The ancient Heavenwolf Mountain had little vegetation — what existed were only a few ancient spiritual trees. This was a primordial stone mountain, drawing in the essential energy of heaven and earth, gathering the radiance of the divine moon, absorbing the essence of the celestial sun, with sacred energy rising in swirling billows.

Before the manor, a few young men with golden hair cascading over their shoulders stood tall, each one imposing — like figures cast from pure gold. Their golden pupils shot forth the true fire of the sun, burning brilliantly and with intimidating intensity.

The Golden Crow clan was born with bodies of fire; every one of them was extraordinarily powerful, and few were willing to provoke them.

They dwelt upon the Fusang Divine Tree, drawing nourishment from the essence of the sun — each one carried fire essence within, incomparably dominant and fierce. When the divine fire ignited, ten thousand things turned to ash.

However, this was, after all, the Heavenwolf Mountain Manor; they dared not be rude, and simply stood outside the manor, waiting to enter according to protocol.

“Has the Sixth Prince come?” one sect master asked. Though he was of the elder generation, he too knew of Lu Ya’s formidable power.

“Our lord has not yet arrived — he is occupied with urgent matters and cannot free himself. However, our clan’s Ninth Prince will come personally to offer birthday congratulations to the Old Wolf God.” One of the golden-haired young men replied.

“Every one of the Golden Crow clan’s ten princes is gifted with exceptional genius — and among them, Prince Lu Ya stands supreme!” a sect master praised.

In the present age, the Golden Crow clan was incomparably powerful, at the very pinnacle of their flourishing might. The ten princes, each more fearsome than the last — several of them could slay Sacred Masters.

The First Prince of the Golden Crow might be understandable — he had, after all, cultivated the Dao for over forty years. But even his younger brothers were all like this.

Though it was an age of fading spiritual energy, where the laws of heaven and earth had drastically shifted and the powerful were nowhere near as numerous or formidable as they had been in the ancient wilderness, the Golden Crow clan was an exception to all of that.

They had ushered in a golden age that defied belief — a single lineage producing ten princes, each one capable of overawing the entire land, causing all to step aside wherever they passed.

Among all the sons of the Golden Crow Old King, their numbers were certainly not few — but only those who reached the Sacred Master level had the right to be called princes. That alone said everything.

In the past, having two or three princes was already considered remarkable. Now ten had appeared all at once. The magnitude of their flourishing could not have been more evident.

Ye Fan listened from a distance. Learning all of this, he was inwardly startled as well — he found it difficult to believe, all of it feeling like a dream.

A single lineage with ten princes — no wonder even the mere arrival of Lu Ya’s subordinates drew sidelong stares from everyone. Who would dare provoke an ancient clan like this?

“Does the Sixth Prince truly intend to act on Yin Tiande’s behalf?” one young person cautiously asked.

“The master of the Eight Sceneries Palace is of heavenly genius — someone who can nearly sit as an equal in discourse with our clan’s Old King. He is Lu Ya’s closest companion, so of course he will act.” One of the young Golden Crow men answered.

No one could help but feel a chill at the mention of Yin Tiande — deep and unfathomable, no sect was willing to provoke him. Otherwise, with the Golden Crow clan’s own dominance, how could they possibly have formed a friendship with him?

The Heavenwolf Mountain Manor had been carved out of mountain stone, possessing a distinctive character and aesthetic. People were constantly entering and leaving; it was enormously grand, occupying a vast area of land.

“When will the Ninth Prince arrive?” a sect master asked. Many people wanted to maintain good relations with the powerful Golden Crow clan.

“Our clan’s Ninth Prince should arrive somewhat later — he went to prepare a gift.” A Golden Crow clansman answered.

“You are far too courteous — just having the Ninth Prince come is already wonderful. There is no need for such formality.” One of the Old Wolf God’s disciples stepped out, smiling warmly, treating these guests with great courtesy. He ordered people to welcome them inside.

The interior of the manor was simple, yet not at all crude. Stone palaces rose magnificently, rock halls stood vast and enormous, the atmosphere powerful and imposing.

Many had already arrived — all outstanding cultivators from across various regions. Encountering a sect master or a remarkably talented prodigy here was nothing unusual.

Hmm?!

Suddenly, one of the Golden Crow young men spotted Ye Fan not far away and furrowed his brow. With a swift sound, he snapped open the painting scroll in his hand.

“Very similar — the corners of the eyes and brows are nearly identical, though he does not look nearly as destitute.” One of the golden-haired young men was surprised.

“Doesn’t he know that the Sixth Prince will be passing through Lu Province, and might appear at Heavenwolf Mountain? He still dares come here?!” Another’s golden pupils shot out two streaks of golden radiance.

These few moved quickly, approaching Ye Fan — who had been keeping an extremely low profile, sitting in a corner of the courtyard appreciating the scenery while drinking tea — and fixed their eyes upon him.

“Who are you? What is your name?” one of the golden-pupiled young men demanded in a cold, low voice.

Ye Fan glanced at them. “I came here as a guest. Are you the masters of this place — conducting an interrogation of a prisoner?”

“Hmph!”

One of the Golden Crow clansmen let out a cold snort. A layer of golden energy rose across his face as he bore down with menace, his expression deeply unfriendly, staring at Ye Fan without stopping.

Another Golden Crow, somewhat older, held the first back and stopped him from acting rashly. He asked politely: “Please do not take offense, friend. May we ask who you are…”

“Ye Fan.”

Ye Fan set his teacup on the stone table and lifted his head. His black hair spread loose, revealing his true face — which startled the several Golden Crow young men so badly they all stumbled back step after step.

“It’s you — how dare you come here!”

“What brazen audacity — the Sixth Prince will be passing through this place, yet you did not hide away; you came here in person!”

The few Golden Crow men immediately cried out, drawing sidelong stares from many people, who turned toward them in surprise.

Ye Fan struck out with a single palm, sending one of the Golden Crow men who had been pointing at him flying — bones shattering, golden blood spraying, a frightful sight.

“I was here drinking tea, and you came to harass me. How truly annoying. Your Sixth Prince passes through this place, and you expect me to yield and withdraw — just who is the arrogant one here?” Ye Fan asked in an even tone.

The Golden Crow men had long since taken human form, each with considerable cultivation — but at this moment their expressions fell, and without a single word they turned to leave.

They could see it clearly: this person was dangerous, utterly beyond their ability to oppose. Even carrying the forbidden weapons specially prepared to deal with him, they had no confidence of success.

“You came and went as you pleased — now say what you have to say clearly.” Ye Fan rose to his feet, took a single step that shook the entire courtyard, and a curtain of light cut off the path of retreat for several of them.

“Don’t push us too far.” One of the Golden Crow men shouted — but was quickly seized by the others, who hushed him before he could say more.

Ye Fan immediately smiled. “I am pushing you too far? It is your clan that has grown accustomed to being dominant and domineering. You came to interrogate me for no reason — and now you feel wronged?”

By then, many had been stirred and were all hurrying toward that courtyard, watching from a distance — among them no shortage of outstanding young talents and sect master-level figures.

“What — is he the one who… killed Yin Tiande’s own younger brother?!”

“It’s him — no doubt about it, very much like the portrait. He dared kill even the Eight Sceneries Palace Master’s brother — it’s truly shocking. What kind of origins does he have?!”

All of them showed strange expressions, watching and waiting. In the past ten years, though the master of the Eight Sceneries Palace had not appeared in the world, his authority overawed every direction.

The Golden Crow clan was incomparably powerful — yet the man before them seemed also quite willing to detain them, clearly not someone who took any abuse lying down. He was evidently no ordinary figure.

People had a premonition: perhaps in the days ahead there would be a great clash between dragons and tigers. Lu Province might be thrown into turmoil because of this, stirred by a great wave.

“The Sixth Prince Lu Ya hasn’t come, but didn’t we just hear — the Ninth Prince of the Golden Crow clan will be arriving soon to offer birthday wishes. A great battle will begin shortly.”

“This person dared come here — he doesn’t seem like someone who takes a loss. He absolutely won’t swallow it — there very well might be a fight.”

Ye Fan stood alone, rendering several Golden Crow men who had reached the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm unable to move so much as a finger. These men had taken human form decades ago; their own cultivations were not weak, yet they could not resist.

“Friend, even if our words gave some offense, we did not raise our hands against you — you should not conduct yourself this way on the Old Wolf God’s birthday celebration.” One of the Golden Crow men strained to keep his voice calm.

“Is that so? You came here bearing a painting scroll to find me — wasn’t that precisely to have your master come and dispose of me? What difference does it make?” Ye Fan wore a thread of detached, indifferent smile.

“You dare act this recklessly… The Ninth Prince will be here momentarily, and the Sixth Prince Lu Ya will also pass through — you will not escape!” another Golden Crow man shouted.

At that, Ye Fan could not be bothered to say more. One great foot stamped down, pressing onto his face and driving it into the ground with a cracking, snapping sound — several bones fracturing.

“Do you truly want to oppose our entire Golden Crow clan and become our mortal enemy?!” another Golden Crow clansman roared.

Bang!

This time Ye Fan was even more decisive — a single palm drove the man’s head halfway into his own chest cavity, mouth completely sealed, yet his eyes still protruding outward.

“Whether we are enemies or not is your own choice — it has nothing to do with me.” Ye Fan laughed coldly and said indifferently, “Do not try to use your Golden Crow clan to pressure me — it amounts to nothing. If the descendants of an ancient emperor came to bully me, the result would be the same: crushed underfoot.”

The onlookers were shaken to the core, every one of them showing a strange expression, staring at the scene. No one had expected that Ye Fan would dare conduct himself like this and speak such words.

In the present age, who else in all the world would dare say this to the Golden Crow clan? The ten princes, their flourishing without precedent in all of history, past or present — combined with the elder-generation powerhouses of the clan, it was simply terrifying beyond measure.

Just then, one of the Old Wolf God’s disciples approached: a man nearing thirty years of age, clad in plain green robes, his expression placid. He spoke up: “Friend, please stay your hand — today is my master’s birthday celebration. Do not stir up trouble.”

“That is… the Old Wolf God’s last-accepted disciple — reportedly his cultivation is astonishing, and his Heavenwolf Inner Power has reached the realm of complete mastery!”

“Now, the entire younger generation of Heavenwolf Mountain rests on his shoulders. He may in time become the heir of the Heavenwolf lineage!”

Many were startled inwardly — no one had expected Lang Tianye himself to come and personally mediate.

“Very well — I am not someone who enjoys stirring up trouble. Let us spare their lives, then.” Ye Fan said, and moved swiftly, pressing a finger to several points on each of the men’s bodies, emitting a burst of shattering sounds.

“You… you crippled us?”

“You are declaring yourself an enemy of the entire Golden Crow clan — after this, there will be no place in all the world for you to stand!”

Several of the Golden Crow clansmen were nearly frantic — having their cultivation stripped was more agonizing than being killed outright.

“I only severed ten years of your cultivation — I did not cripple you completely. However, it seems my hand was too light: you have spent a lifetime in arrogance and dominance, and still dare conduct yourselves like this even now!” Ye Fan’s face darkened.

All of this had happened too quickly — none of those present had been able to react in time. Even Lang Tianye, who had wished to intervene, could not. Everyone had witnessed the terrifying depth of Ye Fan’s cultivation.

“Enough — friend, you have already overstepped. Let this be the end of it.” Lang Tianye’s expression was not pleasant.

“If any of you dares utter another single word, I will kill you where you stand. Now get out of my sight.” Ye Fan spoke calmly.

The several Golden Crow young men went pale as snow and dared not say another word. Every one of them charged out without looking back, like startled birds fleeing a drawn bow.

On this very day, the cultivators of the Ziwei Ancient Star Domain remembered Ye Fan’s name for the first time — not merely a face on a painting scroll, but the powerful manner of his actions.

“So he is called Ye Fan — he slew Yin Tiande’s younger brother, refused to yield even to the dominant Golden Crow clan, and crippled Lu Ya’s subordinates right there on the spot. Truly extraordinary!”

“This person’s cultivation is frightening — where exactly did he come from? Why has no one ever heard of him before?”

Throughout the Heavenwolf Mountain Manor, everyone was talking, unable to determine his origins.

Half an hour later, outside the ancient Heavenwolf Mountain range, more than ten streaks of golden light sliced across the sky, approaching with great speed — a group of powerful Golden Crow clansmen.

“Report — the Golden Crow clan’s Ninth Prince has come to offer birthday congratulations!” A Heavenwolf disciple called out loudly; the pressure evident, even his words carrying a slight tremor.

Outside the Heavenwolf Mountain Manor, over ten figures stood in line — golden hair cascading over their shoulders, golden pupils radiating an imposing, awe-inspiring light, like ten golden divine clan powerhouses.

Many came out to receive them. The Golden Crow clan was far too dominant; even many sect masters sought to curry favor with them. With ten princes across a single lineage — who could stand against their future domination of the world?

“Who crippled my clansmen?!” The Ninth Prince of the Golden Crow clan strode forward, his voice cold yet controlled.

Several young female cultivators — stunning female disciples from various sects, as well as a few Sacred Women — all watched and murmured in quiet discussion, their beautiful eyes glimmering.

“The Sixth Prince Lu Ya has also come!” At that moment, someone cried out in surprise.