Chapter 46: Unattended Medical Holy Scripture

"Alone?"

Ye Jifeng couldn't help but look at the First Shadow Guard. To be honest, he still harbored some doubts that the four Blood Bat Palace cultists had been killed by them. After all, he knew how formidable Guardian Iron Eagle and the Black Blade Twin Heroes were. The so-called Shadow Guard unit, however, was merely a group of young, inexperienced geniuses. In terms of both strength and experience, they were far inferior to the ruthless Blood Bat Palace cultists. Yet, for his daughter's sake, he found it difficult to expose the truth directly.

Suddenly hearing that a single person had killed all of them, his suspicion turned into a sense of absurdity. If it had been said that the Shadow Guards collectively accomplished this, he would have pretended to believe it. But to attribute all the credit to one person was far too childish! This ridiculous charade needed to stop.

His gaze flickered. Suddenly, he flicked his finger like a sword, sweeping it towards Jiang Fan's chest.

Jiang Fan reflexively activated his movement technique, narrowly avoiding the sweep. Ye Jifeng's fingernail almost grazed Jiang Fan's collar.

"Huh!" Ye Jifeng exclaimed, slightly surprised. "You actually managed to dodge my attack?"

No sooner had he spoken than he immediately followed up with a palm strike. Jiang Fan instantly felt suffocating pressure, as if he were facing the branch master once more. He dared not be careless. He quickly pulled out an iron sword from a nearby Shadow Guard and thrust it forward in a "Seven Stars to the North" maneuver.

The immensely powerful sword move instantly broke through the palm strike, slipping past Ye Jifeng's fingers and directly threatening his face. The sudden sword strike startled Ye Jifeng. He hurriedly retracted his palm and retreated several steps.

The entire hall instantly fell silent!

The First Shadow Guard had actually forced back the top master of Lone Boat City? Ye Qingxue and the other Shadow Guards were momentarily stunned. Although they had heard from the Second Shadow Guard that the branch master had been injured by Jiang Fan, seeing it with their own eyes right now was an entirely different matter!

Ye Jifeng looked at his finger, which had been nicked by sword energy, then at the First Shadow Guard, his eyes flashing with surprise. "You... who are you?" he demanded. "When did my Lone Boat City gain such an unparalleled prodigy as you?"

He stared at the First Shadow Guard's mask, exceptionally eager to know who was beneath it.

Ye Qingxue snapped out of her daze and quickly stepped in front of Jiang Fan. "Father!" she said. "I promised the Shadow Guards I wouldn't reveal their identities. You're not allowed to privately investigate their true identities either!"

Ye Jifeng felt an itch of curiosity. But if he were to forcibly remove the First Shadow Guard's mask, it would both anger his daughter and offend this mysterious prodigy. "Alright!" Ye Jifeng conceded, but the amazement in his eyes lingered.

Based on that display alone, it was enough to prove that these Blood Bat Palace cultists were indeed killed by the First Shadow Guard.

"Truly, the younger generation surpasses the older!" he praised without hesitation. "Your future achievements will far surpass mine!"

Jiang Fan replied, "The City Lord is too kind."

Ye Qingxue's face was filled with pride. Today, the First Shadow Guard had brought her immense honor! "Father, I promised the Shadow Guards that if they made a great contribution, they could choose any book from our City Lord's Manor's Archives. Shadow Guard One has made such a significant contribution, can he go choose now?"

Hearing this, Ye Jifeng frowned slightly. "These... the City Lord's Manor's collection of books are not ordinary items; some originated from the Azure Cloud Sect. Just for a few Blood Bat Palace cultists, it might still not be enough."

Still not enough? Jiang Fan couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. He had been hoping to find treasures in the City Lord's Manor.

"Who said it was just these few cultists?" Ye Qingxue smiled mysteriously. "Shadow Guard One also encountered the branch master!"

"What?" Ye Jifeng was moved once more, the admiration on his face growing stronger. "Amazing! Truly amazing! To be able to retreat unscathed from the branch master! I once fought him, and his spiritual power is far superior to mine. You actually managed to escape from him!"

Ye Qingxue said with a half-smile, "Not only was Shadow Guard One unharmed, but he also blinded one of the branch master's eyes, significantly reducing his combat power."

Now, Ye Jifeng was truly shocked. "Is this true?" If it was, the branch master's threat would be greatly diminished.

Ye Qingxue affirmed, "Your daughter saw it with her own eyes, and the other Shadow Guards saw it too."

Knowing this was true, Ye Jifeng was overjoyed. He patted Jiang Fan's shoulder. "Well done! Well done! You've made a great contribution! Qingxue, take him to the City Lord's Manor's Archives. He can choose any book he wants!"

The other Shadow Guards looked on with immense envy. The City Lord's Manor's Archives—what a treasure trove! Amidst their envious gazes, Ye Qingxue led the First Shadow Guard to the Archives.

The City Lord's Manor's Archives were underground. There were three layers of massive doors, each protected by countless hidden guards and mechanisms. Even the Blood Bat Palace would find it difficult to force their way in.

Inside the Archives, Jiang Fan looked at the ancient texts tightly sealed in crystal chests, examining them one by one as if he had found priceless treasures. Nearly all were cultivation techniques, and there were even cultivation methods coveted by the outside world! However, they were all cultivation techniques below the Yellow-tier mid-grade. For Jiang Fan, they were no longer very useful.

At this moment, he noticed an ancient text sealed in purple crystal, hanging high from the ceiling. "Is this also a cultivation technique?" Jiang Fan asked in surprise.

Ye Qingxue shook her head. "No, it's the medical compendium of the world's foremost divine physician, the Undying Doctor."

Jiang Fan's eyes widened. "Are you sure?" The Undying Doctor was the most powerful medical authority in the entire Heavenly Secret Pavilion territory. He had treated countless illnesses in his life, and no patient had ever died under his care, earning him the nickname Undying Doctor. Would such a prominent figure's medical compendium be kept in a small place like Lone Boat City?

"I know what you're thinking. When I first found out, I was even more surprised than you," Ye Qingxue said with a wry smile as she took down the hanging crystal case. "This was the Undying Doctor's arrangement. He made hundreds of copies of his medical compendium and placed them in every city. His goal was to one day find a fated person to inherit his medical skills."

Jiang Fan had an incredulous look. "The Undying Doctor still needs a successor?" With his unparalleled medical skills, countless people would be scrambling to inherit his unique knowledge.

"You'll see for yourself," Ye Qingxue said with a wry smile. She unlocked the crystal case, took out the medical book titled *The Undying Medical Compendium*, and handed it to Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan took it, eagerly opened it, and couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Inside, he saw that every page was covered with dense needle holes, disordered and utterly without pattern, as if it were a child's prank.

"This is the Undying Doctor's legacy?" A huge question mark appeared in Jiang Fan's mind.

Ye Qingxue sighed. "So, now you know why it's been kept tucked away? If it weren't for the Undying Doctor arranging for it to be placed in Lone Boat City, we would have thrown it away long ago."

Jiang Fan was also bewildered. Was the Undying Doctor playing a trick on everyone?

Just as he thought this, a clear, refreshing sensation surged into his mind. The needle holes on the pages, from his perspective, began to twist strangely.