Seeing Dean Fox’s True Qi already hurtling toward Lu Chao, Sun Shijin’s eyes instantly went bloodshot. He wanted to rush out and block the blast of True Qi meant to test for a Heavenly Destiny Bone, but he was being firmly held back by three deans.

’Is it really going to be exposed?’

At that critical moment, Lu Chao whispered, "Xiao Su’er, send your True Qi into me..."

Cheng Yunsu didn’t hesitate. She pressed both palms to Lu Chao’s back and poured her True Qi into him with all her might. Lu Chao immediately mobilized her energy, using it to block the True Qi from Dean Fox...

The dean’s True Qi wasn’t meant to kill or injure; it was merely to determine if Lu Chao possessed a Life-taking Bone.

The moment her True Qi struck Lu Chao... SKREEE!

The True Qi of the Fire Sparrow Bone flared around both Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu, as if they had let out a Fire Sparrow’s cry... In an instant, the auras of their Destiny Bones flickered to life over both of them.

"Hm? A Heavenly Fire Sparrow Bone? Heavenly Bone Level?"

In that moment, Dean Fox immediately identified the Destiny Bones of the married couple.

They both possessed Heavenly Bone Level Fire Sparrow Bones.

Everyone present could see it: Lu Chao’s and Cheng Yunsu’s bodies flickered with fiery light as the auras of their Heavenly Destiny Bones erupted in unison. They were identical Heavenly Fire Sparrow Bones.

The entire crowd was completely baffled. ’What in the world?’

The reality of the situation was...

Cheng Yunsu’s Fire Sparrow Bone had originally come from Lu Chao’s own Life-taking Star-devouring Bone. Furthermore, Lu Chao had fully comprehended the Fire Sparrow Meridian Map, so when Cheng Yunsu’s True Qi entered his body, he could easily mobilize it.

This meant he only allowed Dean Fox to detect the aura of the Fire Sparrow Bone, temporarily blocking everything else from her senses.

In essence, the husband and wife were now sharing a single Fire Sparrow Bone.

Furthermore, thanks to Sun Shijin’s method of concealment, the true level of the Star Fire Sparrow Bone was hidden. It appeared to be merely at the Heavenly Bone Level.

Seeing this, Zeng Quan shouted, "They’re still playing tricks on us! Separate them and test them individually!"

To the higher-ups of the Beast Flame Group, it was clear. Although they didn’t understand how the "Fake Lu Chao" and his wife could simultaneously erupt with the aura of a Fire Sparrow Bone, it must be some kind of trick to hide the Life-taking Bone. Otherwise, why go to such lengths?

In any case, separating them was the solution...

Hearing this, Dean Fox lunged forward again, rushing at Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu to blast them apart.

But... VMMMM!

A flash of sword light descended from the sky, forcing Dean Fox back. It was Marquis Longyin, who had finally taken action.

He landed before Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu...

He pointed his sword at Dean Fox. "Are you all really such sore losers? Have you decided to discard every last shred of dignity?"

As Marquis Longyin landed, Sun Shijin, Fan Jinhua, and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Just moments before, they had been wondering why Marquis Longyin hadn’t appeared, worried that he, too, might be suspicious of Lu Chao’s Life-taking Bone.

Seeing him descend to protect Lu Chao, they finally felt a great sense of relief.

Marquis Longyin’s arrival also signaled that his Order Enforcement Team was now mobilizing.

But Zeng Quan’s voice rang out once more...

"Everyone, attack Marquis Longyin! We must force the ’Fake Lu Chao’ to reveal his true form, no matter what it takes!"

He spoke as if Lu Chao were some kind of monster, and at his command... SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Li Wumian, Vice Dean Zhong of the Tiger Institute, and other experts at the vice dean level all rushed to surround Marquis Longyin and Lu Chao’s group. They erupted with their True Qi, sneering viciously.

Vice Dean Zhong said coldly, "’Fake Lu Chao,’ if you have a clear conscience, why are you afraid of an inspection?"

Just then... SWISH!

Su Shangmo, who had just been blasted away, returned and landed beside Marquis Longyin. He shouted, "The two Elders, quickly!"

As his voice faded, one of the Su Family Elders stepped forward.

He said coldly, "You dare attack the young lady of our Saint Bone Su Family? You dare attack our Madam Lu’s son-in-law?"

As this Su Family Elder arrived, Sun Shijin and his companions felt another wave of relief.

’But why did only one of them step forward?’

Su Shangmo’s expression also turned to one of confusion...

The Su Family Elder who had stepped forward immediately said to Su Shangmo, "Elder Jueying said that Cheng Yunsu only has a Heavenly Bone, not a Saint Bone. That is why he’s still hesitating..."

At this, Su Shangmo’s entire body trembled slightly as he subconsciously glanced at Cheng Yunsu.

’The Fire Sparrow Bone aura they both just released was clearly not a Beast Bone substitute, but it was also obviously only at the Heavenly Bone Level.’

’Didn’t Cheng Yunsu say she had a Top-level Saint Bone?’

’Last night, what I sensed was definitely more than just a Heavenly Bone. So what is going on?’

Before Su Shangmo could dwell on it, Dean Fox bellowed again, "If the Saint Bone Su Family protects this Life-taking Bone Calamity Star, then they will be annihilated as well!"

With that, she lunged directly at the Su Family Elder who had stepped forward...

The other vice deans were looking for an opening to attack. Marquis Longyin used this gap in the fighting to fall back to Lu Chao’s side. "Brother Lu Chao," he said, "I was delayed because I just received a third reply from my Brother Wang."

He offered Lu Chao a brief explanation...

He had received the second letter, and the third had followed immediately after.

It arrived just as Zeng Quan was making his move regarding the Life-taking Bone.

Before Lu Chao could respond...

Marquis Longyin suddenly tossed him a small cloth pouch. "This came with my Brother Wang’s reply. The letter said to give what’s inside to Elder Sun. It’s a Heavenly Bone Level Bone of Myriad Stars."

Lu Chao caught the small pouch, his gaze hardening slightly.

"I don’t understand why he wants to give a Bone of Myriad Stars to Elder Sun, but I’m entrusting it to you for now."

With that, Marquis Longyin gave Lu Chao a deep, meaningful look before dashing back into the fray.

Li Wumian and the other vice deans were already charging in, so he and Su Shangmo moved to engage them.

Lu Chao clutched the small pouch and watched Marquis Longyin’s retreating back, but in his heart, everything was crystal clear.

’It must be...’

’Marquis Yin Ye must have told the Dragon Flame King that I possess the Life-taking Bone.’

’And the Dragon Flame King, having accepted this fact, immediately sent a Heavenly Bone Level Bone of Myriad Stars by messenger pigeon so that Elder Sun could better conceal the aura of my Life-taking Bone.’

As he pieced this together, a strange look appeared in Lu Chao’s eyes...

’The Dragon Flame King... he can actually accept someone with a Life-taking Bone...’

’But then again, that makes sense. Forty years ago, he was the Dragon Flame Prince who opposed the annihilation of the Azure Flame Sect.’

Taking a deep breath, Lu Chao pushed the thoughts aside and looked down at the small pouch in his hand.

"This is a real saving grace," Lu Chao murmured. "Otherwise, getting out of this would have been difficult."

Lu Chao murmured to himself, and a flicker of Fire Sparrow True Qi erupted from his hand, incinerating the small cloth pouch...

He had been trying to find a way to repair the cracks in his own Bone of Myriad Stars. However, the Myriad Bone inside him was a foreign object—a half-dead thing, one might say—and was difficult to repair quickly. But now, he had a solution.

And that was to devour the Heavenly Bone Level Bone of Myriad Stars sent by the Dragon Flame King.