Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

As the words fell, the twenty Yan Soul Guards split into several groups and charged into the hundred thousand soldiers of the Nether Spring Army.

Because Lu Dingxian was far too mediocre, and his mind was too unsettled to fully gather the power of his forces, the Yan Soul Guard groups instantly broke into the ranks of the Nether Spring soldiers. In a flash… SHLICK! SHLICK! SHLICK! SHLICK!

The Yan Soul Guards cut down the soldiers of the Nether Spring Army as if they were chopping vegetables, leaving a trail of bloodcurdling screams.

At the same time, their eyes remained locked on Lu Chao, and they pursued him madly through the Nether Spring soldiers, killing all who stood in their way.

"Lu Chao, you've already been hit by our Cloud-Chasing Sand! You can't hide, not even among a hundred thousand soldiers."

Hearing this, Lu Chao, who was weaving through the Nether Spring soldiers, felt a slight tremor run through his body.

He suddenly noticed a strange scent on his body. He had no idea when the Yan Soul Guards had managed to dust him with the substance.

'Cloud-Chasing Sand. Just from the name, it's clearly for tracking.'

Taking a deep breath, Lu Chao shouted again, "Lu Dingxian, immediately give me command of the Nether Spring forces! Otherwise, your men will be slaughtered to the last one! These people are from the Cyan Sword Great Empire!"

The instant his voice rang out, Lu Dingxian's mind started buzzing.

At that moment, Lu Dingxian was still trying to mobilize his troops, gathering their power for a defensive stand.

But he was truly powerless against such formidable enemies. The most he could do was borrow the power of his soldiers to ensure his own survival.

He hesitated, completely at a loss. He still couldn't decide whether or not to hand command of the Nether Spring forces to Lu Chao.

But as he watched his men being slaughtered—some of them his own sons and nephews—Lu Dingxian finally made a decision and roared, "All soldiers, listen to my command! From this moment, Young Master Lu Chao will be—"

Before he could finish, a voice drifted over from the distance...

"Lu Dingxian, bring your troops and charge over here at once! Don't fall for that traitorous son's scheme!"

The voice belonged to Lu Dingtian.

Instantly, Lu Dingxian's eyes flew wide. He wheeled around to glare at Lu Chao with utter fury. "You traitorous son! How dare you trick me?"

The entire Lu Family of the Great Wu Empire now referred to Lu Chao as a "traitorous son." It was Lu Dingtian and his own two sons who had gouged out Lu Chao's three Heavenly Destiny Bones, yet they acted as if it was only natural that Lu Chao should not seek revenge.

A cold glint flashed in Lu Chao's eyes. 'Lu Dingtian got here so fast. And he saw me among the Nether Spring Army.'

No matter... Kill!

Now that Lu Dingtian had made his presence known, the chance of gaining even temporary control of the Nether Spring forces was gone. His only option was to kill Lu Dingxian.

Lu Dingxian, of course, was not one to sit and wait for death. He gathered his power and unleashed a frenzied slash at Lu Chao.

In that instant, however, Lu Chao roared, "Destiny Bone—suppress!"

Instantly, ripples emanated from the Moon Profound Soldier-Breaking Bone, suppressing Lu Dingxian. Though Lu Dingxian had gathered his power and could momentarily resist the Destiny Bone's suppression, his will still wavered. That hesitation was fatal. Death!

SHLICK!

Lu Chao's sword ran Lu Dingxian through. Then, he roared, "Soldiers of the Nether Spring! Your commander is dead! I am Lu Chao! Now, gather your power and lend it to my spear!"

As he spoke, Lu Chao's Dragon General Bone sent a shockwave toward the Heavenly Destiny Bones of all the Nether Spring soldiers.

Some soldiers were mobilized subconsciously, while others refused and resisted. The rest were simply confused and terrified.

Thus, Lu Chao only managed to command the True Qi from a small portion of the army. He blasted a powerful spear strike at the charging Yan Soul Guards, brutally forcing them back. Then, without a second glance...

...he vanished back into the chaos of the army, his voice echoing behind him...

"Yan Soul Guards, these troops belong to Lu Dingtian! Your primary target should be Chi Xingxun!"

"If Lu Dingtian and Chi Xingxun gain control of this army, you're all finished!"

With that said, Lu Chao flashed out from among the Nether Spring soldiers. The twenty Yan Soul Guards were shaken. Their leader immediately shouted, "Ten of you, go after Lu Chao! The rest, follow me and shatter this army!"

At his command, they split up...

Ten Yan Soul Guards gave chase to Lu Chao, while the other ten began to slaughter the Nether Spring soldiers.

Now leaderless, the Nether Spring Army immediately collapsed into chaos. Though they were numerous, and ten Yan Soul Guards couldn't kill them all, they could certainly make them scatter in terror.

Their goal was to force the majority of the Nether Spring soldiers to break ranks and run.

And sure enough, someone was the first to cry out, "Quick, run for your lives!"

Cries of panic erupted as the morale of the Nether Spring Army completely collapsed. The hundred thousand soldiers scattered and fled in all directions.

In an instant, the army was completely routed.

Meanwhile, Lu Chao burst out from the routing army, summoned his Flying Feather Black Eagle, and leaped onto its back, continuing his flight north.

His objective was accomplished: to leave Lu Dingtian and Chi Xingxun with no army to command.

At least, not an army of one hundred thousand.

"Lu Chao is getting away again! Fifteen of you, go after him! Five will stay and ensure this army continues to scatter!" came the voice of a Yan Soul Guard.

Instantly, fifteen Yan Soul Guards mounted their Flying Wolves and resumed the chase. The remaining five continued to rout the Nether Spring soldiers. For now, their objective aligned with Lu Chao's: they could not allow Chi Xingxun to have a usable army.

And so, the arrow-wounded Flying Feather Black Eagle continued its flight north...

Lu Chao thought grimly, 'Fifteen of them left. And I've been marked with that Cloud-Chasing Sand and have no idea how to get rid of it. For now, all I can do is run.'

Back on the Nanye Battlefield, Lu Chao had killed four Yan Soul Guards single-handedly.

Back then, Lu Chao had been at the Peak Fourth Layer. But even now, at the Peak Fifth Layer, facing fifteen of them at once was too great a challenge.

What's more, they were riding Flying Wolves.

'Either my Flying Feather Black Eagle recovers from its injuries, or I have to break through to the next level.'

'Or... I find a place where the Yan Soul Guards can't use their Flying Wolves.'

Lu Chao analyzed his options.

His gaze fixed on the north. 'I'll have to enter the Nether Spring Mountain Range,' he concluded. 'Once I'm there, their Flying Wolves won't dare act so recklessly. The mountain range is home to terrifyingly powerful Demon Beasts that will suppress them.'

Having come to this conclusion, Lu Chao made his decision: he would engage the Yan Soul Guards in a battle of stealth and assassination deep within the Nether Spring Mountain Range.

"Flying Feather Black Eagle, just hold on."

Lu Chao fed the Flying Feather Black Eagle an Elixir Pill to help it heal, while also tending to his own injuries.

Commander Ke's earlier ambush had left him with internal injuries, while his desperate battle against the Yan Soul Guards had inflicted external wounds.

And so, the situation became a chase of fifteen against one.

...

Not long after Lu Chao's departure, Lu Dingtian, Chi Xingxun, and the others finally reached the Nether Spring Army's position.

They were utterly dumbfounded when they saw the Nether Spring soldiers scattering in every direction. Chi Xingxun, leading Lu Dingtian's several hundred horsemen, was still locked in a frantic battle with the Yan Soul Guards, but his forces were on the verge of collapse.

After all, five Yan Soul Guards had remained behind.

Lu Dingtian hurriedly roared, "All soldiers of the Nether Spring, listen to me! Rally to my position at once! I am Lu Dingtian!"

At Lu Dingtian's command, some of the Nether Spring soldiers finally began to gather around him, instantly relieving the pressure on Chi Xingxun. However, once the troops had fully assembled, both Lu Dingtian and Chi Xingxun were so furious they trembled.

Of the original army of one hundred thousand, fewer than twenty thousand had answered the call.

With fewer than twenty thousand men, it was impossible to eliminate all twenty Yan Soul Guards. In fact, they even risked being wiped out themselves.

"Lu Dingtian, didn't you say you had an army of a hundred thousand?" Chi Xingxun demanded frantically.

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