Free Web NovelChapter 176: Chapter 176: To Hundred Flames in Search of Witch Ying
Sun Shijin gazed at Lu Chao, who stood atop the Demon Dragon Divine Bone, his face growing increasingly pale. "We’re still one short of having ten Innate Students, and I’m afraid we’re running out of time."
With only one day left, where could they possibly find another Innate Student?
To make matters worse, the Dragon Flame King had already forbidden Marquis Jilong from providing any more students to Dragon Flame Academy.
The other nobles of the Dragon Flame Kingdom, afraid of offending the Celestial King Academy and the Saint Bone Zheng Family, were even less likely to help.
Yu Huang had been their best hope for the past few days. He had already reached the peak of the Postnatal Ninth Layer. The failure Sun Shijin just mentioned was their joint attempt to use every method at their disposal to engineer a breakthrough for him.
They’d had him consume Elixir Pills and the like, but nothing had worked.
That was the way of the Martial Dao. You couldn’t just brute-force a breakthrough by piling on resources like Elixir Pills. The person had to have the necessary talent. If one’s Heavenly Destiny Bone lacked aptitude, they could cultivate until they died and still never break through to the Innate realm.
And because they had wasted so much effort on Yu Huang, it was now too late to try and raise another student to that level.
The current crop of students at Dragon Flame Academy was just too green.
Just as Sun Shijin finished speaking, and before Lu Chao had a chance to open his mouth...
A voice drifted up from the foot of the mountain. "Son-in-law Lu Chao, our Su Family can provide Dragon Flame Academy with an Innate Student."
Hearing this, Sun Shijin turned to look. He saw Su Shangmo standing at the foot of the mountain, an earnest look on his smiling face.
At this, Sun Shijin’s head whipped around to look at Lu Chao...
Indeed, if Lu Chao agreed to let his father-in-law return to the Su Family immediately, the Saint Bone Su Family wouldn’t have a problem providing them with twenty such students.
But Lu Chao just gave a faint smile... fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"I cannot accept a reward I haven’t earned. Please leave."
"This is the back mountain of Dragon Flame Academy. Outsiders are not welcome."
He rejected the offer flatly. He knew exactly what Su Shangmo’s objective was, but he refused to compromise.
Su Shangmo frowned, but ultimately, he retreated and left.
He had come specifically because he knew of Dragon Flame Academy’s dire straits, but he truly couldn’t fathom what other solution Lu Chao could possibly have.
Sun Shijin, for his part, just gave a wry smile...
He knew Lu Chao had his principles and would never agree to the Su Family’s terms by selling out his father-in-law.
The next moment, Lu Chao suddenly said, "Elder Sun, what do you say we go buy one?"
As his words landed, Sun Shijin’s eyes widened. After a moment of contemplation, understanding dawned. "You mean Witch Ying of the Hundred Flames Trading Company?"
Lu Chao nodded. "Doesn’t he only care about money? As long as the price is right, he’ll provide."
Witch Ying was willing to get paid to storm the Saint Bone Zheng Family’s home. Procuring a single Innate Student would definitely be no problem for him.
But Sun Shijin’s lip twitched as he replied, "It’s feasible, but that character will definitely demand an exorbitant price."
And Dragon Flame Academy was very poor at the moment.
"Don’t worry, I’ll provide the payment. Let’s go to the Hundred Flames Trading Company now and talk to Witch Ying."
A sharp glint flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes. As the former Great Martial Emperor Star, he had far more than just the Shadow Form Hundred Marvels Fist in his arsenal.
He was determined to get Dragon Flame Academy to join Beast Flame. He was determined to become a student of Beast Flame Academy. He would represent Beast Flame and battle Lu Hanyan and Lu Hanyang in the tri-academy tournament to reclaim his Saint Bone.
Since Lu Chao had spoken with such conviction, Sun Shijin naturally agreed, and they set off at once.
...
「Hundred Flames Trading Company, Dragon Flame Branch.」
Lu Chao and Sun Shijin arrived in a hurry. Just as they reached the main entrance... ROAR!
The two heard a commotion erupt from inside the Hundred Flames Trading Company; it was clearly a chaotic scene.
Sun Shijin said doubtfully, "Is the Hundred Flames Trading Company holding another auction?"
With that, the two of them walked inside.
They immediately saw a large crowd of customers gathered in a circle, pointing and murmuring about something in the main hall.
Just then, an arrogant and tyrannical voice boomed out, "How dare you look down on me? Do you have any idea who I am?"
Lu Chao and Sun Shijin looked toward the source of the voice. In the center of the crowd, in front of one of the counters, a young man had his foot planted on an Attendant of the Hundred Flames Trading Company, his expression savage.
Strewn around the young man were fallen Attendants and company guards.
The Attendant pinned to the floor trembled, "I didn’t..."
Before he could finish, the young man violently hauled him to his feet, then swung his hand... SLAP!
The sharp crack of the blow echoed as the Attendant was sent flying, landing not far from Lu Chao’s feet. The young man snarled, "Still trying to deny it? Get your manager out here for me! Now!"
The words had barely left his mouth... THUMP THUMP THUMP.
A middle-aged woman in the Hundred Flames uniform hurried onto the scene. A token engraved with a cyan flame hung from her waist.
She was a holder of the Hundred Flames Trading Company’s Cyan Fire Order...
She hurried forward and asked softly, "Young Master, may I ask how our Attendant has offended you?"
The young man slowly turned his head, his gaze landing on the woman’s token.
The next moment... SLAP!
Without a hint of warning, he struck the middle-aged woman across the face. "A mere Cyan Fire Order holder isn’t qualified to speak to me," he said coldly. "Get someone of a higher rank out here."
After the young man delivered that slap, the entire crowd of onlookers fell silent, though they began to murmur amongst themselves.
"A Cyan Fire Order isn’t even good enough? That’s already a very high rank in the Hundred Flames Trading Company."
"Who is this kid? Is he just here to cause trouble on purpose?"
"What a powerful young man. A Cyan Fire Order holder’s Martial Arts Realm can’t be low, yet he slapped her with a single blow."
Hearing the crowd’s discussion, Lu Chao frowned as well...
’Wu Caicai only had an Orange Fire Order. The Cyan Fire Order is a full three ranks higher, yet this woman was still slapped so easily. This young man is no ordinary person. He has the aura of the Transformation Realm.’
’So young, with such a high Martial Arts Realm, and here in the Dragon Flame Royal Capital.’
It made Lu Chao think of someone in particular.
Just then, Sun Shijin’s voice sounded in Lu Chao’s ear. "He’s the strongest genius of the Saint Bone Zheng Family, Zheng Zhuhe."
A cold light flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes. That was precisely who he had been thinking of. He replied in a low voice, "Elder Sun, I’m afraid Zheng Zhuhe or the Saint Bone Zheng Family has figured out that it was Witch Ying who acted alongside Marquis Yin that day."
Sun Shijin nodded...
That day, after receiving the Shadow Form Hundred Marvels Fist as payment, Witch Ying had joined forces with Yin Ye to raise hell at the Saint Bone Zheng Family’s estate and kidnap Zheng Zhuhe.
But according to Yin Ye’s description, Witch Ying had been disguised as a man in black during the operation.
Once the job was done, he had immediately left the scene.
Zheng Zhuhe had been in Yin Ye’s custody afterward, which meant Witch Ying had never revealed his true identity. But for Zheng Zhuhe to suddenly show up at the Hundred Flames Trading Company and cause a scene, he must have either found something out or become suspicious.
With this in mind, Lu Chao gently knelt to help up the Attendant who had been knocked to his feet, asking softly, "What happened?"
Since this matter was related to him, Lu Chao didn’t mind getting involved.
Besides, he had killed Zheng Zhuhai. He and the Saint Bone Zheng Family were already irreconcilably opposed.
