Chapter 453: Grand Marshal, Lu Chao Is Here

Lu Dingkong had been pierced by Lu Chao’s arrow. How could he possibly be fine?

He spat mouthfuls of blood. Miraculously, he clung to life and gasped, "Quick! Send word to the Grand Marshal! Lu Chao is back! He must know I was impersonating him. He’s definitely going to storm the Great Wu Imperial Palace! Tell the Grand Marshal... to run!"

In that fleeting moment, Lu Dingkong had caught a glimpse of Lu Chao atop the Flying Feather Black Eagle.

Hence his frantic words.

Hearing this, the men beside him stared blankly for a moment before slowly shaking their heads.

Someone said in a low voice, "General Dingkong, surely there’s no need. Marshal Lu is in the Creation Realm now."

Lu Dingkong’s face was deathly pale. He shook his head frantically, his voice a raw rasp...

"The Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf is also in the Creation Realm, and its cultivation is far beyond the Grand Marshal’s."

"But it couldn’t even help me dodge Lu Chao’s arrow! Lu Chao must be even more terrifying now. You all watched him grow up—do you really not know how fearsome he is?"

A tremor shot through each of Lu Dingtian’s experts. They didn’t dare delay and immediately sent the message.

They were all reminded of just how terrifying Lu Chao was.

Lu Dingkong continued, "No, with Lu Chao here, we’re bound to lose. There’s no possibility of victory... Hurry, take the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf and go after him! You have to stop Lu Chao."

The men were stunned. ’If we take the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf, how are we supposed to fight?’ Yin Ye’s forces already had terrifying momentum; they needed the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf to hold their own army together. If the beast left, their army’s collapse would be as swift and total as a landslide.

"We can’t win. We don’t stand a chance."

Lu Dingkong grabbed one of the men by the collar, his voice laced with desperation.

When the battle at Zhengyang Mountain first began, they had been full of confidence; after all, Mo Jing had elevated Lu Dingtian’s cultivation realm.

But Yin Ye had proven more fearsome than they’d imagined, carving a bloody path all the way to the outskirts of the Great Wu Imperial City. Now that Lu Chao, the true commander of the Hundred Countries Army, had arrived, victory on the battlefield was utterly impossible.

The men exchanged glances, once again recalling Lu Chao’s terrifying reputation. They knew him all too well.

"Take the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf to aid the Grand Marshal! Someone else, get back to the Grand Marshal’s Mansion immediately and rescue Hanyang."

"He’s the Grand Marshal’s only remaining son. We absolutely cannot let anything happen to him."

"And another thing—if you run into Lu Chao, kneel before him. Find a way to exploit his soft-heartedness and your past camaraderie to stall for time."

Upon hearing Lu Dingkong’s final, venomous words, the experts loyal to Lu Dingtian nodded their assent.

They mounted the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf and leaped into the city.

Naturally, such a conspicuous scene did not escape the notice of Yin Ye and his men. They saw it all clearly, and each of their hearts sank.

Yin Ye said with concern, "Lu Dingtian’s men figured it out. They’ve taken the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf to go after young Lu Chao."

At this, he turned to Cheng Yunsu...

But Cheng Yunsu took a deep breath and said, "It’s alright. The Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf is missing a wing. Lu Chao and the Flying Feather Black Eagle can evade its attacks and counter. For now, Marquis Yin, we need to end the battle outside the city quickly."

Cheng Yunsu’s words were enough to put Yin Ye’s worries about Lu Chao to rest.

He gave the order: "Kill!"

Without the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf and with their false commander struck down by an arrow, Lu Dingtian’s troops could no longer mount a defense. Yin Ye’s forces would now be unstoppable. The Hundred Countries’ Armies were about to fight their most brilliant battle since first entering Great Wu.

...

Within the city, Lu Chao rode the Flying Feather Black Eagle, streaking like a bolt of lightning toward the Great Wu Imperial Palace.

Suddenly, he glanced back and saw the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf appear. His fist clenched tightly...

’They figured it out. But a Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf that can’t fly will never catch me.’

’But they’ll definitely send word to Lu Dingtian. I have to be faster.’

The Star Wind-controlling Bone flashed repeatedly, pushing the Flying Feather Black Eagle to accelerate again and again...

The Flying Feather Black Eagle was massive. Despite being a Peak Realm existence, it was still slower than a carrier pigeon.

Over a short distance, however, it wasn’t a major issue.

But just then, a series of shouts echoed from behind him: "Grand Marshal, Lu Chao is here!"

Hearing this, Lu Chao whipped his head around. It was a few of Lu Dingtian’s men, all of whom he recognized. They were shouting at the top of their lungs; seeing how fast Lu Chao was moving, they were worried their message wouldn’t arrive in time and could only resort to bellowing the warning...

Lu Chao’s expression darkened further. Ignoring them, he continued to race onward.

...

「Meanwhile, inside the Great Wu Imperial Palace...」

The battle between masters was raging. Dongfang Ren had already reached the Peak Eighth Layer, and he fought alongside the experts of the Great Wu Royal Family—or, one could say, the Saint Bone Wu Family—against the masters under Lu Dingtian’s command.

At the same time, the Forbidden Guard Soldiers were locked in a bloody struggle with the Death Warriors trained by Lu Dingtian.

Of course, there were also the various clan factions that had sided with Lu Dingtian.

The fighting was not limited to the Great Wu Imperial Palace; the entire Great Wu Imperial City was a raging battlefield. Even within the Great Wu Imperial Academy, the slaughter was endless, as students chose sides and did nothing but... kill, kill, kill.

Former classmates and former colleagues slaughtered one another without a thought for their own lives.

For the past two or three days, the Great Wu Imperial City had been in a state of extreme tension. With the armies outside locked in a final, decisive battle, another one was naturally unfolding within the city walls. Thanks to Dongfang Ren’s presence, the Great Wu Royal Family currently held a slight advantage.

But just at that moment... WHOOSH!

A figure suddenly emerged from the shadows, sending a palm strike flying toward Dongfang Ren...

With a wet GAG...

Dongfang Ren was sent flying backward. His eyes widened in shock as he cried out, "Creation Realm... Lu Dingtian!"

As he spoke, Dongfang Ren violently spat out a mouthful of blood.

The figure who had appeared so suddenly drifted lightly to the ground, landing as Dongfang Ren’s voice faded. He spoke with a soft chuckle...

"Indeed it is I, Dongfang Ren..."

"My Creation Realm was forcibly elevated, and my Heavenly Destiny Bone originally belonged to Lu Chao. It would have been very, very difficult to kill you in a fair fight. That’s why I waited in the shadows for so long, and I finally found my chance."

"Now you’re finished. You were far too careless."

Lu Dingtian’s voice thundered throughout the Imperial Palace. He cast a domineering gaze upon the Emperor of Great Wu, who stood opposite him.

Behind him, Ming Huawan and the others from the Saint Bone Ming Family temporarily ceased fighting and gathered behind Lu Dingtian. Each of them stared at their opponents with vicious sneers, their battle lust soaring...

With Dongfang Ren grievously wounded and Lu Dingtian present, the Great Wu Royal Family no longer had the strength to resist.

Just then, Wu Zhiqiu stepped forward heavily from behind the Emperor of Great Wu. "Lu Dingtian, you treacherous villain! You..."

Before he could finish, Lu Dingtian cut him off sharply...

"Your Highness the Second Prince, those are strong words."

"I have no plans to become the emperor. I just want to ask His Majesty to stop being so foolish. The Cyan Sword Great Empire is not an enemy we can fight. Our Great Wu Empire should be assisting them. Otherwise, rivers of blood will flow."

As he said this, the corner of Lu Dingtian’s mouth curled up slightly as he stared directly at the members of the Great Wu Royal Family.