Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1453: The Position of the Number One Family Belongs to the Mu Family Alone

"Sigh, if back then the Young Master had not obstinately forged his own path, dead-set on following that idiot Dan Tai Xuan, and instead had broken out of Qingyang Pass like Fang Zhe, wouldn’t things have unfolded differently now?" The disciples from Changsun Family, Song Qu, and several other families gazed at the spirited Zhang Family crowd across from them, speaking in unison.

Unfortunately, a regrettable cure doesn't exist in this world; any words spoken now are simply too late.

Mu Hanyan, leading a contingent of noble family sons, departed from Beining Pass, commencing their return journey. At the moment of farewell, her gaze lingered once more on that mist-enshrouded gorge.

Abruptly, a dark shadow sprang forth, and from a distance, upon spotting Mu Hanyan, it unleashed a volley of ferocious roars.

"Clang!" Witnessing another Exotic Beast, nearly all the noble family sons simultaneously drew their Longswords.

"Hold your movements," Mu Hanyan, however, raised her hand to signal them to halt.

Qiongqi—the Exotic Beast hurtling towards them—wasn’t it precisely Xia Youchen’s Qiongqi Divine Beast, the one famously known for consuming only vegetables, eschewing meat, cherishing peace, avoiding conflict, and never killing? How could it be positioned here?

While this Little Qiongqi was merely a facade of reputation, an absolute disgrace among the Four Great Fierce Beasts, even Mu Hanyan frequently felt a pang of sympathy for Xia Youchen due to it. Nevertheless, as a Sword Pet, under ordinary circumstances, it would not deviate far from Xia Youchen, unless Xia Youchen himself had perished, or a significant event had transpired.

Beside her, Ye Yanran had evidently reached the same conclusion; her countenance had turned ashen.

"Why did you rush over here? Where is my esteemed great-grand-ancestor?" Ye Yanran seized the Little Qiongqi as it bounded towards her, imploring with frantic urgency.

"Awoo..." Little Qiongqi paid no heed to her. It first emitted a prolonged howl, then grasped the hem of Mu Hanyan’s robe and stammered out a torrent of beast language.

"What is it conveying?" Ye Yanran paused momentarily, turning to Mu Hanyan for clarification; she lacked the ability to comprehend beast speech.

"Senior Xia is still alive! He's currently encircled and unable to break free. We shall set out to rescue him without delay," Mu Hanyan declared swiftly.

Though their initial encounter was marked more by antagonism than friendship, later at Flying Peak, Xia Youchen had exerted himself to protect Tang Bufan and Fen Qianji, risking his own life to ensure their safety. This selfless act profoundly altered her perception of him, and the two could be considered companions despite the disparity in their years. Subsequently, upon learning of the deep-seated grievances and complex entanglements between Xia Youchen and Ye Yanran’s maternal great-grandmother, Mu Hanyan found herself feeling even greater empathy for him. Even if solely for Ye Yanran's sake, she would readily intervene to offer him aid.

Upon hearing Mu Hanyan’s pronouncement, Little Qiongqi let out a few triumphant cries, then turned and sprinted back towards Longyan Mountain. Within a mere blink, its form had already receded dozens of zhang into the distance.

Mu Hanyan hesitated momentarily. At such a velocity, it was scarcely slower than a Sword Saint expert employing the Wind Control Skill. Thus, this creature wasn't entirely without merit; its prowess in evasion was, at the very least, top-tier.

While she possessed the means to elevate her strength to the Sword Saint realm through the utilization of those Five Great Magical Instruments, maintaining such a heightened state was not feasible indefinitely. In terms of sheer speed, she genuinely could not match its swiftness.

Huayue and the others had already initiated their movement forward, but observing this spectacle, their bodies came to an abrupt halt, and they shared wry smiles simultaneously. With such remarkable speed, which even Mu Hanyan struggled to equal, they were utterly outmatched.

"I shall accompany you," Ye Lanfeng announced as he formed a Hand Seal.

Mu Hanyan, Huayue, and the others suddenly felt their feet lighten, their bodies ascending into the air.

"You shall return to the Capital on your own. I have certain matters requiring my attention," Mu Hanyan issued a concise directive to Mu Chengxuan and the rest, then pursued Little Qiongqi.

With a mere few ascents and descents, several figures vanished from their sight.

Mu Chengxuan and his companions exchanged glances. Initially, upon hearing Mu Hanyan’s declaration of embarking on a rescue mission, whether Mu Family Disciples or those from other clans, their blood surged with fervor, and some had even drawn their Longswords in unrestrained excitement. However, when they subsequently witnessed the breathtaking speed of Mu Hanyan and the others, enhanced by the blessing of the Wind Control Skill, they could only resign themselves to sheathing their blades once more.

"Brother Mu, what course of action should we adopt now?" He Qingzong inquired of Mu Chengxuan, appearing somewhat adrift.

They were unaware of when it had begun, but the disciples representing the major families, including the Young Master of each clan, had instinctively positioned Mu Hanyan as their singular, guiding leader. With her sudden departure, they felt an overwhelming sense of having lost their anchor; their minds were unexpectedly void of direction.

"The Young Master instructed us to return ahead of time, so that is precisely what we shall do," Mu Chengxuan deliberated for a moment before replying.

"Oh right, Young Master Mu instructed us to return to the Capital on our own, so let us head back first." He Qingzong finally snapped out of his daze, smacking his forehead forcefully and nodding repeatedly.

Without delay, everyone followed Mu Hanyan's instructions and made their way back to the Capital.

Prior to departing, Zhang Chihua couldn't resist casting one more glance in the direction Mu Hanyan and her companions had gone, his heart brimming with profound emotion. Although the final rankings of the Eight Great Families would still require deliberation by the elders of the various Capital families and His Majesty the Emperor, their discussions were of little consequence regarding the ownership of the First Family's title. Merely observing how everyone unquestioningly followed Mu Hanyan's commands was sufficient to indicate that the First Family position could only belong to the Mu Family!

Meeting Mu Hanyan must be the most fortunate event of my entire existence. Zhang Chihua looked once more at the descendants of the Zhangchi lineage behind him, their spirits high, and a gentle smile graced his features.

...

While the group of noble family heirs was returning to the Capital, Mu Hanyan's party was steadily advancing into the depths of Longyan Mountain.

Little Qiongqi, concerned for Xia Youchen's safety, extended its four limbs and galloped forward with wind-swift speed. Despite this companion's frequent unreliability, it harbored genuine affection for its "dad," Xia Youchen.

Although Ye Lanfeng possessed considerable strength, he couldn't offer continuous blessings of the Wind Control Skill to everyone. Fortunately, Mu Hanyan herself possessed the Green Cloud Feather, an artifact that considerably enhanced speed. By combining Ye Lanfeng's intermittent Wind Control Skill blessings with the power of the Green Cloud Feather Magic Artifact, they managed to keep pace just behind Little Qiongqi.

Unbeknownst to them, several days had elapsed. During this period, apart from brief pauses for rest to replenish their water and dry rations, they had virtually traveled non-stop, relentlessly pursuing Little Qiongqi.

Even though Mu Hanyan and the others' strength had seen substantial improvements by this point, enduring days of continuous, rapid travel inevitably led to a degree of exhaustion.

Fortunately, they had Ye Yanran. Whenever the group reached the brink of utter fatigue, Ye Yanran would activate her Heavenly Rain Divine Healing Innate Divine Ability once more. Under that cascade of golden light, everyone's weariness instantly vanished, proving more effective than consuming a Ten-Complete Replenishing Pill. It became evident that, in addition to its miraculous healing properties, this Heavenly Rain Divine Healing Technique also possessed the capability to rapidly replenish Qi and restore stamina.

As for Ye Yanran herself, she remained remarkably energetic and full of vigor. Even when Mu Hanyan struggled to endure, not the slightest hint of fatigue was visible on Ye Yanran's countenance.

The sole point of regret was the modest advancement in her strength; she remained a Second-level Sword Master. However, this was perfectly understandable—the Rules of Heaven and Earth were impartial to all. Even when drawing upon the latent power within Mu Hanyan's body, her Innate Divine Ability was simply too astonishing. Strictly speaking, even Huayue and the others' Innate Divine Abilities might pale in comparison. Should her personal cultivation also accelerate at a breakneck pace, even Mu Hanyan would need to maintain a respectful distance when confronting her.

Judging by the distance covered, they had now penetrated hundreds of thousands of li deep into Longyan Mountain. While they had yet to reach the absolute core region, they were undeniably well within its inner expanse.