"Elder Tian, the Jiuyou Netherworld Beast seems suppressed beneath this abyss by you, but they actually have other plans. Right beneath our feet, a thousand zhang deep, theyâve set up a great array. Though its exact formation is unknown, beasts so scheming surely bear ill intent. If that array is activated, it might be a disaster. We must retreat at once." Ye Lanfeng spoke bluntly, without concealment.
"Retreat, easy for you to say. Weâve poured all our strength, barely completing this seal. Now that success is in sight, retreating would be to waste all our efforts." Tian Annan said, flicking his sleeve, filled with resentment towards Ye Lanfeng, though he couldnât show it. Whether Ye Lanfengâs words were true or not, Tian Annan would never listen.
"Oh, you claim the beasts have set up a great array, and so it is? I could say they have one beneath our Holy Court, would you believe me?" Another elder, clearly siding with Tian Annan, spoke dismissively, unconvinced by Ye Lanfeng.
This was typical; the Holy Court had Twelve Saints, each capable of inheriting the Holy Masterâs position, with their own supporters within the court. The speaker was Gong Liyan, the Fourth Law Enforcement Elder, slightly outranked by Tian Annan, supporting another saint, naturally disinclined to heed Ye Lanfeng.
"We all saw it with our own eyes, not making baseless claims." Mu Han Yan said.
"Saw it with your own eyes? You just said the great array is a thousand zhang deep beneath us. Iâm curious how you all âsawâ it. Would you mind showing me too?" Another law enforcement elder sneered, ridiculing them.
Mu Han Yan paused slightly; the Heavenly Secret Mirrorâs cooldown was up, and no matter how she focused, her Hand Formation elicited no responseâshe had no way to prove it to others.
Claiming they saw with their naked eyes a thousand zhang below was something even she couldnât believe.
"Ye Lanfeng, I bear the Holy Masterâs command to lead experts from various nations to seal the Jiuyou Netherworld. If anyone harbors malice and obstructs, they will be executed without mercy! Even if you are among the Twelve Saints, defying the Holy Masterâs orders will not spare you! Now leave!" Tian Annan declared arrogantly.
"Taking a feather for an arrow, petty men thrive!" Ye Yanran muttered softly.
Mu Hanhan Yan shook her head; the Holy Masterâs command was not as simple as a feather, even rulers wouldnât openly defy itâat most, theyâd obey in form while resisting in spirit.
"Elder Tian, sealing the Jiuyou Netherworld now with experts from various nations deployedâif an accident occurs, the entire Holy Court Continent could lose its chance to recover. I urge you to reconsider." Ye Lanfeng said coldly.
"Alarmist!" Tian Annan sneered dismissively, evidently ignoring his words.
"If thatâs the case, then forgive me." Ye Lanfeng grew tired of explaining, stepped forward, striding towards Mu Beichen and others standing by the abyss.
"Ye Lanfeng, do you truly dare defy the Holy Masterâs orders!" Tian Annan yelled sternly.
Ye Lanfeng didnât respond, continuing to advance.
"Clang!" Amidst a dragon roar, Tian Annanâs longsword was drawn, and with other law enforcement elders, encircled Ye Lanfeng.
Other Great Sword Master experts gripped their sword hilts, surrounding Mu Han Yan and the others.
Mu Han Yanâs brows furrowed; despite the surrounding Holy Court Sword Masters possessing Great Sword Master Realm cultivation, the leader even being a Semi-Saint, with Huayueâs assistance, her combat power could instantly rise to Sword Saint Realm, leaving her undeterred in a fight.
Yet they came to rescue, not to fight desperately. Even defeating these Holy Court experts would achieve nothing, potentially causing a disruptive turmoil.
Both sides were poised for a clash, on the verge of battle, when suddenly a clear voice rang out.
"Stop! Anyone dares harm even a hair on my precious granddaughter, Iâll chop them into meat scraps for dogs!" Lu Nianxin rushed over, wielding a large saber, full of killing intent.
The Holy Court experts surrounding Mu Han Yan were momentarily stunned, hands on sword hilts trembled slightly.
This gathering of experts from various nations had a hierarchy despite their skills, and Lu Nianxin was undeniably the top expert.
When experts assembled at first, disputes arose over how to seal the Jiuyou Netherworld, exchanging sharp words. A West Qin expert mocked Shangyue Country for sending women, yet this Sword Saint was renowned in West Qin, treated with respect even by their Royal Family sent experts.
But for saying those words, he was flattened by Lu Nianxinâs saber, losing teeth all over the ground. Other West Qin Sword Saints trying to intervene were similarly knocked down by Lu Nianxin. Fortunate for them, Lu Nianxin used the saberâs back, or those men wouldâve been chopped and fed to dogs.
Later, during the sealing of the Jiuyou Netherworld, a leader-level beast emerged from the abyss, three Sword Saints joined forces but couldnât handle the Netherworld Prison Lord, while Lu Nianxin easily halved it with one strike.
This strike secured Lu Nianxinâs place among the experts, even these Holy Court warriors feared her wrath, worried about being knocked down and beaten, losing dignity and suffering pain.
"Tian Annan, last time during Shangyueâs turmoil, you helped the villains but I spared your life. Today, your trouble with my precious granddaughter shows youâre asking for death!" Several leaps, Lu Nianxin arrived, saber pointing at Tian Annan, scolding ruthlessly.
"Lu Nianxin, desist from spreading such lies, tarnishing my reputation!" Tian Annanâs face reddened, shouting inwardly with empty threats.
Previously, he was jointly injured by Lu Nianxin, Ye Lanfeng, and Mu Han Yan, surviving only by playing dead, a lifelong disgrace. Luckily, he was disguised and unidentified, secret unexposed.
Now, with Lu Nianxin revealing it before nationsâ experts though he could deny, guilt marred his façade.
"Han Yan, whyâre you here? Heard you went to Beining Pass. Months passed, yet youâve grown chubby, not goodâa young girl gaining weight risks unmarriage." Lu Nianxin dragged Mu Han Yan into her embrace, chattering heedlessly.
"No, havenât gained weight?" Mu Han Yan helplessly responded to her grandmother, who found time for idle talk amid chaos, though feeling cared for, she replied offhandedly.
"Sure, see how your chestâs grown." Lu Nianxin remarked.
"Pfft!" Ye Yanran and Huayue stifled laughter simultaneously. Lu Nianxinâs voice was low, unclear to others, but standing by Mu Han Yan, they heard perfectly, in reverence for Mu Han Yanâs valiant grandmother.