novelraw Chapter 268 : Targeted
Chapter 268 : Targeted
Chapter 268: Targeted
After the others left, Nan Xuanrou looked at Gu Fan with a somewhat apologetic expression and said:
"Sorry, I’ve gotten you hated again."
Gu Fan shrugged and replied:
"Doesn’t matter. I offend people no matter where I go. One more or less makes no difference."
At this moment, Xia Yanhuan, having noticed the commotion, walked over and asked in a low voice:
"What happened?"
Her gaze was fixed directly on Nan Xuanrou, clearly aware that Gu Fan had just resolved a tense moment.
Nan Xuanrou briefly explained the situation. Xia Yanhuan frowned and turned to glance at the man from earlier.
"I know him. He’s at the Half-step Celestial Heart Realm, with a high degree of Domain mastery. He’s the second-ranking disciple in Severing Immortal Palace. Their top disciple—the one currently conversing with Senior Brother and the others—is in the Mid-stage Celestial Heart Realm. The two of them are blood brothers."
"Blood brothers?"
Gu Fan was slightly surprised. It was quite rare for a family to produce two exceptionally talented cultivators. It was almost like an unspoken law of the heavens.
Just like Xia Yanhuan and Xia Qianliu—they were cousins, not siblings from the same household.
"That's right. The younger one is named Hu Xiaohai and has even greater cultivation talent. He’s already at the Mid-stage Celestial Heart Realm. The one who just spoke to you was his older brother, Hu Xiaofeng."
"Moreover, having been suppressed by his younger brother for many years, his mind’s a bit twisted. Simply put, jealousy has warped his heart. He often does some outrageous things."
"In short, Gu Fan, you’ve caught his eye now. Be careful, he might cause you trouble later."
Gu Fan smiled nonchalantly. He wasn’t planning on staying here for long anyway. After establishing a connection with the Divine Soul Sect and entrusting the matter regarding Ruo Xi, he would leave.
"Is he that strong?"
Xia Yanhuan pondered for a moment.
"Not weaker than me, and definitely stronger than Qingxia."
Upon hearing that, Gu Fan immediately waved his hand.
"Then it's fine. I can handle it."
As soon as he said that, Xia Yanhuan began grinding her teeth in frustration.
What the heck do you mean by that?
Are you implying something about me?
Before she could confront Gu Fan, Nan Xuanrou suddenly spoke earnestly:
"Then there’s truly nothing to worry about."
Xia Yanhuan was instantly choked with frustration, her chest tightening painfully.
"Wow, you two... I kindly reminded you, and here you are mocking me together!"
Gu Fan held back his laughter and said nothing, while Nan Xuanrou looked a bit confused.
She was merely speaking the truth. If he had strength on par with Xia Yanhuan, then he really wasn’t a threat.
But then, she turned to look at Gu Fan again, hesitated for a moment, and said:
"Why don’t I find a chance to kill him? That’ll save you from future trouble."
This time, Gu Fan couldn’t laugh anymore. So, in Nan Xuanrou’s eyes, he was barely capable as well.
She even worried he’d get into trouble because of the guy.
"Thanks for the kind offer... but I think I can handle it."
In just a few brief exchanges, Nan Xuanrou had unknowingly landed two verbal kills.
Just then, Gu Fan noticed that the disciple from earlier had walked over to his younger brother—the top disciple of Severing Immortal Palace—and transmitted a few words via voice transmission.
The top disciple slightly furrowed his brows, then swept a cold glance in their direction.
When he saw Gu Fan also looking back, their gazes met—and in that instant, the top disciple’s Divine Sense turned into a sharp needle and shot toward him.
"So insidious!"
Gu Fan cursed inwardly. His own Divine Sense surged, solidifying instantly and clashing head-on without yielding, on par with that of a Celestial Heart Realm expert!
Buzz! An invisible wave rippled outward, only to be neutralized by both of them working in tandem.
Gu Fan curled his lips, silently mouthed a few words.
Seeing his own sneak attack fail and even getting silently mocked by Gu Fan, the top disciple of Severing Immortal Palace was instantly infuriated.
Gu Fan’s silent lip movement just now had spelled out the four words, “Nothing special at all”—arrogant to the extreme!
“Brother Qing, your sect truly breeds exceptional talent. I’ve just observed a bit, and it seems every disciple of your Immortal Ai Sect is an elite.”
The Senior Brother seated beside the top disciple acted as if he had noticed nothing, simply watching the clash between the two with a beaming smile.
Now that he was being addressed, he laughed heartily and said:
“Not at all, Brother Hu, you flatter us. They’re just a group of unruly disciples with some small talent who don’t even take their cultivation seriously.”
The top disciple of Severing Immortal Palace immediately felt displeased. “Some small talent” and “don’t take cultivation seriously,” yet they were still allowed to participate in the assembly alongside them?
That was outright humiliation!
Hu Xiaohai looked displeased but didn’t show it too deeply. Instead, he continued with a suggestion:
“I see that it’s quite the fortunate event for our Four Major Sects to gather together today. Why don’t we have a little match for fun?”
At this moment, Wu Ze from Illusory Sea City perked up with interest. He seemed rather carefree and hadn’t noticed the subtle earlier friction.
“I think it’s a great idea. I like this suggestion.”
Zhao Kongcheng, the leader from Meteorfall Tower, chimed in as well:
“I agree. It’s up to Brother Qing now.”
The Senior Brother pursed his lips and glanced at the disciples around him. Seeing that no one had any objections, he nodded in agreement:
“Since everyone’s in such refined spirits, I won’t decline. But how shall we play?”
“Great!”
Hu Xiaohai clapped with a grin and said:
“Each of us sends one disciple to spar. The four of us, as Senior Brothers, will each put up a treasure as the prize. Whoever wins, the treasure goes to their sect’s disciple. How about that?”
The three exchanged glances and had no objections.
But Gu Fan could clearly feel that this guy was most likely targeting him.
Sure enough, after the treasures—each fairly decent—were displayed, the selection began.
“From Meteorfall Tower, we’ll send Duanmu Zhou.”
“Then from Illusory Sea City, I’ll let Junior Brother He Yang step in.”
When it came to Immortal Ai Sect’s turn, Hu Xiaohai smiled and said:
“I noticed that among Immortal Ai Sect’s prodigies, there’s actually a disciple at the Mid-stage Solar Radiance Realm. He must be your sect’s Super Prodigy, right?”
“To be able to participate in the Eastern Region Assembly at that realm—his strength must be quite something. I wonder if he might be willing to show us his skill?”
These words caused the two leading Senior Brothers from Illusory Sea City and Meteorfall Tower to frown slightly.
Normally, the decision of whom to send should be left to Immortal Ai Sect’s Senior Brother. Hu Xiaohai directly speaking up like this was not only impolite but also put them in an awkward position.
It truly wasn’t something a top disciple of a great sect should do.
However, the Senior Brother showed no displeasure and simply looked at Gu Fan, saying:
“Junior Brother Gu, what do you think?”
Gu Fan thought to himself, as expected—Hu Xiaohai was clearly creating trouble on behalf of his elder brother.
However, judging from the amusement in the Senior Brother’s eyes, he clearly wasn’t worried about Gu Fan at all—perhaps even encouraging him to step up.
In that case… Gu Fan turned to Hu Xiaohai and said:
“Of course. Since Senior Brother Hu from Severing Immortal Palace named me directly, I wonder if I too may name a disciple from Severing Immortal Palace?”
Hu Xiaohai was stunned for a moment, then sneered inwardly.
Mid-stage Solar Radiance Realm? Probably just someone who got in through connections.
Still, the weakest disciple Severing Immortal Palace brought along this time had at least fifty to sixty percent Domain Mastery. Against a Mid-stage Solar Radiance Realm like Gu Fan, it would be like crushing dry weeds.
Thinking that, Hu Xiaohai laughed aloud:
“Of course you can. Among the disciples from Severing Immortal Palace here, feel free to choose. Who does Junior Brother Gu want to pick?”