Chapter 324: Severance
Long Yan and Long Mowen seemed to have never expected Long Ao's flat-out denial.
"Long Ao, there's no need to argue. Many people saw you summon a black Giant Dragon. Are you really going to deny it?"
"If you're determined to find me guilty, you'll never lack a charge."
His face filled with contempt, he said mockingly, "The Long Clan is divided into nine levels. I'm just a disciple from the Sixth Level Long Family; a person of low status has no say. Since the Third Level Long Family has already decided on my crime, does it even matter whether I admit it or not?"
"Insolence!"
A shocking momentum suddenly erupted from Long Yan, pressing down directly on Long Ao. CRACK! The pressure nearly forced Long Ao to his knees. He was inwardly stunned. 'What terrifying, majestic momentum.'
Long Ao was almost certain that the Grand Elder before him, Long Yan, possessed a level of power that at the very least surpassed a Celestial Venerable.
'Could he be a Great Venerable? A Realm King? Or even a Realm Emperor?'
Long Yan hadn't expected things to develop to this point either.
According to his original plan, since everyone had already seen it, he would execute Long Ao on the spot the moment he confessed. Even if the Long Clan investigated later, he would have an explanation.
But what now?
Long Ao was actually denying it. This was indeed a bit tricky. If he truly ended up wrongly accusing him, it would become very troublesome later.
Killing Long Ao quietly would have been no problem at all. But now, everyone knew that the Third Level Long Family had summoned Long Ao. It would be impossible for the clan to cover it up even if they wanted to.
'Should I forcibly search his soul?'
'The problem is the 'what if.' What if the search turns up nothing? Wouldn't that be utterly humiliating?'
"I thought the Third Level Long Family was a place of fairness and justice. Now that I've seen it for myself, the reality certainly doesn't live up to the reputation. I'm truly impressed."
Hearing Long Ao's sardonic tone, Long Yan's expression darkened to its absolute limit.
With a cold snort, Long Yan said angrily, "Hmph. As the Law Enforcement Elder of the Third Level Long Family, I have always handled matters impartially and never wronged an innocent person. You beast! You are clearly a Dragon Martial Artist, yet not only do you refuse to admit your mistake, you refuse to admit the fact itself! It seems you have no respect for my Long Clan whatsoever!"
"Hahaha! Is this what you call handling things impartially? What a fine 'impartial' process! What a fine Law Enforcement Elder! If you can produce evidence, you won't have to do a thing—I will end my own life right here. But if you want to frame me, then I'm sorry, but I won't accept it even in death."
Long Ao was no fool. He knew the other party wasn't completely certain; otherwise, he would have been killed on sight the moment he entered the Long Family's main hall, not given a chance to say so much nonsense.
Long Ao understood even more clearly that he could not show the slightest sign of backing down. If he did, death was certain.
By now, the area outside the main hall was crowded with people. Everyone wanted to see just how powerful this disciple from an Ordinary Spirit Realm was, and if he was really a Dragon Martial Artist.
The Long Clan.
Although disciples of the Third Level Long Family and above could enter Dragon Valley to obtain a Dragon Companion and become a Dragon Martial Artist, not everyone could succeed. With odds of one in a thousand, or even one in ten thousand, one could only imagine how difficult it was to become a Dragon Martial Artist.
"This guy is seriously bold, daring to talk back to the Grand Elder. He must have a death wish."
"There's something you all don't know. I've already looked into it. This kid is named Long Ao. He originally came from a tiny Ninth Level Long Family. For some reason, he couldn't condense his Inner Strength at first and became known as a piece of trash. After persisting for ten years, his efforts finally paid off, and he staged a complete comeback."
The speaker was very excited, as if he were Long Ao himself.
"Four months ago, this kid single-handedly slaughtered the entire Blood Sea Sect. It's said that he not only killed ten Venerables but also instantly killed three Supreme Venerables and even withstood an Earth Venerable Powerhouse."
"For real?"
It seemed few could believe the stories about Long Ao; after all, they were just too heaven-defying.
"It's true. In the end, Long Ao slaughtered the Five Great Sects. Perhaps the Slaughter was too immense. After being Devoured by it, he became a tool of carnage and was ultimately cast into the Blood Pool."
"If that's the case, then why is this kid standing here?"
"Who the hell knows. All I know is that a month later, this kid suddenly underwent Rebirth, withstood the Hundred Tribulations, and upon successfully completing his Tribulation Crossing, attained the rank of Void Venerable."
'A Void Venerable?'
Although everyone found it hard to believe the stories about Long Ao, his power couldn't be faked. If he truly was a Void Venerable, then given his age and such talent, he would be a top-tier existence not just in a Low Level Long Family, but even within the Third Level Long Family.
But status was status. That was something that couldn't be changed.
It was like two people with vastly different talent levels. The one with poor talent born into the Long Clan and the one with great talent born into an ordinary family would have completely different outcomes. Sometimes, your birth determined your achievements.
"Regardless of how arrogant this kid is or whether he's a Dragon Martial Artist, just treating an Elder like this is a capital offense."
The Long Clan was divided into nine major Levels. From lowest to highest, they were the Ninth Level Long Family, Eighth Level Long Family, Seventh Level Long Family, Sixth Level Long Family, Fifth Level Long Family, Fourth Level Long Family, Third Level Long Family, Second Level Long Family, and First Level Long Family.
Long Ao was merely a disciple of the Sixth Level Long Family, but Long Yan was the Law Enforcement Elder of the Third Level Long Family. Power aside, just based on status alone, the two of them were not in the same league.
"Long Ao, according to the rules of the Long Clan, anyone who secretly becomes a Dragon Martial Artist will, at best, have their Cultivation crippled. At worst, they will be executed without question."
Long Yan showed not a trace of pity, as if the person before him were already a dead man.
"Originally, if you had just obediently confessed, I would have merely crippled your Cultivation, considering you are at least a notable figure. But now, even if I can't execute you on the spot, you must sever your own arms and cripple your Cultivation. Otherwise, there will be no mercy."
'How vicious.'
Cursing viciously in his heart, Long Ao knew very well that Long Yan had no concrete evidence to convict him. However, things had already reached this point. If he were to just walk away smoothly, where would Long Yan's reputation be? Where would the Long Family's reputation be?
Long Ao could easily imagine that if he really severed his own arms and had his power crippled, even if he managed to leave the Kyushu Spirit Realm and return to the Ordinary Spirit Realm, it would still be a dead end.
Setting aside everyone else, the Imperial City alone wouldn't let him go.
'Power. A sect's power.'
Long Ao could clearly sense that his passive position today was entirely because his own fists weren't strong enough and his sect's power wasn't formidable enough. Otherwise, would the Third Level Long Family dare to act this way?
"Hmph. Long Ao, even if you don't admit to being a Dragon Martial Artist, you secretly established a Sect and named it the Dragon Sect. On this point alone, I can sever your arms and cripple your Cultivation. Even if the Long Clan finds out, I trust they won't blame me. This is all a result of your own arrogance and conceit; you have no one to blame but yourself. If you know what's good for you, you'll obediently accept this. Otherwise..."