War God Long Ao

Celestial State, on the border between the Flame Sect and the Thunder Sect.

A vast mountain range rose and fell like a coiling Giant Dragon. The entire range was majestic and shrouded in mist all year round.

Before the vast mountain range.

"Brother Long, Ghost Cry Ridge is within the mountain range."

Gazing at the immense mountain range before him, Long Ao felt his spirits lift. The range had an all-devouring presence, like a Giant Dragon with its great maw open wide enough to swallow the heavens and spit out the sun.

The mountain range stretched as far as the eye could see. Long Ao had never imagined that Ghost Cry Ridge would be located within it.

It wasn't just Long Ao; even Xia Army was sighing endlessly. This clearly wasn't his first visit, but every time he came, he couldn't help but feel his heart pound in terror, as if he would be devoured by the mountains.

Taking a deep breath, Xia Army said, "Brother Long, this mountain range is incredibly imposing. Legend has it that a predecessor once stood at its base, gained enlightenment just by gazing upon it, and broke through multiple realms in succession, reaching the Void Realm Emperor Realm in a single leap."

Long Ao nodded. He didn't doubt Xia Army's words in the slightest.

He too had discovered that the mountain range was entirely a work of nature. Beyond its imposing aura, it seemed to be fused as one with Heaven and Earth.

"For hundreds of miles around this entire mountain range, the land is completely desolate."

"Brother Dugu, why is that?"

"Brother Long, there's something you don't know. Deep within the mountains lies a great valley, perennially shrouded in mist. It's filled with resentful energy and yin qi. Every so often, this Yin Sha Qi spreads outward. Anyone enveloped by it is driven to take their own life, without exception."

Hearing this, Long Ao drew in a sharp breath.

He didn't need to experience it firsthand; the mere thought of it was enough to guess just how terrifying the Yin Sha Qi in Ghost Cry Ridge must be.

Long Ao truly couldn't understand why the Six Great Sects would choose such a godforsaken place to hold their so-called Six Sects' Tournament. 'Are they just asking for trouble?'

"Brother Long, one more thing. According to the legends passed down by generations of experts, there is a Forbidden Land within Ghost Cry Ridge. No matter what happens, you must not enter it."

'Forbidden Land?'

"The Forbidden Land in Ghost Cry Ridge is where the mountain's Yin Sha Qi is at its most concentrated. Even a Void Martial Artist would be corroded by the Yin Sha Qi and utterly destroyed if they entered."

He was startled. Long Ao knew exactly what it meant to be a Void Martial Artist. If even they couldn't set foot in the Forbidden Land, one could only imagine how terrifying the place truly was.

"Brother Long, in the past, many Martial Artists from the Six Great Sects entered the Forbidden Land and never returned. That's why other Martial Artists erected a Stone Stele outside of it, inscribed with the words: 'Ghost Cry Ridge Forbidden Land. Trespassers will be put to death.'"

Hearing the gravity in Dugu Bai's voice, Long Ao certainly had no intention of throwing his life away for nothing.

"The Six Sects' Tournament begins tomorrow. Brother Long, Xiaojun, remember this: if we get separated, stay out of the Forbidden Land. We must do everything we can to find each other. Understand?"

Both Long Ao and Xia Army understood the gravity of the situation. They nodded and said in unison, "Brother Dugu, we understand."

For the Six Sects' Tournament, each of the Six Great Sects—the Ghost King Sect, the Blood Sea Sect, the Wind and Thunder Sect, the Golden Sun Sect, the Flame Sect, and the Thunder Sect—was supposed to send ten disciples to participate. However, the number of disciples they actually sent was less than ten.

The Six Great Sects were no fools. This tournament for the Venerable Golden Core was ultimately a battle among masters, a clash of geniuses. Sending more people would just be sending them to their deaths for nothing.

Disciples capable of making it onto the Wind and Cloud Ranking were all prodigious talents, and the Six Great Sects were naturally unwilling to sacrifice them needlessly.

Whether by design or coincidence, each of the Six Great Sects sent only two disciples. This meant a total of twelve people from the sects, plus Long Ao, making for thirteen participants.

It could be said that all thirteen participants were ranked in the top twenty of the Wind and Cloud Ranking—they were the geniuses among geniuses.

「Dusk.」

The disciples and Sect Leaders of the Six Great Sects had all arrived, each group occupying its own territory. The Six Sects' Tournament was set to officially begin at dawn, and all thirteen participants would be doing everything in their power to claim the Venerable Golden Core.

The Venerable Golden Core was currently in Zhang Mo's possession. Having been forced into a corner, he had no choice but to hand it over. Representatives from the Six Great Sects would personally take it into Ghost Cry Ridge and place it at a designated location. Then, the thirteen participants would all contend for it. The first person to emerge from Ghost Cry Ridge holding the Venerable Golden Core would be considered the winner. So long as the Core remained within Ghost Cry Ridge, however, it was still up for grabs.

The Thunder Sect had sent two participants in total: Xia Army and Dugu Bai. As for Long Ao, he didn't belong to any Sect and was participating independently in the tournament.

"Long Ao, I need to have a word with you. What do you say?"

"Du Hexuan, I have nothing to say to you." Long Ao held nothing but contempt for the man. If he were powerful enough, he would have already taken action, not waited until now.

Du Hexuan didn't leave. He just sneered and said, "If you don't want anything to happen to Linghu Ning and Bing Hun, you'll come with me."

At the mention of Linghu Ning and Bing Hun, Long Ao's expression instantly darkened. He knew at once what must have happened. Barring any surprises, Du Yunxuan and Du Hexuan must have captured them.

"Brother Long, what's going on?"

Dugu Bai and Xia Army could naturally tell that something was wrong. They were well aware of the enmity between the Blood Sea Sect and Long Ao, and worry was written all over their faces.

Waving a hand, Long Ao said, "I'll handle this myself."

He was dealing with the Blood Sea Sect, and Long Ao didn't want to drag his friends into it. He followed Du Hexuan with a cold expression, and in no time, they arrived at the Blood Sea Sect's campsite.

"Long Ao, we meet again."

"Guan Feng, where are Linghu Ning and Bing Hun?" Long Ao's expression was thunderous. He knew with absolute certainty that if it weren't for him, they never would have been captured. In the end, he was the one who had endangered his friends.

"Fine. In that case, I'll get straight to the point. When you go into Ghost Cry Ridge, you are to help me obtain the Venerable Golden Core."

"Impossible." Long Ao refused without a moment's hesitation. The whole reason he was entering Ghost Cry Ridge to compete for the Venerable Golden Core was to rescue Ao Xue. How could he possibly give it to the Blood Sea Sect?

"I have Linghu Ning and Bing Hun."

"I will not give you the Venerable Golden Core. But if a single hair on Linghu Ning or Bing Hun's heads is harmed, I will not spare the Blood Sea Sect. We'll see just how many of your people can withstand my assassinations."

Long Ao had the power to back up his arrogance. He had defeated Zhang Zhihang and withstood a blow from Zhang Mo. If he truly turned to assassination, it would be a huge problem, and the Blood Sea Sect would likely suffer devastating losses.

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