War God Long Ao

Hao Chao's expression was also grave. He said, "Brother Long, it seems Ouyang Zhong's injuries are quite severe. Otherwise, he wouldn't have fled to the Thunder Royal Family for refuge."

Long Ao nodded. He was well aware of this point.

"Brother Hao, thank you for your help this time."

"Brother Long, there's no need to be so formal with me. If there's anything I can help with, just say the word."

"Brother Hao, I wanted to ask, do you have anywhere to go now?"

Shaking his head, Hao Chao looked dejected. Although he had left the Nebula National Protection Hall, as an Evolutionary Martial Artist, he would be respected no matter where he went.

But Hao Chao didn't want to join any Kingdom and had even refused an invitation from the Thunder National Protection Hall.

'A spark of joy ignited in his heart.' Long Ao got straight to the point. "Brother Hao, we're friends, so I'll be direct. If you have nowhere else to go, why not come to Red Fire Town and become an Honored Guest Elder for my Long Family? What do you think?"

Hao Chao agreed without a moment's hesitation.

"Brother Hao, rest assured, even as an Honored Guest Elder for my Long Family, your freedom won't be restricted."

Waving his hand, Hao Chao smiled and said, "Brother Long, I was planning to go into closed-door Cultivation anyway. It's a perfect opportunity to head to Red Fire Town."

Hao Chao was no fool. Of course, he knew why Long Ao had invited him. After all, while Red Fire Town seemed to be thriving, it was actually fraught with peril. If disaster struck, Red Fire Town would be in deep trouble.

The two chatted for a while longer before Hao Chao got up and left Nebula City, heading for Red Fire Town.

With Hao Chao becoming the family's Honored Guest Elder, Long Ao could finally breathe a sigh of relief. No matter what, Hao Chao was an Evolutionary Martial Artist. His strength spoke for itself, and an ordinary Innate Martial Artist was no match for him.

「The Thunder Royal Family.」

Long Ao didn't immediately head to the Thunder Royal Family. He knew that since they had chosen to shelter Ouyang Zhong, they had already made it clear they intended to oppose him.

Although his Cultivation had successfully broken through to the Thunder Tribulation Realm, Long Ao knew his own limits. With his current strength, it was impossible to fight the entire Thunder Royal Family. If he ended up implicating his family, he would lose more than he could ever hope to gain.

'What should I do?'

'Go to the Thunder Royal Family and use force to settle the grudge between me and Ouyang Zhong?'

'But if I don't go, the consequences will be troublesome once Ouyang Zhong's injuries heal.'

For a moment, Long Ao was at a loss for what to do.

「Nebula City.」

Stars dotted the pitch-black night sky.

Long Ao had just entered a state of Cultivation when he was enveloped by a powerful aura. Before he could even react, a faint sound reached him.

Curious, Long Ao quietly left the inn and shot off after the dark figure. One chasing the other, they moved with incredible speed, disappearing into the vast darkness in the blink of an eye.

「Atop a desolate mountain not far from Nebula City.」

"Who are you? Why were you looking for me?"

Looking at the black-robed man opposite him, Long Ao was astonished. He could clearly sense that the aura emanating from this man was incredibly powerful, no different from Zhang Zhihang's.

In other words, the man before him was an Earth Emperor Martial Artist.

Long Ao was very curious about the man's identity. Just then, the black-robed man suddenly turned around. He had sword-like brows, star-like eyes, a large nose, and a small mouth. He looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and carried an air of aloof arrogance.

With a smirk that wasn't quite a smile, the black-robed youth asked coldly, "You are Long Ao?"

"I am."

"My name is Xia Jun, from the Thunder Sect."

'Xia Jun? The Thunder Sect?'

Hearing the man state his identity, Long Ao grew even more vigilant. He was no stranger to the Thunder Sect. As one of the Six Great Sects, the Thunder Sect's strength and foundation were plain to see. It was on par with the Flame Sect, standing above the other Four Great Sects.

'Is the Thunder Sect here to cause trouble?'

'Long Ao thought the situation was rather ridiculous. Nominally, the Thunder Empire was a branch of the Thunder Sect, but everyone knew the Thunder Sect didn't give a damn about the Thunder Royal Family. It was impossible that they would dispatch an Earth Emperor Martial Artist just for his sake. If that were truly the case, the Thunder Sect would be making a mountain out of a molehill.'

As if guessing Long Ao's thoughts, Xia Jun chuckled. "You don't have to worry. I didn't come here to cause you trouble. Your grudge with the Nebula Royal Family has nothing to do with my Thunder Sect. I'm looking for you this time mainly because of Zhang Zhihang."

'Zhang Zhihang?'

Hearing Xia Jun's words, Long Ao instantly understood. The Six Great Sects of Celestial State appeared harmonious on the surface, but in reality, they were constantly scheming against each other, each wanting to eliminate the others.

'Is the grudge between the Golden Sun Sect and the Thunder Sect that deep?'

"Get to the point. I don't like beating around the bush."

"HAHAHA, very good. I appreciate your straightforwardness. In that case, I'll get straight to the point. Long Ao, I'm already aware of the situation between you and Zhang Zhihang. Do you want to get Ao Xue or not?"

Long Ao remained silent. He didn't know what Xia Jun was getting at, and he had no desire to become a sacrificial pawn in the conflict between the Golden Sun Sect and the Thunder Sect.

"From what I know, Ao Xue and Zhang Zhihang will be married in three months. On your own, you have no hope of snatching Ao Xue from Zhang Zhihang's grasp. However, if you cooperate with me, I can guarantee that you and Ao Xue can be together. How about it?"

"The conditions."

Long Ao didn't believe in free lunches. Xia Jun wouldn't help him for no reason. Because of this, Long Ao knew for certain that Xia Jun must have conditions.

Xia Jun grew even more appreciative. He nodded and said, "Two conditions. First, I need you to help me kill Zhang Zhihang. Second, I need you to help me obtain something. As long as you agree to these two conditions, I will help you take Ao Xue from Zhang Zhihang. How about it?"

After hearing the two conditions, Long Ao's face was unreadable.

Xia Jun's two conditions seemed incredibly simple, but they were actually fraught with danger. First, Zhang Zhihang was an Earth Emperor Martial Artist; with his current strength, Long Ao was no match for him. Second, if it was something that even Xia Jun couldn't obtain, one could only imagine how difficult it would be to acquire.

"Long Ao, this is your only chance."

"I refuse."

"What? You refuse?" Xia Jun seemed not to have expected a direct refusal. From his perspective, Long Ao should have agreed, as only with his help could he hope to win Ao Xue.

"Long Ao, on what grounds do you refuse? You should know, Zhang Zhihang isn't just the Young Sect Leader of the Golden Sun Sect, he's also an Earth Emperor Martial Artist, and he's ranked third on the Wind and Cloud Ranking! Without my help, you think you can take Ao Xue from him? Do you even believe that yourself?"

"Xia Jun, I won't deny that I must have Ao Xue. But I will rely on my own strength to do it, not the power of others. As for the grudge between you and Zhang Zhihang, and the conflict between the Golden Sun Sect and the Thunder Sect, I have no desire to get involved. That is why I refuse."

"HAHAHA, rely on your own strength?" Hearing Long Ao's words, Xia Jun suddenly burst out laughing as if he had just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world. His face was filled with contempt and disdain, because in his eyes, a mere Thunder Tribulation cultivator was no different from an ant.