War God Long Ao

"Brother Ouyang, I want to ask, is there a way to save Yuyin?"

"Brother Long, the Thousand-Year Ice Bed can keep her alive for a year, but if you want to heal her injuries completely, there are only two ways."

Sure enough.

Upon hearing there was a way to save Yuyin, Long Ao was instantly overjoyed. For the first time in an entire day and night, a trace of relief finally appeared on his face.

"Brother Ouyang, what are they?"

"Brother Long, the first way is to find an incredibly powerful expert and have them use their own strength to help her recover. That's almost impossible, so we should just focus on the second option: the Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit."

"The Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit?"

"That's right. The Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit. Legend says it's a miraculous fruit nurtured by Heaven and Earth. No matter how severe the injuries, consuming a Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit will allow for a full recovery."

Getting excited, Long Ao asked impatiently, "Brother Ouyang, where can I find this Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit?"

"Brother Long, be patient. I contacted my father, the Emperor, last night and received concrete information. The Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit only ripens once every millennium. In about another month, it will be ripe, so we still have some time."

'Ripens only once a millennium.' Long Ao didn't need to ask to guess how many people would try to seize the Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit once it matured. But for Yuyin, no matter what happened, he had to get his hands on it.

"Brother Long, the Nebula Kingdom doesn't have the Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit. It only grows in the Thunder Forest, within the Thunder Empire. And every time the Thunder Fruit ripens, it draws countless powerful experts to fight over it."

Before Ouyang Fei could even finish, Long Ao shot to his feet.

With a determined expression and a face filled with Killing Intent, he said, "I don't care who it is. Anyone who dares to fight me for the Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit will be killed without pardon."

Sighing deeply, Ouyang Fei was of course aware of Long Ao's feelings for Yuyin. He said helplessly, "Brother Long, with your strength alone, you won't be able to obtain the Thunder Fruit. You wouldn't even get past the Thunder Empire's National Protection Hall. We need to think this through."

'The Thunder Empire?'

In the end, reason won out over impulse. Long Ao nodded and asked, "Brother Ouyang, tell me about the Thunder Empire's National Protection Hall."

"Alright."

After listening to Ouyang Fei's explanation, Long Ao gained a general understanding of the Thunder Empire. The Celestial Martial Continent was divided into Kyushu. Within the Celestial State, the Two Great Empires coexisted: the Thunder Empire and the Flame Empire. Beneath them were countless Affiliated Kingdoms, and the Nebula Kingdom was one of the Thunder Empire's Vassal States.

The Thunder Empire also had a National Protection Hall, but its strength and foundation far surpassed that of the Nebula Kingdom. Otherwise, the Nebula Kingdom's National Protection Hall wouldn't be so completely suppressed.

AHEM. Tang Lin, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. "Brother Long, in ten days, our National Protection Hall will be heading to the Thunder Empire. That would be the perfect opportunity for you to seize the Thousand-Year Thunder Fruit."

"Hall Master, we're going to the Thunder Empire?"

"Mhm. Every three years, the Thunder Empire's National Protection Hall holds an event called the Thunder Battle. Nearly all the Affiliated Kingdoms participate, and as it happens, this is a Thunder Battle year."

'The Thunder Battle?'

For some reason, Long Ao felt there was a conspiracy behind this Thunder Battle held by the Thunder Empire. After all, why would they hold such an event for no apparent reason?

"Brother Long, I have something to discuss with you in private."

"Crown Prince, Master Tang, we'll take our leave now." Long Haoshi was no fool. He knew that whatever Tang Lin was about to say was of great importance, so he quickly led Wang Yidao and the others away.

In the entire hall, only three people remained: Long Ao, Ouyang Fei, and Tang Lin.

"Hall Master, what is it?"

"Brother Long, there's something you should know. The Thunder Battle held by the Thunder Empire's National Protection Hall every three years is, in the end, all about weakening the National Protection Halls of the Affiliated Kingdoms. It's to completely eliminate the threat that the kingdoms pose to the Thunder Empire."

So that was the reason.

Long Ao finally understood the motive behind the Thunder Empire's National Protection Hall's actions, and thinking about it, it all made sense. Although the Thunder Empire was a colossus, the Affiliated Kingdoms also had potential. If they were allowed to grow, they would eventually threaten the Empire's status.

The National Protection Hall was the cornerstone of every Kingdom. He had to admit, the Thunder Empire and its Hall's strategy was clever. As long as they kept the National Protection Halls of the various Affiliated Kingdoms in check, the Thunder Empire could rest easy without fearing a backlash from its vassals.

"Hall Master, there's one thing I don't understand. Even if the Thunder Empire holds a Thunder Battle every three years, couldn't the Affiliated Kingdoms just refuse to participate? If they did that, wouldn't there be nothing the Empire could do?"

"Brother Long, to be perfectly honest, the Thunder Empire has a total of thirty-two Affiliated Kingdoms. Twelve of them are staunch loyalists to the Empire. The remaining twenty, however, harbor varying degrees of dissent. Because of this, the Thunder Empire has an explicit rule: for every Thunder Battle, each of the thirty-two kingdoms' National Protection Halls must send at least ten members. Any kingdom that fails to participate will immediately face the combined wrath of all the other kingdoms and the Thunder Empire itself."

"Hall Master, surely not every Affiliated Kingdom's National Protection Hall has ten members or more, right?"

"The Thunder Empire is no fool. They send spies to monitor every Kingdom. So, even if the thirty-two kingdoms are unwilling, they are forced to participate."

I see.

"Hall Master, just get to the point." Long Ao was no fool. He knew Tang Lin must want something from him. Otherwise, a man that busy wouldn't have waited here all night.

"Brother Long, you're already a member of the National Protection Hall, so I'll be direct. I intend for you to participate in this Thunder Battle. I have only one hope: that you can do everything in your power to keep our ten members alive. Otherwise, our Nebula Kingdom will forever remain a mere vassal of the Thunder Empire."

As soon as Tang Lin finished, Ouyang Fei suddenly stood up, gave Long Ao a deep, respectful bow, and said, "We're counting on you."

Startled, Long Ao immediately helped Ouyang Fei up. "Hall Master, Brother Ouyang, you two know my level of strength best. When the time comes, experts from thirty-two kingdoms and the Thunder Empire will all be gathered together. Forget protecting them—it's questionable whether I'll even make it back alive."

Long Ao truly couldn't understand why Tang Lin and Ouyang Fei had such faith in him. At the end of the day, he was just a One-Line Heaven Martial Artist. If it hadn't been for Long Fu's help this time, he would have been consumed by the backlash from the Nine Needle God-Sealing long ago. When all those experts gathered in the Thunder Empire… 'With my current strength,' he wondered, 'can I really hold my own?'

"Brother Long, we have all witnessed your growth. I hope you will accept."