War God Long Ao

Kuang Ao didn't make a choice immediately.

After a moment of silence, Kuang Ao looked up and asked, "If you can successfully craft the Spirit Recovery Pills, how about giving me half of them?"

Kuang Ao's demand was actually quite outrageous. Crafting Spirit Recovery Pills was no easy task, let alone giving away half of the batch.

Any other Alchemist would have likely flown into a rage and stormed off. But Long Ao, far from being angry, simply smiled and said, "No problem."

Seeming even more surprised, Kuang Ao had never imagined the other man would agree so quickly. He knew exactly what Spirit Recovery Pills represented.

Although Kuang Ao was incredibly arrogant, he was also an honorable Martial Artist. He nodded and said, "Since that's the case, you can have the Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion's corpse and Beast Pill. As for you... I'll consider you a friend."

Extending his only right hand, his face a picture of sincerity, Kuang Ao made the offer. Long Ao, of course, would not refuse. He extended his left hand, and the two men clasped them together firmly.

Suddenly, a fierce wind kicked up. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the sky began to fill with dark, heavy clouds.

Long Ao had just retrieved the Beast Pill and was about to deal with the corpse when a terrifying pressure washed over them. Even as One-Line Heaven Martial Artists, the two were instantly suppressed by this aura, rendered immobile. Before they could react, bolts of lightning as thick as a man's arm came crashing down.

"Another Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion?"

Hearing Kuang Ao's words, Long Ao's heart skipped a beat. They exchanged a glance, each seeing the shock in the other's eyes. Not daring to let their guard down for an instant, they joined forces to resist the oppressive pressure.

VMMMM, VMMMM...

A piercing drone filled the air. Following it, a Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion, a full six or seven meters tall, approached with heavy, rapid strides, arriving in the blink of an eye.

"The Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion King."

'The Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion King?'

Although Long Ao didn't know what Kuang Ao meant by "Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion King," he could clearly sense the power radiating from the Spirit Beast before them.

'It's too powerful.' Even though Long Ao was completely confident in his own abilities, he felt no hope of resisting the Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion King. Such was the result of a massive gap in power.

"Hahaha! Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion King, you've finally decided to show yourself."

Just as Kuang Ao and Long Ao were wondering how to handle the situation, twenty or thirty figures sped in from all directions, completely surrounding the Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion King.

"Brother Long, let's go! Quickly!"

Seeing Ouyang Fei suddenly appear, Long Ao was completely baffled. 'What in the world is going on?'

'Why would Ouyang Fei suddenly be here?'

'Is this a coincidence?'

For some reason, Long Ao felt as if he had fallen into a trap.

Regardless of his many questions, Long Ao knew the best course of action was to leave first. And so, he and Kuang Ao quickly followed Ouyang Fei away from the scene. They had no way of knowing what would happen next.

「Outside Nebula Forest.」

"Brother Ouyang, I need you to answer me honestly. What is really going on with the Royal Family's search for a husband for Princess Zixia?"

"Hmph. A pack of jackals," Kuang Ao snorted.

Apparently familiar with Kuang Ao's personality, Ouyang Fei paid him no mind. He shook his head with a sigh and said, "I never expected you to come hunt the Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion too, Brother Long. If you had told me ahead of time, I would have certainly helped arrange things for you."

Long Ao was left speechless by Ouyang Fei's words, but he didn't press the matter. He only wanted to know what the Nebula Royal Family's true intentions were.

"This matter is supposed to be confidential, but given our friendship, I'll make an exception and tell you both. However, this information must not get out, or the Nebula Kingdom will be thrown into chaos."

'The Nebula Kingdom will be thrown into chaos?'

Even Kuang Ao grew curious. What could possibly have such severe consequences?

"Brother Long, I'm sure you know that the Nebula Kingdom is merely one of the Thunder Empire's Vassal States, completely at its mercy. If another powerful family were to rise, they could replace the Royal Family at any time."

Ouyang Fei's fists clenched. "The Royal Family cannot be allowed to fall," he said coldly. "Precisely for that reason, every ten years, the Royal Family joins forces with a few other major families to find ways to cull the talented disciples from the other cities in the Nebula Kingdom. This is to ensure the Nebula Royal Family's position remains secure."

In an instant, both Long Ao and Kuang Ao understood the Royal Family's true intentions. They had to admit, the Nebula Royal Family was truly ruthless.

"Brother Ouyang, by culling geniuses like this, doesn't the Royal Family ever want to grow stronger? Aren't they afraid of the major families in Nebula City?"

"Of course we're afraid, but we're powerless to do otherwise. The other major families don't dare to rebel easily, either. As for not wanting to grow stronger? That's a lie. But forced to choose between growing stronger and preserving the Royal Family, we will always choose the latter."

Reality. This was the harsh reality of their world.

As the Sovereign of the Nebula Kingdom, the Nebula Royal Family could arbitrarily cull talented individuals while countless other families were kept in the dark. 'If my own strength wasn't up to par,' Long Ao thought, 'I would have become one of the victims too.'

"Brother Ouyang, why did you tell me this?"

"Because I know that a small place like the Nebula Kingdom is not your ultimate goal, Brother Long. I only hope that when you become powerful in the future, you might be willing to help the Nebula Royal Family. For that, I would be eternally grateful."

'In the end, Ouyang Fei only values my talent and potential,' Long Ao realized. 'Otherwise, he wouldn't care whether I lived or died.'

Only now did Long Ao truly understand how terrifying this world was. One careless mistake could lead to a point of no return. Because of this, he felt no goodwill toward the Crown Prince standing before him.

"Brother Long, we've been watching that Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion King for a long time. But even with so many experts, we were completely unable to lure it out."

Long Ao held up a hand, stopping Ouyang Fei from continuing. He already understood everything. In the end, Princess Zixia's marriage selection was nothing but a sham. He and the others were just sacrifices, and if they died, it was considered their own tough luck.

"Brother Ouyang, I'm a little tired. I'm going to head back to Nebula City. I'll look for you when I have time."

"Alright. Get some rest."

Not wanting to stay a moment longer, Long Ao and Kuang Ao quickly departed. Ouyang Fei shook his head with a sigh and muttered to himself, "Born into a royal house, my hands are often tied. I hope you don't disappoint me... otherwise, death is your only way out."

「On the road.」

"Long Ao," Kuang Ao said, "this world is a dog-eat-dog place, filled with conspiracies. If you don't scheme against others, they will scheme against you. If you don't kill others, they will kill you. If you want to survive and thrive in this world, there's only one way: possess overwhelming strength. Remember, don't trust anyone easily. The only thing you can ever truly rely on is your own two fists."

'The only thing I can rely on is my own two fists?'

Nodding, Long Ao said in a firm voice, "You're right. With strength, you can have anything. To show mercy to your enemies is to be cruel to yourself."