Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

SWOOSH...

Lu Chao, with Cheng Yunsu in tow, descended from the Flying Feather Black Eagle, landing near the Azure Flame Sect.

Although several days had passed, Lu Chao certainly couldn’t just swagger into the Azure Flame Sect. Heaven knew if Mo Jing and Chi Xingxun were still locked in a fierce battle inside.

They were no match for either side.

After landing, Lu Chao scanned the surroundings and said, ”There are traces of a battle involving a Sword-Winged Ice Wolf. The fighting was intense.”

As he spoke, the two of them spotted the body of a Blood Sword Guard...

”Died about ten days ago.”

Lu Chao spoke softly again, then continued to observe as they walked before making another judgment...

”Chi Xingxun lost to Mo Jing here and fled back to the Azure Flame Sect. He’s likely using the Forbidden Land to play for time against Mo Jing.”

With that, he led Cheng Yunsu as they snuck back toward the Azure Flame Sect, soon arriving outside the Forbidden Land.

Hidden in the dark forest outside the Forbidden Land, Lu Chao saw more bodies scattered about—all of them Yan Soul Guards. But these corpses were arranged neatly, a clear sign that someone had collected them after the battle.

”The bodies are arranged so neatly. Does that mean the battle is over, or...?” Cheng Yunsu asked, puzzled.

Suddenly... THUMP THUMP THUMP.

The soft sound of footsteps echoed as a figure emerged from the Forbidden Land, muttering and cursing.

”This damn Illusion Realm in the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land is tough as hell.”

”I’ve become a damn Corpse Guardian. Who knows when Mo Jing will be back.”

”And I wonder if that guy Nan Zhuiming managed to assassinate Fan Changcun, or what’s happening with the Saint Bone Zheng Family now. Dammit, to think I was once the master here, only for that bastard Lu Chao to screw it all up.”

As he muttered, the figure slowly walked out from the Forbidden Land.

Upon seeing the man, Lu Chao couldn’t help but laugh. He suddenly called out, ”Zeng Quan, who are you cursing?”

That’s right. The person who had walked out of the Forbidden Land was none other than Zeng Quan.

As the former head of the Beast Flame Academy, he could indeed be considered a past master of this place. But aside from the quota battles, the Beast Flame Academy never truly got off the ground, and now, reopening it was practically impossible.

And at the sound of Lu Chao’s voice, the hair on Zeng Quan’s entire body stood on end. He shrieked instinctively, ”Who’s there?”

When he saw Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu emerge from the forest... THUD!

Zeng Quan plopped right down on his butt.

’He just called Lu Chao a bastard! Is he really going to get himself killed by Lu Chao over one careless curse?’

His teeth chattered as he stammered, ”I-I-I wasn’t cursing anyone... You must have misheard.”

Zeng Quan decided to deny it to his dying breath.

But Lu Chao just smiled, and then his gaze suddenly sharpened. ”Tell me the status of the battle between Yan Soul and Red Sword.”

He had no time to bicker about Zeng Quan’s muttering; he cut straight to the chase.

GULP. He swallowed hard...

Zeng Quan finally scrambled to his feet, trembling. He looked fearfully at Lu Chao and, of course, had no choice but to recount everything that had happened.

”Ten days ago, right after encountering Mo Jing, Red Sword City was reduced to just five people. They fled into the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land. Mo Jing ordered all the Yan Soul Guards to wait outside while he went in after them alone.”

”Three days ago, the five from Red Sword City suddenly fought their way out of the Forbidden Land, and the Yan Soul Guards engaged them in a frantic battle.”

”Because Mo Jing was still inside the Forbidden Land, many of the remaining Yan Soul Guards were killed. In the end, they only managed to take down two of the Blood Sword Guards, and the Young City Lord of Red Sword City, that Commander with the surname Ke, and some Sword Attendant managed to escape.”

”Of course, they were also severely injured...”

”After the three from Red Sword City fled, it took Mo Jing a full half-day to emerge. According to him, the layers of Barriers in the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land were too strange, and the people from Red Sword City had managed to slow him down.”

”In short, Mo Jing didn’t want to let anyone from Red Sword City go, so he took the remaining Yan Soul Guards and went after them.”

”He just left me here alone to watch the bodies.”

As Lu Chao listened to Zeng Quan’s account, a clear picture formed in his mind.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Chao asked, ”Which direction did the three from Red Sword City flee?”

The answer was: toward Great Wu.

Lu Chao’s expression darkened instantly. If they fled toward the Great Wu Empire, there was a high probability that Mo Jing would go to support Lu Dingtian.

Whether or not Mo Jing had dealt with Chi Xingxun, he would definitely get involved in the affairs of the Great Wu Empire.

Thinking of this, Lu Chao turned to Zeng Quan and asked, ”Can you send a direct message to Mo Jing now?”

Zeng Quan’s answer was, of course: yes, he could now.

”Excellent. Now, take out your paper and write a letter. I’ll dictate, you write.” Lu Chao was as direct as ever.

Zeng Quan froze. ’What is Lu Chao trying to use me for now?’

But he was all alone now and certainly didn’t dare to cause trouble. He could only take out the letter paper and prepare to write...

Lu Chao immediately began to dictate: ”Lord Mo Jing, I have received news that Nan Zhuiming has failed once again to assassinate Fan Changcun. Four Yan Soul Guards were killed by Lu Chao. Using the captured Nan Zhuiming, they infiltrated the Nanye Imperial City and have already taken over the entire Nanye Dynasty.”

And so, Lu Chao dictated, and Zeng Quan wrote...

As he wrote, Zeng Quan’s hand trembled. ’Nan Zhuiming’s assassination failed, and the Yan Soul Guards were even killed by Lu Chao!’

Lu Chao continued dictating...

”From Nan Zhuiming, Lu Chao learned that Lord Mo Jing entered the Azure Flame Domain in pursuit of the people from Red Sword City. He is preparing to attack Yan Mu, take him hostage, and force the Cyan Sword Great Empire to retreat.”

”As for the specifics, this humble one doesn’t know if this is true or false...”

He finished dictating there, and Zeng Quan also finished writing there.

The next moment, Lu Chao snatched the letter from Zeng Quan and held out his hand. ”Give me Mo Jing’s carrier pigeon. I will release the pigeon when this letter can be of use.”

”Maybe I’ll release it, maybe I won’t. You can try to sound Mo Jing out yourself when you see him.”

After speaking, Lu Chao stared intently at Zeng Quan...

Zeng Quan’s face was a mask of bitterness. ’Lu Chao is actually taking Mo Jing’s carrier pigeon! And he’s not even sure if he’ll release it. This could easily expose me and get me killed, you know?’

Looking at Lu Chao, Zeng Quan desperately wanted to refuse.

But when he felt the faint surge of True Qi emanating from Lu Chao, he finally lost his nerve.

He could only hand Mo Jing’s carrier pigeon to Lu Chao. Then, he watched as Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu mounted the Flying Feather Black Eagle and departed. Only after the two of them had vanished from sight did Zeng Quan collapse onto the ground again...

”Dammit, it’s not like I’ve even sworn allegiance to you! You really don’t treat me like a stranger at all, do you?”

”This is too much! Such a bully!”

”And how did Lu Chao reach the Peak Fifth Layer in the time he was gone? Who makes progress that fast?”

Zeng Quan sighed and lamented on the ground. In the end, aside from drowning his sorrows in drink, he was left with only worry, wondering what would happen if Lu Chao released the letter to Mo Jing, and what would happen if he didn’t.

Meanwhile, Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu continued to fly at high speed toward the Great Wu Empire.

’With this letter from Zeng Quan, as soon as Mo Jing moves to assist Lu Dingtian, I’ll release it.’

’That way, Mo Jing will worry about Yan Mu’s safety and be forced to retreat.’