The Lord of Heaven: A Road to Eternity

Chapter 09: Leaving the Mountain of Death

Time passed without him realizing it. The seasons changed. The thin mist over the Mountain of Death came and went many times.

Before he knew it, six months had gone by. During that period, Han Nian did not only strengthen his Dragon God Body and Dragon God Soul. He also perfected his Palm, Fist, Kick, Roar, and even the Dragon God Step. Each technique had reached the initial stage of perfection.

Now, every movement he made carried the shadow of a dragon. He stood at the edge of a rocky cliff, gazing at the vast forest stretching before him.

“It’s time to leave,” he murmured softly.

His divine consciousness spread automatically, reaching a radius of twenty-five kilometers. There were no major threats nearby.

He stepped forward.

Then his body shot out.

With the Dragon God Step, his feet barely touched the ground. Every step left a faint pressure in the air.

He had stayed on this mountain for far too long. He wanted to return.

Level one and level two Spirit Beasts along his path immediately retreated.

Some even lowered their heads unconsciously.

Han Nian’s aura was no longer merely cultivation pressure.

It was dragon blood pressure.

As he traveled, his divine consciousness detected energy fluctuations in various corners of the forest. He discovered several rare spiritual plants.

Thousand Dew Grass. Blue Flame Root. Wind Spirit Leaf.

Without stopping, he picked them and immediately stored them in his spatial ring.

“They can be used for strengthening pills or sold.”

He ran for two hours without pause. His speed remained steady, his breathing undisturbed.

But suddenly—

His divine consciousness caught something.

Killing intent.

Heavy and brutal.

Han Nian slowed his steps.

From behind massive trees, a golden-maned lion stepped out.

Its body was large, muscles bulging, and its mane shimmered like molten gold under the sunlight. Its eyes were sharp, filled with a predator’s instinct.

It was a level three Spirit Beast, equivalent to a Four-Star Golden Rank cultivator.

The ground beneath its claws cracked faintly.

The lion let out a low roar, circling Han Nian.

Han Nian stood calmly.

“You want to test me?”

The golden lion bent its hind legs.

Ready to pounce.

But before it could move, Han Nian had already stepped forward.

Dragon God Step.

His body vanished from its original position in an instant.

The golden lion’s eyes widened.

Han Nian appeared directly in front of it.

Without wasting time, he twisted his waist and threw a punch.

“Dragon God Fist.”

The surrounding air compressed.

A faint shadow of a massive dragon appeared behind him.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion shook the forest.

The golden lion didn’t even have time to roar.

Its enormous body was sent flying dozens of meters, crashing into a massive tree and snapping it in half. Dust and wood fragments scattered everywhere.

The lion’s body lay motionless.

Dead in a single punch.

The forest fell silent once more.

Han Nian stood upright, retracting his fist.

He felt the vibration of power within his bones.

Although his cultivation was only Two-Star Golden Rank, after tempering his body with the True Dragon God Technique, his physical strength was comparable to a Five-Star Golden Rank cultivator.

Han Nian walked toward the corpse of the Golden Lion.

The forest wind blew gently, stirring the golden mane that no longer radiated dominance.

He stood still for a moment.

Then he cupped his hands and gave a respectful salute.

“This is my first kill,” he said softly. There was no arrogance. No excitement.

Only calmness… and a slight awareness of his own transformation.

Once, he had merely been a handsome youth without strength.

Now, he had taken a life.

Carefully, he knelt and controlled a thin strand of heavenly flame to split open the Golden Lion’s chest without damaging the core.

Moments later, a fist-sized, gleaming core rose into the air.

A level three Golden Lion core.

Its energy was dense and warm, like frozen embers.

“This can help Bronze or Silver Rank cultivators strengthen their foundations.”

He stored it inside his spatial ring.

He also placed the Golden Lion’s body into the ring. Its flesh was rich in vital energy. Its internal organs could be refined into body-strengthening pills. Even its bones could be used as materials for weapons or medicine.

After ensuring there were no obvious traces of battle left behind, Han Nian resumed his journey.

Three hours later, the trees began to thin.

The air felt lighter. The Mountain of Death was finally behind him. He paused briefly and looked back.

“Six months…” Much had changed. His divine consciousness spread out.

Within a radius of fifteen kilometers, he sensed human movement. A merchant caravan with several horse-drawn carriages.

About a dozen people in total.

He smiled faintly. “Finally meeting humans again.” With a light push, his body shot forward.

Five minutes later, he was not far from the caravan.

However, he deliberately slowed his pace. His aura was drawn inward. The dragon pressure tightly sealed. Now he looked like an ordinary teenager.

The guards walking beside the carriages immediately became alert when they saw a figure approaching.

But upon seeing his youthful face and simple clothing, their vigilance lessened slightly.

Some even smiled kindly.

Han Nian stopped a few steps away and cupped his hands.

“Excuse me, Uncle. May I ask the direction to Fragrant Pandan City?”

One of the thin-bearded guards chuckled. “Fragrant Pandan City? Did you get lost from the Mountain of Death?”

Han Nian smiled lightly. “I just came out from the forest’s edge.”

The guard nodded and pointed southeast. “Follow this dirt road straight ahead. After two small rivers and a low hill, you’ll see the city gates. About fifteen days of normal travel.”

Han Nian nodded respectfully. “Thank you very much.”

The guards nodded back.

They had no idea that the teenager standing before them was capable of killing a level three Spirit Beast with a single punch.

Without saying more, Han Nian began jogging lightly in the indicated direction.

For five full days, Han Nian ran without stopping, only occasionally pausing briefly to meditate and restore his stamina.

Finally, Tall walls rose in the distance.

A massive gate stood firmly, with a steady stream of people entering and leaving.

He slowed down.

Above the gate were three large engraved characters:

Fragrant Pandan City.

In front of the gate, a long line stretched outward.

Merchants, cultivators, farmers, and minor nobles all mixed together.

Han Nian stood calmly and joined the queue.

The city guards inspected belongings and collected entrance fees.

When his turn came, he paid with several silver coins he had saved long ago.

The guard merely glanced at him briefly before nodding.

He stepped inside.

The moment he passed through the gate, the city atmosphere greeted him.

Large buildings stood neatly in rows.

Shops with striking signboards sold pills, weapons, spiritual herbs, and even formations.

The sound of bargaining echoed everywhere.

The energy of heaven and earth felt thicker than in his hometown, Arumanis City.

“No wonder so many cultivators gather here,” he thought.

With his divine consciousness, he observed discreetly. In this city, Bronze Rank cultivators were quite numerous. He even sensed several hidden Silver Rank auras.