Chapter 1442: Chapter 1442: This Is the Opponent He Has Been Waiting For

This reinforcement has a complex background; previously, let alone cooperating, they probably haven’t even met each other. Those who can make them so disciplined are definitely exceptional.

With doubts in mind, Mu Hanyan led Huayue and others into the gorge, heading straight for the forefront of the battlefield.

A Fierce Stone Demon Beast, with power comparable to a Great Sword Master, roared furiously. A Great Sword Master and four Ninth Rank Sword Masters were fighting it with all their might. This Fierce Stone Demon Beast had clearly also grasped an Innate Ability, casting a Petrification Technique at critical moments and transforming into a stone statue. Even facing a Great Sword Master, they still couldn’t do anything about it.

Fortunately, an elderly man in a gray robe stood even further ahead. Every time the Fierce Stone Demon Beast petrified, he shouted and struck with a palm. That Palm Force was grand and imposing, enough to make the petrified Fierce Stone Demon Beast retreat repeatedly.

The old man’s eyes were blood-red, his entire being was filled with a violent aura. If you disregard his figure and face, his aura alone seemed like an injured Exotic Beast driven to madness.

Strangely enough, every palm strike he made caused a beastly phantom to appear, with flying dragon whiskers, exposing a fierce presence. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Beastly Heart! Nian An Yao.

It turned out this old man was once a subordinate of the Fifth Prince, hailed as the most outstanding Beast Taming Master after Xia Youchen, Nian An Yao.

Seeing him both fend off the Fierce Stone Demon Beast and command the group in attack and defense, Mu Hanyan knew who was the leader of this reinforcement.

Nian An Yao was already renowned, and combined with this battle against the Exotic Beasts, only he could command respect.

Although Nian An Yao was able to hold off the Fierce Stone Demon Beast with his Beastly Heart Beast Taming Technique, Mu Hanyan knew that using Beastly Heart had quite a few drawbacks, even costing lifespan. Extended battles would be unfavorable, and should anything happen to him, the others would be leaderless and become scattered sands, unable to face the Exotic Beasts.

"Star Fall, Eight Desolates." Mu Hanyan, without hesitation, unleashed her strongest attack, while simultaneously forming a Sword technique.

Huayue and a few others instinctively did the same, forming Sword techniques.

With a faint dark blue hue, a Sword Light descended from the sky like a meteor streaking across, its grand aura causing everyone’s hearts to tremble.

The gorge filled with the sound of killing shockingly fell into a moment of deathly silence, time seemingly paused briefly.

On Qingyang Pass, Dan Tai Xuan and others gaped, unable to close their mouths for a long while.

Sword Saint! Mu Hanyan could actually display the power of a Sword Saint Realm.

This damned girl, with Sword Saint Realm power, you didn’t use it earlier, causing me to rejoice prematurely, waiting eagerly till now, almost losing credibility and causing rebellion. Dan Tai Xuan almost cursed aloud.

He didn’t know, though Mu Hanyan could display Sword Saint Realm power, it was limited to three strikes, after which all Qi would be exhausted, even Huayue and others would be left drained. She knew that with the Nether Beast’s presence, just those three strikes wouldn’t be enough to repel all Exotic Beasts, so she had held back until now.

The Sword Light descended, and the Fierce Stone Demon Beast let out a muffled grunt, being heavily sent flying, blood spraying wildly, unable to rise again for a long while. The chasm between a Great Sword Master and a Ninth Rank Sword Master is already an insurmountable one for most cultivators, let alone the gap between a Sword Saint and a Great Sword Master. Although the Fierce Stone Demon Beast was comparable to a Great Sword Master, even wielding the Innate Ability Petrification Technique, it couldn’t cross this chasm.

Though Mu Hanyan didn’t manage to kill it with a single strike, she severely injured it, depriving it of the ability to fight further.

Even with a Great Sword Master and three Ninth Rank Sword Masters, including the first Beast Taming Master after Xia Youchen, Nian An Yao, none could do anything to the Fierce Stone Demon Beast, yet Mu Hanyan managed to severely wound it with one strike!

Both the human reinforcement in the gorge and the soldiers and citizens remaining at Beining Pass erupted into cheers and shouts.

Even the noble family’s sons on the opposing Qingyang Pass ignored Dan Tai Xuan and Changsun Yi’an’s darkening expressions, and cheered loudly. Mu Hanyan’s strike had fully ignited their fervor. While Dan Tai Xuan and others were stunned, nearly a hundred more jumped down the pass, charging into the gorge.

The Exotic Beasts trapped in the gorge showed shocked expressions. They had high wisdom; Mu Hanyan’s strike had stirred their instinctive fear. Even the Nether Beast’s pressure couldn’t suppress their innate Spiritual Wisdom.

"In the name of Aolai, I command the world’s beasts, those who follow prosper, those who oppose perish!" Mu Hanyan seized the opportunity to chant the Divine Beast Contract again.

The Exotic Beasts, already terrified, couldn’t withstand the distant might of the Aolai Divine Beast, lowered themselves, whimpering softly, involuntarily retreating.

Seeing this, everyone raised their arms in renewed cheers.

"Roar..." Suddenly, a beast roar echoed. Amidst the cold moonlight, mist rose from the back of the gorge, as an Exotic Beast slowly emerged from the mist.

No, this wasn’t an Exotic Beast!

Neither its slender figure nor its strong legs, nor the sharp horn on its head matched any known Exotic Beast. More importantly, its entire body was a fiery red, carrying a dark aura, as if emerging freshly from molten lava, flames still lingering.

Nether Beast, this was the legendary Jiuyou Netherworld Beast.

Its eyes fixed on Mu Hanyan, and Mu Hanyan stared back. Just by looking into those fiery red eyes, Mu Hanyan knew this was the Nether Beast she had confronted in Beiguan Town, the mastermind behind the Exotic Beast uprising.

It finally revealed itself!

Another roaring sound echoed as the Nether Beast rose from the ground like an arrow, charging toward Mu Hanyan.

Only then did Mu Hanyan notice that the Nether Beast had wings that stretched several yards wide. As the wings flapped, a powerful aura and pressure burst forth from its body.

Sword Saint! This aura and pressure are not inferior to that of a Sword Saint; more importantly, it carried a dark deathly aura, entirely different from the Sword Saint of the Holy Court Continent.

Mu Hanyan’s heart sank. Though she could use the Five Great Magical Instruments to display Sword Saint Realm Sword power, it was limited to three strikes. After using one earlier, only two remained. Two strikes to kill the Nether Beast, which had Sword Saint strength – is it possible?

But Mu Hanyan wasn’t overly worried, because in the next moment, a refined figure had already stepped in front of her.

Ye Lanfeng had finally truly acted. This was the opponent he had awaited.

A red flame burst forth from the Nether Beast’s claws, resembling a burning spear. Its whole body was enveloped in a dark red halo, bringing an eerie feeling, as if the demon from the depths of hell in myth.