novelE2F Chapter 263: The Curtain Falls on Blackwood Island
Chapter 263: The Curtain Falls on Blackwood Island
At the same time, Gu Ran, cornered and tense, thought in surprise,
It’s that mysterious Dao Palace realm powerhouse! I can’t believe she’s passing through here!
Is she heading toward the source of the last demonic beast tide?
he wondered, his thoughts racing.
Before he could make sense of the situation, a sudden, piercing gaze landed on him. Gu Ran’s body stiffened, and a chill ran down his spine. His heart pounded wildly as a deep sense of danger took hold.
But alongside his unease, a spark of hope flared within him.
The arrival of this great powerhouse might just save him from the dire situation he was in.
Conflicting emotions churned within him—fear and expectation—throwing his mind into chaos and making him question his instincts.
Meanwhile, hidden above Blackwood Island, Jiang Chen finally unleashed his overwhelming aura. The pressure blanketed the entire island, plunging everything into an oppressive silence so profound that even the faintest sound seemed deafening.
"S-Senior..." Feng Hongbo stammered, his voice trembling under the crushing weight. He wanted to speak, hoping to tarnish Gu Ran’s name before anything else.
But before he could say more, a cold, aloof voice interrupted him.
"Do you think I can’t see through your petty schemes?" Nangong Wan’s tone was colder than ice, carrying an unmistakable authority. Her words struck like a divine verdict, merciless and supreme.
"I..." Feng Hongbo trembled, his meticulously crafted excuses evaporating before his eyes. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
"The demon race is on the move," Nangong Wan said, her voice sharp and commanding. "Blackwood Island barely survived the last demonic beast tide, and yet you dare turn on your own kind?"
"In normal times, perhaps such actions could be overlooked. But with the demons threatening us, betrayal like this is unforgivable," she declared, her words laced with bone-chilling murderous intent.
Feng Hongbo, desperate, made one last attempt. "But he—" he began, hoping to shift the blame to Gu Ran and his conflict with the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect.
He never got the chance.
A faint shadow of a sword flashed through the air, so quick it was nearly invisible, and pierced straight through Feng Hongbo’s skull, shattering his soul in an instant.
Thud!
His lifeless body collapsed to the ground, his eyes still wide open, frozen with disbelief and resentment. Even in death, his face carried the bitterness of his unfulfilled schemes.
Yet no one could deny that his end had come.
"The main culprit has been dealt with. If anyone dares to repeat such actions, they will meet the same fate!" Nangong Wan declared firmly.
With those words, her overwhelming aura surged into the distance, vanishing beyond the horizon.
On Blackwood Island, everyone stood frozen, as if still under the weight of Nangong Wan’s lingering presence. No one dared to make a single move.
After about ten breaths, Zhang San appeared near Gu Ran, his face carrying an apologetic look. "I’m sorry," he said sincerely. "We were only following orders."
"If we were to fight again now," he added gravely, "that senior might wipe us all out."@@@@
Just then, his transmission jade token vibrated with an incoming message.
Jiang Chen used his divine sense to scan the contents, and his brow furrowed immediately.
The message was from Ji Mingxiu.
The report stated that both the Pure Frost Domain in the northwest and the Vibrant Blaze Domain in the southeast had come under attack from the demon race.
The leading powers in both regions were struggling to defend themselves, and their collapse seemed inevitable.
The message also mentioned that preparations for the event to crown the number one prodigy of the Immortal Martial Continent were complete and could be initiated at any moment.
Two domains on the verge of collapse... It looks like we’ll need to push the timeline for the prodigy event.
Jiang Chen’s eyes gleamed with thought.
Without wasting time, he used his transmission jade token to ask Ji Mingxiu for his thoughts on when the event should begin.
Three months from now!
That was Ji Mingxiu’s response.
The proposed venue for the competition to crown the Immortal Martial Continent’s foremost prodigy was set in the Lustrous Yang Domain.
Participants from other domains would need to travel there, but travel times varied greatly. For some, the journey could take over three months.
"Then it’s decided—the competition will start three months from now," Jiang Chen murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully before sending a message to Ji Mingxiu. "Master, may I trouble you to preside over the event?"
"Hahaha! Trouble? Overseeing the grandest event on the continent is an honor! How could that be a bother?!" Ji Mingxiu replied, his voice filled with excitement. "Rest assured, Jiang Chen, I’ll ensure this competition is nothing short of spectacular!"
"Alright, I trust you, Master!" Jiang Chen transmitted with a smile, ending the communication.
Afterward, Jiang Chen fell into deep thought.
Three months—that was the time frame Ji Mingxiu had suggested.
Since Ji Mingxiu had rejoined the villain faction, it was likely that his decision was subtly influenced by Heavenly Fate.
In other words, even with Gu Ran’s original storyline disrupted, he might still achieve the Peak-stage Dao Palace realm or even ascend to the Transcendence realm within these three months!
Such progress would allow Gu Ran to surpass Jiang Chen, showcase his strength, shock the entire Immortal Martial Continent, and earn the admiration and awe of countless people.
"This guy is proving to be a real challenge," Jiang Chen muttered, narrowing his eyes before taking off.
Unexpectedly, he didn’t return to the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect. Instead, he concealed himself in a remote part of the ocean’s vast expanse.
Activating his divine sense, Jiang Chen began investigating the supporting characters tied to Gu Ran’s story.
His first focus was Blackwood Island.
On the island, nearly all the supporting characters had been reduced to insignificant passersby—even figures like Zhang San.
Yet, amidst this change, one person managed to retain their status as a supporting character: Feng Liu.