Chapter 536: Widespread Devastation

Chapter 536: Chapter 536: Widespread Devastation

In the end, Long Ao chose to stay.

For the time being, Long Fu couldn’t think of a better solution either.

Long Ao felt utterly helpless. He was damned if he left and damned if he stayed.

Staring at the stone cliff from a distance, Long Ao still had no idea what kind of Treasure the Stone Stele was. However, the fact that it could Seal the Nine-Tribulation Demon Dragon was a testament to its power.

「Kyushu Spirit Realm.」

It had been a full seven days since the Beast Tide invaded Kyushu, leaving the entire Kyushu Spirit Realm utterly devastated.

Rivers of blood flowed, and corpses littered the fields.

The Four Great Forces were completely indifferent, concerned only with preserving their own power. They turned a blind eye to the other families and Sects, ignoring whether anyone lived or died.

As a result, almost no Sect or family could withstand the Beast Tide’s assault.

In just seven short days, the number of humans devoured by the Beast Tide had already surpassed one hundred million. The scale of it was staggering.

Yet even so, the Four Great Forces continued to turn a blind eye. This infuriated all the other families and Sects, who began to curse their names.

At the rate the Beast Tide was advancing, even if it were to retreat in ten days, at least sixty percent of the Kyushu Spirit Realm would have been devoured. Recovering from such a catastrophe would likely take decades, if not centuries.

The Four Great Forces were only looking out for themselves.

However, at this moment, the Imperial City suddenly began a rescue effort across the Kyushu Spirit Realm. They announced that anyone, so long as they agreed to join or submit to the Imperial City, would be allowed to enter its walls and receive its protection.

In a life-or-death crisis, anyone who offers a helping hand is a savior.

Admittedly, the Imperial City’s decision was the right one.

To survive, every Sect and family in Kyushu, without exception, chose to submit to the Imperial City. Even those previously affiliated with the Netherworld Mansion, Piaomiao Palace, and the Third Level Long Family made the same choice.

In just one short hour, the Imperial City’s power had grown a hundredfold. The momentum was still building. If this continued, once the Beast Tide retreated, the Imperial City’s strength could increase by several thousand times. At that point, the other three great forces would be unable to compete with it.

The Netherworld Mansion, Piaomiao Palace, and the Third Level Long Family had never imagined the Imperial City would pull such a move. After all, under normal circumstances, it was already a feat for any of the Four Great Forces to just look after themselves. But the Imperial City... they were so shameless.

The Imperial City’s motive was simple: wait until everyone was desperate, then swoop in and play the hero, using the opportunity to win their loyalty.

Seeing the Imperial City’s power expanding nonstop, the Netherworld Mansion, Piaomiao Palace, and the Third Level Long Family finally panicked. Following the Imperial City’s lead, the three great forces also proclaimed to the world that anyone willing to submit would immediately receive their protection.

But to their great surprise, their efforts were far less effective. Compared to the Imperial City’s success, the difference was like night and day.

The truth was, many powers no longer trusted the three great forces. After all, the Imperial City had been the first to open its gates and offer them shelter.

「Celestial State, Long Family, Main Hall.」

"Father, Ao’er has been gone for so long, and there’s still no word. I’m worried."

Waving a hand, Long Haoshi stopped his son from speaking further. "Ao’er can’t be in trouble," he said firmly. "Barring any accidents, he must have stayed in the Beast Tide Forbidden Land. I refuse to believe that the Four Great Forces alone could harm my Ao’er."

Long Yi sighed inwardly. He knew his father all too well; he appeared resolute on the surface, but inside, he was worried to death. ’With something as major as the Beast Tide striking, Ao’er’s personality would have surely brought him back by now. But he hasn’t...’

"Father, let’s not delude ourselves any longer. The Four Great Forces have already spread the news that Ao’er died in the Beast Tide Forbidden Land. Although I don’t know exactly what happened, I am certain his death is connected to the Four Great Forces."

"The Four Great Forces."

Long Haoshi clenched his fists fiercely. For all his might, he was still getting old. But at that moment, his expression suddenly lit up with joy. "I have something very important to do," he said urgently. "As for the Four Great Forces, we will have our revenge."

Long Yi was stunned, wondering what had come over his father.

The moment Long Haoshi left the main hall and headed for the back mountain, he was enveloped by a Divine Dao Aura. An instant later, he found himself inside a cave.

Inside the cave.

"Ancestor, Ao’er..."

Waving his hand, Long Batian smiled. "Ao’er is fine. Just as you said, the Four Great Forces alone are not enough to harm him."

Long Batian was fully aware of everything that had happened on Long Ao Peak. Hearing the ancestor’s words, Long Haoshi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Long Haoshi had complete faith in his ancestor. After all, Long Batian held a supreme status in the Long Family as its very first Divine Dao Martial Artist. Others might not know this, but of course, he did.

"Ancestor, why have you summoned me this time?"

Long Haoshi knelt respectfully on the ground. No matter how high his status in the Long Family, before Long Batian, he was but a child.

"Rise."

"Yes." Long Haoshi rose respectfully. In truth, he had already guessed why his ancestor had summoned him.

’He was thrilled. ’Once I receive the Divine Dao Inheritance, I can ascend to the Divine Dao realm in the future! Considering the current powers in Kyushu, once I become a Divine Dao Martial Artist, the Long Family will dominate the continent, completely unrivaled!’’

"Since you’ve already guessed, I won’t waste words. I have already extracted the Divine Dao Inheritance. From this moment on, you will officially begin receiving it. It will take you one year at the shortest and three at the longest to ascend to the Divine Dao realm. However, remember one thing: besides Ao’er, you are not to tell anyone that you have achieved this."

"Ancestor, forgive my audacity, but why is that?"

Long Haoshi couldn’t understand it at all. ’If I’m going to ascend to the Divine Dao realm, why can’t I tell anyone else? If we do that, won’t the family be forever held down?’

"I’ll make this brief. You should be aware of the grudge between me and the Long Clan. If you become a Divine Dao Martial Artist and the Long Clan finds out, not only you, but even Ao’er and the rest of the Long Family will be in trouble."

Hearing his ancestor’s words, Long Haoshi was startled. He nodded and said, "Ancestor, I understand."

"Good. We’ll start immediately. You will need ten days to comprehend the Divine Dao Inheritance. After ten days, you must immediately enter seclusion to cultivate. I will assist you with all my strength."

Hearing this, Long Haoshi was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. He then began the process of receiving the Divine Dao Inheritance. With Long Batian’s help, there was virtually no danger.

(PS: Good news, everyone! The book is free to read today and tomorrow, so I can only release three Chapters. Starting on the 14th, I’ll be doing a mass release. Xiaojiu will be doing mass releases for a few days, so please bear with me!)