War God Long Ao

"Long Potian!"

Everyone exclaimed. As they watched Long Potian descend from the Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladder, they all realized who had reached the Celestial Ladder Peak.

'Long Potian?'

Long Bu was stunned. 'Long Potian has already entered the Red Heaven Realm to participate in the Kyushu Wind and Cloud Tournament. Why would he suddenly appear here?'

It wasn't just Long Bu; everyone else was baffled. After all, as the number one expert on the Chizhou Wind and Cloud Ranking, Long Potian was certain to participate in the Kyushu Wind and Cloud Tournament.

'Could this person not be Long Potian?'

"Are you Long Potian?"

Long Potian had just failed his own attempt at the climb when he saw the celestial phenomenon. Shocked, he instantly guessed who had truly reached the Celestial Ladder Peak.

'They're asking me if I'm Long Potian?' Feeling exasperated, he replied helplessly, "I am."

Long Potian was no fool. He couldn't let anyone here find out about Long Ao. If the truth got out, Long Ao would be in grave danger. The simple fact that he wasn't a disciple of the Nine Great Clans was reason enough to have him killed.

"Potian, is it really you?"

Though exasperated, Long Potian nodded. "Father, don't you even recognize your own son?"

"It really is you? Good, good, very good."

Saying "good" three times in a row showed just how excited Long Bu was at this moment.

After all, in over a thousand years, no one from the Nine Great Clans had ever reached the top of the Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladder. And now, the one person to finally achieve it was his own son. How could Long Bu not be ecstatic?

Looking at his father's ecstatic face, Long Potian felt a pang of guilt. But for Long Ao's safety, he had no other choice. He had to go through with it.

The members of the other Eight Great Clans were practically dying of envy for the Long Family.

"Potian, from now on, you are to immediately enter secluded Cultivation. Strive to break through to the Void Realm as soon as possible so you can contend for a spot on the Dragon Ranking."

The Dragon Ranking.

Never mind Long Bu; everyone else also knew what the Dragon Ranking signified. As the most prestigious list within the Long Clan, if Long Potian managed to get on it, not only his own status, but that of the entire Long Family would instantly soar.

With Long Potian having summited the Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladder, the Long Family's prestige among the Nine Great Clans had already risen significantly.

After offering their congratulations, the Eight Great Clans departed one by one with resignation. They had no desire to provoke the Long Family anyway. At worst, they would just continue to mind their own business from now on.

"Potian, come back to the clan with me."

Long Bu seemed rather impatient at this moment, but Long Potian shook his head and said, "Father, I have a friend who hasn't come out yet. I want to wait here for him."

"A friend?"

Hearing his son's words, Long Bu seemed very surprised. However, he was in a good mood and didn't press the issue. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, if anyone dared to bring an outsider into Celestial Heaven, not even his own son would be excused.

Luckily, the Eight Great Clans weren't here, or it would have been another troublesome affair.

Long Bu was no fool. He certainly knew that for his son to bring an outsider into Celestial Heaven, all nine Supreme Venerables must have been aware of it. Otherwise, his son could not have accomplished it on his own.

His son had performed a great service, so Long Bu was very happy. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll wait with you."

Long Potian gave a helpless shrug and said no more. Inwardly, however, he was ecstatic. He had never imagined that Long Ao could reach the peak of the Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladder in such a short time.

The celestial phenomenon had already vanished. Since the Nine Great Clans discovered Celestial Heaven over a thousand years ago, no one had ever truly reached the peak of the Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladder. In that sense, Long Ao could be hailed as the greatest prodigy in a millennium.

Long Potian knew with perfect clarity that Long Ao's talent was so great that, forget his own minor branch family, even within the entire Long Clan, he would probably be considered the most powerful existence.

Long Potian could easily imagine what would happen if the news that Long Ao had reached the peak of the Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladder got out to Chizhou, or even the Long Clan.

There would be two outcomes. First, they would assassinate Long Ao to prevent him from ever becoming a threat. Second, they would try to recruit him—and if he refused, they would kill him without hesitation.

Therefore, Long Potian had already decided. No matter what, the fact that Long Ao had reached the peak of the Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladder could not be revealed. Not even his own father could be allowed to know the truth.

「At the peak of the Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladder, also known as Celestial Heaven.」

Long Ao stood above the sea of clouds, looking down upon the vast, boundless earth, and his state of mind began to slowly change.

"Young man, first, congratulations on reaching the peak of the Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladder. I don't believe I know your name."

Looking at the giant face that had suddenly appeared before him, Long Ao was completely stunned and exclaimed, "Are you a man or a ghost?"

Before Long Ao's very eyes, the clouds had slowly coalesced into a giant face. He could clearly see the man's features, yet they seemed simultaneously indistinct, creating a hazy, dreamlike impression.

"I am a man, of course. You still haven't answered my question."

'A man?'

'Can a man appear like this?'

Long Ao was completely dumbfounded, but his reason suppressed his terror. He took a deep breath and said, "I am Long Ao, a disciple of the Red Fire Town Long Family. May I ask who you are?"

"A descendant of the Long Clan?"

The giant face seemed slightly surprised but quickly regained its composure. "My name is Ye Dugu," it said. "I'd like to befriend you, if you're willing."

'Only an idiot would refuse.' Long Ao didn't even need to use his senses to know that the giant face before him belonged to a supreme expert. This was the most powerful Martial Artist he had ever encountered, even stronger than the Fire Qilin. Anyone who wasn't out of their mind would jump at the chance to befriend such a powerhouse.

"Of course, I'm willing."

"Hahaha, good. From this day forward, we are friends. I have some matters to attend to this time, so my true self cannot appear. When you come here in the future, I will host you properly."

"Where can I find you?"

"Long Ao, your current strength is too weak. Remember this: if you want to fly higher, you must raise your strength as quickly as possible. I look forward to the day you have grown."

'He's not going to tell me?'

Since the other party was unwilling to say, Long Ao didn't ask any further.

"Long Ao, there are a total of ninety-nine Ninety-Nine-Heaven Celestial Ladders like the one you climbed, scattered across the continent. From ancient times to the present, while you are not the first person to reach the peak, you are the first to trigger such a Heaven and Earth phenomenon. Ninety-nine types of rainbows appearing at once... interesting, very interesting. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now. Remember, if you want to see farther, you must fly higher."

As his voice slowly faded away, the giant face gradually dissolved back into the clouds and vanished.

Long Ao stood quietly, mulling over what the giant face had said. 'Ninety-nine Celestial Heavens... and his true self wasn't even here. How did Ye Dugu do that?'