Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

The moment she spoke, the excited expressions on the faces of the Qianjian Sect members froze.

Everyone stiffened. ‘Is the battle starting right now?’

The members of the Qianjian Sect were thrown into a panic. They weren’t prepared. More importantly, their First Senior Sister was still injured. If they could just delay another ten days, her wounds would have had some time to heal.

Master Tian couldn’t help but ask, “Lord Xiao, why are we starting the battle ahead of schedule?”

For Master Tian, Lu He, and the others, they knew all too well the difference between now and ten days from now. Only they knew that Lu Chao was helping Qian Ya restore her Heavenly Destiny Bone. In ten days, Qian Ya would surely be fully recovered…

But right now, she wasn’t ready.

In response, Xiao Ru replied coldly, “Because of the appearance of the Miracles of the Nether Spring, the recruiters from the Green Bone Palace and the people from my Biyue Hall will certainly arrive early. Naturally, the results of the upgrading grand competition must be determined as soon as possible.”

Of course, Xiao Ru didn’t know that Qian Ya was injured. She just wanted to get this matter over with quickly.

She didn’t want to see the people of the Qianjian Sect anymore. Once they were knocked down to a Three Moon Sect, she wouldn’t have to bother with them again.

To put it bluntly, she wanted to teach the Qianjian Sect a lesson, and she didn’t want to wait any longer.

They kept defying her, constantly making her lose face. Xiao Ru couldn’t crush them publicly, so she would use the Thunderbolt Sect to do it for her.

‘Your current excitement displeases me, so I must stamp it out immediately.’

And no one could refute the reason Xiao Ru gave.

Originally, the Green Bone Palace was scheduled to arrive in Rising Moon City in ten days to conduct their recruitment tests. The third match was set for the day before those tests. But now, with the appearance of the Miracles of the Nether Spring…

No one knew when the people from the Green Bone Palace would arrive.

It was very important to decide on the four Four Moon Sects ahead of time.

Xiao Ru scanned the crowd again and continued, “And since only two sects remain for the third round, the rules must be changed. Each sect will send out six disciples to fight in six matches. A hundred points will be added for each win.”

As her voice faded, many in the Qianjian Sect had yet to recover from the shock, simply clenching their fists tightly.

‘If we must fight, then we will fight.’

But Lu Chao immediately said, “A hundred points per win… From this point on, your Qianjian Sect cannot afford to lose a single match.”

Beside him, Lu He stared blankly, still unable to do the math in his head.

Meanwhile, Qian Ya’s face turned deathly pale. She had realized the problem as well.

Xiao Ru continued coldly, “Right now, the Thunderbolt Sect, with the points from two Miracles of the Nether Spring, has 3,252 points. The Qianjian Sect has 2,768. If the Thunderbolt Sect wins just one match, they’ll have 3,352 points. Even if the Qianjian Sect wins all five of the remaining matches, they won’t be able to catch up.”

“Therefore, if the Thunderbolt Sect wins even one duel, the competition will end immediately, and the upgrading grand competition will be over.”

Following Xiao Ru’s explanation, everyone in the crowd finally understood.

The fighting spirit of the Qianjian Sect members instantly plummeted as the full realization hit them. ‘We really can’t lose a single match.’

It had to be six wins out of six matches.

“That’s too cruel. Simply too cruel.” Master Tian ground his teeth.

But Xiao Ru only sneered and said, “I will now give you two sects half an hour to prepare. Decide the order of your disciples for the six duels… As for the three Miracles of the Nether Spring, you will come with me to the city wall now.”

After speaking, Xiao Ru unleashed her powerful True Qi, whisking Chi Xingxun, Lu Dingtian, and the third Miracle back to the top of the city wall in a flash.

As for the fourth Miracle of the Nether Spring, Lu Chao, she didn’t even spare him a glance.

As Xiao Ru, Chi Xingxun, and the other two departed, an uproar swept through the various sects of Rising Moon City gathered below. They began to murmur amongst themselves, their gazes fixed on the Qianjian Sect with expressions of pity.

It was basically a foregone conclusion that they were doomed.

Under normal circumstances, it would be simple for the Qianjian Sect to defeat the Thunderbolt Sect. But winning all six matches was impossible.

Qian Ya’s entire body trembled violently…

Sect Leader Qian Zeng took a deep breath and said to his people, “All core disciples, convene in the Beast Vehicle to discuss our strategy.”

After a pause, as if remembering something, Qian Zeng turned to Lu Chao.

He cupped his fists deeply in gratitude. “Young Master Lu, it is entirely thanks to you that the Qianjian Sect has this chance to compete in the third round. I thank you. Regardless of whether we win or lose this battle, you will always be an honored guest of our Qianjian Sect.”

Qian Zeng had already received a message from Qian Ya and knew very well what Lu Chao’s situation was…

He knew that Lu Chao possessed both the Fire Roaring and Water Chant Bones.

But, like everyone else, he had only just learned that Lu Chao was also a Miracle of the Nether Spring. In any case, without Lu Chao, they wouldn’t have even this sliver of a chance. As the Sect Leader, he was naturally endlessly grateful.

Lu Chao also cupped his fists and replied with a smile, “Sect Leader Qian, you’re too kind.”

“Next, we must formulate a battle plan. Please forgive us for any lack of hospitality, Young Master Lu.”

Qian Zeng added this softly, then instructed Master Tian to entertain Lu Chao well. The other core disciples and Elders all headed for the Beast Vehicle to deliberate. They had to predict which disciples the Thunderbolt Sect would send out.

「In the blink of an eye…」

Around Lu Chao, only Master Tian remained, aside from the nervous ordinary members and disciples of the Qianjian Sect.

The latter stared up at the city wall, where Xiao Ru was laughing and chatting with Chi Xingxun and the other two Miracles, his fists clenched tightly.

“Young Master Lu…”

“Why is it that you are all Miracles of the Nether Spring, yet those three receive Xiao Ru’s favor and hospitality, while you are left out in the cold?”

Master Tian was filled with hatred and confusion toward Xiao Ru. ‘They’re all Miracles of the Nether Spring, after all!’

Lu Chao smiled and replied softly, “It’s my fault. I’m probably not very good at bragging. Besides, I don’t have any direct evidence to prove that I’m a Miracle of the Nether Spring. But Chi Xingxun and the others… they do.”

Chi Xingxun has a sheet of Crystal Profound Paper, and one-third of Chi Yuan’s Heavenly Destiny Bone was corroded.

But Lu Chao had no proof at all.

He could only use the fact that he knew Chi Xingxun and Lu Dingtian to prove that he was also a Miracle of the Nether Spring. He couldn’t have been the first to run out and claim he came from the Nether Spring Illusion Array; otherwise, no one would have believed him.

This cost him the initiative, allowing Chi Xingxun to boast wildly.

Xiao Ru’s favoritism was obvious. Aside from the Qianjian Sect’s initial defiance and questioning, it was also because of Chi Xingxun’s bragging.

Chi Xingxun had painted himself as a supreme genius who had passed through the river channel, so of course Xiao Ru placed great importance on him.

“Being a Miracle of the Nether Spring isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“If Xiao Ru hadn’t insisted on giving the Thunderbolt Sect extra points, I wouldn’t have even revealed myself.”

Lu Chao continued speaking softly. He had intended to use the Qianjian Sect to see whether or not he should participate in the Green Bone Palace’s recruitment tests. But since Xiao Ru was dead set on preventing the Qianjian Sect from retaining their Four Moon Sect status, Lu Chao had no choice but to step forward.

He could only stop Xiao Ru’s announcement at the critical moment.

He possessed the Life-taking Star-devouring Bone. He was the true Miracle of the Nether Spring. One could even say that he had indirectly saved Chi Xingxun and the other two.

But for that same reason—because he possessed the Life-taking Bone—he couldn’t afford to draw too much attention from the Green Bone Palace.

Looking up at Xiao Ru on the city wall again, Lu Chao suddenly said, “I suspect Xiao Ru might secretly help the Thunderbolt Sect, perhaps by providing them with powerful Elixir Pills or something of the sort. You need to be prepared.”

Hearing this, Master Tian’s face once again turned pale with grief and indignation.