Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

Inside the Tiger Flame Palace...

Because Sword Tooth City had nearly fallen and Fierce Tiger Pass had yet to be recaptured, the other five Flame Kings were still present in the Tiger Flame Royal City.

When they received the news from the Fan Mansion, they were all shocked and furious.

”Fan Jinhu is back, and Fan Changcun actually managed to escape.”

The Tiger Flame King’s furious voice echoed from within Tiger King Hall. ”That useless Chang Qi, he’s more of a hindrance than a help! Fan Jinhu came back, and he didn’t report it to me immediately. He even got himself captured and used as a hostage!”

”Fan Jinhu, Fan Jinhu...”

”That bastard always acts so carefree and reckless, but he was hiding his true nature so well. All those schemes and calculations... He deserves to die for this.”

As the Tiger Flame King spoke, the other five Flame Kings found themselves in complete agreement.

It was Fan Jinhu who had turned the tide in the battle of Sword Tooth City. Of course, an unknown young man had also played a crucial part.

’That kid is incredible. At least when it comes to acting, he’s an absolute master.’

”Pursue them...”

”No matter what, you must capture Fan Changcun and bring him back to me.”

At the Tiger Flame King’s command, a contingent of elite soldiers stationed in Tiger Flame burst forth, giving chase to Lu Chao and his companions.

...

Night...

The carriage, which had originally belonged to Li Wumian, was parked in a hidden nook at the base of a mountain.

At this moment, five people were sitting outside the carriage.

They were the siblings Fan Jinhu and Fan Jinxiang, the bound and unconscious master and disciple Li Wumian, and of course, the ashen-faced Chang Qi.

”Brother, what in the world is going on? Who is that Little Doctor?”

They had only just stopped to rest at this moment.

And it was only now that Fan Jinxiang had the opportunity and presence of mind to ask these questions.

Fan Jinhu smiled faintly, then sighed and replied, ”Suddenly, I’m not sure I know who he is anymore myself.”

”Huh?” Fan Jinxiang was completely bewildered.

He gave a bitter laugh...

’I’d always thought Lu Chao was just someone with a Life-taking Bone,’ Fan Jinhu mused. ’I figured he changed his name to be the same as the Great Martial Emperor Star, Lu Chao—maybe because of his old crush on Cheng Yunsu, or... maybe it was just a coincidence that he shared the same name as Great Wu Lu Chao.’

’But now I know the truth—he’s actually the real Great Wu Lu Chao.’

’He didn’t die. And Grandfather’s defeat three years ago... it was all an act, a deliberate attempt to train him.’

’It was all just too incredible to believe.’

’Countless people saw him get smashed to pieces. His Heavenly Destiny Saint Bone was stolen and absorbed by Lu Dingtian and his son and daughter. And yet, he managed to survive, coming back to life with a Life-taking Bone.’

’Who could have ever imagined it?’

”No wonder he’s so terrifying. No wonder he’s so formidable,” Fan Jinhu murmured to himself as he thought, unable to stop marveling.

Thinking back on all his interactions with Lu Chao, he finally understood where that terrifying power came from.

’Of course the real Emperor Star Lu Chao would be terrifying.’

Fan Jinxiang, however, was growing more and more confused. ’What in the world is my brother talking about?’

Fan Jinhu suddenly turned to Fan Jinxiang, his expression incredibly solemn.

”No matter who he is, we have to follow him from now on. He’s the one who saved my life, and he’s the one who saved the two thousand Descendants of Azure Flame. He is also the only hope for our survival.”

”Of course, he also saved our grandfather’s life. We owe him... so, so much.”

Fan Jinxiang’s expression gradually grew serious, and she nodded emphatically.

”Brother, tell me about him.”

Fan Jinhu smiled and began to recount his experiences after meeting Lu Chao, but he didn’t reveal that Lu Chao was, in fact, the Great Wu Lu Chao.

...

While the Fan siblings were talking, inside the carriage...

Lu Chao and Fan Changcun were also talking, discussing their next move.

Lu Chao gazed at Fan Changcun and asked, ”Marshal Fan, do you really have to stay behind?”

Nodding emphatically, Fan Changcun replied softly, ”The Six Great Flame Countries want the treasure from the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land, and they want me. Only by staying behind can I ensure they continue to honor the Royal Decree.”

That was right. Fan Changcun had no intention of leaving with Lu Chao and Fan Jinhu. He was going to return to the Tiger Flame Royal City.

He had already told Lu Chao about the treasure in the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land.

The Azure Flame Sect possessed a Forbidden Land that could only be unsealed by a master of the Soldier Dao. Only by breaking through its Soldier Array Illusion Realm could the gates to the Forbidden Land be opened. As for what was inside, not even Fan Changcun knew.

For even now, he was unable to unseal it completely.

Suddenly, Fan Changcun took out a token...

He then said slowly to Lu Chao, ”This is the Soldier Dao Order of the Azure Flame Martial Dao Sect. It is yours now.”

Hm?

Lu Chao stared at Fan Changcun in confusion. The old marshal then took out a second token and said, ”This is the token of the Azure Flame Sect Leader, called the Azure Flame Order. It is also yours now.”

In an instant, Lu Chao’s gaze froze as he stared at Fan Changcun, uncomprehending.

”When I negotiate with the Six Great Flame Countries, I will have to try and unseal the Forbidden Land. At the very least, I must agree to their conditions.”

”But I am certain I cannot unseal it. Therefore, I don’t know if I will survive.”

”That is why both the Azure Flame Martial Dao Sect and the Azure Flame Sect must have a successor.”

As Fan Changcun spoke, Lu Chao’s gaze froze once more, his pupils slowly contracting.

”Don’t refuse. Other than you, there is no one who can bear this heavy responsibility.”

”When the Sect Leader died, he made me swear that I would find a way to find a successor, a way to restore the Azure Flame Sect.”

”But I was useless. For forty long years, I couldn’t even rescue the descendants of my own Soldier Dao Sect.”

He grew more and more emotional, suddenly lifting his head...

”But Lu Chao, you succeeded.”

”Next, you can rescue all the Descendants of Azure Flame and their families.”

”And your future in the Soldier Dao will surely surpass mine. In fact, the you of today, three years later, is already stronger than I am. Only you are worthy of these two tokens, and only you can save the Azure Flame Sect.”

”Of course, if you are unwilling... I will not force you. After all, this is a very dangerous path.”

As Fan Changcun’s deeply earnest voice faded, Lu Chao closed his eyes, and finally gave a heavy nod of acceptance.

He reached out and took the two tokens from Fan Changcun’s hands.

Lu Chao looked at Fan Changcun seriously. ”I am your disciple. I will accept responsibility for the Azure Flame Martial Dao Sect. As for the Azure Flame Order... we’ll see about that in the future. After all, I don’t practice the Azure Flame Sect’s arts...”

’Fan Changcun’s meaning was perfectly clear: Lu Chao was to become... the Sect Leader of the Azure Flame Martial Dao Sect.’

’At the same time, holding the Azure Flame Order meant he would be the Sect Leader of the Azure Flame Sect.’

’The previous Azure Flame Sect Leader had been dead for forty years, so it was naturally up to Fan Changcun to decide who to pass the title to.’

Seeing Lu Chao accept the two tokens...

Fan Changcun’s entire body trembled with emotion, tears streaming down his old face. His voice shook as he said, ”Good child, good child...”

After a moment of overwhelming emotion...

Fan Changcun suppressed his roiling emotions, and his expression suddenly turned serious again.

”Child, even if the Six Great Flame Kings follow the Royal Decree and grant us land, the path ahead will still be fraught with danger.”

”There are still no guarantees. You must realize that, don’t you?”