Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1648: There’s Nothing She Can’t Do
Previously on Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return...
"Not everyone is qualified to obtain this powerful inheritance. If you can’t even withstand this little bit of pressure, I’d say you’d better turn back as soon as possible, lest you throw your lives away in vain." Shao Chengxiong continued.
Under that immense pressure like a great mountain pressing down from above, Qu Shanling and the others were already half-kneeling on the ground, relying on their longswords stabbed into the earth just to keep from collapsing. Looking at them, it was obvious they couldn’t hold out much longer.
Zhuang Ping’an and the others, although still managing to stand upright, were unable to move even an inch. Every step they took required them to use all the strength in their bodies, and their whole bodies were already soaked in sweat; the ground beneath their feet was even stained with patches of moisture. Judging from this, before they could reach the Heavenly Curtain, their Qi would be completely exhausted. By then, they wouldn’t even have the strength to retreat.
Only now did Mu Hanyan truly understand how terrifying the Heavenly Curtain was, and only now did she deeply feel the Holy Master’s painstaking intentions. If not for the period of cultivation in the Holy Court, and the tempering in the North Abyss Misty Plain, they might not have been able to hold out for even a moment upon arriving at the Heavenly Curtain.
However, even if they could barely endure for a short while, what meaning would that have? If they could not withstand this immense pressure, in the end they would still be unable to gain the inheritance, and might not even preserve their lives.
"Master Qu, why don’t you withdraw for now." Mu Hanyan said to Qu Shanling. She really didn’t want to see this old god die within the Heavenly Curtain.
"No." Unexpectedly, Qu Shanling refused decisively, his gaze incomparably resolute.
There was one thing he hadn’t told Mu Hanyan: the reason he had chased all the way to the Heavenly Curtain was because he had already firmly believed that as long as he followed Mu Hanyan, he would be able to find his Master. The last time Mu Hanyan went to the Holy Court, his bloodline had yet to awaken, and he could not accompany her. He regretted it for a long time, day after day listless, food tasteless, his mind wandering; in that muddled state, his bloodline unexpectedly awakened.
Originally, he wanted to rush to the Holy Court immediately, but that Teleportation Array could not be used at all times, and the Holy Court would not activate the Array solely for him. Once he learned that Mu Hanyan and the others were going to the North Abyss Misty Plain, he simply set out in advance. After enduring countless hardships, he finally arrived at the Heavenly Curtain and could once again follow Mu Hanyan in search of his Master; how could he bear to give up just like that.
Mu Hanyan turned her gaze to the others. Aside from the few young people who had come to the Heavenly Curtain together with Qu Shanling, who hesitated for a moment, then took advantage of their remaining bit of strength to quickly withdraw beyond the Heavenly Curtain, none of the others showed the slightest sign of wavering.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Mu Hanyan. They knew that relying on their own strength alone, it was absolutely impossible for them to reach those tombstones. Ye Lanfeng had refrained from making a move all along the way whenever he could, and now that they were before the Heavenly Curtain, he would not make an exception. The only one who could help them was Mu Hanyan.
Unconsciously, they had all developed an almost instinctive trust in Mu Hanyan. At every critical juncture, they would habitually think of her and place their hopes on her.
Mu Hanyan naturally felt the meaning in their gazes. In fact, this had been her intention from the start.
Since she had gathered them around her, bringing them step by step to the Heavenly Curtain, then she would do her utmost to help them walk farther.
"Nine Heavens, Star Fall!" Mu Hanyan drew the Luochen Sword and slashed heavily towards the sky.
With that strike, an immense sword power swept forth. Zhuang Ping’an and the others immediately felt the pressure lighten and hurriedly drew their longswords, hacking towards the sky alongside Mu Hanyan.
Over a hundred strands of Sword Light were unleashed at once, further easing the pressure on their bodies.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, everyone moved forward several steps at the same time.
"Childish. How far do you think you can walk relying on this method, how long can you last? You’ll just die faster, that’s all." Seeing this scene, Shao Chengxiong became even more disdainful, curling his lips as he spoke.
What he said was not wrong. Although they had managed to move forward several steps at once, that one sword strike had also greatly drained everyone’s physical strength. It was no different from drinking poison to quench thirst. After just a few steps, facing even greater pressure, not to mention Qu Shanling and the others, even Zhuang Ping’an and Yue Fanchen had faint traces of blood seeping from the corners of their mouths.
However, Mu Hanyan’s eyes brightened slightly. Although Zhuang Ping’an and the others had only moved forward a few steps and their condition looked even more miserable, it also proved that the pressure of the Heavenly Curtain was not entirely irresistible to them; it was just that their strength was limited and they could not keep persisting.
With that thought, Mu Hanyan took out Qi Refilling elixirs one after another and had everyone consume them, then slowly formed hand gestures one after another.
Seeing Mu Hanyan’s hand gestures, Zhuang Ping’an and the others all revealed expressions of excitement. They remembered that not long after entering the North Abyss Misty Plain, Mu Hanyan had used these very hand gestures to fuse their sword power together, easily repelling that Fierce Stone Demon. Later, it was also by relying on the same hand gestures and the same sword power, in coordination with Ye Lanfeng and Fen Qianji, that they broke open the sealed barrier of Luoshen Abyss. Although an unexpected accident followed, causing Mu Hanyan and Jiang Qiling to be trapped in Luoshen Abyss, they had personally experienced the profound and wondrous mystery of these hand gestures.
Though they had not seen Mu Hanyan display this Divine Skill again since then, the memory of those hand gestures remained vivid in their minds!
Could it be that she intended to gather everyone’s strength to forcibly shatter the terrifying pressure of the Heavenly Curtain? Although they felt that this was somewhat fantastical, their eyes still flashed with excitement. This was the Heavenly Curtain after all; just thinking about it was enough to stir them.
"Star Fall, Eight Desolates!" Mu Hanyan swung her sword once more.
Zhuang Ping’an and the others were already prepared. Without needing her to say a word, they followed closely, drawing their longswords and striking with all their might. With the Qi they had recovered after taking the elixirs, they had regained some strength.
"What? You actually want to fuse everyone’s sword power and forcibly break through the Heavenly Curtain’s pressure? You’re mad, you must be mad." Shao Chengxiong’s eyesight was not bad; from Mu Hanyan’s hand gestures and everyone’s actions, he easily guessed what she was trying to do, and looked at her as if she were some lunatic.
What a joke. Just by looking at these Descendants of Divine Guardian, one could tell they hailed from the various aristocratic families of the Continent Countries. The cultivation techniques they had practiced since childhood were completely different, and having reached their current Realm, each had a different comprehension of the Heaven and Earth Rules. How could it be possible to fuse all their sword power together?
At any rate, he himself had no such ability. He even suspected that the Holy Master might not necessarily possess such a capability.
What he did not know was that Mu Hanyan had long since succeeded in doing just that. Yet even taking a step back, even if Mu Hanyan succeeded, so what? With their strength, it was still impossible to cut apart the might of the Heavenly Curtain. One must know that the Heavenly Curtain was the final barrier between the Holy Court Continent and the Divine Continent; the vast heavenly might and Divine Power contained within it was simply beyond ordinary imagination.
"Brother Shao, she’s not mad. Just because you cannot conceive of something does not mean she cannot do it." Wei Xiaotian said leisurely.
Although he addressed Shao Chengxiong as senior brother, the Twelve Saints were only divided by order of entry; they were not ranked by seniority among themselves. He was merely being polite, and showing respect for Shao Chengxiong’s strength, by using the honorific "senior brother." His status was not beneath Shao Chengxiong’s. Hearing him go on and on, mocking Mu Hanyan in all sorts of ways, he could not help but rebuke him once.
"Hmph, I’d like to see just how she manages it!" Rebuked by Wei Xiaotian, Shao Chengxiong could not even show anger, for Wei Xiaotian’s expression and tone were still as respectful as before. He could only snort coldly.
While the two were speaking, the last few of Mu Hanyan’s hand gestures suddenly changed.