Enraging the Left Guardian

Jiang Dao opened his status panel and looked at the Wind Thunder Poison Sand Palm in front of him, directly striking his consciousness to modify it.

Swish!

The words "[Beginner]" behind Wind Thunder Poison Sand Palm immediately changed.

Wind Thunder Poison Sand Palm (Thirty Years Later) [Cannot Modify].

"It only modified thirty years? Just like the Mad Demon Bloodsoul Blade?"

Jiang Dao's eyes flashed.

This meant the level of Wind Thunder Poison Sand Palm was comparable to the Mad Demon Bloodsoul Blade!

The various stats on the panel changed subtly again.

Strength: 4.3 (Still 0.2 away from physical limit, cultivate internal energy techniques as soon as possible)

Speed: 3.4

Spirit: 1.5

Jiang Dao looked surprised and noticed a line of small text behind his Strength.

His strength was about to reach the physical limit?

"The physical limit should be 4.5. Once I reach 4.5, does it mean I won't get any stronger no matter how I modify techniques in the future?" Jiang Dao frowned.

This was definitely not good news!

He currently only had the Life Nurturing Art as his internal energy technique.

The problem was that the Life Nurturing Art wasn't a proper internal energy technique and couldn't help him break through his physical limit.

As for other internal energy techniques, only the Sect Leader and Deputy Sect Leader possessed them.

But could he force his way to get them with his current strength?

It was obviously unlikely!

Sect Leader Fang Tianba had controlled the Blazing Flame Sect for so many years and had cultivated internal energy for so many years; he was definitely a master of the Divine Strength Realm.

Even with his current strength, he wasn't sure he could win against Fang Tianba, let alone with the Deputy Sect Leader and the Left and Right Guardians present.

Therefore, trying to snatch internal energy techniques was simply unrealistic.

"Am I destined to only be able to cultivate to this extent?"

Jiang Dao's heart sank.

Internal energy techniques!

This had become a major obsession for him.

Without obtaining them, he wouldn't be safe in this world.

The retaliation from the Spirit Child Palace would arrive at any moment.

Jiang Dao slowly exhaled, stood up, opened the door, and walked outside.

Lü An quickly arranged lunch for Jiang Dao.

After lunch, Jiang Dao didn't linger. He led the remaining people towards the Blazing Flame Sect headquarters.

The sky was dim.

Dark clouds gathered.

The originally clear sky suddenly felt like it was about to rain.

Jiang Dao rode his horse, looked up at the sky, and frowned slightly.

"Hall Master, it's going to rain. Should we find a place to take shelter first!" Du Feng asked.

"Go look for one!" Jiang Dao said.

Du Feng immediately had his men spread out and gallop to search for a location nearby.

A short while later, Du Feng galloped back from a distance and shouted, "Hall Master, there's a dilapidated temple here!"

Jiang Dao immediately called his men forward.

The wind howled, whistling sharply.

Jiang Dao and his group quickly entered the dilapidated temple. They began busying themselves with tying up their horses and starting fires.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Jiang Dao's ears twitched. He heard faint gasping sounds, weak and indiscernible, coming from behind him.

His eyes flashed, and he turned to look behind him at a large Buddha statue.

"Hall Master, what's wrong?" Du Feng asked suspiciously.

"There's someone behind the Buddha statue," Jiang Dao whispered.

Du Feng started, immediately called for his men, and they quickly surrounded the Buddha statue, moving to its rear.

Jiang Dao strode over, his gaze sweeping the area.

Behind the Buddha statue, the space was empty, filled with swirling dust. Only a few drops of black blood were visible, suggesting someone had hidden there before.

He listened intently, then suddenly drew his long saber and, with lightning speed, slashed at the back of the Buddha statue.

Swoosh!

The back of the Buddha statue was cut open, revealing a hidden compartment.

Inside the compartment, a girl of about seven or eight years old was curled up. Her face was pale, and she trembled uncontrollably, her breathing extremely erratic.

As if sensing she had been discovered, the girl's eyelashes fluttered. She looked at Jiang Dao and his group with terror.

"A girl?" Du Feng exclaimed in surprise.

"Little girl, who are you? Why are you hiding here?" Jiang Dao examined the child.

The girl bit her lip, staring intently at him, remaining silent.

Du Feng frowned. "Could she be mute?"

Jiang Dao suddenly reached out a large hand towards the girl.

The girl's eyes widened in fear, and she recoiled. Suddenly, she let out a terrified scream.

"Ah..."

After the scream, her eyes rolled back. It seemed she was either utterly exhausted or severely injured internally, and she suddenly fainted.

Jiang Dao grabbed the girl and pulled her out. He immediately smelled a scent like rotten apples emanating from her. Black blood trickled from her mouth and nostrils. He said gravely, "She's been poisoned!"

Whoosh!

He immediately activated the Life Nurturing Art, channeling his internal energy into the girl's body.

Besides its potent self-healing effects, the Life Nurturing Art could also be used to heal others.

A faint blush gradually appeared on the girl's pale little face. She let out a muffled groan, and more black blood flowed from her mouth and nostrils. Wisps of white smoke, like steam, began to rise from the crown of her head.

Finally, a stream of black blood suddenly spurted from her mouth. It landed on the wall, sizzling and bubbling violently.

"Such potent toxins!" Du Feng gasped.

Who would be so ruthless as to attack a little girl with such deadly poison?

After Jiang Dao expelled most of the toxins from her body, the girl slowly opened her eyes again and looked at him.

"Little girl, who exactly are you?" Jiang Dao set her down and asked.

Anyone who could be poisoned so severely and still manage to run this far was clearly no ordinary person.

The girl remained silent again, saying nothing.

"You're not from around here? You don't understand me?" Jiang Dao frowned.

The girl continued to be silent.

Jiang Dao nodded gently. "If you don't wish to speak, then so be it."

He asked no further questions and turned towards the campfire to sit in meditation.

The girl stood not far away, gazing blankly at Jiang Dao. She subconsciously hugged her arms, seeming to feel a chill. Gurgling sounds of hunger came from her stomach.

The sound of rain outside pattered down, gradually subsiding. After half an hour, it finally stopped.

Jiang Dao and the others strode out immediately.

The girl's small face shifted, and she quickly took small steps, hurrying out of the room.

Seeing Jiang Dao and the others mount their horses, she quickly ran after Jiang Dao.

"Hall Master, that girl is following us?" Du Feng looked back.

Jiang Dao reined in his horse, looked back, and pondered for a moment. Then, he spurred his horse back towards the girl. Under her panicked gaze, he grabbed her by the scruff of her neck, lifted her up, and placed her in front of him.

"Who exactly are you? Why are you following us?"

Jiang Dao inquired.

The young girl lowered her head, continuing to remain silent.

Jiang Dao frowned.

Did he run into a mute?

He still decided to take her back first.

A group of people hurried along the official road. The path was muddy, and after several hours, they finally arrived at Qianyuan City.

Jiang Dao casually handed the girl over to Du Feng, telling him to take her to the Flying Eagle Hall, while he himself headed directly to the headquarters.

Not long after.

A large crowd gathered again in the main hall of the headquarters.

Jiang Dao first paid his respects to the Sect Leader, then explained the general situation in Greenstone Town, including the cause of death for Hu Biao and Fan Hu. He even produced the bottle containing the [Golden Wave Poison Gas] as evidence.

"I request the Sect Leader to uphold justice for your subordinate and severely punish the Left Guardian!"

Jiang Dao clasped his fists together.

"Utter nonsense, you are speaking utter nonsense!"

The Left Guardian was furious. While inwardly cursing Hu Biao and Fan Hu for their incompetence, he quickly spoke up, "Sect Leader, this must be Hall Master Jiang deliberately slandering me. Hall Master Jiang and those two were not close, so why would I instruct them?

Furthermore, Hall Master Jiang was on a mission with them, so why is only Hall Master Jiang unharmed while the other two died tragically? There must be a conspiracy involved. I suggest apprehending all other survivors and interrogating them under torture to uncover the truth!"

"Old man, you dare deny instructing them?"

Jiang Dao's tone was icy as he looked at the Left Guardian.

"Presumptuous!"

The Left Guardian was enraged. "Hall Master Jiang, you repeatedly show me disrespect. Do you truly think I can be bullied?"

"Left Guardian, let's not beat around the bush. Since you want to kill me, why not do it yourself? Let's set a date to decide the victor and resolve our life and death, wouldn't that be more satisfying? Why resort to such underhanded tactics, acting so sneakily, appearing despicable and shameless, lacking any masterly demeanor!"

Jiang Dao's tone was frigid.

The Left Guardian let out a laugh, his sleeves billowing.

"You court death! Do you really think I dare not kill you!"

"Then come, why waste time with mere words? I've long wanted to experience the Left Guardian's divine skills!"

Jiang Dao stared intently at the Left Guardian, his words sharp, his body exuding power.

"Enough, both of you, stop talking. We are all brothers, why the animosity!"

Suddenly, the Sect Leader, Fang Tianba, waved his hand and spoke.

The Left Guardian inwardly seethed, gritting his teeth, glaring at Jiang Dao as if he wanted to tear him limb from limb.

"Hall Master Jiang, you claim that Hall Master Hu and Hall Master Fan actively tried to harm you, and you killed them in self-defense. Do you have any evidence?"

Fang Tianba asked.

"Those who accompanied me are witnesses!"

Jiang Dao replied.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, those people must have received benefits from Jiang Dao and are deliberately slandering me. Their words cannot serve as evidence. In my opinion, apprehending all those individuals and interrogating them under torture is the only way to truly uncover the truth!"

The Left Guardian said coldly.

"Hall Master Jiang, did you hear that?"

Fang Tianba turned to look at Jiang Dao and said, "These people cannot be considered true evidence. Do you want me to interrogate them under torture? You resolved the matter in Greenstone Town, which was a great merit. However, you caused the sect to lose two Hall Masters, which is a major transgression. I will not pursue the specific details any further. For now, I decree that your merits and demerits cancel each other out. You will receive neither reward nor punishment. Are you satisfied?"

Jiang Dao felt a gloominess in his heart, taking a deep breath.

Was Fang Tianba intentionally favoring the Left Guardian?

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Jiang Dao still clasped his fists and said.