Because Lu Chao and his group had stopped...

The other University Institute students, who had been scared witless in Battle Valley, saw this and hesitantly stopped their frantic running, still shaken with fear.

They glanced at Lu Chao’s team of ten, then toward Wu Yiyi, and a wild thought raced through their minds: ’Could things be about to change?’

Atop the highest cliff...

Zeng Quan and the others could barely watch any longer and were about to leave. However, the situation with Wu Yiyi and Wu Caicai immediately caught their attention. After watching for just a moment, Zeng Quan understood everything perfectly.

"Interesting. Zhuhe did a beautiful job this time..."

"This Wu Caicai must be Fake Lu Chao’s friend. Marquis Longyin won’t be able to interfere this time."

"If he dares interfere, we’ll just call it a dispute between Inner Courtyard students. He has no right to get involved."

As Zeng Quan spoke, the higher-ups from Beast Flame Academy nodded emphatically, their eyes scanning the area for Marquis Longyin with vicious smiles.

Aboard his Flying Bird Demon Beast, Marquis Longyin also saw the situation with perfect clarity. It made him sick to his stomach.

But after a moment of silent contemplation, he thought, ’I can’t get involved this time, or I’ll just be giving them ammunition. Besides, as a future super-general, a true Military Genius, Fake Lu Chao shouldn’t let his emotions control him.’

’The big picture is what matters most.’

In the area where the Dragon Flame Academy’s leadership was gathered...

Sun Shijin, Fan Jinhua, and the others were in a similar predicament to Marquis Longyin. If they stepped in to save Wu Caicai, they would undoubtedly give their enemies an opening. Knowing the attitude of Zeng Quan and his ilk, they would be torn to shreds over it.

A cold glint flashed in Cheng Yunsu’s eyes as she looked toward Su Shangmo.

The latter smiled faintly. "Miss Yunsu, I can intervene. It would be no problem."

The Saint Bone Su Family were considered outsiders, so of course, they could intervene.

At this, Cheng Yunsu slowly withdrew her gaze and said, "That won’t be necessary. I trust Lu Chao will find a way to resolve this."

Unless it was a last resort, neither she nor Lu Chao wanted to rely on the power of the Saint Bone Su Family. They wanted to avoid affecting the normal operations of Dragon Flame Academy and prevent anyone from lumping the Su Family and the academy together.

Just as these varied thoughts were running through everyone’s minds...

Fan Jinxiang’s voice rang out forcefully beside Lu Chao. "Chang Qi, Wu Caicai is a student from your Tiger Institute! Are you just going to stand there and watch her get bullied?"

She herself was originally a student at Tiger Flame Academy, and Wu Caicai had been one of her brother’s students, so they had met before.

Similarly, Fan Jinxiang knew quite a few of the students from the Tiger Institute, especially the Tiger Flame Second Prince, Chang Qi.

In response, Chang Qi immediately stepped forward.

"Jinxiang, Wu Caicai was the one speaking ill of others. As the Second Prince of Tiger Flame, I can hardly ignore the difference between right and wrong, can I?"

"Of course, if you agree to return to the Tiger Institute, I would be willing to plead on Wu Caicai’s behalf..."

This was an impossible condition. Fan Jinxiang would not return to the Tiger Institute.

She couldn’t help but turn to the other Tiger Institute students. Finding one young man, she called out, "Zhang Ying! You were my brother’s most prized student! Aren’t you going to do anything?"

Zhang Ying barely lifted his gaze, glancing in Cang Jinhu’s direction. "I... do not associate with traitors. Don’t disgust me."

The moment the words were spoken, Fan Jinhua’s face, who stood beside Sun Shijin still nursing a sliver of hope, instantly turned ashen.

’He was a descendant of the Azure Flame Sect. How could he possibly be considered a traitor?’

’It was the Tiger Flame Kingdom that first denied the descendants of the Azure Flame Sect a path to survival! It was the Tiger Flame Kingdom that repeatedly went back on its word!’ But Fan Jinhua just closed his eyes, not saying a word. Some things were beyond explanation; he was simply deeply wounded.

Just then, Wu Caicai cried out, "Hero Lu, don’t worry about me!"

As she spoke, her True Qi flared and she charged toward Zheng Zhuhe, ready to fight to the death.

But Wu Yiyi shrieked, "Sister Caicai, you’re no match for Young Master Zheng! Why don’t you get on your knees and beg for mercy? If you just slap yourself ten times, maybe Young Master Zheng will let this go!"

She deliberately spoke loudly enough for Lu Chao and his group to hear every word.

But inwardly, she thought, ’You don’t want Fake Lu Chao to mind your business? Fine, I’ll just have you tormented even more brutally. When we get home, and Uncle hears how you were forced to kneel in public, let’s see how he punishes you... Who told you to be so out of favor, anyway?’

Uncle Leng was not by Wu Caicai’s side, and she had only reached the Innate realm back in Yangzhou City.

She was now at the Innate Fourth Layer—incredibly fast progress—but she was still no match for Zheng Zhuhe, who was in the Transformation Realm.

Zheng Zhuhe continued to stride forward, looking down at her condescendingly. "Kneel," he commanded. "And slap yourself ten times."

Seeing this, Wu Yiyi looked back at Lu Chao and cried out, "Young Master Lu, what are we going to do? Why don’t you come up here and save Sister Caicai?"

Nearly every person in the entire arena turned to look at Lu Chao.

The duel was still ongoing. On Zhongyue’s side, several dozen University Institute students were still standing. If Fake Lu Chao dared to leave Battle Valley now, it would mean forfeiting the second trial.

The problem remained: Dragon Flame Academy only had the bare minimum of ten students.

If one of them left, they would lose!

And just at that moment, Chang Zui of Weihu Academy scrambled up from the ground and bellowed, "Draw your bows! Get ready!"

He had just been blasted to the ground by Lu Chao. Seeing the current situation, he forced himself back to his feet. Since this was a cavalry battle, some of them were equipped with bows and arrows.

One by one, the University Institute students who could still fight heard his command. Those who had bows drew them; those who didn’t scrambled to find one and then drew it.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of University Institute students had their bows drawn, all aimed squarely at Lu Chao’s team of ten.

This scene made Zeng Quan and everyone else who hated Lu Chao to their core break into smiles. What a dramatic turn of events.

"Lu Chao, what do we do?"

Jiang Yu felt a chill run down her spine, completely at a loss. The others also turned to look at Lu Chao in unison.

From the moment the situation with Wu Caicai began, Lu Chao hadn’t said a single word. They had no idea what plan he was devising.

Suddenly... BOOM!

Intense flames erupted from Lu Chao’s body. For a moment, it was as if a Fire Sparrow was soaring into the heavens.

Countless people were stunned.

Then, Luo Wendeng and the others suddenly sensed it: Lu Chao’s True Qi had just smashed through the barrier of the Innate Fourth Layer and entered the Innate Fifth Layer.

’Brother Lu... didn’t he just have a breakthrough last night?’ Luo Wendeng thought to himself.

Indeed, Lu Chao had only just reached the Innate Fourth Layer the previous night, yet now, he had broken through again.

It was because he had now, finally, completely comprehended the Star Fire Sparrow Bone Meridian Map. This understanding drove his True Qi to surge, triggering another breakthrough. Just last night, he had told Xiao Su’er that he would still need a few more days before he could harvest the Fire Sparrow Bone.

So why had he broken through now?

It was because of the suffocating pressure in his chest, the feeling of a vicious beast erupting within his heart.

It wasn’t just because of Wu Caicai herself. It was because of everything Beast Flame Academy had done, one thing after another—the repeated targeting, the constant pressure, and their habit of always using his friends to get to him.

They had targeted the Luo Wendeng brothers through Wind Wolf Academy, and Fan Jinxiang and Master Fan through the Tiger Institute. Tan An and Yu Xiaoping had been verbally humiliated as well.

And now, it was Wu Caicai’s turn.

The sense of injustice festering in his heart transformed into explosive power, allowing Lu Chao to instantly and completely grasp the Star Fire Sparrow Meridian Map.

Suddenly, Chang Zui shouted from across the field, "Fake Lu Chao’s flames are strange! Never mind that, on my command—fire!"