Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

This was precisely why Su Shangmo had addressed Cheng Chuming as Patriarch, even saying things that made Cheng Chuming wonder if he’d lost his mind.

That it was an honor for young miss Yunsu to be able to return to the Saint Bone Su Family.

He never would have said something like that in the past. If the Su Family had heard it, Su Shangmo would probably have gotten his legs broken.

And yet, he had said it.

Gazing at Su Shangmo, whose breathing was growing ragged, Cheng Yunsu let out a soft sigh. She, of course, knew the reason for his change in attitude.

She hesitated for a moment before replying softly, ”Just three days ago, with Lu Chao’s help, I awakened a second Heavenly Destiny Bone... Although it hasn’t been tested yet, it should be a top-level Saint Bone.”

She didn’t mention that it was a Divine Bone; that would have been enough to frighten someone to death.

Of course, she also didn’t say that Lu Chao had fused the bone for her. Instead, she claimed she had awakened a second one. This version was easier for people to accept, and it also prevented anyone from questioning how Lu Chao could possibly possess a Saint Bone, let alone a Divine Level Fire Sparrow Bone.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Chuming was also dumbfounded, staring at his daughter in disbelief.

’He hadn’t known about this either!’

’That’s right. My daughter just had a major breakthrough and reached the Innate Realm, but I didn’t even realize what that implied. I seem to have grown so accustomed to my son-in-law’s prowess that I took it for granted when my own daughter became so powerful.’

’So I didn’t pay it much mind. But thinking about it carefully, this is a massive deal!’

”A top-level Saint Bone...”

Su Shangmo’s voice was slightly hoarse, and his body trembled uncontrollably. It wasn’t a Divine Bone, but it was still terrifying enough.

’No, it hasn’t been officially tested yet.’

”Commander-in-Chief Guard Su, please keep this a secret for me for now. It would be best not to even tell the Su Family Elders...”

”After all, this is considered the Saint Bone Zheng Family’s territory.”

Upon hearing this, a chill went through Su Shangmo’s heart and he nodded.

’If the Saint Bone Zheng Family finds out that our Saint Bone Su Family has awakened a second Saint Bone, they’ll start killing people.’

The conversation between the three of them ended there for the time being.

Su Shangmo dragged the unconscious Wu Yiyi toward the courtyard where the Dragon Flame Academy was staying.

Looking down at Wu Yiyi, Su Shangmo thought, ’If young miss Yunsu hadn’t awakened her Saint Bone, she might have truly been made to feel inferior by this woman’s attacks. At the very least, the seeds of insecurity would have been planted.’

Even Su Shangmo had to admit, the fake Lu Chao had been terrifyingly effective.

One could only say that Wu Yiyi had been incredibly unlucky to run into the young miss Yunsu right after she had awakened her Saint Bone. Otherwise, she might have actually succeeded.

However, Su Shangmo had no idea that with Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu’s shared experiences, they couldn’t be shaken by a few simple words. Nothing Wu Yiyi had said caused the slightest ripple in Cheng Yunsu’s heart...

...

While Cheng Yunsu was dealing with Wu Yiyi, Lu Chao, Dean Jiang, and his granddaughter had already returned to the temporary residences of the various academies.

The streets between the clusters of courtyards were now brightly lit.

Where there were people, there was business. The streets inside Beast Flame were already flooded with vendors.

Of course, the higher-ups at Beast Flame had intentionally let them in. There was, naturally, a profit to be made.

As they walked, Lu Chao spoke to Dean Jiang.

”Judging by Zheng Liyuan’s methods, the general plan the Beast Flame higher-ups have for dealing with us should be more or less the same.”

”They’ll use all sorts of veiled threats and implications to lure us out individually, then try to coerce or bribe us.”

Just as he finished speaking, an Order Enforcement Team Member suddenly walked over and whispered a few words in Lu Chao’s ear.

The Order Enforcement Team Member then departed.

Lu Chao looked back up at Dean Jiang and said in a low voice, ”Iron Shield is just up ahead. Let’s go.”

「These past three days...」

The Order Enforcement Team Members had been monitoring the area around the Dragon Flame Academy, but because the past three days had been so quiet, they had grown a bit lax. On top of that, the sudden influx of vendors caused crowds of students to throng past the Dragon Flame Institute’s gate...

This made the Order Enforcement Team Members lose their targets for a time. This was especially true for people like Dean Jiang, who had been actively lured away.

It was because of those terrible, veiled messages.

Those messages had made Dean Jiang and the others actively avoid the Order Enforcement Team. Now, both Dean Jiang and Jiang Yu were filled with lingering fear and silent regret.

To put it bluntly...

The plan was to target each student of the Dragon Flame Academy with these psychological attacks, picking them off one by one by getting them to leave the courtyards of their own volition.

And now, Marquis Longyin had naturally ordered the Order Enforcement Team Members to find the missing people at once.

The first person to be found by the Order Enforcement Team was none other than Iron Shield.

Soon, Lu Chao’s group of three saw Iron Shield on the street ahead.

He was standing in front of a temporary merchant vehicle bearing the Hundred Flames Trading Company’s sign. Before they even got close, they heard Iron Shield ask, ”Where is my Senior Sister?”

His Senior Sister was Wu Fenyu, Wu Ying’s daughter.

A somber voice drifted out from inside the Hundred Flames Merchant Vehicle. ”Your Senior Sister isn’t here. She asked me to tell you...”

Before the person inside could finish, Iron Shield cut them off. ”You lied to me. I’m going back.”

Clearly, the ruse to get Iron Shield had been to lie and say that Wu Fenyu was looking for him.

But the moment he heard Wu Fenyu wasn’t there, Iron Shield immediately turned to leave.

The next moment, a hand landed on his shoulder. ”Iron Shield, your Senior Sister wants you to terminate your employment with the Dragon Flame Academy and return to the Dragon Flame Royal Capital immediately. Your master, Wu Ying... is gravely ill.”

Iron Shield’s entire body trembled violently at these words.

But he immediately shook his head and replied, ”Even if my master is gravely ill, I can’t go back. Master said that in business, you can’t go back on a deal.”

With that, he shook off the hand on his shoulder and turned to leave again.

Lu Chao had stopped walking, watching Iron Shield with a look of admiration. He seemed stoic and simple, but he held fast to his principles. It was just like in battle—he might not have a strong presence, but he always completed his mission.

”Iron Shield, your master is gravely ill! Why are you still worried about going back on a deal? Hurry back and see him one last time!”

The voice from inside the Hundred Flames Merchant Vehicle was now tinged with anger.

”Master’s business is what’s most important. He said that even if he were to die, a deal that’s been made must be seen through to the end.”

”Otherwise, he’s afraid that even in death, people would become ghosts to haunt him over his debts.”

Iron Shield’s voice was perfectly calm as he stated a principle that few could live up to. Then he started walking away again.

”Damn it, this guy is a fucking idiot.”

A curse burst out from inside the Hundred Flames Trading Company vehicle, the person clearly exasperated and infuriated by Iron Shield.

But Iron Shield paid them no mind and kept walking...

Then, a second voice suddenly spoke up from behind him. ”Let me handle this... Iron Shield, your Senior Sister is nothing but a fickle slut.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Iron Shield froze, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot.

But without turning his head, he said, ”She is not!”

With that, he resumed walking away...

The voice from behind continued, ”Iron Shield, your Senior Sister is a ruined, defiled woman...”

Iron Shield’s eyes grew even redder, and killing intent began to radiate from him, but he still held himself back. ”Master said that when you’re on a job, you can’t be distracted by other matters. People will use all sorts of tricks to disturb your focus, and that will lead to making less money.”

He continued to walk away as he spoke, but the curses from behind him grew increasingly vile, causing Iron Shield to clench his fists tightly.

His teeth ground together, but he still didn’t waver...

Suddenly, he stopped. He saw Lu Chao’s group of three walking toward him.

Lu Chao stopped in front of him and said gently, ”No need to hold back. Turn around... and go get them.”