Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

An ordinary person—or rather, the vast majority of people—would see absolutely nothing when standing before the stone walls.

Forget about restoring them; just being able to discern a single move or stance from the jumbled mess would be considered impressive.

Lu Chao stared at the first stone wall for a few breaths before slowly pulling his gaze back and replying, ”I can make out some of it.”

At this, a brilliant light flashed in Dongfang Ren’s eyes, and he took a deep breath...

”Good. Then we shall stand on opposite sides and carve our own understanding of the Martial Dao of the Azure Flame Seven Walls into the ground.”

Hearing this, Lu Chao nodded gravely and slowly drew his sword.

And so, the old man and the young man stood on either side of the first Azure Flame Stone Wall, observing the chaotic engravings upon its surface.

Just then... WHOOSH!

Marquis Longyin leaped from the woods onto the old estate’s surrounding wall. He stared blankly at the two of them, then looked over at the Azure Flame Seven Walls.

He thought to himself, ’What on earth can anyone make out of this mess?’

Even though Marquis Longyin was no weakling, he couldn’t discern a single move or stance on the Azure Flame Stone Walls. The Seven Great Flame Countries had divvied up the Azure Flame Seven Walls back then, so of course, they wouldn’t leave them for future generations.

They had to ensure that no one could make out anything on the seven walls.

The reason the seven walls were left behind, rather than being completely destroyed and shattered...

...was a proposal made by the Dragon Flame King forty years ago, when he was still a prince. He suggested they could be kept as antiques or some such thing.

As mentioned before, the young Dragon Flame King had been vehemently opposed to the destruction of the Azure Flame Sect.

Therefore, he did his best to preserve many things from the Azure Flame Sect.

Just as Marquis Longyin’s eyes were starting to blur from staring at the first stone wall, Lu Chao suddenly spoke up. ”Marquis Longyin, it will take quite some time to fully carve out the Azure Flame Seven Walls. I’ll have to trouble you to send someone to inform our Elder Sun.”

He was, of course, asking Marquis Longyin to send someone to tell Sun Shijin and the others from Dragon Flame Academy that he was fine here.

Hearing this, Marquis Longyin was stunned for a moment before saying, ”No problem. I’ll go myself.”

With that, Marquis Longyin’s figure flickered, and he left the old estate...

The instant Marquis Longyin departed, Lu Chao and Dongfang Ren simultaneously scratched the first engraving into the ground. A flurry of sword shadows erupted as they both began cutting into the earth, producing a soft, scraping sound.

When Marquis Longyin returned after notifying Sun Shijin, he saw that the two had already carved out a corner of the engravings.

And this small corner of the engravings made Marquis Longyin’s eyes widen...

’It really does contain Martial Dao understanding, and it’s the true essence of the Azure Flame Sect’s Martial Dao.’

’Their engravings are nearly identical.’

’Could it be that the Fake Lu Chao wasn’t being arrogant and conceited? Did he really think Dongfang Ren wasn’t qualified to take him as a disciple?’

As he thought this, Marquis Longyin continued to watch them quietly. He saw them occasionally stop to observe the stone wall, occasionally pause in contemplation, and occasionally raise their swords to continue completing their engravings on the ground...

Meanwhile, Marquis Longyin kept comparing the work of the two men and looking back at the stone wall.

Gradually, he finally began to see something.

Within his body... HUM!

A powerful surge of True Qi broke through a barrier, causing Marquis Longyin’s eyes to widen. ”I actually broke through! My True Fate Fifth Layer, which has held me back for two whole years, I’ve actually broken through it!”

After the Transformation Realm comes the True Fate Realm...

Marquis Longyin had originally been at the True Fate Fifth Layer, and now he had broken through to the Sixth Layer.

It was all because he had been watching Dongfang Ren and Lu Chao’s martial discussion via the Azure Flame Seven Walls.

And they hadn’t even truly finished restoring the first stone wall, yet watching them had already led him to a breakthrough.

At this very moment, Marquis Longyin no longer dared to think Lu Chao was arrogant. He even completely calmed his mind to comprehend what the two were creating.

「The sky began to brighten with the gray light of dawn...」

The old man and the young man had finally finished restoring the first stone wall. Two huge, complex Martial Arts Engraving Maps were now fully displayed on either side of the first stone wall. The two maps looked identical, yet they also seemed to have many differences.

At least, in Marquis Longyin’s eyes, they were different, but for the time being, he couldn’t tell what those differences were.

Just then, Lu Chao sheathed his sword, looked at Dongfang Ren, and asked softly, ”Elder Dongfang, should we continue to the second stone wall? Or should we stop for now and examine each other’s restoration work?”

Dongfang Ren still had the appearance of a hunchbacked old man, but his gaze, directed toward Lu Chao, was now filled entirely with shock.

Although he hadn’t yet gone to observe Lu Chao’s work, he could sense it.

Dragon Flame Lu Chao was definitely not just playing around, nor had he carved random nonsense. He had truly carved a complete map.

’I don’t know how good the restoration is, but it definitely won’t be bad...’

Taking a deep breath, an invigorated Dongfang Ren declared, ”We continue!”

At Dongfang Ren’s words, Lu Chao nodded in agreement without hesitation.

The two of them simultaneously moved toward the second stone wall. They again took up positions on opposite sides, diagonally below the wall, and began a new round of restoration...

Despite not having slept all night, their spirits were completely unaffected.

Marquis Longyin remained standing blankly atop the wall. He stared intently at the complete engravings for the first stone wall made by the two, then back at the jumbled mess on the wall itself, and muttered, ”They are... two monsters.”

In that moment, Marquis Longyin had a new definition for Lu Chao: an absolute monster of the Martial Dao.

’It’s simply... too monstrous!’

Marquis Longyin muttered to himself, ”Sigh, I have to write to the King again. How many letters is that now?”

In less than two days, he had already written several letters to the Dragon Flame King. Aside from one about Dongfang Ren planning to interfere in the Beast Flame Academy’s affairs, all the others were about Lu Chao.

「One day, two days, three days...」

It was the third day. Dongfang Ren and Lu Chao were still inside the old estate, using the restoration of the Azure Flame Seven Walls as their martial competition.

By now, they had reached the seventh stone wall—the final one. In these nearly three days, the two had barely rested. Marquis Longyin would occasionally bring them food and drink.

They would eat quickly and then continue, completely immersed in the Azure Flame Seven Walls.

Just then... SHHH, SHHH, SHHH!

An Order Enforcement Team Member arrived in front of the old estate and reported to Marquis Longyin, ”My lord, Zeng Quan has publicly announced the time and rules for the third round’s duels. They will begin tomorrow.”

”The rule is: the thirty academies that passed will challenge seven Innate Ninth Layer students from the Seven Great Inner Courtyards.”

”Those who can last for a quarter of an hour will pass. Those who fail will, like those eliminated in the first two rounds, all enter the revival tournament.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Marquis Longyin’s eyes widened...

He couldn’t help but roar in anger, ”What utter nonsense! If they have to last for a quarter of an hour, I’m afraid at most five of the Small Institutes will be able to do it.”

Seven Inner Courtyard students, and all of them at the Innate Ninth Layer—this was too difficult.

To put it in perspective, Senior Sister Sky Cliff was only at the Innate Fifth Layer.

Using Sky Cliff Academy as an example, they only had thirty Innate Students. For any of them to last a quarter of an hour against one of seven Innate Ninth Layer students from the Inner Courtyards would be incredibly difficult.

The Order Enforcement Team Member continued...

”As for the revival tournament, it’s not a fight, but a competition of Martial Dao understanding.”

”This is just... giving the University Institutes a back door!”

”The University Institute students are basically unable to fight; they were all injured or crippled by the Fake Lu Chao. But a competition based on Martial Dao understanding ensures that no matter how badly they’re hurt, they can still participate.”

Reaching this point, the Order Enforcement Team Member spoke with resentment, ”Isn’t Zeng Quan afraid that Dongfang Ren will completely turn against him?”