Little Stone Temple

Whoosh!

Jiang Dao's body suddenly shot into the air, swift to the extreme, radiating a terrifying pressure. Like an unbroken shadow falling at once, his eagle claw struck viciously at Hu Biao's forehead—fast, precise, and ruthless, almost impossible to track.

Hu Biao's expression changed drastically. He simply could not believe it—Jiang Dao appeared wholly unaffected!

He hurriedly struck back.

But the moment he moved, Jiang Dao's Eagle Claw Art instantly crushed his palm. Like withered wood and rotten weeds, it landed on his forehead with a squelch and gouged through his skull.

Hu Biao let out a miserable scream. He failed to block even a single move before Jiang Dao clawed him to death on the spot. Gripping his forehead, Jiang Dao flung the corpse away like trash, sending it flying seven or eight meters into a large tree.

Fan Hu had just been about to attack when he saw that the battle had already ended. His face instantly turned deathly pale. Terror filled him, and his body seemed to have been struck by a immobilization spell. His eyes widened as he trembled from head to toe.

"You... demon... are you a demon?"

he asked in horror.

No one knew Hu Biao's strength better than he did.

A peak Blood Tempering Realm expert!

Such people were rare even throughout the entire Great Ye Dynasty!

Yet Jiang Dao had killed him with a single grab, treating him like rubbish.

The other attendants behind him were likewise terrified beyond measure. They could not help but stagger backward again and again, trembling uncontrollably.

Jiang Dao appeared before Fan Hu. His shoulders and back were broad, his muscles swollen, and his gaze indifferent. Like a demon god, he looked down upon Fan Hu.

"None of the uninvolved are to move. Whoever moves dies!"

His eyes were icy as he stared at Fan Hu. "Who sent you to deal with me? Was it the Left Guardian?"

"I... I..."

Fan Hu's lips trembled. Suddenly coming to his senses, he hurriedly turned and fled toward the rear.

Several others could no longer endure it either. They cried out and fled at high speed.

Jiang Dao's gaze turned cold. His broad palm suddenly blasted forth, stirring a terrifying current of air that rumbled like thunder drumming. With a boom, it struck Fan Hu's shoulder.

Fan Hu released a shrill scream. His entire shoulder exploded on the spot, blood mist spraying and bone fragments scattering. His whole body smashed viciously into the distance as he cried in terror, "Don't kill me!"

After throwing that palm strike, Jiang Dao's burly body had already rushed out. His long blade left its sheath, carrying a terrifying cold gleam as he charged at the fleeing sect members.

Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!

Bloodlight flashed, swift as a gale and steeped in thick killing intent.

Mad Demon Bloodsoul Blade!

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Dao had slain every one of those who fled. Not a single one survived.

He sheathed his blade and walked step by step toward Fan Hu. Tall and imposing, he exuded an invisible pressure, his eyes gleaming beneath the moonlit night.

Fan Hu was terrified to the utmost, his entire body drenched in Crimson Blood.

"Don't kill me! It was the Left Guardian! The Left Guardian ordered us to kill you! That was Golden Wave Poison Mist just now—breathing in even a trace of it will make someone die miserably..."

"Left Guardian!"

Jiang Dao's gaze turned cold, killing intent spreading forth.

Boom!

His hand rose and his palm fell. A Wind Thunder Palm crashed down upon Fan Hu's head, driving his entire skull directly into his abdominal cavity. Blood splattered everywhere. He was dead beyond death.

He had known it was that man!

Once he grew a little stronger, he would crush that man to death directly, lest he become a grave threat.

Jiang Dao lifted his clothes and saw that the skin of his chest had turned crimson. Several strange red veins wriggled back and forth as the poison spread.

The instant he inhaled the Golden Wave Poison Mist, he had sensed that something was wrong. Fortunately, his Life Nurturing Art was exceedingly profound and could resist poison automatically, forcing most of the toxins back out of his body.

Otherwise, he would most likely have fallen victim to the poison today.

This also made Jiang Dao realize that he could never underestimate the experts of the Blazing Flame Sect in the future.

Sshk!

He drew a dagger and cut open his skin, beginning to bleed himself and release every last trace of poison through the wound.

Jiang Dao turned to look at the remaining seven or eight experts and reassured them, "You need not be afraid. Hu Biao and Fan Hu wanted to kill me, so I killed them. This is the cycle of cause and effect. You did not attack me, so I will not kill you. Once we return, simply remember to testify for me. Let's go. We'll take a look at Little Stone Temple!"

The faces of those seven or eight experts were pale as they trembled, but their hearts finally settled somewhat.

One of them hurriedly spoke. "Hall Master Jiang, this lowly one has brought some wound medicine. If you do not mind, you may use it."

He quickly approached and handed Jiang Dao a white porcelain bottle.

Jiang Dao accepted the bottle, removed the stopper, and gave it a light sniff. He glanced at the man, then directly sprinkled the medicinal powder within over his wound. He took out another strip of cloth and wrapped the wound.

"What is your name?"

Jiang Dao asked.

"This lowly one is Du Feng, a squad leader of Flying Leopard Hall."

the man hurriedly replied.

"Your hall master is dead. From now on, come to our Flying Eagle Hall. I'll make you a steward."

Jiang Dao said.

"This lowly one thanks Hall Master!"

The man was overjoyed and hurriedly spoke.

From squad leader to steward was clearly a major promotion. From then on, he could oversee many properties and skim plenty of profit.

The others were also startled. Then, they completely set their minds at ease.

If Jiang Dao could promote someone he had never even met to steward, then he naturally would not continue to strike them down without mercy.

The group set out once more, hurrying toward the distance.

Since all their horses had been killed by the poisonous mist, they could only proceed on foot now.

After Jiang Dao applied the medicinal powder, the injuries on his body quickly healed.

The Life Nurturing Art circulated again and again, making him look as though he had never been injured, without the slightest abnormality.

The mountain shadows were hazy.

The night was silent.

Half an hour later.

A huge temple came into view.

Ahead lay a broad expanse paved with bluestone slabs, surrounded by carved stone railings. An ancient incense burner, mottled with rust, stood in the middle of the ground.

It was the temple's incense burner.

Although weeds had long grown thick between the cracks of the stone slabs, one could still glimpse the prosperity of its former days beyond the square.

Suddenly, Jiang Dao frowned and swept his gaze ahead.

A group of figures had appeared before the temple, densely packed and numbering more than ten. They were all dressed like martial wanderers, each carrying sabers or swords and wearing bamboo hats as they knocked on the temple gate.

Among them was a man dressed as a traveling merchant, around fifty years old and wearing a felt cap. Yet on his feet were a pair of black official boots.

"Hall Master, there are people there!"

Du Feng whispered hurriedly from the side.

Jiang Dao gave them a glance and said quietly, "Ignore them!"

The group headed toward the temple.

When they noticed the other group, that group had clearly noticed Jiang Dao and his men as well.

The martial wanderers gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes sharp as they stared unblinkingly at Jiang Dao's group.

"Don't act rashly. They may not be enemies."

the leader of the group whispered.

Everyone remained fully alert, not daring to relax in the slightest.

At last, Jiang Dao's group arrived before the temple as well.

Du Feng hurriedly stepped forward, grasped the door knocker, and began knocking.

The two groups said nothing. All of them watched one another solemnly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The dull sound echoed through the silent night.

It was clear that this group had only arrived recently as well. Otherwise, they would not have been outside the gate.

After knocking for a full five or six minutes, Jiang Dao finally heard soft rustling footsteps coming from within the courtyard.

Before long, the sound of door bolts shifting rang out.

The two heavy gates were slowly opened from within, revealing a narrow crack. A young monk carrying a paper lantern peered warily outside. "Where have you all come from? Why have you come visiting at night?"

He had not opened the temple gates completely. A latch still connected them from inside, in case of any sudden change.

Du Feng immediately smiled. "Little Master, please make an exception for us. We are all travelers journeying late at night. The night is too dark for us to continue, and after a day of travel, we are exhausted. We wish to stay here for one night. We hope Little Master will show compassion."

"Little Master, we too are travelers on the road. We sincerely ask to stay for one night!"

One of the martial wanderers from the other group hurriedly said.

"Stay for one night?"

The young monk hesitated slightly. "Then wait here. I must ask the senior monk first."

Carrying his lantern, he ran deeper into the temple once more.

At this moment, the leader of the opposing group finally spoke. Watching Jiang Dao and the others, he said, "Friends, you should also be people of the martial world. I am Li San. May I know how you are addressed?"

"Jiang Da."

Jiang Dao replied calmly.