Chapter 1535: Chapter 1535: The Feeling of Blood Instantly Ignited
Obviously, the meridian clearing and marrow washing before their eyes was different from the usual so‑called meridian clearing and marrow washing, and that seven‑colored droplet condensed from mist above the Beast Soul Pool clearly contained no simple power.
All the Exotic Beasts lifted their heads, gazing at the Exotic Beast standing in the center of the Beast Soul Pool, reverence flashing in their eyes, as if bowing down to worship him. The atmosphere all around became even more solemn and grand.
Suddenly, a sharp screech rang out, golden light flashed, and that droplet of water abruptly exploded, turning into a veil of fine drizzle that scattered in all directions.
Only then did everyone see that the golden light was actually a golden Short Arrow. This Short Arrow was somewhat similar to the Cloud Piercing Arrows they had seen at Beining Pass, but its speed was a hundred times faster; speaking of speed alone, it was likely not much inferior to some legendary Divine Artifacts.
The arrow came far too suddenly, and its speed was so great that neither Mu Hanyan and the others nor those Exotic Beasts had any defense prepared. By the time they reacted, that seven‑colored droplet had already shattered into a spray of fine rain.
The Exotic Beast undergoing meridian clearing and marrow washing shuddered all over as if struck by lightning, suddenly spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood; its body, which had just regained a bit of vitality, rapidly withered again, and its expression became incomparably pained.
Only then did all the Exotic Beasts awaken as from a dream. They suddenly twisted their heads around, glared at Mu Hanyan and the others, and roared in unison.
"Bad!" Only now did Mu Hanyan realize that the golden Short Arrow just now had been shot from the direction where they stood.
"Don’t be rash, that arrow had nothing to do with us." Zhuang Ping’an also sensed that things had gone wrong and hurried to explain.
Unfortunately, the Exotic Beasts, whose fury had been ignited, would never listen to his explanation. Besides, apart from them, there was simply no one else nearby. All the Exotic Beasts rose up, roaring madly as they charged over.
"Hahahaha, Mu Hanyan is dead for sure." Behind a distant cliff, Han Yutang peered sneakily at the tens of thousands of Exotic Beasts that had fallen into Fury and were stampeding forward, and laughed in a low, triumphant voice.
"So this is the Spirit Heart Arrow, huh? It really is formidable, it can hit even from this far." That flunky half‑flattered, half‑seriously said. To be able to accurately hit a single droplet of water from such a distance—let alone Han Yutang, even an ordinary Sword Saint might not have such accuracy. The key lay in that exquisite Short Bow in Han Yutang’s hand.
"Nonsense. This Spirit Heart Arrow was obtained by my venerable Master from the North Abyss Misty Plain. It’s said that when it was completely undamaged, it possessed the power to slay gods and massacre devils. It’s a pity it was damaged too badly, and even with my Master’s strength he couldn’t fully repair it, otherwise I could have killed that old exotic beast with one arrow." Han Yutang said proudly.
The flunky secretly curled his lip. If it were fully repaired, with your strength you might not even be able to use it. Of course, he only thought this in his heart and didn’t dare say it aloud.
"Of course, of course, a Divine Artifact from the North Abyss Misty Plain is naturally not comparable to an ordinary Magic Artifact." The flunky echoed his tone.
"Don’t be fooled by how mild‑tempered the Exotic Beasts in this Beast Spirit Illusion Realm usually are. Now that their Soul Sacrifice has been ruined, and that old exotic beast has been made to vomit blood, these Exotic Beasts are sure to go mad. Even if Mu Hanyan had heaven‑defying abilities, she’d still be torn to pieces by those Exotic Beasts, hehehehe." His flattery made Han Yutang very satisfied. Han Yutang put away his Short Bow while speaking smugly, and by the end he couldn’t help but let out another sinister chuckle.
The flunky also laughed a few times with him, but as he laughed, he gradually couldn’t laugh anymore.
Han Yutang was absolutely right: the Soul Sacrifice had been broken by an arrow, the old exotic beast spat blood, and those Exotic Beasts had indeed gone completely berserk, each baring its fangs and roaring madly. Beastly roars thundered in their ears, the Earth trembled violently, as though everything standing before them would be torn to shreds and ground to dust beneath their feet.
Although the two of them were still far away, the Exotic Beasts were charging in their direction, and with that overwhelming momentum, if they couldn’t stop in time, they might very well be trampled into paste along with everything else. After all, that Hidden God Talisman could only mask their aura; it couldn’t possibly hide their physical forms.
"Maybe we should head down first." The flunky ventured.
"Mm, down first, down first. Mu Hanyan is dead anyway, there’s no point in us staying here." Han Yutang had grown up in a honey pot and had never seen such a spectacle; he was a bit unnerved as well. The flunky’s suggestion fit his thoughts perfectly, and the two of them scrambled down the cliff again.
...
"Fall back!" Seeing that the situation was bad, Mu Hanyan shouted to Zhuang Ping’an and the others.
Zhuang Ping’an and the others had long been scared witless by the Exotic Beasts’ savage aura. They no longer cared about taming any Sword Pets and turned around, sprinting toward the cliff on the side of the mountain.
Although there was a Prohibition on the outer side of this peak, it wasn’t obvious on the inner side, so their strength wasn’t affected too badly. But don’t forget, all the Exotic Beasts gathered at the Beast Soul Spring were powerhouses; the weakest of them had strength equivalent to a Sixth‑rank or Seventh‑rank Sword Master cultivator, and the strongest had already reached the Great Sword Master Realm. Their numbers were also dozens of times the group’s. At a time like this, the slightest hesitation could mean death.
In no time, they had pulled apart from one another. Zhuang Ping’an, Sang Qinghe, and several other Great Sword Master Realm experts ran at the front, while those with weaker cultivation fell far behind. If nothing unexpected happened, most of them would not escape and would either die under the Exotic Beasts’ claws and fangs or be trampled into mush.
But at such a life‑and‑death moment, when they could barely protect their own lives, who could spare a thought for them?
"Where is Young Master Mu?" As they drew closer to the cliff on the side of the mountain, Zhuang Ping’an suddenly asked.
Mu Hanyan’s strength was a cut above any of theirs, so her speed should have been much faster as well. Yet Zhuang Ping’an hadn’t seen her figure.
Sang Qinghe and the others were also puzzled. They slowed down and looked back, and all were slightly stunned.
They saw Mu Hanyan standing with her back to them, facing the Exotic Beasts surging toward them like a tide, slowly drawing her Longsword.
Huayue and Zirong stood guarding at her sides, each having summoned their own Sword Pets, their expressions grim and cold.
Yue Fanchen, with Long Ya and the others, was also guarding at her side.
"What is she doing?" Zhuang Ping’an was greatly shocked and instinctively came to a stop. Sang Qinghe and the others also halted.
They quickly understood Mu Hanyan’s intention. The closer they got to the cliff, the stronger the suppression they suffered, and their speed became slower and slower, while the Exotic Beasts were not affected at all.
Don’t be fooled by how they had currently left the Exotic Beasts far behind. Once they climbed onto the cliff, the Exotic Beasts would very soon catch up. With their cultivation suppressed, once they were surrounded, there would be no chance of survival.
Mu Hanyan clearly meant to hold back the Exotic Beasts and win them a chance to escape.
Looking at Mu Hanyan, then at the companions they had left far behind, Zhuang Ping’an and Sang Qinghe both revealed expressions of shame. They felt as though their blood had suddenly been set ablaze, rushing straight up to their Heavenly Spirit.
Exchanging a glance, they gritted their teeth, drew their swords, and charged back.
Seeing them clearly running at the very front yet turning back again, the others were all taken aback and instinctively looked back as well, their hearts jolting.
Though their strengths varied, as Descendants of Divine Guardian with awakened bloodlines and as elites carefully groomed by the various aristocratic families or the Royal Family, their reactions were naturally not slow. They quickly understood Mu Hanyan’s intention.
If Mu Hanyan’s actions before this had been more about preserving their dignity, then at this moment Mu Hanyan was safeguarding them with her Life. The hot blood in their veins instantly ignited, and they too charged back without hesitation.
Very soon, only one person remained standing where he was—Zhao Sinin.
He looked at the frenzied Exotic Beasts pouncing over, at Mu Hanyan’s slender yet resolute back, then at the companions who had turned back, and his expression grew exceedingly complicated.
"A bunch of idiots." After a moment, Zhao Sinin muttered, his face full of disdain, but he still turned around and followed.
