In the dead of night, Dongfang Ren was a completely different person.

If he had been a hunched little old man before, he was now a terrifying powerhouse of the night, like a beast of prey ready to hunt.

He clearly hadn’t wanted Lu Chao to recognize him, yet he had been found out instantly.

In response, Lu Chao cupped his fists slightly and replied, "One’s appearance can change, but one’s aura and presence cannot. During the day, Elder Dongfang, you made a move against Zeng Quan. I memorized your aura then."

"Besides, if I hadn’t recognized you, Elder Dongfang, I wouldn’t have come out."

Lu Chao was speaking nothing but the truth.

The first moment he saw the shadow outside his window, he had known it was Dongfang Ren.

It was an instinct honed on the battlefield. Having infiltrated enemy camps more than once, he would have been long dead without such senses.

But there was one thing he left unsaid: ’It was also easy enough to guess.’

If Dongfang Ren wanted to take him on as his legacy disciple, he would definitely make contact. His unique presence, combined with a bit of deduction, made it an open secret.

Staring at the composed Lu Chao, Dongfang Ren’s expression filled with admiration.

His body then gradually slumped over again, returning to the form of a hunched, wiry old man.

He asked in a low voice, "Then have you guessed why I lured you out here?"

Lu Chao calmly countered, "Is it because you’ve taken a bit of a liking to me, Elder, and wish to test if I am worthy of being your disciple?"

Nodding, a faint smile touched Dongfang Ren’s lips. "I once met the real Lu Chao. Legend has it he possessed more than one Saint Bone. He was the most suitable disciple I had ever seen. A pity..." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

He trailed off, but of course, Lu Chao knew what the pity was.

A pity that the real Lu Chao had died. A pity that Lu Dingtian had interfered three years ago.

"Then again, there’s nothing much to pity. The real Lu Chao’s talent and Heavenly Destiny Bone were both top-tier, but he was far too straightforward."

"But you—aside from your terribly poor Destiny Bone—are far superior to the real Lu Chao in every other way."

As Dongfang Ren spoke, Lu Chao fell silent, a bitter smile on his face...

’Straightforward because I was too naive back then. Having truly died once, I’ve long since become more cunning, more ruthless. In other words, aside from my Martial Arts Realm not yet surpassing my past self, everything else about me has been thoroughly sublimated.’

Seeing Lu Chao’s bitter smile, Dongfang Ren assumed he felt inferior because of his Heavenly Destiny Bone and offered some words of comfort...

"The Bone of Myriad Stars may be a bit lacking, but it is all-encompassing. It holds infinite possibilities."

"Though difficult, it’s not impossible for a Heavenly Destiny Bone to advance. So, are you willing to accept me as your master?"

No longer hiding his intentions, Dongfang Ren asked directly...

Lu Chao returned to his senses. Slowly, he shook his head and replied, "My apologies, Elder Dongfang. I do not wish to take a master."

As his words fell, Dongfang Ren’s expression froze in stunned disbelief...

He suddenly recalled Marquis Longyin’s words: ’The reason the Fake Lu Chao doesn’t show his true strength is because he doesn’t want to take a master.’

With Marquis Longyin’s words as a primer, Dongfang Ren was somewhat mentally prepared...

Still, he couldn’t help but ask, "I can’t imagine what reason you could have for refusing. There are many things Sun Shijin cannot teach you, that the entire Beast Flame Academy cannot teach you."

"With me, things will go much more smoothly for your Dragon Flame Academy as well."

He hadn’t spoken this much in a very, very long time.

For the sake of recruiting a good disciple, for the sake of resolving the doubt in his heart, Dongfang Ren couldn’t stop asking questions.

Lu Chao smiled faintly and spoke slowly, "You may not believe me if I say this, Elder Dongfang, or you may think me too arrogant... I just feel that you may not be able to teach me."

As soon as he said this, from the dark woods... PFFT!

Dongfang Ren and Lu Chao looked over at the same time, and Marquis Longyin’s voice drifted out. "Don’t mind me. Please, continue."

That’s right, Marquis Longyin was hiding in the woods...

He had long suspected that Dongfang Ren would seek out Lu Chao, so he had been secretly observing and waiting. Sure enough, he had witnessed their meeting, followed them here, and was now curiously listening in on their conversation.

As it turned out, Lu Chao’s words made him spit out the mouthful of wine he had just taken.

This was beyond arrogance; the Fake Lu Chao was conceited beyond measure, daring to say the strongest expert in the Hundred Countries couldn’t teach him.

Of course...

Marquis Longyin knew full well that Dongfang Ren must have noticed his arrival long ago, so there wasn’t much worry in his tone. What Marquis Longyin didn’t know, however, was that Lu Chao had also noticed him tailing them and had likewise chosen not to expose him.

Neither of them paid him any mind, turning back to face each other.

Dongfang Ren’s eyes held a hint of disappointment, but also a strong desire to conquer.

"Dragon Flame Lu Chao, are you being too confident? Too blind?"

"Your talent is very, very high, but you can’t let a few nearly impossible victories cause you to lose yourself."

His voice carried a tone of admonishment.

He had no intention of suppressing him; it was simply a heartfelt warning to a member of the younger generation.

In response, Lu Chao solemnly cupped his fists. "Thank you for your heartfelt words, Elder Dongfang. However, I have not lost my way, nor am I blind. Perhaps... you can understand it this way: I have my own Martial Dao, one that is different from yours."

Lu Chao’s words were firm, giving the impression that he was merely confident, not lost.

He also showed Dongfang Ren the utmost respect.

Though he approved of Lu Chao’s attitude, Dongfang Ren did not approve of his confidence. After a moment of thought, he said, "Fine. Then how about you and I have a martial debate? Let me see your ’Dao’ and whether it is truly firm enough."

To this, Lu Chao agreed without hesitation. "It would be my greatest honor."

Lu Chao knew clearly that to gain Dongfang Ren’s true recognition, he had to conquer him on the path of the Martial Dao.

Just as he had thought before, he didn’t want to take a master, nor could he.

But he could build a relationship with Dongfang Ren in other ways. The elder was reclusive and a known martial arts fanatic; therefore, he would befriend him through martial arts.

As Lu Chao agreed, Dongfang Ren suddenly pointed to the old manor behind him...

"Inside this old manor behind me are the former Azure Flame Sect’s Azure Flame Seven Walls."

"Forty years ago..."

"The Azure Flame Seven Walls were divided up by the Seven Great Flame Countries, but many damaged Martial Dao inscriptions were left behind. We will use the Azure Flame Seven Walls for our martial debate. We will restore the Martial Dao on them."

Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes. He agreed once more without a second thought.

He, too, had heard of the Azure Flame Seven Walls...

They were said to be the foundational Martial Dao left behind by the seven strongest Sect Leaders in the history of the Azure Flame Sect. Each Sect Leader had left their own martial insights for later disciples to observe and practice with, to build their Martial Dao foundation.

Forty years ago, after the Azure Flame Sect was destroyed, the Seven Great Flame Countries divided up and replicated the seven walls.

Then, they deliberately scrambled all the Martial Dao inscriptions on the original Azure Flame Seven Walls.

And indeed...

As Lu Chao followed Dongfang Ren into the old manor, he saw seven enormous stone walls standing inside. The surface of each wall had been gouged by Weapons into a tangled mess, making the original Martial Dao inscriptions almost impossible to discern.

Standing before the first stone wall, Dongfang Ren turned his head and asked, "Can you make anything out?"