Defeat-So What? Leave-So What?

"Brother Jiang, now that Xiong Ba has left, prepare to break through without worry. I'll stand guard for you here!"

With several slashes from Nie Renwang, Ice Saber Qi howled forth, instantly extinguishing the flames on several crackling, burning trees. He then strode to a spot three zhang away from Jiang Dali and stood guard.

Jiang Dali sent out a faint ripple of gratitude through his mind, then continued calming his heart and guarding his spiritual platform for the final stage.

Zhang Sanfeng exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. The tightness in his chest eased, and his breathing became smooth again.

With his cultivation, having opened the path of Taiji, he had long reached the supreme state of doing as he pleased without any hindrance. Yet who could have expected the Heavenly Mandate Destiny possessed by Xiong Ba to be so terrifying, capable of influencing celestial phenomena and borrowing Heaven's will to bring down divine punishment? His internal injuries were therefore quite severe as well.

However, with Taiji's superior method of "using emptiness to control substance," his internal injuries had already eased considerably. He only needed a week of rest to recover.

He looked toward Nie Renwang, rose to his feet, and politely cupped his hands. "With Hero Nie guarding this place, this old Daoist can rest easy. Village Lord Jiang's safety shall trouble Hero Nie."

Nie Renwang clasped his fists and laughed heartily. "True Person Zhang is too courteous. Brother Jiang and I have a friendship forged through life and death. I naturally cannot refuse such a duty. True Person Zhang, go tend to your injuries without concern."

"Good!"

Zhang Sanfeng nodded. He then looked toward the captured Yang Zhen and Xu Hong before examining Zhang Wuji and Song Qingshu with concern. Only after seeing that neither child had