Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

All of the Nanye Dynasty’s forces were routed, fleeing into Nanxiong Pass. The confrontation between two armies had transformed into a siege, one side attacking and the other defending.

Outside Nanxiong Pass...

Lu Chao and Fan Changcun sat atop their warhorses, side by side.

”The Soldier Dao of our Azure Flame Sect is truly incredible,” Fan Changcun exclaimed, a sharp light glinting in his eyes.

This day of battle had spurred Fan Changcun to begin studying the Nine Palace Array Map, allowing his nearly one hundred years of experience with the Soldier Dao to erupt forth. With Lu Chao acting as the main general, Fan Changcun held the Nine Palace Array Atlas, continuously studying and absorbing its knowledge.

Now, in terms of the Soldier Dao, he had been completely surpassed by Lu Chao.

Nodding lightly, Lu Chao replied, ”Marshal, the Azure Flame Treasure Manual still holds many, many secrets. As long as we fully organize and comprehend them, the Azure Flame Sect will surely regain its former strength in a short time.”

Fan Changcun grew even more excited at this prospect.

For them, the next step was to break through Nanxiong Pass. From there, they would fight all the way to the Nanye Imperial City. They would force the Emperor of Nanye to join them against the Cyan Sword Great Empire, and perhaps even compel him to hand over his Soldier Orders.

But just then... COO COO!

A carrier pigeon landed on Lu Chao’s arm. His expression froze instantly as he said in alarm, ”A message from Marquis Longyin? Could something be wrong with Xiao Su’er’s health?”

Before leaving the Dragon Flame Royal Capital, Lu Chao had instructed Marquis Longyin to send a message if any problems arose with Cheng Yunsu’s health.

Receiving the letter now made his heart tighten with anxiety.

He quickly unfolded it to read. An uncontrollable tremor ran through him, and murderous intent flared in his eyes. He slowly crushed the letter to dust in his hand and said in a low voice, ”Marshal Fan, I must leave the battlefield. I have to go to Saint Su City.”

Fan Changcun was stunned and quickly asked what had happened.

Just then, Lu Chao issued a summons to his Flying Feather Black Eagle.

Before it arrived, he explained softly, ”The Saint Bone Shen Family’s Blood Sword Bone has the ability to create a brief Dying Glow. Shen Ji found Zheng Liling’s corpse and awakened him for a short while...”

”...which allowed the people from Red Sword City to find out that I had already left the Forbidden Land.”

”It must be Chi Yuan of Red Sword City, or perhaps that Vice Commander, who has taken Shen Ji, the Red Sword Guard, and the remaining members of the Saint Bone Zheng Family to storm Saint Su City. They intend to use my father-in-law to force me to appear.”

After reading Marquis Longyin’s message, Lu Chao had pieced together the current situation in Saint Su City.

’Unfortunately, when I left the Azure Flame Sect, I hadn’t yet fully comprehended the properties of the Saint Bone Shen Family’s Blood Sword Bone.’

’Otherwise, I never would have left Zheng Liling’s body behind.’

That’s right...

It was precisely because he understood the properties of the Blood Sword Bone that Lu Chao was able to instantly analyze the situation. Shen Ji must have used the Blood Sword Bone to awaken Zheng Liling, which was how Red Sword City learned that he had left the Forbidden Land early.

’Chi Xingxun and that Commander Ke probably haven’t left the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land so quickly.’

’If they have, then Mo Jing will find nothing. In any case, I must get to Saint Su City at once...’

As his voice fell, the Flying Feather Black Eagle arrived...

Lu Chao flashed onto its back, then cupped his fist gravely toward Fan Changcun. ”Marshal, I’m leaving the Nanye Dynasty to you.”

Fan Changcun gazed intently at Lu Chao. ”Don’t worry. I’ll be in the Nanye Imperial City within ten days... You must be careful.”

Nodding solemnly, Lu Chao soared into the sky on the Flying Feather Black Eagle.

In the air, Lu Chao’s thoughts raced in a suppressed tone. ’A full day has passed since Marquis Longyin sent the message. At the Flying Feather Black Eagle’s current speed, I can’t possibly reach Saint Su City in time...’

’Xiao Su’er, you mustn’t do anything reckless!’

Although Saint Su City was closer to this battlefield than it was to the Dragon Flame Royal Capital, it was still impossible for him to arrive within two days.

The journey from the Dragon Flame Royal Capital to the battlefield had taken three and a half days.

Even pushing the Flying Feather Black Eagle to its absolute limit, the journey would still take more than two days. In other words, Lu Chao was certain to miss the deadline set by Shen Ji’s group—by at least half a day.

The result would be his father-in-law, Cheng Chuming, likely losing an arm.

And Cheng Yunsu would never stand by and watch her father’s arm be cut off. She would definitely enter Saint Su City before the deadline expired.

’No, I can’t let Xiao Su’er and my father-in-law be harmed. I have to be faster.’

”Flying Feather Black Eagle, is there any way to make you go faster?”

In response, the Flying Feather Black Eagle just let out a series of screeches. Although it possessed some intelligence, it couldn’t answer Lu Chao’s question.

’That’s right, I can raise your realm and help you break through to the Peak Realm!’

Lu Chao muttered to himself, then tossed an Azure Flame Bone-Refining Pill, stuffing it straight into the Flying Feather Black Eagle’s beak.

After a couple of strange squawks, a feeling of pure comfort suddenly spread through the Flying Feather Black Eagle’s body.

The Demonic Power within it erupted, blasting its cultivation from the True Fate Realm Peak straight into the Peak Realm. As expected, its speed increased considerably.

But Lu Chao’s voice was grim. ’Still not fast enough... I still won’t make it in time...’

Suddenly, Lu Chao’s consciousness entered his Bone Inner World.

Inside, he looked up at the sky. ’Is there a Heavenly Destiny Bone that can increase the Flying Feather Black Eagle’s speed?’

He couldn’t see the Moon-level Bones in the distant sky, but he could clearly make out all the Star-level Heavenly Destiny Bones below them.

’According to the rules of the Bone Inner World...’

’When I was in the True Fate Realm, I could only devour one Moon-level Bone. Now that I’m in the Peak Realm, I should be able to devour two.’

’That should be one Star-level Bone and one Moon-level Bone.’

’Of course, if I only devoured Star-level Bones, I could probably take three more.’

’But unless it’s absolutely necessary, I’m not going to devour another Star-level Bone.’

Lu Chao muttered to himself while observing the densely packed Star Heavenly Destiny Bones in the sky. His gaze suddenly locked onto a particular Star Bone, and he said softly, ”Star God Wind-controlling Bone, it’s you!”

As his voice fell, the Star God Wind-controlling Bone was immediately summoned by Lu Chao, merging into the earth of his Bone Inner World.

With a great RUMBLE, the devouring process began!

It was easily assimilated by his Life-taking Star-devouring Bone. The Meridian Map for the Wind-controlling Bone immediately appeared in Lu Chao’s mind. He rapidly comprehended and cultivated it, then slowly opened his eyes and called out, ”Flying Feather Black Eagle, feel my... Wind Manipulation’s Swift Flash!”

Wind Manipulation’s Swift Flash...

...was the skill that came with the Star God Wind-controlling Bone, a type of Body and Footwork Technique.

It allowed him to command the surrounding wind, increasing his speed.

And since he could command the wind, he could naturally boost the Flying Feather Black Eagle’s speed, taking it to another level.

Lu Chao then continuously channeled the Star God Wind-controlling Bone, deepening his comprehension of its Meridian Map and becoming more proficient with Wind Manipulation’s Swift Flash. Now, everything depended on how much he could accelerate—and whether or not he could make it in time.

...

「Time passed. As Lu Chao raced frantically toward his destination, the scene shifted to a location outside Saint Su City...」

Of the two-day deadline set by Shen Ji and his group—the moment they would sever one of Cheng Chuming’s arms—only a quarter of an hour remained. Cheng Yunsu, who had been deep in Cultivation, slowly opened her eyes.