Gang Disputes

The thick oil bubbled and gurgled.

Several skilled members of the Flying Eagle Hall swung net bags, scooping back and forth in the boiling oil. Soon, they pulled out a pile of charred, brittle bone fragments. Each piece was fragrant and crisp, with no discernible shape remaining.

"Hall Master, they've been blown to smithereens!" Du Feng exclaimed in shock.

Jiang Dao's gaze swept over the net bag, and he let out a cold laugh.

"Grind its bone fragments into dust and feed them to the dogs. And this headless corpse, blow it up and feed it to the dogs as well. Leave absolutely nothing!"

"Yes, Hall Master!"

The group was inwardly shaken and quickly got to work.

Jiang Dao's image became even more deeply ingrained in their minds. Who wouldn't fear such methods? He had annihilated a Malevolent Spirit with brutal force! Not even a drop of bone powder was left!

Jiang Dao swayed and slowly rose from the ground. "In a while, send someone to the headquarters. Tell them that my Flying Eagle Hall suffered heavy casualties due to retaliation from a Malevolent Spirit, and ask the Sect Leader to send reinforcements as soon as possible."

Guo Dutian, standing nearby, quickly took the order and rushed off to report to the headquarters.

In the corridor not far away, a little girl, about seven or eight years old, dressed in a small red jacket, hid behind a pillar, staring blankly at Jiang Dao. She hadn't slept all night. Hiding here, she had witnessed everything that happened in the courtyard, and it had profoundly impacted her young mind. She found it hard to imagine how Jiang Dao had managed to defeat such a terrifying entity.

Suddenly, Jiang Dao turned his head and looked towards the little girl, frowning slightly as he walked towards her. Seeing Jiang Dao approach, the little girl immediately lowered her head, not daring to look.

"You watched all night. Aren't you afraid?" Jiang Dao asked in a low voice.

The little girl remained silent, her head still bowed. Jiang Dao looked at her thoughtfully, then turned and walked towards the room without another word. Only after Jiang Dao had completely left did the little girl look up again, gazing at his retreating back with a dazed expression, lost in thought.

Qianyuan City was in turmoil. Early in the morning, all levels of society were shaken, and countless people discussed the events with astonishment. Even the experts from the yamen were taking swift action. Last night, five Spirit Children had gone on a rampage. While two were eliminated by Jiang Dao, the other three did not escape and were killed by other experts in Qianyuan City. Nevertheless, over five hundred martial artists had died directly, sending shockwaves throughout Qianyuan City.

Guo Dutian's report quickly reached the Blazing Flame Sect headquarters. Inside the headquarters, everyone looked surprised.

"You're saying the Malevolent Spirits from last night were retaliating against your Hall Master?" Fang Tianba asked in a low voice.

"Yes, the Hall Master said he killed a Malevolent Spirit in Qingshi Town, which caused the remaining Malevolent Spirits to come for revenge," Guo Dutian replied.

A heavy silence fell over the hall. The atmosphere became oppressive for a moment.

"I understand. You're dismissed. Go back and tell your Hall Master that he can recruit replacements for the losses in the Flying Eagle Hall as he sees fit, no matter how many!" Fang Tianba said.

"Yes, Sect Leader!" Guo Dutian bowed and retreated.

After he left, the Left Guardian narrowed his eyes and suddenly spoke, "Sect Leader, the Malevolent Spirits that appeared last night... weren't they from the Spirit Child Palace..."

Everyone's hearts sank. The Spirit Child Palace! The name was like a nightmare to everyone, casting a vast shadow over them. Ordinary low-level Malevolent Spirits were not frightening, as they had dealt with such incidents before!

But terrifying organizations like the Spirit Child Palace were beyond the imagination of these secular powers.

These non-human forces could easily wipe out the entire Blazing Flame Sect.

"Everyone, what do you think?"

Fang Tianba looked at everyone.

"Guild Master, Hall Master Jiang has offended... offended the Spirit Child Palace. In my opinion... we should hand over Hall Master Jiang to appease the Spirit Child Palace's wrath. Otherwise, if they retaliate, the consequences will be unimaginable."

One of the hall masters' expressions shifted.

"Hand over Hall Master Jiang?"

Fang Tianba's eyes were deep. "Will handing over Hall Master Jiang resolve everything? As far as I know, the Spirit Child Palace holds grudges and never leaves survivors when they strike..."

Everyone's hearts skipped a beat, and they dared not speak further.

"Guild Master, forgive my bluntness, but handing over Hall Master Jiang might be a slim chance of survival, but not handing him over will surely mean certain death!"

The Left Guardian spoke.

"That's right, your subordinate also suggests handing over Hall Master Jiang!"

Another hall master cupped his hands and said.

"Your subordinate agrees."

"Your subordinate also agrees!"

One by one, the hall masters spoke.

Fang Tianba remained silent, watching everyone in the hall.

"Guild Master, your subordinate believes the situation might not have reached that point yet."

Suddenly, the Right Guardian cupped his hands and spoke, "As far as I know, the Spirit Child Palace obtained a great treasure in Hengzhou City some time ago, and it is now being closely watched by other strange forces. They have clashed several times. Perhaps they are currently unable to deal with us. If they really intended to retaliate, they wouldn't have sent just a few Spirit Children."

"Does the Right Guardian mean we should let things be and leave it to fate?"

The Left Guardian frowned and looked at the Right Guardian.

"While we won't leave it to fate, we also cannot easily hand over Hall Master Jiang. Wouldn't that chill the hearts of others? Hall Master Jiang offended the Spirit Child Palace for the sake of the sect..."

The Right Guardian spoke calmly.

"Precisely because of this, Hall Master Jiang should go all the way with his good deeds. Since he has always been devoted to the sect, why not truly fulfill the sect's needs?"

Guo Linyu spoke.

"Alright, no more talk."

Fang Tianba said in a low voice.

The two cupped their fists and said no more.

"Vice Guild Master, what do you think?"

Fang Tianba looked at an old man below who had been silent and asked.

The old man seemed to awaken from a dream, as if he had been lost in thought. He was slightly startled and said, "Ah? Me? I have no opinion. The Guild Master is wise, and the decision rests with the Guild Master!"

He repeatedly cupped his hands.

Fang Tianba's mouth twitched, and he sighed softly.

"Never mind, you are all dismissed for now!"

"Yes, Guild Master!"

Everyone cupped their fists and retreated.

In the back hall.

Pavilion and towers.

Fang Tianba stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the distant pond with deep eyes.

"Guild Master, are you really determined to hand over Jiang Dao?"

The Right Guardian appeared, looking suspicious.

"It's come to this, what else can we do?"

Fang Tianba narrowed his eyes, his thoughts drifting far back.

"The Spirit Child Palace has many evil spirits and holds grudges. Perhaps handing over Hall Master Jiang will also be a disaster for us. To these non-human creatures, we might not even be as good as pigs or dogs."

The Right Guardian hesitated.

"Do you have any good ideas?"

Fang Tianba asked.

"Handing over Hall Master Jiang can only be a last resort, not to be executed immediately. The first step should be to befriend the imperial court. The Great Ye Dynasty has stood for many years, and it must have the support of spirit-exorcising forces. If we befriend them, and they send spirit-exorcisers, it will definitely be more stable.

The second step should be to secretly post notices to recruit some rogue spirit-exorcisers. Perhaps if the numbers are large enough, it can make the Spirit Child Palace wary. If both methods fail, then we can consider handing over Hall Master Jiang."

The Right Guardian spoke.

Fang Tianba's heart surged, and he nodded slightly.

"Indeed, it's just as I thought."

He had originally thought that bringing in Jiang Dao would help balance the Left Guardian, but he never expected Jiang Dao to kill the Ferocious Oddity from the Spirit Child Palace and provoke them.

He knew exactly what kind of power that was.

Fang Tianba, having lived for over sixty years and seen much, was not even considered cannon fodder in the face of such a force.

"Any news on that internal cultivation manual?"

Fang Tianba inquired.

"We are still searching."

"What about Guo Linyu?"

Fang Tianba asked.

"We don't know for now. The Left Guardian's residence has been heavily guarded recently. Our men tried to infiltrate several times, but he discovered them and had them executed on the spot,"

the Right Guardian said in a low voice.

Fang Tianba frowned deeply and said, "Continue the search. You must find that young girl."

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

The Right Guardian cupped his fists in salute.