Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1457: Never Abandon, Never Forsake

Could this be the Innate Ability of the Qiongqi Divine Beast? It's no wonder Qiongqi is revered as one of the Four Great Fierce Beasts; there was truly a reason for its reputation.

If the surrounding entities were not Sword Spirit Puppets but ordinary human cultivators or exotic beasts, one could only imagine the horrific scene of carnage and bloodshed that would unfold.

Envisioning a sky filled with dismembered bodies, showering down flesh and blood interspersed with bone fragments, Mu Hanyan could no longer bear it, retching heavily twice.

Regardless of Qiongqi's intrinsic nature, this single bloodthirsty and brutal Innate Ability is sufficient for it to dominate other beasts and secure its esteemed position among the Four Great Fierce Beasts.

Mu Hanyan observed that it wasn't just her; even Qiongqi itself displayed a hint of reluctance in its eyes, perhaps recalling some unpleasant past experiences. It seems its claims are not empty; although this legendary beast possesses an exceedingly brutal and bloody Innate Ability, its fundamental nature is not inherently malicious.

While Sword Spirit Puppets are devoid of fear regarding pain or death, they retain the same cognitive abilities as normal humans, exhibiting far superior adaptability in combat compared to the Death Spirit Sword Slaves once refined by Fourth Miss Zhao. Perceiving the tide turning unfavorably, they promptly initiated a tactical retreat.

With the adversaries withdrawing, Xia Youchen's spirit found release, and he felt as though all his strength had been utterly depleted, his vision darkening before he collapsed to the ground.

Little Qiongqi swiftly darted over, positioning itself by his side, and used its imposing and powerful physique to support the fallen Xia Youchen.

"Why have you returned again? Did I not implore you to flee as far as possible and never look back?" Xia Youchen opened his eyes, initially startled by the sight of Little Qiongqi, then exclaimed with a mixture of urgency and anger.

"Woo..." Little Qiongqi emitted a sorrowful whimper, turned its head to indicate Mu Hanyan and the others, and then joyfully uttered a few cries, its countenance reflecting a sense of accomplishment.

Only then did Xia Youchen notice Mu Hanyan and her companions, yet his expression remained devoid of any happiness.

"Sigh, I urged you to depart, to simply go forth; why did you bring them here as well?" Xia Youchen stomped his foot in a display of exasperation.

Upon hearing his words, Mu Hanyan and the group finally grasped the unfolding situation. It was presumed that Xia Youchen, facing an unfavorable turn of events and recognizing his slim chances of survival, had instructed Little Qiongqi to flee, to get as far away as possible. Little Qiongqi did indeed depart, yet it did not abandon its companion but instead sought out Mu Hanyan to implore for aid. Exotic beasts typically possess far more potent Six Senses than cultivators of comparable rank, and Mu Hanyan happened to be situated at Beining Pass, precisely on the outskirts of Longyan Mountain, making it plausible that the beast could sense her presence.

"Young Master Mu, these Sword Spirit Puppets are far too formidable; you are no match for them. Quickly, take Qiongqi and make your escape." Xia Youchen urgently implored Mu Hanyan and the others.

"Aw..." Little Qiongqi nestled its head into Xia Youchen's chest, its eyes glistening with unshed tears, though its expression remained steadfast.

"It conveys that if you do not leave, neither will it," Mu Hanyan relayed.

In prior times, she had mused that Xia Youchen, after enduring much hardship, had ended up with such a Sword Pet, as if misfortune had perpetually trailed him, but she no longer harbored such thoughts. Little Qiongqi exhibited no fear of death; it simply held an aversion to conflict due to its nature. In truth, should it engage in battle, the outcome would be exceedingly bloody, and perhaps it was reluctant to employ such an Innate Ability itself.

Yet, for Xia Youchen's sake, it had still wielded that bloodthirsty and brutal Innate Ability, and even aware of the terrifying might of these Sword Spirit Puppets, it resolutely refused to abandon him.

"I will not leave either," At this juncture, Ye Yanran stepped out from behind Mu Hanyan, her tear-filled eyes conveying a silent plea.

"Yanran, you have come as well." Xia Youchen's entire frame trembled.

Ye Yanran, possessing self-awareness, refrained from acting rashly and remained concealed behind Mu Hanyan and the others, which was the reason Xia Youchen had not initially perceived her presence. Witnessing her here now sent him into a state of extreme anxiety.

"Hanyan, I implore you to rescue my mother." Ye Yanran pleaded with Mu Hanyan, and then, her gaze fixed upon the elderly woman situated on the altar, tears streamed down her face like a torrential rain.

"She is your mother!" Mu Hanyan and the entire group were utterly astounded.

Observing the elderly woman, her silver hair cascading and her face etched with wrinkles, everyone had assumed she was at least seventy or eighty years of age. To unexpectedly learn she was Ye Yanran's mother left them speechless. However, they soon comprehended the underlying reason, noting the striking resemblance of the altar to those employed by the Guiyu Clan, evidently utilized for the extraction and condensation of the bloodline of the Guardian of the Gods from Ye Yanran's mother.

Although the continuous influx of Heaven and Earth Power bestowed by the peculiar Evil Spell infused her body with vital force, her life essence continued to deplete, causing her appearance to age by decades.

"Yanran, do not place Young Master Mu in a difficult situation. All of you, leave immediately. I will do my utmost to rescue your mother; she... she is my descendant," Xia Youchen declared with resolve.

With that, Xia Youchen drew a deep breath. Gripping his longsword, he advanced towards the altar, with Little Qiongqi at his side, its teeth bared in a menacing growl.

Sensing Little Qiongqi's formidable power, the Sword Spirit Puppets refrained from attacking. Instead, they formed two lines, positioning themselves before the altar.

Clad in black sword robes and veiled in black, with only a pair of emotionless, hollow eyes exposed, they exuded an inexplicable, heavy sense of oppression.

"Intruders in the forbidden land shall be executed!" A cold, mechanical voice suddenly emanated from beside the altar. Much like the hollow eyes, the voice was devoid of any emotion, sounding as if it belonged not to a human.

The voice held a peculiar familiarity. A long-lost figure flickered through Mu Hanyan's mind.

Without affording Mu Hanyan ample time for contemplation, over a dozen Sword Spirit Puppets directly in front of Xia Youchen simultaneously raised their longswords.

Behind them, hundreds of men in black encircling the altar began a deep chant. A golden light erupted from the Blood Pool, striking the majestic palace gate. The entire palace and its stone walls trembled violently. Subsequently, countless runes materialized upon the gate, and bathed in a glow akin to the setting sun, the palace began to emit a faint golden luminescence.

Under the radiance of this light, the imposing aura of the dozen or so Sword Spirit Puppets surged immensely. With a "shaa," more than a dozen longswords descended simultaneously. The Sword Light converged into a unified force, slashing down at Xia Youchen.

This sword strike possessed a grandeur as if it could cleave heavens and earth apart.

Sword Saint! The power unleashed in this single sword stroke could absolutely rival that of a Sword Saint.

Mu Hanyan had witnessed Combined Attack Skills capable of greatly enhancing combat prowess, yet such enhancements invariably possessed limitations. Typically, even the most exquisite Combined Attack Skills could never bridge the vast disparity between a Ninth Rank Sword Master and a Great Sword Master, nor the chasm separating a Great Sword Master from a Sword Saint.

Even the sword technique imparted by Feng Qingyu to Mu Hanyan and the others relied on the four Heavenly Destiny Star Plates and the Ruyi Hair Crown to elevate Mu Hanyan's combat power to the Sword Saint Realm.

Furthermore, the more individuals who participate in employing a Combined Attack Skill, the more challenging it becomes to achieve a harmony of intentions. At times, introducing an additional participant not only fails to augment the power but can significantly diminish its overall effectiveness.