War God Long Ao

'Accept the Old Ancestor's inheritance?'

Although he still didn't know the exact extent of the Old Ancestor's power, Long Ao was certain that he must have been incredibly strong. Otherwise, the Long Clan wouldn't have made a move.

But Long Ao didn't agree.

"Grandpa, I can't accept it."

"Why? Ao'Er, you have to understand. If you can receive the Old Ancestor's inheritance, I'm sure your Cultivation will break through to a higher Realm in a short time. When you eventually go to the Third Level Long Family, you'll have a better chance of success."

Shaking his head, no matter what Long Haoshi said, Long Ao remained unwilling to agree.

How could Long Ao not understand his grandfather's worries? He had already thought it through. 'Even if I get the inheritance and my Cultivation soars, what good will it do?'

The place he was heading to this time was, after all, the Third Level Long Family—one of the Four Great Dominators of Kyushu. According to the Long Clan's rules, any disciple from a lower-level family who became a Dragon Martial Artist would be killed on sight.

That was precisely why Long Ao had to have a backup plan.

'If something happens to me at the Third Level Long Family, what will become of our family?'

Long Ao thought for a moment, then said, "Grandpa, let's be realistic. The family can't rely on me alone. If something happens to me, is the family supposed to perish along with me? That's obviously not a viable plan."

Long Haoshi said nothing, for he knew it wasn't a sustainable solution either.

But Long Haoshi was truly worried about his grandson. If he inherited the Old Ancestor's legacy and his strength grew substantially, it shouldn't be too difficult for Ao'Er to protect his own life.

But just as Ao'Er had said, if something were to happen to him, what would become of the family?

"Ao'Er, what are you suggesting?"

"Grandpa, it's simple. This opportunity can't be for me. It should go to my older brother."

"Ying'Er?"

"That's right. Big Brother's talent is excellent, and he has now broken through to the Evolution Realm. If he can obtain the Old Ancestor's inheritance, I'm confident he'll become a peerless master in the future. And if something were to happen to me, the family would at least have him to look after it. I could set my mind at ease."

Long Ao knew perfectly well that his older brother, Long Ying, was truly talented. It was just that Long Ao's own accomplishments had overshadowed him recently, causing everyone in the Long Family to only recognize him and forget about his brother.

Long Ao had already devised a foolproof plan. If he could build his older brother into a peerless master, then even if something happened to him in the future, the family would have someone to look after it and wouldn't fall into decline. The more he thought about it, the more he was sure his brother was the most suitable candidate.

Long Haoshi seemed about to say something, but Long Ao spoke first, "Grandpa, this is decided. I'll go get Big Brother now."

Watching his grandson leave, Long Haoshi sighed helplessly.

Turning around, Long Haoshi slowly knelt and muttered to himself, "Our Long Family has faced one setback after another, never able to rise up. I pray the Old Ancestor blesses us."

"Long Haoshi, what Ao'Er just said is correct. My inheritance must be given to someone else. Although Ao'Er's talent is great, his personality is identical to mine—too sharp and conspicuous. It's still unknown how far he can go in the future. The family cannot rely on him alone."

He nodded. Although he was still worried, since the Old Ancestor had spoken, Long Haoshi couldn't say much more.

Before long, Long Ying entered the ancestral hall.

"Grandpa."

"Ying'Er, there is something I must tell you."

Outside the ancestral hall, Long Ao breathed a sigh of relief. With his older brother accepting the Old Ancestor's inheritance, he was confident that once his brother's power matured, he would be able to protect the family. Now, Long Ao could head to the Third Level Long Family with his mind at ease.

「Long Ao Peak, the Forbidden Land on the back mountain.」

"Kid, you're really something. You slaughtered the Blood Sea Sect and lived to tell the tale."

Shrugging, Long Ao offered his sincere thanks. "Brother Qilin, thank you for your help this time. I couldn't have achieved victory without you."

"Kid, you may have successfully slaughtered the Blood Sea Sect, but now the Four Great Dominators have appeared. With your strength alone…"

Although the Fire Qilin didn't finish his sentence, his meaning was clear: Long Ao was nothing before the Four Great Dominators.

Long Ao wasn't bothered by this. The power of the Four Great Dominators was plain to see. Even a sect like the Ghost King Sect had to ally itself with the Imperial City. One could only imagine how terrifying the Four Great Dominators truly were.

"Long Ao, do you know of the Eight Realms of Void?"

Nodding, Long Ao was of course familiar with the Eight Realms of Void. He said, "The Eight Realms of Void are the Void Hundred Tribulations Realm, the Venerable Void Realm, the Void Venerable Realm, the Void Earth Venerable Realm, the Void Celestial Venerable Realm, the Void Great Venerable Realm, the Void Realm King Realm, and the Void Realm Emperor Realm."

Although Long Ao didn't know why the Fire Qilin had suddenly brought up this topic, he still recited the Eight Realms of Void one by one.

"Kid, you've just broken through to the Void Venerable Realm. You still have a long way to go to reach the Peak of Void. If you want to challenge the position of the Four Great Dominators, you must first break through all the way to the top and achieve the rank of Void Realm Emperor."

The rank of Realm Emperor.

It sounded simple, but in reality, it was incredibly difficult.

Long Ao knew, of course, that if he could truly achieve the rank of Void Realm Emperor, even the Four Great Dominators would have to give way to him. 'Could it be that the Four Great Dominators have a Realm Emperor among their ranks?'

"Brother Qilin."

"Don't ask me; I don't know. However, I did witness the battle between the Four Great Dominators back then with my own eyes. I never expected them to have all recovered in just a few short years. If nothing unexpected happens, they're about to start fighting for supremacy over Kyushu all over again."

Long Ao had thought of this as well. Otherwise, the Imperial City and the Third Level Long Family wouldn't have appeared for no reason. The Imperial City had even used an Imperial City Order to dispatch a Law Enforcement Celestial Venerable to annihilate the Blood Sea Sect, allowing the Ghost King Sect to take over the Celestial State.

With the Imperial City backing the Ghost King Sect, there was no doubt the other three great dominators—the West Third Level Long Family, the Southern Netherworld Mansion, and the North Piaomiao Palace—would not let the matter rest. They would surely fight to reclaim their positions as dominators of the Celestial State.

Long Ao could easily imagine that in the near future, the Celestial State would become the first battlefield for the Four Great Dominators. When that time came, widespread devastation and a storm of blood would be inevitable.

"So, kid, have you made a decision?"

Nodding, Long Ao's expression was resolute as he said, "Relying on the family alone comes with too many restrictions. As long as we are just 'the Long Clan,' we'll never be able to rise up. That's why I must establish my own power and use this coming war to carve out a place for myself."

Long Ao had made his decision. He would establish a power outside of his family. This way, without the restrictions of being part of the Long Clan, he could rise up in these chaotic times. Long Ao knew full well that sometimes, an individual's strength was not enough. Only by establishing his own faction could he truly gain a firm foothold in Kyushu.

A faction. The most urgent task now was to establish a faction of his own.