by the presence of the Fifth Prince, Qu Fengting, and the dozens of Cloud Piercing Stone Shattering Bows.

"Perhaps they cannot, but what if you add us to the equation?" Huayue and several others moved to position themselves protectively in front of Mu Hanyan.

"Your advancement in strength is not insignificant, but alas, even with your combined might, it remains insufficient," the masked man remarked, casting a dismissive glance at Huayue and the others as he shook his head.

"Is that so? We intend to discover that for ourselves," Huayue stated with an unreadable expression.

"Thunder Sound, Sky Swinging!"

"Demon Sword, Heart Kill!"

"Clone, Illusion Destruction!"

"Fury, Devil Slash!" The group unleashed their Innate Divine Abilities in unison, their Sword Pets emerging beside them, baring their teeth with low growls and eyes ablaze with frenzied bloodlust.

Having witnessed the masked man's terrifying prowess firsthand, they understood that even with their strength reaching the Ninth Rank Sword Master level, a deep understanding of their Innate Divine Abilities, and the crucial assistance of their Sword Pets, their opportunities to strike were limited. Therefore, they could not afford to hold back.

"Kill!" With a resounding battle cry from Huayue, the four of them simultaneously lunged at the masked man, discreetly unleashing their signature sword moves.

The Fifth Prince and Qu Fengting, who had been poised for action, also swung their longswords with all their might towards the masked man's head as Huayue gave the signal. Simultaneously, dozens of Cloud Piercing Stone Shattering Arrows streaked from all directions, converging on the masked man's vital meridian points.

In a mere instant, six blinding Sword Lights sliced through the sky, and the shadows of dozens of arrows engulfed the heavens.

"Star Fall, Eight Desolates!" Mu Hanyan also joined the fray.

Fully aware of the opponent's overwhelming power, she not only struck with every ounce of her strength but also employed a potent sword move, activating the Five Great Magical Instruments to forcibly elevate her cultivation to the Sword Saint Realm. Huayue and the others' strength naturally synchronized, also reaching the Great Sword Master Realm.

One Sword Saint, four Great Sword Masters, four Sword Pets comparable to Ninth Rank Sword Masters, coupled with the significantly enhanced defense provided by the battle armor of the Fifth Prince and Qu Fengting, and bolstered by the volleys from dozens of Cloud Piercing Stone Shattering Bows—even when facing a far more formidable foe, Mu Hanyan felt confident in their ability to contend.

The masked man's eyes narrowed slightly, but instead of retreating, he advanced with a light step. This movement, though appearing unhurried, almost like a leisurely stroll, concealed countless profound mysteries.

With just that single step, the dozens of arrows that arrived moments later brushed past him harmlessly, failing to inflict even the slightest injury.

A gentle flick of his robe sleeve sent both the Fifth Prince and Qu Fengting flying backward with tremendous force. It was crucial to remember that their battle armor alone weighed over two hundred pounds, and they themselves had reached the Fifth Rank Sword Master level, yet they were unable to withstand the effortless wave of his hand.

"Sword to Rule Heaven and Earth!" An ancient sword materialized in the masked man's grasp, unleashing a vast expanse of Sword Light.

Mu Hanyan felt as though an immense, towering peak was hurtling towards her, stealing her breath and forcing her to retreat repeatedly.

Beside her, Huayue and the others, along with their respective Sword Pets, were violently swept away by that colossal force, tumbling and sprawling backward a full five meters before managing to stabilize themselves.

Every single one of them was stunned; having taken merely one step and wielded but one sword, they had all been repelled. The sheer might demonstrated by that single step and sword strike was terrifying; who exactly was this individual?