War God Long Ao

"That's right. Dragon Valley."

Long Potian nodded and said with a deep sigh, "The reason the Long Clan is able to dominate the continent is precisely because of Dragon Valley."

Long Ao didn't know what Long Potian was getting at, so he chose to remain silent.

"Brother Long, no matter how hard our families try, we can never keep pace with the Long Clan. So, if we want to become stronger, we have to enter Dragon Valley and produce more Dragon Martial Artists in our families. Only then will we have a chance to truly rise."

'Enter Dragon Valley?'

"Brother Potian, you should know the Long Clan's rules better than I do. We have no chance of entering Dragon Valley, let alone becoming Dragon Martial Artists."

Nodding, Long Potian was well aware of this, but he still said, "Brother Long, we must cultivate diligently and strive to break through to the Void Realm. When that time comes, we can compete for a spot on the Dragon Ranking. Once we make the list, we'll have a chance to go to Dragon Valley."

'The Dragon Ranking?'

The Dragon Ranking Long Potian mentioned was completely foreign to Long Ao; he had no idea what it was.

"Brother Long, it seems you still don't know much about the Long Clan."

"Yes," Long Ao said with an embarrassed smile. He truly didn't know much about the Long Clan. He only knew it was one of the most powerful forces on the continent, with countless branches and a strict hierarchy divided into nine levels—First Level being the highest and Ninth Level the lowest.

"The Long Clan has a Dragon Ranking. It's the most prestigious ranking for the younger generation of the Long Clan. All the branch families, regardless of their level, can compete for a spot. There are one hundred places in total."

'So that's how it is.'

Long Ao understood clearly. The Dragon Ranking was equivalent to the Hundred Battles Ranking or the Wind and Cloud Ranking, almost identical in nature.

"Brother Potian, with your current strength, what's your rank on the Dragon Ranking?"

"Long Ao, you overestimate me. With my strength, I'm not even qualified to pursue a spot on the Dragon Ranking."

"Huh?"

This time, Long Ao was completely stunned. He never would have imagined that someone with Long Potian's strength wouldn't even be qualified to pursue the Dragon Ranking. What did that imply?

Long Ao was no fool. Of course, he knew exactly what Long Potian's words meant.

"Long Ao, your guess is correct. The Dragon Ranking only has one hundred spots, competitors cannot be over thirty years old, and all the families can compete. You can imagine how difficult it is."

He nodded. If even a Peak Taoist Ancestor wasn't qualified to pursue the Dragon Ranking, Long Potian didn't need to say another word. Long Ao certainly understood that the Dragon Ranking was far more prestigious.

Long Ao understood even more clearly that neither the Hundred Battles Ranking nor the Wind and Cloud Ranking could even be compared to the Dragon Ranking. They simply weren't in the same league.

"The Dragon Ranking is the list that all disciples of the Long Clan dream of pursuing. However, it's very difficult for disciples from families below the Third Level to make the list. Therefore, if a disciple from a family below the Third Level does get on the ranking, they will attract the attention of the Long Clan."

Long Potian didn't continue, but his meaning was already clear. Any disciple from a family below the Third Level who entered the Dragon Ranking would be highly regarded by the Long Clan.

But could a disciple from a family below the Third Level even compete for the Dragon Ranking?

Without even needing to guess, Long Ao could already tell that the Dragon Ranking was a list pursued by families of the Third Level and above. Just based on the status of a Dragon Martial Artist alone, disciples from low-level families had already lost their chance.

Long Ao knew in his heart just how incredibly difficult it would be to pursue the Dragon Ranking.

"Brother Long, the Long Clan has a clear rule: to pursue the Dragon Ranking, one's Cultivation must first break through to the Void Hundred Tribulations Realm. Otherwise, at our current Realm, we aren't even qualified to compete, let alone make the list."

'My heart skipped a beat. That's harsh. No wonder the Long Clan could become one of the most powerful forces on the continent.'

'The Dragon Ranking... if what Long Potian says is true, you can only pursue it after breaking through to the Void Realm. Doesn't that mean that the hundred or so people on the Dragon Ranking are all Void Martial Artists?'

'The Long Clan is too powerful.'

"Long Ao, if we want our families to rise, we have only one chance: the Dragon Ranking. So, right now, the first thing we must do is pursue it. The higher our rank, the more beneficial it will be for us and the families behind us."

"I understand."

He clenched his fists tightly. Just as Long Potian had said, if he wanted to make his family stronger, Dragon Valley and Dragon Martial Artists were the necessary path. And he needed to help his family achieve all of this. After all, he was already a Dragon Martial Artist.

"Long Ao, your current Cultivation has already broken through to Middle Level Earth Emperor. Although your true strength can match a Taoist Ancestor Martial Artist, you are still an Earth Emperor at the end of the day. I have a way to help you break through to Taoist Ancestor in a short period of time. I wonder if you'd be willing to give it a try?"

Delighted, Long Ao didn't even have to think before nodding and agreeing, "Of course I'm willing. What's the method?"

"It's simple. Later, after the Kyushu Wind and Cloud Battle ends, come back to my family with me. I'll arrange for you to enter a certain place. As long as you can do what's required, I believe it will not only help improve your current strength but will also be beneficial for your future Cultivation."

Long Potian clearly didn't want to say what place it was, so Long Ao didn't ask any further.

Since he considered Long Potian a friend, Long Ao naturally chose to trust him. He nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Potian."

"Brother Potian, we still don't know when the Celestial Dog will arrive. Why don't we go compete for Soul Orders first and then come back to deal with the Celestial Dog? What do you think?"

Although he felt a bit reluctant, Long Potian knew the two of them couldn't just keep waiting here idly.

After all, everyone had entered the Red Heaven Realm to participate in the Kyushu Wind and Cloud Battle primarily to compete for ranks and make a name for themselves. If the two of them just waited here, and the Celestial Dog never showed up, wouldn't they leave empty-handed?

Just as Long Potian and Long Ao were preparing to leave, they saw two figures approaching from a distance outside the valley. A man and a woman. The man was tall, and the woman was alluring. The pair leaned on each other as they walked toward the valley.

"Celestial Dog, Demoness."

Hearing Long Potian's words, Long Ao also became vigilant. The two exchanged a glance and immediately shot off to the left, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Not long after the two of them vanished, Celestial Dog and Demoness entered the valley.

"Brother Gou, why do you always come here? It's so annoying."

Hearing Demoness's words from a distance, Long Ao shuddered violently. It was nauseating.

"Long Ao, Demoness is a man."

His eyes flew wide open, his face a mask of disbelief. 'Demoness is a man? At a glance, no matter how I look at her, she doesn't seem like a man at all. She's an extremely alluring and captivating woman. Not a man, not a woman... what in the world is that?'