Chapter 297: Chapter 297: Coming for Us
Of course, it was also Zheng Liling who had orchestrated this, bringing Lu Hanyan, Patriarch Ming, and the others here. Otherwise, the Three Great Flame Countries, like Tiger Flame, would never have allowed Lu Hanyan to set foot in the Hundred Countries.
Zheng Liling chuckled in response to Ming Huawan’s gratitude...
"We’re just each taking what we need. That Fake Lu Chao has ruined my plans time and time again, so of course, he has to die first."
As his voice fell, Zheng Liling’s gaze turned chillingly sinister to the extreme.
Zheng Liling’s hatred for Lu Chao had reached its peak.
First, there was the matter with the Saint Bone Su Family, then the battle for slots in the Beast Flame Outer Courtyard, and now a third major incident...
It was Lu Chao who had swept through half of the Hundred Countries.
This might not seem like a big deal, but in reality, the implications were enormous. Zheng Liling’s goal was to carve up the Seven Great Flame Countries with the Great Wu Empire. Lu Chao’s sweep across the Hundred Countries, however, had made things extremely difficult for him.
First, Marquis Jilong had followed Lu Chao to the three Flame Countries, including Lion Flame, and dismantled all of the Saint Bone Zheng Family’s arrangements.
Second, half of the Hundred Countries were on the verge of being conquered by the Dragon Flame Academy.
How could he possibly fight the Dragon Flame King then?
And finally, if Lu Chao were allowed to continue his sweep all the way to the Three Academies’ Tournament...
The entire Hundred Countries would tremble and submit to the Dragon Flame Kingdom. Then, he, Zheng Liling, would have absolutely no chance at all.
This was what Zheng Liling hated to his very core.
That was why he had allied with the Great Martial Saint Bone Ming Family, wanting to eliminate Lu Chao as quickly as possible.
As Zheng Liling was seething silently, Ming Huawan asked in confusion, "Patriarch Zheng, why aren’t you waiting outside the Forbidden Land for Fan Changcun and the Fake Lu Chao yourself? Why are you borrowing our hands for this?"
He didn’t believe that Zheng Liling wouldn’t want to capture Fan Changcun, the man with the best chance of deciphering the Forbidden Land.
To this, Zheng Liling replied with a frigid gaze, "Since we are cooperating, of course I must show my sincerity."
Ming Huawan thought to himself, ’As if I’d believe you...’
’Zheng Liling must have a reason why he can’t act personally.’
What he didn’t know, of course, was that ever since Zheng Liling had recently left the Dragon Flame Kingdom, he constantly felt a pair of eyes locked onto him.
’It must be an expert sent by the Dragon Flame King. If I make a rash move against the Fake Lu Chao, this expert will definitely attack me with their full power.’
’At that point, the Dragon Flame King will declare all-out war against me within the Dragon Flame Kingdom.’
’I absolutely cannot make a move myself, so naturally, I can only borrow your hands.’
After this silent thought, he continued his cold, internal monologue, ’Damn it. To think the Dragon Flame King still has a hidden Martial Arts Powerhouse by his side who can make me wary. He really hides his cards well.’
In this region, the most powerful experts—aside from the patriarchs of the Six Great Saint Bone Families—were renowned figures like Dongfang Ren and Lu Dingtian.
Zheng Liling had originally thought there were no experts by the Dragon Flame King’s side who could match him, especially since Su Juehe of the Saint Bone Su Family was dead.
But unexpectedly, there was still an expert whose existence he, Zheng Liling, was unaware of.
This left Zheng Liling extremely frustrated...
And just as Zheng Liling and Ming Huawan were speaking, the sound of several footsteps approached their carriage. A deep, aged voice called out, "Headmaster Zeng Quan, the great battle is imminent. It is time for us to join forces against Dongfang Ren."
Zeng Quan, who had been silent until now, glanced lightly at Zheng Liling before slowly lifting the carriage curtain and stepping out.
Outside the carriage were the headmasters of Tiger Flame, Wolf Flame, and Eagle Flame...
In this assault on the Dragon Flame Academy and its allies, they would of course have to deal with Dongfang Ren, the number one expert of the Hundred Countries.
And to deal with him, it was imperative that Zeng Quan and the three headmasters join forces.
Now that the headmasters of the three academies including Lion Flame and Fox Flame had been killed by Lu Chao in retaliation, these remaining ones were afraid.
They had to win this war.
With Zeng Quan’s departure...
Only Zheng Liling and Ming Huawan remained in the carriage. Zheng Liling still felt as if some eyes were staring at him, and the feeling was extremely unsettling.
...
Not far from Zheng Liling’s carriage, two masked figures stood atop a lush, large tree.
As Zeng Quan and the three headmasters departed...
A deep voice immediately came from one of the masked figures. "Yin Ye, head to the Azure Flame Forbidden Land at once. I have a bad feeling. The moment Zeng Quan lifted the carriage curtain, I think I saw Ming Huawan."
Upon hearing this, Yin Ye said, "But, Your Majesty, you alone..."
"It’s fine. During those days I spent sparring with Dongfang Ren, my combat abilities have improved considerably," the first masked figure said softly. "Even if Zheng Liling discovers me, I can still retreat unscathed."
In the end, Yin Ye said no more and flickered away.
That’s right, the one monitoring Zheng Liling was the Dragon Flame King himself. There was no one by his side who could match Zheng Liling, so he, an old disciple of the Azure Flame Sect, had to act personally.
In terms of top-tier combat power, the Dragon Flame Academy was still far too inferior to its rivals.
Dongfang Ren couldn’t be in two places at once, so the Dragon Flame King had no choice but to take action himself to suppress Zheng Liling.
He would absolutely not allow any top-tier expert the opportunity to threaten Lu Chao.
...
「Azure Flame Sect Forbidden Land, 6th Floor」... HUMMM!
Lu Chao had broken through the Martial Arts Illusion Realm for the second time and emerged, with Fan Changcun and the other two following him out smoothly.
At this, the weakened Tiger Flame expert’s eyes went wide. "I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!"
BANG...
Sun Shijin knocked him out right then and there. His incessant, disbelieving shrieks were getting annoying.
Lu Chao, however, paid it no mind...
He murmured, "An hour faster than expected. But I should be able to go even faster."
He had expected it would take half a day to break through the Martial Arts Illusion Realm the second time.
But during the battle, he had seen through more of the Soldier Dao Battle Array’s formations and methods to break them. Coupled with his own growing proficiency in his various Heavenly Destiny Bone Martial Techniques, he had managed to break out an hour early.
But it wasn’t enough...
If possible, he wanted to be able to break out of the Martial Arts Illusion Realm in just two hours, or even one.
Shaking his head, he knew this wasn’t the time to think about such things. He had to leave the Forbidden Land immediately.
After passing the 6th Floor...
The first five floors held no further obstacles. Lu Chao hoisted Fan Changcun onto his back and quickened his pace, flashing toward the exit of the Forbidden Land.
But at that very moment... THUMP THUMP!
Lu Chao’s heart suddenly pounded twice, heavy and hard, causing him to stop dead in his tracks.
Sun Shijin also stopped and asked, "Lu Chao, what’s wrong?"
Lu Chao didn’t answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the direction of the Forbidden Land’s exit as he said in a hoarse voice, "My Water Chant Saint Bone is outside. Lu Hanyan is just outside the Forbidden Land."
At these words, the hairs on Sun Shijin’s entire body stood on end. He stared in disbelief toward the exit of the Forbidden Land.
’Lu Hanyan, daughter of Great Wu’s Lu Dingtian... How could she be here in Beast Flame?’
Sun Shijin had no doubt about Lu Chao’s judgment, of course. The Water Chant Saint Bone had originally belonged to Lu Chao.
Lu Chao said grimly, "She’s come for me, and for Marshal Fan... The forces of the Three Great Flame Countries must have already reached the outskirts of Beast Flame, and Lu Hanyan used the opportunity to slip inside."
