Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

Just like that...

Lu Chao first summoned Fan Jinhua, Luo Wendeng, and the others, ordering them to handle the aftermath of the battle. Then, with Cheng Yunsu and Dongfang Ren in tow, he set off toward the Azure Flame Forbidden Land.

He brought Cheng Yunsu along mainly out of concern that if Zheng Liling were to return in secret, things would get complicated if he took her hostage.

...

Meanwhile, as Lu Chao was heading to the Azure Flame Forbidden Land with Cheng Yunsu and Dongfang Ren...

Guan Zanyi was submerged in a winding river, continuously swimming away from the Azure Flame Sect. He thought to himself...

’Fake Lu Chao won. Of the six major generals at Sword Tooth City, I’m the only one left.’

’He’s taking revenge. He’s definitely taking revenge...’

’He wants to kill all six major generals, and he wants to kill the Seven Great Deans of the Beast Flame Academy, too. That bastard is far more ruthless than the real Lu Chao. I have to escape. I absolutely cannot fall into his hands.’

’After this battle, the Six Great Flame Countries will essentially be under Dragon Flame’s control, and the Saint Bone Zheng Family’s plan is all but finished.’

’I can’t go back to Tiger Flame. If I do, I’ll be handed over to Fake Lu Chao and executed.’

He pondered his next move as he fled.

...

Zheng Liling and Ming Huawan retreated into the mountain forest outside the old site of the Azure Flame Sect.

Along with them were Zeng Quan and other experts from the Three Great Flame Countries, including the deans and vice deans of the Tiger Institute and the other two major institutes.

The powerful experts quickly gathered together.

Just then, the Dean of the Tiger Institute, his eyes bloodshot, glared at Zheng Liling and demanded, ”Patriarch Zheng, our Three Flames’ soldiers and horses have been defeated! Those who weren’t killed were captured. What are we supposed to do now?”

This devastating defeat...

It meant that Tiger Flame, Wolf Flame, and Eagle Flame would be powerless to fight back, unable to resist the Dragon Flame Kingdom.

After the war with the Great Wu Empire, their forces had already suffered devastating losses. This Three Flames army had been formed by pulling half the troops from the border with the Great Wu Empire, and now, they were all gone.

At this, Zheng Liling’s expression became utterly chilling.

The Dean of Eagle Flame chimed in resentfully, ”If we’d known then what we know now, we should have done everything in our power to kill Fake Lu Chao during the battle for the Beast Flame slots. That bastard is terrifying! This time, he’s really thrown the Hundred Countries into chaos!”

Everything was going so well, but the moment Fake Lu Chao returned, the whole damn situation was turned on its head.

They deeply regretted not putting everything on the line to kill Fake Lu Chao during the battle for the Beast Flame slots.

Zheng Liling’s fists clenched tightly as well. This was a battle they absolutely could not lose, and yet they had. The Dragon Flame Kingdom’s power would now become absolute, allowing it to completely control the Six Great Flame Countries and the entire region of the Hundred Countries.

The Saint Bone Zheng Family’s grand plan to carve up the Seven Flames with the Great Wu Empire was on the verge of complete failure.

”Fake Lu Chao, Fake Lu Chao...”

Zheng Liling’s gaze was utterly frigid, his body seething with killing intent. But as for what to do now, he had no idea.

Just then, the Dean of the Wolf Flame Institute abruptly looked at Ming Huawan, his sinister voice cutting through the air. ”Patriarch Zheng, what is the meaning of you being with Ming Huawan of the Great Wu Empire? Why is he here?”

Suddenly, everyone present was taken aback.

They were right. It was far too strange for Zheng Liling to be with Ming Huawan.

Zheng Liling’s heart instantly lurched...

He could never tell the people of the Six Great Flame Countries about his plan to carve up the Seven Flames with the Great Wu Empire.

Ostensibly, Zheng Liling was using the Six Great Flame Countries to fight Dragon Flame, but in secret, he was collaborating with the Great Wu Empire to divide the Seven Flames among themselves.

Just as Zheng Liling was about to fabricate an excuse...

An eerie voice suddenly echoed from the shadows. ”Have you still not figured it out? Zheng Liling’s ambition is immense. He plans to carve up the Seven Great Flame Countries with the Great Wu Empire. You are all merely pawns in his game.”

The voice swirled in the ears of Zheng Liling and all the other experts, making the hairs on their bodies stand on end.

As for Zheng Liling... BOOM.

His True Qi erupted in a furious blast. He whipped his head toward the source of the voice and roared, ”It’s you again! Get the hell out here, you bastard!”

The speaker was, of course, the Dragon Flame King.

However, after saying his piece, he immediately departed...

Zheng Liling, of course, detected the Dragon Flame King’s escape path and was about to give chase, but the experts from Tiger Flame and the other two countries suddenly blocked him with explosive bursts of True Qi. RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

The three deans stared at Zheng Liling, Zeng Quan, and their men, demanding, ”Zheng Liling, give us an explanation.”

With his path blocked, Zheng Liling could no longer give chase.

He glared with lingering hatred in the direction the Dragon Flame King had disappeared, then turned his utterly chilling gaze to the three deans and their men. Suddenly, he spoke, his voice lethally cold, ”Zeng Quan, Elder Ming... attack!”

At Zheng Liling’s command, the experts under his banner instantly attacked the experts of the Three Flames.

After a fierce battle...

The three deans and their followers were all struck down by Zheng Liling and his men.

The Dean of the Tiger Institute lay on the ground, glaring daggers at Zheng Liling...

”Saint Bone Zheng Family... such immense ambition. You really intend to carve up the Seven Flames.”

”You hypocritical scum.”

However, Zheng Liling simply took a deep breath. He crouched down with a smile and spoke softly to the three deans...

”That’s right. My ambition is just that great.”

”But, Dean of the Tiger Institute, think for a moment about the fate of the deans from the Lion, Leopard, and Fox Institutes.”

As his words landed, the Dean of the Tiger Institute and the others stared wide-eyed. All three of those deans had been driven to their deaths by Fake Lu Chao.

”Now, Fake Lu Chao and Dragon Flame are growing ever stronger. If you return to your own kingdoms, only death awaits you. You will be forced to your deaths by the likes of the Tiger Flame King and the other two Flame Kings as a way to appease Dragon Flame and Fake Lu Chao.”

”Do you... want to die?”

The three deans trembled, exchanging glances.

Next, Fake Lu Chao and the Dragon Flame Kingdom will advance unopposed, cutting a path straight to the battlegrounds of the Tri-Institute Tournament.

When they pass through, the Flame Kings of Tiger Flame and the other two nations will have no choice but to submit.

And during the battle for the Beast Flame slots, they nearly drove Fake Lu Chao and the others from the Dragon Flame Academy to their deaths. Fake Lu Chao would never spare them.

”Follow me. When the time comes, you can join the Great Wu Empire and save your own lives.”

”I have a plan now. We will have one more chance to crush the Dragon Flame Kingdom: the Tri-Institute Tournament...”

”As long as you’re around, the Beast Flame Inner Courtyard will still exist.”

”At that time, we can coordinate with the students from the Great Wu Empire’s academies, attacking from both inside and out to kill Fake Lu Chao...”

”Once Fake Lu Chao is dead, the momentum the Dragon Flame Kingdom has built up will crumble.”

”Then we can begin our counterattack. Using the Great Wu Empire’s forces, we will charge into the Hundred Countries. With your influence, you can make Tiger Flame and the other two Flame Countries join forces with the Great Wu Empire and march straight for the Dragon Flame Kingdom.”

Having said this, Zheng Liling slowly rose to his feet...

He stared down at the deans of the Tiger Institute and the other two, asking, ”So, will you go back to be sold out by your Flame Kings, or will you work with me?”

Hearing this, the three deans ground their teeth.

Returning meant certain death...

But siding with Zheng Liling, while it meant ultimately submitting to the Great Wu Empire, at least offered them a chance to live... and more importantly, a chance to get revenge on Fake Lu Chao and continue to protect their families.

Finally, the Dean of Eagle Flame spoke up. ”We await Patriarch Zheng’s command.”