Divine King of Honour Chapter 1903: Hidden Motives

A single round of offense had failed, and Xu Nian, along with his two companions, had already retreated from the bounds of the Original Forest.

The Nine-headed Golden Lion had successfully expelled Xu Nian and the others from the Original Forest, but it did not press its advantage with a pursuit. It was evident that the Golden Lion was reluctant to venture far from the safety of its immediate territory.

"That was a narrow escape; the might of this Golden Lion is far more formidable than anticipated," Qiao Baiyun exclaimed, her hand instinctively going to her chest. The sudden glimpse of her fair skin was quite striking.

Xu Nian quickly averted his gaze, struggling to quell the rising heat within his chest. Qiao Baiyun, a testament to the allure of cultivation, exuded a potent charm with every movement, a seductive aura that left one wondering if it was deliberate or natural.

Ye Shumin remained silent, her expression clouded with concern. She had been the one to directly endure the onslaught from the Nine-headed Golden Lion, and that attack had indeed inflicted a significant toll on her Soul Body. Had it not been for the Divine Shield absorbing the brunt of the impact, her Soul Body would have sustained severe damage.

"Indeed, it's exceptionally powerful, and the Nine-headed Golden Lion's speed is no joke either. It seems unlikely we'll be able to lure it away and discreetly obtain the Golden Sun Flower," Xu Nian mused, his brow furrowed in thought. Their primary objective was simply to acquire the Golden Sun Flower, not to engage in a direct battle with the Nine-headed Golden Lion. However, luring the beast away now appeared to be a much more complex undertaking than they had initially believed.

"We certainly need to deliberate on this further," Ye Shumin agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

Qiao Baiyun also concurred, lacking any immediate solutions of her own.

"What if we attempt to erect a formation to draw the Nine-headed Golden Lion into its confines?" Ye Shumin suggested tentatively.

"That's a splendid notion!" Qiao Baiyun readily endorsed the idea.

However, Xu Nian countered by shaking his head.

"As you witnessed, this Nine-headed Golden Lion shows no inclination to leave the Original Forest. The prospect of silently assembling a formation within the forest is highly improbable. It's clear the Golden Lion detected our presence the moment we entered its domain.

Furthermore, constructing a formation capable of trapping the Nine-headed Golden Lion would not be a swift endeavor."

Upon hearing this, a hint of despondency flickered across Ye Shumin's delicate features. She fully grasped the logic underpinning Xu Nian's statement. Even setting aside the challenge of deceiving the Nine-headed Golden Lion while the formation was being set up, the very creation of a formation potent enough to ensnare such a formidable beast seemed beyond their current capabilities.

"Then, what course of action should we take? Sister Ye invested considerable effort in pursuing the Golden Sun Flower; we cannot simply abandon it now," Qiao Baiyun expressed with a touch of reluctance.

"Let it be. If we truly cannot overcome the Nine-headed Golden Lion, then there is no alternative," Ye Shumin sighed, shaking her head. Prior to their arrival, her initial plan had been to utilize Xu Nian's Wind Attribute Wind Spirit Wings to distract the Nine-headed Golden Lion. Now, observing that the beast refused to depart the Original Forest, she realized that even if they managed to lure it away temporarily, securing the Golden Sun Flower and retreating safely within a short timeframe would be impossible. Consequently, Xu Nian's assessment left her with no further plans.

"Sister Ye, you mentioned previously that you were able to approach its lair because the Nine-headed Golden Lion was engaged in a battle with another God-level Netherworld Beast at that time?" Xu Nian inquired, turning his attention to Ye Shumin.

"Yes, that is precisely correct. Why do you ask?" Ye Shumin responded, looking at Xu Nian with evident confusion, unsure why he was bringing up this past event.

Qiao Baiyun observed Xu Nian with a suspicious glint in her eye, seemingly beginning to decipher his intentions.

"Is this other God-level Netherworld Beast located in the vicinity?" Xu Nian pressed on, bypassing Ye Shumin's question directly.

"Yes, it is a Red Flame Golden Eagle, situated just ahead on Dragon Flame Mountain. Are you suggesting..." Ye Shumin trailed off, realizing Xu Nian's line of thought.

Xu Nian offered a subtle smile.

"Precisely. Since Sister Ye was able to approach the lair last time due to the conflict between two God-level Netherworld Beasts, we can simply replicate that scenario," Xu Nian declared with a grin.

"You intend to provoke the Red Flame Golden Eagle into a confrontation with the Nine-headed Golden Lion?" Ye Shumin asked, her gaze fixed on Xu Nian in surprise. Xu Nian's audacious plan had clearly caught her off guard, yet it undeniably presented a brilliant solution. If they could indeed instigate a clash between the two powerful beasts, it would represent their most viable strategy. However, the Red Flame Golden Eagle, a Netherworld Beast of the Eagle Clan renowned for its incredible speed and positioned at the Early Stage of God Level, would not be easily provoked. Even with Xu Nian's Wind Spirit Wings, which were comparable to those of God-level Experts, it would likely not be sufficient to lure such a formidable creature.

Indeed, the speed of the Red Flame Golden Eagle is far beyond that of typical Early Stage God-level Experts.

"That’s right, the Red Flame Golden Eagle’s speed is not something you can easily match. With its flight capabilities, you might perish before even luring it here," Qiao Baiyun added.

However, Xu Nian's eyes gleamed with resolve: "Sister Ye, Sister Qiao, I wish to attempt it. Since I gave my word to help you acquire the Golden Sun Flower, I will naturally give it my utmost effort."

"But..." Ye Shumin still harbored doubts.

Her initial intention was to seek Xu Nian's assistance, not to gamble with his life.

Such a perilous undertaking was not something she dared to ask of Xu Nian.

Furthermore, Xu Nian's endeavor might prove futile, his life extinguished for naught.

"Do not fret, I possess the means to ensure my safety; even if pursued by the Red Flame Golden Eagle, my demise is not a certainty," Xu Nian replied with a reassuring smile.

Beyond the Wind Spirit Wings, he still had the Supreme Dragon Robe, the Star Axe, and the Chaos Divine Palace at his disposal.

In the direst of circumstances, even if this Soul Avatar were to be destroyed, it would merely signify a slight depletion of his Soul Origin power.

It was for this very reason that Xu Nian had put forth the original proposal.

Naturally, Xu Nian also intended to seize this chance to gauge the ultimate speed of the Wind Spirit Wings.

After all, it is only within these high-stakes, life-or-death confrontations that the true prowess of the Wind Spirit Wings can be truly assessed.

"Very well, since you are determined, I shall not dissuade you. Should you succeed in luring the Red Flame Golden Eagle, irrespective of whether we obtain the Golden Sun Flower, for this specific task, I shall assist you in retrieving the Glazed Jade," Ye Shumin stated with earnestness, looking directly at Xu Nian.

Xu Nian offered a faint smile.

He then swiftly moved towards Dragon Flame Mountain, following the path Ye Shumin had indicated.

As Ye Shumin and Qiao Baiyun observed Xu Nian's receding form, their countenances betrayed a touch of apprehension.

"Sister Ye, this young man is quite intriguing; you've already bestowed upon him a valuable treasure, yet he remains so steadfast in his commitment. Such individuals are a rarity in our Netherworld," Qiao Baiyun remarked with a smile.

"Indeed, this fellow is unlike any we have encountered before, a true man of his word. However, whether he will actually succeed in luring the Red Flame Golden Eagle remains to be seen," Ye Shumin's eyes conveyed a glimmer of unease.

"Rest assured, if he gave his assent, he must possess some degree of confidence. But what if, instead of using him as a diversion for the Nine-headed Golden Lion, he accompanies us into the lair and discovers that our true objective was never the Golden Sun Flower?" Qiao Baiyun inquired, her tone suddenly serious.

"Then, we shall simply offer him a share of the spoils when the time comes," Ye Shumin replied after a moment's deliberation.

Qiao Baiyun simply smiled, remaining silent, her expression masking her true thoughts beneath a placid facade.