War God Long Ao

Upon returning to the clan compound, Long Ao spoke to no one, heading straight to his room to begin his Cultivation.

It took Long Ao an entire night, but he finally managed to suppress the backlash.

News of Long Ao fighting Long Yancheng and killing Long Yulang had already spread throughout Thundercloud City. Everyone who heard it was utterly stunned, finding the story hard to believe.

Everyone knew exactly what Long Yancheng and his Long Family represented. As one of the four great powers in Thundercloud City, it was safe to say no one in the city dared to provoke the Long Family.

But Long Ao?

He had seemingly disregarded the Long Family, killing the man's grandson right under Long Yancheng's nose. Long Ao's fate seemed all but sealed. Because of this, everyone was waiting to see just how Long Yancheng and the Long Family would get their revenge.

「The next morning.」

The moment Long Ao left his room, his parents summoned him to the main hall. Not only were Long Yi and Mu Lin present, but nearly every other member of the Long Family was there as well.

"Ao'Er, are you alright?"

At that moment, excitement and joy were written on the faces of everyone in the Long Family. They had all heard the news: Long Ao had killed Ye Gucheng and Long Yulang, and even stood up to Long Yancheng. 'Doesn't this mean the Long Family can slowly rise in power thanks to Long Ao?'

"Seventh Brother, you're truly incredible! Quick, look at the Hundred Battles Ranking."

Her face filled with pride, Long Qianqian handed Long Ao a delicate booklet. She chuckled and said, "Seventh Brother, this copy of the Hundred Battles Ranking cost me a whole one thousand Gold Coins."

'A thousand Gold Coins for a small booklet?'

With a resigned smile, Long Ao opened the booklet. The first page bore the three words: Hundred Battles Ranking. Starting from the second page, each page listed ten names, for a total of one hundred names across ten pages—the one hundred figures on the Hundred Battles Ranking.

Flipping to the tenth page of the Hundred Battles Ranking, Long Ao saw that Ye Gucheng's name was gone. In its place was his own. Long Ao's name was written right there, and underneath it, there seemed to be a line of small text.

"Youth of the Red Fire Town Long Family. Ten years of persistence, ten years of resolve, never giving up. The failure has finally staged a comeback, slaying Ye Gucheng to claim the ninety-sixth spot on the Hundred Battles Ranking."

Looking at the Hundred Battles Ranking's description of him, Long Ao was a little speechless—especially the part about "the failure has finally staged a comeback."

"Ao'Er, the Hundred Battles Ranking is the most important list on the Celestial Martial Continent. The nine provinces of Kyushu each have their own Hundred Battles Ranking, and every person on them is an exceptional genius."

Of course, Long Ao was well aware of what the Hundred Battles Ranking was.

Any Martial Artist on the Celestial Martial Continent under the age of forty could compete for a spot on their province's Hundred Battles Ranking. Each of the nine provinces had countless geniuses, but ultimately, only one hundred could make the list. It was easy to imagine just how prestigious the Hundred Battles Ranking was.

However, Long Ao felt no joy at all. He knew that every single person on the Hundred Battles Ranking was a formidable expert. Ye Gucheng was only ranked ninety-sixth, yet his Cultivation was already at the Peak of Hundred Scattered Heaven. 'So what kind of power do the top ninety-five have?'

Just then, a servant hurried in from outside, knelt on the floor, and said urgently, "First Master, a top-priority dispatch from the clan!"

'A top-priority dispatch?'

Surprised, Long Yi took the letter and opened it. His expression instantly turned icy as he said angrily, "That shameless Yang Family."

"Big Brother, what is it?"

"Hmph. Who knows what strings the Yang Family pulled, but they've managed to invite the Black Wind Daoist of Black Wind Mountain. According to Father's letter, the Black Wind Daoist will arrive in Thundercloud City in ten days. When he does, our Long Family will be annihilated."

'Black Wind Mountain, the Black Wind Daoist?'

Everyone knew of the Black Wind Daoist of Black Wind Mountain. He was rumored to have some connection to the Yang Family, but the powers in Red Fire Town had always maintained a delicate balance. The Yang Family inviting the Black Wind Daoist now was a clear sign they intended to wipe out the Long Family.

"Big Brother, even though our clan has been promoted to an Eighth Level Clan, our actual foundation hasn't improved at all. If the Yang Family and the Black Wind Daoist attack, we'll be nothing but sitting ducks."

Long Jian and the other uncles knew full well that the clan's promotion wasn't due to any increase in their overall strength, but solely because of Long Ao's sudden rise. In other words, without Long Ao, the clan was no different than it had been before.

At this moment, none of the uncles dared order Long Ao to do anything. After all, Long Ao was a completely different person now. He hadn't just become an Innate Martial Artist; he had also withstood Long Yancheng and killed both Ye Gucheng and Long Yulang. As his uncles, they even felt a little constrained around their own nephew.

Long Yi knew exactly what his younger brothers were worried about.

He let out a deep sigh. He didn't blame any of them. After all, an Innate Martial Artist was an existence that transcended all others. Even he, the boy's own father, found that things were different when facing his son now.

Before Long Yi could even speak, Long Ao said, "Father, the clan's problems are my problems. I'll leave right away."

"The rest of us will follow shortly." Long Yi knew the Long Family's main base was in Red Fire Town; their holdings in Thundercloud City were disposable. It would be foolish to lose what truly mattered for something so minor, and they would regret it forever.

Without the slightest hesitation, Long Ao set off for the clan in Red Fire Town. He knew perfectly well that to a clan like his, an Innate Martial Artist was an entity they could not hope to defy.

「In the main hall.」

"Big Brother, hasn't Ao'Er's rise been a little too fast? Now that he's killed Long Yulang, Long Yancheng and his Long Family certainly won't let this rest. We need to come up with a countermeasure as soon as possible."

"Yes, the foundation of the Sixth Level Long Family shouldn't be underestimated. But with Ao'Er's current strength, I believe even Long Yancheng won't dare to act recklessly. I have faith in Ao'Er. In the future, our Long Family will surely surpass the Sixth Level."

Whenever anyone thought about how Long Ao had dared to kill Long Yulang right under Long Yancheng's nose, they were filled with a profound sense of disbelief.

「Inside a lavish room within the Sixth Level Long Family's estate in Thundercloud City.」

"Father, I want revenge now! I can't let Yulang die for nothing!" Long Yulang's father, Long Heming, said, his expression terrifyingly grim and his body trembling with rage.

"Heming, be patient. We will certainly avenge Yulang, but now is not the time."

"But why?" Long Heming truly couldn't understand why his father was so wary of a mere Ninth Level Long Family. So what if they had produced an Innate Martial Artist?

"Heming, I don't know how that little bastard Long Ao managed it, but his illusory phantom actually possessed the strength of a One-Line Heaven expert, on par with my own. We must take our time and plan this carefully."

Hearing this, Long Heming seemed somewhat surprised. He knew his father's strength very well. It seemed his opponent truly had a few tricks up his sleeve. The father and son looked at each other, their faces etched with sinister malice.