"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 bes our target for eradication!"


    "If the You n should dare attack you, we will decimate them without hesitation."


    "As for the Gan and Cai ns, 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 ns into fighting among themselves. Once the time is right, we''ll confront all three ns at once," he dered, 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 shed 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 n.


    "Haha," Liu Xiong burst into heartyughter. "That was all part of my strategic design."


    "Next, we will mount an intense counterattack, wiping out all three major factions on Three Mountains Ind. 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 Ind disrupting the equilibrium?


    "Excellent! I too am in favor of retaliating against Three Mountains Ind!" A flicker of contemtion crossed Gu Ran''s eyes as he nodded. "You don''t need to apany meter; 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 ns 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 toe your way," Liu Xiong urgently interjected, his hands animatedly gesturing. "You''ve juste through a major battle; it would be wise for you to rest here.


    I will handle the affairs at Three Mountains Ind."


    "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?"


    "Ththis 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 annihte many, umting enough cultivation base to enhance mybat 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 y them myself,'' Gu Ran mused darkly.


    Next, he directed his gaze toward the direction of Three Mountains Ind.


    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 vibrationsing from the ind.


    ''The You, Gan, and Cai ns have started their conflict!'' A surge of exhration and anticipation welled up in Gu Ran''s heart.


    Before, he and the Heavenly Gu Society had been in directbat with the You n, while the Gan and Cai ns 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 Ind!"


    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 ns of Three Mountains Ind 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 manipted the You n into a simr crisis solely by boosting his own power.''


    ''I''m d 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 ns to enhance his own capabilities.''


    ''Following that, Wu Qian would probably get involved due to a certain n, 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 be 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 n.


    Having already been weakened by Jiang Chen''s death warrior squad, which had eliminated two of their Inquiring Journey realm experts, the You n was at a significant disadvantagepared to thebined might of the Gan and Cai ns.


    Therefore, despite the You n''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 des, magical lights darting around at high speed.


    The ferocious conflict had already wrought considerable damage to the areas surrounding You n City.


    Just then, a series of rallying cries resounded from within You n City: "Attack!"


    "If the You n falls, we won''t fare well either!"


    "That''s right, I have deep ties with the You n. The Gan and Cai ns won''t spare me."


    "I took refuge in You n City precisely because I''ve angered the Gan and Cai ns. If the You n is defeated, my fate is sealed. I''m joining the fight against the Gan and Cai ns!" Momentster, several cultivators burst forth, reinforcing the You n''s ranks.


    These cultivators were mainly those with amicable rtions with the You n or outcasts who had antagonized the Gan and Cai ns.


    Their arrival offered a momentary respite to the You n''s dire situation.


    However,cking any Inquiring Journey realm cultivators among them, they remained considerably weak.


    Their contribution was but a drop in the ocean, serving only to briefly dy the You n''s inevitable downfall.


    "Ha-ha-ha!" Members of the Gan and Cai ns erupted in derangedughter.


    "Let the little rabbits of the You n tremble! Embrace your despair!"


    "Kill, kill, kill! ying you is as easy as slicing vegetables!" They continued their merciless ughter of the You n''s cultivators.


    A few victors among them refrained from immediately killing the younger female cultivators of the You n.


    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 n 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 Ind between two ns was far less appealing than having it all for oneself.


    Due to this growing mistrust, thebined efforts of Gan Ruifeng and Cai Xueqing became increasingly ineffective, allowing You Haiyin to hold out.


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