Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

Mo Jing’s sudden arrival and unexpected words left Zeng Quan dumbfounded. ’I’ve earned merit again, just like that?’

The last time he earned merit was for reporting that Red Sword City was located in the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land. This time, it was for reporting that Lu Chao had killed four Yan Soul Guards, the Nanye Dynasty had been taken, and the Dragon Flame Army was preparing to march on Cyan Sword Mountain.

However, both meritorious deeds were entirely thanks to Lu Chao...

The first time, he had at least sent the message himself. But the second time, although he had written the letter himself, it was Lu Chao who had dictated it to him. Lu Chao had even snatched the carrier pigeon Mo Jing had given him.

’It’s obvious. Lu Chao released my carrier pigeon to Mo Jing and received his confirmation.’

’I’ve inexplicably earned merit again. I’ll be able to reach the Creation Realm.’

Zeng Quan broke into a wide grin, but a strange sense of panic still lingered in his heart. If Mo Jing found out this was all Lu Chao’s doing, he wouldn’t just call him useless. He’d probably tear him limb from limb.

In any case, Zeng Quan hurriedly bowed in thanks...

And so, Mo Jing collected all the corpses in front of the Forbidden Land into his Storage Ring, then took Zeng Quan and headed straight for Cyan Sword Mountain.

Zeng Quan swallowed nervously. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he finally asked, ”Lord Mo Jing, was Lu Dingtian also killed by Lu Chao? And the people from Red Sword City weren’t captured either?”

Mo Jing shot him a harsh glare and said coldly, ”Lu Dingtian has betrayed me.”

The Yan Soul Guards’ letter had, of course, mentioned that Lu Dingtian was with Chi Xingxun. This had thoroughly infuriated Mo Jing.

’So when Lu Dingtian didn’t respond in the Great Wu Imperial City, it wasn’t because he was dead. He betrayed me.’

”Lu Dingtian... I will personally mince him into paste.”

Mo Jing made no attempt to hide his killing intent, adding, ”Anyone who dares to betray me will wish they were dead.”

Hearing this, a chill ran down Zeng Quan’s entire body.

He quickly joined in, cursing Lu Dingtian and expressing his loyalty to Mo Jing. But inwardly he was thinking: ’Dammit, Lu Chao has something on me. What am I supposed to do? Can’t Lu Chao just die already?’

...

In the Dragon Flame Kingdom, upon receiving Cheng Yunsu’s message, the Dragon Flame King immediately gave the order to go into hiding.

「Meanwhile, in the Nanye Dynasty...」

Fan Changcun had mostly finished organizing things. The Nanye Dynasty had been completely defeated, and the Emperor of Nanye had no choice but to obey him. After Fan Changcun received Cheng Yunsu’s letter, he immediately ordered all key personnel to go underground.

At the same time, he sent a message ordering the troops previously dispatched to Cyan Sword Mountain to feign setting up formations and then immediately retreat.

The troops sent to Cyan Sword Mountain were just a ruse to lure the tiger from the mountain—a tactic meant to scare Mo Jing and corroborate Zeng Quan’s letter.

Across the entire Azure Flame Domain, Lu Chao and Fan Changcun’s plan was being steadily put into action. Luo Wendeng, Wu Caicai, and the others also secretly made their way toward the Azure Flame Sect. The geniuses were all to sneak into the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land and begin a frenzy of Cultivation.

...

「In the Nether Spring Mountain Range...」

Lu Chao sat cross-legged in a patch of weeds. The True Qi in his body stirred faintly, having already reached the peak of the Peak Fifth Layer.

Suddenly, a RUSTLING sound arose.

He slowly opened his eyes and said softly, ”Since you’re here, you might as well all come out.”

As his voice fell, figures flashed into view. At a glance, there were only seven or eight Yan Soul Guards.

Lu Chao knew very well that some of the Yan Soul Guards had appeared while others remained hidden. They planned to use a combination of overt and covert attacks to ensure his death. They had no intention of underestimating him in the slightest.

”Azure Flame Sect disciple, your little game is over. Today is the day you die... Kill him.”

Without any more pointless talk, the Yan Soul Guards charged, and the great battle began.

「Half an hour later...」

Lu Chao used Wind Manipulation’s Swift Flash to move, flickering in and out of sight amidst the old-growth forest. He still wielded Chi Xingxun’s Red Patterned Sword, and behind him, fifteen Yan Soul Guards relentlessly gave chase.

’I have to break through, or I won’t be able to win.’ Lu Chao’s expression was grim.

A full fifteen Yan Soul Guards, every single one of them at the Peak Ninth Layer.

He couldn’t defeat them when they joined forces. More importantly, he had been hit with Cloud-Chasing Sand, making it difficult for him to assassinate them effectively. Every time he tried to strike, they could smell him coming in advance.

Conversely, because of the Cloud-Chasing Sand, the Yan Soul Guards could try to assassinate him at any moment.

”What a formidable Azure Flame Sect disciple. We absolutely cannot let you live. You won’t escape.”

”You can’t get rid of the Cloud-Chasing Sand.”

The fifteen Yan Soul Guards continued their pursuit, taunting him as they went.

But they felt no excitement at all. Their faces were etched with a deep chill. He was simply too strong. If they hadn’t managed to sprinkle him with Cloud-Chasing Sand, Lu Chao would have likely already killed some of them.

It was a good thing there were fifteen of them. If there were any fewer, they might not even be able to defeat Lu Chao alone.

’He’s only at the Peak Fifth Layer. A character like this would be considered a powerful genius even in the Cyan Sword Great Empire.’

Fear crept into the hearts of the Yan Soul Guards, and their expressions became colder than ever.

As the chase continued... ROAR.

The roar of a beast suddenly sounded from up ahead. The Yan Soul Guards’ eyes widened, and one of them shouted, ”Lu Chao is near a Ghost Tiger! He’s trying to use it to deal with us so he can escape!”

Sure enough, they saw Lu Chao flash toward the Ghost Tiger in the distance...

He then dodged the Ghost Tiger’s surprise attack and kicked it right in front of the Yan Soul Guards. This, of course, sent the Ghost Tiger into a furious, roaring frenzy...

An untamed Peak Realm Demon Beast doesn’t possess much intelligence. The Ghost Tiger instantly attacked the Yan Soul Guards without a second thought.

Of course, it was no match for the Yan Soul Guards. They killed the Ghost Tiger on the spot.

After killing it, they roared in low voices, ”Azure Flame Sect disciple, tricks like this are useless!”

Lu Chao knew it was useless, of course, but he needed more time to achieve his breakthrough...

’The Ghost Tiger was too weak to fight the Yan Soul Guards. My only choice is to go deeper into the Nether Spring Mountain Range.’

Lu Chao stared intently into the depths of the Nether Spring Mountain Range and then flashed away, heading in the direction where the Demon Beast auras were strongest.

And the Yan Soul Guards, of course, continued their frantic pursuit...

Finally, that night, Lu Chao whispered, ”I’ve finally reached the Peak Realm Sixth Layer. But it’s still not enough. I might be able to win, but it would be a bitter fight. I can’t afford to get seriously injured in a hellhole like this.”

With that, Lu Chao continued to move swiftly and stealthily through the Nether Spring Mountain Range.

He would occasionally engage the Yan Soul Guards in major battles, sometimes using Demon Beasts to help him fight, and sometimes having to fight Demon Beasts alone. However, he tried not to go any deeper into the mountains, moving laterally instead. Who knew what lay further in?

In short, Lu Chao’s strategy was to only fight when he could guarantee he wouldn’t be injured. The moment trouble arose, he would bolt.

He was using the Demon Beasts, the Yan Soul Guards, and the terrain to constantly hone himself.

He had several close calls, but Lu Chao’s combat instincts and talent were on full display. The various powers of his Heavenly Destiny Bone also demonstrated terrifying might, leaving the Yan Soul Guards more and more astonished the longer they fought.

「A few days later...」

Only twelve Yan Soul Guards remained. Lu Chao had killed two of them, and a Demon Beast had kicked another off a cliff to his death.

Now, a bone-deep chill permeated every one of them...

One of the Yan Soul Guards said, ”This Azure Flame Sect disciple is just too difficult to deal with. And have you noticed? He’s still improving. I’m afraid that in a few more days, he’ll reach the Peak Seventh Layer.”