In the study.
"Ao'Er, was that an Innate Martial Skill you just used?"
Hearing his father's words, Long Li also seemed a bit shocked, because he knew exactly what an Innate Martial Skill signified.
Innate Martial Skills were powerful techniques exclusive to Innate Martial Artists. Not a single one existed in all of Red Fire Town. He stared blankly at his nephew.
Since things had come to this, Long Ao didn't hide it any longer. He nodded and replied, "Yes, Grandfather. The Innate Martial Skill I just used is called the Celestial Profound Finger. I came across it by chance."
"Good. Very good. With your talent, plus this Innate Martial Skill, you might just have a chance of winning the life-and-death battle a year from now. Ao'Er, I'll say it again: the family will support you with all its resources."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
This was family. No matter what happened, they all shared the same blood in their veins.
"Ao'Er, I'm reluctant to admit it, but I truly admire you. Ten whole years of persistence, ten years of hard work… That kind of perseverance and dedication is something not everyone possesses. I know I couldn't do it, at the very least."
Seemingly in strong agreement with his son, Long Haoshi also nodded, his face filled with admiration.
Ten years of persistence, ten years of effort. Such tenacity and refusal to give up were truly admirable. For the past decade, Long Ao had endured endless ridicule and scorn. Under those circumstances, how many people could have persisted for ten years? Remained steadfast for ten years? Striven for ten years? Refused to give up for ten years?
Long Ao just smiled without a word. To reach the peak of Martial Arts, to ensure he would never be bullied again, his only options were to persist and to strive. No matter the difficulty, the determination and dreams in his heart constantly spurred him onward, telling him he could not give up.
After leaving the study, Long Ao immediately returned to his private courtyard to continue his Cultivation. His current Cultivation had only just broken through to the Inner Strength Eighth Heaven Realm. He was still a long way from the Innate Realm, and he only had one year.
If he couldn't break through to the Innate Realm within a year, the odds of him losing the battle against Long Yulang would be very high. Therefore, his most urgent task was to cultivate diligently and ascend to the Innate Realm as quickly as possible.
During the Long Family's internal test, Long Ao's comeback had utterly shocked everyone. Even now, some people still hadn't recovered, unable to comprehend how the "trash" had suddenly become so powerful. Defeating Long Ziyou in a single move was one thing, but he had also defeated Long Ying in a single move. 'What does that even mean?'
Without a doubt, from this day forward, the number one talent of the Long Family's third generation was no longer Long Ying, but the once-mocked "trash," Long Ao.
The Thundercloud Forest, the largest Spirit Beast Mountain Range within a thousand-mile radius of Thundercloud City.
At this moment, Long Ao was like a cheetah, chasing a Mountain Leopard at full speed. A month ago, he had left Red Fire Town to train in the area around Thundercloud City. Long Ao knew that the only way to rapidly increase his Cultivation was through constant, real-world trials.
"Help! Help!"
While in hot pursuit of the Mountain Leopard, Long Ao suddenly heard someone crying for help not far away. Acting on the principle that saving a life was the noblest of deeds, he abandoned the chase and shot off in the direction of the voice.
A series of furious roars echoed through the woods. A solid black bear was frantically beating its chest. Before the giant bear, two young women, their faces pale with fright, were backing away step by step.
Having just arrived, Long Ao didn't hesitate for a second. He lunged forward in a single bound. Before he even reached his target, he had already unleashed his Celestial Profound Finger, a terrifying Finger Force that seemed capable of piercing through anything.
It was an Earth Bear, an Eighth Level Spirit Beast, possessing not only formidable defense but also incredibly powerful attacks.
Long Ao was no stranger to the Earth Bear, which was why he had attacked with his full strength from the start. However, he had still underestimated the Earth Bear's power. With a roar, it swatted its massive paw, completely ignoring the attack from the Celestial Profound Finger.
The Celestial Profound Finger's force shot directly through the bear's paw. Perhaps the searing pain awakened the Earth Bear's wild nature. Amidst its crazed roars, the beast went on a complete rampage, swatting its paws about wildly and giving Long Ao no opening to attack.
Just as Long Ao was preparing to strike again, a figure shot over from a short distance away. Before the person even arrived, a terrifying wave of Sword Qi preceded him. A blinding flash of Sword Qi streaked past, and the rampaging Earth Bear collapsed with a heavy THUD, a ghastly, bloody gash torn open across its chest.
"Miss, are you two alright?"
The one who had unleashed the Sword Qi was a young man, his rugged face weathered by the elements. The two young women were clearly terrified. The more stunning of the two patted her chest and said, "I'm fine. Thank you for saving us, Sir. May I ask your name?"
The beautiful young woman had a face that could topple kingdoms: a delicate, tapered face, willow-leaf brows, large eyes, and cherry-red lips. Her exquisite features, combined with a superb figure, were a flawless match.
"I am Ye Gucheng."
"Ye Gucheng? Are you the Ye Gucheng who's ranked ninety-sixth on the Hundred Battles Ranking?"
Hearing the gasp from the beautiful young woman's maid, Ye Gucheng nodded proudly and said with a smile, "The very same."
'Ye Gucheng of the Hundred Battles Ranking?'
Hearing the young man announce his name, Long Ao was also somewhat surprised. As a Martial Artist, especially a young one, you couldn't even call yourself a Martial Artist if you didn't know about the Hundred Battles Ranking.
The Hundred Battles Ranking was a list contested by all Martial Artists under the age of forty across the nine provinces of the Celestial Martial Continent. There were nine separate rankings in total, one for each province. Rumor had it that the top one hundred on each of the nine rankings were all Innate Martial Artists. The top ten of each list, in particular, were said to be astonishing, world-shaking figures.
Being ranked ninety-sixth on the Hundred Battles Ranking, combined with that heaven-shaking Sword Qi just now, was proof enough that Ye Gucheng was an Innate Martial Artist.
"So it's Young Master Ye. My name is Liu Ji, from the Thundercloud City Lord's Mansion."
Hearing her identity, Ye Gucheng's eyes clearly lit up, but the flash of light was gone in an instant, unnoticed by the two women.
"And this is?"
"Long Ao, of the Red Fire Town Long Family."
"You're Long Ao?" Upon hearing the name, Ye Gucheng's face instantly twisted into an expression of undisguised contempt and mockery. This made Long Ao a bit curious. 'Does this person know me?'
"That's right."
"Hmph. So you're the trash from Red Fire Town. I could never figure out how a piece of trash like you dared to challenge my good friend, Long Yulang. I don't know whether to call you brave, or just an idiot with a death wish."
"Of course he's an idiot with a death wish." Hearing Ye Gucheng's words, both Liu Ji and her maid burst out laughing. Their faces were also filled with contempt and ridicule, with an added hint of schadenfreude.