Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

That’s right. The men in royal robes on the mountaintop were the kings of several small kingdoms.

When the Descendants of Azure Flame threw the Hundred Countries into chaos, they had cut a path through the small kingdoms, taking their kings hostage and forcing their soldiers to join the Azure Flame Sect. This was how they rescued their families and fought their way to Jilong State!

As the Lion Flame Commander spoke, Lu Chao took out a mask. ”That’s right,” he said. ”This is what we love to do most.”

With that, Lu Chao placed the mask on his face, and his entire aura changed drastically.

The presence he exuded was almost identical to the real Lu Chao’s, making the Lion Flame Commander’s heart tremble uncontrollably.

’Even though I know he’s a fake, it’s just like back at Sword Tooth City. The moment the Fake Lu Chao puts on that mask, I’m terrified.’

Suppressing the fear in his heart, the Lion Flame Commander roared, ”Fake Lu Chao, you’re already a Junior General of the Dragon Flame Kingdom! How dare you take the kings of small kingdoms hostage? The Dragon Flame Kingdom is violating a major taboo!”

Lu Chao’s voice rang out from beneath the mask. ”Spare me the accusations. My only goal is to eliminate you, the spy from Nanye.”

As he spoke, Lu Chao drew his spear with a sharp SHIING.

The aura of his Dragon General Bone washed over the two thousand-plus members of the Dragon Flame Academy behind him, igniting their will to fight. In the next moment, True Qi erupted from his body—the unmistakable True Qi of the Transformation Realm.

That’s right...

After cultivating in the Divine Bone Nine Sons Array, Lu Chao had broken through from the Innate Eighth Layer he was at when he killed Ming Yi all the way to the First Layer of the Transformation Realm.

He was frantically catching up to his former self.

”Men of Dragon Flame Academy, charge with me! Eradicate the Nanye spy!” Lu Chao roared once more.

RUMBLE...

The crowd right behind him erupted with power.

Fire Sparrows shrieked around Cheng Yunsu, revealing that she, too, had reached the First Layer of Transformation.

Luo Wendeng and the others likewise unleashed their True Qi. All five members of the Azure Flame group had reached the Innate Ninth Layer.

Wu Caicai and Iron Shield were equally impressive, having also reached the Innate Ninth Layer.

The siblings Jiang Yi and Jiang Yu, along with Wu Yue, were slightly behind, having only reached the Innate Seventh Layer.

But the speed of their progress was absolutely horrifying. After their time cultivating in the Divine Bone Nine Sons Array, nearly all of them had attained a Top-level Heavenly Bone. Combined with a massive infusion of Elixir Pills and other resources, their power had fully erupted.

As their power surged, the several hundred youths from Azure Flame raised a battle cry...

The blood of everyone from Dragon Flame Academy began to boil in response.

Lu Chao paused for a breath, then roared, ”Kill!”

With that one word, he spurred his horse forward. More than two thousand people, surging with explosive True Qi, charged right behind him.

Because of Lu Chao’s Dragon General Bone and his own martial will as the former Great Martial Emperor Star, the True Qi of all his followers seemed to merge with his own power. It was as if they had all formed a single, colossal spear, hurtling forward.

Across the field, the Lion Flame Commander felt a chill shoot up from the soles of his feet. It was as if he were dreaming, transported back to the battlefields between Great Wu and the Hundred Countries.

As if he were once again facing that terrifying Great Martial Emperor Star.

He bit down hard on his lip and commanded the Lion Flame soldiers to meet Dragon Flame Academy’s charge. But perhaps due to the fear in his heart, his opening move was surprisingly defensive.

In other words, shields to the front.

At the same time, he issued orders to watch out for the hostage forces from the small kingdoms. In that instant, the disparity in their momentum became obvious.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the Lion Institute growled, ”I’ll go first and kill that Fake Lu Chao.”

With that, a powerful True Qi erupted from him as he prepared to cut down Lu Chao with his superior Martial Dao...

But just then... HUMMM!

A beam of sword light descended from the sky, slashing toward the Dean of the Lion Institute as Sun Shijin’s voice rang out. ”Your opponent is me.”

The Dean of the Lion Institute stopped and looked up, snorting coldly. ”Sun Shijin. You think you alone are enough to stop me?”

In response, Sun Shijin’s True Qi erupted...

”We remember everything you Beast Flame higher-ups did a few months ago. All your schemes and dirty tricks against our Dragon Flame Academy. We haven’t forgotten a single thing. It wasn’t that we wouldn’t seek revenge; the time simply hadn’t come.”

”But now, the time has come. We will completely eradicate this rot.”

With that, the two powerhouses clashed.

Meanwhile, Lu Chao led the forces of Dragon Flame Academy, crashing like a giant spear into the Lion Flame soldiers. They smashed directly into the Lion Flame Commander, who had also formed a defensive formation, and the impact instantly tore a hole in the Lion Flame ranks.

The Lion Flame soldiers were sent flying, men and horses thrown into chaos!

The Lion Flame Commander stumbled back uncontrollably, blood already trickling from the corner of his mouth.

He was completely incapable of merging his troops into a single entity like Lu Chao had. That was why his line had been so easily broken.

Lu Chao’s voice rang out from beneath his mask once more...

”Soldiers of the hostage kingdoms, did you see that?”

”Even when facing the armies of the Six Great Flame Countries, my Dragon Flame Academy knows no fear! Now, after three volleys of arrows, charge!”

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Following Lu Chao’s command, the hostage soldiers from the small kingdoms, who had been lying in ambush, unleashed a relentless barrage of arrows.

The rain of arrows fell upon the Lion Flame troops.

After three volleys, a great war cry erupted. The hostage soldiers from the small kingdoms charged, coordinating with Lu Chao’s spearhead into the Lion Flame ranks. The battlefield instantly became a bloodbath—but it was a bloodbath only for the Lion Flame army.

Caught between the sudden ambush of the hostage soldiers and the overwhelming force of Lu Chao’s charge, the Lion Flame army’s morale plummeted.

「On the distant mountaintop...」

The kings of the small kingdoms couldn’t help but pump their fists in the air and shout, ”Kill them! Kill those Lion Flame soldiers!”

Behind them, one of the Descendants of Azure Flame guarding them said, ”My dear kings, please, restrain yourselves. You’re hostages right now. You need to act the part. Don’t let the Lion Flame army realize you’re willing participants.”

Hearing this, the kings quickly lowered their fists and smiled sheepishly.

That’s right. This time, they had become hostages voluntarily.

On their way down from Jilong State, Lu Chao and his group had passed through several small kingdoms and had, of course, sent people to contact their kings. As mentioned before, these small kingdoms were located near the Dragon Flame Kingdom and were its supporters.

Furthermore, their own academy deans had previously accompanied Dongfang Ren to the Dragon Flame Kingdom.

Some things had been arranged long in advance.

Why didn’t Lu Chao need the Dragon Flame Kingdom to dispatch its army? Because he could use the armies of the small kingdoms. Along his route, the forces of at least several dozen small kingdoms would join him.

Among them, the Small Institutes from nineteen of these small kingdoms were the very ones that had become the Beast Flame Outer Courtyard.

But on the surface...

Lu Chao wasn’t revealing that these were prior arrangements. He maintained the pretense of taking kings hostage to once again throw the Hundred Countries into chaos.

At this moment, the Mad Snow King spoke up.

”We couldn’t hold back,” he said.

”Those damn Six Great Flame Countries don’t treat us like kings, they don’t even treat us like people! The first time the Descendants of Azure Flame threw the Hundred Countries into chaos, they were ready to sacrifice us hostage kings. They never had any intention of saving us.”

”I could have let that slide, but during the battle for the Beast Flame enrollment spots...”

As he spoke of this, the Mad Snow King’s mouth twitched, his eyes filled with seething hatred.

”During that battle, if it hadn’t been for Lu Chao and Dragon Flame Academy, the Small Institutes wouldn’t have stood a chance. They weren’t given even the slightest opportunity.”