Chapter 326: The Fire Mane King

Chapter 326: The Fire Mane King

January 7, 2025

After spending over ten days searching the buffer zone near Wizard Town, Sunan and his three companions found nothing. They began to venture deeper into the area occupied by the deities.

Similar to Wizard Town, the deities had also established an outpost in the Realm of Truth.

However, unlike the pragmatic wizards, most deities enjoyed grand displays of power and luxury. They had constructed a magnificent castle, named the Pantheon, at the cost of their divine power.

As they entered the buffer zone near the Pantheon, Sunan and his group became increasingly cautious.

In this area, the chances of encountering deities would undoubtedly increase significantly.

If that was all, it wouldn't be a problem. Without sufficient interests at stake, both parties would merely exchange greetings and part ways, rarely leading to conflict.

But if they found a Law Node here, they would have to consider the risk of attracting more deities vying for it.

"The core of a deity's power is their divine office, which greatly influences their temperament and actions."

"Deities with divine offices related to slaughter are often bloodthirsty and brutal."

"Those with offices related to fire tend to have violent temperaments."

During their search, Sunan and the other three discussed matters related to deities.

Although Sunan had memories from his previous life, his understanding of deities was no better than Mai Ya and the others, who had been dealing with them for centuries. This was a good opportunity to gather more intelligence.

After all, they would likely face deities in the future.

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, more than three months had passed since Sunan ventured into the buffer zone near the Pantheon, but unfortunately, they had found nothing.

Although they were a bit disappointed, they didn't take it too seriously, as they had experienced dry spells lasting a century or two without any discoveries.

"Let's end the search here for now," Mai Ya suggested. "We should return and rest."

The other three naturally agreed.

In recent days, they had felt as if someone was watching them, most likely a deity or several deities.

This wasn't surprising. After all, they had lingered in an area dominated by enemy forces for so long, it was only natural for some vigilant deities to take notice.

If they stayed any longer, they might attract the attention of deities seeking to hunt wizards.

After reaching a consensus, the group headed back towards Wizard Town without delay.

However, as they passed through the central area of the buffer zone, Sunan suddenly paused, his expression changing.

Mai Ya, Morik, and Ortis noticed his reaction and immediately halted, carefully scanning their surroundings.

Over the years of working together, they had witnessed Sunan's keen perception firsthand. On many occasions, his early detection of nearby deities had allowed them to prepare in advance.

"Did you sense something?" Mai Ya asked in a low voice.

"In the northwest direction, about forty to fifty kilometers away, there's a very strong Law fluctuation," Sunan said, his eyes gleaming slightly. "It's very likely a Law Node!"

Upon hearing this, Mai Ya, Morik, and Ortis' eyes lit up as well.

Without questioning Sunan's words, the group immediately headed northwest, even tearing through space and directly using their space moons.

In just three or four breaths, the four of them arrived over forty kilometers away.

The moment their figures appeared in the sky, they spotted the Law Node amidst the rugged rocks.

However, unlike the Law Nodes they had encountered before, this one was much larger.

If one ignored the dazzling inner starry sky and focused only on its outline, it resembled a giant tree fifty to sixty meters tall.

"This isn't a temporary Law Node," Mai Ya breathed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's a permanent Law Node!"

Morik and Ortis' faces also lit up with surprise.

"The intensity of these Law fluctuations indeed confirms it's a permanent Law Node!"

"It's actually a permanent Law Node!"

Even Sunan was taken aback.

Unlike temporary Law Nodes that randomly appeared in the Realm of Truth at regular intervals, the chances of finding a permanent Law Node were incredibly low.

In the long history since the discovery of the Realm of Truth, only three permanent Law Nodes had ever appeared.

The last time a permanent Law Node was discovered was over twenty thousand years ago.

They never expected to find one this time.

After the initial excitement, Sunan and his companions quickly calmed down, their expressions turning solemn.

While discovering a permanent Law Node was a fortunate event, it also carried immense risks.

Without a doubt, once news of the permanent Law Node spread, it would attract the envy of countless True Spirit Wizards and deities.

The interests at stake behind this were indeed staggering.

"We must send word back immediately and request reinforcements."

Mai Ya was the first to break the silence, turning to the other three.

"This permanent Law Node was discovered by the four of us, so let's share it among our four factions. We can discuss the specific allocation after we secure the Law Node, how about it?"

Morik and Ortis exchanged glances and readily agreed without hesitation.

They were well aware that with the strength of Abyss Dawn and the Sky Ravens, it was impossible for them to hold onto this permanent Law Node. They would have to join forces with the Codex of Wisdom and the Star Alliance.

Although this meant that the Codex of Wisdom and the Star Alliance would undoubtedly take the lion's share, it was still better than getting nothing.

Even if they could only obtain a cultivation quota from the permanent Law Node, it would still be a delightful surprise for them.

Sunan's eyes flashed, and he also agreed.

The interests involved in the permanent Law Node were too vast; the covetous forces were not something a single Wizard faction could withstand.

Even major Wizard factions faced the same situation.

The most prudent approach was for multiple Wizard factions to collaborate.

At this moment, Sunan couldn't help but feel relieved that the Star Alliance's Floating City had already been constructed.

With the Floating City, the Star Alliance had a stronger bargaining position. Once they occupied the permanent Law Node, they would naturally gain a larger share of the benefits.

In the end, power would determine the outcome in this world.

After reaching a consensus, the four of them immediately took action.

Mai Ya flipped her wrist, and a green crystal the size of a dragon's eye appeared in her palm.

With a flick of her finger, the green crystal shot out, and in mid-air, it suddenly glowed brightly, transforming into a semi-transparent green bird the size of a fist. It darted towards the distance like an arrow, quickly disappearing at the edge of the horizon.

"This is the center of the buffer zone, quite a distance from Wizard Town. From sending the message, gathering personnel, to the reinforcements arriving, it will take at least half an hour."

Mai Ya spoke with a solemn expression.

There were many True Spirit Wizards in the Realm of Truth from the Codex of Wisdom, but these individuals did not stay in one place all the time.

Some were in secluded cultivation.

Others were out searching for Law Nodes.

It would take time to convey the message to them and have them come to provide support.

"Before the reinforcements arrive, we must hold onto this Law Node."

The four of them then began setting up an array to conceal the Law fluctuations.

However, halfway through the setup, a powerful surge of energy suddenly came from the distance.

Sunan looked up and noticed that the edge of the horizon had turned crimson with flames, rapidly spreading towards them.

As the distance closed, they realized that the source of the crimson sky was a being with a height of over ten meters, a robust and muscular body, and perfect, flawless muscle lines. It had a human body with a lion's head.

"Fire Mane King!" Ortis's expression changed.

Morik's face also turned grim. "How did this guy end up here?"

The Fire Mane King was the formidable deity who had previously fought three Fourth-Rank Wizards alone and even managed to kill one of them.

He was also known as the King of Beasts.

His divine role was that of flames and beasts, equivalent to a True Spirit Wizard who excelled in mastering two Laws.

Moreover, he was a combat-oriented deity, highly skilled in battle.

Although he was only a mid-level deity, his combat prowess was exceptionally formidable.

Encountering the Fire Mane King at this moment was undoubtedly an unwelcome development.

"I just came here on a whim, and I never expected such good luck to find a permanent Law Node."

The Fire Mane King's lion face, covered in mane, revealed a slightly sinister excited smile, his eyes fixed on the Law Node, radiating unconcealed heat and greed.

Then, he turned to look at Sunan and the others, his mouth curling into a bloodthirsty grin.

"Unfamiliar faces, seems like you're just some unknown small fries."

"I'll give you a chance. Leave now, and I won't kill you."

The True Spirit Wizards, who held high status and respect outside, were reduced to mere unknown small fries in the Fire Mane King's eyes.

Morik and Ortis felt annoyed but said nothing.

The Fire Mane King indeed possessed the strength to back up his words.

Even with four True Spirit Wizards on their side, including Mai Ya and Sunan, both Fifth-Rank Wizards, they didn't have much confidence when facing the renowned veteran deity, the Fire Mane King.

Even at the same level, the gap between Fifth Rank beings could sometimes be immense.

For instance, a newly promoted Manipulation Rank True Spirit Wizard might only possess a Law Node capacity of slightly over 100.

But a veteran Manipulation Rank True Spirit Wizard could have a Law Node capacity approaching 1000, a difference of nearly 900, far exceeding the gap between Manipulation and Dominion Ranks.

The Fire Whisker King, an ancient deity with a history spanning over 100,000 years, was far more powerful than many Fifth Rank Wizards.

At the very least, a Fifth Rank Wizard with a Law Node capacity of 200 to 300 would be required to stand a chance against it.

On their side, there was no need to mention the other two; Mai Ya's Law Node capacity was unlikely to exceed 200.

As for Sunan, who had just been promoted, his Law Node capacity might not even reach 120 or 130.

Their team's strength was far from reassuring.

Despite the obvious disparity in strength, neither Sunan, Mai Ya, nor the other two showed any signs of retreat.

The opportunity to encounter a permanent Law Node was a once-in-a-million-year chance, crucial for their future power enhancement. Even at great risk, they wouldn't back down.

Sensing their determination, the Fire Whisker King let out a cold laugh and charged forward without hesitation. His entire body was engulfed in raging flames.

The next moment, accompanied by a deafening roar, a hundred-meter-tall crimson lion burst out of the flames, charging with unparalleled ferocity.

The Fire Whisker King revealed his divine form right from the start of the battle.

He was well aware that his opponents' reinforcements were on their way and that he must eliminate the four before their arrival, or he would be caught between two fronts.

Unfazed by the enemy's aggressive approach, Sunan and the others acted almost simultaneously.

A piercing howl filled the air as a violent whirlwind swirled around Morik, a visible pale green tornado that surged towards the Fire Whisker King.

The overwhelming force of destruction it carried caused the onlookers to pale.

Ortis, not wanting to be outdone, waved his hand, and a powerful Disintegration spell shot towards the Fire Whisker King.

It wasn't that he didn't want to use his Law Power; it was that he shared the same Fire Law as the Fire Whisker King, but his control over it was far inferior.

When two beings shared the same Law, the one with the lower Law Node capacity would naturally be suppressed by the higher one.

Not only would the Law Power they wielded fail to harm the other, but it might even be controlled and used against them, strengthening their opponent.

Considering this, Ortis chose to abandon the use of Law Power and instead relied on spells to engage the enemy.

However, spells had limited effectiveness against deities, effectively reducing their side's combat strength.

On the other side, Mai Ya's attack followed swiftly.

Without any apparent action, the ground suddenly cracked open with a thunderous roar, and countless rocks broke apart, quickly gathering to form a three to four hundred-meter-tall rock giant. It marched towards the Fire Whisker King with heavy footsteps.

"Bestowing life upon inorganic matter?" Sunan mused. "Is this the application of the Law of Life?"

Boom!

The Fire Whisker King's flames blazed fiercely, blocking the tornado and Disintegration beams. He then spun around and charged at the rock giant, tearing at it with his claws and biting with his teeth. After a savage assault, he effortlessly tore the rock giant into pieces.

But the next second, the shattered rocks gathered again, rapidly reassembling into the rock giant's form.

This time, the rock giant's surface was adorned with countless intricate patterns, exuding a peculiar aura.

Sunan keenly observed that every time the rock giant's fist touched the Fire Whisker King's flames, the raging fire seemed to be doused, its intensity visibly weakening.

"Absorbing life... Even the life of flames can be absorbed?"

"Not only that, but the absorbed life force can also be used to strengthen oneself."

Watching the rock giant, which, despite sustaining numerous wounds from the Fire Whisker King's attacks, rapidly healed before their eyes, Sunan understood.

Indeed, the Law of Life was one of the most formidable laws in the Rule-based system, and its power was not to be underestimated.

Sunan's thoughts raced, but his actions were swift. He extended his hand, and the void seemed to pause for a moment. The Fire Whisker King, who had been charging forward, suddenly slowed down, as if burdened by a thousand mountains. His originally lightning-fast movements became noticeably slower.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end