Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return

Chapter 1754: Chapter 1754: Ling Baobao Beaten into a Pig Head

At the break of dawn, Han Yan finally closed the ”Eight Gates Divine Formation” she had been holding.

In recent days, she had been sacrificing sleep and food to cultivate priest divine arts, studying various mental methods and divine arts in the book collection hall, even flipping through the insights of past main priests, but her cultivation advancement had slowed down significantly.

Han Yan knew she had hit a bottleneck. Based on her experience from the last divine baptism, she suspected that she needed to open new hidden meridians for her strength to soar once more. However, given the current conditions at Huayu Temple, it was clearly impossible to find higher-quality divine soul stones to unblock her hidden meridians. Thus, in her spare time, Han Yan not only studied the alchemy medical skill of the Divine Continent and alchemy sealing but also devoted most of her time to formations.

The ”Eight Gates Divine Formation” was said by Sikong Qinglan to be the oldest formation book on the Divine Continent. Although every temple had a copy, the one in her hands was the original, and even the one in the main temple was a transcription from hers.

Additionally, it’s said that as the continent separated, the laws of the Divine Continent underwent subtle changes. Their methods of cultivation, including the profound meanings of formations, changed accordingly. Though other temples made numerous modifications to their copies of the ”Eight Gates Divine Formation,” for some unknown reason, neither past priests nor main priests made any amendments to the one in Han Yan’s hands, not even annotations.

Han Yan had seen the passionate writings of those predecessors, with nearly every cultivation method bearing their insights and reflections. Yet, this ”Eight Gates Divine Formation” contained not a single extra word, and even obvious omissions remained uncorrected.

Curiously pondering, Han Yan dedicated herself to studying this extraordinary book of formations.

She locked herself in the second floor of the main priest temple, engaging in ceaseless contemplation for three days, but to no avail. The formation principles recorded in the ”Eight Gates Divine Formation” could also be found in other ancient books on formations; they weren’t particularly profound. Moreover, several formation principles clashed with the current laws of the Divine Continent, rendering them unusable.

But Han Yan vaguely felt that this formation book, reputed as the oldest on the Divine Continent, wasn’t as simple as others perceived—she just hadn’t grasped the key yet.

After not eating for several days, Han Yan felt her stomach growling with hunger. She had no choice; her power was suppressed, and unlike before, when she could go months without eating, or like those strong cultivators who could rely solely on elixirs for years, it was clearly impossible now.

Closing the ancient book in her hand, Han Yan headed downstairs.

”Ouch, be gentler, gentler.”

”I’ve already been very gentle.”

”This counts as gentle? You almost caused an accident, you know?”

”Okay, I’ll be gentler.”

”Nope, even if you’re gentler, I’m done.”

”You promised to spar with me; you can’t leave.”

”I’m done, go find someone else.”

”You promised me, and no one else knows how.”

”Can I change my mind? Anyway, I’m not doing it anymore. You can spar with whoever you like.”

”No.”

”Bang... Ouch, help! Help!” Passing by the Spirit Cultivation Hall, Han Yan heard a quarrel followed by Ling Baobao’s miserable cries for help.

At the door, several young priests peered inside, trying not to laugh out loud.

”What’s going on?” Han Yan stepped forward to ask.

”Greetings, Master Priest! The Right Priest is sparring with Priest Ling in martial arts.” The young priests quickly bowed. As time passed, they gradually accepted the reality of Han Yan becoming the master priest, despite feeling somewhat reluctant, they still showed due respect.

”Martial arts?” Han Yan walked forward curiously.

Since arriving at Huayu Temple, she learned more about the cultivation methods of the Divine Continent. From what she understood, due to the purity and directness of the power of laws on the continent, low-rank divine priests couldn’t withstand the cutting winds of the wild. They usually cultivated in temples protected by barriers or in allocated lands like Mu Family Village, though these places lacked the gentle purity of the temple’s power of laws, slowing down cultivation speed.

As one’s strength increased, especially upon reaching the tenth rank divine priest, the power of laws within temple barriers couldn’t meet their cultivation needs, necessitating venturing into the wilderness or finding illusion realms like the Holy Court for cultivation. Though enhanced physical defenses allowed greater resistance to wild winds, prolonged exposure was still untenable. One might rely on magic artifacts or priest robes forged through alchemy for protection, or cultivate martial arts.

Given Huayu Temple’s finances barely feeding the priests, acquiring decent magic artifacts or priest robes was out of the question, so cultivating martial arts was their only option.

However, Shen Yuhe was only an eighth rank divine priest, far from the tenth rank; there wasn’t any need to practice martial arts so early.

Arriving at the door with curiosity, Han Yan looked in, startled.

Inside the Spirit Cultivation Hall, Ling Baobao was frantically running around the grand hall, like a lost dog, his nose bruised and his forehead sporting several lumps.

Behind him, Shen Yuhe pursued relentlessly like an eagle chasing a chick, occasionally launching punches and kicks. Her doll-like face was filled with excitement and violence.

Accidentally, Ling Baobao stumbled, and Shen Yuhe swiftly pounced onto him, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks.

Han Yan looked stunned, black lines appearing on her forehead. It was her first time realizing the calm, gentle doll-faced Right Priest, who sometimes blushed shyly like Sikong Qinglan, was such a violent person.

”Help, I’m being beaten to death!” Ling Baobao shrieked helplessly.

”Cough... Cough...” Han Yan cleared her throat twice.

Seeing Ling Baobao’s bruised appearance, Lady Mu couldn’t help but feel sympathetic. Though this little god-man being chased, blocked, and collectively beaten wasn’t a first-time occurrence, being bullied by a woman this thoroughly was something even Lady Mu found hard to bear.

”Master Priest.” Shen Yuhe turned around upon seeing Han Yan, quickly standing up, slightly lowering her head, looking shy, fiddling with her clothing, resembling a timid and bashful little sister from next door.

If not for the bruises on Ling Baobao’s face and the unicorn-like lumps on his forehead, Han Yan might’ve doubted she had just experienced a hallucination.

”When you spar in martial arts, why is there so much ruckus?” Looking at Ling Baobao’s resentful face, Han Yan said with a helpless smile. Seeing him like this, those unaware might think Shen Yuhe had wronged him in some way.