Chapter 321: Not a Negotiation, but an Order

This time, the Tri-Academy Hegemony Tournament...

The participants are: the Great Wu Imperial Academy, the Nanye Royal Academy, and the Hundred Countries’ Beast Flame Academy.

It wasn’t strange for the Nanye Dynasty’s contingent to appear here. They bordered the Dragon Flame Kingdom, but they could also bypass it and enter through the Hundred Countries.

The location for this tournament was chosen by the Great Wu Empire, so of course, they had to pass through the Hundred Countries to get there.

Dongfang Ren took a deep breath, his hunched back straightening slightly.

"Nan Zhuiming, if you’re heading to the tournament, then go. Why are you blocking our path?"

He wasn’t one for beating around the bush and asked directly.

"Hahaha..."

Nan Zhuiming suddenly burst into laughter, then said in a cold voice, "We happened to run into General Guan of Tiger Flame, and he told us what recently occurred at the old Azure Flame Sect site. Naturally, we had to come and see for ourselves."

As he spoke, Nan Zhuiming’s gaze swept over the people from Dragon Flame Academy before finally landing on Lu Chao.

"So you’re the Fake Lu Chao?" Nan Zhuiming asked bluntly.

Lu Chao wasn’t wearing his mask at the moment. He replied coolly, "That’s right. My name is Lu Chao."

Besides Nan Zhuiming, many other figures from Nanye atop the giant Rhino Beast were sizing Lu Chao up and down.

Among them, of course, were dozens of young men and women.

And these young men and women were, naturally, the students of the Nanye Royal Academy—the geniuses of the Nanye Dynasty.

They would be Lu Chao and his group’s opponents in the Tri-Academy Hegemony Tournament.

Nan Zhuiming studied Lu Chao for a few moments, then gave a casual nod...

"I hear you’re quite the legend. However, there’s something this Patriarch needs to discuss with you."

Nan Zhuiming clearly didn’t think much of Lu Chao, his tone carrying a hint of command, even an order.

"Oh? And what is that?"

Lu Chao retorted coldly. The other party had a bad attitude, so he had no intention of being polite.

Nan Zhuiming smiled faintly and pointed at Guan Zanyi...

He spoke again in that same commanding tone, "Since General Guan Zanyi has already pledged allegiance to my Nanye Dynasty, I must show him some sincerity. Now, release all the prisoners in your hands. General Guan will take them back to Tiger Flame."

The moment he finished speaking...

Sun Shijin and the others’ eyes widened. He actually wanted them to release the Three Flames Soldiers and Horses they had captured?

’Does Nan Zhuiming think this is Nanye?’

At that moment, Guan Zanyi puffed out his chest and said, "Fake Lu Chao, did you hear that? Hurry up and release all the Three Flames Soldiers and Horses to me."

His face was filled with smugness and excitement...

After escaping from the old Azure Flame Sect site, he hadn’t known where to go. Returning to the Tiger Flame Kingdom would have been a death sentence, and the Great Wu Empire would never treat a Tiger Flame Grand General like him favorably.

There was simply no place for him in the Hundred Countries.

But as luck would have it, he ran into the contingent from the Nanye Dynasty, and they were even willing to take him in.

What was even more thrilling was that they had promised to get his captured Three Flames Soldiers and Horses back for him. They would let him lead the Three Flames Soldiers and Horses back to Tiger Flame and even have the Tiger Flame King and the others directly pledge allegiance to the Nanye Dynasty.

It was simply perfect. If this succeeded, he, Guan Zanyi, would no longer have to bow and scrape before the Tiger Flame King.

Fan Jinhua couldn’t help but chime in, "Guan Zanyi, are you on something? Can’t you see how many people we have here?"

To the members of Dragon Flame Academy, Nan Zhuiming’s commanding tone was a joke. They had a massive army with them. No matter how powerful Nan Zhuiming himself was, could he possibly stand against thousands of soldiers alone?

At Fan Jinhua’s words, Guan Zanyi couldn’t help but laugh as well...

He looked at Nan Zhuiming and bowed. "Patriarch Nan, it seems they’re still quite full of themselves. I think we need to teach them a lesson."

Nan Zhuiming chuckled and looked back at Lu Chao...

"Fake Lu Chao, this Patriarch is not negotiating with you. Release the Three Flames prisoners now, or you will die." Nan Zhuiming’s tone remained condescending, completely disregarding Lu Chao’s army.

To this, Lu Chao replied calmly, "Patriarch Nan, are you saying that if I refuse, I will die?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the surrounding forest. The power of his Dragon General Bone told him there were no other troops in the woods. In other words, Nan Zhuiming only had the few hundred people on the back of the Rhino Beast.

’So where is Nan Zhuiming’s confidence coming from?’

"It seems you don’t believe me? Then I’ll give you a little demonstration. I’ll let you see this Patriarch’s current realm." Nan Zhuiming spoke, and then with a BOOM, he vanished from the back of the Rhino Beast.

WHOOSH—

Nan Zhuiming transformed into what looked like a streak of light, shooting directly toward Lu Chao at a speed too fast for the eye to follow.

However, one person could follow it.

Dongfang Ren, of course. He instantly appeared in front of Lu Chao to intercept Nan Zhuiming.

The latter suddenly materialized and threw a seemingly ordinary punch at Dongfang Ren...

WAH!

With just that single punch, Dongfang Ren cried out in pain and was sent flying backward. Lu Chao managed to catch him, using the strength of his warhorse, but the horse, along with Lu Chao and Dongfang Ren, was forced back continuously.

They only came to a stop after sliding back dozens of meters...

After they stopped, Lu Chao quickly asked, "Elder Dongfang, are you all right?"

Dongfang Ren cried out "WAH!" again as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

His aged face was deathly pale. He looked up at Nan Zhuiming, who had landed on the ground, and said hoarsely, "Peak Realm, Eighth Layer!"

Shock was written all over Dongfang Ren’s eyes; he could hardly believe Nan Zhuiming was this strong.

At the same time... SHING! SHING! SHING!

Almost everyone from Dragon Flame Academy drew their weapons, while countless soldiers from the Small Kingdoms drew their longbows, aiming their arrows at Nan Zhuiming... Yet, the man looked completely unconcerned.

Nan Zhuiming was still smiling faintly...

"Dongfang Ren, ten years ago, our battle ended in a draw."

"Ten years later, you’ve made almost no progress. In fact, your strength has declined with age. Now, this Patriarch can take your life in three moves... The number one expert of the Hundred Countries? This Patriarch can crush you underfoot whenever I please."

As he finished, the faces of the people from the Small Kingdoms turned ugly with panic.

After all, Dongfang Ren was a god in the eyes of the Small Kingdoms, a being who protected them.

Then, Nan Zhuiming looked down on Lu Chao with that same superior air...

"Fake Lu Chao, all these bows and arrows are aimed at me. How terrifying."

"But why don’t you try it? Let’s see what’s faster: this Patriarch’s speed in killing you, or the arrows of your soldiers?"

At this, Nan Zhuiming gave another indifferent smile...

"Now, this Patriarch will repeat myself one more time: release all of the Three Flames Soldiers and Horses, or I will take your life right now."

"Of course, you can also choose mutual destruction."

"I just wonder if the Dragon Flame Kingdom can withstand a full-scale invasion from my Nanye Dynasty? Can it withstand a surprise attack from the Saint Bone Zheng Family? Can it withstand being viciously torn apart by the Six Great Flame Countries?"