Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

Wu Zhiqiu’s voice thundered across the arena, sharp and decisive.

In an instant, Lu Dingtian’s expression twisted, his face flush with rage. His eyes, fixed on Wu Zhiqiu, were filled with murderous intent.

He was the one who had convicted Lu Chao.

It was just as written on the Blood Stele: patricide to seize the talisman, the massacre of prisoners and countless innocent civilians. As long as this conviction stood, he, Lu Dingtian, could maneuver freely within the Great Wu Empire.

But now...

Wu Zhiqiu had just declared Lu Chao innocent, completely wiping away the conviction he had fabricated.

’And by saying I framed him, he’s basically trying to convict me instead!’

At that moment, Lu Dingkong, carrying an unconscious Lu Hanyang on his back, came to Lu Dingtian’s side. ”Grand Marshal, what should we do? It seems this Wu Zhiqiu is determined to fight you to the bitter end.”

With an announcement like that, only one of them—Wu Zhiqiu or Lu Dingtian—would be able to return to the Great Wu Imperial City alive.

Not only had Lu Dingtian failed to force Wu Zhiqiu into submission, but he had also pushed him over to Lu Chao’s side. This was something Lu Dingtian had never anticipated; he never thought this Second Prince was actually so audacious.

On the arena stage, Cheng Yunsu walked to Lu Chao’s side, gazing deeply at her husband. ”Lu Chao,” she said, ”your name is finally cleared.”

Although Lu Chao had never said a word, Cheng Yunsu knew how much it weighed on his heart.

The patricide and theft of the talisman was one thing, but what truly bothered him was the false accusation of slaughtering innocent civilians. He had once fought for the Great Wu Empire; it was impossible for him to feel nothing for this land and its people.

Lu Chao would never want to be remembered for such an infamy.

He had erased the words from the Blood Stele, but he still needed someone to proclaim his innocence to the world.

Just then, Lu Chao closed his eyes. He spoke softly, ”Not yet. For my name to be truly cleared, Lu Dingtian has to die. Otherwise, His Highness the Second Prince Wu Zhiqiu won’t make it back to the Great Wu Imperial City.”

He was keenly aware of the power Lu Dingtian wielded within the Great Wu Empire.

Even if the Emperor of Great Wu himself had made the announcement instead of the Second Prince, it might not have been enough. The only way was to bring Lu Dingtian down.

As a hush fell over the arena...

Wu Zhiqiu continued, ”Lu Dingtian, not only did you frame General Lu Chao for patricide and seizing the talisman, you also framed him for slaughtering prisoners and innocent civilians. Your sins are grievous and unforgivable...”

”On behalf of my Imperial Father, I hereby strip you, Lu Dingtian, of your command over the army and seize your Grand Marshal of Great Wu’s Tiger Talisman Military Order.”

”You are to be escorted back to the Great Wu Imperial City to face judgment.”

Wu Zhiqiu’s voice once again thundered across the arena, each word deliberately spoken to clear Lu Chao’s name while pinning the crimes on Lu Dingtian.

The high-ranking officials of the Great Wu Empire who had followed Wu Zhiqiu trembled uncontrollably...

This was truly a world-shaking event.

Now, one of them had to die—either the Second Prince or Lu Dingtian. And as followers of the Second Prince, they too were plunged into a life-or-death crisis.

”All subjects of the Great Wu Empire, heed my command! Arrest Lu Dingtian!” Wu Zhiqiu commanded forcefully once more.

But no one moved. No one dared to step forward.

Lu Dingtian’s face was cold, but a slow smile spread across it as he looked at Wu Zhiqiu. ”Second Prince, are you drunk?”

Seeing that no one dared to move, Lu Dingtian instantly dismissed Wu Zhiqiu’s words. All that mattered to him now was that the prince’s defiance was preventing him from shattering the present stalemate.

’And if I can’t shatter the stalemate, I can’t kill Lu Chao.’

Wu Zhiqiu gritted his teeth, refusing to yield. ”Lu Dingtian, General Lu Chao is right here. The evidence is irrefutable. Do you still intend to quibble?”

The matter of the three Heavenly Destiny Saint Bones was crystal clear. Everyone knew Lu Chao was innocent.

Lu Chao reclaiming his Heavenly Destiny Saint Bone was the proof!

Suddenly, Lu Dingtian faced Wu Zhiqiu... THUMP!

He took a heavy step forward...

”Second Prince, it seems you are not drunk. In that case, you must be confused, bewitched by this sinner, Lu Chao... Lu Chao claimed he was a manifestation of a Fierce Ghost. It seems you, Second Prince, have also been possessed by a Fierce Ghost.”

”Guards! The Wu Zhiqiu before you is no longer the Second Prince! He is a thing possessed by a Fierce Ghost!”

”Kill him! There will be a handsome reward!”

The moment he said this, the entire arena was stunned. Lu Dingtian had just publicly ordered the death of the Second Prince of Great Wu.

Even Wu Zhiqiu’s own retinue hadn’t anticipated Lu Dingtian being so tyrannical. They thought that even if he wanted the prince dead, he would never do it so openly. But with the simple excuse of possession by a Fierce Ghost, he had ordered his execution.

Instantly, the palms of the men from Great Wu grew sweaty. They were at a complete loss.

Lu Dingtian’s gaze swept over all the people from Great Wu. ”If you don’t want your entire clan exterminated, then kill this Fierce Ghost of a Second Prince,” he added.

So utterly tyrannical...

At this, one by one, succumbing to Lu Dingtian’s pressure, they pointed their trembling swords at Wu Zhiqiu.

”Second Prince, what do we do?”

The eyes of the high-ranking Great Wu officials behind Wu Zhiqiu were filled with terror.

Yet, hesitation flickered in the eyes of others. It was clear that some of the people Wu Zhiqiu had brought with him were considering defecting to Lu Dingtian.

But Wu Zhiqiu was calmer than anyone...

All of a sudden, he whispered to the expert guards by his side, ”Take me to Lu Chao and the Dragon Flame faction immediately. Our only path to survival is under General Lu Chao’s protection. It’s our only way out.”

He had said before that defying Lu Dingtian was a death sentence.

But Wu Zhiqiu had suddenly thought of a path to survival: Lu Chao. Only Lu Chao could stand against Lu Dingtian.

In a flash...

The few expert guards beside him took advantage of a moment of inattention, grabbed Wu Zhiqiu, and darted towards the students and instructors of Dragon Flame Academy...

...in the direction of Dean Jiang, Yu Fei, and the others.

But the very instant Wu Zhiqiu and his guards made their move... BOOM!

Someone behind him launched a surprise attack.

Someone had indeed decided to betray Wu Zhiqiu and side with Lu Dingtian, but their attempt failed because the prince had moved first.

In an instant, the high viewing platform where Wu Zhiqiu had just been standing erupted into chaos...

”You dogs! How dare you move against the Second Prince?” an elderly man, the grandfather of one of the students, glared at the betrayers.

A betrayer’s voice was chilling. ”A wise man knows his place. Lu Chao is a criminal, but Marshal Lu is the stabilizing force of the Great Wu Empire.”

A second betrayer added in a low, cold voice, ”Kill them...”

The high-ranking officials of the Great Wu Empire that Wu Zhiqiu had brought with him began to fight amongst themselves.

「Meanwhile...」

Lu Dingtian and his contingent from Great Wu watched as Wu Zhiqiu was escorted from the viewing platform by his expert guards...

Lu Dingtian was the first to act, bellowing, ”Follow me! Kill the Second Prince possessed by the Fierce Ghost!”

He shot forward, charging toward Wu Zhiqiu and his guards.

But Dongfang Ren wasn’t about to let him succeed. The other members of Dragon Flame began to move. The people from Dragon Flame Academy and the Small Kingdoms, led by Dean Jiang and Yu Fei, also rushed toward Wu Zhiqiu’s group.

”Move out! Protect the Second Prince of the Great Wu Empire!”

Yin Ye also gave the order, intercepting Lu Dingtian’s direct subordinates.

The scene instantly devolved into utter chaos.