War God Long Ao

「Inside the Dragon Seal Space.」

"Long Fu, are you certain?"

Long Fu nodded and said indifferently, "I just sensed it. A thunderstorm is guaranteed within three days at most."

Three days.

Long Ao was overjoyed and growing impatient. No matter how you looked at it, the feud between him and the Third Level Long Family had reached an irreconcilable point. It was a fight to the death.

Long Ao knew full well that if he showed any weakness, he would be the one to suffer in the end.

Mercy toward an enemy was the greatest cruelty to oneself.

After leaving the Dragon Seal Space, Long Ao didn't resume his Cultivation. He knew that the power required to break through from Peak Earth Venerable to Celestial Venerable was an astronomical amount.

Long Ao already had a plan. If he could kill the Great Venerable this time, he would refine the body into pure power and break through to Celestial Venerable in one fell swoop.

In truth, Long Ao was deeply conflicted. If he killed the Great Venerable, should he refine him into a Soul Slave or a Corpse Slave, or should he convert him into power to help his own breakthrough to Celestial Venerable? After weighing his options, Long Ao ultimately decided on the latter: he would refine the Great Venerable for his power.

「Ghost King Sect.」

Huo Fen, the Law Enforcement Celestial Venerable from the Imperial City, arrived for the second time, his expression exceptionally grim.

When Ao Shichong heard Huo Fen had arrived, he hurried out to greet him. But before Ao Shichong could even react, Huo Fen struck him dead with a single palm.

Ao Tian, who had just rushed over, was stunned by the sight. He had no idea what had just happened.

"Senior Huo Fen, this…"

Huo Fen waved his hand dismissively. "More trouble than you're worth," he said coldly. "Three hundred soldiers in the Innate Army and a Law Enforcement Celestial Venerable, and you still couldn't destroy the Dragon Sect. What use are any of you?"

Ao Tian viciously cursed Huo Fen in his heart.

'The failure of the three hundred-strong Innate Army and a Law Enforcement Celestial Venerable to destroy the Dragon Sect is your Imperial City's failure! What does it have to do with the Ghost King Sect?'

But Ao Tian could only seethe with silent rage. After all, Huo Fen had just killed his grandfather with a single palm strike; what chance did he have? It would be a lie to say he wasn't furious, but what good would anger do?

Ao Tian was filled with utter hatred. He had thought the Ghost King Sect could dominate the Celestial State, but he never imagined his grandfather would provoke the Imperial City. Now they were in deep trouble, and the Ghost King Sect had been reduced to a puppet of the Imperial City.

"Ao Tian, what is the current situation with the Third Level Long Family and the Dragon Sect?"

"Senior Huo Fen, I've heard that the Great Venerable and ten Celestial Venerables sent by the Third Level Long Family are all trapped within the Dragon Sect. By my count, a full six days have already passed."

Hearing this, Huo Fen's expression darkened.

"Long Ao and the Dragon Sect dare to openly oppose the Imperial City! If the Third Level Long Family hadn't intervened this time, the Imperial City would have already destroyed Long Ao."

Before Ao Tian could speak, Huo Fen suddenly asked, "I hear that Ao Xue and Long Ao are quite close?"

Ao Tian's heart sank. Ao Xue was his only daughter; of course, he didn't want her involved in this. But it was common knowledge that she and Long Ao were in a romantic relationship. It would be impossible to deny it, even if he wanted to.

"Yes… What do you mean by that, Senior Huo Fen?"

"It's simple. The Great Venerable and ten Celestial Venerables sent by the Third Level Long Family have no chance of destroying the Dragon Sect or killing Long Ao. Therefore, the Imperial City has decided to bring your daughter to the Imperial City and lure him there."

"Senior Huo Fen—"

Cutting Ao Tian off with a wave of his hand, Huo Fen said coldly, "Relax, I won't harm Ao Xue. In fact, if you do well, I can even recommend her to the Young Master. You should know what it would mean for Ao Xue to marry into the Imperial City."

Ao Tian trembled. He knew full well that he was completely powerless. After all, the Imperial City's strength was undeniable.

"Senior Huo Fen, there's one thing I don't understand. With the Imperial City's power, destroying Long Ao and the Dragon Sect should be no problem at all, especially now that you have the Long Family's help."

Ao Tian truly couldn't understand. Initially, the Imperial City had been reluctant to act for fear of the other three major powers, but what about now? The Third Level Long Family had made its stance clear, vowing to destroy Long Ao at any cost. So why was the Imperial City going to all this extra trouble?

"Hmph. That's not for you to ask. Where is Ao Xue?"

「By the lotus pond on the back mountain.」

Ao Xue sat quietly by the lotus pond, her heart filled with worry. She had a general idea of what was happening at the Dragon Sect, and it was only out of deference to her father that she hadn't gone there herself.

In truth, the reason Ao Xue was reluctant to go to the Dragon Sect wasn't that she didn't care about Long Ao. Rather, she was afraid she would be a burden to him. After all, in a battle of that caliber, she was in no position to help.

"Ao Xue."

"Father, you've come."

He nodded. Though his heart ached, Ao Tian knew he had no choice. Huo Fen had just killed his own grandfather, showing complete disregard for the Ghost King Sect.

The Imperial City on one side, the Dragon Sect on the other. What was the right choice?

Without a doubt, Ao Tian would choose the Imperial City over the Dragon Sect. In his eyes, no matter how powerful the Dragon Sect became, it was nothing compared to the Imperial City.

"Ao Xue, this is Senior Huo Fen of the Imperial City."

'The Imperial City?'

Hearing that he was from the Imperial City, Ao Xue's expression instantly turned cold. She was, of course, perfectly clear on the feud between the Imperial City and Long Ao.

"So, you are Ao Xue?"

"I am."

Huo Fen nodded in appreciation. "Excellent, truly excellent. I'm certain the Young Master will be taken with your beauty. Let's go."

"Go where?" Ao Xue was immediately on guard. Sensing something was wrong, she turned to her father and asked, "Is this your doing?"

Sighing deeply, Ao Tian said helplessly, "Ao Xue, it's all right. Senior Huo Fen wishes to invite you to be a guest at the Imperial City. You'll be brought back shortly."

Ao Xue was no fool. She knew exactly what Huo Fen meant: they wanted to capture her to lure Long Ao to the Imperial City. 'How despicable of them!' What she found even harder to believe was that her own father was involved. 'Does this mean... Father betrayed me?'

Ao Xue couldn't believe it; she refused to believe it.

"Father, am I even your daughter?"

"Ao Xue, you're only going to the Imperial City as a guest this time. I promise you, nothing will happen to you."

"Hahaha, you make it sound so pleasant! 'A guest at the Imperial City?' It's just a ploy to lure Long Ao! Let me tell you, I'd rather die than let you use me!"

Before Ao Xue could finish, Huo Fen made his move. Her body went limp and fell into his arms. Huo Fen let out a sinister chuckle and said, "The Young Master adores beautiful women, and we can use you to lure Long Ao. Killing two birds with one stone. Excellent, truly excellent."

"Huo—"

"Enough. I'm leaving now. Spread the word that Ao Xue has been taken to the Imperial City. Remember, you must make sure the news reaches the Dragon Sect."