Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

Elder Lady Su’s fists were clenched tight. She stared daggers at Zheng Liling, her heart filled with irrepressible fury.

She had considered that Zheng Liling might show up. In fact, she’d suspected it ever since Lu Chao’s warning.

But she hadn’t expected them to be so domineering. Zheng Liyuan had simply snuck in as he pleased, and now Zheng Liling had barged right in just because he wanted to.

And they were so fast...

Su Shangmo, whom she had sent out, hadn’t even returned to report yet.

’It’s all that bastard’s daughter’s fault. If she hadn’t awakened only to become useless, I wouldn’t have wasted so much effort on her.’

Elder Lady Su seethed with resentment.

She didn’t stop to think that if she had just listened to what Lu Chao had to say when he arrived and agreed to cooperate...

...she would never be in this situation. At the very least, she wouldn’t be on the back foot like this.

Meanwhile, Zheng Liling let out a sinister smile.

He didn’t actually dare to break the rules of the ceremony. He was just here to flex his family’s power and see if anyone from the Su Family had managed a Saint Bone Awakening.

If they hadn’t, he would cripple the Su Family on the spot.

Then, he would seize the Saint Bone Su Family’s vast assets and businesses. It would be best if he could beat them into submission and make them a vassal family.

Just then...

Su Shangmo staggered in, clutching his chest. ”You forced your way into the Su Mansion! How dare you claim you haven’t disrupted our Saint Bone Ceremony!”

Elder Lady Su had just sent him out, but he was injured after exchanging only a few words.

The initial report had only mentioned the younger members of the Zheng Family. It was only when he went out that he discovered even Zheng Liling himself was here.

Zheng Liling’s response was just as domineering. ”We forced our way into the Su Mansion because you refused to hand over the man we’re sworn to kill. And on top of that... you were about to kill my kinsman, Zheng Liyuan.”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Liyuan leaped down from the roof, a cheeky grin on his face as he looked over the members of the Su Family.

Elder Lady Su retorted angrily, ”He infiltrated my Su Family! Does he not deserve to die for that?”

”His crime wasn’t punishable by death,” Zheng Liling replied with a cold smirk.

In truth, he was just looking for an excuse to barge in.

First, he had his younger family members cause a ruckus demanding Lu Chao. This would force the Su Family to send someone out to refuse them, giving Zheng Liling the excuse he needed to force his way in.

And Zheng Liyuan? He was the second excuse.

Zheng Liyuan quickly spoke up. ”Patriarch, everyone, let me tell you something hilarious.”

At his words, the faces of the Su Family members contorted in alarm.

Zheng Liyuan immediately launched into his story, quickly recounting the details of Cheng Yunsu’s awakening.

Zheng Liyuan laughed as he spoke...

...and Zheng Liling and the other members of the Zheng Family were left dumbfounded.

Slowly, even the grim and menacing Zheng Liling couldn’t hold it in any longer. Then, he simply burst out laughing.

In an instant, every member of the Zheng Family who had forced their way in was howling with laughter, almost to the point of convulsions.

’You bastards! You absolute bastards!’

Elder Lady Su cursed them endlessly in her heart, so furious she could feel blood rising in her throat.

She had intended to cover this up and order everyone to keep their mouths shut, but Zheng Liyuan had seen everything.

Now, they would become a laughingstock. The members of the Su Family turned to glare at the three of them, their eyes brimming with murderous intent.

’In any case, it was the young couple’s fault.’

After a moment, Zheng Liling finally managed to suppress his laughter. ”Elder Lady Su, I do apologize. I simply couldn’t control myself.”

But his tone immediately shifted to one of mock horror.

”You’re in big trouble now... A Saint Bone Ceremony usually only produces a single Awakener. Cases of two are few and far between. I’m afraid you won’t be getting a second one.”

At these words, the members of the Su Family, who had been on the verge of exploding with rage, froze. Then, the color drained from their faces.

Zheng Liling’s reminder made them realize...

’That’s right! The illegitimate granddaughter awakened, but she’s useless because her Heavenly Destiny Bone shattered. Still, you can’t say there *wasn’t* an Awakener.’

’In other words...’

’The Saint Bone Su Family has already had its one Awakening. The chances of a second are practically nonexistent.’

Elder Lady Su panicked. The Elders on the ceremonial altar were in a panic as well.

Every member of the Su Family’s Direct Lineage, from top to bottom, was thrown into a panic.

Meanwhile, Zheng Liling began to laugh again. Zheng Liyuan and the rest of the Zheng Family joined in. They never imagined things would go so smoothly.

’If the Su Family has no new Saint Bone Awakener, this will be easy.’

’Now, the Zheng Family can act without restraint and crush them completely.’

Suddenly, Granny Yun, trembling all over, pointed at Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu again and shrieked, ”It’s all their fault! It’s all that little slut’s fault! If they hadn’t come, someone else would have surely awakened!”

Every member of the Saint Bone Su Family turned in unison to glare at the three of them, their hatred practically boiling over.

They believed that if Cheng Yunsu had never shown up at the Saint Bone Ceremony, someone else would have definitely awakened instead.

But now, she had stolen that chance, only to prove useless.

Of course, Elder Lady Su knew the truth.

’Even if Cheng Yunsu hadn’t come, anyone who wasn’t fated to awaken still wouldn’t have. But I can’t say that out loud. Right now, the Su Family needs a target to vent their fury on.’

Elder Lady Su also knew that Zheng Liling was about to put them under immense pressure—enough to crush them.

So she glanced at Lu Chao and said in a low voice, ”Patriarch Zheng, the man you are sworn to kill... take him. We will forget about Zheng Liyuan’s infiltration. Now, I must ask you to leave the Su Mansion at once.”

She was throwing Lu Chao away to temporarily appease Zheng Liling.

’In any case, Cheng Yunsu is useless now. Lu Chao has no connection to the Saint Bone Su Family anymore. If I have to cast him out, so be it.’

’Of course, we’ll lose face, but that’s the least of my worries right now.’

In response, the members of the Zheng Family just smiled sinisterly, thinking to themselves: ’As if we’d let you off that easy.’

At that moment, Zheng Liling gave Lu Chao a cold look. ”Zhuhai, you deal with this piece of trash from Dragon Flame Academy.”

Hearing this, Zheng Zhuhai immediately strode forward. ”Yes, Patriarch.”

As his voice faded, Zheng Zhuhai turned to Lu Chao. ”Get over here. A duel to the death!”

Before Lu Chao could even respond...

...Elder Lady Su roared again, ”Zheng Liling! If you want a duel to the death, take it outside! We are still in the middle of our Saint Bone Ceremony!”

Zheng Liling just chuckled and replied nonchalantly, ”Rest assured, Elder Lady Su, we won’t disturb your Saint Bone Ceremony. More importantly, the younger generation of my Saint Bone Zheng Family could use a little guidance from you...”

The first step in his show of force was to have Zheng Zhuhai crush Lu Chao.

This would demonstrate the might of the Zheng Family’s youth and, as a first step, shatter the confidence of the Saint Bone Su Family.

After dealing with Lu Chao, he would force Cheng Yunsu, as a daughter of the Su Family, to kneel and beg for mercy, further enraging and breaking the spirit of the Saint Bone Su Family.

From there, he would lure out the Su Family’s Direct Lineage geniuses who were still in the ceremony and defeat them one by one.

After the youths, he would move on to their core experts.

His goal was to utterly thrash the Saint Bone Su Family from top to bottom, beating them so badly they would never be able to hold their heads up again.

Elder Lady Su’s eyes bulged as she roared, ”Zheng Liling, don’t push us too far!”

One of the younger Zheng Family members let out a vicious laugh...

”Elder Lady Su, why don’t you try and drive us out with your full strength? Of course, that would mean interrupting your Saint Bone Ceremony, wouldn’t it?”