Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

If Elder Lady Su gave the order now, the entire Su Family could certainly mobilize and drive out Zheng Liling and his men.

But their second Saint Bone Ceremony would have to be stopped.

Perhaps there was still a slim chance of a second awakening, but if they stopped now, the morale of the Saint Bone Su Family would crumble. By the time of the third Saint Bone Ceremony, the Su Family would likely have fallen apart completely.

Zheng Liling had deliberately come while the Su Family was holding their Saint Bone Ceremony.

Old Master Su, Su Juehe, was dead. No one had awakened during the first Saint Bone Ceremony, and the second had already been marred by the incident with Cheng Yunsu. Without a pillar to support them, the Saint Bone Su Family would be completely done for.

As a hush fell over the Su Family, Zheng Liling feigned anger and said, ”Zhugong, don’t speak nonsense.”

The young man who had just shouted the provocation was none other than the Zheng Family’s top genius: Zheng Zhugong.

Then, Zheng Liling turned back to Elder Lady Su. ”Please, Elder Lady Su, don’t lower yourself to a child’s level. I genuinely wish to ask for your guidance for our family’s Zheng Zhuhai... After the life-and-death battle, we will leave immediately.”

’Leave? Of course not...’

’Once Lu Chao’s wife gets on her knees and begs for mercy on behalf of the Su Family’s children, your young people will definitely be unable to stop themselves from interfering. Then you’ll have been the ones to strike first, and we can continue to crush you.’

Elder Lady Su clenched her fists. Ultimately, she compromised. ”Fine, fine. I will bear witness.”

For that slim chance of a second awakening, she could only grit her teeth and endure.

Just then, Lu Chao strode forward. He looked straight at Zheng Zhuhai and said, ”My father-in-law. Hand him over.”

In response, Zheng Zhuhai just gave a sinister laugh and waved his hand.

Two Zheng Family guards immediately pushed Cheng Chuming forward. His face was pale as he looked at his daughter and son-in-law. ”Lu Chao, Yunsu.”

But then, Zheng Zhuhai stopped the two guards.

He stared at Lu Chao. ”See? He’s completely unharmed... If you want him back, you’ll have to beat me first.”

Lu Chao stared at Zheng Zhuhai, then his gaze shifted to Zheng Liling. ”If I win, you’ll return my father-in-law?”

Zheng Liling shrugged, showing no intention of replying. As far as he was concerned, Lu Chao wasn’t even worth half a word.

The dignified Patriarch of the Zheng Family and Lu Chao were worlds apart in terms of status.

With a smirk, Zheng Zhuhai chimed in, ”Fake Lu Chao, why don’t you try winning first before you start making demands.”

They refused to make any promises. Lu Chao slowly withdrew his gaze from Zheng Liling. He gave a cool smile as his hand slowly reached behind his back, secretly giving Yu Fei a hand signal...

His eyes, however, were locked onto Zheng Zhuhai. ”Then let’s do this. A battle to the death.”

As he spoke, the hand that had given the signal to Yu Fei immediately gripped the long spear slung across his back. With a single motion, he whipped it out and pointed it at Zheng Zhuhai.

CLANG...

Zheng Zhuhai also drew his longsword, his True Qi suddenly erupting from his body.

Behind Lu Chao, Yu Fei’s pupils contracted slightly. He whispered, ”Innate... Eighth Layer.”

Back at Dragon Flame Academy, Zheng Zhuhai had only been at the Innate Fifth Layer. Now, a mere dozen or so days later, he was already at the Innate Eighth Layer. The Zheng Family had clearly invested heavily in him.

Of course they had to invest heavily. Zheng Liling had to ensure his plan was absolutely foolproof.

In contrast, when Lu Chao’s True Qi erupted, it was merely at the Innate Second Layer.

Lu Chao had also made progress in the past ten-odd days, but he had only advanced by a single layer. The gap between the two was immense. The members of the Saint Bone Zheng Family wore disdainful expressions, already thinking about the next steps of their plan.

The members of the Saint Bone Su Family also sneered in disdain...

’Innate Second Layer, and he dares to provoke the Saint Bone Zheng Family? He’s simply courting death,’ Granny Yun thought with a cold sneer.

Logically, she should be supporting Lu Chao right now. Despite everything that had happened, they were at least on the same side. But Granny Yun didn’t care; in her heart, she hoped Lu Chao would die quickly.

Elder Lady Su was at a loss. She too was thinking about what would happen next, wondering what else the Zheng Family had planned.

She hated Lu Chao, but she was even more afraid of Zheng Liling and his men.

At this moment, Zheng Zhuhai’s face twisted into a ferocious snarl. ”Fake Lu Chao, I’ll make you pay a hundredfold for the humiliation at Dragon Flame Academy!”

The moment he finished speaking, he struck. All his humiliation from Dragon Flame Academy, all the grueling training he’d endured from the Patriarch these past few days—it all coalesced into a single, killing blow aimed at Lu Chao, which he thrust forward ruthlessly.

His Heavenly Destiny Bone, his True Qi, and the powerful Sword Techniques of the Saint Bone Zheng Family were all on full display.

In the eyes of most, Lu Chao was about to be killed in a single strike...

But Lu Chao’s expression was impassive. His eyes were suffused with the power of the Bright Eyes and Clear Wind Guide, making Zheng Zhuhai’s movements seem to slow down before him. The Life-taking Star-devouring Bone channeled its True Qi out through the Bone of Myriad Stars.

The power of the Dragon General Bone flowed through his entire body and into his long spear.

The instant Zheng Zhuhai’s killing blow arrived, Lu Chao abruptly thrust his spear. ”Fury Dragon Spear Slash, Dragon General’s Stabbing Blade!”

BANG...

The spear shot out, a single strike like a charging dragon, plunging straight into Zheng Zhuhai’s Innate Eighth Layer True Qi. In the next instant, the spearhead broke through his True Qi barrier and, still like a charging dragon, drove straight for his throat.

In that moment, the fury in Zheng Zhuhai’s eyes vanished, replaced only by terror.

He suddenly caught the scent of death. He wanted to pull back, but the tip of Lu Chao’s spear was too fast, too ferocious.

In a flash... PSHCHT!

The spear pierced through Zheng Zhuhai’s throat and jutted out from the back of his neck, sending a spray of fresh blood spattering onto the ground. The terror in Zheng Zhuhai’s eyes froze, and then... GURGLE... GURGLE...

With his throat impaled, that was the only sound he could make. In just a moment, Zheng Zhuhai’s head lolled to the side, and he died.

The scene froze...

It was all over in the blink of an eye. The members of the two great Saint Bone Families, who had just been sneering in disdain, were all frozen in place.

Zheng Liling, who hadn’t wanted to spare Lu Chao a single glance, stared with wide eyes.

Elder Lady Su’s mind went blank, and she forgot to worry about what came next.

Granny Yun, who had been preparing all sorts of taunts, was struck dumb.

Su Shangmo subconsciously clutched his still-aching chest. He was reminded of the scene in Azure Flame Town, when Lu Chao had moved freely among his subordinates. Back then, Lu Chao was at the Postnatal Ninth Layer. Now he was at the Innate Second Layer...

His realm had advanced by two layers, yet he seemed countless times stronger.

Finally, Lu Chao broke the silence. ”A battle to the death. Finished in one thrust. It’s over.”

With that... PSHCHT!

He yanked his spear free and kicked Zheng Zhuhai’s body back toward the Zheng Family members.

At that moment, the members of the Saint Bone Zheng Family finally snapped out of it, crying out in unison, ”Zhuhai!”

They rushed forward one by one, but how could Zheng Zhuhai still be alive?

Zheng Liyuan trembled with rage. After a long moment, he couldn’t help but roar, ”Kill him! First, kill his father-in-law for me!”

The words had barely left his mouth when the two Zheng Family guards holding Cheng Chuming shouted, ”His father-in-law—he’s been snatched!”

What?

Zheng Liyuan and the others immediately looked at the two guards, but Cheng Chuming was no longer in their grasp.

Just then, Cheng Yunsu’s voice came from behind Lu Chao. ”Father...”

Everyone immediately turned toward the sound...

They saw Lu Chao’s elderly guard, or whoever it was, had seized Cheng Chuming and brought him back to Cheng Yunsu’s side.