Martial Saint with Passives

Jiang Che hadn’t hidden Xiaohei from Jiang Ling when he hatched it, so she knew the creature was her brother’s pet.

However, Jiang Che later sent Xiaohei out on patrols, so she rarely saw it.

COO—

Xiaohei let out a low, affectionate coo and even nudged its head against her palm.

"You’re so sweet, Xiaohei!"

Finally, the first smile since she’d survived the ordeal appeared on Jiang Ling’s face, her eyes filled with affection.

Watching his sister bond with Xiaohei, Jiang Che’s heart gradually calmed.

’No matter what...’

’I must protect this hard-won tranquility!’

...

The demonic chaos that had swept through Cangzhou Prefecture was finally, albeit barely, suppressed after the leaders of the various sects returned with lightning speed.

But when the sects tallied their losses in the aftermath, the results were horrifying.

Among the Three Great Sects:

The Taiyuan Sect’s Alchemy Room was destroyed, many precious Elixir Pills were lost, and dozens of elders and disciples were killed or injured!

The Profound Sound Sect had also suffered greatly.

Their Scripture Pavilion, which housed the sect’s Cultivation Technique Manuals, was looted and left completely empty.

Many disciples and the elders who had stayed behind to defend the sect also tragically died in the fighting.

As for the Cangyun Sect, dozens of disciples and elders were killed in the surprise attack, and several important Medicinal Herb Gardens were destroyed.

If the Three Great Sects had fared so poorly, the situation for the other powers was even more dire.

Second-tier sects like the Heaven-Sundering Sect and the Feiyun Sect all suffered heavy losses among their Core Disciples.

As for the few weaker, smaller sects whose experts had all been away, they couldn’t even mount a proper defense. The Demon Sect seized the opportunity and annihilated them, wiping out their entire sect.

Overnight, they were utterly destroyed, leaving no one alive. Their lineages were extinguished.

It could be said that this demonic chaos dealt an unprecedented, devastating blow to the righteous side of the Cangzhou Martial World.

Grief and despair swept through the Cangzhou Martial World.

At the same time, a furious wave of blame and demands for accountability began to swell.

The blame was aimed squarely at the Demon Extermination Alliance and its founder: the Vice Sect Leader of the Cangyun Sect, Xie Songnian!

"Incompetent! A useless freeloader!"

"Xie Songnian has to answer for this!"

"What bullshit ’extermination campaign’?! He was clearly in league with the Demon Sect, luring us all away on purpose!"

"That’s right! Put him on trial! He’s the mole! He colluded with the Demon Sect!"

In just a few days, similar accusations and suspicions spread like wildfire through every street and alley of Cangzhou Prefecture.

Countless Martial Artists who had lost family and fellow sect members in the demonic chaos spontaneously gathered to demand that Xie Songnian be severely punished and that justice be served.

Just as this wave of accusations intensified and the entire Cangzhou Martial World teetered on the brink of chaotic infighting...

The General’s Mansion finally issued a public announcement.

General Qin Fuhu announced that, on the grounds of the Demon Extermination Alliance’s incompetence, which led to catastrophic losses for Cangzhou Prefecture, he would personally intervene and launch a full-scale investigation into the entire affair.

On the afternoon the announcement was made, an investigative team was formed from the Iron Eagle Guard—the most elite unit of the Qilin Army, specializing in interrogation and oversight. Led by General Long Xiang himself, they immediately began a swift and decisive investigation.

Subsequently, summons were issued from headquarters and sent to all the major sects.

Everyone involved in the initial ’extermination campaign,’ starting with Xie Songnian, was ordered to report to headquarters for questioning immediately, regardless of their status.

...

News of the General’s Mansion’s intervention spread through every corner of the Cangyun Sect as if it had wings.

Disciples everywhere broke into excited discussion, and spirits were lifted.

When Jiang Che heard the news, a great weight was lifted from his heart.

He immediately rushed to Yunhai Courtyard to see his master, Xu Qingshan.

When he arrived at Yunhai Courtyard, he found that the Martial Arts Arena, usually so bustling and lively, was now strangely quiet.

There were noticeably fewer disciples than before the demonic chaos, and an indescribable gloom hung in the air.

Jiang Che’s heart sank. He suspected that Yunhai Courtyard must have lost some of its disciples as well.

He then crossed the Martial Arts Arena and went to his master’s meditation chamber.

Xu Qingshan was sitting alone by the window, engrossed in an ancient text.

"Master," Jiang Che said, bowing.

Xu Qingshan set down the ancient text and nodded with a smile, though he looked somewhat weary.

Jiang Che said in a low voice, "Master, the General’s Mansion has opened an investigation. That old dog Xie Songnian is finished this time! I’ve... had several conflicts with him and his son, Xie Xingwen, and I’ve even personally witnessed some of his dealings with the Demon Sect. If the investigators need a witness, I am willing to testify at any time!"

Xu Qingshan shook his head.

"You don’t need to get involved. I already told the Sect Leader everything you know. For some time now, I have also been secretly gathering concrete evidence of his collusion with the Demon Sect. Yesterday, I submitted all of it to the investigation team from the General’s Mansion."

"With this evidence, he is doomed beyond redemption. The matter is settled. There’s no need for you to put yourself in danger."

Hearing that his master had already planned everything out, Jiang Che’s mind was finally at ease.

"I understand."

He looked at his master, then glanced out the window at the somewhat empty Martial Arts Arena and couldn’t help but ask:

"Master, our courtyard... this time..."

Xu Qingshan fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "Three dead, seven seriously injured."

Jiang Che’s heart clenched painfully.

Although he had expected it, hearing the numbers for himself still caused an irrepressible wave of anger and hatred to well up inside him.