War God Long Ao

"Senior, you..."

Waving his hand, the Celestial Venerable said indifferently, "I admire your courage and talent. You're right. There is no enmity between us, so I have no need to work for the Third Level Long Family."

Ever since Long Ao began his journey, he had always believed that everyone was selfish. Only now did he finally realize that there were still good people in this world.

"Thank you, Senior."

"Long Ao, let me give you a piece of advice. For now, don't try to leave the Kyushu Spirit Realm. All the Teleportation Arrays of the Four Great Forces have been sealed. No matter where you go, they will find out, and your troubles will only grow."

Long Ao had already guessed the Third Level Long Family would seal their Teleportation Arrays, but he never imagined the other three great forces would do so as well. 'It seems the Third Level Long Family's foundation is truly terrifying,' he thought. 'Even the other three great forces have to give them face.'

"Senior, I have an audacious request. I hope you can help me leave the Kyushu Spirit Realm."

As if he had already guessed Long Ao would say this, the Celestial Venerable nodded. Without another word, he activated the Teleportation Array.

His heart leaped with joy. Long Ao stepped onto the Teleportation Array, and after expressing his gratitude, his entire body vanished. In the blink of an eye, he had returned to the Ordinary Spirit Realm.

Just as he returned to the Dragon Sect, Long Ao received news: the Ghost King Sect was preparing to attack the Dragon Sect in three days.

The one who had sent this message was none other than Ao Tian. The two had formed an alliance, agreeing that one would operate in the open and the other in the shadows. Whenever an opportunity arose, their two families would join forces to deal with the Imperial City.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been impossible.

But both Long Ao and the Ghost King were ambitious men. They had to make the impossible possible.

Both the Ghost King and Long Ao knew one thing very clearly: as long as they eliminated the Imperial City, they could become the new overlords of Kyushu.

Upon learning that his family was safe and sound, Long Ao could finally breathe a true sigh of relief.

「Nightfall.」

A dark moon hung high in the sky, and gusts of Black Wind swirled.

Ao Tian's figure suddenly appeared in the Dragon Sect. Long Ao seemed to have expected him. Inside a pavilion, the two men took their seats.

"Long Ao, I've heard the Four Great Forces have issued a kill order for you. This time, the Imperial City has formed an alliance with the Third Level Long Family to deal with you. According to my sources, if the Imperial City eliminates you, the Third Level Long Family will help them truly take control of the Celestial State."

'So that's how it is.'

Long Ao's expression grew a little solemn. He knew exactly what an alliance between the Third Level Long Family and the Imperial City meant.

"Long Ao, given the current situation, you don't have to clash with them head-on. A gentleman's revenge is never too late."

How could Long Ao not understand the Ghost King's concern?

'But can I really avoid this?'

Without hiding anything, he recounted everything that had happened at the Third Level Long Family. After listening, Ghost King Ao Tian's face was grave. He said, "If that's the case, then it's truly unavoidable. But the combined strength of the Imperial City and the Third Level Long Family is too formidable. The Dragon Sect's power alone is simply not enough to contend with these two forces."

"Uncle Ao, do you have a plan?"

Long Ao knew Ao Tian's personality well. Even with his relationship with Ao Xue, he believed that if he ever lost his value, Ghost King Ao Tian would be the first to abandon him.

Long Ao was certain that if the Ghost King didn't have a plan, he wouldn't have shown up tonight.

Nodding, Ao Tian said, "Long Ao, the Ghost King Sect will attack you shortly. I will do everything I can to draw out the people from the Imperial City. When that happens, you just need to keep striking at the Imperial City's army. I believe the other three great forces will slowly start to intervene."

"Uncle Ao, how many people is the Imperial City sending this time?"

"Not many. A little over three hundred, all Innate Martial Artists, with only one Celestial Venerable among them. I believe that with the Dragon Sect's strength, you can definitely handle it."

Over three hundred Innate Martial Artists and one Celestial Venerable—this was an incredibly powerful force. Long Ao knew that the Ghost King was also testing him this time. If he couldn't even deal with these people, then trying to fight the Imperial City would be almost impossible.

Nodding, Long Ao didn't say much more. After seeing Ao Tian off, he immediately summoned Dugu Bai and Xia Jun, as well as Xia Fang and Hao Chao.

Long Ao explained the situation with the Imperial City planning to attack the Dragon Sect. After hearing him out, the four men's expressions turned grim. Dugu Bai said, "Sect Leader, forgive my bluntness, but with the Sect's current strength, we are no match for the Imperial City. If we choose to clash with them head-on, I'm afraid we'll be signing our own death warrant."

"I know that, but this is a battle we must win."

At that moment, a look of confusion appeared on Long Ao's face. He then said, "Wait for me here."

With that, Long Ao stood up and quickly left, leaving the four men confused about what was happening. They could only remain in the main hall and wait.

「Inside the Dragon Seal Space.」

"Master, based on the Dragon Sect's current strength, it is no match for the Imperial City."

'Is that all?'

Of course, Long Ao knew that with his own and the Dragon Sect's current strength, they were no match for the Imperial City.

"Master, I have a way to resist the Imperial City."

Hearing this, Long Ao's heart leaped with joy. He asked impatiently, "Long Fu, what is it? What's the plan to resist the Imperial City?"

"Master, it's simple. As long as the Dragon Sect can set up a powerful Array, then forget the Imperial City—even if all Four Great Forces arrived together, they wouldn't be able to do anything to the Dragon Sect."

'An Array?'

Hearing this was the solution, Long Ao shrugged helplessly. He already had a general understanding of Array Masters. They were powerful, not only able to kill enemies above their Level, but also to fight one against a hundred. The problem was that Array Masters were exceedingly rare, and powerful ones were even more so—practically one in a million, a talent seen only once in a century. Where was he supposed to find someone like that?

"Long Fu, where am I going to find such a powerful Array Master?"

"Master, although I am not an Array Master and don't know Array Formation, I do know a method. We can borrow the Power of Heaven and Earth to set up a Heaven and Earth Array. Once it's done, the Imperial City won't be able to touch us."

'A Heaven and Earth Array.'

Setting aside the Array's power for a moment, the name alone sounded incredibly domineering. Long Ao was getting impatient, but Long Fu spoke first, "Master, I will teach you the method for the Array Formation shortly. I will gather the Power of Heaven and Earth. I believe two days will be enough to set it up successfully."

"What Level of Martial Artist can the Heaven and Earth Array kill?"

This was Long Ao's greatest concern. After all, the army of three hundred sent by the Imperial City was overseen by a Celestial Venerable. If the array couldn't eliminate a Celestial Venerable, then it would all be for nothing.

Long Fu knew what Long Ao meant. He nodded and said, "As long as the Array Formation is successful, I believe it should be able to kill a Celestial Venerable Level Martial Artist. As for more powerful martial artists, that would require constantly improving the Array in the future. With its current power, it cannot reach that point."