NOVEL NEXT Chapter 255: The Battle for Three Mountains Island
"Young Master Gu," Liu Xiong began, adhering to Jiang Chen's instructions, "the Heavenly Gu Society was established to serve as your protective force."
"Anyone who opposes you, or obstructs you, instantly becomes our target for eradication!"
"If the You Clan should dare attack you, we will decimate them without hesitation."
"As for the Gan and Cai Clans, who scheme behind the scenes to exploit the situation for their benefit, they also warrant destruction!"
"Although you may have seen me retreat earlier, it was merely a feigned defeat. The goal was to bait the You, Gan, and Cai Clans into fighting among themselves. Once the time is right, we'll confront all three clans at once," he declared, his demeanor resolute and his performance utterly convincing.
After all, for a seasoned cultivator like him who had lived through many years, reciting scripted lines was hardly a challenge, was it?
"Oh?" A light of understanding flashed across Gu Ran's face. "I was puzzled why you, previously so full of confidence, suddenly retreated!" His heart was tinged with a flicker of irritation.
Liu Xiong's feigned retreat had cost him the opportunity to eliminate the formidable Inquiring Journey realm warriors from the You Clan.
"Haha," Liu Xiong burst into hearty laughter. "That was all part of my strategic design."
"Next, we will mount an intense counterattack, wiping out all three major factions on Three Mountains Island. In doing so, we'll undoubtedly secure a wealth of cultivation resources," he confidently patted his chest.
After all, under the watchful eye of the Esteemed Holy Son, what could they possibly fear from a mere Three Mountains Island disrupting the equilibrium?
"Excellent! I too am in favor of retaliating against Three Mountains Island!" A flicker of contemplation crossed Gu Ran's eyes as he nodded. "You don't need to accompany me later; I wish to fight on my own."
Having recently ascended to the Early-stage Inquiring Journey realm, he was intoxicated by the electrifying sensation and keen to hasten his next breakthrough.
Naturally, he aimed to eliminate the You, Gan, and Cai Clans to absorb their cultivation base, as they deserved their doom.
"Absolutely not, Young Master Gu! Even if it costs us our lives, we cannot allow even the slightest harm to come your way," Liu Xiong urgently interjected, his hands animatedly gesturing. "You've just come through a major battle; it would be wise for you to rest here. I will handle the affairs at Three Mountains Island."
"No, I wish to go! I want to fight on my own!" Gu Ran retorted, "Aren't you all my protectors? Are you going to ignore my orders?"
"Th—this is... Very well, then," Liu Xiong reluctantly agreed, nodding his head. "But rest assured, I will always keep a close watch on your situation."
"If anything were to happen to you, the higher-ups would never forgive me," he added cautiously.
This aligned perfectly with Jiang Chen's intentions. Pressuring Gu Ran to stay back, especially given the influence of Heavenly Fate, was not what Jiang Chen sought.
He needed Gu Ran to be directly involved in the unfolding events to more efficiently deplete his Heavenly Fate Value!
"Stay out of my affairs," Gu Ran nodded subtly, detecting a hint of resolve in Liu Xiong's voice.
While the Heavenly Gu Society seemed to hold him in high regard and constantly ensured his well-being, he was aware that supervision and control lurked beneath the surface.
This only intensified Gu Ran's urge to eliminate Liu Xiong and his associates.
His face remained impassive, but internally, he sneered continuously. 'When the battle among the four factions breaks out, I'll certainly have the opportunity to annihilate many, accumulating enough cultivation base to enhance my combat power,' he thought.
'Then, I'll deal with the members of the Heavenly Gu Society stationed here, all at once.'
'They call themselves my guardians; I look forward to their reaction when I slay them myself,' Gu Ran mused darkly.
Next, he directed his gaze toward the direction of Three Mountains Island.
His divine sense, having ascended to the Inquiring Journey realm, now covered an area within a one-hundred-thousand-meter radius.
Even though the battlefield was out of sight, he could sense residual battle vibrations coming from the island.
'The You, Gan, and Cai Clans have started their conflict!' A surge of exhilaration and anticipation welled up in Gu Ran's heart.
Before, he and the Heavenly Gu Society had been in direct combat with the You Clan, while the Gan and Cai Clans took the opportunity to act as opportunistic third parties.
Now, however, the tables had turned; he and the Heavenly Gu Society were the ones capitalizing on the situation!
"The conflict has only just begun," Liu Xiong announced, his aura brimming with deadly intent. "When the time is right, we'll strike back at Three Mountains Island!"
Gu Ran signaled his agreement with a subtle nod.
...
High above the sea, Jiang Chen surveyed the battlefield from his elevated vantage point, a flurry of thoughts racing through his mind.
'The three dominant clans of Three Mountains Island have started their internal strife,' he pondered.
'This development likely existed in the original storyline, influenced by Gu Ran's Heavenly Fate Value as well.'
'Gu Ran could have manipulated the You Clan into a similar crisis solely by boosting his own power.'
'I'm glad I stepped in to prevent him from taking all the credit. Doing this on his own is quite noteworthy,' Jiang Chen considered.
'If we follow the original plot, Gu Ran should be exploiting the current unrest, taking out the experts of the three clans to enhance his own capabilities.'
'Following that, Wu Qian would probably get involved due to a certain clan, sparking a new chain of events.'
'Gu Ran has already advanced to the Inquiring Journey realm. His rate of progression is genuinely breathtaking. If left unchecked, he might even surpass me, defy all expectations, and become an unparalleled prodigy in the Immortal Martial Continent,' he mused apprehensively.
...
On the battlefield, Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing were seen cornering You Haiyin in a two-on-one assault!
The other experts had started to encircle and suppress the remaining members of the You Clan.
Having already been weakened by Jiang Chen's death warrior squad, which had eliminated two of their Inquiring Journey realm experts, the You Clan was at a significant disadvantage compared to the combined might of the Gan and Cai Clans.
Therefore, despite the You Clan's cultivators showing remarkable courage and fearlessness, they couldn't avoid being utterly overwhelmed.
As time marched relentlessly forward, the battlefield was alive with flickering sword-like radiance and shadowy blades, magical lights darting around at high speed.
The ferocious conflict had already wrought considerable damage to the areas surrounding You Clan City.
Just then, a series of rallying cries resounded from within You Clan City: "Attack!"
"If the You Clan falls, we won't fare well either!"
"That's right, I have deep ties with the You Clan. The Gan and Cai Clans won't spare me."
"I took refuge in You Clan City precisely because I've angered the Gan and Cai Clans. If the You Clan is defeated, my fate is sealed. I'm joining the fight against the Gan and Cai Clans!" Moments later, several cultivators burst forth, reinforcing the You Clan's ranks.
These cultivators were mainly those with amicable relations with the You Clan or outcasts who had antagonized the Gan and Cai Clans.
Their arrival offered a momentary respite to the You Clan's dire situation.
However, lacking any Inquiring Journey realm cultivators among them, they remained considerably weak.
Their contribution was but a drop in the ocean, serving only to briefly delay the You Clan's inevitable downfall.
"Ha-ha-ha!" Members of the Gan and Cai Clans erupted in deranged laughter.
"Let the little rabbits of the You Clan tremble! Embrace your despair!"
"Kill, kill, kill! Slaying you is as easy as slicing vegetables!" They continued their merciless slaughter of the You Clan's cultivators.
A few victors among them refrained from immediately killing the younger female cultivators of the You Clan.
Fueled by ignoble desires, they chose to restrain them, intending to 'deal with' their captives after the battle concluded.
As time relentlessly progressed, the situation remained woefully one-sided.
From its highest leaders to the rank and file, the You Clan was disintegrating.
High above, You Haiyin was soaked in blood, his face etched with acute pain and hopelessness.
He had reached the limits of his endurance.
Two factors had enabled him to hold on until now: first, a secret art that consumed his lifespan, and second, a diminishing trust between Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing. The closer You Haiyin came to his end, the less these two allies trusted one another.
Each was wary that the other might seize the chance for a treacherous strike.
After all, dividing Three Mountains Island between two clans was far less appealing than having it all for oneself.
Due to this growing mistrust, the combined efforts of Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing became increasingly ineffective, allowing You Haiyin to hold out.
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The first protagonist, armed with a system, takes the stage.
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