Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

Lu Chao’s cold, cruel voice swept across the entire Cheng Mansion courtyard like a frigid wind.

Most of them were still wailing in pain and did not respond.

But Cheng Weishan, clutching his swollen face, roared maniacally, ”You worthless sons and grandsons! How could you just stand there and let this damned Life-taking Bone Calamity Star slap me? I am your family, your elder!”

Lu Chao merely sneered and walked away without a word.

At the gates of the Cheng Mansion, Uncle Leng stared wide-eyed. ”This... this is... simply unthinkable.”

As he spoke, he turned to look at Wu Caicai.

He stopped mid-sentence, however. His young miss had her eyes closed, the Postnatal Ninth Layer True Qi in her body circulating powerfully. It was clear that after watching Lu Chao’s bonus demonstration of the Six Primordial Yang Swords, she was having an epiphany.

An epiphany was a rare opportunity, and a breakthrough from the Postnatal to the Innate realm was even rarer. Uncle Leng immediately stood guard beside Wu Caicai, his senses on high alert.

Meanwhile, the members of the Cheng and Bai Mansions finally stopped their wailing and began helping one another to their feet.

At that moment, Uncle Leng was shaken once more.

He noticed that none of the lash marks on their bodies were bleeding, only showing massive, red swelling. He couldn’t help but mutter, ”’Such terrifying control... How did he even do that?’”

’To use a whip like a sword, yet control it so perfectly as to not draw blood... His Sword Control Technique is simply a picture of perfection.’

Only now did Uncle Leng truly believe what his young miss had said two nights ago.

Back then, if she had dared to resist, she would have died!

Finally, someone in the Cheng Mansion courtyard spoke up. It was Cheng Chuyan, who asked blankly, ”How could this have happened?”

Bai Wenrong’s expression was a mask of disbelief. ”Impossible. He can’t be this strong. He’s clearly only at the Postnatal First Layer.”

Just now, he hadn’t been able to sense Lu Chao’s specific True Qi Realm, but he was certain that two days ago, Lu Chao was only at the Postnatal First Layer.

Bai Heng said fearfully, ”The Life-taking Bone is evil. It must be some kind of wicked, bizarre technique.”

”How could someone at the Postnatal First Layer instantly defeat all of us? It’s absolutely impossible.”

Even someone at the Postnatal Ninth Layer couldn’t possibly do that.

Suddenly, Cheng Chugong said in a hoarse voice, ”No, it wasn’t the evil power of the Life-taking Bone. An outside force was helping him.”

An outside force?

Everyone froze. Then, as if a thought struck them all at once, they turned in unison to look toward the main gate.

Everyone, including Cheng Weishan and Bai Wenrong, stared intently at Wu Caicai and Uncle Leng. ’It must have been them.’

Uncle Leng was taken aback and immediately retorted, ”You can’t possibly think I was the one who helped him, can you?”

No one spoke, their gazes remaining fixed on him.

Just then, Wu Caicai completed her epiphany and opened her eyes. Seeing everyone staring, she asked in confusion, ”Why are you all looking at me?”

CRACK...

The sound of cracking knuckles filled the air as every member of the Cheng and Bai Mansions clenched their fists in anger.

In the end, it was Cheng Weishan who spoke. ”We wouldn’t dare do anything, of course. But make no mistake, we will be reporting tonight’s events to the City Lord’s Mansion.”

Wu Caicai frowned. She hadn’t heard their earlier talk about an ”outside force,” so she didn’t understand why Cheng Weishan was so furious.

”Our dealings with Hero Lu are a perfectly legitimate transaction. It would be useless even if you reported this to the Emperor of Great Wu himself.”

After that brief statement, Wu Caicai turned with Uncle Leng and headed back to her carriage.

’Right now, I have no time to waste on Cheng Weishan and his ilk...’

’I need to get back and cultivate. That epiphany was a huge boon; I can become an Innate Martial Artist before sunrise.’

Once inside the carriage, Wu Caicai couldn’t help but exclaim, ”He’s too strong. That Sword Control Technique must have taken countless hours of practice to perfect. It turns out he never needed our help at all.”

At this thought, she suddenly felt vexed. ’I was being so presumptuous.’

’He didn’t need my help in the slightest. He was conducting a legitimate transaction, and that last part really was just a bonus demonstration.’

’I had hoped to put Lu Chao in my debt, but now it seems I’m the one who owes him a favor... Normally, it would have taken me at least three more months to reach the Innate realm. Lu Chao’s bonus demonstration of his Sword Techniques just saved me three months of effort.’

Just as Wu Caicai was stewing in her vexation, various voices from within the Cheng Mansion drifted into her ears.

”The Hundred Flames Trading Company must have been the ones who rescued that Life-taking Bone Calamity Star two nights ago.”

”That woman from the Hundred Flames Trading Company is such an actress. She was obviously here to help the Life-taking Bone Calamity Star but pretended it was all just a transaction.”

”Yeah, that Innate Master must have suppressed us, that’s the only reason that Life-taking Bone bastard could have hit us.”

”The Hundred Flames Trading Company will definitely protect him. We need to report this to the City Lord’s Mansion, quickly.”

As these accusations reached her ears, Wu Caicai’s eyes flew wide. ’What the hell?’

Outside the carriage, Uncle Leng gave a wry smile. ”The people from the Cheng and Bai Mansions refuse to believe that Lu Chao could take them all down by himself. They insist he had outside help—meaning, our help.”

Wu Caicai was left speechless. After a long moment, she finally spat out, ”A bunch of... absolute morons!”

Uncle Leng could only offer another wry smile.

”Young Miss, they’re going to report this to the Yangzhou City Lord’s Mansion. I’m afraid this could mean trouble for us.”

”In a small place like Yangzhou City, especially when it involves someone with a Life-taking Bone, I’m afraid we won’t be able to clear our names.”

’People in a small place like this have no idea how terrifying a true master of the Martial Dao can be. Killing with pure technique is no laughing matter.’

’Even Uncle Leng himself hadn’t truly believed it was possible, but he had just witnessed it with his own eyes.’

”What is there to be afraid of? My mentor, Fan Jinhua, has already entered the city.”

”All the experts in Yangzhou City combined are no match for him. Let’s go.”

Wu Caicai couldn’t be bothered to explain further as the carriage slowly pulled away.

And yet, Wu Caicai’s brow furrowed again. ’Lu Chao didn’t intend to use me, but it seems I’ve been used regardless, haven’t I?’

’He’s clearly incredibly strong, but because I was there, everyone now thinks he’s weak.’

...

In Cheng Yunsu’s room, the door remained in tatters.

Lu Chao set Cheng Chuming down. Cheng Yunsu asked nervously, ”Father, let me get you some medicine...”

With that, Cheng Yunsu began to search frantically around the room...

Her movements made Cheng Chuming freeze, and then a look of pure ecstasy crossed his face. ”Yunsu, you can see?”

Just two days ago, he had been seeking a doctor because she was blind. Now, upon seeing her again, she could see.

Cheng Yunsu glanced back at Lu Chao before nodding. ”Yes, Father. Lu Chao gave me a Miracle Elixir. Not only can I see now, but all the burns on my body have healed as well.”

She didn’t mention Lu Chao’s Life-taking Bone, only the Miracle Elixir.

The fact that the Life-taking Bone could heal blindness and burns was too dangerous a secret to let out; she wouldn’t even tell her own father.

Seeing his daughter’s features restored to their former beauty, Cheng Chuming was so excited he looked ready to jump for joy. He turned to Lu Chao. ”You’re Lu Chao, right? Thank you. Thank you so, so much...”

Cheng Chuming was overcome with emotion.

Lu Chao smiled. ”Father-in-law, I’ve already performed the wedding rites with Xiao Su’er. We’re family now.”

Cheng Chuming was stunned for a moment, then he understood. There was no need for thanks between family.

”Father-in-law, I’m going to see if I can help Xiao Su’er recover her True Qi. For now, I’ll step outside.”

And with that, Lu Chao left Cheng Yunsu’s room, once again settling down outside her window.

Then, he took out the Heavenly Destiny Bone of the Innate Demon Beast...