War God Long Ao

A Void Earth Venerable.

The Martial Artists present, of course, knew what a Void Earth Venerable signified.

A Void Earth Venerable was a supreme existence that stood above even Supreme Venerables. Their signature power was the ability to briefly walk on air.

In other words, if a Martial Artist could walk on air, it meant their strength was, at the very least, that of a Void Earth Venerable.

The greatest difference between a Supreme Venerable and a Void Earth Venerable was flight. It was like one was in the sky and the other on the ground. How could the one on the ground possibly defeat the one in the sky? The answer was obvious.

"Greetings, Old Ancestor."

Seeing the sudden appearance of their Old Ancestor, both Guan Tong and Ma Ying's faces lit up with joy as they bowed respectfully.

The Old Ancestor, Guan Hang?

Others might not have known of this man, but how could Ao Tian, Huo Shi, and the others not? Guan Hang had been hailed as the most outstanding talent of the Blood Sea Sect in a century, but he had mysteriously vanished ten years ago. It was even rumored that Guan Hang had Fallen.

But now, it seemed Guan Hang had not Fallen ten years ago. Instead, he had chosen to enter seclusion for Cultivation, advancing to become an Earth Venerable Martial Artist.

The Earth Venerable Realm was divided into three major Levels: First Level Earth Venerable, Second Level Earth Venerable, and Third Level Earth Venerable.

As for what Level of Earth Venerable Guan Hang was, no one could tell.

"Brother Dugu, this..."

Waving a hand, Dugu Bai's expression turned grim to the extreme. He had never imagined that the Blood Sea Sect actually had a Void Earth Venerable among their ranks.

Both Dugu Bai and the Xia Army understood perfectly well what a Void Earth Venerable meant. With a Void Earth Venerable overseeing the Sect, what did the loss of ten Venerables and one Supreme Venerable matter?

A single Earth Venerable was enough to stand against a hundred Venerables, even a hundred Supreme Venerables.

Such was the intimidating power of a Void Earth Venerable.

"We can't help Brother Long anymore. We can only leave it to fate."

Dugu Bai sighed deeply in his heart. 'As a friend, I've already done everything I could. If Long Ao had just known when to stop, things wouldn't have reached this point.'

'Even when Long Ao killed ten Venerables, this supreme expert didn't appear. But now, a Supreme Venerable is dead—and he was the Sect Leader of the Blood Sea Sect. Anyone could imagine how the Void Earth Venerable would react.'

Ao Tian cursed Long Ao viciously in his mind. 'Why the hell did you have to go and kill Guan Feng for no reason? Look what you've done now—provoked a supreme expert! Forget a minor figure like Long Ao; not even the entire Ghost King Sect would be a match for Guan Hang.'

"To kill ten Venerables and one Supreme Venerable of my Blood Sea Sect all by yourself... Long Ao, you can be considered the first in history to do so."

No one had the slightest doubt about Guan Hang's assessment. Long Ao's achievement was truly unparalleled. After this battle, regardless of whether Long Ao managed to leave the Blood Sea Sect alive, his name would surely shake all of Kyushu.

"Nonsense."

Nonsense? Did Long Ao just call a Void Earth Venerable's words nonsense?

Everyone thought they had misheard. Long Ao was far too arrogant, showing no regard for even a Void Earth Venerable. But since things had already come to this, everyone was eager to see what would happen next.

Guan Hang chuckled, then turned around, his expression instantly darkening. He muttered, "You two good-for-nothings, letting an idiot run rampant here."

Neither Guan Tong nor Ma Ying dared to speak. They just stood there quietly, not even daring to look up. Both knew their Old Ancestor had a terrible temper. If he said he'd kill them, he'd kill them, and if they were really killed, who could they complain to?

"Ghost King, my Blood Sea Sect will withdraw from the struggle for hegemony over the Celestial State. When you go back, send my regards to your grandfather."

"Understood."

Before a Void Earth Venerable, even someone like Ao Tian dared not act presumptuously. And yet, the Ghost King was unafraid, because it wasn't just the Blood Sea Sect that had a Void Earth Venerable overseeing it—the Ghost King Sect had one as well.

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

No one present was a fool; they all understood the meaning behind Guan Hang's words.

The Blood Sea Sect and the Ghost King Sect both had a Void Earth Venerable?

The other Four Great Sects knew that the power of the Blood Sea Sect and the Ghost King Sect was far beyond what they could contend with. After all, the strength of a Void Earth Venerable was plain to see. At that moment, the other Four Great Sects completely gave up hope. With the Blood Sea Sect withdrawing from the competition, it was now without a doubt that the Ghost King Sect would be the hegemon of the Celestial State.

With a Void Earth Venerable in its ranks, the Ghost King Sect's position would be unshakeable, unless a power from the other eight states intervened.

But Ghost King Ao Tian felt no joy. There were two reasons. First, with Guan Hang's appearance, Long Ao was undoubtedly doomed—there was no question about it. Second, the fact that the Blood Sea Sect had a Void Earth Venerable of its own would always be a threat to the Ghost King Sect.

Ao Tian was a classic opportunist. When Long Ao was useful to him, he would do his utmost to protect him. If Long Ao was of no use, he would want him dead at every turn.

"Senior, Long Ao is my son-in-law. Regarding today's events, I hope Senior will give the Ghost King Sect some face."

"No."

Without a moment's hesitation, Guan Hang refused. 'What a joke. Long Ao caused a huge ruckus in the Blood Sea Sect, not only killing ten of our Venerables, but a Supreme Venerable as well. If I just let Long Ao leave peacefully, what would become of the Blood Sea Sect's prestige? How could I face the Sect's ancestors?'

Though he seemed to have expected this, Ao Tian still sighed deeply.

"Ao Tian, I am already giving the Ghost King Sect a great deal of face. Don't push your luck. Otherwise, if my Blood Sea Sect were to vie for control of the Celestial State, it wouldn't be so easy for your Ghost King Sect to become the hegemon."

"Brother Guan, why be so angry? Long Ao is just a child who made a mistake in a moment of impulse."

Just then, a loud laugh echoed from the distance. In the blink of an eye, an old man in black robes appeared before the crowd. He bore a certain resemblance to Ao Tian and Ao Xue.

Seeing the old man, Ao Tian's face lit up. He bowed respectfully and said, "Grandfather."

Waving his hand, Ao Shichong smiled. He looked at Guan Hang and said, "Brother Guan, we haven't seen each other in ten years. You've truly advanced to the Earth Venerable Realm. Congratulations."

"Hmph. Ao Shichong, spare me the pleasantries. You are already a Second Level Earth Venerable. The title of number one in the Celestial State belongs to you and you alone."

"Hahaha, Brother Guan, others may not know, but surely you do. The Celestial State may seem simple, but it's a land of crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Forget Earth Venerables; there are at least twelve known Celestial Venerables. It's just that these seniors are usually as elusive as a Divine Dragon showing its head but hiding its tail."

Celestial Venerables.

Guan Hang knew that for a supreme existence of that caliber, he could only imagine. 'Wanting to even meet one is easier said than done.'

Another Earth Venerable?

Looking at the old man who had just appeared, everyone knew clearly in their hearts that this was the Ghost King Sect's Earth Venerable. And from Guan Hang's words, it seemed this Earth Venerable had already reached the Second Level Earth Venerable Realm.