Divine King of Honour Chapter 1902: Nine-headed Golden Lion

Three days of relentless flight concluded as Xu Nian and his companions finally reached the Original Forest Ye Shumin had spoken of. This ancient forest was perpetually cloaked in a thick, corrosive mist, a perilous veil that attacked the very essence of the Soul Body. Its potency was such that even experts at the Divine level hesitated to venture near. To breach its defenses, one had to meticulously shield themselves with their own power, a process that rapidly depleted their Soul Power reserves.

"The Golden Sun Flower lies hidden deep within this treacherous forest. On a previous, accidental incursion, I stumbled upon it, only to find it fiercely guarded by that Nine-headed Lion. The moment I dared approach, it launched a ferocious assault," Ye Shumin recounted, her voice tinged with memory.

Xu Nian’s gaze pierced the hazy depths of the Original Forest. Indeed, a palpable aura, unmistakably belonging to a powerful God-level expert, radiated from its interior. This presence was immensely intimidating, and though identified as being in the Early Stage of God Level, it clearly represented one of the most formidable beings at that rank.

"So, should we attempt to force our way in?" Xu Nian inquired, his voice steady.

"Forcing our way in is out of the question. Even with the combined might of the three of us, we stand no chance against that Nine-headed Lion," Ye Shumin replied, a firm shake of her head conveying her certainty.

Xu Nian acknowledged her words with a nod. He inwardly conceded that despite his significant advancements in strength, he was still far from capable of contending with a Divine-level Beast.

"Let’s proceed, then. First, we'll observe and try to ascertain the Nine-headed Lion's capabilities and habits," suggested Qiao Baiyun, her tone pragmatic.

Both Xu Nian and Ye Shumin readily agreed. After all, their knowledge of the current situation was limited, making a detailed strategy impossible to formulate.

"Let's go!"

Ye Shumin took the initiative, her figure a blur as she swiftly moved towards the heart of the Original Forest. Her Divine Soul Power bloomed outwards, an enveloping shield of energy. Xu Nian and Qiao Baiyun followed suit, mirroring her actions. However, they all felt the insidious erosion of the strange mist upon their Divine Soul Powers, a constant drain on their resources. Furthermore, the mist possessed a remarkable ability to suppress and block Divine Soul Power. Xu Nian found his own Divine Soul Power could barely extend a hundred meters, a minuscule range that offered precious little time to react to any surprise attack.

For an expert at the Divine Level, a hundred meters felt as insignificant as a single meter in such circumstances. As they advanced deeper, the mist thickened ominously. Xu Nian observed the Original Forest with curiosity, marveling at its unique characteristics. The trees here were ancient behemoths, having stood for hundreds of thousands of years. Despite their age, they were not particularly large, with the most substantial specimens reaching only about a meter in diameter. Yet, their hardness surpassed Xu Nian’s wildest expectations.

He casually unleashed a Wind Blade, a strike imbued with power comparable to a full-force attack from a Mid-grade Divine-level expert, intending to test the resilience of a tree. To his astonishment, it merely left a shallow scratch. These trees, he realized, possessed a hardness equivalent to Mid-grade Divine-level Artifact Refining Materials.

"These are known as Divine Iron Trees. They are quite common in the Divine World and the Netherworld. Over countless years, they have absorbed the world's energy, making them incredibly robust. Legend has it that a million-year-old Divine Iron Tree can be considered on par with refining materials for early-stage Divine Artifacts," Ye Shumin explained, her knowledge shedding light on the mystery.

Xu Nian felt a surge of surprise. He hadn't anticipated the flora of the Divine World to be so extraordinarily formidable. Such trees would be considered priceless treasures even in the Immortal Realm, given that trees, though requiring specialized methods, could also be utilized in artifact refining.

"Get out!"

As Xu Nian and his companions drew nearer, a terrifying roar suddenly erupted from the distance. It was evident that the Nine-headed Golden Lion had detected their approach. Its menacing roars were a clear warning to the intruders daring to trespass on its domain.

Xu Nian and the others exchanged concerned glances. This Nine-headed Golden Lion was truly exceptional; its ability to sense their presence from such a distance, especially within this dense, mist-shrouded environment, suggested a power far beyond mere potent Divine Sense.

"It appears this environment places us at a significant disadvantage," Xu Nian observed, his brow furrowed.

Qiao Baiyun nodded in agreement, fully grasping the gravity of the situation.

"Last time, I was merely fortunate; the Nine-headed Golden Lion was occupied fighting another God-level Netherworld Beast. That improbable situation allowed me to approach its lair undetected. I hadn't realized its perception range was so vast. Currently, we are at least three thousand meters away from its lair," Ye Shumin revealed.

"Three thousand meters?" Xu Nian's shock deepened. The prospect of a stealthy approach using a diversion tactic now seemed utterly unviable. With such acute senses, they would be detected long before they could even get close to the lion’s lair.

"Whoosh!"

Abruptly, Xu Nian’s expression shifted, sensing an imminent change.

"Not good, let's go, the Nine-headed Golden Lion is charging at us," Xu Nian immediately shouted.

Ye Shumin and Qiao Baiyun evidently sensed it too.

While their Divine Sense wasn't as potent as Xu Nian's, they possessed their own means of perception.

Thus, when Xu Nian warned them, they promptly retreated toward the forest's edge.

However, the Nine-headed Golden Lion proved even swifter than Xu Nian had anticipated.

They hadn't retreated far when a colossal lion, adorned with golden fur and sporting nine heads, materialized before them.

Its razor-sharp claws lashed out towards Ye Shumin.

Ye Shumin was genuinely taken aback by the sheer velocity of the Nine-headed Golden Lion.

Nevertheless, she was prepared, and a shield of the early-stage Divine Artifact level materialized in her grasp.

The golden lion's claws slammed against the Divine Shield, unleashing a terrifying impact, yet failing to shatter it.

Leveraging the forceful rebound, Ye Shumin rapidly withdrew.

Meanwhile, Qiao Baiyun unleashed a remarkable body-refinement skill.

Her form flickered, transforming into nine distinct illusions.

These nine spectral figures were so uncannily lifelike that discerning the true body was an impossible feat.

The Golden Lion faltered, shifting its predatory focus from Qiao Baiyun to Xu Nian instead.

The lion expelled a torrent of golden light, which coalesced into formidable golden Light Swords.

These golden Light Swords possessed sufficient might to obliterate any expert at the late-stage Divine level.

To the lion, Xu Nian appeared as the most vulnerable, possessing only Nether Emperor-level strength—such an attack was deemed ample to end his life.

But Xu Nian was not truly confined to Nether Emperor strength.

At Xu Nian's mental direction, the Wind Spirit Wings unfurled upon his back.

Then, employing the Wind Attribute Dao True Intent, Xu Nian contorted unnaturally in the very air.

He utterly evaded the barrage of Light Swords.

His form blurred once more.

He had already outpaced Ye Shumin, reaching the outer reaches of the Original Forest.