Chapter 478: Half the Country

Chapter 478: Chapter 478: Half the Country

「Kyushu Spirit Realm.」

「Imperial City.」

This was not Long Ao’s first time entering the Imperial City, but his status upon entering was completely different.

The last time he entered the Imperial City, Long Ao was its enemy. To save the one he loved, he had decisively slain the Imperial City’s Young Master, Duan Tianfeng.

This time, however, Long Ao’s identity had undergone a major transformation. He was no longer an enemy of the Imperial City, but an honored guest invited by it.

This shift in Long Ao’s status left everyone struggling to react, especially the Imperial City Disciples. None of them could understand what the Sect was thinking, inviting an enemy to be a guest.

’What nonsense.’

Long Ao was now an absolute celebrity in the Imperial City. The moment he set foot inside, he was recognized.

In the blink of an eye, news of Long Ao’s arrival spread. Everyone who heard rushed out, eager to see the young man who had stood against the Four Great Forces.

With his long, blood-red hair and even blood-red eyebrows, paired with a resolute face, Long Ao looked as magnificent as a War God.

"Ah! He’s so handsome! I told you Long Ao was handsome, but you wouldn’t believe me. Do you believe me now?"

"Juhua, what the hell are you getting so worked up for? Who do you think Long Ao is? Whether he’s handsome or not is none of your damn business. You’re really flattering yourself."

"Hmph, I like him, so what? What are you gonna do about it?"

"Exactly! You’re the one who’s just bored and sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Juhua is doing the right thing. When you meet someone you like, you have to confess."

Infatuated fans existed everywhere you went.

Juhua was quite beautiful herself. All her life, her favorite thing was handsome men with great power. Now that she had finally met one, how could she possibly give up so easily?

Ignoring the mockery and disdain from the crowd, Juhua directly blocked Long Ao’s path and confessed in a gentle voice, "You must be Brother Ao, right?"

Brother Ao?

Hearing Juhua’s voice, everyone—from Long Ao to the onlookers—felt a shiver run down their spine. They had seen bold people before, but never *this* bold.

Being confessed to in public, Long Ao was a bit dumbfounded himself.

He feared no hardship and no danger, but this was the first time he had ever been confessed to in broad daylight. He had no idea what to do in a situation like this.

Although Long Ao was already the Dragon Sect Master and had single-handedly defied the Four Great Forces, he was, at the end of the day, still a young man not yet twenty. When had he ever encountered such a scene?

"Brother Ao, I’ve admired you for a long time. I’m a very direct person. I like you. I wonder if Brother Ao would be willing to accept my affection?"

She was too aggressive. Long Ao didn’t dare linger any longer. His body moved with the wind, and before everyone’s shocked gazes, he vanished without a trace.

Long Ao’s sudden departure made his stance clear, but even so, Juhua was unwilling to give up. It wasn’t just her; many of the young women in the crowd admired a hero, they just weren’t as bold as Juhua.

「Somewhere in the Imperial City.」

Long Ao was utterly speechless. He had seen his share of formidable people, but never someone so intense. He would rather fight a master than deal with this. At the end of the day, he was still a very innocent person.

"Mr. Long Ao, this way please. The Sect Leader has been waiting for you."

He wasn’t surprised in the least. No matter what, this was still the Imperial City. If he could enter the Imperial City without Duan He knowing, then the Emperor City Lord was doing a pretty poor job.

Nodding, since he was already here, Long Ao had no intention of being evasive.

He followed the Imperial City Disciple toward the Imperial City Headquarters.

「Inside the Imperial City Headquarters.」

Duan He and Duan Kai were already seated in a pavilion. At Long Ao’s arrival, not a trace of anger or Killing Intent could be seen on their faces, as if Long Ao truly were an honored guest of the Imperial City.

One had to remember, the fact that Long Ao had killed Duan Tianfeng was known throughout all of Kyushu. Yet Duan He and Duan Kai acted as if nothing had happened. One couldn’t help but admire their ability to put on an act, which had reached a godlike level.

"Sect Leader Long, forgive us for not coming out to greet you. Our apologies."

Long Ao inwardly scorned their smiles that didn’t reach their eyes, but he wore a similar smile on his own face as he said, "I am deeply honored by the Imperial City’s invitation."

Entering the pavilion, Long Ao, Duan He, and Duan Kai each took their seats. Lifting a teacup from the table and taking a light sip, Long Ao smiled and said, "This is truly fine tea."

"Sect Leader Long has a discerning taste. This is top-grade Biluochun, an extreme rarity. I hope Sect Leader Long finds it to his liking."

"How could I?"

Long Ao and the Imperial City were mortal enemies. When they met, it should have been a fight to the death. But in this bizarre situation, the two sides were acting as if they were friends.

Duan He and Duan Kai didn’t bring it up, and neither did Long Ao.

"Sect Leader Duan, may I ask the purpose of my invitation this time?"

Getting straight to the point, Long Ao didn’t want to waste time with pleasantries.

Duan Kai and Duan He seemed to understand Long Ao’s meaning. Duan He smiled and said, "Alright. Since Sect Leader Long is a straightforward person, I won’t beat around the bush either. Let’s speak frankly. You killed my son, which should make you my mortal enemy."

’Just as I thought,’ Long Ao mused. The Imperial City hadn’t invited him here to deal with him. Otherwise, they would have attacked the moment he set foot in the city. Why wait until now, unless they were just bored and had nothing better to do?

"For the sake of the Sect, we can let bygones be bygones. Sect Leader Long, I believe you have some understanding of the situation in the Kyushu Spirit Realm. That being the case, I’ll get straight to the point. My Imperial City is prepared to form an Alliance with your Dragon Sect to deal with the other three houses. When the time comes, we will dominate the Kyushu Spirit Realm, with each of us taking half the territory. How about it?"

"Sect Leader Duan, I don’t object to temporarily setting aside our grievances for a short-term Alliance. I just want to ask, why did the Imperial City choose me? The Third Level Long Family, the Netherworld Mansion, and Piaomiao Palace all seem to be stronger than the Dragon Sect."

Long Ao couldn’t figure this part out. He had no idea what the Imperial City was truly plotting.

"Sect Leader Long, you needn’t sell yourself short. Your potential and strength are plain to see, I don’t need to elaborate. I believe that if we join forces, we can certainly conquer the entire Kyushu Spirit Realm. Then we will each take half the territory and stay out of each other’s way. How about it?"

With things having come to this point, Long Ao certainly wasn’t going to refuse. He nodded in agreement and said, "Alright. Since the Imperial City thinks so highly of the Dragon Sect, then on behalf of the Dragon Sect, I accept. We will now formally form an Alliance and deal with the three great forces together."

"I hope we succeed."

The three of them smiled. At that moment, Duan Kai, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke. "Sect Leader Long, I wonder if you have ever heard of a place called Broken Soul Valley."

Shaking his head, Long Ao had never heard of the Broken Soul Valley that Duan Kai mentioned. Duan He, however, was startled, wondering why his father would suddenly bring up Broken Soul Valley.