Chapter 289: Chapter 289: Do You Submit Now?
The Lion Flame King froze. His lips trembled as he stammered, "Aren’t you afraid? Aren’t you afraid..."
He couldn’t finish his sentence, but Yin Ye completed it for him. "Before Lu Chao began his sweep of the Hundred Countries, our Dragon Flame Soldiers and Horses couldn’t easily set foot within them. We had to avoid you gathering your forces and forming an alliance."
"But now, do you really think your Six Great Flame Countries can still form an alliance?"
At these words, the Lion Flame King sank heavily back into his throne and shut his eyes tightly.
’If the Dragon Flame Kingdom had sent an army led by Lu Chao from the start, the Six Great Flame Countries would have certainly allied, coerced the Small Kingdoms into sending troops, and launched an all-out assault to intercept and kill Lu Chao. Then they would have claimed the Dragon Flame Kingdom attacked them first...’
’But now? What damned alliance could they form now?’
’Soon, half of the Hundred Countries would be swept clean by Lu Chao. The hostages from the Small Kingdoms that I held had been rescued by him, and the Small Kingdoms closer to the Dragon Flame Kingdom had all become part of his army.’
’How could the Six Great Flame Countries possibly form an alliance now?’
Thinking of this, the Lion Flame King asked hoarsely, "Marquis Jilong, what do you want now?"
The Fake Lu Chao would next lead the forces of dozens of Small Kingdoms to sweep toward Tiger Flame, Wolf Flame, and Eagle Flame. Naturally, Marquis Jilong had to ensure the defeated Three Great Flame Countries would be powerless to attack Lu Chao from the rear.
In response, Yin Ye smiled faintly. "I invite you, Lion Flame King, to be a guest in our Dragon Flame Kingdom."
At these words, the Lion Flame King’s eyes flew wide, and he pointed a trembling finger at Marquis Jilong.
’So I, one of the Seven Great Flame Kings, am to become a hostage king.’
"You should be thankful Lu Chao didn’t sack your Lion Flame Royal Capital. Otherwise, its streets would be flowing with rivers of blood right now."
After his indifferent remark, Yin Ye added softly, "Oh, right. There’s one more thing I need your assistance with, Lion Flame King... I’d like you to identify every single person Zheng Liling has planted within the Lion Flame Kingdom."
On this trip, Yin Ye intended to uproot all of Zheng Liling’s influence in the Lion Flame Kingdom, leaving none of his pawns behind.
The plot at the Beast Flame Academy made it clear: Zheng Liling’s ambition was immense. He had various schemes in place throughout the Six Great Flame Countries. The Dragon Flame Academy’s campaign would not only beat these countries into submission, but it would also completely crush all of Zheng Liling’s intricate plans.
Finally, the Lion Flame King nodded weakly, left with no other choice but to agree to everything.
「A short time later...」
Yin Ye stood with Yin Qixing on the walls of the Lion Flame Royal Capital. He gazed off in the direction of the Fox Flame Kingdom and said, "I’m truly looking forward to Lu Chao’s performance in the three-academy tournament. I can’t wait to see the look on Great Wu Lu Dingtian’s face."
Yin Qixing gulped. Lu Chao had been utterly overwhelming throughout this entire campaign.
"It’s about time we set out," Yin Ye said to Yin Qixing with another smile. "Next stop... the Fox Flame Kingdom."
...
「A few days later, at the Fox Flame Royal Capital!」
Lu Chao brought the forces of the Dragon Flame Academy and the various Small Kingdoms to the gates of Fox Flame City.
With them were the Fox Flame prisoners of war. After a round of negotiations with the Fox Flame Kingdom, the two sides exchanged their captives.
Afterward, Lu Chao made another demand: hand over the Dean of the Beast Flame Fox Institute.
The Fox Flame King refused without a moment’s hesitation.
Upon hearing the refusal, Lu Chao didn’t hesitate for a second. "With me!" he roared. "Attack the city!"
Half a day later, Fox Flame City was breached...
The Fox Flame prisoners who had just been exchanged were cut down and sent fleeing in terror. After breaching the walls, Lu Chao led his men straight for the Fox Flame Academy. The entire Fox Flame Royal Capital was thrown into utter chaos.
Ultimately, the Dean of the Fox Institute was secretly killed by her own subordinates, and her body was delivered to Lu Chao.
’The city walls had fallen. If they didn’t hand over the Dean of the Fox Institute, the consequences would be terrifying...’
’The Dean’s subordinates had family and friends in the city, too. Of course some of them were terrified.’
’At the same time, some people had long been dissatisfied with the Dean and the other Beast Flame higher-ups.’
’During the Beast Flame Outer Courtyard’s tournament for placements, a little bias was one thing, but how could they have been so shameless? Thus, under a combination of pressure and resentment, the Dean of the Fox Institute ended up being assassinated by her own subordinates.’
Once Lu Chao saw the body of the Fox Institute’s Dean, he ceased the attack and immediately ordered his troops to withdraw.
Thus, Lu Chao led his army away from the Fox Flame Royal Capital.
「Half a day later...」
Marquis Jilong, Yin Ye, arrived. The Fox Flame King, her face etched with exhaustion, received him. She couldn’t even be bothered to defend her city anymore.
’It’s not like she could defend it anyway.’
The Fox Flame King simply asked wearily, "Marquis Jilong, what is this Fake Lu Chao’s game? Since he wanted the Dean of the Fox Institute, why bother exchanging prisoners first? If he hadn’t, he could have breached the city in an instant."
It was a point the Fox Flame King couldn’t comprehend.
In response, Yin Ye just smiled faintly. "Because you were defiant. So he had to beat you into submission."
The Fox Flame King’s mouth fell open.
"He returned your prisoners and then crushed you. Do you have any fight left in you now?" Yin Ye asked with a soft chuckle.
The Fox Flame King lowered her head, a bitter smile on her face. ’How could she dare to have any fight left now?’
A moment later, Yin Ye added softly, "The Beast Flame Academy... such a fine plan..."
"But you just had to support Zheng Liling. If even one of your deans had stood up and spoken a fair word for Lu Chao and the Dragon Flame Academy, things wouldn’t have come to this."
"Lu Chao’s goal on this campaign isn’t just to beat you into submission. It’s to make you pay the price for your utter lack of principles."
The Fox Flame King had no response to this.
Of course, the deans’ actions had the tacit approval of the Six Great Flame Kings, thanks to the various benefits and promises Zheng Liling had made.
But now, a single Fake Lu Chao had shattered everything.
Yin Ye then made the same demand of the Fox Flame King that he had of the Lion Flame King, and then he departed.
His next stop, of course, was the Leopard Flame Kingdom.
...
At the Leopard Flame Royal Capital, Lu Chao didn’t even have to bring his army to the gates.
The moment he stepped into Leopard Flame territory, the body of the Leopard Institute’s Dean was delivered to him.
But it wasn’t the Leopard Flame King who had killed him. It was... Dongfang Ren!
While rescuing the Small Kingdom hostages in the Leopard Flame Royal Capital, Dongfang Ren had conveniently taken care of the Leopard Institute’s Dean. The Leopard Flame King also already knew that the troops he had sent to reinforce the Lion Flame Kingdom had been almost completely annihilated.
Now, he had absolutely no intention of fighting.
Seeing what had happened to the Lion Flame and Fox Flame Kingdoms, the Leopard Flame King had already conceded defeat.
After accepting the body of the Leopard Institute’s Dean, Lu Chao spoke coolly to the messenger sent by the Leopard Flame King. "Return and inform the Leopard Flame King that we will be passing through Leopard Flame territory on our way to the Beast Flame Academy."
And just like that, Lu Chao continued toward the Beast Flame Academy without any delay.
Of the Six Great Flame Countries, the Leopard Flame Kingdom was the closest to the Beast Flame Academy, which was located in the ruins of the Azure Flame Sect.
Along the way, Yu Xiaoping gazed out at the lands of the Leopard Flame Kingdom. Wiping away a tear, she murmured, "I once suffered endless humiliation in this land, but now I follow Brother Lu, marching forward with my head held high."
「A short while later...」
Yin Ye arrived at the Leopard Flame Royal Capital.
