Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

At his words, Wu Caicai, who had been on the verge of bursting into tears, was stunned.

Fan Jinhua, who had been about to continue giving his final instructions, was also stunned. Uncle Leng, standing guard outside, turned back in disbelief.

They all turned to stare at Lu Chao.

Lu Chao hadn’t uttered a single word since entering the room, so when he finally spoke, it was earth-shattering.

Taking a deep breath, he stood up...

Lu Chao continued, ”Or rather, I have a way to help Master Fan expel a palm force of this level from his body.”

He couldn’t have been more familiar with the Water Chant Palm.

It was the complementary Martial Technique for the Heavenly Destiny Water Chant Saint Bone, and Lu Dingtian had once taught it to him. More importantly, Lu Hanyan’s Palm Force contained the Power of the Saint Bone—*his* Saint Bone.

In a way, half of the Water Chant Palm Force was his own power.

Staring intently at Lu Chao, Wu Caicai was the first to react. ”Hero Lu, are you serious?”

Lu Chao nodded. Then... BOOM!

The True Qi throughout his body erupted with intense heat—it was unmistakably the power attribute of the Star Fire Sparrow Map. He explained, ”The bane of the Water Chant Palm is the most scorching Fire-Attribute True Qi.”

”I’ll start healing Master Fan right now. My Life-taking Bone can also absorb a portion of the Water Chant Palm Force.”

As he spoke, Lu Chao quickly helped Fan Jinhua sit upright.

Before Fan Jinhua could say a word, Lu Chao pressed his palms against the master’s back and began pouring in his Fire Sparrow True Qi.

It immediately collided with the Water Chant Palm Force inside Fan Jinhua’s body.

At his current realm, Lu Chao was naturally no match for Lu Hanyan’s Water Chant Palm Force. As a result, his Fire Sparrow True Qi was instantly devoured, and the icy power even traveled back along the flow of energy and into Lu Chao’s body.

In an instant, the same terrifying white frost that covered Fan Jinhua’s face appeared on Lu Chao’s.

Seeing this, Wu Caicai’s excitement turned to alarm. ”Hero Lu, are you alright?”

’Has Lu Chao completely overestimated his abilities? He’s only at the Postnatal Sixth Layer. How could he possibly neutralize Lu Hanyan’s Water Chant Palm?’

’Master Fan himself said that even at Tiger Flame Academy, a cure wasn’t guaranteed.’

’Will Lu Chao die alongside Master Fan?’

But Lu Chao’s gaze remained firm. He replied in a low, hoarse voice, ”It’s fine. The power of my Life-taking Bone can eliminate it.”

Though his face was covered in a terrifying white frost, his expression remained unchanged.

’In truth, it wasn’t the Life-taking Star-devouring Bone doing the work. He himself could neutralize the Water Chant Palm Force. As he’d realized, half of its power was his own, and he could break it down bit by bit inside his body.’

’Furthermore, with the Bright Eyes and Clear Wind Guide, his analysis of the power was even clearer.’

While drawing the Water Chant Palm Force from Fan Jinhua’s body, he continuously broke it down and neutralized it within himself. A terrifying, icy power radiated outwards from Lu Chao, filling the entire room with a cold mist.

Wu Caicai covered her mouth. She could finally see the white frost on Fan Jinhua’s face slowly receding.

Her face filled with joy and anticipation, and she clenched her fists tightly in prayer.

Outside the door, Uncle Leng also grew increasingly excited.

Fan Jinhua opened his eyes from time to time, his expression one of utter disbelief. He could feel the Water Chant Palm Force inside him steadily receding.

Time passed, bit by bit...

Lu Chao’s realm was still not high enough; being only at the Postnatal Sixth Realm, the decomposition process was rather slow.

...

「Several hours had passed since Lu Hanyan rode past the Cheng Mansion.」

「Yangzhou, the City Lord’s Mansion...」

Lu Hanyan sat enthroned in the center of the City Lord’s Mansion’s main hall. Having fused with the Heavenly Destiny Water Chant Saint Bone, she exuded a noble, aloof beauty that made it difficult to meet her gaze. She inspired both awe and fear in all who saw her.

At this moment, Wu Wei and Wu Xin were by her side, looking extremely ill at ease.

To them, Lu Hanyan’s status was impossibly high.

”Do you understand the arrangements for Yangzhou City?” Lu Hanyan suddenly spoke, her voice cold and condescending.

Wu Wei hurriedly replied, ”I understand completely.”

He had only just learned that the purpose of Lu Hanyan’s sudden arrival in Yangzhou City was to issue a warning and establish new defensive arrangements.

This was to guard against surprise attacks from the remnants of the Hundred Countries.

Suddenly, the Female Personal Guard who had been at Lu Hanyan’s side strode over. She leaned in and whispered in her ear, ”Miss Lu, we’ve captured nearly all the assassins. Fan Jinhua was not among them.”

A cold glint flashed in Lu Hanyan’s eyes as she gave a slight nod.

She then looked up at Wu Wei and commanded arrogantly, ”Most of last night’s assassins have been captured. Execute them all on the spot and hang their bodies from the Yangzhou City Tower as a warning to those petty kingdom vermin.”

Wu Wei nodded hastily, agreeing emphatically.

At that, Lu Hanyan rose to her feet. ”My business in Yangzhou is finished. See me out.”

Hearing this, Wu Wei hastily made a few polite remarks, urging her to stay.

However, he knew she was headed to the next border city, so his pleas were merely for show.

And so, Lu Hanyan was soon escorted toward the city gate.

However, as they neared the gate, they discovered several people kneeling there, blocking the path.

Looking closer, Wu Wei immediately demanded, ”Patriarch Lu, what are you doing?”

The kneeling figures were none other than Lu Dingxuan and a few other members of the Lu Family.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Lu Dingxuan kowtowed frantically, pleading miserably, ”Miss Lu! Lord City Lord! I beg you to deliver justice for our Lu Family!”

Before he could finish, Lu Hanyan’s face turned to ice. ”Drag them away!”

’How dare they block my path? And they want *me* to deliver justice? Ridiculous. As if I, Lu Hanyan, would ever meddle in the petty affairs of Yangzhou City.’

At Lu Hanyan’s command, soldiers immediately rushed forward and began to drag Lu Dingxuan and the others away.

But Lu Dingxuan refused to give up. He struggled wildly, screaming, ”Miss Lu, my family was nearly wiped out during your stay in Yangzhou City! This is a slap in your face!”

”My son and grandson were dragged away and murdered!”

”Lord City Lord, it was that damn Life-taking Bone! It was that Lu Chao... he’s the one who did it!”

Lu Dingxuan deliberately spat out the name ”Lu Chao” with heavy emphasis.

Hmm?

Lu Hanyan, who had been riding forward on her Demon Beast Warhorse, stopped instantly. Her gaze slowly shifted to Lu Dingxuan. ”Who... did you just say?”

Lu Dingxuan had mentioned Lu Chao’s name on purpose.

He knew exactly who he was dealing with, and he knew that the name ”Lu Chao” would be a major trigger for Lu Hanyan.

She was certain to react.

’It’s working!’ Lu Dingxuan was secretly ecstatic. ”To answer Miss Lu,” he said, ”I was talking about the Life-taking Bone from the Cheng Mansion, Lu Chao.”

Her eyes narrowed. As Lu Hanyan stared at Lu Dingxuan, a terrifying smile slowly spread across her aloof face.

Suddenly, she turned to the Female Personal Guard at her side. ”I hate being used. Kill him.”

The Female Personal Guard flashed forward.

Lu Dingxuan, who had been gloating inwardly just a moment before, was dumbfounded. His eyes bulged, and he died on the spot.

In a flash, the Female Personal Guard was back at Lu Hanyan’s side.

Then Lu Hanyan turned to Wu Wei and asked coolly, ”This Life-taking Bone, Lu Chao... is he real?”