Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

As Zhong Qiao watched her guards retreat to her side, her heavily made-up eyes filled with a crazed, savage light.

But then, Zhong Qiao suddenly laughed...

A sinister, horrifying grin spread across her face. ”Cousin,” she said, ”Dragon Flame Academy is just as you said—a pack of savage mutts. I’ll have to ask you to step in and capture Wu Caicai for me.”

The moment she finished speaking, Wu Caicai, who was walking into the courtyard, froze and trembled violently.

The next moment... THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

An elderly man with salt-and-pepper hair slowly emerged from the crowd of onlookers.

A faint smile played on his lips. ”Wu Caicai, what am I to say to you? It was bad enough that you quit the Tiger Institute, but now you’re even defying your family’s elders. How did you turn out like this?”

Wu Caicai slowly turned to face him, her eyes fixed on the old man. ”Vice Dean Zhong...”

This was none other than the Vice Dean of Tiger Flame Academy—now known as the Beast Flame Tiger Institute. He was also Zhong Qiao’s cousin.

Clearly, he had been lurking in the shadows all along, ready to act in case Zhong Qiao failed to bring Wu Caicai back.

”Ah, Caicai,” he began, ”I took good care of you back at Tiger Flame Academy, didn’t I? And it was all out of respect for your stepmother.”

Vice Dean Zhong put on the air of a senior lecturing a junior...

But then his expression suddenly turned sinister. ”And how did you repay me? You quit the Tiger Institute during the second stage, in front of everyone. What do you take the Tiger Institute for? Some place you can just leave on a whim?”

”Do you have any idea? Now, all the other Inner Courtyards are laughing at the Tiger Institute... And that was your alma mater.”

”How could you be so cruel?”

His voice boomed, deliberately reaching the ears of the crowd. It was a clear attempt at emotional blackmail.

Zhong Qiao immediately stepped forward and pointed a finger at Wu Caicai. ”Quitting the Tiger Institute without the family’s permission is an act of gross insubordination! And joining a garbage academy like Dragon Flame Academy brings shame upon our family name!”

”Now, get on your knees and crawl over here. If you do, I might just be able to plead for a lighter punishment for you.”

Her voice was just as sharp, clearly meant for every spectator to hear.

But Wu Caicai showed no remorse. Instead, she suddenly laughed as she stared at Vice Dean Zhong...

”I remember I almost didn’t get into Tiger Flame Academy.”

”The situation was almost identical to what Dragon Flame Academy has been facing these last few days. I was framed for cheating. If Master Fan hadn’t investigated the matter and cleared my name, how could I possibly call that place my alma mater?”

”Even back then, I suspected you were the one deliberately trying to stop me from being accepted. Master Fan said it couldn’t be, that you were a just man.”

”But now, I don’t think I need to say anything more, do I?”

At the time, Fan Jinhu hadn’t yet seen the truth. Sheltered by Fan Changcun, he was still naive enough to believe Vice Dean Zhong couldn’t have been responsible.

He thought the cheating accusation was just a simple mistake.

But it was obvious now that her stepmother, Zhong Qiao, had asked Vice Dean Zhong to keep Wu Caicai out of Tiger Flame Academy.

Lu Chao also recalled something...

Back then, outside Yangzhou City, Fan Jinhu had told him to seek out this very same Vice Dean Zhong upon arriving at Tiger Flame Academy. Fan Jinhu had been certain he was about to die and wanted to fulfill his promise... by having Lu Chao bring Cheng Yunsu into Tiger Flame Academy.

At that time...

Fan Jinhu had yet to experience the betrayals of Guan Zanyi, Lei Zhen, and the others. He was still naive enough to believe Vice Dean Zhong was a good man.

In response, Vice Dean Zhong just sneered. ”Nonsense, Wu Caicai. You are insulting my character.”

Of course, he wasn’t about to admit it. The incident had happened two years ago; there was no longer any possibility of finding evidence.

”Fine. Let’s just say I was spouting nonsense.”

Wu Caicai didn’t argue the point. Instead, she continued coldly, ”Then let’s talk about the second stage of the placement tournament. When I was framed by Zheng Zhuhe, did a single person from the Beast Flame Tiger Institute stand up and speak a word of justice for me?”

”If even one high-ranking member of the Tiger Institute had fought for justice on my behalf, would I have quit?”

At that moment, everyone from the Tiger Institute had watched with cold indifference. Not one of them had stepped forward.

But Vice Dean Zhong only replied coldly, ”You couldn’t keep your mouth shut. You bad-mouthed Young Master Zheng Zhuhe. Can you really blame anyone for not helping you?”

At his words, Wu Caicai’s face flushed red with anger.

She hadn’t said a single word about Zheng Zhuhe! It was all a complete fabrication.

Zheng Zhuhe and Wu Yiyi had simply wanted to use her to threaten Lu Chao.

Zhong Qiao chimed in, ”Speaking of which, we can add another crime to your list, Wu Caicai: causing trouble for our family. Is Young Master Zheng Zhuhe someone you can afford to slander? Why can’t you ever keep that mouth of yours shut?”

Her voice dripped with mockery. With just a few words, she had torn Wu Caicai’s arguments to shreds, making her seem completely in the wrong.

Uncle Leng couldn’t stop himself from stepping forward, and Wu Caicai wanted to defend herself as well.

But Lu Chao held them back and replied in a deliberately loud voice, ”There’s no use arguing when someone is determined to find you guilty. In any case, you owe me a debt. And until it’s paid, no one is taking you anywhere.”

With that, Lu Chao waved his hand, motioning for everyone to head back into the courtyard.

But Vice Dean Zhong let out a cold laugh. ”Such big words. If I’m not mistaken, Sun Shijin isn’t here, is he?”

As far as Vice Dean Zhong was concerned, aside from Sun Shijin, no one at Dragon Flame Academy was a match for him.

He too was a True Fate Realm expert, a level above the Transformation Dao.

Luring Sun Shijin away had been the strategy set by Dean General Zeng Quan, making it easy for them to complete their various objectives.

As he spoke, True Qi erupted from Vice Dean Zhong’s body, and he strode toward the Dragon Flame Academy courtyard...

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Dean Jiang and Yu Fei instantly appeared to block his path, but Vice Dean Zhong was unconcerned. They were merely two cultivators at the Peak of the Transformation Realm.

But just then... THUD!

Another figure slowly walked out from the courtyard. It was none other than Cheng Chuming.

His appearance made Vice Dean Zhong’s brow furrow slightly, because he knew Cheng Chuming was protected by masters from the Saint Bone Su Family.

But he quickly recalled the various intelligence reports compiled by the Beast Flame leadership over the last three days...

’As long as I don’t get too rough, the Saint Bone Su Family won’t intervene on Cheng Chuming’s behalf.’

’In fact, the Saint Bone Su Family might even let something happen to Dragon Flame Academy just to create an excuse to get involved.’

With this in mind, Vice Dean Zhong spoke lightly, ”Members of the Saint Bone Su Family, you’d best pull your future Saint Bone Family Head aside for me. Otherwise, blades have no eyes, and I’m afraid I might accidentally injure him.”

He was certain that saying this would prompt someone from the Saint Bone Su Family to jump out and restrain Cheng Chuming.

However, at that very moment, Su Shangmo also ambled out. With a resonant SHING, he drew his Sword and said, ”The affairs of Dragon Flame Academy are my own. I dare you to take even half a step forward.”

As his voice fell, Vice Dean Zhong froze, stunned. Even Lu Chao was a little taken aback.

’Why the sudden change of heart from Su Shangmo?’

But he immediately realized the reason. Su Shangmo had likely discovered that Xiao Su’er possessed the Star Fire Sparrow Bone.

Sure enough, Cheng Yunsu walked out of the courtyard at that moment and whispered a few words in Lu Chao’s ear.