War God Long Ao

"Yes? Do you need something?"

"Someone asked me to give you this letter."

Long Ao took the letter. Before he could even ask a question, the person had already turned and left.

'This again?'

Long Ao opened the letter and gave it a cursory glance. His expression remained neutral as he tore the letter to shreds, gave a helpless smile, and walked off into the distance.

The auction house was a powerful force in Thunder City. Because it had branches all across the Celestial Martial Continent, even the Thunder Royal Family was very wary of it.

Liu Feng of the auction house personally stepped in and approached the Thunder Royal Family. Under heavy pressure, the Third Prince finally gave up on targeting the Red Fire Town Long Family, but he swore he would not let Long Ao off the hook.

「Ten days later.」

The Thunder Empire's Thunder Battle officially began. There were three hundred and twenty National Protection Masters from thirty-two kingdoms, plus members of the Thunder National Protection Hall and some unaffiliated Innate Martial Artists, totaling over four hundred people.

What did that mean?

Over four hundred people were participating in the so-called Thunder Battle. That was the equivalent of four hundred Innate Martial Artists. Half of them had reached the Evolution Realm, and the other half were all One-Line Heaven Martial Artists. As for Hundred Scattered Heaven Martial Artists, they weren't even qualified to participate.

For his own sake, and for his family's, Long Ao resolutely decided to participate in the Thunder Battle as an individual. The Nebula National Protection Hall was very displeased by this, but they didn't say much.

When word of Long Ao's departure from the National Protection Hall reached the Nebula Kingdom, neither Tang Lin nor Ouyang Feng made any comment. From their silence, Long Ao knew the Nebula Kingdom had abandoned him.

It was self-preservation, which was understandable.

Because of this, Long Ao held no grudges. His only worry was for his family.

Outside the Thunder Forest, everyone—from the thirty-two kingdoms and the Thunder Empire—entered. The rules of the Thunder Battle were simple: kill your opponents and take the Soul Orders they held.

The participants from the thirty-two kingdoms, the Thunder Empire, and the unaffiliated Innate Martial Artists each held a single Soul Order. When the Thunder Battle ended, the rankings would be determined by the number of Soul Orders each Martial Artist possessed.

The Thunder Battle would last for ten days. After ten days, everyone, whether dead or alive, was to gather outside the Thunder Forest.

Every year, in addition to the National Protection Masters from the Thunder Empire and the thirty-two kingdoms, many unaffiliated Martial Artists also participated, hoping to make a name for themselves.

This was especially true for the top ten finishers, who would become famous overnight.

Long Ao knew very well that he was no longer a National Protection Master of the Nebula National Protection Hall. He was on his own now. Therefore, he had to be on guard at all times during this Thunder Battle and remain completely focused.

Just as he stepped into the Thunder Forest, Long Ao ran into some old acquaintances: the nine members from the Nebula Kingdom. Because of his departure, the Nebula Kingdom, which was supposed to send ten people, could only enter with nine.

"Long Ao, you really are arrogant. Daring to enter the Thunder Battle all by yourself. Let me give you some advice: you'd better leave now. Otherwise, you won't even know how you died."

Yu Wei said with a look of contempt, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Oh, right. I almost forgot. Some people aren't afraid of death. They think they're invincible."

"Yu Wei, you've gone too far!"

"Brother Hao, I know you and Long Ao are on good terms, but business is business. Long Ao nearly brought disaster upon our Nebula National Protection Hall. For that alone, he should apologize to us. Even getting on his knees wouldn't be too much."

Hao Chao seemed about to say more, but Long Ao held up a hand. He let out a cold laugh but said nothing, simply staring at Yu Wei with a chilling gaze.

For some reason, Yu Wei couldn't help but shiver.

"Long Ao."

"Yu Wei, I usually see you as handsome and suave, loved by all, a flower among men. But right now, I see you're nothing but a fucking animal among scumbags, and a scumbag among animals."

"Long Ao, you dare curse at me?"

With another cold laugh, Long Ao sneered, "Who the hell do you think you are? I've said it before: if you dare provoke me again, I'll kill you on the spot, no matter who tries to protect you. You brought all of this on yourself. You have no one else to blame."

Hearing this, Yu Wei jumped in fright. He knew Long Ao's personality better than anyone. If Long Ao really lost it, he alone would be no match for him.

But Yu Wei wasn't worried. After all, he had Luo Cheng, the Vice Hall Master of the National Protection Hall and a Fusion Master, by his side. 'Could Long Ao possibly defeat Luo Cheng?'

The rules of the Thunder Battle explicitly stated that each of the thirty-two kingdoms and the Thunder Empire could only send one Fusion Master. By that count, there would be no more than thirty Fusion Martial Artists entering the Thunder Forest, and that number included unaffiliated Fusion Martial Artists, since not every one of the thirty-two kingdoms even had a Fusion Martial Artist.

"Long Ao, I don't believe you'd dare kill me here!"

"Hahaha! Yu Wei, I, Long Ao, swear this now: if I don't kill you, I'm not worthy of being called human!"

"Long Ao, you are too insolent," Luo Cheng, who had been silent until now, said with a dark expression. 'To think that he, a Vice Hall Master of the National Protection Hall and a Fusion Master, is being completely ignored by this guy.'

"Luo Cheng, does this mean you're going to side with Yu Wei?"

No matter what, he had once been a member of the National Protection Hall, and Ouyang Fei had treated him well. Because of this, Long Ao didn't want to completely burn his bridges with the National Protection Hall unless absolutely necessary.

But not wanting to burn his bridges didn't mean he would tolerate their every whim. Especially now. Yu Wei had to die. If the National Protection Hall insisted on siding with him, then he would have to meet them head-on.

"Long Ao, out of respect for your relationship with Crown Prince Ouyang, and the fact that the Hall Master also treated you well, I advise you to quit while you're ahead. Don't push things too far, or you will face consequences you cannot bear."

Seeing that Luo Cheng was genuinely angry, Hao Chao quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Vice Hall Master, Long Ao, no matter what, we're all on the same side. The most important thing right now is the Thunder Battle, not internal strife."

"Hmph. Hao Chao, let me ask you, are you still a member of the National Protection Hall or not?"

"I am." Hao Chao was well aware of Yu Wei's shamelessness. He cursed him inwardly but didn't let his anger show. After all, he was still a member of the National Protection Hall, and a Vice Hall Master was standing right in front of him.

Snorting again, Yu Wei said sarcastically, "I was starting to think you weren't a member of the National Protection Hall anymore. Long Ao is openly defying the Hall right now. If we let him go today, what would be left of the Nebula National Protection Hall's reputation?"

Yu Wei's intention was clear: he was trying to incite everyone to deal with Long Ao together.

"Hahaha!" Suddenly, Long Ao burst out laughing. Just as everyone was feeling confused, his body abruptly moved.

"Yu Wei, I'm killing you today. And I'll kill anyone who gets in my way."

Startled, Yu Wei certainly wasn't going to face Long Ao head-on. He quickly ducked behind Luo Cheng, a cold smirk playing on his lips.