Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return

His gaze shifted, and the Great Elder immediately noticed that not only was Mu Yuying’s strength greatly increased, but Mu Ze and the others were also vastly improved, their swordsmanship exquisitely unmatched.

What’s more important, their moves were seasoned and ruthless, the coordination between them seamless. One-on-one, they were not overshadowed by opponents a rank higher, and when they joined forces, even opponents two levels stronger would not find it easy to hurt them.

In just over half a year, they had attained such strength! Although the Great Elder had already heard that Mu Ze and the others had improved significantly, seeing it with his own eyes still shocked him greatly.

By contrast, Mu Feng’s strength had not progressed in the slightest, and his practical experience was clearly inadequate. Even against opponents of the same rank, he struggled awkwardly and with great difficulty.

The Great Elder couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Over the past half-year, he had been preoccupied with intrigue and conflict in the Capital, completely unaware of the massive progress made by the younger generation of the clan, leaving Mu Feng far behind.

If he remembered correctly, it was only after they had reconciled with Mu Hanyan that they had made such significant advances. What kind of benefits had Mu Hanyan given them to enable such dramatic improvements?

Watching the agile figures of Mu Ze and the others, their exquisite sword techniques, and their high fighting spirit, then looking back at Mu Feng’s clumsy struggles, the Great Elder suddenly felt a bittersweet sensation in his heart.

In the courtyard, sword light flickered and shouts of battle rose. Sharp qi and sword radiance stirred up currents, whipping up a sandstorm.

Although the Zhao, Zhou, Cao, Xu, and other major families had the numerical advantage, the courtyard was not large. The Mu Family’s Disciples formed a tight-knit group around, surprisingly holding their own. The great expert in the Realm of Great Swordsmen, who had been hired by the Zhous, was gaining no advantage under the combined force of Huayue, Zirong, and Jiang Yuzhe.

The performance of Mu Ze and the others surprised even the Great Elder, let alone Family Heads of the Zhao, Zhou, and other major clans.

They had thought that by combining forces and employing elite Death Soldiers and a highly paid expert, they could easily eradicate the younger generation of the Mu Family. They just needed to engage the real powerhouses of the Mu Family. However, once the fight began, they did not expect that these ’green’ Mu youths would actually match them blow for blow.

”Why hasn’t the Yuan Family arrived yet?” Zhou Xingbang looked into the distance, his voice filled with anxiety.

This time, they had fully committed, and if they failed, being expelled from Heishi City would be the least of their worries—whether their clans could remain intact was questionable.

”Looking at it, the Yuan Family is probably hesitant and afraid to come. Family Head Zhou, let’s make our move,” said the Xu Family Master.

”Attack!” Zhou Xingbang clenched his teeth fiercely as he spoke.

As Great Swordsmen, they were formidable, but ultimately, they were a notch below the three elders of the Mu Family. They had thought that with several clan experts taking action together, they would easily wear down the elders of the Mu Family, and then they could step in with ease.

Who would have known that the younger generation of the Mu Family would be so formidable? They had no choice but to take action sooner than planned.

With a swift motion, they charged at the younger members of the Mu Family.

”Hmph, to think you call yourselves family heads, yet you shamelessly attack the younger generation,” the Great Elder snorted coldly, leaping into action and thrusting his sword at Zhou Xingbang.

The Second and Third Elders also moved at the same time, blocking the Family Heads Cao Xu.

As sword light clashed, sparks flew, and the sound of clanging metal was as swift and violent as a sudden tempest. In the blink of an eye, the six fought fiercely, each executing dozens of attacks and defenses.

In a battle between experts, life and death could hinge on an instant. All six were high-ranking experts in the Great Sword Master Realm, making the fight extraordinarily perilous.

Even the Mu Family’s younger members engaged in the fierce battle, and the Black-clothed Swordsmen, were subconsciously slowing down their movements, casting sidelong glances at the six combatants.

”Shhh!” Zhou Xingbang’s sword technique slightly revealed a flaw, and the Great Elder took the chance to stab at the opening, causing blood to spurt forth.

Zhou Xingbang stepped back several paces, narrowly avoiding the Great Elder’s lethal strike.

The Family Heads Cao Xu were also disheveled, forced to leap away in retreat.

”Hmph, with just this level of ability, you dared to dream of eradicating my Mu Family. How overestimating of yourselves,” the Great Elder scoffed in disdain. Even though his strength was not a match for Zhao Yuanji’s, he still did not take Zhou Xingbang and the others seriously.

Seeing the three elders overwhelming their opponents, Mu Ze and the others cheered in unison, while the morale of the opposing Black Swordsmen plummeted.

Zhou Xingbang and his peers turned pale, fear evident in their eyes. They had thought that as Great Swordsmen, the gap between them and the three elders of the Mu Family wouldn’t be that large. However, after crossing swords, they realized just how substantial the difference could be within the ranks of Great Swordsmen.

Indeed, these were the heirs of the Mu Family, even a Branch Family was beyond their comparison.

”What a pity. If that old fox from the Yuan Family were here, with the four of us united, how could these elderly Mu folks stand a chance against us?” Zhou Xingbang said through clenched teeth.

”It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t come. I never placed my hopes on them anyway,” Zhao Yuanji stated indifferently.

”Family Head Zhao, are you ready to take action?” Zhou Xingbang and the others brightened up and asked.

”Heh.” Zhao Yuanji smiled faintly, an air of confidence about him.

”Family Head, we are late.” Just then, an aged voice came from afar, and dozens of silhouettes approached rapidly.

”Not late at all, you’ve arrived right on time,” said Zhao Yuanji with a clear voice.

In a moment, those dozens of figures arrived. Leading them was none other than the Zhao Family’s old steward.

This man was familiar to both Zhou Xingbang and the others, as well as the three elders of the Mu Family. From their earliest memories, the old steward had been serving the Zhao Family. Since he was unassuming, stooping and obedient year-round, and also silent and reticent, nobody had ever taken such a servant seriously.

But it was only now that they realized they had been wrong.

The steward now stood straight-backed, with beard and hair flying, exuding an imposing and vast aura.

A Sword Master! Actually a high-ranking expert in the Sword Master Realm.

And those dozens of swordsmen behind him were calm and steady, their eyes as undisturbed as an ancient well, showing no hint of emotion except for a thick aura of killing intent. The callouses on their hands, gripping their swords, were thick and hard.

The Great Elder and the others frowned slightly, their Eye Power allowing them to see that each of these men were Death Soldiers who had endured brutal training from a young age. Even if their Realm might not surpass that of the Black Swordsmen in the courtyard, when it came to the true fight, they were incomparable.

No wonder Zhao Yuanji dared to move against the Mu Family; he had such an ace up his sleeve.

Mu Hanyan also had a moment of realization. In her previous life, this great battle took place many years later, by which time Mu Ze and the others had matured; overall their strength certainly wouldn’t be worse than now. Still, they suffered heavy casualties. She had found it puzzling before, but now she understood that the Zhao Family secretly had a Sword Master, and they had trained such a group of Death Soldiers.

Luckily, she had come prepared.