Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1452: Jealousy, Absolute Jealousy

&34;Who exactly is that person?&34; Mu Hanyan inquired.

When the Netherworld Beast reappeared and displayed the might of a Sword Saint Realm, both Mu Hanyan and Ye Lanfeng mistakenly assumed Yun Qianmo&39;s earlier warning pertained to it. However, they soon realized their error.

Even with the power surge from the lunar eclipse, transforming into a human form within the Moon-devouring Nether Prison, and pushing its strength to the absolute limit, Xu Ming remained no match for Ye Lanfeng and posed no critical danger to Mu Hanyan. Yun Qianmo had, in fact, been referring to the shadowy man in black.

His formidable power made even Ye Lanfeng struggle. It was his interference that prevented Ye Lanfeng from intervening sooner. Had Ye Yanran not awakened and grasped her Innate Divine Ability of Heavenly Rain Divine Healing, she might have perished at Xu Ming&39;s hands, with Ye Lanfeng unable to offer salvation.

What was this person&39;s identity? Why did he aid the wicked? What was his connection to the Jiuyou Netherworld? How did Yun Qianmo know of his existence, and what was their relationship?

&34;I&39;m not entirely sure myself; he just feels vaguely familiar.&34; Ye Lanfeng’s gaze drifted into the distance.

The man in black concealed his features with a dark scarf, rendering his appearance indistinguishable. His cultivation techniques and martial arts were entirely unknown, yet an instinctive sense of familiarity inexplicably arose within him.

While knowing that discussing this might burden Mu Hanyan further, he could not bring himself to conceal the truth. The memory of Mu Hanyan&39;s near-death state, when she was grievously wounded, filled his heart with despair. Having endured such a harrowing separation, he now cherished Mu Hanyan even more and resolved to hide nothing from her.

&34;Oh?&34; Mu Hanyan regarded Ye Lanfeng with surprise.

&34;I&39;m not certain; it’s merely a feeling.&34; Ye Lanfeng offered a smile, then suddenly clasped Mu Hanyan&39;s hand, gazing deeply into her eyes. &34;But ultimately, none of that matters. You only need to hold onto one truth: through life and death, I shall remain by your side, eternally.&34;

&34;Mm.&34; Mu Hanyan nodded solemnly, nestling into Ye Lanfeng&39;s embrace.

The nascent morning sunlight bathed them, enveloping them in a gentle, golden luminescence. Their heartfelt embrace seemed to suspend time, painting a picture of perfect serenity.

From a secluded vantage point, Zirong and the others observed, murmuring amongst themselves as they watched the pair entwined above.

&34;We suspected something between them previously, but seeing them like this, it&39;s truly...&34; Zirong trailed off, scratching his nose. Jiang Yuzhe, mirroring the gesture, mumbled, &34;Is it envy?&34;

&34;Envy what? I have a fiancée,&34; Zirong countered, glancing at Jiang Yuzhe with an incredulous expression.

&34;And I have my own little tigress,&34; Jiang Yuzhe retorted defiantly, puffing out his chest.

Following this, both cast their eyes toward Huayue, who responded with a chilling glance and a single word, &34;Fools,&34; before departing.

&34;Jealousy,&34; Zirong declared with a huff.

&34;Undoubtedly jealousy,&34; Jiang Yuzhe agreed.

In the ensuing days, prominent figures from various Chambers of Commerce continued to hold sway over Beining and Qingyang Passes. These two formidable strongholds, following their restoration, regained their imposing and rugged appearance, standing as unyielding fortresses once more. Yet, no Exotic Beasts made another appearance, and even within a thousand-mile radius of Longyan Mountain, formidable Exotic Beasts became scarce.

This outcome was hardly surprising. The Exotic Beast uprising had engulfed the entire Holy Court Continent, compelling those dwelling deep within the Longyan Mountains to emerge en masse. Anyun Country, due to its proximity to Longyan Mountain, was the initial target. In fact, subsequent to Anyun Country&39;s urgent pleas for aid, other nations soon faced relentless assaults from Exotic Beasts as well.

Despite their sheer numbers, the Exotic Beasts were not inexhaustible. In the preceding decisive engagement, every Exotic Beast advancing towards Lu’an City was eradicated. It is estimated that the impact extended far beyond the canyon, affecting regions tens of thousands of miles away. The Exotic Beasts would require a millennium to regenerate their Primordial Energy, rendering them incapable of launching another offensive.

After approximately three months of relentless defense, the initial wave of reinforcements finally arrived, swiftly followed by subsequent contingents.

The conflicts in other counties of Anyun paled in comparison to the severity experienced in Lu’an City and at Beining and Qingyang Passes. Following the initial pandemonium, local military forces rapidly organized effective counterattacks. Once domestic unrest was quelled, they promptly dispatched divisions to bolster the defenses of Beining Pass.

Currently, more than thirty thousand troops were deployed at Lu’an City, encompassing Beining and Qingyang Passes. These troops consisted largely of seasoned border forces, with several commanders having attained the Great Sword Master Realm. Even under the most favorable conditions for the Exotic Beasts, they posed no significant threat to Lu’an City and the Beining Qingyang Passes.

Naturally, Mu Hanyan and her companions had no reason to remain any longer. After bidding farewell to the Fifth Prince and the others, they departed with their team.

At Beining Pass, the resonant sound of horns signaled Mu Hanyan’s departure. Countless soldiers and civilians knelt on one knee, offering their utmost respect to her.

From a distance, Mu Hanyan waved in acknowledgment. Following behind her were hundreds of scions from noble families, mounted on their Sword Pets, their unified waves and cheers echoing.

Although all the Exotic Beasts plunged into the abyss alongside Xu Ming during the final confrontation at Qingyang Pass, the majority of those who retreated from Beining Pass had been subdued by Mu Hanyan’s Divine Beast Contract. These became the Sword Pets for the noble family scions.

Following a series of fierce battles, the three Great Families—Mu, He, Yan—and their affiliated clans not only suffered no losses but also saw each member acquire a Sword Pet, leading to overflowing prosperity.

The Zhang Family emerged as the most significant beneficiary. Their substantial gamble on supporting Mu Hanyan paid off handsomely. Every Zhang Family member who participated in the war was rewarded with a Sword Pet, markedly enhancing their collective power.

In stark contrast, the five families aligned with Dan Tai Xuan, with the exception of the principled Fang Zhe who acted swiftly, endured devastating casualties. Fewer than two hundred survived, many wounded, and a significant number had lost limbs.

There was no doubt that this conflict among the Eight Great Families resulted in the complete downfall of four of them. Young Master Mo Yanhong of the Mo Family not only met his demise at Qingyang Pass but also became a widespread mockery. The Mo Family was almost certainly facing expulsion from the Eight Great Families, with the Zhang Family poised to assume their vacated position.

Gazing upon Mu Hanyan’s serene and beautiful countenance, Zhang Chihua was overcome with emotion. He recollected their initial meeting and the surprisingly astute decisions made by Zhang Moyang. His admiration for his father’s prescience grew boundless.

The prospects for the Changsun and Song families to retain their standing within the Eight Great Families hinged on deliberations between the elders and the Emperor upon their return to the capital. However, observing their injured comrades, the ruined state of Changsun Yi’an, and the babbling, openly waving Song Yu, even they held slim hopes.

(The annual gathering has commenced! Ooo~~ I'm heading to Japan tomorrow for some well-deserved indulgence and relaxation! Just once a year, I hope you'll indulge me this time, hahahaha, mwah mwah mwah. Updates may become less frequent, but there will be no complete hiatus.)