Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

Yin Ye and Lu Chao had discussed this matter before.

The Saint Bone Zheng Family’s influence was simply too great right now, which made things difficult for the Dragon Flame King. If he wanted to support the Dragon Flame Academy himself, he would face immense resistance.

But the Dragon Flame King definitely wanted to see the Dragon Flame Academy rise.

Take the Saint Su City incident, for example. The Dragon Flame King had actually sided with Yin Ye...

He had used that incident, along with the Saint Bone Su Family’s situation, to reprimand Zheng Liling and the others.

”In short, as long as we can make a strong start, everything after that will go smoothly.”

Lu Chao added, and everyone gradually calmed down, their confidence returning.

Just as they finished talking, Su Shangmo arrived again...

He once again offered to help the Dragon Flame Academy. This time, it wasn’t just about providing a student; he proposed that the Saint Bone Su Family fully integrate into the Dragon Flame Academy to help them carve a bloody path to success within the Beast Flame Academy.

Lu Chao refused!

Sun Shijin, of course, also refused.

They didn’t want the Dragon Flame Academy to end up like the Celestial King Academy—a private possession of a Saint Bone Family.

”Very well. Since Madam Lu’s son-in-law is so confident, I won’t disturb you any longer.”

”We will do everything in our power to protect the bloodline of the Saint Bone Su Family. Madam Lu’s son-in-law can rest assured.”

After speaking, Su Shangmo turned and left. His words implied that he would protect the father and daughter pair, Cheng Chuming and Cheng Yunsu. On the surface, this seemed intended to put Lu Chao’s mind at ease so he could fight without worry, a way to continue leaving a good impression on him.

But in reality...

’We will only protect our Su Family bloodline. We couldn’t care less if anyone else lives or dies.’

After taking his leave of Lu Chao...

Su Shangmo found the two Su Family Elders who had accompanied him nearby.

Upon learning of Lu Chao’s refusal, one of the Su Family Elders chuckled and said, ”He’s really stubborn. Refusing to yield even in a situation like this... You know, Chuming, as far as we know, the seven Inner Courtyards of the Beast Flame Academy will never allow the Dragon Flame Academy to succeed.”

That was right. Cheng Chuming was currently with the two Su Family Elders.

The second Su Family Elder added, ”The descendants of the Azure Flame Sect brought great shame to the Six Great Flame Countries. If they are allowed to become Beast Flame students, it would be a thorn in the side of the Six Great Flame Countries.”

”Why don’t you go persuade your son-in-law to let our Su Family establish a presence in the Dragon Flame Academy? Everything would become so much smoother.”

Initially, the Su Family Elders had no intention of establishing a presence in the Dragon Flame Academy.

But the more they thought about it, the more appealing the idea of controlling an academy became.

This way, they could contend with the Saint Bone Zheng Family and prevent the power gap between them in the Dragon Flame Kingdom from growing even wider.

Hearing this, Cheng Chuming shook his head without hesitation.

Just then, Cheng Yunsu suddenly walked over from Lu Chao’s direction. ”My father and I both believe that Lu Chao can fight his way through.”

Hearing this, the two Su Family Elders frowned, and Su Shangmo immediately stepped forward...

”Young Mistress Yunsu, the Saint Bone Zheng Family has already put out the word. During the slot battle, they’re going to teach Madam Lu’s son-in-law the meaning of despair. They plan to kill the people around him one by one to make him break down first.”

”And Zheng Zhuhe has also declared that he will kill Madam Lu’s son-in-law.”

Su Shangmo’s words were, of course, true...

But Cheng Yunsu still shook her head firmly. ”Then Zheng Zhuhe will just become the second Zheng Zhuhai.”

Hearing this, the expressions of Su Shangmo and the two Su Family Elders stiffened slightly.

Zheng Zhuhai had been taken out by Lu Chao with a single spear strike... And now Cheng Yunsu was claiming Lu Chao could also take out Zheng Zhuhe.

Even though both men were from the Zheng Family’s Direct Lineage, their strengths were worlds apart, weren’t they?

At this, Su Shangmo couldn’t help but ask, ”Young Mistress, what exactly is Madam Lu’s son-in-law’s Heavenly Destiny Bone?”

Cheng Yunsu shot Su Shangmo a light glance, then replied coolly, ”Don’t you already know? It’s the Bone of Myriad Stars.”

After saying this, Cheng Yunsu called to her father, and they left.

Su Shangmo frowned. He had recently received a report from the subordinate he had once sent to Yangzhou City in the Great Wu Empire to find Cheng Chuming. The subordinate had said there were rumors in Yangzhou City that Lu Chao possessed a Life-taking Bone.

Shaking his head, Su Shangmo figured his subordinate must have gotten it wrong, or that the people of Yangzhou City were just spreading baseless rumors.

Otherwise, there was no way the Dragon Flame Academy and Marquis Jilong would have accepted Lu Chao.

Gazing at Cheng Yunsu’s departing figure...

One of the Su Family Elders said faintly, ”I don’t know where our Young Mistress, the one with the replacement Beast Bone, gets her confidence. Although this Fake Lu Chao is quite formidable, he won’t have Yin Ye and his troops to back him up this time.”

The second Su Family Elder said, ”After the first trial of the slot battle, they will surely have to compromise with us. Let’s just wait patiently.”

The two Su Family Elders were full of confidence.

...

A night passed. The sun was rising on the second day...

Suddenly, a deep, aged voice rang out, ”Time is up. The first trial of the Outer Courtyard slot battle has officially begun.”

The voice jolted the crowd sleeping outside the Beast Flame Academy’s gates.

Countless people awoke with a start, their eyes wide.

”Now...”

”All Innate Students participating in the slot battle, regardless of academy, bring your Battle Orders and assemble at the foot of the Beast Flame Stele.”

”Someone will give you a map. You are to follow the route on the map and reach the destination.”

”The first sixty academies to reach the destination will successfully pass the first trial. All others will be eliminated.”

The groggy crowd was still dazed and bewildered upon hearing this...

It was starting just like that? Wasn’t this a bit too sudden?

The next moment... UPROAR!

An uproar erupted as everyone finally reacted. Immediately, someone was the first to charge toward the Beast Flame Stele.

An expert from one of the academies shouted in alarm toward the stele, ”What’s going on? Why has it already started?”

At the foot of the stele, a group of people were already waiting, each one incomparably cold.

The leader simply replied coolly, ”Enough nonsense. If you still want to join the Beast Flame Outer Courtyard, gather your students at once, come here to receive your map. The first trial has already begun.”

Despite the voice from the Beast Flame Stele, the area outside the Beast Flame Gate was still in utter chaos.

But...

A team of young people immediately rushed to the front of the stele. Their leader said quickly, ”We are from the Weihu Academy of the Tiger Flame Kingdom. All of our students are ready. This is our Battle Order.”

The Weihu Academy student finished speaking and handed over their Battle Order. The people at the foot of the stele immediately gave them a map...

”Go on in. We wish you success.”

The students of Weihu Academy took the map and rushed past the Beast Flame Stele, becoming the first academy to begin the first trial.

Following them, more and more academies finished assembling, received their maps, and entered the Beast Flame Academy.

But most people were still in a panic. Some were even still fast asleep.

After a dozen or so academies had already entered, another team of disheveled students rushed to the foot of the stele.

They said, ”This is our Battle Order. Please give us a map...”

However, after the person at the foot of the stele swept a cool glance over them...

The leader said sinisterly, ”You don’t have enough people. You must have at least ten Innate Students assembled before you can enter the first trial. Go gather all your people and then come back.”