Chapter 338: Battle of the Three Academies, Prologue

"When you’re done, you will reach the Creation Realm."

"I must go. It’s almost time for me to welcome our Young Master."

"Oh, right..."

"You must spare Fan Changcun’s life. Our Young Master must obtain the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land and all its secrets."

After speaking, the shadow figure flickered and departed.

Lu Dingtian, of course, respectfully saw him off. Once he was alone, a sinister and horrifying voice escaped his lips, "My dear adopted son, can you see this from the great beyond?"

"After your dear adoptive father killed you, not only did I not suffer the retribution you spoke of before you died, but I’ve even had one great fortune after another."

"Ha, hahahaha..."

"Fan Changcun, Fake Lu Chao... you almost fooled me. Too bad I now have the backing of the Cyan Sword Great Empire."

After his bout of laughter, Lu Dingtian immediately took out a Storage Ring.

This was also a gift from the Cyan Sword shadow figure. Inside were cultivation resources, some Martial Techniques from the Cyan Sword Great Empire, and the like.

It also contained something capable of nullifying a Face-Changing Pill... Face-removing Sand.

"The Three Courtyard Tournament is in two days. I’m really looking forward to it. At that time, all those in the Great Wu Empire who pointed fingers at me will witness the terrifying power of my two children. The whole world will be shocked."

"Then, I will publicly expose the scheme of the Fake Lu Chao and Fan Changcun, and I will grind the so-called Azure Flame Sect directly under my heel."

The more Lu Dingtian spoke, the more thrilled he became, but his expression immediately darkened...

’It’s a pity they also found Nan Zhuiming. It would be better if I were the only one,’ he thought.

’No matter what, I must prove in the Three Courtyard Tournament that I am more useful than Nan Zhuiming... I have to find a chance to suck up to that Young Master from the Cyan Sword Great Empire. It would be perfect if he took a liking to Hanyan.’

Lu Dingtian stood alone, lost in his various schemes.

...

「Meanwhile, within the temporary town where the Blood Stele was located, inside the Nanye Dynasty’s lodgings.」

Nan Zhuiming, Nan Ke, and the others had arrived long ago and were gathered together.

They were discussing the events that had taken place at the foot of the Blood Stele earlier that day—namely, the matter of the real and fake Lu Chao. Some from the Nanye Dynasty believed Lu Chao was definitely a fake, while others thought he might have been resurrected after not having been killed completely.

Some even suspected this was all a play put on by Lu Dingtian and Great Wu Lu Chao.

All for the sake of allowing the Great Wu Empire to conquer the entire Azure Flame Domain.

But just then, Nan Zhuiming’s heart jolted, and he flickered away.

In the darkness outside, he saw a shadow. This shadow figure was the same person from Cyan Sword who had given benefits to Lu Dingtian.

He tossed a Storage Ring to Nan Zhuiming and spoke nonchalantly...

"Nan Zhuiming, these are your benefits. Our big move is for our Young Master to invade. You must orchestrate a spectacular victory for him. Understand?"

After accepting the Storage Ring, Nan Zhuiming nodded emphatically, indicating that he would absolutely cooperate with their plans.

He would follow their every command without question.

"Right, I just heard you all discussing that bullshit about a real and fake Lu Chao."

"In this world, there’s no such thing as being resurrected after being beaten to a pulp. Nor is there any such thing as possession by a Fierce Ghost. That’s all just lies to deceive you ignorant people of the Azure Flame Domain."

"And it’s not a play put on by Lu Dingtian. I’m the one who recruited Lu Dingtian, just like I did with you."

After speaking, the shadow figure flickered and vanished...

Nan Zhuiming was stunned for a moment, then quickly and respectfully saw him off. Afterward, he hurriedly inspected the contents of the Storage Ring.

The items weren’t anything incredibly amazing...

At least, they weren’t of much use to him, Nan Zhuiming. But for the younger generation like Nan Ke, they were extremely useful. Every item came with a description, and each one was something that could help Nan Ke and the others improve.

"Exciting. With these things, Nan Ke can easily kill that Fake Lu Chao."

With that, Nan Zhuiming flickered back to the crowd from the Nanye Dynasty.

He swept his gaze over Nan Ke and the others. "I have received confirmed news. The Fake Lu Chao is indeed a fake. It’s impossible for him to be real."

"He’s just a piece of trash with the Bone of Myriad Stars."

"Our real opponent is the Great Wu Empire. I have some good things here that will allow all of you to improve quickly."

Thus, the young students of the Nanye Dynasty entered a state of cultivation.

Just then, a thought suddenly crossed Nan Zhuiming’s mind. ’Oh, right. I forgot to tell that big shot from Cyan Sword that a masked cultivator at the Peak of the Peak Realm has appeared in the Azure Flame Sect... Forget it, it’s none of my business.’

...

「Back in the temporary town of the Blood Stele, at the lodgings of the Hundred Flames Trading Company.」

The brothers Wu Tong and Wu Ye sat facing their third brother, Witch Ying. The two of them were staring intently at him...

Witch Ying was the first to speak. "First Brother, Second Brother, my actions are a gamble that Lu Chao is real."

His meaning was, of course...

...that since Lu Chao was real, he wanted to try and persuade his brothers to stop cooperating with the Great Wu Empire and the Nanye Dynasty.

However, Wu Tong said grimly, "Third Brother, we have already received definitive news. Lu Chao is a fake."

Witch Ying’s expression was one of shock. ’Where did they get this news?’

"Third Brother, if you want to bet on the Fake Lu Chao, then go ahead and bet."

"But we can tell you clearly, if you lose this bet, we won’t be able to save you."

"You can go now."

"The moment you brought Wu Caicai’s mother here, the moment you publicly slapped us in the face, our brotherly bond was severed. After the Three Courtyard Tournament, there will be no place for you in the Hundred Flames Trading Company."

These were the words of the second master, Wu Ye. After just a few sentences, he was already telling Witch Ying to leave.

This made Witch Ying’s expression turn ugly. "First Brother, Second Brother, there’s a ninety percent chance the Fake Lu Chao is..."

Witch Ying still wanted to try and persuade them, but he was interrupted by Wu Tong and Wu Ye. It was Wu Tong who said coldly, "In the Three Courtyard Tournament, you will see the Fake Lu Chao’s true identity exposed. Now... get out."

And so, Witch Ying could only leave, feeling helpless.

He muttered to himself, "’Lu Chao was right. Lu Dingtian doesn’t believe he’s the real Lu Chao. The news my brothers received must have come from Lu Dingtian... Could it be? Is Lu Chao really a fake?’"

Now, even Witch Ying was starting to feel uncertain.

And he had guessed correctly. Just before Witch Ying arrived, Lu Dingkong had paid a visit, and even Nan Zhuiming had sent someone over.

They had all told Wu Tong and Wu Ye that no one could be resurrected after their corpse was torn to shreds, and there was no such thing as possession by a Fierce Ghost... With the words of experts from two great powers, the Empire and the Dynasty, Wu Tong and Wu Ye were naturally convinced.

Zheng Liling and the people from the Beast Flame Inner Courtyard also received messages sent by Lu Dingtian and Nan Zhuiming.

Lu Chao was a fake!

Two days later, when the Three Courtyard Tournament officially began, aside from the ordinary locals, small merchants, and the people from the Beast Flame Outer Courtyard, all of Lu Chao’s opponents were convinced that he was a fake.

Indeed, the curtains were about to rise on the Three Courtyard Tournament.