Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

’If Zeng Quan is here, Zheng Liling and Nan Zhuiming are probably with him.’

’After all, Zeng Quan had been with Lu Dingtian and Mo Jing of Yan Soul City during the battle at Zhengyang Mountain in the Great Wu Empire.’

Just as he thought...

A second voice immediately came from above, asking, ”Zeng Quan, that name, Chang Yuan, sounds a little familiar. Who is he?”

The voice was no stranger to Lu Chao. It was, of course, Zheng Liling, Patriarch of the Saint Bone Zheng Family.

A cold glint flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes. He no longer bothered with the skeleton in the secret passage, instead darting back out.

This time, of course, he concealed his aura and any sound...

As soon as he was out, Lu Chao peered through the tower’s cobweb-covered window.

He saw Chang Yuan’s family outside the tower, locked in a standoff with Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan.

Lu Chao quickly scanned the surroundings but found no sign of Nan Zhuiming.

’If it’s just Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan, then this is perfect.’

As he thought this, he slowly clenched his fists.

The True Qi of his Peak Realm First Layer cultivation remained hidden and unreleased. He wanted to first see what Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan’s purpose was for being here.

Just then, Zeng Quan replied to Zheng Liling...

”He’s Chang Yuan from the Tiger Flame Kingdom. Once the number one genius of the Hundred Countries, now he’s just a piece of trash who can never break through to the Innate Realm.”

At this, Zeng Quan’s tone filled with hatred as he continued...

”During the Beast Flame Outer Courtyard’s placement tournament, if he hadn’t suddenly withdrawn from the fight, if he’d been willing to fight Lu Chao to the death, Lu Chao might have died, and none of this would be happening now.”

As Zeng Quan explained, Zheng Liling had a flash of realization and finally remembered the man.

Then, Zheng Liling suddenly asked, ”Chang Yuan, the Dragon Flame Warriors inside the Beast Flame Academy... you didn’t kill them, did you?”

Apparently, they had seen the corpses littering the inside of the Beast Flame Academy.

Chang Yuan held his wife and son tightly behind him, staring coldly at the two men before him.

He never expected to escape one crisis only to run into the Patriarch of the Saint Bone Zheng Family and Zeng Quan. He replied softly, ”No.”

”Then who did?” Zheng Liling quickly pressed.

”I don’t know.” Chang Yuan’s reply was brief.

Frowning, Zheng Liling suddenly started laughing again...

”Alright, it doesn’t matter.”

”But it’s not a good thing that you’ve seen us here in the ruins of the Azure Flame Sect. We are, after all, on the Dragon Flame Kingdom’s kill list. Now that you’ve accidentally stumbled upon us, what should we do?”

At these words, Chang Yuan’s expression turned cold, and Le Chun hugged Chang Duan tightly.

Zeng Quan followed up with a sinister laugh. ”I was just coming back to the Beast Flame Academy to reminisce about my time as headmaster before heading over to the Dragon Flame Kingdom to wreak some havoc. How unlucky that you had to see us.”

”Tell me, should we silence you... or should we *silence* you?”

Both choices he gave were to silence them.

His words made the cold glint in Lu Chao’s eyes, who was still inside the tower, flash once more...

’Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan are going to cause trouble in the Dragon Flame Kingdom. Mo Jing must have ordered them to do it.’

’Their intentions are crystal clear. They’re going to kill Chang Yuan’s family to silence them. The trouble they’re planning to cause in the Dragon Flame Kingdom definitely won’t be minor.’

”Alright, Zeng Quan. Stop wasting your breath on them. Kill them.”

”Then we can leave quickly, so we don’t keep Nan Zhuiming waiting.”

Just then, Zheng Liling gave the direct order to kill.

Hearing this, Zeng Quan let out a BOOM as True Qi exploded from his body, pressing down hard on Chang Yuan. ”Don’t blame me. Blame your own bad luck. Why did you have to see us when we were just passing through?”

As Zeng Quan’s pressure bore down on him, Chang Yuan’s expression shifted to one of slight shock. ”The Peak Realm... at least the Sixth Layer?”

As he spoke, his own True Qi began to radiate out unconsciously...

In that instant, Zeng Quan froze and said, ”Huh? You actually managed to break through? And you’ve reached the True Fate Sixth Layer?”

He stopped in his tracks...

Inside the tower, Lu Chao’s eyes widened slightly as he thought, ’It seems that just like Lu Dingtian and Nan Zhuiming, Mo Jing of Yan Soul City also raised Zheng Liling’s and Zeng Quan’s Martial Arts Realms. No wonder they dare to go cause trouble in the Dragon Flame Kingdom.’

’And Nan Zhuiming is waiting for them... does that mean Nan Zhuiming is also in the Dragon Flame Kingdom?’

’That’s it. The Nanye Dynasty is about to attack the Dragon Flame Kingdom, so Nan Zhuiming would definitely have to go back... And Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan are going to coordinate with him to leave the Dragon Flame Kingdom completely defenseless.’

As Lu Chao’s thoughts raced...

Zheng Liling suddenly stopped Zeng Quan again. ”This Chang Yuan seems quite impressive. To reach the True Fate Sixth Layer in his thirties... Chang Yuan, how about you join us?”

He was no longer trying to silence him, but was instead directly inviting Chang Yuan to join them.

In response, Chang Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly replied, ”My apologies, but I already have someone I wish to serve. He was the one who helped me break through. You’re a step too late.”

Oh?

Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan both chuckled. Zheng Liling spoke again, his voice mocking, ”Who helped you? Forget it, I can’t be bothered with this nonsense. Right now, no matter who you want to serve, it can’t be better than serving us.”

”Across the Great Wu, the Hundred Countries, or even the Nanye Dynasty, there are very few who are stronger than us now.”

”I, the Patriarch, am only giving you a chance to live because I see your realm and strength are impressive. You should know to cherish it.”

He had the look of someone patiently guiding a lost soul, having genuinely taken a liking to Chang Yuan’s potential.

But Chang Yuan stated directly, ”No, thank you. The person I wish to serve may not have as high a realm as you, but killing you would be an easy task for him.”

At his words, the faces of Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan instantly darkened.

They had their realms and strength personally enhanced by a powerhouse from the Cyan Sword Great Empire.

Yet Chang Yuan was saying it would be an easy task to kill the two of them.

What a joke! Right now, not even Dongfang Ren was their match. Besides Nan Zhuiming and Lu Dingtian, who in the entire Azure Flame Domain could possibly defeat them in a one-on-one fight?

But Zheng Liling quickly dismissed it. His powerful True Qi Realm was the source of his confidence.

”Interesting...”

”Go on, tell us who this person you want to serve is. Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”

As he finished speaking, Zheng Liling’s own True Qi flared out, revealing that he had already reached the Peak Seventh Layer.

He had intentionally revealed his realm to show Chang Yuan what true power was.

Yet, the moment his voice fell, a calm, quiet voice echoed from within the tower. ”The person Brother Chang is referring to is probably me. However, I never asked Brother Chang to serve me. We’re merely helping each other.”

The voice appeared so suddenly that, despite its softness, it was like a thunderclap to Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan.

After all, that voice was far too familiar to them.

Frantically, Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan whipped their heads toward the source of the voice. They then saw Lu Chao walking out of the old tower, step by step. Both of them shrieked almost in unison, ”Lu... Lu Chao!”