The Desolate Sacred Body: the ultimate Cultivated Sacred Body, and also the ultimate Cultivated Wasted Body.
'What does that mean?'
Long Ao was bewildered by Long Fu's words. 'Why is the Desolate Sacred Body the ultimate Cultivated Sacred Body, but also the ultimate Cultivated Wasted Body?'
"Long Fu, can you be a bit clearer? I don't quite understand."
"Of course, Master."
Long Fu's demeanor was exceptionally gentle and calm. He said, "Master, the Desolate Sacred Body you possess is the ultimate constitution from a desolate era. Its cultivation speed is incredibly fast, but it requires absorbing an immense amount of power. And absorbing enough power to raise your strength is an almost impossibly difficult task."
Long Ao said nothing, listening quietly as he stood by the edge of the Blood Pool.
Long Ao had a gut feeling that this Desolate Sacred Body Long Fu spoke of was connected to his inability to break through for the past ten years.
"Without a sufficient supply of power, the Desolate Sacred Body becomes the most useless of constitutions. The cultivation speed is much slower than an ordinary person's. That's why the Desolate Sacred Body is called the ultimate Cultivated Sacred Body, and also hailed as the ultimate Cultivated Wasted Body."
'So that's why.'
"Long Fu, ten years ago, my Cultivation had already reached the Inner Strength Sixth Heaven Realm. But when I tried to form the Endless Cycle, I not only failed, but my Realm even regressed to the Third Heaven Realm. Was that related to my Desolate Sacred Body?"
"That's right. The Desolate Sacred Body requires a truly immense amount of power. Relying on Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi alone makes it fundamentally impossible to form the Endless Cycle. When you attempted to do so, you were instantly drained dry by the Desolate Sacred Body. I must say, Master, you were incredibly lucky. You only dropped back to the Third Heaven Realm and weren't completely squeezed into a dried-up husk."
'I was lucky?'
'Going by what Long Fu said, I guess my luck really was pretty good.'
"Master, leave the matter of power to me from now on. I will help you with the Refinement of Soul Primordial Spirits inside this Blood Pool, extracting the purest power for your Cultivation. Moreover, I can also create Soul Slaves within the Blood Pool to help you fight your enemies."
'The Blood Pool?'
Long Ao glanced at the Blood Pool. The blood within seemed to emit a terrifying aura that shook one's very soul. Not daring to look for long, he asked, "Are you saying that to extract power or create Soul Slaves, I need to find souls for you?"
"That's right, Master. You are very clever."
'Clever, my ass. If I couldn't even figure that out, I'd be no different from an idiot,' Long Ao thought with a scowl.
"Master, the Ninth Transformation Reincarnation Technique within the Dragon Seal is an exceptionally powerful Martial Technique. I hope you will cultivate it diligently."
'The Ninth Transformation Reincarnation Technique?'
'Just as I thought. My guess was correct. The Ninth Transformation Reincarnation Technique that suddenly appeared in my mind came from the Small Seal.'
"Master, the Reincarnation Ninth Transformation Technique is incomparably powerful. Ninth Transformation Reincarnation, defying Heaven and Earth. The day you master the Ninth Transformation Reincarnation will be the day you ascend to the Martial Arts Peak. Long Fu eagerly awaits the day you take that step."
'The Reincarnation Ninth Transformation Technique... incomparably powerful. Ninth Transformation Reincarnation, defying Heaven and Earth. The day I master the Ninth Transformation Reincarnation will be the day I ascend to the Martial Arts Peak.'
Hearing Long Fu's words, Long Ao's thoughts began to drift. Reaching the Martial Arts Peak had always been his dream; otherwise, he never would have been able to persevere for ten years without giving up.
"Alright, I have other things to do. How do I leave?"
"You may leave on your own, Master; there will be no obstructions. If you need me for anything, just communicate with the Dragon Seal using your soul, and I will guide your soul inside."
Nodding, Long Ao didn't linger any longer. His soul left the Dragon Seal Space.
'Looks like my luck is about to turn around,' he mused with a smile. 'Regardless of the outcome, this is my only chance. Otherwise, I probably would have been beaten senseless by those four, let alone have a chance for revenge and an opportunity to reach the Martial Arts Peak.'
CREAK. The dilapidated door was violently thrown open. A young woman of about twenty entered. She had an oval face, a high-bridged nose, and delicate features; by any standard, she was a rare beauty.
The young woman's name was Long Ziyou, the older sister of Long An, Long Zheng, and Long Fang. She was ranked fifth in the Long Family.
At that moment, Long Ziyou's face held a trace of anger and disbelief. Entering the private courtyard and seeing the young man standing across from her, she snorted coldly. "Old Qi, Grandfather is looking for you. He wants you to go to the main hall immediately."
Long Ao had never liked Long Ziyou or her three brothers, but she was his elder sister nonetheless. He still replied, "Fifth Sister. I understand."
Having delivered her message, Long Ziyou didn't leave. Instead, she let out another cold snort, her voice practically dripping with scorn as she said, "Old Qi, I know those four don't usually treat you well, but you didn't have to be so ruthless. Don't you have any regard for the bond between brothers?"
'Regard for the bond between brothers?'
Long Ao almost laughed out loud at Long Ziyou's words. It seemed she was here looking for trouble, which was no surprise, considering he had just beaten up her dear younger brothers.
"Fifth Sister, since you know they always bullied me, why did you never step in and do something about it?"
Long Ziyou was rendered speechless. From start to finish, not only had she never stepped in, but she had actually been happy to see it happen. Watching the former genius get trampled under her own brothers' feet could only be described with a single word: satisfying.
One look was all it took for Long Ao to know what she was thinking.
He sneered inwardly, but continued aloud, "For ten years, those four have constantly humiliated me. When did *they* ever show any regard for the bond between brothers?"
"Enough. I know you've been resentful these past ten years. I heard from the four of them that you've managed to condense Inner Strength now. In that case, during the family's internal assessment one month from now, I expect you to challenge me. We'll see then if you're really as arrogant as you seem."
Having revealed the main purpose that accompanied her message, Long Ziyou turned to leave. She walked out of the private courtyard, but just as she was about to go, she stopped. Her voice drifted back slowly.
"At the internal assessment one month from now, if you don't challenge me, you must kneel before my three brothers and admit you were wrong."
Leaving him with that final sentence, Long Ziyou didn't linger this time and quickly departed.
His fists clenched tightly. How could Long Ao possibly endure such provocation and mockery? Moreover, he now possessed the strength to challenge her: Inner Strength Seventh Heaven.
After all, Long Ziyou was only at the Peak of Inner Strength Sixth Heaven.
Staring in the direction where Long Ziyou had disappeared, Long Ao declared with determination, "Don't you worry. At the family's internal assessment one month from now, I will personally challenge you. I'm going to show the entire family that I, Long Ao, am not a waste. I'm going to make every single person who ever looked down on me shut their mouths."
He had planned on cultivating in peace, but since his grandfather had summoned him, Long Ao could only wash up quickly, leave his private courtyard, and head toward the Long Family's main hall. He hadn't seen his grandfather in a full eight years. The reason was simple: in the heart of the Long Family Patriarch, the once-genius grandson had become a waste mocked by all.