Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

The Knight Leader then gave Lu Chao a detailed report, explaining their failure to hunt down Zheng Liling and Nan Zhuiming and how they had spotted the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf with a black figure on its back.

Xiaozhu’s grandfather was also there, his teeth chattering slightly...

”The powerhouse from the Cyan Sword Great Empire... they’re really here. How did they get here so fast?”

In the minds of Wu Zhiqiu and the others, even if a powerhouse from the Cyan Sword Great Empire was coming, it should have taken at least a few more days.

After Yan Mu was so badly injured, he would surely have sent a message back...

The powerhouse from the Cyan Sword Great Empire should still have been on Cyan Sword Mountain, only setting out after receiving the message. Factoring in the speed of a Sword-Winged Ice Wolf and other variables, it should have taken five or six days, right?

But that wasn’t the case. They had arrived in just two and a half days.

What they didn’t know was that Mo Jing had already visited the temporary town, given the Face-removing Sand to Lu Dingtian, and then started back toward Cyan Sword Mountain. However, he had received a sudden report that Young Master Yan Mu had willfully set out on his own, so he had turned around and rushed back.

On his way back, he had happened to miss encountering Yan Mu and his group.

That, of course, was why he arrived so quickly...

Lu Chao’s expression was grim. He nodded slightly. ”Mm, I understand. For now, wait in the air for my command.”

And so, the Knight Leader led several hundred knights back into the sky.

Lu Chao’s gaze turned frosty to the extreme. He took a deep breath, then looked at Wu Zhiqiu. ”Your Highness, this is no longer as simple as sending out a notice. What comes next will likely be... the battle to defend Great Wu.”

At Lu Chao’s words, Wu Zhiqiu and the others froze. ’What the hell?’

Lu Chao abruptly pulled his warhorse to a halt. He then summoned all his core personnel—including those from the Great Wu Empire, the Dragon Flame Kingdom, and the various Small Kingdoms—and immediately began a council of war.

”Let’s assume this powerhouse from Cyan Sword is terrifyingly strong, pinning us down completely and making it impossible for us to pursue Lu Dingtian...”

”Then what will Lu Dingtian do?”

Hearing Lu Chao’s question, everyone looked at each other, nonplussed.

Yin Ye was the first to speak...

”Lu Dingtian conspired with the Cyan Sword Great Empire. He originally planned to help Yan Mu from the shadows without revealing himself, but now he’s been completely exposed. To aid Yan Mu, he must... seize the entire Great Wu Empire.”

”If we’re held up here, Lu Dingtian will immediately lead his troops and march straight for the Great Wu Imperial City.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Zhiqiu’s jaw dropped.

All the personnel from the Great Wu Empire stared at one another, their faces gradually turning ashen.

”Marquis Yin is right...”

Lu Chao said, then turned back to Wu Zhiqiu. ”Therefore, Your Highness, you must prepare for a showdown with Lu Dingtian. You must use this time to leave the battlefield immediately and return to the Great Wu Imperial City.”

Hearing this, Wu Zhiqiu nodded solemnly, not daring to delay. He took Xiaozhu’s grandfather and the other people of Great Wu and departed in secret.

They knew full well that the very survival of the Great Wu Empire was at stake.

After Wu Zhiqiu and his group left, Lu Chao turned to the people around him. ”Ahead of us, not far from Yangzhou City, is Zhengyang Mountain. We will set up our positions there and welcome a... terrifying Cyan Sword Powerhouse, the likes of which we have never faced before!”

Lu Chao’s words brought a nostalgic look to the faces of Cheng Yunsu, Wu Caicai, Luo Wendeng, and the others.

It was on Zhengyang Mountain that they had first clashed with Lu Hanyan’s forces. That had been a battle of life and death, a desperate flight for survival. The Descendants of Azure Flame, in particular, wore expressions of sorrow.

Here, their elders had failed in their attempt to assassinate Lu Hanyan and had been wiped out completely.

In Zhengyang Mountain’s Canyang Valley...

Of the five thousand Descendants of the Azure Flame Sect, only two thousand had survived. The valley was a burial ground for their friends and family.

It was there that Yu Xiaoping had nearly been humiliated and killed, and Lu Chao had been the one to save them.

Looking at the crowd, Lu Chao continued to speak...

”The Cyan Sword Great Empire intends to invade with Yan Mu as its commander. We were bound to face a Cyan Sword Powerhouse sooner or later.”

”Whether our Azure Flame Domain has any chance of fighting back against the Cyan Sword Great Empire will depend on just what level of existence this powerhouse is. Perhaps we will all... die here.”

At these words, everyone’s expression grew heavy again, as if they were suffocating...

They had no idea just how strong a powerhouse from the Cyan Sword Great Empire could be. Perhaps with a single, casual strike, hundreds of thousands of soldiers could be completely annihilated.

”But there’s no need to worry too much...”

”We were able to handle the Sword-Winged Ice Wolf before, and we could also handle Yan Mu’s Black-armored Niu Dong. So, while this Cyan Sword Powerhouse might be very strong, he shouldn’t be so powerful that he can wipe out hundreds of thousands of soldiers with a wave of his hand.”

Lu Chao gently reassured everyone...

Afterward, they resumed their pursuit of Lu Dingtian, but in reality, they were busy setting up ambushes in Zhengyang Mountain.

Before long... AROOO!

A slightly smaller Sword-Winged Ice Wolf appeared in the sky above Zhengyang Mountain.

Lu Chao and the others immediately spotted the figure in black on the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf’s back, as well as Nan Zhuiming and the other two.

His fists clenched slightly...

Lu Chao immediately gave a low shout, ”Everyone, halt! Hide according to my previous arrangements, and all archers, nock your arrows and prepare to fire!”

The words had barely left his mouth when a terrifying aura crashed down upon them.

The moment the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf appeared above Zhengyang Mountain...

A powerful aura had already locked onto Lu Chao, making him feel as if the True Qi throughout his body was about to solidify.

But almost instantly, the Life-taking Star-devouring Bone trembled slightly, and his True Qi began to flow freely once more.

At the same time, Dongfang Ren, who had the highest cultivation realm among those near Lu Chao, forced out in a strained, aged voice, ”My True Qi has almost completely solidified. The figure in black up there is definitely far stronger than Yan Mu’s Black Armor Guard.”

Sun Shijin also spoke under his breath, ”That Black-armored Niu Dong was likely in the Creation Realm. This person must be Above the Creation Realm.”

As soon as he said it... WHOOSH!

The Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf stirred up a frigid gale as it locked onto Lu Chao and descended.

At the same time, a cold voice boomed from atop the ice wolf, ”Lu Dingtian, no need to run. Get over here, now!”

Elsewhere on a Zhengyang Mountain path, Lu Dingtian, who was in the middle of a frantic escape, froze upon hearing the voice. A moment later, he turned back, ecstatic.

He shot a vicious grin at Lu Dingkong and the others beside him. ”He’s here! The great powerhouse from Cyan Sword has arrived! Our chance to turn the tables is here! That rebellious son Lu Chao is a dead man.”

With that, Lu Dingtian immediately gave another order, ”I’ll go find that lord first. You all lead the troops and follow me.”

Summoning a Flying Bird Demon Beast, Lu Dingtian mounted it and rushed off in the direction of Mo Jing’s voice.

Lu Dingkong and the others also felt their morale instantly restored.

They immediately had the fleeing Great Wu Soldiers and Horses regroup and turn back to charge toward Lu Chao’s position.

Meanwhile...

While Lu Dingtian was still on his way, Lu Chao remained on his warhorse, spear in hand, coldly staring at the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf that had landed opposite him, meeting Mo Jing’s gaze.