Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

In response to Lu Chao’s words, Chang Yuan roared with laughter. With a stomp of his foot, he charged forward. ”Hahaha, then try and take this! Fierce Tiger Celestial Star Fist!”

He moved like a ferocious tiger unleashed from its cage, utterly terrifying.

Lu Chao shot back, ”Shadow Form! Hundred Marvels Fist!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The two resumed their clash of fist against fist, as if picking up from the very moment they had paused. But Lu Chao, now at the Innate Seventh Layer, was a different man. As his True Qi intensified, his Life-taking Star-devouring Bone had advanced as well.

If he had been severely suppressed by Chang Yuan moments ago, now it was a true head-to-head collision of fists.

As they traded blows, the aura of the Slaughter Sword Bone Lu Chao had just devoured began to erupt. A terrifying killing intent gradually infused his Hundred Marvels Fist, transforming his entire demeanor once more.

He seemed to transform into a frenzied killing machine, his presence made all the more terrifying by the mask on his face.

”So strong! Your Innate Seventh Layer... it’s really something else!”

”This killing intent... it’s exhilarating! Time to ramp things up!”

Chang Yuan howled madly, his True Qi surging with ever-increasing ferocity.

Meanwhile, Lu Chao’s killing intent grew ever more potent. He was still adapting, still growing stronger with every passing moment.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The terrifying collision of fists echoed across the martial arts arena—a madman on one side, a killing machine on the other.

One grew ever more crazed, the other’s killing intent ever more explosive.

「On the grandstands...」

The expressions of Zeng Quan, the Dean of the Tiger Institute, and the other Beast Flame higher-ups had turned utterly grim.

The Dean of the Wolf Institute couldn’t help but ask, ”How is this possible? Fake Lu Chao only advanced one layer, but it’s as if he broke through an entire major realm. Chang Yuan seems to have completely lost his earlier advantage.”

With their vast experience, the Beast Flame higher-ups could clearly see that Lu Chao had grown immensely stronger.

The Dean of the Lion Institute stared at Lu Chao and added, ’I have a feeling it’s not just his realm that’s improved. His Heavenly Destiny Bone seems different, too. The Bone of Myriad Stars is said to be able to learn anything, but not like this...’

’The Bone of Myriad Stars is indeed all-encompassing...’

’But it’s supposed to be a jack of all trades, master of none. How does it seem like this Fake Lu Chao masters everything he learns?’

The Dean of the Tiger Institute seethed with endless hatred. ”Chang Yuan, that bastard! He was born into the Tiger Flame Royal Family—doesn’t he know what it means to let a tiger back into the mountains? If he loses, I’ll have his hide!”

But Zeng Quan, who had been observing the fight, finally spoke in a raspy voice. ”From the looks of it, he shouldn’t lose.”

He had observed that Chang Yuan still held a slight advantage.

Meanwhile, Dongfang Ren had halted his move to charge out, his eyes still fixed on Lu Chao as he remained silent.

Marquis Longyin let out a small sigh of relief. He could also see that Lu Chao was still at a disadvantage, but he seemed to be improving continuously. The only question was how much he could improve...

Suddenly... COO! COO!

A carrier pigeon landed on Marquis Longyin’s hand. His eyes flashed. ”The second letter from my Brother Wang has arrived.”

He immediately unfolded it and began to read.

This second reply was precisely about Dongfang Ren.

It concerned the events of the second trial, when Dongfang Ren had come forward. He had stated he no longer wished to be an idle bystander and was willing to take a hand in managing Beast Flame’s affairs. He had even asked Marquis Longyin to write to the Dragon Flame King and request a position at Beast Flame for him.

After a few glances, Marquis Longyin immediately said, ”Elder Dongfang, my Brother Wang has appointed you Dean of the Outer Courtyard. With this, we can use the Outer Courtyard to directly oppose the Inner Courtyard, preventing them from interfering in our affairs.”

As he said this, Marquis Longyin’s eyes glittered. ’What a brilliant move by my Brother Wang.’

’The original rules set by Beast Flame Academy were...’

’The Inner Courtyard was to manage the Outer Courtyards. The twenty Outer Courtyards had the chance to become an Inner Courtyard, while an Inner Courtyard could also be toppled by one of the Outer Courtyards. But now, the rules of Beast Flame were being changed.’

’The Outer Courtyard and Inner Courtyard would now be direct rivals, with neither holding seniority over the other.’

’This decision was made, of course, because...’

’Dongfang Ren, the strongest expert in the Hundred Countries, was willing to take charge. Furthermore, the situation in the second trial had deviated from their original plan—all twenty University Institutes had been eliminated.’

’When that time comes, the Outer Courtyard will become an entity led by Dragon Flame Academy, with the Small Institutes in a supporting role.’

Hearing this, Dongfang Ren replied, ”I have no issue with that, but it all hinges on Dragon Flame Academy winning.”

Marquis Longyin, of course, understood this.

The Dragon Flame King had mentioned it in the letter as well: everything was predicated on Dragon Flame Academy passing the trial. And right now, Lu Chao was still in extreme danger... The Marquis put away the letter and turned his gaze back to the fight in the arena.

”Lu Chao... he’s gotten stronger again.”

Marquis Longyin’s pupils contracted slightly. In the short time he’d spent reading the letter, Lu Chao’s Fist Force had grown even more terrifying, and the killing intent radiating from him felt like it was about to detonate. He couldn’t help but wonder aloud, ”Where did this killing intent come from?”

Back on the grandstands, countless people from the University and Small Institutes clenched their fists, rendered speechless by the sight.

Even Sun Shijin was staring at the fight between Lu Chao and Chang Yuan, utterly silent.

「Inside the martial arts arena...」

The six Inner Courtyard students had been attacking Luo Wendeng and the others just moments ago. Now, however, they were forced to stop, as they could be caught in the crossfire of Lu Chao and Chang Yuan’s duel at any moment.

Lu Chao and Chang Yuan were constantly trading blows and moving about; the sonic booms from their fists had just exploded right near them.

”We’re all at the Innate Ninth Layer, so how can the gap be this huge?” one of the Inner Courtyard students muttered in frustration.

Not far away, Yu Xiaoping chimed in with a smile, ”Pardon me, but Brother Lu is at the Innate Seventh Layer. The gap between you and him is just as big.”

At her words, the faces of the six Inner Courtyard students flushed red with anger.

One of them roared in fury, ”He’s a dead man! The difference between us and him is that he’ll be a corpse, and we’ll still be alive!”

Yu Xiaoping pursed her lips and ignored them, continuing to retreat with Luo Wendeng while remaining on guard.

As for the two combatants, Chang Yuan suddenly declared, ”This isn’t satisfying enough. I’m drawing my blade!”

The moment he spoke... SHIING!

The flash of a blade erupted from Chang Yuan’s hand. The blade’s shadow slashed viciously at Lu Chao, moving like a tiger baring its fangs—sharp and frenzied.

Lu Chao was violently knocked back, landing not far from the six Inner Courtyard students. Without hesitation, he dodged back again, flashing directly in front of them...

The hair on their bodies instantly stood on end. ”Fake Lu Chao, what are you doing?!”

Lu Chao replied, ”Borrowing a sword!”

With a CLANG, Lu Chao snatched the sword from one of their hands, then faced his opponent and thrust it forward. ”Slaughter Sword, First Layer Slaughter!”

As he spoke, a sword shadow imbued with his True Qi and terrifying killing intent shot straight ahead.

Another screech of metal on metal... CLANG!

But this time it was like a violent sonic boom, as Chang Yuan had already closed the distance to strike, and Lu Chao had met him with a thrust of his sword.

Sword and blade met between them, and time seemed to freeze in that instant as both combatants stopped dead in their tracks.

An unbelievable scene unfolded...

Lu Chao’s sword was pointed right at Chang Yuan’s face, its tip blocked by Chang Yuan’s blade, which he held up like a shield.