Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

A few more days passed.

Lu Chao’s army had swelled from 120,000 to 150,000 troops, still consisting of a 20,000-strong core and 130,000 hostage soldiers.

In the hands of anyone else, such a force would have undoubtedly imploded, but Lu Chao had it under control.

At last, they arrived safely at the ruins of the former Azure Flame Sect.

People were already waiting at the old site—the families of the Descendants of Azure Flame from the nearby Leopard Flame Kingdom.

”Xiaoping...”

Desperate cries rang out from the families, their voices calling for Yu Xiaoping.

Hearing their calls, Yu Xiaoping burst from the ranks, crying out as well. ”Mother! Grandma!”

Many others followed, rushing out from the formation. They were the members of the two thousand Descendants of Azure Flame who resided in the Leopard Flame Kingdom.

They had found their families.

The long campaign had left them all weathered and covered in blood and scars. Even young Yu Xiaoping seemed to have lost her tender innocence, but the moment she fell into her mother’s embrace, she was a child again.

After all, Yu Xiaoping was still at an age where she needed to be cherished.

She was a sobbing mess. Trembling, she said, ”Father... he’s gone.”

One by one, the families of the Descendants of Azure Flame from the Leopard Flame Kingdom began to weep. Some had found their loved ones, but others... never would.

For a full three thousand had died.

Yu Xiaoping’s father had been a key figure in the assassination. His corpse, which had been hung from the Yangzhou City Tower, had been brought back.

But the bodies of the three thousand who died in Canyang Valley could not be retrieved.

The families clutched each other, wailing in grief, their cries filled with the names of sons, husbands, and parents.

Tears streamed down Fan Jinhua’s face as he strode forward.

He stood before the families, offering one apology after another.

He was the only assassin to survive. Even though Lu Chao had saved his life, he was still consumed by guilt.

Cheng Yunsu couldn’t bear to watch and leaned gently into Lu Chao’s embrace.

She murmured softly, ”Lu Chao, why? For the treasure in the Forbidden Land, for the sake of ’eradicating the problem at its root’... why must these people, who were just starting to live normal lives, be forced to suffer such heartbreaking partings?”

The Azure Flame Sect was destroyed forty years ago. Many of them just wanted to live peaceful, ordinary lives.

But to force Fan Changcun to open the Forbidden Land’s gate, they were sent to their deaths, one by one. Even if he had opened it, they wouldn’t have been allowed to live. They never stood a chance.

If not for Lu Chao, and if Fan Changcun hadn’t been revived, this scene would never have taken place.

Lu Chao didn’t answer. The truth... was too cruel.

’Just like Lu Dingtian, who would kill without a second thought for the three Heavenly Destiny Saint Bones inside him. So ruthless, so devoid of loyalty!’

...

「Over the next few days...」

More families of the Azure Flame Sect’s descendants arrived in succession, sent from the various Flame Countries.

By the seventh day, all the families had arrived.

The same heart-wrenching scene that had played out with Yu Xiaoping reoccurred again and again in the ruins of the Azure Flame Sect. The last group of families to arrive was from the Tiger Flame Kingdom.

They were escorted by troops from Tiger Flame and other kingdoms, led by the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince himself.

Fan Changcun had also been brought along as a prisoner.

At that moment, the atmosphere at the ruins of the old Azure Flame Sect became incredibly tense.

Troops from the Six Great Flame Countries and various other Small Kingdoms had completely encircled the Descendants of Azure Flame and their families.

War and bloodshed seemed imminent.

Indeed, while the families were being transported, the Six Great Flame Kings had been busy conscripting more soldiers from the Small Countries. They intended to force another confrontation with Fan Changcun right here on the ruins of the Azure Flame Sect.

At that moment, the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince looked at his captive, Fan Changcun.

”Marshal Fan, we have done as you asked. All the families have been brought here.”

”If you want them to truly receive their promised lands, you’re the only one who can make it happen. Open the Forbidden Land.”

The Tiger Flame Eldest Prince’s voice was frigid, laced with threat.

Fan Changcun replied coldly, ”Do you no longer care if Chang Qi lives?”

Nearly a month had passed since Chang Qi had been poisoned.

Chang Qi was already breathing his last; he was only days away from succumbing completely to the poison.

The Tiger Flame Eldest Prince just gave a sinister smile and whispered in Fan Changcun’s ear, ”And you think I care whether he lives or dies?”

As a direct rival for the throne, the Eldest Prince naturally didn’t care if Chang Qi lived or died.

The Tiger Flame King’s only order concerning Chang Qi had been... save him if you can, but if he dies, he dies.

Fan Changcun smiled faintly and replied slowly, ”And do you think you can defeat my grandson’s army of one hundred and fifty thousand?”

At this... HA HA HA!

The Tiger Flame Eldest Prince burst out laughing. He turned his gaze to Lu Chao’s 150,000-strong army and boomed, ”The Six Great Flame Kings have issued a decree! For the good of the Hundred Countries, all the Small Kingdoms whose rulers are held hostage will... have new kings appointed!”

At this decree, the hostage soldiers from the various kingdoms were instantly stunned and thrown into a panic.

The captive kings themselves were utterly stupefied.

Their faces turned deathly pale. The Six Great Flame Kings were going to depose them and appoint new rulers.

This was all done to ensure the hostage armies would no longer serve the Descendants of Azure Flame.

It was a calculated move to sow immediate chaos among Lu Chao’s hostage troops.

Seeing Lu Chao’s 150,000 troops fall into disarray, the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince turned back to Fan Changcun. ”Marshal Fan, do you see? No matter how skilled Fan Jinhua is, I refuse to believe he can still command all of them now.”

Fan Changcun met his gaze, smiled, and said nothing.

Just then, a warhorse emerged from the ranks of the 150,000 soldiers. Its rider was none other than the masked Lu Chao.

He spoke up at once. ”Tiger Flame Eldest Prince, you think you can depose kings just by saying so? You think you’re the ones in charge here?”

His cold, mechanical voice echoed across the field.

The Tiger Flame Eldest Prince’s face contorted with rage as he glared at Lu Chao. ”Impostor! You have no right to speak.”

’Damn it! It’s not Fan Jinhua who’s come out to face me, but this fake! The sight of him pisses me off!’

But Lu Chao just laughed. ”Your Majesties! I, Great Wu Lu Chao, will ensure you keep your thrones!”

The hostage kings were left speechless.

’What the hell are you going to use to guarantee that?’ the panicked junior commanders from the various kingdoms thought. ’If you were the real deal, we might actually follow you and defy the Six Great Flame Countries. But you’re a fake!’

Just then, Lu Chao added, ”The Dragon Flame Marquis Jilong has decreed that your thrones will be protected.”

As his words fell, everyone on both sides—friend and foe alike—froze.

’Dragon Flame Marquis Jilong?’

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...

While everyone was still reeling in confusion, a cavalry detachment of several thousand suddenly charged out from within the ruins of the Azure Flame Sect. Every rider bore the emblem of the Dragon Flame Kingdom.

Next to the emblem of the Dragon Flame Kingdom was the insignia of a halberd—the symbol of the Dragon Flame Marquis Jilong.

The cavalry troop thundered to a halt before Lu Chao’s 150,000-strong army.

The middle-aged general leading them stepped forward. He looked directly at the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince across the field and declared defiantly, ”I am Yin Qixing, Vice-General to Marquis Jilong. By order of the Marquis, I am here to ensure the safety of the Descendants of Azure Flame.”