Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate-Chapter 306: The Hidden Hand

Since the beginning, Gu Ran’s Heavenly Fate Value had dropped by more than twenty-five thousand. Now, only three thousand eight hundred eighty-eight points remained.

For Jiang Chen, the point at which he could act—the moment when the protagonist could be killed—was set at one-tenth of the Black Heavenly Fate Value. This number was three thousand four hundred fifty-three points.

That left only a small margin: just four hundred thirty-five Heavenly Fate Value points stood between Gu Ran and his fate. Once that gap closed, Jiang Chen could strike.

If Jiang Chen could stop things from going the way they were heading, it would lower Gu Ran’s Heavenly Fate Value even more. Even if it didn’t reach the critical threshold, it would be dangerously close.

In short, Gu Ran was standing before Jiang Chen with little chance to defend himself.

So, Jiang Chen decided to take control of the situation.

Although he had always been a figure working from the shadows, he now felt the need to take center stage.

He reached out with his divine sense to inform the Purple Heaven Holy Land team about what was happening.

The news surprised the cultivators from the Purple Heaven Holy Land. But with Jiang Chen’s help, they stayed calm and careful, making sure not to reveal their plans to their enemy.

Time continued to pass.

The five major squads began to spread out, creating larger gaps between them, making it harder for them to help each other quickly.

Meanwhile, Gu Ran moved smoothly between the teams, watching as the spaces between them grew. He saw an opening and got ready to attack.

"Die for me!" Gu Ran whispered, his steps silent. He targeted the slowest cultivator in the group—Mao Lun of the Purple Heaven Holy Land. With his eyes fixed on the target, he launched his attack.

Swish!

He moved as though he was bending the very space around him, suddenly appearing behind Mao Lun, his weapon ready for a deadly strike.

In Gu Ran’s vision, the sharp edge of his weapon was just a hair’s breadth from Mao Lun’s robes. He could almost feel it piercing the heart, ready to end his life.

But then, with a simple movement—a flick of Jiang Chen’s finger—a command rang out: "Rise!"

To Gu Ran’s shock, a protective shield appeared around Mao Lun.

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Boom!

Gu Ran’s powerful attack hit the shield, but to his disbelief, it didn’t even shake, let alone break through it.

How... How is this possible? How did he react so fast? And that defense... Gu Ran thought, stunned. He had chosen Mao Lun as the weakest link, but now his confident strike had failed.

Suddenly, the air filled with cries of alarm.

"Quickly!"

"That bastard’s shown himself!"

"How dare he attack one of our own? Today, he won’t just die. We’ll make him suffer a thousand tortures until he begs for the end!"

One by one, the cultivators rushed toward Gu Ran, their goal clear: surround him and destroy him.

But Gu Ran’s response was unexpected. Instead of fleeing, he charged straight into the thickest part of the group, hiding himself among them.

His plan was simple: create doubt by making them worry they might harm one of their own.

As he had anticipated, members of both the Purple Heaven Holy Land and the Golden Proud Cult hesitated, afraid of striking an ally.

Damn it! Gu Ran thought, hiding his presence as he watched the alert cultivators search around him. His face showed despair, and his heart screamed silently with every beat. Why? Why?!

Why, at such a perfect moment, did I fail again?

Is this cursed feeling because of someone from the Heavenly Gu Society getting in my way?

But Liu Xiong isn’t even on this team!

Could it be... could the whole Purple Heaven Holy Land be under the control of that person?

How? How can such a powerful force even exist on the Immortal Martial Continent?

No, something feels wrong. That defense earlier... it wasn’t something a mere Dao Comprehension realm cultivator could do.

There’s a hidden power watching from the shadows, someone at least in the Dao Palace realm!

And this method of stopping me from killing... the one who acted just now must be that mysterious figure from the Heavenly Gu Society, the same one who took the inheritance!

Damn him! He’s taken everything from me, aargh!

His mind was close to breaking, consumed by fury and bitterness.

At that moment, Gu Ran was overwhelmed by the feeling of being completely controlled, as if he were drowning in a sea of helplessness, with waves of despair threatening to pull him under.

But despite it all, Gu Ran’s spirit did not break.

That bastard! If you won’t end me, then I’ll keep going. Let’s see how many times you can stop me! With clenched teeth and steady breaths, Gu Ran moved quietly toward a Golden Proud Cult cultivator.

So now you’re targeting the Golden Proud Cult? Jiang Chen noted the dropping Fate Value of a Golden Proud Cult member named Te Dan and couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

In a flash, Gu Ran appeared from the shadows, moving so quickly that even the Dao Comprehension realm cultivators of the Golden Proud Cult were caught by surprise.

But just as Gu Ran’s weapon was about to strike Te Dan, a protective shield of light suddenly formed around him, blocking the attack.

Not giving up, Gu Ran’s voice rang out with anger. "Again!"

Without hesitation, he turned his deadly intent toward another target.

Once again, though, his strike was repelled.

"Argh! Damn you, Heavenly Gu Society! And you, the coward hiding in the shadows—if you’re bold enough to stop my strikes, then come face me!" Gu Ran’s fury echoed around him, but it did nothing to stop his relentless attempts to kill.

He seemed to have lost all sense of reason, moving in a constant cycle of hiding, striking, retreating, and striking again.

But every one of his attacks was effortlessly blocked by Jiang Chen.

The Golden Proud Cult members watched in confusion, unable to understand what was happening.

For those caught in Gu Ran’s sights, it felt almost unreal. They could feel the cold grip of death closing in on them, only to be protected by an unseen force, an experience that was both terrifying and strangely thrilling.

"Give up, Gu Ran. I won’t let you win," Jiang Chen’s calm voice rang out as his divine sense locked onto Gu Ran.

At that moment, a wave of intense danger slammed into Gu Ran. His body went stiff, every nerve screaming in alarm.

The sensation was chillingly familiar. It was the same feeling Gu Ran had experienced at the Blackwood Island seas, the moment he became the target of that mysterious Dao Palace realm powerhouse.

"It’s you! You’ve been following me, stopping me from growing stronger from the shadows!" Stopping his attacks, Gu Ran stepped forward and shouted into the empty sky in fury.

At that instant, a trio of system notifications echoed within Jiang Chen’s sea of consciousness.

[Ding! You’ve successfully altered the plot; Protagonist Gu Ran’s Heavenly Fate Value has been reduced by 1000 points!]

[Ding! You’ve earned 2000 Villain Value points!]

[Ding! Protagonist Gu Ran’s Heavenly Fate Value has dropped below your kill threshold. You are now free to execute Gu Ran without facing the Heavenly Fate’s backlash.]

Watching Gu Ran, whose face was twisted in pain and distress, Jiang Chen’s voice held a note of triumph. "Yes, it’s been me all along. From the very start to this moment, it’s always been me."