Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Yet Another Defeated Opponent
Everyone knew that the masked Fake Lu Chao had scared off the entire Great Wu army in the Tiger Flame Kingdom.
This was seen as a monumental disgrace by the Great Wu Empire, Lu Dingtian, and others. And by now, the Great Wu Empire was certainly aware that the Dragon Flame Kingdom had taken in Fake Lu Chao.
At this thought, Marquis Longyin stared at the retreating backs of the Great Wu Mission...
’The Great Wu Empire, the Saint Bone Ming Family.’
’So they’re here for Lu Chao. And it was Zheng Liling who invited them.’
’Allowing the Great Wu Mission to act so openly... it seems Zheng Liling is preparing to leave the Dragon Flame Kingdom and join the Six Great Flame Countries...’
’Regardless, Dragon Flame will not be humiliated!’
「Half a day later...」
The Great Wu Mission returned to the front of the Dragon Flame Palace.
But the one waiting outside now was no longer Marquis Longyin, but a common soldier.
The soldier blocked the Great Wu Mission and announced, "You may enter, but you must use that small gate over there."
As he spoke, the soldier pointed directly at a small, newly constructed gate.
The implication was clear: since they had gone to see Zheng Liling first, they could only enter the Dragon Flame Palace through a small gate.
If they found it insulting, they could get lost.
In response, the Delegation Leader of the Great Wu Mission just smiled faintly. "Ming Yi, it’s all yours."
As soon as he finished speaking, the young man who had spoken to Marquis Longyin earlier leaped down from the carriage again.
He shouted, "People of the Dragon Flame Kingdom! I am Ming Yi of the Great Wu Empire’s Saint Bone Family! I am not yet twenty, so forgive my arrogance, but not a single young person in your Dragon Flame Kingdom is my match."
"All the young people of the Dragon Flame Kingdom are utter trash."
His voice, amplified by his True Qi, boomed far and wide, and instantly, countless people heard him.
Then, as if on cue, others began to spread his words, until they echoed throughout the entire Dragon Flame Royal Capital.
The message was clear: Ming Yi of the Great Wu Empire had declared before the Royal Palace that all the young people of the Dragon Flame Kingdom were utter trash.
At this, countless people were enraged...
Young people began to challenge Ming Yi, but unfortunately, none could withstand a single one of his moves. Then, some began to say that students from the Celestial King Academy had to step in, or the Dragon Flame Kingdom would lose all face.
...
「Dragon Flame Academy. Marquis Longyin arrived in a hurry...」
"Lu Chao, that’s the situation."
"It’s obvious. Zheng Liling is using the Great Wu Mission to pressure us. If we have to ask the Celestial King Academy to intervene, everything Dragon Flame Academy has achieved with the Beast Flame will have been for nothing."
"Countless people will say my previous announcement was just hot air, that only the Celestial King Academy can represent the honor of the Dragon Flame Kingdom."
Marquis Longyin’s face was flushed red, clearly from anger.
"Of course, their main goal is to force you into a fight and use the opportunity to kill you."
Marquis Longyin then told Lu Chao what Ming Yi had said about presenting the head of a Great Wu criminal.
"This Ming Yi is at the Third Layer of the Transformation Realm."
"But his combat prowess is terrifyingly powerful. It must surpass Zheng Zhuhe’s, or he would never dare to be so audacious."
It was obvious they were targeting Lu Chao by trampling on the Dragon Flame Kingdom’s dignity.
If Lu Chao fought, they would try to kill him. If he didn’t dare to fight, countless people would question why the head senior brother of Dragon Flame Academy refused to act. They would insist... that a student from Celestial King Academy must step forward.
At that point, Zheng Zhuhe would surely fight. Then, Ming Yi could intentionally fight him to a draw or something similar, helping the Celestial King Academy and the Saint Bone Zheng Family build their prestige among the Hundred Countries. Dragon Flame Academy, in turn, would be ruthlessly crushed underfoot.
By then, no one would be able to withstand the pressure, and they would be forced to cancel the Beast Flame Outer Courtyard project.
As Marquis Longyin spoke, Lu Chao slowly took out the mask of Great Wu’s Lu Chao and said calmly, "Since they’re targeting me, and since this is unavoidable, then of course I will fight."
Upon hearing this, Marquis Longyin quickly said, "But Lu Chao, that Ming Yi’s realm..."
Before he could finish, Lu Chao interrupted with a smile...
"He’s probably not just at the Third Layer of the Transformation Realm. He has likely reached the Fourth Layer and is deliberately hiding his cultivation..."
"But he’s just another one of my defeated foes. I’ve reached the Innate Eighth Layer these past few days. Beating him won’t be a problem."
After speaking, Lu Chao put on his mask and strode out of Dragon Flame Academy.
Luo Wendeng and the others followed, and soon all the students of Dragon Flame Academy fell in behind them, marching in a great procession toward the Royal Palace.
Marquis Longyin blinked, his face full of confusion. "What do you mean, *another* one of your defeated foes?"
He still didn’t know that Lu Chao was the *real* Lu Chao.
He had no idea how brutally Lu Chao had once crushed Ming Yi. Marquis Longyin was simply baffled. Lu Chao had called the Six Great Flame Countries his defeated foes, so how was Ming Yi one as well?
In response, Sun Shijin just smiled without explaining. He said softly, "Just relax. Lu Chao will surely win."
...
「Inside the carriage of the Great Wu Mission, Zheng Liling was actually present...」
Sitting across from him was none other than the Delegation Leader, Ming Huawan, an Elder of the Saint Bone Ming Family.
Beside them were Zheng Zhuhe and Zheng Liyuan, whose legs had been broken by Dean Jiang.
Just then, Zheng Liling received a report and smiled. "Elder Huawan, as expected, Fake Lu Chao is going to fight. Although it shouldn’t be a problem for my nephew Ming Yi to take his head, we should still be cautious. Fake Lu Chao’s combat power is startling."
Hearing this, Ming Huawan chuckled...
"Patriarch Zheng, rest assured. My family’s Ming Yi ranks among the top five of the Great Wu Empire’s younger generation in terms of combat power. No matter how powerful someone in the Innate Realm is, dealing with them is child’s play for him."
"Let’s talk about our cooperation instead."
"Our Grand Marshal Lu said, of the Seven Great Flame Countries, you get three, and we get four..."
If anyone had heard their conversation, they would have been utterly horrified.
They were actually discussing carving up the Seven Great Flame Countries. And Ming Huawan had referred to Grand Marshal Lu, not His Majesty Da Wu.
It was clear he was one of Lu Dingtian’s men.
As they were talking, the voices of the onlookers rose up: "The head senior brother of Dragon Flame Academy, Lu Chao, is here!"
"What Lu Chao? That’s just Fake Lu Chao," someone else immediately sneered.
With that, the conversation between Zheng Liling and Ming Huawan came to a halt.
Murderous intent flared in the eyes of Zheng Zhuhe and Zheng Liyuan. At that moment, however, Ming Huawan said calmly, "Our Young Mistress Lu Hanyan has stated that Fake Lu Chao’s head must be brought back to wash away our previous shame."
His meaning was clear: ’Don’t even think about claiming Fake Lu Chao’s head. It belongs to our Young Mistress Lu Hanyan.’
To this, Zheng Liling immediately laughed. "No problem. It’s a small matter."
He had been on the back foot recently, so of course he had to agree to some conditions. It was just Fake Lu Chao’s head. He could concede that.
Before the battle had even begun, they were already discussing how to dispose of Lu Chao.
Amid the surrounding clamor and their discussion...
Lu Chao, leading the people of Dragon Flame Academy, stepped firmly out from the crowd.
He could already see the arrogant Ming Yi standing before the Royal Palace. Beneath his mask, Lu Chao’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Ming Yi had seen his real face before, so Lu Chao had to wear the mask...
Just then, Ming Huawan also gently lifted the carriage curtain to look at Lu Chao. His entire body suddenly shook as he muttered, "The resemblance... it’s too close."
