War God Long Ao

'It needs to be perfected.'

Sighing deeply, Long Ao knew that the Heaven and Earth Array, as it was now, was simply not powerful enough to kill the strongest Martial Artists.

Still, the fact that the Heaven and Earth Array he had just set up could kill Celestial Venerable Martial Artists was enough to solve his most pressing problem.

"Long Fu, let's start immediately."

"No problem."

Long Fu then told Long Ao the method for setting up the Heaven and Earth Array.

「An hour later.」

When Long Ao returned to the main hall, the four men breathed a collective sigh of relief. They had been worried sick, not knowing what had happened to their Sect Leader or why he had left so abruptly.

"I now have a way to deal with the Imperial City. Inform all disciples of the Ghost Sect, both Inner Sect and Outer Sect, that no one is to take a single step outside the Sect grounds."

Hearing that the Sect Leader had a way to deal with the Imperial City, the four of them were instantly delighted.

"Sect Leader, what is this method that can stop the Imperial City?"

They were keenly aware of the Imperial City's power and the might of a Celestial Venerable. The implication was shocking. 'Does the Sect Leader truly have a way to fend off a Celestial Venerable?'

In their astonishment, they couldn't help but ask.

"The Heaven and Earth Array. Remember, you must not tell any other disciples about this." Then, Long Ao explained the Heaven and Earth Array to the four of them.

After listening to his explanation, the four of them were utterly stunned. Dugu Bai said, "Sect Leader, since we now have such a powerful Array, we should use it to launch a vicious attack on the Imperial City! Hit them once, hit them twice, until they are thoroughly terrified of us."

An Array.

The four of them knew exactly what an Array represented.

Array Masters were among the most powerful beings in existence, but they were exceptionally rare. The four couldn't understand how their Sect Leader had gone out for just an hour and returned with the ability to deploy such a powerful Array.

"I have this under control. Go and make the arrangements. Don't disturb me for the next two days. I need to focus all my efforts on deploying the Heaven and Earth Array."

The four men nodded and filed out of the hall. A moment later, they were all gone.

Long Ao didn't hesitate for a moment. He knew that the Imperial City was already poised to attack the Sect. The only reason they hadn't was that Ghost King Ao Tian was vehemently opposing it. This meant he had a three-day window to prepare.

With the method for the Heaven and Earth Array in hand, Long Ao immediately began setting it up.

The Heaven and Earth Array was not a man-made creation; it was something born from Heaven and Earth itself. According to Long Fu, ever since he had obtained it, the array had never been truly unleashed upon the world. Therefore, even Long Fu was eager to see just how powerful it really was.

The Heaven and Earth Array was founded on the Sun, Moon, and Stars, and supplemented by the Big Dipper and the one hundred and eight stars of the Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends. Once successfully deployed, it would endlessly absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. As long as Heaven and Earth itself existed, the Heaven and Earth Array could not be destroyed.

Furthermore, the foundational components needed to set up the Heaven and Earth Array were things an ordinary person could never hope to acquire. Fortunately, Long Fu possessed all of them, making the setup process relatively smooth.

Not only that, but Long Ao also positioned his powerful Corpse Slaves within the Array. Two days later, the Heaven and Earth Array was finally, albeit barely, complete.

He activated the Heaven and Earth Array for a brief moment. Just sensing its aura filled Long Ao with confidence. However, without anyone to test it against, he still had no idea what its true power level was.

Tomorrow, the Imperial City's army of three hundred would arrive at the Sect. If he couldn't hold them back, not only he, but the entire Sect would be utterly destroyed.

Long Ao didn't dare to be reckless. If the Heaven and Earth Array failed to stop the Imperial City's army, the consequences would be unimaginable. For this very reason, he had already transferred the majority of the Sect's disciples to Long Ao Peak. If he succeeded in repelling the army, the Dragon Sect's name would echo across the world.

Long Ao knew full well that although his Sect's name was now on par with the Ghost King Sect, many people still looked down on them. After all, he had only just established the Dragon Sect, and its shallow foundation and limited strength were plain to see.

Right at that moment, a visitor arrived at the Dragon Sect.

"You're a disciple from the Long Family of Red Dragon City?"

"I am. This is a letter from my Young Master. He hopes that you, Young Master Long Ao, will save him."

Long Ao took the letter and opened it. His expression changed drastically after just a single glance. It seemed that ever since his departure from Red Dragon City, Spirit Beasts from some unknown place had appeared and completely surrounded it.

Over a thousand Spirit Beasts had laid siege to Red Dragon City, including more than a dozen Venerable Spirit Beasts. In the short span of a few months, the city had been attacked dozens of times. If the Long Family hadn't held them off, Red Dragon City would have fallen long ago.

Long Potian's message was simple: he was pleading for him to come to Red Dragon City and save the Long Family.

Long Ao wasn't a fool. He knew that Long Potian wouldn't be asking for help unless it was an absolutely desperate, last-resort situation. But his own circumstances were dire; the Sect was in trouble. If he left now, the Imperial City would surely destroy the Sect.

Caught in a dilemma, he let out a deep sigh.

On one hand was the Dragon Sect, which he had built with his own two hands. On the other was his good friend. It was an incredibly difficult choice.

"Brother Long, is something on your mind?"

"Brother Dugu, a close friend of mine is in trouble and has sent an urgent plea for help. But I can't leave the Sect right now. Let me ask you: faced with the Dragon Sect on one side and a good friend on the other, what should I choose?"

'It's truly difficult, incredibly difficult.'

Dugu Bai knew this was a difficult choice for Long Ao, but he said, "Brother Long, if it were any other matter, I would encourage you to go help your friend. But the Sect is in danger. A friend cannot compare to the entire Sect. Our top priority right now must be to protect the Sect."

Long Ao understood Dugu Bai's meaning: abandon his friend and choose the Sect.

'But can I really choose the Sect?'

Abandon his friend? Long Ao couldn't do it. After a moment of thought, he said, "Brother Dugu, I'm still going to choose my friend. Later, you'll need to evacuate everyone. As for this score with the Imperial City... I'll settle it with them one day."

Dugu Bai knew Long Ao's character all too well. He let out a deep sigh, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Night fell, and a crescent moon hung high in the sky.

Long Ao stood silently at the peak of the mountain, gazing out at the endless void. In the quiet of the night, he made his decision. He would help Long Potian. As for the Sect, as long as its disciples were safe, they would have a chance to rise again one day.

The Heaven and Earth Array had been successfully deployed, and Long Ao couldn't bring himself to destroy it. That was why he planned to deal with the matter in Red Dragon City and then return to resume his Sect's operations. He refused to believe that the Imperial City could truly get the better of them.

Long Ao remained at the peak of the mountain, standing motionless for the entire night. At daybreak, he immediately set off, rushing toward Red Dragon City at his fastest possible speed. He left the Sect's affairs in the hands of Dugu Bai and Xia Jun.