War God Long Ao

"If I die, I die."

Long Ao knew that if he gave up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he would never be able to forgive himself.

And so, Long Ao finally took the step. In a single stride, he had officially entered the cave.

The moment he stepped into the cave, Long Ao felt as if he were on Flame Mountain, his entire body burning. His expression changed in alarm. Leaving aside the Fire Qilin's actual strength, its mere momentum was more than he could withstand.

"Shameless human, you're looking for death."

"Who's there?" Hearing the sudden voice, Long Ao was stunned. He scanned his surroundings warily, as if he'd seen a ghost.

"Damn, this is the first time I've ever seen a human this weak."

In that moment, Long Ao finally pinpointed the source of the voice. It was coming from the Fire Qilin not far in front of him. That's right, the Fire Qilin. Long Ao was absolutely certain.

"Damn, it's you talking."

Long Ao, who had never cursed before, couldn't help but let one slip. A Spirit Beast speaking? Who had ever seen such a thing? It was practically unheard of.

"And what's wrong with me talking?"

Watching the massive Qilin head slowly rise, Long Ao swallowed hard and said, "Nothing's wrong with it. I've just never seen it before."

"Hahaha! Kid, there are many things you haven't seen. How ignorant."

Long Ao felt no anger. It was, after all, the first time he had ever heard a Spirit Beast speak. He remained on high alert, so that if the Qilin attacked, he could at least run away faster.

After all, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. As one of the most powerful races in Heaven and Earth, the Qilin's strength was on par with the Giant Dragon Race.

Long Ao knew his own limits. Even if the Qilin was injured, its strength far surpassed his own. If a fight broke out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

As if it could read Long Ao's mind, the Fire Qilin suddenly laughed, its laughter filled with contempt and disdain. "Kid, with strength like yours, you think you can take my Treasure?"

'Treasure?'

'What's it talking about?'

Long Ao didn't deny that he wanted the Fire Qilin's soul, but he was completely clueless about this "Treasure" the creature mentioned.

Seeing his baffled expression and sensing from his aura that he wasn't lying, the Qilin seemed a bit surprised itself. "Kid, how about I make a deal with you?" it said.

'A deal?'

Hearing this, Long Ao didn't feel the slightest excitement. Instead, he grew even more solemn and cautious. No matter what, the Fire Qilin was incredibly powerful. Once its injuries recovered, killing him would be as easy as lifting a finger.

"Elder Qilin, what kind of deal do you want to make?"

"Elder? The hell you say! Do I look old to you? Call me Brother Huo."

Long Ao was rendered speechless by the Fire Qilin's fiery temper, but there was nothing he could do. He called out with extreme reluctance, "Brother Qilin."

"Kid, what's your name?"

"Long Ao."

"Kid, I'll make a deal with you. You help me get out of here and find a place for me to recover from my injuries, and I'll help you with your Cultivation. How about it?"

In an instant, Long Ao understood the Fire Qilin's meaning. It was simple: it wanted his help to leave this place and recover from its injuries.

Long Ao was no fool. Of course he couldn't agree to such a deal.

"Brother Qilin, I don't think this is a fair deal."

"You dare question me?"

Immediately, an incomparably terrifying momentum pressed down on him. A cracking sound echoed as Long Ao was nearly forced to his knees. Even so, a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth as he trembled all over, his fists clenched tight.

Despite this, Long Ao held firm, not even letting out a grunt. He just stood there, unyielding.

Even the Qilin was surprised. It knew exactly how powerful the momentum it had released was. The fact that this boy, a mere Innate Martial Artist, could remain standing was admirable.

The momentum vanished. The Qilin nodded in appreciation and said, "You can name one condition."

Joy flared in his heart. Ignoring the waves of pain wracking his body, he said urgently, "Brother Qilin, my condition is simple. I hope you can guard my Long Family for three years."

The moment he found the Qilin, Long Ao had already considered this. His family was still in great danger. Although they had a Transformation Realm Corpse Slave guarding them, if a Martial Artist above the Transformation Realm were to invade, who in the entire family could possibly stop them?

That was why Long Ao was so desperate to make this happen. If the Fire Qilin guarded his family, then without a doubt, they could rest easy for at least the next three years.

'Three years.'

The Fire Qilin was no fool. It certainly knew what guarding a family for three years meant. If it agreed, it would lose three years of its Time, bound to watch over the boy's family.

It lowered its head and began to ponder. Long Ao, on the other hand, was no longer in a hurry. He knew that the Fire Qilin's hesitation meant he had a chance. But then he thought it through and felt relieved. No matter what, the Fire Qilin was seriously injured; every minute it delayed was another minute it suffered.

And just as he expected.

After a moment of thought, the Fire Qilin suddenly raised its head. "Fine. My injuries are quite severe anyway. Three years it is. I'll give you three years. But kid, you must remember this: I am only agreeing to guard the Long Family and protect their safety. If you or your clansmen leave the family grounds, I will not intervene."

How could Long Ao not understand the Fire Qilin's meaning?

Even so, Long Ao was overjoyed and immediately agreed. Then, he asked with some confusion, "Brother Qilin, I'd like to ask, who was it that injured you?"

Even now, Long Ao was dying to know who had managed to injure the Qilin. He didn't need to guess to know that anyone capable of hurting a Qilin was undoubtedly an expert among experts. If the Qilin came to guard the Long Family and led that powerful figure there, wouldn't he be leading a wolf into his own home?

"Kid, you're not qualified to know about this matter. Now hurry up and get me out of here."

All of a sudden, the Fire Qilin's expression became urgent. Before Long Ao could even react, its body began to change. From a behemoth the size of a small mountain, it shrank directly down into a Qilin the size of a fist.

Seemingly understanding what was happening, Long Ao immediately went over, picked up the tiny Fire Qilin, turned, and shot away. In the blink of an eye, he had vanished from the cave.

Not long after Long Ao left, about three minutes later, a black Human Shadow suddenly appeared in the cave. Its cold, stern face was filled with Killing Intent, and a terrifying aura instantly enveloped the entire cave. Finding nothing, the figure in black seemed curious, but did not linger. It simply vanished from the spot.