Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

The voice, still issuing from under Lu Chao’s mask, powerfully echoed in every direction across Battle Valley.

In that moment, a terrifying chill filled the hearts of countless people.

Atop the highest cliff, Zeng Quan retracted his gaze from Lu Chao and boomed, ”Marquis Longyin, my apologies.”

Having said that, he prepared to strike and send Marquis Longyin flying...

’The situation can’t be allowed to continue,’ he thought. ’To put it bluntly, now that the Fake Lu Chao has the upper hand again, I have to intervene.’

But... CLANG!

Marquis Longyin drew his sword. ”I said it before! You’ll have to step over my dead body!”

Hearing this, Zeng Quan froze and fixed Marquis Longyin with a deathly stare.

After a brief pause, Zeng Quan said coldly, ”Marquis Longyin is drunk. Tie him up. He must not be harmed in any way.”

With that, Zeng Quan flashed forward, ramming into Marquis Longyin, who was on the back of the Flying Bird Demon Beast.

An explosive blast of True Qi instantly suppressed Marquis Longyin before violently knocking him away. Although Marquis Longyin was not weak, he was no match for Zeng Quan and was completely unable to resist.

After being knocked aside, as Zeng Quan flashed past him...

A cold glint flared in Marquis Longyin’s eyes. He ignored Zeng Quan and stared at the Beast Flame leadership. ”Go on. Try and touch me.”

His voice was heavy with threat, as if to say, ’Don’t believe me? I’ll kill myself right here just to prove it.’

The six deans, who had been stepping forward, froze in their tracks.

Zeng Quan was from the Dragon Flame Kingdom and had the backing of the Saint Bone Zheng Family. He could clash with Marquis Longyin without consequence, but the same could not be said for the others.

If anything were to happen to Marquis Longyin, they would be unable to withstand the Dragon Flame King’s wrath.

At this moment, Marquis Longyin’s expression was utterly resolute.

’As long as I can hold off the Beast Flame leadership for now, Lu Chao will be safe.’

’Zeng Quan is strong, but Dragon Flame Academy still has Sun Shijin.’

’More importantly, there’s the wild card of the Fake Lu Chao’s father-in-law. An Elder from the Saint Bone Su Family can’t possibly stand by and do nothing.’

Just as the situation in Battle Valley was about to spiral out of control, just as the Beast Flame leadership hesitated on whether to charge or not...

Suddenly... AGH!

A strange cry rang out from behind Marquis Longyin—it was Zeng Quan’s voice.

Everyone was stunned. Even Marquis Longyin couldn’t help but turn his head to look.

They saw that Zeng Quan, who had just landed and was about to charge Lu Chao and his group, had been pinned down by a sudden flash of sword light.

Following that... BANG!

The flash of sword light shattered with a deafening bang, and Zeng Quan was sent flying back, tumbling dozens of meters.

Everyone in the valley was utterly dumbstruck.

’Who attacked Zeng Quan? Who could possibly send Zeng Quan flying like that?’

Just then, Zeng Quan stabilized himself and snapped his head up. ”Dongfang Ren, you’re going to meddle in this too?”

As Zeng Quan’s voice rang out, a violent tremor ran through everyone present. ’Of course... In the entire Beast Flame Academy, who else but Dongfang Ren, the acknowledged number one expert of the Hundred Countries, could possibly defeat Zeng Quan?’

WHOOSH...

Dongfang Ren appeared, landing in the middle of Battle Valley.

With his hunched back and scrawny frame, no one would ever mistake him for a terrifying expert at first glance. He looked just like an ordinary old man. But when he took a single step toward Zeng Quan... THUD!

That single step seemed to carry a torrential sword intent that pressed down on Zeng Quan.

Zeng Quan’s expression changed drastically, and he took another step back. True Qi erupted from his body, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

But Dongfang Ren only took one step and then stopped.

He asked nonchalantly, ”If I recall correctly, I am the Vice Dean of Beast Flame Academy. Is this what you call meddling?”

At his words, Zeng Quan’s pupils constricted. ”You said you wouldn’t get involved in Beast Flame’s affairs.”

When the plans for Beast Flame Academy were first being laid, Zeng Quan had run into Dongfang Ren and casually extended an invitation.

He hadn’t been serious, but to his surprise, Dongfang Ren actually accepted. Zeng Quan had no choice but to go along with it.

Later, Dongfang Ren said he was only looking for an apprentice and wouldn’t interfere in the academy’s business, so Zeng Quan had let it be...

But now, Dongfang Ren had suddenly jumped into the fray.

’Not only did he humiliate me in front of the entire Beast Flame Academy, but from the looks of it, he’s planning to protect the Fake Lu Chao too. This is intolerable.’

Dongfang Ren, still expressionless, spoke...

”I changed my mind. Is that a problem?”

”What I see now is the injustice of Beast Flame, and its unbearable stench. Naturally, I have to come out and get rid of the smell.”

At these words, Zeng Quan’s expression soured further...

Just then, the Dean of the Tiger Institute roared from his spot on the cliff, ”Dongfang Ren, we don’t have to keep you on as Vice Dean!”

The threat was clear: they could dismiss him whenever they wanted.

Dongfang Ren tilted his head up slightly and said casually, ”Marquis Longyin, send a message to the Dragon Flame King for me. I don’t wish to leave Beast Flame. I don’t need to be some Vice Dean—I can be the Grand Commander of the Order Enforcement Team.”

His voice was old and hoarse, but it carried a piercing edge that sent a chill through everyone.

Hearing this, Marquis Longyin finally broke into laughter and agreed heartily, ”No problem! I will draft a letter at once.”

After speaking, he actually started writing the letter on the spot.

He was ecstatic. ’I never imagined the reclusive Dongfang Ren would be willing to step in and ”clean up the stink.” Now, Beast Flame Academy can finally get on the right track! There’s finally someone who can act as a check against Zeng Quan and his cronies.’

’Now Lu Chao and the others won’t have to escape into the Azure Flame Forbidden Land!’

Zeng Quan’s face was livid, as were the faces of the six deans and the other members of the Beast Flame leadership. They all fixed Dongfang Ren with a deathly stare.

In the next moment... WHOOSH!

Dongfang Ren flashed, appearing between Lu Chao and the experts from the University Institute.

Dongfang Ren’s sudden intervention had halted the slaughter that was about to erupt, but Lu Chao and the University Institute experts were still a mere twenty meters apart.

At this moment, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Dongfang Ren.

His gaze landed first on the high-ranking experts from the University Institute. ”Fall back,” he ordered indifferently.

The experts from the University Institute trembled.

In an instant, Dean Weihu, who had just been forced to vomit blood by the combined attack of Lu Chao’s group, took a heavy step forward. ”Dongfang Ren, so what if you’re strong? Do you intend to oppose all of Beast Flame Academy?”

He was, of course, defiant. ’So many of my students were killed by the Fake Lu Chao!’

The other deans also stepped forward heavily...

However, Dongfang Ren slowly turned his head toward Sky Cliff Academy and the others. ”Am I alone?”

Following his gaze...

A tremor ran through the people from Sky Cliff Academy and the other Small Institutes from the Small Kingdoms. One by one, their deans also took a heavy step forward. Everyone understood that Dongfang Ren wasn’t just acting for the Fake Lu Chao; he was standing up for all the Small Institutes.

Dongfang Ren himself hailed from one of the Small Kingdoms.

Normally, the Small Institutes would never dare to oppose the University Institutes of the Seven Great Flame Countries.

But now, led by the strongest expert in the Hundred Countries, they were fearless. They could finally stand up for themselves.

Take Senior Sister Sky Cliff, for example. In her heart, she had been silently protesting the injustice against Lu Chao, but she had never dared to speak out.

Now, she could finally step forward with just cause.

As the Small Institutes stepped forward, Dongfang Ren turned back to Dean Weihu and the others. ”Fall back,” he commanded once more.