Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

That’s right, two people had arrived outside the old mansion: Zheng Liyuan and Dean Jiang.

And Dean Jiang’s voice was laced with panic and fury...

Murderous intent flared in Lu Chao’s eyes. He subconsciously glanced at Marquis Longyin, who looked back at him at the same moment. They locked eyes for a moment, a silent understanding passing between them: ’Zeng Quan and his people have begun their move against Dragon Flame Academy.’

Lu Chao looked away, composing himself as he listened intently to the sounds outside the old mansion. He didn’t go out immediately.

He wanted to know what shameless deed Zheng Liyuan had committed against Dean Jiang.

In the next moment, Zheng Liyuan’s laughter rang out. ”Brother Jiang, we’re old acquaintances. Surely you know what kind of man I am by now?”

He was, in effect, admitting how shameless he was...

The only sound from Dean Jiang was the creak of his clenching fists; he didn’t reply.

But Zheng Liyuan continued...

”How have you enjoyed these last three days?”

”Constantly feeling like your grandson and granddaughter could be killed at any moment... I bet you haven’t been sleeping well, have you?”

Hearing Zheng Liyuan’s words, Lu Chao, still inside the mansion, immediately looked toward Marquis Longyin again. ’Didn’t you say the last three days were surprisingly quiet?’

Before Marquis Longyin could speak, Zheng Liyuan went on...

”That fool Marquis Longyin thinks he can monitor everything. But I know you, Dean Jiang. All I had to do was get a few students to casually mention certain things outside your institute...”

”...just a little reminder, for your ears only.”

”You’d be able to read between the lines. Only you would understand the real message: that your grandchildren could be killed at any moment.”

At these words, Lu Chao instantly understood.

Marquis Longyin didn’t know Dean Jiang well, but Zheng Liyuan, who was bent on destroying Dragon Flame Academy, knew him inside and out.

By periodically having people drop by the Dragon Flame Institute to utter phrases with hidden meanings only Dean Jiang would understand, Zheng Liyuan could viciously toy with the Dean’s emotions, leaving him in a state of constant anxiety.

Dean Jiang couldn’t even explain these veiled threats to Sun Shijin and the others.

Once Dean Jiang’s fear reached a crescendo, Zheng Liyuan made his move and lured the Dean here.

Just then, Dean Jiang asked in a trembling voice, ”Zheng Liyuan, why did you lure me here? What do you want?”

Zheng Liyuan answered immediately...

”It’s simple. I want you to go back, immediately take your grandson and granddaughter, and bring them to me at the Beast Flame Celestial King Institute.”

”Then, when the third trial begins tomorrow, you will all come out and announce your withdrawal from Dragon Flame Academy.”

At these words, the murderous intent in Lu Chao’s eyes surged once more. ’He’s trying to leave Dragon Flame Academy with no students left.’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Dean Jiang roared, ”Impossible! Dream on!”

Zheng Liyuan let out a scoff, followed by a peel of derisive laughter.

”Did the message not get through to you over these past three days? Or have you forgotten how your youngest son was crippled all those years ago?”

”During a tournament against my Celestial King Academy, someone secretly shot him in the knee with an arrow.”

”And though the culprit was found on the spot and hacked to death by Sun Shijin, your Dragon Flame Academy still utterly lost that tournament. With that loss, all hope for the academy was extinguished.”

”Your youngest son... what terrifying talent he had. Crippled, just like that. To this day, he’s never recovered.”

”Heh heh... you can refuse.”

”But your grandson and granddaughter will follow in your son’s footsteps.”

In the dead of night, Zheng Liyuan’s voice was utterly bone-chilling. With a wretched GAG, Dean Jiang sprayed a mouthful of blood. It seemed that dredging up the past, on top of three days of veiled threats, had sent his blood surging in turmoil.

”Rest assured, during the third trial tomorrow, you’ll find the culprit again. You’ll even get to hack them to death yourselves.”

”But your grandchildren will end up either dead or crippled... HAHAHA!”

Zheng Liyuan laughed manically before his voice turned cold again. ”The three of you—you, your grandson, and your granddaughter—can join my Celestial King Academy together. I promise you the best possible treatment. Don’t make me do this the hard way when I’m offering you the easy way.”

The air hung heavy, seemingly filled with nothing but Zheng Liyuan’s threats and the metallic tang of Dean Jiang’s blood...

In the next instant, a soft, low laugh escaped Dean Jiang. ”Zheng Liyuan, if I had wanted to join Celestial King Academy after all these years, I would have done so long ago. If I wasn’t resilient enough to endure this, I would have broken down long ago.”

”I... will never agree.”

With that, Dean Jiang turned to leave, his figure radiating a sense of tragic defiance.

Watching from the old mansion, Lu Chao’s eyes filled with admiration. ’Even though Dean Jiang always seems so worried, he hasn’t given up after all these years. Of course he wouldn’t be so easily swayed.’

’The ones who gave up either left Dragon Flame Academy or defected to Celestial King Academy long ago.’

Just then, however, Zheng Liyuan spoke again, his voice eerie. ”Brother Jiang, that hard way... it’s truly unpleasant. Just listen. Who do you think has arrived?”

As his voice faded, a girl’s voice drifted from the woods. ”Grandpa, where are you?”

It was none other than Jiang Yu’s voice...

Dean Jiang’s expression changed drastically. He was about to call out in response, but—MMMPH!

Zheng Liyuan had ambushed him from behind, clamping a hand over his mouth to silence him.

At the same time, a sinister voice echoed from the woods, ”You must be Jiang Yu. If you want your grandfather to live, join Celestial King Academy.”

Jiang Yu’s panicked voice rang out from the woods again. ”You... you’re too shameless! Our Elder Sun will find you!”

A moment later, a soft chuckle came from the trees...

”Sun Shijin? He has too many people to protect. He won’t have time for you.”

”Just agree to come with us to Celestial King Academy now, announce your withdrawal from Dragon Flame Academy tomorrow, and this all goes away.”

In response to the voice, Jiang Yu’s defiant ”Impossible!” echoed from the forest.

By this point, Lu Chao and his two companions were already standing atop the wall of the old mansion.

The faces of all three were livid. Before them, Zheng Liyuan was still covering Dean Jiang’s mouth, a terrifying, sinister smile on his face.

Dean Jiang was only at Transformation Peak and had not yet reached the True Fate Realm; he was naturally no match for Zheng Liyuan.

Zheng Liyuan spoke again. ”Brother Jiang, just nod if you agree. Otherwise, I’ll give the kill order.”

From the woods, the voice threatening Jiang Yu immediately chimed in...

”Jiang Yu, if you don’t agree right now, Marquis Longyin’s Order Enforcement Team will arrive, and your grandfather will be a dead man!”

It was a two-pronged threat, plain and simple.

Neither Zheng Liyuan nor the people in the woods had noticed the presence of Lu Chao and his companions...

At this, Marquis Longyin could no longer hold back and was about to strike, but Lu Chao stopped him.

Marquis Longyin looked at Lu Chao in confusion...

He then saw Lu Chao flicker, moving silently from the top of the mansion wall and vanishing into the woods. Marquis Longyin instantly understood. ’He has to secure Jiang Yu’s safety first. Only then can we rescue Dean Jiang.’

’It’ll prevent the people in the woods from getting desperate and killing Jiang Yu.’

Taking a deep breath, Marquis Longyin looked toward Dongfang Ren...

With the two of them here by the old mansion, they could guarantee Dean Jiang’s safety.