Divine King of Honour Chapter 1831: Sworn Brothers in the Tao

The old man’s formidable strike sent a wave of mortal peril washing over Xu Nian.

A Divine-level expert possessed overwhelming power.

He was utterly outmatched, fundamentally unable to contend.

Unless the Star Axe was employed and his full might unleashed, he could barely pose a threat to the Divine-level expert before him.

Even then, victory was uncertain, and he might be forced to seek refuge within the Chaos Divine Palace.

However, exposing the Chaos Divine Palace would bring about unimaginable repercussions.

Despite these dire possibilities, no other recourse presented itself; if the enemy was determined to eliminate him, he had no choice but to fight with his back against the wall.

"Master, we are in grave danger. If a fight erupts, I will delay them for a moment, allowing you to escape swiftly," Shi Shanshan declared.

Deeply indebted to Xu Nian for his life, she was prepared to repay him with her own.

Xu Nian simply shook his head.

Shi Shanshan, having transformed into an Artifact Spirit, suffered a significant reduction in her power. How could she possibly hold back a Divine-level expert?

Even at her peak, she might not have been able to stall such an opponent for even a fleeting moment.

"Still alive, I see. It appears the attire you wear is indeed more than a mere Divine Artifact," the Divine-level expert stated, now standing and fixing his gaze upon Xu Nian.

"Senior, I truly had no intention of causing offense," Xu Nian replied.

"Hmph, I am aware. I observed your activities outside, young man. Who would have known you were a powerful Divine Craftsman?" the Divine-level expert chuckled.

It was only then that Xu Nian apprehended that no killing intent had ever been present in the expert's eyes.

"Does Senior imply that we should let this matter rest?" Xu Nian inquired.

"You injured my pet; I injured you. We are now even, with no lingering debts between us," the old man declared with a laugh.

Upon hearing this, Xu Nian exhaled a sigh of immense relief.

If this Divine-level expert had truly sought his demise, survival would have come at a steep price, even if attainable.

"Thank you, Senior, for your magnanimous gesture," Xu Nian expressed.

"Enough pleasantries. You hail from the Immortal Realm, do you not?" the old man inquired with a smile.

Xu Nian paused, uncertain how to formulate his response.

"Do not be uneasy. I recognized it immediately. I harbor no ill intentions toward you. Many individuals from the Three Realms frequent the Netherworld," the old man reassured him.

Xu Nian was somewhat taken aback.

"Senior, what do you mean there are quite a few people from the Three Realms in the Netherworld? I was under the impression that individuals from the Three Realms were forbidden from entering the Netherworld?" Xu Nian asked, his curiosity piqued.

The old man let out a hearty laugh.

"Forbidden? Did you not enter yourself? Since you were able to find a way in, it stands to reason that others can as well," the old man elaborated.

Xu Nian nodded in understanding.

It became apparent that the Netherworld was far more intricate than he had initially conceived.

The Divine-level expert standing before him had refrained from acting ruthlessly not out of leniency, but due to his own underlying motives, as Xu Nian was from the Immortal Realm.

Evidently, the opponent harbored objectives of his own.

"Young man, do you comprehend why I refrain from eliminating you?" the old man queried, a smile playing on his lips.

"I do not know, Senior," Xu Nian replied, shaking his head.

"I perceive your considerable talent. Would you entertain the notion of becoming my disciple?" the old man proposed, his voice laced with amusement.

"Hah?" Xu Nian was utterly astonished.

Who could have possibly predicted that the old man’s intention was to take him on as a disciple?

Mere moments prior, the man had been simultaneously attacking and attempting to kill him, and now he wished to accept him as a student?

This turn of events left Xu Nian feeling a peculiar mix of amusement and helplessness.

"Senior, I fear I cannot accept your offer. I am already under the tutelage of a master," Xu Nian declined.

"Do you truly have no desire? Many individuals yearn to become my disciple, yet I rarely grant such an opportunity," the old man’s gaze intensified, becoming sharp.

Xu Nian remained steadfast, shaking his head.

His resolve was unyielding.

"I appreciate your kind offer, Senior, but my cultivation path diverges significantly from yours. Were I to become your disciple, I might not be capable of fully inheriting your teachings," Xu Nian clarified.

"Your assessment is accurate. You wield the Law of the Wind Attribute. I sense the presence of Earth, Fire, and Water Attributes within you, but not the Thunder Attribute," the old man commented, his observation piercing.

Xu Nian felt a jolt of mild astonishment.

This elderly man possessed the ability to perceive so much about him.

As anticipated, a Divine-level expert was far more formidable than he had ever imagined.

"Very well, let us discard this matter. Since you have no intention of becoming my disciple, so be it. Do you happen to have any wine?" the old man inquired, changing the subject.

"Yes!" Xu Nian promptly produced several jars of premium Immortal Brew.

These were provisions Xu Nian had amassed during his time in the Immortal Realm.

They were considered rare and precious treasures within the Immortal Realm.

The moment the wine jar was unsealed, the old man’s expression transformed into one of sheer delight.

"Such an exquisite aroma! I haven't encountered such fragrant wine in a very long time. Confound it, the wine in the Netherworld is as insipid as water; the vintages of the Immortal Realm are truly in a class of their own," the old man exclaimed, snatching a jar and taking a large, satisfying gulp.

An immediate sense of elation washed over him.

"Excellent wine!" the old man roared with laughter.

He had not tasted such potent liquor in what felt like an eternity.

With a single draught, it felt as though ten thousand rolls of Divine Thunder were cascading down within him.

Simply, it was unbelievably refreshing.

"If Senior fancies it, all of these are yours now," Xu Nian declared, gesturing and causing another ten jars to materialize.

Indeed, Xu Nian possessed thousands of jars of this exquisite wine within his storage ring.

However, Xu Nian had no intention of bestowing a large quantity upon him all at once.

After all, scarcity inherently elevates value.

Only through this approach could the elder truly appreciate the wine's preciousness.

"Splendid, splendid, well done, exceptionally well done! From this moment forth, you are my sworn brother. I shall refer to you as Xu Fenn, and you shall call me Brother Lei. What say you?" the old man boomed with laughter.

Xu Nian blinked in astonishment.

They were already brothers?

It happened so swiftly?

Hadn't he just expressed a desire to take him as a disciple moments before?

"Very well, Thank you, Brother Lei," Xu Nian readily agreed.

"Haha, I am the one who should be expressing gratitude! It has been over a hundred thousand years since I last savored such potent wine. Were it not for you, I might never have had the opportunity again in this lifetime," the old man chuckled heartily.

It was abundantly clear that Xu Nian's Drunken Immortal Brew had brought him immense satisfaction.

A smile graced Xu Nian's lips; it appeared his decision was indeed a wise one.

Forging an alliance with a Divine-level expert was undeniably an advantageous move.

"Brother Lei, you share the surname Lei as well. Are you perhaps affiliated with the Lei Family?" Xu Nian inquired.

"In a manner of speaking. However, I severed all ties with the Lei Family eons ago. They remain entirely unaware of my existence. Pray tell, do you happen to harbor any animosity towards the Lei Family?" the old man probed.

"A minor disagreement, one might say," Xu Nian confessed.

"Rest assured, I shall not involve myself in any trouble for you. The Lei Family is the Lei Family, and I am I. I have long since vowed never to interfere in any of their affairs," the old man declared.

Upon hearing this assurance, Xu Nian felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"Speaking of which, Brother, what is your current cultivation level?" Xu Nian asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Middle-level God!" the old man stated matter-of-factly.

"Middle-level God?" Xu Nian echoed, amazement coloring his tone.

A Middle-level God was the equivalent of reaching the Mid-stage of the Divine level.

It was no wonder the old man's power was so formidable; he had attained the rank of a Middle-level God.

"Brother, I fear I cannot remain here with you any longer. I have pressing matters to attend to elsewhere," Xu Nian conveyed, having conversed with the elder for a considerable period, and now chose to take his leave.

"Nonsense! If you depart and I exhaust this supply of wine, to whom shall I turn for more? I am accompanying you," the old man declared resolutely.

"You intend to travel with me?" Xu Nian expressed a degree of surprise.

He had never anticipated the old man would choose to depart alongside him.

"What, you are hesitant?" the old man inquired, a hint of challenge in his voice.

"Not at all, I am merely taken aback," Xu Nian clarified.

"I have been idle for far too long. It is time I ventured out and surveyed the world once more," the old man mused.

Xu Nian, too, felt a surge of pleasure at this prospect.

With a Divine-level expert by his side, what cause did he have for fear?

And so, the two individuals departed from Thunder Pond Valley together.