War God Long Ao

"Brother Linghu, Bing Hun, these two Spirit Balls store the power of the Dragon Lion. If all goes well, they should be able to help you reach the Transformation Realm."

Linghu Ning and Bing Hun were both surprised as they looked at the two Spirit Balls in Long Ao's hands.

Without the slightest hesitation, they each reached out and took a Spirit Ball.

"The Dragon Lion had a vast amount of power. I prepared four Spirit Balls in total, so I plan to give the remaining two to others."

"Brother Long, you are too polite. These two Spirit Balls are more than enough for us. You can do as you wish with the remaining two."

"Brother Long, how do we use the Spirit Balls?"

Long Ao then taught them the method for using the Spirit Balls. He had great confidence in them. According to Long Fu, without the specific activation method, no one could open a Spirit Ball, regardless of their power.

For this very reason, Long Ao had already sent the other Spirit Balls on their way to the Long Family in Red Fire Town.

Long Ao had already considered this. His family's inherent strength was very weak. Even with the Fire Qilin standing guard, it would eventually leave. Once the Fire Qilin was gone, what would happen to the family?

That was why Long Ao had come up with this plan. In the future, he would continuously send Spirit Balls back to the family for everyone to use in their cultivation.

"Brother Long, we should leave this place quickly."

Long Ao nodded. He knew exactly what killing Chai Sheng meant. The three of them then left the ruins, shooting off into the distance.

News of the battle between Long Ao and Chai Sheng spread through Flame City in an instant.

Given their respective strengths, no one believed Long Ao could defeat Chai Sheng. But the final result?

In a matter of seconds, Long Ao had killed Chai Sheng with a single kick. Everyone who heard the news was utterly flabbergasted, refusing to believe it was true.

But a fact was a fact. Whether they were willing to accept it or not, they had to.

Chai Sheng was very famous in the Celestial State. Even the Six Great Sects had been clamoring to recruit him, but he had refused them all.

Ranked third on the Hundred Battles Ranking and a Second Transformation Martial Artist—Chai Sheng's accomplishments spoke for themselves.

This was precisely why everyone found it so hard to believe. How could Long Ao have killed Chai Sheng with a single kick? Had Long Ao already reached the Transformation Realm?

Long Ao, a Transformed Martial Artist?

The news that Long Ao was a Transformed Martial Artist spread through every major family, even reaching the Flame Royal Family. All the powers who heard it were stunned. A genius of this caliber... who in the Mortal World could possibly stand against him?

「Inside the Dragon Seal Space.」

"Long Fu, help me refine Chai Sheng's soul into a Soul Slave."

Although he desperately needed power, Long Ao knew that a Soul Slave at the Second Transformation level would be an incredibly powerful asset. Once created, it could certainly help him fend off his enemies.

Long Fu didn't say much. He simply nodded and said, "Master, the soul energy I refined previously wasn't converted into raw power. I kept it as Soul Power. I will transfer it into your soul shortly."

'A jolt of joy went through him.' Long Ao grew excited, eagerly anticipating the Soul Attack Long Fu had mentioned. 'Once my soul is strong enough, won't I be able to launch surprise attacks and catch my enemies completely off guard?'

「Inside a luxurious restaurant.」

"Brother Long, with your talent, it's only a matter of time before the Six Great Sects extend an olive branch. Have you thought about which Sect you're going to choose?"

The Celestial Martial Continent is divided into Kyushu.

Celestial State is home to the Six Great Sects, which preside over the Mortal World.

Under normal circumstances, the Six Great Sects select suitable candidates from the Mortal World to join them. However, ascension within the Sects is a step-by-step process; the greater your talent and potential, the faster you climb.

However, there is an exception: those with extraordinary talent are recruited directly by the Six Great Sects. Once they join, they are given focused training and resources. The primary targets for such recruitment are those on the Hundred Battles Ranking, especially the top ten.

"Brother Linghu, to be honest with you both, I don't want to join any Sect."

Perhaps it was because of what the Nebula Royal Family had done to him, but Long Ao no longer had any desire to join a Sect or the National Protection Hall.

Bing Hun nodded, his expression turning extremely grave. "Brother Long," he said, "you just killed Chai Sheng. I believe it won't be long before you take his place as third on the Hundred Battles Ranking. With your current status and strength, you can aim for not just the Hundred Battles Ranking, but the Wind and Cloud Ranking as well."

The Wind and Cloud Ranking?

Long Ao was familiar with the Wind and Cloud Ranking. It was a list that ranked above the Hundred Battles Ranking, open to anyone in Celestial State under the age of thirty.

To put it simply, the prestige of the Wind and Cloud Ranking was far beyond that of the Hundred Battles Ranking.

'The Wind and Cloud Ranking…' Long Ao didn't know his exact position on it, but he was certain he had made the list.

'In fact, it was easy enough to figure out. Anyone who made it into the top ten of the Hundred Battles Ranking was usually automatically placed on the Wind and Cloud Ranking. This meant he was now on both lists at the same time.'

Seeing Long Ao's silence, Bing Hun asked curiously, "Brother Long, what's on your mind?"

"Bing Hun, Brother Linghu, I want to ask about the Golden Sun Sect."

"The Golden Sun Sect?"

Although he didn't know why Long Ao was asking about the Golden Sun Sect, Linghu Ning answered, "The Golden Sun Sect is one of the Six Great Sects. Officially, it ranks fourth among them, but after so many years of growth, rumors say its strength and foundation have surpassed the Ghost King Sect, and may even rival the Flame Sect and the Thunder Sect."

The Golden Sun Sect... Long Ao had never imagined its power would be so immense.

"Brother Long, there's something you might not know. The Golden Sun Sect's Young Sect Leader, Zhang Zhihang, is hailed as a supreme genius. Despite his young age, he's already third on the Wind and Cloud Ranking and is an Earth Emperor Martial Artist."

'Zhang Zhihang?'

"Brother Linghu, Bing Hun, wait here for a moment." Paying no mind to their astonished looks, Long Ao turned and swiftly departed, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

With his current strength, Long Ao's speed was like a gust of wind.

「Outside Flame City.」

A young man in fiery red robes stood haughtily atop a large boulder. Seeing Long Ao approaching at high speed, the youth got straight to the point. "My name is Huo Teng, Young Sect Leader of the Flame Sect. I'm here to invite you to join our sect. What is your answer?"

'They're fast.' Long Ao was surprised by the man's identity—Huo Teng, Young Sect Leader of the Flame Sect. 'Although I expected the Flame Sect, and even all Six Great Sects, to try and recruit me, this is a little too quick.'

"My apologies. I'm used to my freedom, so I won't be joining any Sect or power."

A rejection?

Hearing the refusal, Huo Teng's expression instantly soured. As the Young Sect Leader of the Flame Sect, when had anyone ever turned him down so bluntly?

(A major plot arc is coming up, so starting from the 1st of the month, I'll be releasing three chapters a day in a burst release.)