Gang Dispute

The blazing oil boiled, gurgling loudly.

Several Flying Eagle Hall experts swung their mesh scoops through the boiling oil, quickly fishing out a pile of shattered bones fried golden-brown. Every fragment exuded a crisp, savory aroma, their original shapes utterly unrecognizable.

"Hall Master, it's been blasted into scraps!"

Du Feng cried out in alarm.

Jiang Dao swept his gaze around, looked toward the mesh scoops, and gave a cold smile.

"Grind its shattered bones into powder and take them out to feed the dogs. And that headless corpse—fry it too and feed it to the dogs. Don't leave behind a single trace!"

"Yes, Hall Master!"

Everyone was deeply shaken and hurriedly got to work.

Jiang Dao's image became even more deeply rooted in their hearts.

Who would not fear such methods?

He slaughtered Malevolent Spirits with tyrannical force!

He did not even leave behind a speck of bone dust!

Jiang Dao's body swayed as he slowly rose from the ground. "Send someone to headquarters shortly. Tell them Flying Eagle Hall suffered a Malevolent Spirit's retaliation and sustained heavy casualties. Have the Sect Master send reinforcements as soon as possible."

Guo Dutian, standing to one side, hastily accepted the order and rushed out to report the news to headquarters.

In a corridor not far away.

A little girl of seven or eight, dressed in a red padded jacket, hid behind a corridor pillar and stared blankly at Jiang Dao.

She had not slept a wink the entire night.

Hidden here, she had witnessed everything in the courtyard, and it had dealt a tremendous blow to her young heart.

She found it hard to imagine how Jiang Dao had defeated something so terrifying.

Suddenly.

Jiang Dao turned around and looked toward the little girl. Frowning slightly, he strode over to her.

When the little girl saw Jiang Dao approaching, she immediately lowered her head and did not dare look at him again.

"You watched all night. Aren't you afraid?"

Jiang Dao asked in a low voice.

The little girl remained silent, her head still lowered.

Jiang Dao seemed thoughtful. He stared deeply at the little girl, said no more, and turned toward his room.

Only after Jiang Dao had completely left did the little girl raise her head again and gaze after him blankly, unknown thoughts stirring in her eyes.

Qianyuan City was in turmoil.

Early that morning, people from every walk of life were shaken, and countless people discussed the matter in astonishment.

Even the experts from the yamen moved swiftly into action.

The previous night, five Spirit Children had gone on a frenzied killing spree. Aside from the two Jiang Dao had killed, the other three had not escaped either, slain by other experts in Qianyuan City.

Even so, more than five hundred martial artists had died, shaking all of Qianyuan City.

Guo Dutian's report soon reached Blazing Flame Sect headquarters.

Within headquarters, everyone revealed shocked expressions.

"You're saying the Malevolent Spirits last night came to retaliate against Hall Master Jiang?"

Fang Tianba asked in a low voice.

"Yes. Hall Master said he killed the Malevolent Spirit in Greenstone Town, which caused the remaining Malevolent Spirits to seek revenge."

Guo Dutian answered.

The hall fell silent.

For a time, the atmosphere was oppressive.

"Understood. You may leave. Tell Hall Master Jiang that he can recruit replacements for Flying Eagle Hall himself, as many as he wishes!"

Fang Tianba said.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Guo Dutian clasped his fists and withdrew.

After he left, the Left Guardian narrowed his eyes and suddenly spoke. "Sect Master, the Malevolent Spirits that appeared last night were... were from Spirit Child Palace..."

Everyone's hearts sank.

Spirit Child Palace!

To everyone present, that name was like a nightmare, like an enormous dark cloud hanging over their heads.

Ordinary low-level Malevolent Spirits were not frightening, for they had dealt with Malevolent Spirit incidents before!

But a horrifying organization like Spirit Child Palace was simply beyond the imagination of worldly factions like theirs.

Those inhuman forces could easily wipe out the entire Blazing Flame Sect.

"What do you all think?"

Fang Tianba looked at the crowd.

"Sect Master, Hall Master Jiang has offended... offended Spirit Child Palace. In my opinion... we might as well hand Hall Master Jiang over to appease Spirit Child Palace's wrath. Otherwise, once they retaliate, the consequences will be too dreadful to contemplate."

One Hall Master's expression shifted.

"Hand Hall Master Jiang over?"

Fang Tianba's gaze was profound. "Will handing over Hall Master Jiang resolve everything? As far as I know, Spirit Child Palace holds grudges over the smallest slight. Once they act, they have never left survivors..."

Everyone's hearts jolted, and none dared speak again.

"Sect Master, forgive my bluntness, but handing over Hall Master Jiang may offer a slim chance of survival. Yet if we do not hand him over, there will certainly be no path to life at all!"

The Left Guardian spoke.

"Indeed, this subordinate also recommends handing over Hall Master Jiang!"

Another Hall Master said, clasping his fists.

"This subordinate concurs."

"This subordinate concurs as well!"

One Hall Master after another spoke up.

Fang Tianba said nothing, merely watching everyone in the hall.

"Sect Master, this subordinate believes matters may not yet have reached that point."

Suddenly, the Right Guardian clasped his fists and said, "As far as I know, Spirit Child Palace obtained a precious treasure in Hengzhou City some time ago. It is now being firmly targeted by other strange forces, and they have clashed several times. Perhaps they are currently unable to deal with us at all. If they truly intended revenge, they would not have merely sent a few Spirit Children."

"The Right Guardian means we should simply stand by and leave it to fate?"

The Left Guardian frowned and looked at the Right Guardian.

"Though we should not leave it to fate, neither can we lightly hand over Hall Master Jiang. Would that not chill people's hearts? Hall Master Jiang offended Spirit Child Palace for the sect..."

The Right Guardian replied calmly.

"Precisely because of that, Hall Master Jiang should see his good deed through to the end. Since he is wholeheartedly devoted to the sect, why not truly fulfill the sect?"

Guo Linyu spoke.

"Enough. Say no more."

Fang Tianba said in a low voice.

The two clasped their fists and fell silent.

"Vice Sect Master, what do you think?"

Fang Tianba looked toward an elderly man below who had not spoken a word and asked.

The old man seemed to awaken from a dream, as though he had been lost in thought. Startled slightly, he said, "Ah? Me? I have no objections. The Sect Master is wise; let the Sect Master decide!"

He repeatedly clasped his fists.

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

"Enough, disperse for now!"

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Everyone clasped their fists and withdrew.

Within the rear hall.

Pavilions and towers.

Fang Tianba stood with his hands behind his back, looking toward the distant pond with profound eyes.

"Sect Master, have you truly decided to hand Jiang Dao over?"

The Right Guardian appeared there, looking doubtful.

"What else can we do now that things have come to this?"

Fang Tianba narrowed his eyes, his thoughts stretching far away.

"Spirit Child Palace contains countless evil creatures and bears grudges over the smallest slight. Perhaps handing over Hall Master Jiang would still bring us a calamity that destroys us completely. To those inhuman creatures, we may not even be worth as much as pigs or dogs."

The Right Guardian hesitated.

"Do you have a better method?"

Fang Tianba asked.

"Handing over Hall Master Jiang can only be a last resort; it cannot be carried out immediately. First, we should seek friendship with the imperial court. The Great Ye Dynasty has stood unfallen for so many years; there must be Spirit Eliminator forces supporting it from behind. If we gain their favor and Spirit Eliminators take action, it will surely be more secure.

"Second, we should secretly post notices and recruit a group of Rogue Cultivator Spirit Eliminators. If their numbers are great enough, perhaps Spirit Child Palace will be wary. If neither method works, then it will not be too late to consider handing over Hall Master Jiang."

The Right Guardian said.

Fang Tianba's heart churned as he nodded lightly.

"Not bad. Just as I thought."

He had believed that bringing in Jiang Dao would allow him to balance the Left Guardian, but he had never imagined Jiang Dao would kill Spirit Child Palace's vicious monster and provoke Spirit Child Palace.

He knew better than anyone what kind of force that was.

Fang Tianba had lived for more than sixty years and seen much of the world, yet before such a force, he did not even qualify as cannon fodder.

"Is there any news about that internal cultivation manual?"

Fang Tianba asked.

"We are still searching."

"What about Guo Linyu?"

Fang Tianba asked.

"Nothing for the moment. The Left Guardian's residence has been heavily guarded lately. Our people tried several times to infiltrate it, but he discovered them and had them executed on the spot."

The Right Guardian said in a low voice.

Fang Tianba frowned deeply. "Continue investigating. You must find that little girl."

"Yes, Sect Master!"

The Right Guardian clasped his fists.