Chapter 245: Unfortunate Situation, Gu Ran's Conundrum

Abruptly, death warriors charged toward Gu Ran's position.

Their velocity far outpaced Gu Ran's, constrained as he was by his need to stay hidden.

In a mere moment, several death warriors at the Heavenly Origin realm positioned themselves in stealth near Gu Ran's destination.

Time proceeded at its measured pace.

Unnoticed, Gu Ran inched closer to his objective.

Simultaneously, the Feng Clan and their subordinates sped toward Vernal Horizon Lake, intending to tighten the perimeter of their search.

Within the radiant barrier of the Black Wood Island's Great Formation, numerous cultivators were positioned at its focal points.

They executed distinct formation strategies to sustain its function.

At one of the formation nodes sat a man of advanced years, his hair as white as frost, looking as though he was teetering on the precipice of life and death.

As cultivators advanced in age, their combat prowess declined.

Hence, Gu Ran had identified this elderly individual as his target for assassination.

'You're my target!'

'Perish!'

A lethal glint flashed in Gu Ran's eyes as he materialized abruptly, launching a deadly assault on the elderly man.

However, this elderly man had already been alerted by Jiang Chen's death warriors!

'So he has finally shown up!'

'Thank heavens someone warned me, or else, I would surely be in the afterlife by now!'

A silent gasp escaped the elderly man, his eyes filled with startled realization.

Simultaneously, he tapped into the formation's energy, conjuring a swift defensive light shield to deflect Gu Ran's assault.

He scrambled frantically to make his escape using every available tactic.

'He's exceedingly vigilant!'

Gu Ran was momentarily stunned, but he didn't halt his onslaught and continued his pursuit of the elderly man.

Crash!

With the power of his Inquiring Journey realm combat prowess, he ripped a fissure directly into the hastily erected defense.

Crash!

While the elderly man had managed to retreat a significant distance from his conjured light barrier just before the impact, he still bore the brunt of a fraction of Gu Ran's assault.

The force sent him careening backwards, beyond the periphery of the Black Wood Island's Great Formation.

He was grievously wounded and tottering on the edge of death!

The sheer intensity of the Inquiring Journey realm strike, even just a fragment of it, was not something a Heavenly Origin realm cultivator could casually endure.

"Hmph!"

"Obstruct me, and meet your doom!"

A chilling light flickered in Gu Ran's eyes as he prepared to penetrate the formation to finish off the elderly man.

Although he had previously resolved to conserve time and depart from Black Wood Island, the sight of the weak elderly man reignited the notion of vengeance and killing in his thoughts.

For as soon as he extinguished the man's life, he could absorb a portion of his cultivation base.

But just at that juncture.

"Gu Ran has appeared, annihilate him!"

Several Heavenly Origin realm cultivators launched assaults from every angle.

Among them, one cultivator momentarily exhibited the combat prowess of the Inquiring Journey realm.

The others all demonstrated battle power equivalent to a Half-step Inquiring Journey realm!

'What!'

'There are even cultivators in the vicinity who can exert Inquiring Journey realm combat power!'

'How...how can this be!'

Gu Ran gazed, astonished, at the cultivators converging to eliminate him from a distance.

He couldn't fathom how his luck could turn so sour!

Selecting a random direction for his escape, he had somehow stumbled upon numerous Heavenly Origin realm cultivators, some of whom could even muster the combat power of the Inquiring Journey realm!

And this was the third time!

Each scheme had ended in utter failure!

Gu Ran sincerely wished to rail against the heavens.

However, his precarious situation didn't permit such an indulgence as Jiang Chen's death warriors had already converged by his side!

'Darn it!'

Gu Ran couldn't afford to expose his back to the enemy and had no choice but to mount a defense.

Clang! Clang!

The battle was underway!

Amidst the blurring afterimages, Gu Ran, leaning on the potency of his bloodline and the secret art of the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect, held his ground against a host of adversaries.

Of course, a contributing factor was Jiang Chen's directive to his underlings not to end Gu Ran's life.

The objective was to instill deeper fear in Gu Ran, leading to a complete breakdown of his mental resilience.

'This won't work!'

'I can't carry on this way, or else, once the Feng Clan's forces encircle me, it will spell catastrophe!'

As the skirmish wore on, Gu Ran's anxiety escalated.

The periphery of his gaze ceaselessly scanned his surroundings, hunting for an escape route.

'It's time.'

'Any further delay, and the Heavenly Fate might trigger another upheaval.'

Jiang Chen pondered and instantly launched a soul attack on the avian demonic beast hovering in the sky.

In a split second.

"Roar!!"

The Inquiring Journey realm demonic beast in the sky unleashed a piercing cry, as though grievously wounded, writhing in intense agony.

'What's happening?'

Feng Hongbo was somewhat puzzled; he hadn't caused this!

However, spotting the opportunity, Feng Hongbo didn't overthink and promptly acted to slay the demonic beast!

Crash!

The gigantic carcass of the demonic beast plummeted into the sea, triggering towering waves.

'At last, it's slain!'

'Gu Ran, your doom is certain now!'

Thrilled, Feng Hongbo, who was previously informed about the true identity of 'Niu Qing', didn't bother with the remains of the demonic beast anymore and instantly soared toward Gu Ran's location!

Within moments, he reached the airspace above Gu Ran, casting his gaze down from an elevated position.

'How can this be!'

'Why did that demonic beast suddenly falter? Did it harbor a concealed ailment?'

'Now that old man Feng Hongbo is unoccupied, and with that Zhang San, there are two Inquiring Journey realm cultivators. Moreover, there are also three Heavenly Origin realm cultivators who can temporarily elevate their combat powers' realm!'

'What should I do? What should I do now!'

'...'

Gu Ran's thoughts spiraled into chaos, and unbeknownst to him, cold sweat began trickling down his forehead.

"Gu Ran!"

"Cease your resistance!"

"As long as you surrender your invisibility skill, we'll be in the same boat!"

"I won't just spare your life, but I'll also assist you in maintaining your cover, warding off the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect from pursuing you!"

Feng Hongbo didn't immediately spring into action.

Instead, he regarded Gu Ran from his superior position, exuding the confidence of a sure victor, "But if you decline, I have no choice but to subject you to some torment before delivering you to the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect in exchange for other advantages."

Now that he was privy to Gu Ran's actual identity, and even more importantly, the fact that Gu Ran was being sought by the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect, Feng Hongbo realized the significance.

And the manhunt was likely incited by that invisibility skill.

Once Feng Hongbo gained access to such an invisibility skill, there was a high chance he'd be marked as a target by the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect.

Hence, when he declared his intention to spare Gu Ran, he was sincere in his offer.

Gu Ran was no fool; he knew Feng Hongbo wasn't bluffing.

However, even if he desired to, he couldn't extract that invisibility skill.

It was a gift derived from his bloodline.

Moreover, Gu Ran wasn't prepared to surrender it.

Feng Hongbo was merely an Inquiring Journey realm cultivator...

If it weren't for his incredibly adverse luck this time, he, Gu Ran, would have already slain enough adversaries to ascend to the Inquiring Journey realm!

Reflecting on his unfortunate predicament, Gu Ran felt so disheartened that he wanted to tear his hair out.

"Gu Ran!"

"You have the span of three breaths to decide!"

Feng Hongbo glared icily at Gu Ran.

Just as Gu Ran was debating whether to feign cooperation...

Boom!

An incredibly potent aura surged over from afar, momentarily paused, then altered its course and raced towards them.

"This aura, it's from the Dao Palace realm great powerhouse!"

"The Dao Palace realm great powerhouse is on her way!"

"She must have been in transit and sensed the upheaval here!"

"..."

On Black Wood Island, everyone's expressions underwent a drastic transformation.

Especially Feng Hongbo, who was essentially attempting to assassinate Gu Ran and plunder from him, an act of extreme perfidy.

Everyone knew that this esteemed Dao Palace realm great powerhouse upheld stringent moral codes and had an unimpeachable character.

What could Feng Hongbo possibly do if she unearthed the reality?

In desperation, he began conjuring up potential alibis in his mind.

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