Chapter 58: Dragon Martial Artist
Long Ao naturally understood Ouyang Fei's intentions perfectly.
In ten days, it would be a battle to the death.
For this very reason, Long Ao did not leave Nebula City. Instead, he found an inn and temporarily took up residence.
"Master, the Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion has finished its Refinement. I will transfer it into your body bit by bit shortly."
Nodding, Long Ao was very happy. With Long Fu and the Blood Pool inside the Dragon Seal Space, the soul of any Spirit Beast could be refined into pure power as long as it was placed in the Blood Pool.
Relying on this pure power, his Cultivation could continuously improve. However, Long Ao also knew one thing clearly: he couldn't absorb all the power condensed from the Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion at once. Otherwise, the slightest misstep would cause him to self-destruct and die.
He didn't dwell on his Cultivation, as breaking through his current Realm in such a short time was practically impossible.
He began the process of alchemy. Long Ao had already obtained the Beast Pill of the Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion and purchased all the materials needed to refine the Spirit Recovery Pill. To avoid being disturbed, he rented out the entire inn.
A huge Pill Furnace blazed with a roaring fire beneath it. Long Ao first placed the Beast Pill inside the Pill Furnace and began the refinement process.
'One chance.' Long Ao was well aware that he only had a single Beast Pill from the Purple-Winged Blood Gold Lion. If he failed, a second attempt would be impossible. Thus, he proceeded with extreme caution and his utmost concentration.
Whether he was a genius in alchemy or not, Long Ao successfully created the Pill Embryo in just half an hour. He then added all the other materials to refine the Spirit Recovery Pill.
「The next morning.」
News of Long Ao from Thundercloud City challenging the Miao Family's genius, Miao He, had already spread throughout Nebula City. Fueled by the Miao Family's deliberate promotion of the story, everyone was looking down on Long Ao. They thought this hot-headed kid from Thundercloud City didn't know his own limits, daring to challenge a genius of the Miao Family.
However, the stories of Long Ao's achievements were also spread by some unknown person and became known to all.
Reaching the Innate Realm in just a few short months, securing the seventy-eighth spot on the Hundred Battles Ranking—four places higher than Miao He, even. What did that signify?
But Miao He's Human-Beast Integration was simply too powerful. If the Hundred Battles Ranking didn't forbid using the power of Spirit Beasts, it was believed that Miao He's rank would be even higher—definitely above seventy-eighth place.
For this very reason, everyone still didn't favor Long Ao. They believed that in a battle between the two, Long Ao was simply courting death.
Long Ao paid no mind to the scorn and disdain from others. He had endured a full ten years of humiliation and still persevered, so this was nothing to him now.
"Long Ao, the Patriarch wishes to see you."
"Elder Mo, right now?" Long Ao was very curious, wondering why the Patriarch of the Fifth Level Long Family was in such a hurry to see him.
"Yes. Long Ao, I know you're a bit reluctant, but the Patriarch is very eager to meet you. I hope you'll do me this favor. Otherwise, I won't be able to answer to the Patriarch when I return."
To be honest, Long Ao really didn't want to go to the Fifth Level Long Family at this time. But there was no helping it. Long Mo had helped him before, and it would seem ungracious if he were to refuse adamantly.
With a sense of helplessness, Long Ao could only nod and agree, "Since it has come to this, I'll make the trip."
His face lighting up with joy, Long Mo said, "Excellent. Let's set off now."
With that, Long Mo led Long Ao to the Fifth Level Long Family's estate. As one of the five great powers of Nebula City, the Fifth Level Long Family's strength and foundation were self-evident. Not even the Liuyun Sect could contend with them—such was the power of the Fifth Level Long Family.
The Fifth Level Long Family was located in the most luxurious district of Nebula City. Their massive estate was large enough to house tens of thousands of people. Stepping into the Long Family's grounds, Long Ao was a little surprised. They were both branches of the Long Family, yet the disparity was so vast simply due to the difference in Level.
「In the Long Family's main hall.」
Long Ao entered the main hall and saw only one person sitting inside. Without a doubt, this had to be the Patriarch of the Fifth Level Long Family, Long Ying. Long Mo said, "Patriarch, Long Ao is here. I will take my leave now."
"You may go," a dignified voice boomed from the middle-aged man. As the Patriarch of the Fifth Level Long Family, the imposing aura he had accumulated over the years was enough to intimidate others even while he was just sitting there.
Long Mo left, leaving only Long Ao and Long Ying in the entire hall.
"Long Ao. Ten years ago, your Inner Strength circulation failed. You endured a full decade of humiliation and ridicule, yet not only did you not give up, you persisted and worked hard. Ten years later, your Cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds. In just a few short months, you successfully reached the Heavenly Dao One-Line Heaven Realm, defeated a series of opponents, and advanced triumphantly all the way to the seventy-eighth spot on the Hundred Battles Ranking. Have I misspoken?"
Not the least bit surprised, Long Ao knew that with the strength of the Fifth Level Long Family, investigating him would be incredibly easy.
"That's correct."
"Regardless of your talent and potential, I admire your persistence and unwillingness to give up."
Long Ao smiled but said nothing.
"Sit."
Long Ao didn't stand on ceremony and sat down. Then he asked, "May I ask why Elder has sought me out?"
"Long Ao, the Long Clan is one of the most powerful forces on the continent. Our Long Clan is also divided into nine Levels. I believe you may not know this, but Long Family branches below the Third Level are not actually considered true members of the Long Clan."
'What does he mean by that?'
Long Ao was very curious, wondering why Long Ying was telling him all this.
"Within the Long Clan, only those who have reached the Third Level or above are permitted to enter Dragon Valley, awaken the bloodline within them, find their own partners, and become the continent's most powerful existence: a Dragon Martial Artist."
Long Ao genuinely had not known about this. Only a Third Level Long Family could enter Dragon Valley, choose their own partner, and thus become a Dragon Martial Artist.
'Giant Dragons, the most powerful beings in Heaven and Earth… No wonder the Long Clan could become the continent's most powerful force. So that's the reason.'
"Elder, please speak freely if you have something to say."
"Alright. For those of us in the Long Family branches below the Third Level, we all hope for a Dragon Martial Artist to emerge from our respective families. If one does, they might be able to lead the family into the main Long Clan. The reason I've sought you out this time is because I want you to give it a try as well."
"Try what?"
"Very few people know about this. A month ago, I accidentally discovered a passage that leads into Dragon Valley. However, this matter is of grave importance. If the main Long Clan finds out, all of us will die."
In an instant, Long Ao understood the meaning behind Long Ying's words. 'Does he want me to enter Dragon Valley too?'
Long Ao was no fool. He certainly knew what it meant to enter Dragon Valley without the Long Clan's permission. After all, Long Ying had just said that only a family at the Third Level or above could enter Dragon Valley to find their partner. If he were to just waltz into Dragon Valley, it would surely bring trouble.