Chapter 256: Gu Ran's Disturbing Discovery

"Give it up, You Haiyin."

"We assure you a whole corpse!"

Gan Ruifeng's words resonated with ice-cold finality, mirroring his frigid expression.

His own injuries, a testament to You Haiyin's last-ditch defiance, marked his visage.

"You Haiyin!"

Cai Xueqing provoked him further. "Cease your resistance, and we pledge to preserve a lineage of the You Clan!"

For cultivator clans, safeguarding their bloodline transcended even the imperative of perpetuating cultivation practices.

After all, if the bloodline were extinguished, what value would the transfer of cultivation methods hold?

However.

"The offspring of the You Clan prefer death over submission!"

"Even if we're destined to perish today, we'll ensure you pay a devastating price!"

You Haiyin rejected capitulation. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his trembling voice echoing in obstinate rebellion.

"In that case, I'll annihilate every member of the You Clan, leaving no one behind!"

Murderous resolve flashed in Gan Ruifeng's eyes. He shifted his attention to Cai Xueqing. "Stop keeping your guard up against me. Let's end You Haiyin together!"

"Agreed!"

Cai Xueqing recognized the futility of the current situation, and thus, he consented with a nod.

However, just as the duo was about to eliminate You Haiyin...

Thrust!

Thrust!

Thrust!

One by one, shadowy figures materialized on the battlefield, savagely assaulting members of the Gan and Cai Clans!

Blades plunged into hearts from behind, their blood-soaked tips jutting starkly from chests.

The acrid smell of blood permeated the air, while expressions of agony twisted every face in sight.

"You Haiyin, ready to meet your end?"

The silhouette of Liu Xiong soared into the heavens, wreathed in boundless flames, he hurtled aggressively towards Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing!

"What!"

Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing's faces contorted in disbelief, brimming with shock. They couldn't trust their own eyes.

The Heavenly Gu Society, which had supposedly withdrawn, had inexplicably returned to the fray, and even more astonishingly, they were aiding the You Clan, their erstwhile mortal enemies! Could you imagine!?

'The Heavenly Gu Society!'

'They've actually rejoined the battle!'

You Haiyin, once despondent, saw this and his eyes suddenly sparked with hope.

He understood the Heavenly Gu Society wasn't returning to his aid out of sheer benevolence, but at this juncture, all he yearned for was for the Gan and Cai Clans to share his fate in death!!

As for anything else, he held no more concern, as he lacked the capacity to worry.

Indeed, it was a lamentable state.

At this moment, as Liu Xiong lunged from behind, a chilling sensation shot up the spines of Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing.

They instinctively pivoted sideways, bracing themselves for defense.

"Damn it! You intercept him!"

"Why don't you take him on!"

"..."

A rapid-fire argument ensued between Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing, neither willing to face Liu Xiong alone.

If one of them tackled Liu Xiong, while the other dealt with the debilitated You Haiyin, only for the victor to then align with Liu Xiong, what could they possibly do?

Wouldn't their doom be certain?

Left with no alternative, they had to abandon their pursuit of You Haiyin and collectively charge at Liu Xiong!

Deafening impacts reverberated.

An immediate, terrifying clash ensued, making the surrounding heaven and earth shudder.

The shattered clouds in the sky were swept away by the residual shockwaves.

"Gan Ruifeng, Cai Xueqing, you two treacherous dogs, don't flee!"

With a thunderous roar, You Haiyin mustered his strength to plunge into the fray.

Having exhausted his secret art, he recognized his inescapable doom.

His only desire now was to exact a heavier toll on Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing before his inevitable demise!

Suddenly, four formidable warriors were engaged in a battle reaching the heavens!

Simultaneously, both on the ground and in the adjacent aerial battlefield, Jiang Chen's death warriors unleashed a wild onslaught, ruthlessly massacring the cultivators of the Gan and Cai Clans.

These death warriors, specifically conditioned for combat, boasted strengths surpassing their peers.

Some could even momentarily tap into the power of the Inquiring Journey realm!

Soon, with the assistance of Jiang Chen's death warriors, the tide of the battle began to turn favorably for the You Clan's cultivators.

Jiang Chen surveyed the entire battlefield, his eyes alight as he scrutinized the supporting characters with the lowest Fate Value.

Then he relayed commands to the cultivators under his authority.

Death was rampant on the field, but those cultivators who held no ties with Gu Ran were mere bystanders.

Their premature or delayed demise wouldn't cause much impact, and even Jiang Chen couldn't see their panels.

What demanded Jiang Chen's attention were solely those supporting characters on the brink of contributing their cultivation base to Gu Ran.

Simultaneously, at a particular location on the battlefield.

'This time, I'll kill to my heart's delight!'

A thrill sparked in Gu Ran's eyes as he concealed his presence and zeroed in on a specific cultivator.

His target was an Early-stage Inquiring Journey realm cultivator from the Gan Clan.

Once marked as Gu Ran's quarry, the Fate Value of this supporting character cultivator plunged almost to nullity.

Suddenly, a booming noise echoed from above!

Immediately thereafter, a terrifying flame descended from the heavens, akin to a cataclysmic comet!

This was an attack initiated by Liu Xiong, deflected by Gan Ruifeng and ricocheted downwards!

Of course, this was merely an illusion. In actuality, it was still secretly manipulated by Liu Xiong, in accordance with Jiang Chen's directives.

At that moment, Gu Ran was poised to strike.

Suddenly, he sensed an overwhelmingly perilous threat from above. Every hair on his body bristled, his scalp tingling with an electrifying sensation.

The instant his divine sense swept over, his complexion altered dramatically, and he promptly retreated.

The very next moment.

Boom!

The terrifying fireball slammed the Inquiring Journey realm cultivator from the Gan Clan directly into the ground.

A radius of three hundred meters morphed into a colossal crater of molten lava, instantaneously extinguishing the life of the Inquiring Journey realm cultivator!

'Th-thi-this again! No―!!'

Gazing at the slowly solidifying lava, Gu Ran's pupils constricted dramatically, and he internally screamed in disbelief!

Once again, that accursed feeling of being spectacularly unfortunate had resurfaced!!

Gu Ran's lips quivered slightly, yet he was at a loss for words.

However, this time, he started to harbor a suspicion in his heart: was it possible that someone was secretly targeting him, and it wasn't merely him being tremendously unfortunate!

'If someone is indeed targeting me, then, they must be privy to the secret of my 'Endless Dark Blood Moon' bloodline!'

'They're thwarting my growth, yes, that's it!'

'More critically, they seem to discern whoever I target, rendering my concealment ability utterly useless against them!'

'This individual is petrifying, even my bloodline talent can't elude their detection!'

Gu Ran shivered all over, his eyes gradually reflecting a flicker of realization, accompanied by profound terror and apprehension.

After being manipulated by Jiang Chen time and again, he finally sensed something was off!

But promptly, more questions emerged.

'Who is targeting me!'

'Why single me out and stunt my growth!?'

'Since they're zeroing in on me, why not just assassinate me outright? I'm at my weakest stage now!'

'...'

The understanding in Gu Ran's eyes faded, supplanted by an expression of confusion that was beyond fathoming.

Ruminating alone would offer no aid in such a predicament.

At the moment, the paramount task was to slay and plunder cultivation bases.

'Attempt it once more!'

Baring his teeth in determination, Gu Ran selected a cultivator from the Cai Clan in the Inquiring Journey realm and surreptitiously advanced to assassinate him.

However, almost instantaneously, three death warriors from the Heavenly Gu Society unleashed their power-amplifying secret arts in unison.

Joined by an authentic Inquiring Journey realm cultivator, they subdued the cultivator from the Cai Clan who was also at the Inquiring Journey realm!

'Just as I suspected!'

'He genuinely can penetrate my stealth ability! Then he eliminates my targets, stifling my growth!'

'...'

Gu Ran's pupils constricted into minuscule dots, and he squinted his eyes, once again advancing towards another Inquiring Journey realm cultivator.

This time, it was merely a feint!

And then, as predicted, nothing out of the ordinary transpired.

The cultivator that he feigned to target did not meet death due to various factors.

'That mysterious entity didn't strike!'

'Why didn't they act! Could it be possible that they can even perceive whether my intentions are genuine or deceptive?!'

'They're actually formidable to such an extent!!'

Gu Ran trembled all over, his hair standing on end as though attempting to spring from his skin, sensing as if an oppressive shadow had enveloped him.

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