Chapter 219: Unreconciled
Inside the Spiritual Vein.
Following the trail of Long Fu's aura, Long Ao had unknowingly ventured deep inside the Spiritual Vein.
He was amazed as he looked at the naturally formed tunnels around him. 'This is what you call a Spiritual Vein,' he thought. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi here was a full ten times denser than the outside world. What did that even mean?
In other words, take two Martial Artists with the same talent and strength. If one cultivated outside and the other cultivated inside the Spiritual Vein, the latter's cultivation speed would be ten times faster.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Long Ao finally arrived in a massive cavern.
Before he could even react, his eyes fell upon a massive Spirit Stone on the ground before him. It was milky white and radiated a powerful Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, shining as brightly as the sun.
Overjoyed, Long Ao wished he could take the Spirit Stone with him that very instant.
"Master, your luck is truly incredible. This Spirit Stone has only recently manifested. Otherwise, I'm sure someone would have snatched it up long ago."
Long Ao nodded, but before he could speak, Long Fu continued, "Master, the Dragon Seal was grievously wounded long ago. Its recovery will not be easy, so the Dragon Seal Space requires this Spirit Stone."
"Huh?"
Long Ao was taken aback. It wasn't that he was unwilling to part with the Spirit Stone—after all, he was the master of the Dragon Seal Space. The more powerful the Dragon Seal became, the more he stood to gain.
Long Ao was weighing only one other factor: if this Spirit Stone were placed with the family, his clansmen would surely be able to rapidly increase their strength.
The Dragon Seal Space on one hand, the family on the other.
For a moment, Long Ao was at a loss, unsure of what to choose.
"Master, I understand your dilemma. You could actually split the Spirit Stone in two: one portion for the family, and one for the Dragon Seal Space."
"Excellent idea!" Without a moment's hesitation, Long Ao drew his Blood-Drinking Mad Saber and brought it down hard on the Spirit Stone. But it was completely unharmed. Staring at the unscratched Spirit Stone, Long Ao was utterly stunned.
"Master, allow me."
Long Ao had no idea how Long Fu managed it, but the incredibly hard Spirit Stone split on its own. It divided according to a nine-to-one ratio, with the larger piece being sent into the Dragon Seal Space and the smaller one left for the family.
However, Long Ao ultimately had Long Fu cut another small piece from the larger portion, intending to give it to the Mu Family.
After all, the Mu Family had been the ones to discover this Spiritual Vein. It would seem ungracious not to give them something.
After successfully taking the Spirit Stone, Long Ao had just stepped out of the mountain range when he discovered that the mountains had lost all their Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. In other words, the powerful Spiritual Qi in the mountain range had been entirely due to the Spirit Stone he had just acquired.
"Ao'Er, how did it go?"
Both Mu Che and Mu Tian were extremely anxious. They knew very well what a Spiritual Vein represented. If their family could obtain it, they too would have a chance to turn their fortunes around.
With a smile, Long Ao took a brick-sized Spirit Stone from his robes and handed it to them. "Uncles, this is a Spirit Stone. Remember, use it with caution when you return. The consequences will be dire if outsiders find out."
Long Ao didn't stay any longer, turning and departing swiftly.
Staring at the Spirit Stone in their hands, neither man looked happy or excited. On the contrary, their expressions were grim. Mu Tian said furiously, "Such a massive Spiritual Vein, and he gives us this tiny piece of Spirit Stone? Does he think we're beggars?"
"Second Brother, let it go. The Long Family today isn't what it used to be. If we anger them, life will become very difficult for the Mu Family."
Resentment was written all over Mu Tian's furious face, but he ultimately held his tongue. He knew that Long Ao was like a hidden dragon that had ascended to the heavens; he was no longer that piece of trash from before, but a genius renowned throughout the Celestial State. If they provoked Long Ao, forget what the Long Family might do—the Thunder Sect and the Thunder Royal Family alone would never let the Mu Family off.
Upon returning to the Long Family, Long Ao told his grandfather and maternal grandmother about the Spiritual Vein, keeping it a secret from everyone else.
Per Long Ao's wishes, the existence of the Spirit Stone had to be kept absolutely secret. Therefore, it had to be placed somewhere it couldn't be sensed by others.
"Grandmother, this Spirit Stone business is no small matter. I've already given the smaller stone to my uncles. When you return, you can set up a secret chamber that blocks Spiritual Qi. That way, its existence won't be revealed."
Nodding, Mu Wanfeng naturally understood the gravity of the situation. "I know what to do," she said.
After seeing his grandmother off, Long Ao sought out Long Haoshi and got straight to the point. "Grandpa, this Spirit Stone in my possession needs to be placed somewhere. What do you think we should do?"
Although Long Ao had already reached the Human King Realm, in front of his grandfather, he was still the same obedient child. For this very reason, he always consulted his grandfather first on all family matters.
After a moment of thought, Long Haoshi said, "Ao'Er, if we want to keep outsiders from learning about the Spirit Stone, there's only one way. We must create a new Forbidden Land in the Long Family's rear courtyard and seal it off to prevent any Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi from leaking out. That's the only way this matter won't spread."
"We'll do as you say, Grandpa."
「Thundercloud City.」
Mu Tian didn't return to his family. Instead, he found a luxurious restaurant, ordered a table full of food and three jars of strong liquor, and began drinking by himself.
As the saying goes, "drinking to drown one's sorrows only makes them worse." After just one jar of strong liquor, Mu Tian was already growing tipsy. His words became rambling, filled mostly with resentment and complaints.
'In Mu Tian's opinion, the Mu Family had discovered the Spiritual Vein. Even if they couldn't have it all for themselves, they should have at least gotten half! But now? That bastard Long Ao had only given the Mu Family such a tiny piece. It was an outrageous insult!'
"You're Long Ao's uncle, Mu Tian?"
Seeing the middle-aged man who had suddenly appeared beside him, Mu Tian snorted. "What if I am?" he retorted.
"It's nothing. I just overheard you complaining about Long Ao, and I'm quite interested in hearing more about him."
Ordinarily, Mu Tian wouldn't be foolish enough to speak carelessly. But today, he clearly wasn't himself. Fueled by alcohol, he completely erupted.
"That bastard Long Ao! He thinks he's hot shit just because he has a little power, looks down on everyone! If my Mu Family hadn't found that Spiritual Vein first, would he have gotten it? Hmph! That ungrateful bastard! Giving my Mu Family just a tiny piece of Spirit Stone... Screw him! Does he take the Mu Family for beggars?"
'Spiritual Vein?'
Hearing this, Black Demon's expression changed instantly, a greedy light flashing in his eyes. He knew better than anyone what a Spiritual Vein signified. 'If I could obtain that Spiritual Vein, wouldn't my power soar?'
As the number one master on the Hundred Battles Ranking, Black Demon had heard of Long Ao's exploits and was far from convinced. He also saw an opportunity. It was common knowledge that Long Ao was currently ranked third on the Wind and Cloud Ranking. If he could defeat Long Ao, he would naturally take his place, advancing from first on the Hundred Battles Ranking to third on the Wind and Cloud Ranking.