1RomanceEB Chapter 1608: Uncomfortable Under Her Gaze
Chapter 1608: Uncomfortable Under Her Gaze
That massive body that seemed carved from rock was blasted dozens of zhang away, and a bloody, gaping hole appeared in its chest, spraying a mist of blood wherever it passed.Although the Innate Ability of the Petrification Technique possessed terrifying defense, it still had a limit. This time, the strike in which everyone poured in their full strength finally exceeded that limit.
Struggling to climb up from the ground, the Fierce Stone Demon no longer had the courage to cross blows with Mu Hanyan and the others. It did not even spare them another glance; with a mournful howl, it turned tail and fled in panic.
Only when the silhouette of the Fierce Stone Demon vanished into that bank of mist did Zhuang Ping’an and the others finally begin to come back to themselves.
What on earth was that sword just now? One had to know that the Cultivation Techniques of the Holy Court Continent were myriad. Perhaps when one’s strength was low, the differences were not so obvious, but as strength rose, each person’s Qi and Sword Light contained Heaven and Earth Power that was entirely different, mutually generating and restraining.
If the number of people was small, and they had cultivated a Combined Attack Formation from childhood, it might be possible for their sword power to meld into one. But they numbered over a hundred here, and every one of them cultivated different Cultivation Skills, with completely different comprehension of the Laws—how could that possibly condense together?
A moment later, everyone’s gaze once again turned to Mu Hanyan, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"Young Master Mu, could that also be the Star Divination Technique?" After a long time, Zhuang Ping’an asked with a bitter smile.
They knew a little of the marvels of the Star Divination Technique, more or less, yet it was far less miraculous than what they had witnessed on Mu Hanyan. If they were not currently heading for the Heavenly Curtain, he would even hesitate whether he ought to suspend his Cultivation and spend some time learning the Star Divination Technique first.
Mu Hanyan did not answer, but instead looked toward Jiang Qiling with doubt.
It was only when she formed the hand gestures just now and everyone attacked at once that she realized she had thought it far too simple.
To condense everyone’s sword power into one, relying solely on that hand gesture she had improvised on a whim out of the Gathering Qi Technique was fundamentally impossible. When those completely different Sword Lights crossed and converged at one point, the chaos was almost no different from the chaotic Laws of the North Abyss Misty Plain.
Even with her Divine Sense greatly enhanced, she could not sort out a single thread. Once those Sword Lights violently clashed and exploded, she would inevitably be the first to suffer the backlash—at worst, body shattered to dust; at best, Divine Sense severely damaged, becoming a living corpse from that day on.
Realizing something was wrong, Mu Hanyan had broken out in a cold sweat on the spot. But by then the arrow had already left the bow; there was no chance to withdraw her hand. Just as those hundred-odd Sword Lights were about to explode, suddenly, there came a low hum in her mind, and it felt as though a mysterious connection had appeared within her heart. Her Divine Sense also became incomparably clear and limpid.
Every Sword Light’s contained Sword Intent, every contained Law, actually presented itself vividly before her eyes. With only a stir of Divine Sense, those Sword Lights were rearranged and recombined, complementing one another. So skillful, so effortless, as if it were innate.
Although time had been far too tight, and they could not yet completely fuse like water and milk, their power was already far beyond what that Fierce Stone Demon could withstand.
The sensation was so wondrous that Mu Hanyan herself was equally at a loss, not knowing what was going on.
Only when Zhuang Ping’an spoke up to ask did she suddenly recall that this feeling carried a faint sense of déjà vu. She remembered that when Ye Yanran first displayed the Heavenly Rain Divine Healing Technique, she had experienced a similar feeling, only at the time she was locked in a life-and-death struggle with Exotic Beasts beneath Beining Pass and had no leisure to savor it carefully.
If she had not guessed wrong, then this time, someone had once again awakened an Innate Divine Ability that ought to have belonged to her.
Who could this person be? Zhuang Ping’an and the others had been with her for quite some time and had gone through many trials together. If they could have awakened it, it would have happened long ago, so it should not be them. Aside from them, in front of her there was only Jiang Qiling left!
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Jiang Qiling felt utterly ill at ease under Mu Hanyan’s gaze. She waved her hand and said, "Alright, alright, you saved me again, I know. I’ll repay this favor sooner or later."
"What are you doing here at the North Abyss Misty Plain?" Mu Hanyan asked with a light smile.
She had indeed saved Jiang Qiling, but Jiang Qiling had also saved her. She did not care much about that favor. As for her own identity and the matter of her Innate Divine Ability, Mu Hanyan could not be bothered to bring it up to her. Even if she did, Jiang Qiling might not understand, and might not believe it.
Back then, those Guardians of the Gods had all been followers of another self of her previous life. In order to protect her, they had come to the Holy Continent. In fact, the Descendants of Divine Guardian, Jiang Qiling among them, also bore the mission of guarding her. Do not be fooled by Jiang Qiling hiding her strength for years—she was actually a proud, high-spirited person. She would likely find it very hard to accept such a truth.
"What else would I be doing? Since you snatched that Heavenly Destiny Star Plate last time, I’ve had no choice but to look for another one." Jiang Qiling did not conceal it; with a thoroughly vexed expression, she spoke.
"Right, you’re looking for someone, aren’t you?" At this point, Jiang Qiling suddenly changed the subject and asked Mu Hanyan.
"How did you know?" Mu Hanyan looked at her in surprise.
"I ran into Huayue and the others. Their situation doesn’t seem too good." Jiang Qiling’s eyes rolled as she spoke to Mu Hanyan.
"Where are they?" Mu Hanyan had just been worrying about how she could not find Huayue and the others. Hearing this, she grabbed Jiang Qiling’s arm in one motion, asking excitedly.
"I’ll take you to them, but you have to promise to help me unravel the secret within this." Jiang Qiling said as she took out a scroll.
The scroll was clearly of great age, its whole surface showing an ancient, mottled hue. Yet it was impossible to tell what material it was made of, and there was not the slightest sign of damage upon it.
Mu Hanyan could clearly feel the Sealing Power within. If she was not mistaken, this scroll contained at least several hundred Seals, interlocked ring upon ring. No wonder Jiang Qiling had come to her for help; with such complex Seals, Jiang Qiling alone could never open it.
"What about Dean Jiang and the others?" Mu Hanyan asked in puzzlement.
Though the Seals on this scroll were complex, with the strength of Jiang Yunhe and the others, they ought to be able to open it. How had it ended up being her they turned to?
"Don’t mention it. I’m asking you to help break these Seals partly to search for the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate, and partly to find them." Jiang Qiling said, her face full of helplessness.
"What exactly happened?" Mu Hanyan asked curiously.
"Uncle Tu somehow got wind of a piece of news, saying that there was a strange treasure in the Beiyuan Fog Origin related to the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate. So taking advantage of the weakening of the Heaven and Earth Power in the North Abyss Misty Plain, they came to search for it. They did find it—this scroll. But just as Father and Uncle Tu tried to open the Seals, they vanished.
I’ve been searching the Beiyuan Fog Origin for several months and haven’t found a trace of them. I can only surmise that their disappearance is absolutely connected to this scroll." Jiang Qiling said, her expression desolate.