Chapter 568: Despair

Chapter 568: Chapter 568: Despair

A Dragon’s Roar echoed between heaven and earth.

Everyone stared blankly at the spectral Giant Dragon that had suddenly materialized behind Long Ao.

Before Zhou Dian could even react, he found his body locked in place. The very time around him had even begun to flow in reverse.

’What’s happening?’

’What in the world is going on?’

Zhou Dian was utterly terrified. By this point, Long Ao was already upon him. Without a trace of mercy, he viciously swung the Blood-Drinking Mad Saber in his hand, killing both Zhou Dian and Wang Luo in a single, brutal slash.

After slaying Zhou Dian, Long Ao turned and left immediately, not lingering for even a second.

Long Ao was very worried about Long Heng. After all, losing an arm would be a major obstacle to his future Cultivation.

The news of Long Ao slaying Zhou Dian, a Semi-Saint Martial Artist from the Sacred Land, spread like wildfire across Cloud Island, and the Sacred Land itself was no exception.

As an uproar erupted in Yun City, everyone assumed the Sacred Land would immediately dispatch an army and even more powerful Martial Artists to attack Long Ao. But what actually happened?

The outcome was something no one had expected. The Sacred Land took no action whatsoever, acting as if the incident had never occurred.

What exactly did the Sacred Land intend?

Everyone began to speculate about the Sacred Land’s true intentions.

Regardless of the Sacred Land’s current inaction, everyone was certain of one thing: they would not let this matter rest. Setting aside the loss of a Semi-Saint Martial Artist, the Sacred Land simply could not afford such a public loss of face.

After all, the Sacred Land was the overlord of Cloud Island. When had it ever been trifled with in such a manner? It was tantamount to being slapped hard across the face in front of the entire world.

「The Long Family Estate, Main Hall」

The news that Long Ao was a Semi-Saint Martial Artist had already spread throughout the Long Family. So, when Long Ao returned, everyone’s attitude did a complete one-eighty. Even the family’s strongest expert, Long Jian, came out to welcome him personally.

Long Ao disliked this kind of reception. He coldly entered Long Heng’s Little Courtyard House and issued an order: no one, regardless of who they were, was to take a single step inside.

Perhaps some might not have taken the old Long Ao seriously, but now? He had single-handedly killed Zhou Dian and his men in full public view. Who in the Long Family would be foolish enough to provoke such a menace?

Everyone treated Long Ao with the utmost respect, not daring to slight him in any way.

「Inside the Little Courtyard House」

"Master, I’m really all right."

To say he wasn’t devastated about his severed left arm would be a lie. But Long Heng knew in his heart that his master had already done so much for him. In a fit of rage on his behalf, his master had slain Zhou Dian and his people, a group which included Wang Luo—the Patriarch and top expert of the Wang Family. His master had already done more than enough.

So, no matter how much sorrow he felt, Long Heng swallowed it down.

"Let me think for a moment."

Long Ao sat on a stool, lost in thought. His mind kept returning to the same point: Long Heng had lost his arm because of him. Therefore, no matter what, he had to help Long Heng.

「Dragon Seal Space」

"Long Fu, my request is simple. I need you to help Long Heng reattach his severed left arm. Can you do it?"

In Long Ao’s eyes, Long Fu was omnipotent. But Long Fu simply shook his head. "Reattaching Long Heng’s original arm is impossible," he said. "However, we could graft a Spirit Beast’s arm onto him. If we do that, his power will increase. It might not be a bad thing at all."

’Graft on the arm of a Spirit Beast?’

Long Ao racked his brain but couldn’t think of a single Spirit Beast whose arm would be suitable for Long Heng.

"Master, let me think on it carefully," Long Fu said. "Rest assured, what happened to Long Heng’s arm might not be a bad thing."

Long Ao nodded. Hearing Long Fu’s words, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Still, he didn’t know how he was going to break this news to Long Heng.

Leaving the Dragon Seal Space, Long Ao returned to Long Heng’s side. "Long Heng," he said, "what happened... it’s my fault."

"Master, I have only one thing to say: a teacher for a day is a father for life."

Long Ao was touched. Having a disciple like this made it all worthwhile. He said, "Long Heng, your arm can be replaced with that of a Spirit Beast. Your strength will even increase as a result. Are you willing?"

"I am willing."

Long Heng agreed without a moment’s hesitation. He knew that what was done was done, and he had to face it. What’s more, to lose an arm—especially for his master—was a worthy sacrifice in his eyes.

"Good. You focus on recuperating. I’m going to refine some elixirs for you."

Long Fu had just explained that transplanting a Spirit Beast’s arm onto Long Heng would require the support of many elixirs. Otherwise, the chance of failure would be very high.

With Long Ao’s current skill in Alchemy, he should have no problem refining anything short of a Heaven-Defying Level elixir.

「Dusk, the Long Family’s Main Hall」

"Patriarch Long, Elder Long. Now that I have killed Zhou Dian, the Wang Family Patriarch, and their men, it’s almost certain that the Sacred Land and Wang Hao will come looking for trouble. Therefore, I have a suggestion."

"Please, go on, Sect Leader Long."

"Sect Leader Long, before you continue, I have one question," Long Bai began, but didn’t finish his sentence. "...a mere Wang Hao?" The implication was clear. In their eyes, Wang Hao was just a puny Great Venerable Martial Artist. His uncle wouldn’t even need to lift a finger; Long Bai himself could easily eliminate the man.

The gap between a Great Venerable and a Realm King was common knowledge.

Long Ao gave a wry smile. He wasn’t particularly worried about the Sacred Land. The one he was truly worried about was Wang Hao.

"Gentlemen," Long Ao said, "let me put it this way: the threat Wang Hao represents is far greater than that of the Sacred Land. Let me tell you a secret. Have either of you heard of Reincarnation Martial Artists?"

"Reincarnation Martial Artists?"

Though Long Jian and Long Bai didn’t understand the reason for his question, Long Jian nodded. "I have heard the legends," he said. "It’s said that when a Divine Dao Martial Artist fails to break through to a higher Realm, or when they are slain, their Divine Spirit can enter the Path of Reincarnation. If they successfully complete the cycle, they can be reborn. With luck, they may reawaken their memories and become a Divine Dao Martial Artist once more."

As he finished speaking, a thought seemed to strike both Long Jian and Long Bai. Shock was written all over their faces. They both turned to Long Ao and asked in unison, "Sect Leader Long, don’t tell us Wang Hao is a Reincarnation Martial Artist?"

When Long Ao nodded, despair crept into Long Bai and Long Jian. They knew exactly what a Reincarnation Martial Artist signified. They never would have imagined that Wang Hao was one. Didn’t that mean that once Wang Hao awakened his Divine Spirit, he would become a powerful Divine Dao Martial Artist?

A Divine Dao Martial Artist could easily annihilate not just the Long Family, but even the Sacred Land.

"Sect Leader Long, has Wang Hao awakened his Divine Spirit?"

"I’ve fought Wang Hao before. His Cultivation has now reached the Semi-Saint Realm. I believe he must have already awakened his Divine Spirit. That’s why the threat he poses is far greater than the Sacred Land’s. What we must do now is find him as quickly as possible."