Chapter 254: Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing Take the Stage
"Indeed," declared another portly cultivator, donned in resplendent purple robes. His face was an emotional void as he fixed his gaze on You Haiyin, sizing him up like a man living on borrowed time. "From this day forth, Three Mountains Island will be our joint dominion."
"You dare, Gan Ruifeng! Cai Xueqing!" You Haiyin spat out, his voice laced with incredulity and contempt.
"I had a feeling you wouldn't let this opportunity pass," he sneered, his eyes narrowing into slits as he surveyed the gathered experts from the Gan and Cai Clans, his fists subtly trembling with restrained anger.
At this moment, the You Clan and the Heavenly Gu Society were reeling from a recent, bitter conflict, having sustained heavy casualties.
Two cultivators from the Inquiring Journey realm had been permanently taken out of the equation, leaving them in a compromised position and unable to maintain a balanced triad with the Gan and Cai Clans.
"Of course," Gan Ruifeng's smirk widened. "Where else would a once-in-a-millennium opportunity like this present itself?"
"You Haiyin, if you have any wisdom, remove your people from Three Mountains Island. We'll guarantee a respectful exit."
"Should you resist, don't think we'll show mercy." His demeanor suggested that he had You Haiyin entirely cornered.
"Out of the question!" You Haiyin's eyes blazed with fury as he glared at Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing. "Three Mountains Island is the ancestral land of my You Clan!"
"Your Gan and Cai Clans are nothing but interlopers."
"If you think I'll let the You Clan abandon Three Mountains Island, you're sorely mistaken!"
"So, you aim to take advantage of our weakened state? Fine, bring it on!" With these words, a palpable aura of murderous intent surged from You Haiyin, embodying a spirit of indomitable resistance. "Even if I, You Haiyin, meet my end today, rest assured you'll pay a heavy price!"
He was painfully aware of the reality: the Gan and Cai Clans had no intention of granting the You Clan leniency. They aimed for nothing less than complete annihilation.
If the You Clan were to capitulate now, they would truly be left with no hope.
"Are you sure, You Haiyin?" Cai Xueqing's eyes narrowed dangerously, a glint of malice flashing within them. "Don't express regret only after we've wiped out your You Clan!"
"Hahaha!" You Haiyin's laughter rang out wildly, resounding across the area. "Men of the You Clan, stand forth!"
"Are you prepared to forsake Three Mountains Island and become aimless wanderers?" he roared, his voice filled with disdain and challenge.
"We, the You Clan, reject that fate!" One by one, the cultivators of the You Clan were roused by the impassioned speech, their voices merging into a collective outcry of defiance.
Their eyes, many tinged with red, were aflame with the fervor of impending battle.
They too understood the dire predicament facing the You Clan.
At this critical juncture, only direct confrontation could possibly shift the balance of power.
To yield now would be to accept their roles as helpless prey, hastening their downfall.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only
"Excellent!" You Haiyin's voice thundered, resonating through the atmosphere. "Today, alongside you all, I, You Haiyin, will fight to the bitter end!"
On a colossal seafaring vessel, Liu Xiong and his elite squadron of death warriors were at rest, accompanied by Gu Ran.
"Who exactly are you?" Gu Ran directed a chilling question at Liu Xiong. "What is the purpose of the Heavenly Gu Society, and where do I fit into its plans? What are your intentions concerning Three Mountains Island?"
"Young Master Gu, I urge you to curb your anger," Liu Xiong responded.
"The Heavenly Gu Society is an organization founded in an era long past, and it has been patiently awaiting your appearance."
"The name 'Heavenly Gu Society' holds a deeper meaning: we are fundamentally your guardians."
"You possess a remarkable gift and an extraordinary aptitude for cultivation, but the path to greatness is fraught with danger." Following Jiang Chen's guidance, Liu Xiong began to spin a web of deception around Gu Ran.
Even though he himself was uncertain about the real purpose behind his words and actions toward Gu Ran, he obeyed without question, as it was a command from Jiang Chen.
"My guardians? A force waiting for me since time immemorial?" A puzzled expression settled on Gu Ran's face.
Though inwardly skeptical of this claim, he couldn't deny the rising sense of caution within him.
While the Heavenly Gu Society had indeed shown a protective stance towards him, his sharp intuition sensed an underlying motive.
They claimed that the Heavenly Gu Society had been founded long ago, solely in anticipation of his arrival.
This assertion resonated with Gu Ran for a particular reason.
That's because he had occasionally experienced flashes of fragmented memories, fleeting moments that felt ancient.
These memories seemed to emanate from epochs long past, almost as if they were indelibly imprinted into his bloodline.
Gu Ran even started to suspect that the Heavenly Gu Society might have originated in that ancient era, perhaps keeping tabs on the 'Endless Dark Blood Moon' bloodline ever since.
Given the two powerful, yet conflicting bloodlines he inherently possessed, a multitude of questions began to swirl within him.
However, lacking concrete evidence, he could do nothing but temporarily set these doubts aside.
Still, Gu Ran was convinced that the truth would eventually reveal itself.
The more he found himself in combat, the more his 'Endless Dark Blood Moon' bloodline became agitated, leading to an increasing frequency and clarity of those elusive memory flashes.
Once enough fragments of memory were collected and assembled, the truth would inevitably begin to emerge.
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The first protagonist, armed with a system, takes the stage.
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