War God Long Ao

"Ao'Er, for what reason have you brought your grandfather to see me this time?"

Long Ao smiled. "Ancestor, I have an audacious request. I hope that you will grant it."

"You wish to pass the Divine Dao Inheritance to your grandfather?"

Nodding, Long Ao didn't beat around the bush. "Ancestor, since things have come to this, I'll be blunt."

Long Haoshi didn't dare to interrupt. After all, the ethereal figure before him was the clan's Ancestor. Never mind him, even his deceased father and grandfather wouldn't have dared to raise their voices in the Ancestor's presence.

"Ancestor, given my grandfather's current strength and the old injuries he sustained, I believe he won't live for more than ten years."

At these words, Long Haoshi's body trembled violently. He let out a deep sigh. What Ao'Er said was true; he would be dead in ten years at most.

"It is for this very reason that I hope you, Ancestor, can bestow the Divine Dao Inheritance upon my grandfather. Your disciple, Long Ao, would be eternally grateful."

"Ao'Er."

Looking at Ao'Er beside him, Long Haoshi was so emotional he couldn't speak. With a grandson like this, he could die without regrets.

Long Batian neither agreed nor refused. Looking at the pair not far away, he suddenly asked, "Ao'Er, let me ask you this. If you had the chance to go to the Long Clan in the future, and they were prepared to invest heavily in nurturing you, what would you do?"

'What is the Ancestor getting at?' Long Ao had no idea.

But Long Ao had already made up his mind. He answered truthfully, "Ancestor, I've learned a little about the Long Clan. To be perfectly honest, I have no fondness for them. Therefore, I will never join the Long Clan, no matter the circumstances."

"And then?"

"I will lead our family to take up residence in Dragon Valley, drive out the Long Clan, and make our family the new Long Clan."

Long Haoshi was stunned to hear this. Although he had always believed in his grandson, this was... taking over Dragon Valley, driving out the Long Clan, and making their own family the new Long Clan? 'Could he dare to believe such a thing was possible?'

Long Haoshi didn't believe it, but Long Batian did.

"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good!"

Long Batian said the word "good" three times, his face filled with admiration. "Ao'Er, I believe you. Now, let me ask you, has the little guy already obtained the Divine Dragon Pearl?"

'Little guy?'

'Who is this "little guy"?'

Long Haoshi was extremely curious. He had no idea what riddle the Ancestor and Ao'Er were speaking in and had no clue who this "little guy" was.

But still, Long Haoshi dared not ask.

Regarding the Ancestor bringing up the little guy, Long Ao did not feel the slightest surprise. He nodded, without any concealment, and said, "Ancestor, you are correct. The little guy has obtained the Divine Dragon Pearl, and will one day certainly become the Dragon God of the Dragon Race."

Greatly excited, Long Batian laughed and said, "It's truly unbelievable. The supreme treasure of the Dragon Race has been lost for so many years, yet you, Ao'Er, have obtained it. If the Dragon Race were to find out, I can't imagine what would happen."

Long Ao swallowed hard. He could all too easily imagine what the Dragon Race would do if they discovered the little guy possessed the Divine Dragon Pearl.

'This is no joke.' The Divine Dragon Pearl was the supreme treasure of the Dragon Race and a symbol of the Dragon God's status. According to the Ancestor, the Divine Dragon Pearl had been missing for many years; the Dragon Race must still be searching for it.

"Ao'Er, can you take out the Divine Dragon Pearl and let me have a look?"

Nodding, Long Ao had no reason to be wary of the Ancestor. He took the Divine Dragon Pearl from the little guy and handed it over.

"That's right, it is indeed the Dragon Race's Divine Dragon Pearl. Once the little guy's power increases, and he completes the Refinement of the Divine Dragon Pearl and successfully achieves Fusion, he can become the new Dragon God."

Even though he already knew this, Long Ao couldn't help but feel a surge of joy upon hearing those words.

"Ao'Er, remember, the matter of the Divine Dragon Pearl must not be leaked under any circumstances, not unless the little guy has truly achieved Fusion with the Divine Dragon Pearl and become the new Dragon God. Understand?"

"Ancestor, I will remember."

Long Ao knew full well why the Ancestor was worried.

'After all, the Divine Dragon Pearl is the supreme treasure of the Dragon Race. They've been searching for so many years, they must be going mad. Anyone who obtains the Divine Dragon Pearl is guaranteed a massive surge in power. If a Giant Dragon got it, it could achieve Fusion and become the new Dragon God. Would the Dragon Race ever allow that to happen?'

Taking back the Divine Dragon Pearl the Ancestor returned, Long Ao asked again, "Ancestor, what is your decision?"

"I can agree, but the inheritance cannot be passed on right now. In three months at most, your grandfather can formally receive the inheritance. If there are no accidents, in three years, the family will have another Divine Dao Martial Artist."

"Thank you, Ancestor."

If not for Long Ao's quick reflexes, Long Haoshi would have dropped to his knees again.

Long Haoshi was absolutely ecstatic. He knew what it meant to be a Divine Dao Martial Artist—one of the Peak existences in all of Heaven and Earth. He had never imagined he could one day achieve the Divine Dao.

"Thank you, Ancestor."

"Ao'Er, are you really not going to consider it? If you were to accept the inheritance, I can guarantee you could break through the Void God Realm and reach the Condensing Spirit Realm."

"I don't need it."

Without a moment's hesitation, Long Ao refused. For a multitude of reasons, he could not accept the Divine Dao Inheritance. On one hand was his dream—his vow to reach the Martial Arts Peak on his own. On the other was his grandfather, and he absolutely could not let anything happen to him.

"Ancestor, I will rely on my own Cultivation and effort to step onto the Divine Dao. Not just Void God or Concentrating Spirit, I want to step into the Celestial Divine Realm, so I will not accept any inheritance."

Being refused by his own descendant, Long Batian wasn't the least bit angry. On the contrary, his admiration grew. "Well said," he declared. "With your talent and potential, your future achievements will certainly not be limited to the Void God or Concentrating Spirit Realms. You will reach Celestial Divine Peak. In a battle between those of the same Divine Dao Level, a self-achieved Divine Dao is far superior to an inherited one."

Before Long Ao could speak, Long Batian continued, "Ao'Er, you may leave for now. Once I have extracted the Divine Dao, I will notify you."

"Thank you, Ancestor. I'll take my leave now."

"Ancestor, take care."

Long Haoshi was not nearly as relaxed and natural as Long Ao; he appeared exceptionally stiff. As before, just being in the Ancestor's presence had him so worked up that it was impossible for him to be at ease.

Watching the two figures disappear, Long Batian also seemed quite emotional. He muttered to himself, "To think that our family would produce such an unparalleled genius... Long Clan, just you wait. I, Long Batian, will one day return to the Long Clan. And what I lost back then, I will take back twofold."

After returning to the family compound, Long Haoshi remained unsettled for a long time, still caught up in the excitement of having met the Ancestor. This left everyone else feeling rather bewildered, with no idea what had happened.