Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return

As despair filled their eyes, the black-clothed swordsman’s nebulous palm shadow had already heavily struck Mu Hanyan’s chest.

There was no loud boom, nor was there any muffled groan of pain—the strike landed as if on air, making not the slightest sound.

Golden light twinkled, and a golden cloak appeared on Mu Hanyan, the palm shadow quickly dissipating at the position of her chest. The tremendous qi turned into lines of light spreading outward like ripples on water, causing not the slightest harm to Mu Hanyan.

”Protective divine artifact!” The black-clothed swordsman’s expression froze, as the icy blade of the Cold Sky Sword had already pierced into the vital point of his heart meridian.

Tremendous qi surged out, turning into countless frost snow dances, instantly freezing his heart meridian along with his internal organs into slush, then shattering them into fragments.

It turned out to be a protective divine artifact! Huayue and the others let out a sigh of relief in unison—it seemed that Mu Hanyan had another fortuitous encounter during this trial and had obtained the legendary defense divine artifact.

However, recalling that moment just now, they were still filled with trepidation. Granted she had a divine artifact for protection, but what if that divine artifact hadn’t been able to withstand the black-clothed swordsman’s strike? That sword had clearly been a ’do or die’ move.

”Boom!” The final shocking thunder finally fell, and the last seal also completely shattered.

Regrettably, the black-clothed swordsman’s heart meridian was broken, and he could never regain his former strength.

”Who are you, exactly?” the black-clothed swordsman asked Mu Hanyan resentfully.

His power sealed, he had traveled countless miles, braving all sorts of dangers to reach the Holy Court Continent. Just when he was about to complete his mission and return to the temple with his restored powers, his efforts fell short at the last hurdle—he did not want to die on the Holy Court Continent, he truly couldn’t accept it.

”Mu Hanyan,” said Mu Hanyan ”kindly.” After all, the man was akin to a Sword Saint—a master in his own right. Dying so unclearly, was indeed a bit ”cruel.”

”Mu Hanyan, the playboy loser of Heishi City?” The black-clad man looked at Mu Hanyan in shock.

”Sorry, but that’s really me, the real deal,” Mu Hanyan said awkwardly, grinning sheepishly, unsure whether to feel proud that her infamous reputation was known even by a master from another continent.

”So it was you, it was you, I can’t accept this, I can’t accept it.” The black-clothed swordsman murmured as he fell backward. Even in death, he refused to close his eyes.

”I’ve already told you who I am, what’s there to be resentful about? Why so ungrateful? Damn, do you think dying to me, a playboy, makes you resentful? Playboys have their pride too—I’m at least the best among them! What do you have to be resentful about, you fool.” Mu Hanyan scowled in annoyance, and just when she meant to kick the man, her legs gave out, and she fell to the ground.

That single sword strike had exhausted all her qi, and now she didn’t even have the strength to stand. If it hadn’t been necessary for her to witness her opponent’s last breath to be at peace, Mu Hanyan would have collapsed much sooner.

”My lord,” Huayue hurried over.

”My lord,” Zirong also rushed over, after tossing Jiang Yuzhe aside.

”Ouch,” Jiang Yuzhe cried out as he hit the ground hard.

”I’m fine, just a bit weak from exhausting all my Qi,” Mu Hanyan smiled and gestured that she was okay.

Zirong quickly lifted Mu Hanyan by the waist, ready to leave the small temple.

”No good!” Right at that moment, Yue Ji exclaimed in alarm.

Although the Black-clothed Swordsman had died, the sky full of thunder and lightning did not disappear. One after another, lightning bolts tore across the night sky, emitting a soul-shaking roar.

The barrier that Yue Ji had previously torn apart with a Forbidden Technique cracked open once more under the bombardment of lightning, forming a large gap.

A wild and destructive Heaven and Earth Power surged out from the fissure, completely sealing off several miles around the small temple, with it at the center.

This was the Heaven and Earth Power from another continent, the Divine Continent.

And the Heaven and Earth Power from the Holy Court Continent surged from all directions as well, seemingly trying to devour and cleanse the power that did not belong to the Holy Land Continent.

The two forces, once governed by the same law but now utterly different, repelled each other and collided violently, creating cyclonic storms with the force of tsunamis. Most terrifying was that the storm was entirely concentrated within these few miles, with its power shockingly horrifying.

Caught in the center of the storm, Mu Hanyan and the others floundered about as if in a small, helpless boat amidst a tempest.

Fresh blood began to seep out again from both Zirong and Jiang Yuzhe, who clenched their teeth without uttering a sound, but the blood red in their eyes showed they were enduring immense pain.

Huayue too clenched her teeth hard, her face pale, trembling incessantly. Her father, Hua Guanyu, was a Temple Priest from the Divine Continent. She was naturally different from Mu Hanyan and the rest in her bloodline, capable of withstanding the Heaven and Earth Power of the Divine Continent. Yet, now the collision of two utterly different powers of Heaven and Earth was so terrifying that even she could not bear it.

”Quick, retract the Forbidden Technique,” Mu Hanyan shouted at Yue Ji. If this continued, not just Huayue and the others wouldn’t make it, but she was also close to reaching her limit.

”If it’s a Forbidden Technique, how can it be retracted?” Yue Ji said helplessly with a haggard face.

”What can we do then?” Mu Hanyan asked anxiously.

”There’s no way but to wait for the Heaven and Earth Power from the Divine Continent to dissipate on its own. Originally, with my strength, even if I used a Forbidden Technique to tear open the barrier, the Heaven and Earth Power released from the Divine Continent would have been very limited and would have dissipated quickly. But now, compounded with that person’s Forbidden Technique, it’s completely different,” Yue Ji said, glancing at Huayue, who was shivering all over, her face full of misery.

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Mu Hanyan could guess the rest. Yue Ji and the Black-clothed Swordsman had both used Forbidden Techniques to tear open the barrier of the continent, and the Heaven and Earth Power that surged through the cracks was too vast. Moreover, drawn by their Forbidden Techniques, it was concentrated within this few miles, making it hard to be devoured and dissipated by the Spiritual Energy of the Holy Court Continent in a short time. And this small temple, where they were located, was the core of the struggle between the two powers. With the strength of Huayue and the others, they simply couldn’t last until then.

With that thought, a flash of inspiration struck Mu Hanyan’s mind.

”Back then, I followed the Lord and Madam through countless hardships from the Divine Continent to the Holy Court Continent. Unfortunately, the Lord was gravely injured and fell victim to a scheme. I had hoped to raise you, to see you marry and have children, to repay our master’s kindness from years ago. But I never expected it to end up like this. Huayue, I’m sorry to you, I’m sorry to the Lord,” Yue Ji said, her eyes devoid of spirit as she looked at Huayue, speaking with despair and guilt.

”Grandmother,” Huayue choked, unable to speak.

”Wait, don’t give up. You all circulate your Cultivation Techniques, hold on a little longer, I have a way,” Mu Hanyan said to Huayue and the others.

(If you’re interested in palace fight dramas, check out my friend Chun Meng Guanqing’s novel ”Palm Treasure,” recommended for those who like court intrigue stories.)