novelraw Chapter 1329: Her Reverse Scale!
Chapter 1329: Her Reverse Scale!
At an unknown time, a warrior knelt down on the ground, then a second one, a third one... Across the vast chasm, all participants from both sides knelt down, paying homage to the woman.There were no cheers, no shouts, the wasteland was silent, but this silence made it all the more solemn and majestic.
The woman glanced down with indifference, then rode off gracefully on the Aolai Divine Beast.
Mu Hanyan watched her figure recede into the distance, waves of shock crashing in her heart.
So, this is the true secret technique of the Nine Heavens Star Fall?
Although she had studied the strange and mysterious arts at Long Yan Academy, and her understanding of the Nine Heavens Star Falling Sword was deepening, Mu Hanyan had never been able to comprehend the ultimate essence of this sword technique, nor unleash its greatest power.
It was not until this moment that she again found an opportunity for enlightenment.
The whole world, all things and beings, vanished from Mu Hanyan’s mind; her mental state was completely immersed in that single sword strike.
Yi Xingtian’s sword still slashed toward Mu Hanyan, without a hint of hesitation, without a trace of mercy, only a faint disappointment in her eyes.
"Be careful!" Someone in the audience couldn’t help but exclaim.
Even Huayue and Zirong, among others, clenched their lips tightly, their palms gripping the sword hilts soaked with cold sweat.
Yi Xingtian was truly powerful; under that formidable killing intent and sword power, even they felt an uncontrollable fear welling up.
At this moment, Mu Hanyan suddenly lifted her head, a divine light flashing in her eyes.
"Nine Heavens, Star Fall." Mu Hanyan’s voice was so calm, yet so confident.
The Cold Sky Sword was slowly slashed out.
There was no heaven-shattering roar of breaking the air, no earth-shaking supreme sword power, the meaning within that sword was so calm and tranquil, like a clear spring soaking the skin, flowing in the heart. The white sword light was so warm and gentle, like the morning sun, bringing light and vitality.
The endless killing intent in Yi Xingtian’s sword melted away like ice and snow, and the sword power as mighty as a Sword Saint also quietly dissipated.
A faint smile appeared on Mu Hanyan’s lips, this was the true mystery of the Nine Heavens Star Fall: it is a sword of killing, but at the same time, it is also a sword that stops killing.
Under Star Falling in Eight Desolates, all the killing intent in Yi Xingtian’s sword vanished, and her strength regressed to the normal realm of an Eighth Rank Sword Master.
In the past, given Mu Hanyan’s real realm as a Sixth-level Sword Master, defeating her would have been extremely difficult; but now, as Mu Hanyan’s understanding of the Nine Heavens Star Fall deepened, its power multiplied, exerting at least eighty percent of its force.
When the sword lights clashed, there was no thunderous explosion and no sandstorm; yet Yi Xingtian’s body trembled violently, and her complexion turned deathly pale as sweat poured down her cheeks.
Suddenly, Yi Xingtian flew backward, as if struck in the chest by an invisible and formless giant stone of immense weight.
Upon being thrown over a hundred feet from the platform, Yi Xingtian stabilized her posture in mid-air.
"So it was you, indeed you, hahaha..." She did not show any anger on her face, instead laughed heartily.
Mu Hanyan looked at Yi Xingtian confusedly, not understanding what she meant.
"I lost. I didn’t expect even like this I wasn’t your match. Earlier, did you have a chance to kill me?" Yi Xingtian asked with some desolation.
"Yes." Mu Hanyan replied candidly.
At the moment when she repelled Yi Xingtian with Nine Heavens Star Fall, she could have used Shadow Shifting to catch Yi Xingtian off guard and kill her; but she didn’t, there was no need, nor that deep of hatred.
Moreover, Yi Xingtian had previously dismissed the others to duel her fairly. This upright and open manner greatly impressed Mu Hanyan, even generating mutual admiration, making it impossible to kill her.
"I guessed it would be like this." Yi Xingtian gazed into the distance, speaking slowly, "This time, you didn’t kill me; next time we meet, I won’t kill you either."
Upon saying this, Yi Xingtian gracefully left, followed by Shijian and the others, soon disappearing from sight.
Mu Hanyan shuddered; Yi Xingtian’s last words sounded so familiar, as if she had heard them long, long ago.
"Yi Xingtian... Yi Xingtian... Xingtian Girl!" Mu Hanyan’s mind once again pictured the scene of Xingtian Girl’s duel with that mysterious woman; she remembered that upon Xingtian Girl’s defeat, she had said the exact same thing.
In the audience, a tide of applause and cheering finally erupted. Only then did people realize the contest had ended.
The battle just now brought them too much shock; no one had expected that under Mu Hanyan’s sword, the killing intent in Yi Xingtian’s sword would dissipate like smoke, and under the illumination of Mu Hanyan’s sword light, everyone’s body and mind seemed to undergo a baptism, with all fear and hostility vanishing completely.
Looking at Mu Hanyan’s figure, exquisite and ethereal, majestic and sacred, a spontaneous feeling of submission arose in everyone; even when facing the Imperial Family, they had never felt such sincere admiration.
Until the judge announced the end of today’s competition and people left the martial arts field, their gazes toward Mu Hanyan remained full of awe.
"Have your injuries improved?" The first thing Mu Hanyan did after leaving the martial arts field was to visit Yue Fanchen, and seeing him lying on the bed unable to move, her heart ached a little.
In order to force Jing Jianjue into revealing a flaw, he performed the Blood Sacrifice Technique at any cost, severely affecting his lifespan and damaging his meridians and energy sea. Although he took an elixir in time, he still couldn’t get out of bed and it’s uncertain if it would leave hidden dangers for future cultivation.
"Don’t worry, little uncle is a rare genius who comprehended Saint Swordsmanship, what does a little injury count for? By the way, tomorrow be sure to give Jing Jianjue a good lesson, avenge little uncle," Yue Fanchen said carelessly.
"Rest assured, I will make him pay a hundredfold," Mu Hanyan assured, though Yue Fanchen still addressed himself as little uncle, Mu Hanyan felt no discomfort, only a warmth brought by the deep bond of family.
Mu Hanyan’s expression suddenly turned cold, and her gaze was so resolute. Yue Fanchen was her family, and whoever harmed him would pay a hundredfold.
"Hey, I was just saying, you just need to defeat him, don’t be reckless," seeing Mu Hanyan’s icy demeanor, Yue Fanchen felt a chill inside, afraid Mu Hanyan might do something rash for his revenge, so he added quickly.
The Yue Family’s imperial authority wasn’t as stable as outsiders thought, as the Emperor’s aptitude was mediocre, and his power limited. For a long time, the Royal Family’s dignity was maintained solely by Lu Nianxin, who now had her cultivation restricted. With the Emperor in seclusion training, and Yue Fanyi too young with undeveloped cultivation, the Yue Family faced many crises.
As long as Mu Hanyan could successfully acquire that Heavenly Destiny Star Plate, her cultivation would advance rapidly, elevating the strength of the Zue Family to a new level, deterring ambitious individuals, and buying precious time for Lu Nianxin to find a way to recover.
Therefore, nothing must happen to Mu Hanyan.
"Hmm." Mu Hanyan nodded.
Seeing Mu Hanyan nod in agreement, Yue Fanchen felt at ease. He didn’t know that once Mu Hanyan made up her mind, no one could change it.
Everyone has a reverse scale, and Mu Hanyan’s biggest reverse scale is her family.