Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

The Dean of the Tiger Institute surveyed the room and asked again, ”The rules for the third round have already been announced and cannot be changed. But seven Innate Ninth Layer students definitely won’t be able to stop the Dragon Flame Academy, not with that Fake Lu Chao.”

The others gritted their teeth...

As much as they hated to admit it, the Fake Lu Chao’s combat prowess was simply overwhelming.

In the third round, each of the seven Inner Courtyards was to send out one Innate Ninth Layer student to face challenges from the thirty academies that had passed the previous rounds.

”If it were just the Fake Lu Chao, it would be one thing. The problem is, the five from the Azure Flame Sect are also incredibly strong.”

”They’ve been tempered by war. They’re completely different from our inexperienced students.”

The Dean of the Lion Institute also spoke, his voice cold. It was safe to say they had almost no way of stopping the Dragon Flame Academy from clearing the third round.

The atmosphere in the conference hall was suffocating.

”Why don’t we just send assassins to take a couple of them out?”

Li Wumian said with a sinister and terrifying air, ”And if that doesn’t work, I have some poison. We could just kill them all with it.”

The others’ lips twitched. The other side was already prepared; what was the point of trying to assassinate them now?

They’d likely be discovered by Dongfang Ren or a member of the Order Enforcement Team before they even got close to the Dragon Flame Academy’s courtyard. If they were caught and interrogated, the Dragon Flame King would have Marquis Jilong dispatch troops to wipe them out.

Just then, Zeng Quan’s gaze suddenly fell upon the Dean of the Leopard Institute. He noticed the man looked completely unperturbed, as if he wasn’t worried at all.

Confused, he asked, ”Dean Leopard, do you have a plan?”

Dean Leopard slowly raised his head, a confident expression spreading across his face...

”Everyone, you’re being too rigid about the ’student’ part.”

”Students are indeed inexperienced when it comes to combat, but what if the ones we send out tomorrow... aren’t students?”

At his words, the others were stunned and confused. ’What does he mean, not students?’

BAM...

The Dean of the Tiger Institute shot up, slamming his hand on the table. ”That’s right! We can find seven Innate Ninth Layer experts with plenty of combat experience and just announce that they’re students of our Inner Courtyards. Wouldn’t that solve everything?”

It was a moment of sudden realization for everyone. It was indeed a brilliant plan.

However, the Dean of the Fox Institute interjected, ”But most Innate Ninth Layer experts with that much combat experience are a bit on the older side.”

To this, the Dean of the Tiger Institute just gave a cold laugh.

”Who cares if they’re a little older? There’s no rule that says you can’t be a student if you’re old.”

”I know the perfect candidate. The legendary ’Strongest Innate.’ He’s in his early thirties. We just need to clean him up a bit, and he’ll look the part.”

Hearing this, the higher-ups from Beast Flame stood up one by one. They had to hurry back and pick their own candidates.

”Since things have come to this, there’s no need to show Dongfang Ren any courtesy tomorrow.”

”We’ll crush every single one of the Small Institutes.”

As the others were leaving, Zeng Quan added coldly, ”I was originally going to let him have five spots for the Small Institutes. But after Dongfang Ren publicly sided with Dragon Flame Academy tonight and attacked Vice-Dean Zheng Liyuan, we must retaliate.”

The deans nodded grimly, savage smiles spreading across their faces.

If they had sent the Innate Ninth Layer students from the seven Inner Courtyards, perhaps five Small Institutes could have passed the third round. But against seven battle-hardened Innate Ninth Layer experts? Not a single one would stand a chance.

And so, the deans departed to select their champions.

...

「The night passed in a flash.」

Zeng Quan’s voice once again echoed throughout Beast Flame Academy, announcing the start of the third round.

The gathering point was the newly constructed martial arts arena at Beast Flame Academy.

Students from numerous academies were steadily arriving...

Many of the Small Institutes clustered together, pointing and murmuring about the twenty University Institutes that had been eliminated back in the first round.

”All twenty University Institutes are here. We probably still can’t beat them in the revival match.”

”The revival match doesn’t involve combat. It’s a test of one’s understanding of the Martial Dao.”

”This is so unfair. All the rules are designed to favor the University Institutes. We hardly stand a chance, no matter what.”

”We never had much of a chance to begin with. Sky Cliff Academy and a few of the other mid-tier academies, on the other hand, might just make it.”

Because the rules for the third round and the details of the revival match had been announced the day before, everyone from the various academies had a good idea of how things would play out today.

Basically, the Dragon Flame Academy and four or five of the mid-tier academies would pass.

Then, all the eliminated academies would participate in the revival match, from which around fifteen of the University Institutes were expected to pass...

”The outcome is practically decided. The third round won’t be very interesting to watch.”

”It’s hard to say. After that whole scene with the Dragon Flame Academy last night, I have a feeling today won’t be so simple.”

”The Dragon Flame Academy is here!”

Amid the chatter from the Small Institutes, the members of the Dragon Flame Academy stepped into the martial arts arena.

Their arrival undoubtedly made them the center of attention. They took their designated places.

”I still don’t think Zeng Quan will let the Dragon Flame Academy pass so easily.”

This was the shared sentiment among the Small Institutes.

Not long after, the higher-ups and students from the Seven Great Inner Courtyards also arrived.

Today was the day the twenty Outer Courtyard spots would be officially decided.

As everyone watched in anticipation, Zeng Quan slowly stepped forward. He scanned the crowd with a deadpan expression and announced, ”You all know the rules for the third round. Now, I need a representative from each of the thirty academies to step forward and draw lots.”

One by one, the academies that had passed the second round sent a representative forward.

For the Dragon Flame Academy, Lu Chao once again went to draw the lot.

As Sun Shijin watched Lu Chao’s back, he whispered to Cheng Yunsu, ”How is it? Have you managed to suppress the level of your Heavenly Destiny Bone?”

Cheng Yunsu whispered back, ”It’s working. I’ve suppressed it down to the Heavenly Bone Level. But it seems the powder is constantly dissipating. It might not be long before my Heavenly Destiny Bone’s True Qi burns it all away.”

This was the effect of Cheng Yunsu concealing her Star Fire Sparrow Bone.

It was concealed for now, but her Fire Sparrow Bone was constantly burning away the powder made from the five Beast Bones. As the powder diminished, the concealing effect would weaken.

Right now, it was suppressed to the level of a Heavenly Bone. Soon, the aura of a Saint Bone would begin to leak out. Once all the powder was burned away, the aura of a Divine Bone would be fully revealed.

”I already told Lu Chao,”

Cheng Yunsu added, ”He said to hide it for as long as possible, and we’ll figure something else out later.”

Sun Shijin nodded gravely at this, saying he would also look into other methods.

While they were speaking, the lot drawing concluded. When Lu Chao returned to his seat, he held up number thirty.

This meant the Dragon Flame Academy would be the very last to challenge the third round.

”First up, Liyan Academy! Step forward!”

With the lots drawn, the third round officially began.

At Zeng Quan’s command, the representatives from Liyan Academy, who had drawn number one, walked onto the martial arts arena.

Zeng Quan then announced, ”The seven Innate Ninth Layer students from the Inner Courtyards, step forward!”

As soon as he finished speaking... THUD!

From the designated area for the Seven Great Inner Courtyards, seven figures dressed in student uniforms walked out, one from each courtyard.

The moment they all stepped forward, the entire arena fell silent. Many people couldn’t help but exclaim, ”Those are... students?”