A moment later.
Jiang Dao finished modifying it. Feeling the surging power within him, he clenched his fists, making them crackle. His entire body seemed to have grown even more burly.
The aura around him seemed even more powerful.
Even standing perfectly still, he gave off an indescribable sense of intimidation.
Mad Demon Staff Art (after one hundred and twenty years) cannot be modified.
His heart shook.
This was equivalent to having practiced the Mad Demon Staff Art for one hundred and twenty years?
Suddenly, Jiang Dao suppressed his excitement and tapped the other martial arts.
Yet he soon frowned again.
After the second martial art, the Blood Shadow Saber Art, was successfully modified to one hundred and twenty years later, the other martial arts below changed again. The words behind them became "cannot be modified."
"Could it be that only two martial arts can be modified at a time?"
He furrowed his brow tightly.
All the data on the panel changed.
Strength: 2.3 Speed: 1.9 Spirit: 1.2 ...
"Why? They were clearly all unmodifiable before, so why had two martial arts suddenly become modifiable this time?"
He pondered inwardly.
Had something happened in between?
He vaguely felt that he had grasped a crucial point.
Something must have happened, causing the martial arts that originally could not be modified to become modifiable again.
As long as he grasped that key, would he not be able to modify them whenever he wanted in the future?
Even raising all these martial arts to one thousand years later would not be a problem.
"There were only two things I did tonight. One was blasting a Malevolent Spirit to death, and the other was killing Old Daoist Changbai..."
Jiang Dao muttered to himself.
Killing Old Daoist Changbai was naturally impossible.
So the only possibility was!
"Malevolent Spirits? Could it have been that Malevolent Spirit? Killing a Malevolent Spirit caused some changes in the system?"
Jiang Dao's eyes flashed.
That was right!
Other than that possibility, there seemed to be no other.
In other words, if he killed more Malevolent Spirits in the future, could his other martial arts continue changing as well?
Jiang Dao drew a light breath and carefully sensed the changes in his body.
With the two martial arts modified to one hundred and twenty years, his skin, fascia, and every tissue within his body had all been strengthened and thickened once more.
His strength was now greater than before by an unknown amount.
More importantly, the spot on his chest that the spirit child had clawed, leaving corrosive marks, had now completely healed. All the poison had been forced out.
The skin on his chest had become tougher and stronger, leaving behind only a thick scar.
Puff! Puff! Puff!
Jiang Dao lightly flicked his fingers, producing bursts of air-rending sounds.
Even the sound of his fingers flicking seemed like steel rods whipping through the air.
"It is time to have a talk with Magistrate Wang..."
Jiang Dao murmured, his gaze sharp.
The imperial court had actually sealed the city gates on purpose, allowing the townspeople to be ravaged...
For such a court to have endured until now was truly unbelievable.
But he would not sit still and wait for death.
Magistrate Wang had to open a path to survival for the Jiang Family.
Jiang Dao headed toward the front courtyard.
Inside the front courtyard.
The lights flickered.
Lanterns and torches hung everywhere.
Jiang Dalong, Pang Lin, Fang Biao, and the others were all waiting anxiously.
Jiang Dalong in particular was tense and pale-faced, pacing back and forth.
At last, Jiang Dao appeared from the courtyard ahead.
"Father..."
"Dao'er, how are you? Are you all right?"
Jiang Dalong and the others hurried over at once.
Although Jiang Dao's body had recovered, he still looked much taller than before.
"Father, I'm fine."
Jiang Dao said, "That old Daoist has already been slaughtered by me. We cannot stay in Hengzhou City any longer. We must leave as soon as possible!"
"Taoist Changbai was killed by Young Master?"
Pang Lin asked in astonishment. "Could it be that Young Master had learned martial arts before? No, even if you had, you could not have been that old thing's opponent. You..."
"That's right. I encountered another opportunity, but I simply never mentioned it. That was why I wanted to learn more martial arts, so that I could draw inferences from one instance to another!"
Jiang Dao said.
"So that was it. Young Master truly is blessed by heaven!"
Pang Lin said.
"Dao'er, you just said we must leave immediately? But Hengzhou City has been sealed off by the magistrate. How can we leave the city? Besides, once Magistrate Wang learns that you survived under his watch, he will most likely send people to kill you and silence you..."
Jiang Dalong looked deeply worried.
This Magistrate Wang was ruthless and vicious. He had taken their family's money, then deliberately set up an ambush outside the city, wanting to wipe out their family line and plunder all their wealth. The Jiang Family was surely not his only target.
Perhaps the other wealthy merchants in the city had suffered the same treatment from Magistrate Wang.
Therefore, whether by emotion or reason, Magistrate Wang would not want Jiang Dao to survive.
Otherwise, once the news spread to the other wealthy merchants, it would surely cause an uproar.
"Father, do not worry."
Jiang Dao sneered. "It is still uncertain who will silence whom. I refuse to believe he is stronger than Old Daoist Changbai. I will go find him tonight and make him let us leave the city!"
"Young Master, I'll go with you!"
Pang Lin said.
"No need. I can go alone. Master Pang, stay behind and look after my father!"
Jiang Dao said.
"Then please be careful, Young Master!"
Pang Lin's expression shifted.
Jiang Dao nodded directly. He took a new saber from the house, changed into a set of night clothes, and set off through the night toward the Hengzhou County Yamen.
The night was deep and still.
Dark clouds covered the moon.
The whole of Hengzhou City appeared gloomy and sinister.
In the past, Hengzhou City had night markets, all manner of pleasure houses, singing courtesans entwined in tenderness, and revelry that lasted through the night.
But ever since the Malevolent Spirit incidents began, the entire city had become desolate and deathly silent.
Forget nighttime—even by dusk, there was already no one on the streets.
Rustle...
As he passed an inner-city river, Jiang Dao suddenly stopped, having heard the sound of water stirring.
He abruptly turned around and looked toward the river, suspicion in his eyes.
A dense stench of rot wafted from the riverbank, as though some animal had decayed there. The foul odor was overwhelming.
Vaguely, he could see a strange black shadow emerging from the river, swaying unsteadily. With a bizarre grin on its face, it appeared by the riverbank.
Jiang Dao's heart jolted. He hurried away, vanishing from the area in the blink of an eye.
A Malevolent Spirit!
Another new Malevolent Spirit!
Sure enough, Hengzhou City had drawn in all manner of demons and monsters!
The county yamen area was guarded by a great number of heavily armed troops.
Torches illuminated the place until it was bright as day.
There were many martial arts experts among the crowd, their bodies tall and their breathing fine and steady.
However, Jiang Dao did not take these people seriously at all. With a single sweep of his eyes, he could tell what level they were at.
With a leap, he vaulted over the rear courtyard wall of the county yamen and entered without drawing any attention.
The entire county yamen was guarded by numerous experts as well.
Jiang Dao passed through layer upon layer of guards, searching everywhere.
Suddenly, he spotted a servant carrying a lantern as he walked down a corridor.
Jiang Dao reached out with his large hand, instantly covering the servant's mouth and dragging him into the shadows to one side.
"Do not make a sound. If you dare cry out, I'll crush you to death!"
Jiang Dao's tone was icy.
The servant trembled violently in fright, terrified beyond measure. He blinked rapidly and nodded with all his strength.
"Where is Magistrate Wang now?"
Jiang Dao asked, slowly releasing the servant's mouth.
"In... in the study. Go through the courtyard ahead. The room with light is the one."
The servant answered fearfully.
Jiang Dao gripped the servant's neck hard with his fingers. A tremendous force surged forth, and the servant fainted on the spot. Jiang Dao then hid his body inside a rockery to one side.
Jiang Dao immediately headed for the courtyard ahead.
After passing through the courtyard, he soon discovered a room with light shining from within.
However, four yamen runners still stood guard outside the room. Each wore a saber at his waist and stood ready for battle.
"His defenses are quite thorough..."
Jiang Dao frowned.
He had originally intended to rush straight in, but now he could only kill first.
Whoosh!
His body flashed forward like a terrifying black shadow, striking into the courtyard.
"Who is it?"
One of the yamen runners reacted extremely quickly and shouted in alarm.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Four muffled impacts rang out in succession. All four men were struck in their vital points and sent flying, dying miserable deaths on the spot.
Jiang Dao instantly entered through the door and appeared inside the room.
Inside the room.
Magistrate Wang had been counting banknotes and secretly rejoicing. Suddenly, the candle flame swayed as a wild wind blew through. Then his vision blurred, and a terrifying figure abruptly appeared before him. He was instantly shocked.
"You... you..."
"Make one sound, and I'll kill you!" Jiang Dao said coldly.
Before you continue