Just then... "Report!"
A Flying Bird Demon Beast belonging to Lu Dingtian swooped down, and the rider on its back reported, "Marshal, Lu Chao has returned Young Master Cyan Sword. The Sword-Winged Ice Wolf has also flown off, heading in the direction of the Hundred Countries."
"Right now, Lu Chao is leading over ten thousand cavalry in a charge straight for us."
"As for Dragon Flame’s Yin Ye, we don’t know where he has taken the people from Dragon Flame Academy. We still need to investigate."
When these reports came in, the expressions of Lu Dingtian, Nan Zhuiming, and the others changed drastically...
"That bastard!"
"How could Lu Chao just let him go like that? And Yan Mu’s guards—they just abandoned us?"
The Dean of the Tiger Institute couldn’t help but cry out...
This was a situation they had not anticipated at all. They had assumed Lu Chao would get into some kind of standoff with Niu Dong.
After capturing such an important hostage, Lu Chao just let him go without a second thought?
Even Lu Dingtian and Nan Zhuiming looked at each other in bewilderment.
For a moment, they couldn’t fathom why Lu Chao would release his hostage. However, Lu Dingtian was no fool. In terms of military strategy, he might not be Lu Chao’s or Fan Changcun’s equal, but he was hardly any weaker than Yin Ye...
Immediately, Lu Dingtian ordered, "Return to the Three Schools’ Battle Town at once! Get back to my troops!"
Lu Chao’s cavalry was charging toward them. Although they were all experts at the True Fate Realm or higher, there were too few of them to win a fight.
Against anyone else, it would be fine; they could just use their Martial Dao to capture the enemy commander.
But Lu Dingtian knew Lu Chao all too well. A Lu Chao at the True Fate Fifth Layer, backed by over ten thousand cavalry, was a terrifying force. Even if he and Nan Zhuiming were at the Peak Eighth Layer, it would be useless.
Besides, Lu Chao could summon his Violent Saint Bone at any moment.
At Lu Dingtian’s words, the group prepared to rush back to the temporary settlement of the Three Schools’ Battle Town.
But Nan Zhuiming suddenly said coldly, "Marshal Lu, I believe now is the perfect opportunity to kill Lu Chao. We can’t miss it."
Zheng Liling’s eyes flashed as he added, "That’s right. Before, Lu Chao had Yin Ye by his side, but now Yin Ye has taken a different route."
In response, Lu Dingtian shook his head firmly. "No..."
But Nan Zhuiming was not his subordinate.
Nan Zhuiming suddenly recalled the scene in front of the old Azure Flame Sect grounds. Back then, if it weren’t for that masked man at the Peak of the Peak Realm, he would have already killed Lu Chao under the hooves of his own cavalry.
Moreover, back at the temporary town, Lu Chao also had several thousand men behind him, along with Yin Ye.
Now, Lu Chao merely had double the number of men.
If that utter fool Yan Mu hadn’t suddenly shown up, they would have killed Lu Chao already.
Thinking of this, Nan Zhuiming said directly, "Marshal Lu, your Saint Bone is affected by Lu Chao, so you can’t easily make a move. You should retreat first. Leave the rest to us."
After speaking, Nan Zhuiming let out a vicious laugh...
Gazing at Lu Chao and his cavalry kicking up dust clouds before them, he shouted, "All who have the guts, follow me!"
Regardless of whether Lu Dingtian agreed, Nan Zhuiming had already shot forward.
Leading the True Fate Realm experts of his Southern Dynasty Imperial Court, he was the first to charge toward Lu Chao and his ten thousand-plus cavalry...
A cold light gleamed in Zheng Liling’s eyes as he said, "Marshal Lu, we’re going too."
With that, Zheng Liling and the other experts from the Beast Flame Inner Courtyard immediately followed Nan Zhuiming, charging out as well.
Only Lu Dingtian and his subordinates remained...
Lu Dingkong quickly asked, "Marshal, what should we do?"
The corner of his mouth twitching, Lu Dingtian said coldly, "That Nan Zhuiming wants to snatch the credit before I can. If he captures that rebellious son Lu Chao, he can claim a reward from the Cyan Sword Great Empire. A pity that Nan Zhuiming doesn’t understand in the slightest how terrifying Lu Chao really is."
Although Lu Dingtian hated Lu Chao to the core, he wouldn’t deny his capabilities.
"Nan Zhuiming and the others think that because we could have killed Lu Chao when he had several thousand men in front of the arena... that we can kill him just as easily now."
"But they have no idea that charging cavalry and stationary cavalry are two completely different concepts."
As Lu Dingtian spoke, Lu Dingkong and the other men from the Grand Marshal’s Mansion nodded gravely.
The next moment, Lu Dingtian said, "Ignore them. Retreat to the temporary town immediately and rendezvous with our troops."
With that, Lu Dingtian led all his subordinates in a high-speed retreat back to the temporary town.
Meanwhile, Nan Zhuiming, who was charging toward Lu Chao and his ten thousand-plus cavalry, naturally noticed the departure of Lu Dingtian and his men.
He chuckled darkly. ’Lu Dingtian, as long as I capture Lu Chao alive, I’ll have avenged Yan Mu. In the future, when the Cyan Sword Great Empire invades again, my status will surpass yours.’
At this thought, Nan Zhuiming glanced at Zheng Liling and the others beside him and said nonchalantly, "Patriarch Zheng, in a moment, you will block the arrows for me."
A sharp glint in his eyes, Zheng Liling nodded. "Alright!"
After replying with that single word, however, Zheng Liling shot a meaningful look at Zeng Quan, the Dean of the Tiger Institute, and the others around them.
The meaning was clear: let Nan Zhuiming and the men from the Nanye Dynasty go first, while they stayed behind to pick up the scraps.
’As long as I capture Lu Chao, the crisis facing my Saint Bone Zheng Family will naturally be resolved. Moreover, I’ll also be able to latch onto the Cyan Sword Great Empire’s thigh. Why should only you, Nan Zhuiming and Lu Dingtian, receive rewards and realm advancements?’
’I, Zheng Liling, must have it too! I absolutely refuse to be subordinate to the likes of you.’
Zheng Liling thought to himself. His claims of serving Nan Zhuiming and Lu Dingtian like a loyal dog were all just a delaying tactic.
His only goal was to use their connections to make contact with people from the Cyan Sword Great Empire.
Now, Zheng Liling had to seize this opportunity. He would wait for Nan Zhuiming to wear down Lu Chao, then make his move.
Nan Zhuiming wanted to use Lu Chao to claim credit, and so did Zheng Liling.
Lu Dingtian and Nan Zhuiming had reached the Peak Realm Eighth Layer, and Zheng Liling wanted to as well.
And so, the Patriarchs of two Saint Bone Families, each nursing their own secret schemes, drew closer and closer to Lu Chao.
Riding at the very front, Lu Chao watched in surprise as a series of figures charged swiftly toward him. He couldn’t help but stare blankly for a moment before muttering, "Nan Zhuiming and his group are actually charging forward to kill me, while Lu Dingtian has retreated."
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Chao immediately understood the situation.
’Lu Dingtian still understands me, but Nan Zhuiming won’t listen to him.’
Lu Chao thought to himself. He had expected Lu Dingtian, Nan Zhuiming, and all the others to turn and flee, but he never thought they would split up.
For Lu Chao, this was, of course, a very good thing.
He immediately bellowed, "Half of you, ready your bows and arrows! The other half, await my command and prepare for a Gathering Power attack!"
As soon as he spoke, the cavalry, the young dean, and the others behind him immediately began their preparations.
When Nan Zhuiming and his men drew closer, Lu Chao abruptly gave the order: "Archers, halt! Fire!"
"The rest of you, charge with me!"
With Lu Chao’s command... WHIRRR!
Thousands of arrows suddenly tore through the sky, flying madly toward Nan Zhuiming and his men, instantly becoming a sky-blotting rain of arrows.
Nan Zhuiming immediately shouted, "Everyone, block the arrows for me! Help me capture Lu Chao!"
At once, the experts from the Nanye Dynasty rushed forward, each one erupting with True Qi to block the arrows for Nan Zhuiming.