Chapter 1433: Chapter 1433: One Step, One Sword, Forcing Back the Crowd

The arrival of Mu Hanyan and others changed the battle situation at Beining Pass, and also changed everyone inside the pass. Beining Pass was no longer filled with the despair and bleakness of an impending doom; instead, everyone was brimming with confidence and vitality.

On the narrow street, soldiers and civilians gathered in groups of three or five, animatedly discussing the day’s fierce battle, their expressions relaxed.

Mu Hanyan’s face also sported the same relaxed smile. After days of hard fighting, not a single soldier or civilian at Beining Pass was seriously injured or killed in battle, a result she was very pleased with.

However, the Netherworld Beast had not appeared again, leaving Mu Hanyan with a lingering unease. She refused to believe that the Netherworld Beast would give up so easily. The exotic beast attacks over the past days might just be scattered showers before the storm. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

After inspecting the city walls again and finding no lapses, and seeing no unusual activity in the distant Longyan Mountain, Mu Hanyan headed towards her residence. Though these exotic beasts attacked during the day, everyone knew that their natural advantage made night assaults more challenging to deal with. With Mu Hanyan’s powerful Six Senses, she could detect crises earlier than others.

Returning to her residence, Mu Hanyan first went to see Ye Yanran. It had been more than a month since leaving the Capital for Beining Pass, yet she still hadn’t awakened from emptiness. Her injuries were long healed, and a faint blush had appeared on her face, full of vitality.

Mu Hanyan noticed subtle changes happening within her meridians, just like Huayue and others before. It was almost certain that once she woke up, she would possess an Innate Divine Ability like Huayue and others.

What would that Divine Skill be? Mu Hanyan was curious and somewhat expectant.

Night had fallen deeply, and everyone retired early.

Returning to her room, Mu Hanyan prepared to rest after washing up. These days had been tiring, and she hadn’t properly cultivated, yet the Qi within her body grew increasingly solid, hinting at a breakthrough.

Continuous battles truly are the best shortcut to cultivation!

Suddenly, an intangible aura enveloped her, so powerful that even with Mu Hanyan’s Great Sword Master strength, her heart raced and the hairs on her back stood on end.

Is it that Netherworld Beast? Mu Hanyan swiftly turned, leaping out the window.

A man wearing a silver mask, wrapped in a black sword robe, stood outside the window, coldly staring at Mu Hanyan as she flew through the window.

"Is it you?" Mu Hanyan said in surprise.

She expected the Netherworld Beast to come knocking but never thought it would be him.

"Leave Beining Pass, leave Lu’an City," the masked man said in an utterly emotionless voice.

"Why?" Mu Hanyan frowned and asked.

"If you don’t want to die, leave Beining Pass, leave Lu’an City. It’s for your own good," the masked man replied coldly, not answering her question.

"And if I don’t leave?" Mu Hanyan asked.

"I have said all there is, if you don’t leave, no one can save you," the masked man said mildly.

"Do you know that the safety of Beining Pass and Lu’an City affects the life and death of millions of Anyun Country’s citizens? If Anyun falls into chaos, the entire Holy Court Continent could be destroyed," Mu Hanyan said while looking directly into the man’s eyes.

She wouldn’t normally say so much, but according to Ye Lanfeng, this mysterious masked man was someone he saw as both mentor, friend, and elder brother, Yun Qianmo. So, even if his words were full of threats, Mu Hanyan found it hard to see him as an enemy.

"The safety of the Holy Court Continent is not your concern. You only need to know one thing: not leaving Beining Pass or Lu’an City means certain death for you, and no one can save you," the masked man stated, looking directly at Mu Hanyan, emphasizing each word.

"You think killing Young Master Mu is that easy?" At this moment, dozens of shadows appeared atop the courtyard wall, with dozens of drawn bows and taut strings. The sword tips, infused with Qi, gleamed coldly in the night, emitting an ominous humming sound.

The courtyard door was slammed open as the Fifth Prince and Qu Fengting entered with determined strides, positioning themselves in front of Mu Hanyan.

Despite the fierce battle during the day, the Fifth Prince’s fighting spirit remained high, and his gaze was resolute and absolute.

Though missing an arm, Qu Fengting’s form still stood like a mountain, his right hand gripping the sword hilt tightly, exuding a murderous aura.

The dozens of warriors holding drawn bows also had eyes like lightning, locking onto the masked man’s heart meridian.

Don’t underestimate them; every one of them was an expert above Sword Master, and the longbows they wielded, crafted by the imperial Sword Casting Workshop specifically for border fortress, were named Cloud Piercing Stone Shattering Bow. Although not considered Magic Artifacts, when fully infused with Qi, their power was comparable to low-level magic artifacts, capable of piercing giant stones a hundred steps away.

Beining Pass had managed to withstand the relentless attacks of exotic beasts until now, thanks to these powerful bows shattering stones at a hundred paces. Unless one has reached the Sword Saint level or possesses innate defense as strong as high-level exotic beasts, no one dared dismiss these strong bows lightly. Even experts in the Sword Saint Realm could suffer severe injuries if hit in a vulnerable spot without any defense.

"You think you can protect her with your strength?" Alas, the masked man was beyond a Sword Saint, completely disregarding the Fifth Prince, Qu Fengting, and those dozens of Cloud Piercing Stone Shattering Bows.

"They might not, but what about adding us?" Huayue and several others positioned themselves in front of Mu Hanyan.

"Your progress in strength isn’t insignificant, but unfortunately, even with you, it’s still not enough," the masked man glanced at Huayue and the others, shaking his head.

"Is that so? We intend to try," Huayue said expressionlessly.

"Thunder Sound, Sky Swinging!"

"Demon Sword, Heart Kill!"

"Clone, Illusion Destruction!"

"Fury, Devil Slash!" The group unleashed their Innate Divine Abilities simultaneously, their Sword Pets emerged beside them, teeth bared with a low growl, eyes full of a frenzied bloodlust.

They had witnessed the masked man’s prowess before and knew that even with strength reaching Ninth Rank Sword Master, understanding their Innate Divine Abilities, and assistance from Sword Pets, there weren’t many chances to strike, so they couldn’t afford to hold back.

"Kill!" With a loud shout from Huayue, the four of them attacked the masked man simultaneously, discreetly unleashing their sword moves.

The Fifth Prince and Qu Fengting, having long been primed for action, also swung their longswords with all their might at the masked man’s head as Huayue spoke. Dozens of Cloud Piercing Stone Shattering Arrows flew from all directions towards the masked man’s heart meridian.

In an instant, six Sword Lights sliced through the sky, and dozens of arrow shadows engulfed the heavens.

"Star Fall, Eight Desolates!" Mu Hanyan also made her move.

Aware of the opponent’s power, she not only struck with all her might but also used a sword move, activating the Five Great Magical Instruments, forcibly elevating her strength to Sword Saint Realm. Huayue and others’ strength naturally synchronized, reaching Great Sword Master Realm.

One Sword Saint, four Great Sword Masters, four Sword Pets comparable to Ninth Rank Sword Masters, plus the heavily enhanced defense from the battle armor of the Fifth Prince and Qu Fengting, along with the support of dozens of Cloud Piercing Stone Shattering Bows—regardless of facing a more formidable opponent, Mu Hanyan was confident she could fight.

The masked man’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t retreat; instead, he stepped forward lightly. That step wasn’t quick, akin to a leisurely stroll, yet contained countless mysteries.

With just one step, the late-arriving dozens of arrows brushed past him, unable to injure him in the slightest.

A gentle wave of his robe sleeve sent the Fifth Prince and Qu Fengting flying heavily. Remember, their battle armor alone weighed over two hundred pounds, and they themselves had reached Fifth Rank Sword Master, yet they couldn’t withstand the effortless wave of his hand.

"Sword to Rule Heaven and Earth!" An ancient sword appeared in the masked man’s hand, sweeping out a vast expanse of Sword Light.

Mu Hanyan felt a towering peak flying towards her, stifling her breath, and forcing her back consecutively.

Beside her, Huayue and the others, along with their respective Sword Pets, were swept away by that immense force like rolling gourds, tumbling and crawling back a full five meters before barely stabilizing.

Everyone was shocked, having taken just one step and wielded one sword, they were all repelled.

The power of this step and sword was so fearsome; who exactly was this person?