In the distance, the Northern Sea rose and fell — dark as a vast abyss, stretching without end as far as the eye could see. Yet here, all was peaceful and serene — clouds steamed and rosy mists billowed, cranes danced in the air, ancient medicines filled the surroundings with fragrance, and the cave-dwelling was magnificent and splendid.
Great personages from all directions had arrived — great sects from the mainland as well as independent cultivators from beyond the sea — every one of them immensely distinguished, each awe-inspiring in their own right.
Ye Fan walked over holding a five-year-old child by the hand, drawing no small amount of attention — many casting curious glances in this direction.
Not far away, the demonic clan’s lesser officer who had been pulled aside was sweating with fright. “He’s the one who escaped from the Eye of the Sea — the one who drew the bow within a single day and shot down five Golden Crow Princes?”
This was absolutely a star of death incarnate. Throughout this period, every demon cultivator in the Northern Sea had been exercising great caution, terrified of crossing paths with this killing star who had been roaming these waters.
Ye Fan led the child by the hand and walked inward. Many were surprised — not everyone present recognized him. The island’s steps were carved from jade, and beautiful young women stood holding jade trays, carrying exquisite delicacies and fine wines in and out.
“Who is this person? He has no sense of propriety — bringing a child to a banquet like this. What is this? Does he not know that only distinguished figures attend here?” Not far away, an incongruous voice rang out. A young man in brocade robes held a folding fan as he spoke.
Many people were coming and going across the island, with rosy mists flowing around their feet, celestial music sounding pleasantly, song and dance filling the air — and at once every person in this area turned to look over.
“Did the Venerable Xuangui say that children were not permitted?” Ye Fan asked the nearby lesser officer of the demonic clan — one of the island’s guards.
This was a shark spirit. He had personally heard an elderly demon say just a short while ago — let this personage pass through, do not block him or disrespect him under any circumstances, or great calamity would follow. This man was the very killing star described in the recent rumors.
Now, hearing Ye Fan’s question, he gave a full-body shudder and could barely even string his words together. “No — the Venerable… said nothing of the sort.”
Ye Fan nodded. “In that case, I will go in and offer my congratulations. Otherwise it would be ungracious of me to just turn around and leave — a poor way to treat the host.”
The demonic clan’s lesser officer immediately bobbed his head like a pecking chicken and ordered someone to come forward and lead the way, showing the utmost respect.
On the other side, the brocade-robed young man was deeply displeased. He had not expected Ye Fan to not even acknowledge him — to say nothing in response and simply address a demonic clan officer instead.
“In a setting like this, not just anyone ought to be permitted entry. After all, this is quite a formal occasion — the ones coming and going are either grandmasters or direct disciples of major sects — this is an unspoken rule. To bring a child reeking of milk in here is truly a breach of all propriety.”
Ye Fan heard these sourly insinuating words and stopped. Looking toward the speaker ahead, he said: “The host himself has said there is nothing wrong with it — who are you to generate so many rules? If you want to put on airs, go do it in your own cave-dwelling.”
Snap!
The brocade-robed young man snapped his folding fan shut and walked forward step by step. “I do this out of respect for the Venerable Xuangui. I think you ought to learn something about the rules of hierarchy among the demonic clans.”
He said no more, yet planted himself on the jade steps — blocking the way ahead — a faint sneer on his face, with a distinctly provocative air about him.
The trace of a light smile appeared on Ye Fan’s face. He led little Tong Tong forward by the hand — with each step he took, a Dao imprint appeared — and upon these jade steps, auspicious radiance actually descended, with the Great Dao resonating in harmony.
The brocade-robed young man’s expression shifted instantly. As the heir to an ancient cave-dwelling in the Northern Sea, he had ranged freely across this boundless sea domain and stood unrivaled in his era — yet even he was completely incapable of achieving what he had just witnessed.
Each of Ye Fan’s steps was measured and unhurried, yet each time one fell it was astounding — Dao sounds resonating in harmony, auspicious energy coiling and drifting, the jade steps pulsing as though alive.
“Who is he? Could he be…” At this moment, a chill arose in the brocade-robed young man’s heart. One glimpse was enough to infer the whole — this level of Dao technique was beyond him by an incomprehensible margin.
Dao imprint after Dao imprint surfaced upon the jade steps, all manner of talismanic symbols flickering. To others it appeared merely as a rhythmic pulsing — yet in the eyes of the brocade-robed young man, it was as though heaven and earth were collapsing, a roar and rumble deafening to the ears!
He felt as though a giant were walking toward him — the footfalls like a demonic curse striking at his heart one step at a time, drawing ever closer — until he felt on the verge of exploding apart from the inside.
In this moment, his veins felt ready to burst. Every sinew in his body rose to the surface like coiling horned dragons — grotesque and terrifying, chillingly unsettling.
He wanted to step aside, yet could not part with his dignity. He wanted to hold firm, yet had utterly no power to resist — and so he remained rooted on the jade steps, paralyzed.
Boom!
Ye Fan’s final step fell. The brocade-robed young man let out a great cry, spitting out a gush of blood — his entire body flew sideways like a crushed and wilted plant, tumbling down into the dust.
Everyone present was aghast. Ye Fan led a five-year-old child by the hand, advancing at a leisurely pace — no more than five steps taken — yet sent a genius of the Immortal Platform’s second level flying with a mouthful of blood. This was genuinely frightening.
This was the manifestation of the Dao — one’s own being merged into the natural order of heaven and earth — so that even the sound of footsteps contained the divine resonance of the Great Dao, impossible for others to withstand.
“Young Lord Jinbei!”
Only after Ye Fan had passed did anyone dare come forward. They helped the young man up, staunched his bleeding, and fed him a pellet of medicine.
“Such unforgivable insolence — this grudge will not go unanswered…” This young demonic lord called Jinbei ground his teeth.
“Silence!” Someone hurriedly stopped him, transmitting a message in a low voice: “Though you are a demonic lord, do you know who he is? He is the one who escaped from the Eye of the Sea — the source of every legend sweeping through the Northern Sea these days.”
“What — truly him…” Jinbei’s face drained of color, and he froze on the spot.
Over a hundred elite warriors of the Golden Crow Clan slain by a single person — an entire stretch of sea dyed crimson with golden crow blood — the legend of a graceful and elegant youth drawing the bow to shoot down five Golden Crow Princes had shaken the world.
Now, all the cultivators throughout the Northern Sea were wary and watchful, fearful of drawing into unnecessary conflict with this killing star.
Ye Fan led a five-year-old child forward, ascending the stairs step by step — as though climbing to the heavenly palace itself — five-colored jade stones glimmering, rosy mists billowing, drawing no small attention.
The Venerable Xuangui’s three thousand six hundredth birthday — this was a supreme elder demon of peerless attainment, renowned not only throughout the Northern Sea but known to every major sect on the mainland as well.
Behind one jade table after another sat established figures of renown from across the world. At Ye Fan’s arrival, many showed surprise — having already learned his identity.
A stooped and aged elderly man rose from a nine-colored divine jade chair. “Truly, heroes arise from the young. Please, take the honored seat over here.”
This was the world-renowned Venerable Xuangui — an ancient demon who had lived three thousand six hundred years and possessed unfathomably deep power — his hair sparse, his face wreathed in smiles, his skin like crinkled paper densely covered in the lines of age.
“My respects to the Venerable.” Ye Fan bowed in greeting. This ancient demon showed him great regard, leading him to a seat among the honored guests — and Ye Fan repaid the courtesy in kind, presenting a generous congratulatory gift.
“This is the one who escaped the Eye of the Northern Sea — who alone washed the Golden Crow Clan’s entire sea contingent in blood, shaking the world.”
“A soaring young powerhouse destined to contend with Yi Tiande for supremacy — there are very few in the present world who could slay him.”
People spoke in low voices. In recent days Ye Fan had risen like a blazing comet — radiant across the earth — and wherever he went, he was bound to draw universal attention.
“Young friend Ye, your cultivation is profound and world-shaking — truly remarkable.” Nearby, a figure of Cult Master caliber offered his compliments, clinking cups with him and engaging in warm conversation.
“Heroes have always arisen from the young — we old ones are past our prime. Come — let us drink this cup together.”
The consequence of Ye Fan’s battle shaking all under heaven was that, even as young as he was, not a single person present dared look down upon him. He sat as an equal among the old and powerful lords of the previous generation, and every young talent who looked in his direction showed a trace of deep respect.
Of course, there were also many who watched from afar and said not a word — unwilling to be drawn into any association with Ye Fan. After all, the Golden Crow Clan was far too formidable.
More than a few of the Golden Crow Clan’s old allies were present as well — openly hostile toward him — yet none dared act on it. With his reputation now blazing like the sun at its zenith, no one wished to provoke him.
Powerful figures were gathered in abundance — including the Divine Maiden from the Hall of the Human King, the Guardian of the Dao from the Eternal Life Temple, paramount figures from the Guanghan Palace, and the princess of the Purple Subtlety Divine Dynasty, all in attendance.
“Brother Ye, I have long admired your name.” A young man dressed in a black dragon robe walked over, a cup of wine in hand, his face full of smiles — two dragon horns prominent amid his dark hair.
This was the Black Dragon King, greatly renowned throughout the Northern Sea. Though he had not cultivated for all that many years, he was extraordinarily powerful and of illustrious fame. His ancestor, at more than three thousand seven hundred years of age, was known as the Black Dragon Patriarch — whose presence left every cultivator throughout the entire Northern Sea struggling to breathe.
Ye Fan naturally would not let pride get the better of him. Smiling, he clinked cups with the Black Dragon King and began to converse, sharing insights and reflections on the path of cultivation.
As for little Tong Tong — he sat quietly to one side, blinking his large eyes that gleamed like black gemstones as he ate his food. There was no need to worry about him at all.
Seeing the Black Dragon King step forward, a number of others also came over to make conversation — and for a time the atmosphere in this corner became exceedingly lively.
“Brother Ye, you truly possess great courage and divine power — daring to draw the bow against the Golden Crow Clan and shoot down five princes within a single day. Truly a magnificent feat!”
Here of course were old enemies of the Golden Crow Clan as well, and certain voices gave expression to just that sentiment.
“Brother Ye, you must be careful. Within the Golden Crow Clan there is a true King — one who can contend with the supreme Divine Kings of this era — and is almost without equal in all under heaven!”
As people pressed around Ye Fan raising toasts and drinks, someone offered this well-meaning warning.
Before long, celestial music arose — strings and pipes in harmony — demonic women began to dance, and more honored guests arrived.
People couldn’t help looking outward. They saw that below the five-colored jade terrace, the brocade-robed Jinbei was escorting a heroic and imposing man — his long brows sweeping into his temples, stars shimmering and dying within his eyes, hair bound with a purple-gold crown, walking with the stride of a dragon and the bearing of a tiger, with the posture of one who rules over all under heaven.
“The Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King has arrived!” Someone cried out in surprise.
The Northern Sea was boundless — its true depth unknowable to any who had tried — and many people believed that somewhere at its uttermost depths there was a primordial Roc ancestor, a terrifying ancient sage sleeping in silence.
And within the sea domain that was known to them, the relative strength of the various great powers could be estimated. It was said that the Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King was the matchless rising powerhouse among the demonic clans.
It was rumored that after the Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King took human form, he abandoned his demonic essence of his own accord and changed to cultivating human methods — and by now his Dao arts had reached a divine and transcendent level, the cultivation art he practiced being a terrifying lineage from the ancient human clans.
At this moment, people revealed expressions of unusual interest — for around the Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King, in addition to Jinbei, there were also several golden crows, as well as the Taiyin Divine Son — all of them Ye Fan’s enemies.
The Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King bowed to the Venerable Xuangui and presented his congratulatory gift, then looked directly at Ye Fan. “In a setting like this, every person with a seat is a grandmaster at minimum — even the direct disciples of major sects occupy the last seats. You bring in a child who still reeks of milk — truly a person with no understanding of propriety.”
The atmosphere in the room tensed at once. The Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King was the matchless rising powerhouse of the Northern Sea — known to all. It was known that his relationship with the Golden Crow Clan ran deep — for him to provoke now left no need to wonder at his reasons.
“You say that everyone present here is of distinguished status — yet do you know who he is? As the sole living bloodline of the Human Clan’s Sacred Emperor, he is ten thousand times more noble than you.” Ye Fan replied with easy composure.
Everyone set down their wine cups, and the room fell into sudden silence. Hearts pounded in every chest — people had recognized the Taiyin Divine Son standing beside the Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King, and the exceptionally martial-looking golden crow among the group — could that possibly be Lu Ya?
The Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King, the Taiyin Divine Son, Lu Ya — these were among the most terrifying young powerhouses renowned throughout both sea and mainland. Could it be they had gathered here to kill Ye Fan?
“The descendant of the Human Clan’s Sacred Emperor… hahahaha…” The Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King laughed — and then his expression suddenly turned frigid. “Just because you say he is one, does that make him one? I could just as easily say that his ancestor was my servant. And I’ve come here today to take him back!”
The Taiyin Divine Son, along with several powerful golden crows, also fixed their cold and severe gazes upon Ye Fan and the five-year-old child seated quietly behind the jade table.
“You say his ancestor was your servant? For those words alone — if you are still allowed to remain alive in the Northern Sea — then that truly would be an outrage to both men and gods!” Ye Fan regarded the Nine-Headed Flood Dragon King with cold indifference, then looked toward the important figures from the ancient human legacies of the Hall of the Human King, the Guanghan Palace, and the Purple Subtlety Divine Dynasty. “Honored ones — am I not speaking the truth?”