Chapter 559: Must Never Be Offended

Upon entering the Long Family estate, Long Ao and Long Heng immediately began their alchemy.

Long Ao was quite curious about the Long Family. He had no idea what kind of game they were playing.

‘The Long Family must know that my fight with Wang Hao was a draw. So why are they acting as if nothing’s happened, even after I’ve come here with Long Heng?’

This gave Long Ao a new perspective on the Long Family.

Long Heng was obsessed with alchemy. This was especially true now that he had Long Ao’s guidance, which left him completely captivated.

「The next day, at dusk.」

“Long Ao, Sect Leader of the Celestial State Dragon Sect. In just over a year, you rose to power, successfully turned the tables on the Four Great Forces, and dealt them a heavy blow. I’m very curious, Sect Leader Long, why would you suddenly come to our Outer Sea Cloud Island?”

「Long Family, Main Hall.」

Long Ao remained silent the entire time. He realized the Long Family Patriarch before him was far from simple. Without him even noticing, the man had already thoroughly investigated his background.

If Long Bai had found out about him in Kyushu or elsewhere in the Outer Sea, he wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised.

The problem was, Kyushu and the Outer Sea were very far apart. It was no easy feat to get information so quickly.

Long Ao had a decent impression of Long Bai, and it wasn’t just because he was Long Heng’s father.

“Sect Leader Long, I can understand if you don’t wish to answer. I would just like to know if you have some business here on Cloud Island.”

“Patriarch Long, we both belong to the Long Family, and I am also Long Heng’s master. So let’s be frank. My arrival on Cloud Island was entirely by chance. If Long Heng hadn’t saved me, I doubt I would even know this place existed.”

Long Heng, of course, knew this was all true.

“Sect Leader Long, your inconclusive battle with Wang Hao has drawn the attention of the Holy Mountain. I trust you know what the Holy Mountain is.”

Long Bai didn’t press further about Long Ao’s identity or background. He knew very well what he should and shouldn’t ask.

‘The Holy Mountain.’

“Patriarch Long, the Holy Mountain has nothing to do with me. I am just a passerby on Cloud Island. If not for Long Heng, I might have already left. Therefore, I don’t wish to get involved in the Holy Mountain’s affairs.”

Before Long Bai could speak, Long Ao continued, “Patriarch Long, for Long Heng’s sake, I want to give you a word of warning. Be careful of the Wang Family, and especially careful of Wang Hao.”

Hearing this, Long Bai’s heart skipped a beat.

If anyone else had said this to him, he would have scoffed at it. But the person saying it now was Long Ao.

“Sect Leader Long, can you be more specific?”

Long Ao shook his head. He had no intention of telling anyone that Wang Hao was a Reincarnation Martial Artist. It was as he’d said—he was just a passerby on Cloud Island. Once he finished passing down the Alchemy Dao to Long Heng, he would leave Cloud Island, leave the Outer Sea, and return to Kyushu.

‘Perhaps I’ll return to the Outer Sea someday to properly explore it, but definitely not now. In any case, I must return to Kyushu. Ever since the Beast Tide invaded, I still have no idea what has happened there.’

“Patriarch Long, in the eyes of all of you, Long Heng is just a good-for-nothing, am I right?”

“Sect Leader Long.”

Waving his hand, Long Ao knew what Long Bai was thinking without him needing to say more.

One look at Long Bai and Long Ao could clearly see that the Patriarch of the Long Family still doted on Long Heng. Otherwise, his concern for his son wouldn’t have been evident in his every word and expression.

Such is the heart of a parent. Long Ao understood perfectly what was on Long Bai’s mind.

“The reason Long Heng’s cultivation has stagnated isn’t due to a lack of talent.”

“I know that much. Sect Leader Long, does that mean you’ve found the cause?”

He was utterly ecstatic. Long Bai was no fool; he knew that for Long Ao to say such a thing, he must have found something. ‘Could my son really make a comeback? If so, I’d willingly give up ten years of my life.’

Again, such is the heart of a parent.

Nodding, Long Ao originally hadn’t planned on telling the Long Family anything about Long Heng. But the moment he saw Long Bai, he instantly changed his mind. “Patriarch Long, Long Heng possesses the one-in-ten-thousand Thunder Constitution, a rarity in this world. When he was struck by that bolt of lightning, his Thunder Constitution was instantly awakened. So, not only is Long Heng not a good-for-nothing, he is a cultivation genius.”

‘Just as I thought.’

Long Bai let out a long sigh of relief and lamented, “For the past three years, I haven’t dared to face him. It’s a good thing Heng’er met you, otherwise…”

Long Ao didn’t blame Long Bai. He already knew the whole story. After Long Heng’s cultivation stagnated, Long Bai had tried everything he could think of. Only when all his efforts proved fruitless did he choose to give up on his son.

Long Ao knew very well that while Long Bai seemed to have given up, he was actually just unable to face his own son. In the end, Long Bai wasn’t at fault. The only one to blame was fate for playing such a cruel trick.

“That’s all in the past now. If there are no surprises, Long Heng’s cultivation speed will increase dramatically from now on. In less than a year, he should be able to break through to the Void Saint Realm.”

Hearing this, Long Bai’s body trembled. He knew exactly what the Void Saint Realm represented. If the family could produce a Void Saint Martial Artist, then not only the other two great families, but even the Holy Mountain would have to be wary of them.

But a part of Long Bai remained skeptical. ‘The master himself hasn’t even reached the Void Saint Realm,’ he thought. ‘How could his disciple break through first?’

It was common knowledge that Long Ao was only a Peak Great Venerable Martial Artist. He hadn’t even reached the Realm King level, let alone the so-called Void Saint Realm.

How could Long Ao not know what Long Bai was thinking? But he didn’t offer any further explanation. Sometimes, facts speak louder than words. Anything more would be a waste of breath.

“Sect Leader Long, please stay with the Long Family for now. I trust the Wang Family won’t dare to come looking for trouble.”

Long Ao didn’t stand on ceremony. He nodded, said his thanks, and turned to leave.

The main hall fell silent, leaving Long Bai alone. Suddenly, an old man walked out from behind him. Long Bai immediately spoke with great respect, “Uncle, what brings you out?”

“So that’s Long Ao?”

“That’s right.”

Long Bai had immense respect for this uncle. Besides being a close relative, the man was also a powerful World Emperor Martial Artist and the family’s foremost expert. It was precisely because his uncle protected the family that the Long Family could rank among the three great families of Cloud Island.

“This young man is extraordinary. No matter what, you must build a good relationship with him. You absolutely cannot afford to offend him.”

Long Bai was astonished to hear his uncle’s words. After all, he had never heard his uncle praise anyone so highly.