Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

’According to the Azure Flame Treasure Manual, Elixir Pills of the Moon-Level Earth Grade can’t be consumed directly by cultivators at the Peak Realm, or even the Creation Realm.’

’Otherwise, they would die from their bodies exploding, unable to withstand its potency.’

’The only exception would be for geniuses with a sufficiently powerful Heavenly Destiny Bone, such as someone at the Peak Realm with a Moon-level Heavenly Bone.’

’I don’t have a Moon-level Heavenly Bone, and I haven’t even reached the level of a Moon-level Earth Bone. But I have plenty of Heavenly Destiny Bones. Even though they’ve all been devoured and fused by my Life-taking Star-devouring Bone, it’s as if I still possess every single one of them.’

Lu Chao had just had this thought when... ROAR!

The furious roar sounded as if it was right on top of him.

When he looked up, Lu Chao saw a giant purple leopard charging madly toward him.

Wherever it passed, it left a trail of rolling thunder in its wake.

The Yan Soul Guards hadn’t left yet. One of them sneered, ”He really couldn’t bear to throw it away. He’s about to run, but there’s no way his speed can match a Thunder Leopard at the Creation Peak Eighth Layer... This is going to be exciting.”

At his words, the rest of the Yan Soul Guards grew expectant. As soon as Lu Chao fought the Thunder Leopard, they would lie in wait for a chance to ambush him.

But what happened next made all of them stare with wide eyes.

They watched as Lu Chao suddenly stuffed the Blue Dew Fruit into his mouth. A slight bob of his throat, and he swallowed it whole.

Every single Yan Soul Guard was dumbfounded on the spot.

They all shouted at nearly the same time, ”Lu Chao, you brat! Are you crazy? You actually swallowed the Blue Dew Fruit whole!”

Their hearts were bleeding. The Blue Dew Fruit had been swallowed by Lu Chao. It was gone.

Just as their earlier conversation had implied, they couldn’t bear to part with the Blue Dew Fruit. They had only wanted to use Lu Chao to deal with the Thunder Leopard so they could reap the benefits.

But Lu Chao... he had just swallowed it whole.

After swallowing the Blue Dew Fruit, Lu Chao’s entire body surged with True Qi. The auras of his Heavenly Destiny Bones erupted one after another.

He glanced toward the Yan Soul Guards and replied with a faint smile, ”It’s a Moon-Level Earth Grade Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure. If I don’t eat it now, am I supposed to save it for a special occasion?”

The moment he finished speaking... ROAR!

The Thunder Leopard’s roar echoed once more, this time filled with monstrous rage. It had clearly seen Lu Chao swallow its prize.

A berserk wave of Demonic Power, crackling with terrifying electricity, blasted toward Lu Chao.

It got closer and closer.

Without a second thought, Lu Chao shot off in the direction of the Yan Soul Guards.

”Yan Soul Guards, you can come kill me now! Let’s have that great battle you wanted!” Lu Chao’s voice boomed.

Behind him, the Thunder Leopard furiously changed direction and resumed its frantic pursuit of Lu Chao.

The Yan Soul Guards’ eyes went wide. They didn’t dare say another word. They just ran.

’Kill Lu Chao? Kill my ass!’ Lu Chao was running right at them!

If they hesitated, they’d be killed by the Thunder Leopard too. A chill ran down their spines as they scattered and ran for their lives.

Meanwhile, Lu Chao drew upon the surging power of the Blue Dew Fruit inside him... BOOM.

He broke through again, reaching the Peak Eighth Layer. The speed of his Wind Manipulation’s Swift Flash now surpassed that of the Yan Soul Guards at the Peak Ninth Layer.

He wasn’t even slower than the Yan Soul Guard who had reached the Creation Realm...

Seeing Lu Chao getting closer and closer, the Creation Realm Yan Soul Guard couldn’t help but curse, ”Lu Chao, you brat, are you insane?! Don’t you know you can’t just swallow a Blue Dew Fruit like that? Don’t you know you’re about to die from your body exploding?”

He was practically witless with rage. That was a Moon-Level Earth Grade Blue Dew Fruit they had found.

If the twelve of them had shared it, they could have all reached the Creation Realm with no side effects. But the Thunder Leopard had been in hot pursuit, leaving them no time to divide it.

They had planned to use Lu Chao, but the plan backfired spectacularly.

Lu Chao blinked and asked with feigned innocence, ”Is it really that dangerous? I’m just a country bumpkin from the Azure Flame Domain. How would I know any better?”

At his words, the Yan Soul Guards’ mouths fell open. They nearly slapped their thighs in frustration.

’That’s right! This Lu Chao is just a country bumpkin from the Azure Flame Domain. What would he know about Moon-Level Earth Grade Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures? A hick hears it can get him to the Peak Ninth Layer, and of course he’s going to swallow it.’

’Dammit, we completely miscalculated.’

The thought made the Yan Soul Guards’ hearts bleed even more. The Creation Realm guard looked back again and shouted, ”You’re about to die from your body exploding! Turn back and fight the Thunder Leopard now! If you burn off the energy, you might have a slim chance of survival!”

The prize was gone. Now, their only hope was to get Lu Chao to fight the Thunder Leopard so they could escape.

Of course, it was impossible to just ”burn off” the energy. They were just trying to trick the country bumpkin.

But how could Lu Chao be fooled? He could feel the surging energy being steadily absorbed. His Life-taking Star-devouring Bone took the lion’s share of the power, while his Fire Roaring and Water Chant Bones absorbed the rest.

He was in no danger of his body exploding. He could only feel his True Qi growing stronger and stronger, surging toward the Peak Ninth Layer.

So, Lu Chao called back, ”Why don’t you guys go first? I need to digest this power.”

”Digest my ass! You couldn’t digest that even if you sat down to cultivate right now! Your only choice is to turn back and fight!” one of the Yan Soul Guards retorted, seeing Lu Chao was still delusional enough to think he could handle the energy.

And just as that Yan Soul Guard’s voice fell... FZZZT!

A bolt of Demonic Power, crackling with lightning, shot forward, about to strike Lu Chao.

It was the Thunder Leopard’s attack, of course. But Lu Chao dodged, flashed past one of the Yan Soul Guards, and kicked the man backward.

Instantly... ”AHHH!”

A bloodcurdling scream erupted from the kicked Yan Soul Guard. He was instantly incinerated into a charred husk by the Demonic Power. Of the fifteen Yan Soul Guards who had given chase, a fourth had now fallen...

This, of course, made the remaining Yan Soul Guards glare at Lu Chao with pure fury. They wished they could kill him on the spot...

But they couldn’t. Fighting here meant death. ’Besides,’ they thought, ’Lu Chao is bound to explode and die any minute now.’

”I have a suggestion,” Lu Chao suddenly called out. ”We team up and kill this Thunder Leopard. Otherwise, more of you are going to die.” As he spoke, he flashed past several more Yan Soul Guards, continuing his forward dash.

The Yan Soul Guards exchanged glances. Teaming up with Lu Chao was a ridiculous notion, but it seemed they truly had no other choice.

Suddenly... THUD!

The Thunder Leopard descended in a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder, crashing down right among them. The impact sent them all flying, scattering them in every direction.

After landing, the Thunder Leopard’s eyes remained locked on Lu Chao, its expression a mask of ferocious, absolute rage.

”Let’s go. We’ll just let Lu Chao deal with it,” one Yan Soul Guard suggested.

Lu Chao had swallowed the Blue Dew Fruit, so the Thunder Leopard was only targeting him. As long as the Yan Soul Guards left, they would be safe.

A second Yan Soul Guard replied in a low voice, ”Right. When Lu Chao dies, our mission is complete.”

Just like that, they began to back away, step by step.

However, Lu Chao simply gripped his Red Patterned Sword and said in a low voice, ”I’m about to explode and die. If you think you can get far enough away before that happens, then by all means, run.”

At Lu Chao’s warning, a shudder ran through the Yan Soul Guards.

The Creation Realm Yan Soul Guard stopped in his tracks, gritting his teeth. ”We can’t run. Even if he doesn’t explode, Lu Chao won’t last more than a few rounds against that thing. We’ll stick with the plan. We’ll team up and ambush it.”