Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

In response to Lu Hanyan’s imperious words, Ming Huasheng nodded with a cold smile and continued to stride forward, his True Qi surging.

His gaze was fixed on Lu Chao, his murderous intent erupting uncontrollably.

”Fake Lu Chao, before I take you back to Great Wu, I’ll break both your arms and legs,” Ming Huasheng snarled, his voice squeezed from between his teeth. ’Even if I can’t kill him just yet, I’ll make him pay a hefty price.’

Lu Chao did not reply.

Fan Changcun spoke again. ”Daughter of Lu Dingtian, is this how you extend an invitation? You want to kill Junior Brother Sun and break Lu Chao’s arms and legs. Do you really think I will willingly teach you the Soldier Dao?”

Lu Hanyan laughed again. ”My apologies, Marshal Fan, but on certain matters, I must prioritize the bigger picture.”

This ”bigger picture,” of course, was their cooperation with the Saint Bone Zheng Family.

Furthermore, the Fake Lu Chao had to be publicly executed. This was to answer for the battle at Sword Tooth City and to send a message to the entire Great Wu Empire: whether it was the real Lu Chao or the Fake Lu Chao...

...anyone who made an enemy of the Grand Marshal’s Mansion was doomed to die.

As for whether Fan Changcun was willing or not...

...it didn’t matter in the slightest. Once he was in their hands, they would make him willing. Otherwise, he would face a fate worse than death.

”Besides, Marshal Fan, you still have a grandson and granddaughter. We will find a way to ’invite’ them to the Great Wu Empire as well,” Lu Hanyan added softly, her words still dripping with imperious threats.

Fan Changcun seemed too furious to speak. He trembled as he took two steps back, his body coming to rest against the Barrier.

Lu Chao also retreated, leaning back against the Barrier, while Sun Shijin moved to stand protectively in front of them.

Seeing Sun Shijin shielding Lu Chao and Fan Changcun, the approaching Ming Huasheng sneered. ”Sun Shijin of Dragon Flame. Nothing but a piece of trash. You can be the first to go to Hell.”

The instant he finished speaking, Ming Huasheng unleashed his Heavenly Destiny Saint Bone True Qi, striking out at Sun Shijin with his palm.

Sun Shijin dared not hesitate. He unleashed all his True Qi to meet Ming Huasheng’s attack...

In an instant, their palms met... SPURT!

A spray of blood erupted from Sun Shijin’s mouth. He was clearly no match for Ming Huasheng.

But at that very moment...

Fan Changcun, who had seemed both anxious and enraged, suddenly snapped his eyes open.

He slapped one hand against the Barrier and placed the other on Sun Shijin’s back. His aged voice suddenly rang out...

”Ming Huasheng, enter the Illusion Realm with me.”

As his voice fell, a low HUM sounded from behind him.

Fan Changcun immediately sank into the Barrier. Sun Shijin, already prepared, twisted around, grabbed hold of Ming Huasheng, and followed Fan Changcun inside... After all, a Master of Martial Arts could bring others into the Barrier with them.

Sun Shijin had willingly followed Fan Changcun into the Barrier, forcefully dragging Ming Huasheng along with him.

Next, just as Lu Chao had predicted, they would lure Ming Huasheng to the 6th Floor... and trap him in the space between the 6th and 7th Floors, leaving him with no way out.

As soon as they were inside the Barrier, Fan Changcun immediately began to break through the first layer.

Sun Shijin then said coldly, ”Ming Huasheng, if you use your True Qi, the Barrier will eject you.”

In response, Ming Huasheng let out a cold laugh.

”Of course I won’t use my True Qi. Lu Hanyan and I fully expected you to use the Barrier to escape.”

”It was always my plan to follow you into the Azure Flame Forbidden Land. We’ll pincer you, leaving you with no way to advance or retreat.”

By this point, Ming Huasheng had already suppressed all his True Qi.

Sun Shijin’s pale face grew colder, and he immediately clenched his fists. ’Ming Huasheng’s reaction is only natural. The three of us were right by the first layer of the Barrier; anyone could have guessed we’d use it to escape.’

’For now, I’ll ignore everything else and stick to the plan.’

「Outside the first layer of the Barrier...」

Only Lu Chao and Lu Hanyan remained, facing each other.

Lu Hanyan was still smiling, completely unfazed by what had just transpired. She even chuckled and said, ”Fake Lu Chao, aren’t you wondering why I didn’t scream and shout?”

Beneath his mask, Lu Chao’s expression was serene.

The mask, of course, betrayed nothing.

When Lu Chao didn’t respond, Lu Hanyan continued with a smile, ”Anyone could see you were planning to use the Azure Flame Forbidden Land to escape. Even if Fan Changcun hadn’t dragged Patriarch Ming into the Barrier, he would have followed you in voluntarily.”

”That way, you imposter, you’re left with no path of retreat. We can pincer you, leaving you absolutely no chance of escape.”

Once inside the first layer of the Forbidden Land...

...Ming Huasheng could block Lu Chao’s path of retreat from within.

In other words, if Lu Chao tried to enter the first layer of the Forbidden Land now, Ming Huasheng would be there to stop him.

”A clever scheme,” Lu Chao’s cold voice sounded from beneath his mask.

Lu Hanyan laughed again at his words.

”Do you know why Patriarch Ming and I stood out here in the open, waiting for you to appear?”

Just moments before, from behind the first layer of the Barrier, Lu Chao realized they didn’t have to come out at all.

As long as his group remained hidden, Lu Hanyan would have been powerless against them.

Unless Lu Hanyan decided to break through the Forbidden Land as well.

”It’s because you *had* to come out.”

”Even if you saw Patriarch Ming and me lying in wait for you, you still would have come out. You knew full well that the Three Great Flame Countries had already begun their attack... If you didn’t emerge, Dragon Flame Academy would be annihilated.”

”Patriarch Ming and I had no need to hide in the shadows.”

Her meaning was clear: ’Even if you knew we were here, you had to take the risk and come out.’

”If I’m not mistaken...”

”...your plan was for Fan Changcun and Sun Shijin to lure Patriarch Ming into the Forbidden Land, while you either dealt with me alone or tried to slip away right under my nose to regroup with Dragon Flame Academy.”

Lu Hanyan continued to laugh, laying Lu Chao’s entire plan bare.

But then, Lu Chao took a step forward. From beneath his mask, he replied softly, ”You’re absolutely right.”

”Hee hee hee...”

Lu Hanyan couldn’t help but shake with laughter. ”Then why aren’t you praising me? Praise me in my Brother Chao’s tone. It’s been so long since I’ve been praised by my Brother Chao. I miss it terribly.”

Hearing this, Lu Chao’s eyes turned icy cold.

Back at the Grand Marshal’s Mansion, whenever Lu Hanyan accomplished something impressive or made progress, Lu Chao would always praise her.

And now, even though she didn’t know she was facing the real Lu Chao, she still craved that same praise. It seemed she found it thrilling, allowing her to reminisce about those so-called happy times.

Suddenly, Lu Chao spoke slowly from under his mask. ”Little Sister Hanyan, that was beautifully done.”

His voice, soft and detached, washed over Lu Hanyan.

Lu Hanyan, who had been roaring with laughter, suddenly froze.

An incredibly familiar feeling erupted from the depths of her heart. In a trance, it was as if she were seeing the real Lu Chao.

The next moment... BOOM!

Lu Chao’s True Qi from the Third Layer of Transformation erupted. Gripping his Sword, he advanced on Lu Hanyan step by step, his voice sounding from beneath his mask once more. ”But Little Sister Hanyan, you should be more humble. Otherwise, you might just get tripped up by your own carelessness.”