War God Long Ao

"Brother Long, I believe your meteoric rise will not only draw recruitment offers from the Six Great Sects, but it will also draw the attention of Little Tornado."

"Why is that?"

Long Ao seemed a bit surprised. 'Under normal circumstances, shouldn't I be the one challenging Little Tornado?'

"Brother Long, you may not know this, but Little Tornado is an infamous battle maniac. Even though he knows full well that Black Demon's strength far surpasses his own, Little Tornado still refuses to give up. For three whole years, they've fought once a month, never missing a single one."

After hearing Linghu Ning's explanation, Long Ao grew curious about this Little Tornado. 'A battle maniac?'

Long Ao knew very clearly just how vast the gap between the Human King Realm and the Transformation Realm was.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Brother Long, although you've already rejected the invitations from the Flame Sect and the Thunder Sect, the matter isn't that simple."

Worry was written all over Bing Hun's face as they continued, "This time, the Young Sect Leaders of the Flame Sect and the Thunder Sect personally extended their invitations, only to be rejected on the spot. I'm sure neither of them will let this go. So, Brother Long, you must be extra careful from now on."

Of course, Long Ao knew Bing Hun was just concerned for him. He nodded and said with a smile, "I will be. Come, let's drink! We're not leaving until we're drunk tonight!"

Since he'd started his journey, Long Ao knew he didn't have many friends, but he didn't regret it. He believed in quality over quantity. A true friend was someone who would help you in your darkest hour. Could the same be said of fair-weather friends?

That was precisely why Long Ao had always been so cautious about who he befriended.

「Flame City.」

Inside a luxurious restaurant.

The moon hung high in the sky as they drank and sang.

The three of them drank cup after cup, forgetting all their grievances and worries. They drank with abandon for the entire night.

「Ghost King Sect.」

Celestial State was dominated by the Six Great Sects, and the Ghost King Sect was one of them, its strength considered average.

Years ago, Ghost King Ao Tian had been gravely wounded and was saved by chance by the Sect Leader of the Golden Sun Sect. For reasons unknown, Ghost King Ao Tian agreed to the marriage between Zhang Zhihang and Ao Xue.

According to the agreement made back then, Ao Xue and Zhang Zhihang were to be wed in twenty-seven days. However, Ao Xue had one condition: the wedding had to be held at the Ghost King Sect.

Eager to have Ao Xue, Zhang Zhihang agreed without the slightest hesitation. Normally, such a wedding should have been held at the Golden Sun Sect, not the Ghost King Sect.

On the back of Ghost King Peak, beside a small, exceptionally beautiful but secluded lake.

Sitting quietly by the side of the small lake, Ao Xue looked exceptionally beautiful in that moment. She reached out her right hand and gently stirred the water.

'Long Ao, I'm sorry. For the Sect, for my father... I have to do this.'

The Golden Sun Sect's power far surpassed that of the Ghost King Sect. Moreover, the Golden Sun Sect held the marriage contract. If the Ghost King Sect were to break the agreement, how could they save face? The Golden Sun Sect would certainly not let the matter rest.

"Ao Xue, in twenty-seven days, you will be married. Your father is truly reluctant to let you go."

Without even turning her head, her face a mask of bitterness and sorrow, Ao Xue thought, 'As the daughter of the Ghost King Sect's Leader, my status is exalted, but I can't even choose the man I love. Is a position like this really worth it?'

But such was fate; it was beyond mortal power to change.

Masking her bitterness and sorrow, Ao Xue turned and said with a smile, "Father, for this wedding, did you invite the other Four Great Sects?"

Ao Tian nodded, though he too felt a pang of displeasure. But things had already come to this. He could only see the mistake through to the end. 'For the Sect,' he thought, 'even sacrificing my daughter's happiness is worth it.'

"I have invited them all: the Blood Sea Sect, the Wind and Thunder Sect, the Golden Sun Sect, the Flame Sect, and the Thunder Sect. I even sent invitations to the Thunder Empire and the Flame Empire. If nothing unexpected happens, the Sect Leaders of the Four Great Sects will all be in attendance."

To others, having the Sect Leaders of the Four Great Sects and the Emperors of the Two Great Empires attend would make this the most lavish and prestigious wedding in the world, but Ao Xue's heart was simply filled with sorrow.

'If I can't marry the one I love, what good is the grandest wedding in the world?'

"Ao Xue, do you have any other requests? As long as it's within my power, Father will grant them all."

Seeing his daughter in such a state, Ao Tian's heart ached. But when he thought of the Sect, he knew he had no other choice. As the Sect Leader of the Ghost King Sect, he had to prioritize the Sect's interests above all else.

Shaking her head, Ao Xue said, "Father, I have no requests, but there is one thing I must ask of you. In my entire life, I have never asked you for anything."

Sighing deeply to himself once more, Ao Tian said, "Tell me."

"Father, no matter what happens in the future, at any time, the Sect must protect Long Ao. You cannot let anyone harm him. Promise me?"

He had a feeling that something was about to happen, but for the life of him, Ao Tian couldn't put his finger on what was wrong.

Ao Tian nodded without the slightest hesitation. "Ao Xue, Father promises you. No matter when, no matter what happens, I will protect Long Ao's life."

"Father, on the wedding day, you must guard the entrance. Do not let him come."

Of course, Ao Tian knew who "him" was. Without another word, he turned and left, disappearing without a trace in a matter of moments.

Watching his disappearing figure, Ao Xue suddenly muttered to herself, "Father, the debt I owe you, I will repay it in full on my wedding day. But I absolutely cannot marry Zhang Zhihang. In life, I belong to the Long Family; in death, I will be a ghost of the Long Family."

Ao Xue sat back down by the lake, gazing silently at the water, her expression resolute.

'Long Ao, when I'm gone, I hope you won't be sad. From the Netherworld, I will surely watch over you. Farewell.'

The reason Ghost King Ao Tian had agreed to the Golden Sun Sect's proposal was not just because of the marriage contract. More importantly, in his eyes, Long Ao and the Golden Sun Sect were on completely different levels. If Long Ao hadn't been a disciple from the mere Red Fire Town Long Family, but from a Third Level, or even a Second Level Long Family, the outcome today might have been entirely different.

This was a consequence of power. Beyond personal strength, the power of one's family and backing was just as important. At least, in the eyes of most, no matter how great an individual's talent, they could never contend with an entire faction.

Ao Xue understood this point clearly. That was why she had chosen to compromise, but also to take an extreme measure: on her wedding day, she would take her own life. First, this would mean she and Zhang Zhihang were, in a sense, married. Second, as long as she was dead, she would not have to consummate the marriage. Even in the Netherworld, she would still belong to Long Ao.

Neither Long Ao nor Ghost King Ao Tian had any idea what Ao Xue was planning.

The scenery of the Ghost King Sect's Ghost King Peak was as magnificent as ever. But high atop the peak, a proud, solitary woman was waiting quietly.