Chapter 268: Gu Ran's Foiled Ambitions
In the next instant, an otherworldly sensation coursed from his Fate Chasing Kite Pupils into his mind. It was as though he had gained a new, peculiar type of vision.
"Go this way!" He quickly turned his head, pinpointed a specific direction, and darted forward.
"Hold on, Holy Son Jiang Chen!" Wu Qian, ignoring the surrounding cultivator inheritances, immediately followed.
"Wu Qian, there may be a moment when I can't directly intervene. Could you assist me with some tasks?" Jiang Chen turned toward Wu Qian, seeking his help.
"Absolutely!" Without hesitation, Wu Qian nodded.
"Then, thank you." Jiang Chen smiled and gripped Wu Qian's arm. Together, they surged forward at maximum speed.
'This speed is unbelievable! Holy Son Jiang Chen's cultivation base exceeds all my expectations!' Wu Qian's initial understanding of Jiang Chen was completely transformed, filling him with not just awe but also deep respect for Jiang Chen.
Simultaneously, a resolve to loyally follow Jiang Chen's commands settled in his heart.
Now fully grasping the scope of Jiang Chen's abilities, Wu Qian chose to align himself with Jiang Chen without any reservations.
Subsequently, system notifications resounded in Jiang Chen's sea of consciousness.
[Ding! You've successfully swayed a potential ally of Protagonist Gu Ran. Gu Ran's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 1500 points!]
[Ding! You've accrued 3000 points of Villain Value!]
'Securing Wu Qian as an ally, not a bad result.' A subtle smile graced Jiang Chen's lips as he maintained his swift flight.
By this point, Jiang Chen's course was no longer directionless, and Heavenly Fate had minimal influence on him.
Soon enough, Gu Ran, Liu Xiong, and others came into the range of Jiang Chen's divine sense.
At that moment, Liu Xiong was already engaged in intense combat with a demonic cultivator at the Dao Comprehension realm.
The other demonic cultivators from the Burning Blaze Ancient Sect were unrelentingly surrounding Liu Xiong and launching their attacks.
As for Gu Ran, the reason they didn't target him was that he had successfully hidden his presence!
Currently, Gu Ran had adeptly concealed his presence, lingering on the outskirts and waiting for the perfect moment to ambush the unprepared demonic cultivators.
On the other hand, Liu Xiong was wholly engrossed in his intense battle, leaving him no time for distractions. Unlike Jiang Chen, he also lacked the foresight to anticipate Gu Ran's targets.
As a result, competing with Gu Ran for kills was not an option for him.
Within a short span, Gu Ran had already eliminated five or six demonic cultivators.
Those who had weaker cultivation bases found their cognitive abilities diminished once they became demonic cultivators, making it easy for Gu Ran to dispatch them with little resistance.
"There they are!" Jiang Chen announced to Wu Qian, coming to a halt about a hundred thousand kilometers away from Gu Ran.
"Ahead are two individuals. The one engaged in combat at the Dao Comprehension realm is Liu Xiong. The other, who is continuously carrying out assassinations, is Gu Ran."
"Both are under assault from demonic cultivators of the Burning Blaze Ancient Sect. Assist me in dealing with those demonic cultivators," he instructed.
"Understood!" Wu Qian nodded, propelling himself in the direction Jiang Chen had pointed out.
Unable to perceive the grand battle Jiang Chen had outlined, Wu Qian realized the extent of Jiang Chen's divine sense far exceeded his own.
In Wu Qian's estimation, Jiang Chen had already ascended to the status of a formidable powerhouse, likely at the Half-step Transcendence realm.
On the battlefield, the demonic cultivator at the Dao Comprehension realm watched with a lack of concern as his minions were steadily taken down by Gu Ran.
He was indifferent to the fate of his subordinates on one hand, and on the other, he considered Gu Ran merely an irritant, posing no substantial threat.
"Hehehe," he chuckled sinisterly, "Even if the young upstart can hide his presence, it doesn't matter. I'll deal with him soon enough."
"But first, I'll consume you, old man!" he declared with malicious intent.
However, if not for Jiang Chen's forthcoming intervention, this demon would have found himself gravely mistaken, humiliated, and ultimately vanquished by an ever-more formidable Gu Ran. Even posthumously, his cultivation base could have been up for grabs.
But just then, a furious roar echoed from a distance, "Who dares to be so audacious in my presence? From whence came this vile creature! Meet your demise!" The sheer force of the words reverberated like thunder from the heavens, shaking one to the core.
"What! A Dao Palace realm powerhouse! Impossible!" The demonic cultivator at the Dao Comprehension realm saw his earlier arrogance vanish, replaced by boundless terror.
In the next instant, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, reducing the Dao Comprehension realm demonic cultivator to ashes immediately.
"Many thanks, esteemed senior!" Knowing this expert had been sent by Jiang Chen, Liu Xiong promptly conveyed his gratitude with a smile.
"There's no need for thanks. Let's focus on eliminating these demonic cultivators first!" Wu Qian responded with a warm smile, showing none of the arrogance one might expect from a Dao Palace realm powerhouse.
"Agreed!" Liu Xiong quickly nodded and set about the task of vanquishing the remaining demonic cultivators.
As he watched the demonic cultivators of the Burning Blaze Ancient Sect fall one by one, Gu Ran felt an almost heart-wrenching sorrow. After all, it was his own cultivation base they were depleting.
'What the...' he thought in disbelief, 'How could this happen?'
'Why has a Dao Palace realm powerhouse suddenly appeared?'
'Weren't Liu Xiong and I supposed to be the only human cultivators in this Cave Heaven?'
'Could it be possible that the spatial channel we used isn't the only one? Have others entered from the outside?'
'Damn it, this infuriating feeling of being interrupted, could it be the work of the 'Heavenly Gu Society' again?'
'Is this Dao Palace realm powerhouse part of the Heavenly Gu Society? What rank could he possibly hold within it?' he speculated anxiously.
He had planned everything so meticulously.
While Liu Xiong was engaged in combat with the demonic cultivator of the Dao Comprehension realm, Gu Ran had plotted to capitalize on the ensuing chaos.
His initial plan was to eliminate the weaker underlings, thereby accumulating enough power to aid Liu Xiong in vanquishing the Dao Comprehension realm adversary.
Then, at an opportune moment when Liu Xiong least suspected it, Gu Ran would unleash a sudden assault, killing Liu Xiong and seizing the chance to take his head.
In Gu Ran's assessment, the absence of any other members of the Heavenly Gu Society in this mysterious Cave Heaven meant that disposing of Liu Xiong would grant him unfettered freedom and ultimate dominance.
Following that, Gu Ran planned to methodically exterminate all demonic beasts and cultivators within the Cave Heaven Secret Realm, rapidly ascending to the level of a Dao Palace realm powerhouse. This newfound status would empower him to challenge the Heavenly Gu Society head-on.
Alas, dreams often prove loftier than reality.
Before he could even dispatch many of the lesser minions, a Dao Palace realm powerhouse from the Heavenly Gu Society had already intervened...
As this reality sank in, Gu Ran felt sick to his stomach.
Those detestable individuals from the Heavenly Gu Society really knew no bounds.
However, he was left without options.
With his current level of strength falling short, Gu Ran had no choice but to hold back for now.
Channeling his frustration into renewed energy, he went all out, fervently exterminating the demonic cultivators of the Burning Blaze Ancient Sect.
In mere moments, the entire group of demonic cultivators from the Burning Blaze Ancient Sect had been completely annihilated!
"Wu Qian, stay with Liu Xiong and Gu Ran," Jiang Chen secretly transmitted his instructions. "Gu Ran is one of my juniors. Please ensure his safety and keep him out of dangerous situations."
"Rest assured, Holy Son Jiang Chen! Even if it costs me my life, I will protect Gu Ran from harm," Wu Qian quickly replied.
At this point, Wu Qian also caught sight of Gu Ran.
Oddly enough, upon setting eyes on this young man, Wu Qian felt an immediate sense of kinship, as if he had reconnected with a long-lost relative.
What Wu Qian failed to recognize, however, was that while his initial impression of Gu Ran was positive, the feeling was not mutual on Gu Ran's end.
For Gu Ran viewed Wu Qian as an enemy now that he had aligned himself with Jiang Chen, transitioning from being a possible ally to a clear adversary!
Heavenly Fate had already made Gu Ran vigilant, and Wu Qian's entrance had only further thwarted his master plan!
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