Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate-Chapter 305: Fate Favors the Protagonist

Hearing this, the cultivator from the Golden Proud Cult felt his face twitch in frustration but refused to back down. With the same unwavering confidence, he said, "My secret art is no weaker than those used by Dao Palace realm experts. It has a vast tracking range. Of the five directions, four point to places he’s already been. The last one shows where he is right now."

A voice chimed in from the crowd of Golden Proud Cult disciples, eager to support him. "That makes sense! That brat won’t escape us this time."

"With the strength we have now, splitting into five teams will still leave us more than capable of capturing that rogue!"

"Exactly! We’ll divide into five groups, each heading in one direction. Let’s see who gets lucky and catches the little thief first!"

After some quick discussion, the cultivators from both the Golden Proud Cult and the Purple Heaven Holy Land agreed on the plan and decided to go ahead with it.

High above them, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but twitch his lips in amusement.

He had been wondering why their attention had suddenly shifted to Gu Ran. Now he understood—it was all thanks to the mysterious workings of Heavenly Fate!

Gu Ran had originally intended to take action right away.

However, if he did, he would risk losing his most important advantage—his Protagonist Status. This was something Heavenly Fate definitely wouldn’t allow.

Powerful figures like Ji Mingxiu at the Dao Palace realm had already moved their battles elsewhere. The strongest remaining opponents were only at the Dao Comprehension realm.

Considering the recent truce between the two factions, their defenses were tighter than ever.

To Gu Ran, these cultivators still posed a serious threat. Any reckless move could be disastrous.

And so, under the quiet manipulation of Heavenly Fate, this unexpected situation arose!

It was a perfect plan—solving two problems at once!

The first part of the plan was the decision by the cultivators of the Golden Proud Cult and the Purple Heaven Holy Land to hunt down and eliminate Gu Ran. This move painted Gu Ran’s deeds in a noble light, ensuring his Protagonist Status remained intact.

The second part? The fact that these cultivators had split into five separate teams. This strategy significantly reduced the risks for Gu Ran and greatly increased his chances of victory.

Under the favor of Heavenly Fate, Jiang Chen could already foresee Gu Ran’s path to success. Gu Ran would likely defeat one of the smaller teams first, which would allow him to break through to the Dao Comprehension realm.

After that, he would pick off the remaining groups one by one. Once they were dealt with, advancing to the Dao Palace realm would be his next milestone.

Beyond that, Gu Ran might even take advantage of the chaos in the massive battle between Ji Mingxiu’s faction and Ji Junhao’s side. If the opportunity arose, he could ambush a Dao Palace realm powerhouse and reap incredible rewards.

If Gu Ran managed to eliminate all twelve Dao Palace realm powerhouses, he would be on the verge of reaching the Transcendence realm—or perhaps even achieve it outright.

With this unexpected turn of events, Gu Ran had masterfully turned the odds in his favor.

Once he emerged from the Doomsday Cave Heaven, Gu Ran would take swift action to crush the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect. Not only would this settle old grudges, but it would also silence anyone who doubted him.

Next, he could participate in the continental conference to vie for the ultimate prodigy title. There, he’d shock everyone by defeating Jiang Chen, the so-called big boss, forcing the world to recognize his unparalleled power.

Following that, he’d lead the charge against the demon race, securing a glorious victory. From there, his journey would take him to the Prosperous Stone Immortal Star, opening a new chapter on a grander stage.

But this flawless path would only stay intact if Jiang Chen chose not to interfere.

Heavenly Fate, how clever, truly clever! Jiang Chen thought with a quiet chuckle, shaking his head.

"But," he murmured with a smirk, "as I always say, I have more than one trick up my sleeve!"

At the same time, as Gu Ran watched the heated discussions among the members of the Golden Proud Cult and the Purple Heaven Holy Land, he found himself momentarily stunned.

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Not long ago, he had wrestled with dark thoughts—considering abandoning his values, casting aside his moral compass, and turning into someone ready to sow chaos.

But now, what was unfolding before his eyes?

Both the Purple Heaven Holy Land and the Golden Proud Cult were determined to hunt him down!

This sudden twist felt like a heavy weight being lifted off his shoulders.

This is perfect! Gu Ran thought, unable to hide his delight. It’s even better than I expected!

"If all of you are so eager to come after me," he muttered to himself, a sharp glint in his eyes, "then don’t blame me for ignoring any bonds of shared humanity."

It was as if the dark clouds over his heart had parted, revealing a clear, blue sky. His mood lifted dramatically.

By this time, the Golden Proud Cult and the Purple Heaven Holy Land had finalized their plan. The cultivators were prepared to split into groups and pursue Gu Ran.

But just before they set off, Liu Xiong and the other Dao Comprehension realm powerhouses from the Purple Heaven Holy Land felt a ripple in their sea of consciousness—a divine sense transmission from Jiang Chen.

"Elders," Jiang Chen’s calm yet commanding voice echoed in their minds, "you may split up to chase Gu Ran, but make sure to mix with the members of the Golden Proud Cult."

"After all, can we fully trust that Golden Proud Cult cultivator’s claims? What if his directions are meant to mislead us?"

"And remember, dividing into smaller groups makes ambushes more likely. Gu Ran could set traps, and the Golden Proud Cult might walk into them as well. Stay alert. I’ll warn you when it happens."

Upon hearing Jiang Chen’s transmission, Liu Xiong and the other Dao Comprehension realm cultivators from the Purple Heaven Holy Land exchanged knowing looks. They quietly nodded in agreement.

"Let’s move!" urged a Dao Comprehension realm cultivator from the Golden Proud Cult. "We need to split up and track that sneaky rat before he gets too far away!"

"Hold on," a Dao Comprehension realm Elder from the Purple Heaven Holy Land interjected, stepping forward. "I propose we combine forces from both sides and then divide into five teams."

This suggestion stirred a wave of surprise among the Golden Proud Cult members. They exchanged uncertain glances but couldn’t deny the logic behind the Elder’s words.

After all, if the roles were reversed, the Golden Proud Cult would likely feel the same distrust.

"Very well," a prominent Dao Comprehension realm cultivator from the Golden Proud Cult finally spoke up. "Each of our sects will form five groups. Then, we’ll pair them one-to-one to create stronger teams. Once we catch that thief, we’ll divide the rewards based on individual contributions. Does that sound reasonable?"

"Agreed!" came the unified response from the Purple Heaven Holy Land cultivators, their voices ringing with immediate approval.

The logic behind the plan was straightforward, and with Liu Xiong choosing to stay silent, Gu Ran remained unaware of the subtle influence of the Heavenly Gu Society’s leader.

Meanwhile, Gu Ran, the protagonist, was brimming with excitement.

In his mind, he pictured ambushing members of the two powerhouse factions, defeating them one by one, and rapidly increasing his own strength in the process.

At that very moment, the two major forces, the Golden Proud Cult and the Purple Heaven Holy Land, efficiently split and merged into five distinct teams.

Each team was a mix of members from both sects, though the Golden Proud Cult always held the majority in every group.

"Let’s move!" the Golden Proud Cult cultivator skilled in the secret art called out, taking the lead as his group headed in their assigned direction.

The remaining four teams relied on a temporary spell. The cultivator had infused this spell into their artifacts, allowing each group to follow their designated paths with ease.

Better stay clear of Liu Xiong’s team. I should go after the group with the most weaklings first, Gu Ran thought, his sharp gaze scanning the five splitting teams. A smirk tugged at his lips as he made his decision. That’s the one. Without hesitation, he began tailing his target.

At the same time, high above, Jiang Chen’s lips curved into a subtle smile as he observed the team whose Fate Value had started to diminish. So, you’ve made your choice? Get ready to experience once more what it feels like to be toyed with by me.

Within that chosen team was the unlucky designated inheritor from the Purple Heaven Holy Land.

Perhaps this is a karmic retribution for trying to steal the protagonist’s opportunities, Jiang Chen mused, his appreciation for his System’s protection growing even stronger.

Time marched on.

The five teams, burdened by the slower pace of their Inquiring Journey realm members, made sluggish progress.

Gu Ran had no trouble keeping up. He trailed them stealthily, his movements expertly concealed, slipping through unnoticed as he positioned himself for his ambush.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen hovered high in the sky, hidden from sight. As he watched the unfolding events below, a faint, knowing smile crossed his face. Gu Ran, once this plot runs its course, it might just mark the end of your story. His sharp eyes tracked the teams below, radiating quiet confidence.