Chapter 45: The Lord's Shock

Xu Yining then realized she was still clinging to Shadow Guard One.

Her snow-white cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She quickly jumped down and explained, "The one who just fled wasn't an ordinary member."

Ye Qingxue was startled. "Could it be a Protector? No wonder they forced you to flee! It's truly a blessing from heaven that you're safe and sound."

The pursuing shadow guards also showed surprise. "Protectors have a minimum strength of Qi Condensation Layer Nine. They're also highly experienced in combat, skilled, and incredibly ruthless! It's truly impressive that Shadow Guards One and Two managed to retreat unharmed and even injure the opponent! If it were us facing a Protector, we probably wouldn't even have a chance to escape, let alone injure them."

Listening to their misunderstanding, Xu Yining showed a strange expression and said, "Who said the one who fled was a Protector? Shadow Guard One has already slain one Protector and three other members."

Ye Qingxue's eyes widened in horror. "Shadow Guard One, you, you actually killed a Protector? And three other members?"

"Wait!" She quickly realized the crucial point. With a look of shock, she asked, "So, who was it that chased you just now...?" If Jiang Fan could easily kill a Protector, how could he be chased by one? The one capable of chasing them could only be...

"It was the Branch Master!" Xu Yining said, still lingering with fear. Recalling the opponent's Foundation Establishment spiritual pressure that made sword techniques difficult to penetrate, a wave of suffocating dread washed over her.

"A Branch, Branch Master?" Ye Qingxue's voice trembled. Such an entity was far beyond what her assembled shadow guards could contend with. Her original intention was merely to eliminate some ordinary evildoers and ease her father's burden as City Lord. Branch Masters were better left to her father and other experts to handle.

But Shadow Guard One actually confronted the Branch Master, blinded their right eye, and retreated safely? She had always felt that listing Jiang Fan as Shadow Guard One was overestimating him. But now she realized she had underestimated his true strength!

The other shadow guards were also filled with shock and awe, trembling as they looked at the invincible figure of the mysterious Shadow Guard One. Those shadow guards who had previously harbored defiance now only felt reverence.

Ye Qingxue was secretly excited. Pulling Jiang Fan into the shadow guards was indeed the wisest decision. "Let's go, let's see the evildoers' bodies!"

Soon after, four bodies were brought before everyone. Seeing the horrific, instantly fatal wounds, everyone present gasped. Especially the evildoer at Qi Condensation Layer Eight, who had been cut in half across the chest. Their understanding of Jiang Fan's strength was once again refreshed.

"I know this person," a shadow guard suddenly recognized him and exclaimed in surprise. "He's the Right Protector of the branch, named Iron Eagle, and he's the Branch Master's most trusted confidant! He's an entity whose strength is second only to the Branch Master! He's most skilled with a short blade and has previously killed several Qi Condensation Layer Nine experts from Lone Boat City. He's incredibly fierce. I never thought he'd be slain by Shadow Guard One's blade."

As several others examined the bodies, they also frequently exclaimed. "And those two evildoers at Qi Condensation Layer Eight are also powerful figures, second only to the Protectors, and are notorious! Hiss, they all fell into Shadow Guard One's hands! Moreover, from the traces of combat, it appears all four of them ganged up on Shadow Guard One but were killed in return!"

This discovery shocked them once again. To simultaneously face the branch's strongest Protector and two notorious evildoers in an encirclement, yet manage to kill them all! He clearly had the strength of Qi Condensation Layer Nine, so why did he fight with the formidable presence of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator?

Ye Qingxue was overjoyed. Grasping Jiang Fan's shoulders, she said, "Let's go! I'm taking you back to the City Lord's Mansion right now. I want Father to see how powerful the shadow guards I've assembled are! The others, carry the bodies back to the City Lord's Mansion as well!"

Xu Yining said, "I won't be going." She looked deeply at Shadow Guard One and solemnly said, "This time, you won. When I break through to Foundation Establishment, we'll compete again." With that, she quickly ran off. The Chen family's Pifu Pill auction was about to begin. She was determined to acquire it and break through to the Foundation Establishment realm in one go! Otherwise, she wouldn't even be fit to compare herself to Shadow Guard One!

***

At the City Lord's Mansion.

"What? Qingxue formed a team of shadow guards specifically to eliminate the remnants of the Blood Bat Palace?" Listening to the butler's report, Ye Jifeng was furious. "Isn't this preposterous? Which of the remnants who escaped Qingyun Sect's encirclement isn't a fiercely powerful expert? To let a group of inexperienced young people deal with them, isn't that seeking death? Call her back immediately!"

Just then, Ye Qingxue ran in, beaming with joy, with Jiang Fan beside her. "Father! Good news! Such good news!"

Ye Jifeng was just looking for her. He immediately scolded her, "Nonsense! Who told you to form a shadow guard team? Disband them!" When he noticed Jiang Fan next to her, with the mask marked "One" on his face, he found it even more absurd. "Immediately! Right now! Go!"

Ye Qingxue pouted and lightly snorted, "Don't underestimate my shadow guard team, they're formidable!"

Ye Jifeng angrily said, "A bunch of youths who haven't even grown their hair out yet, how formidable can they be? Tell them all to go back, stay properly with their families, and focus on cultivation! That's the real business! The matter of exterminating the Blood Bat Palace is not for a group of juniors to worry about!"

Underestimating my shadow guard team? Ye Qingxue secretly smiled and clapped her hands. "Bring them in!"

Thus, four bodies were carried before Ye Jifeng. He recognized them at a glance. His expression changed drastically as he exclaimed, "The Right Protector of the branch, Iron Eagle! The Black Blade Duo, brothers Chen Jue and Chen Leng?" Not only did he recognize the Protector, but he also recognized the two evildoers at Qi Condensation Layer Eight. These were all notorious experts from the Blood Bat Palace! The government's strong cultivators had suffered no small losses at their hands. To deal with them this time, Ye Jifeng had also mobilized a large number of strong cultivators, ready to prevent sneak attacks at any moment. Who would have known... they were dead!

"Qingxue, you, you did this?" Ye Jifeng asked, incredulously.

Ye Qingxue crossed her arms over her chest, her chin proudly raised. "My shadow guard team did it! However, since you look down on them, Father, your daughter will just have to obediently follow your orders and disband the shadow guard team." Saying this, she waved her hand, indicating to dismiss Jiang Fan and the others.

"Wait! Hold on!" Ye Jifeng grew anxious. As he looked back at the shadow guards, his face was filled with intense admiration. "So young, yet so accomplished! Truly impressive! This City Lord apologizes for his earlier disrespect to all young heroes! Come, have the kitchen prepare a feast, and bring out this City Lord's finest wine! Tonight, I want to reward them handsomely!"

Ye Qingxue's face was full of triumph. The other shadow guards also felt flattered. They exchanged glances and revealed the truth: "Reporting to the City Lord, we are ashamed. These four individuals were actually slain by Shadow Guard One alone."