Chapter 704: Golden Crow Tenth Prince

Mount Tianlang had sparse vegetation, consisting only of ancient spirit trees. It was an ancient stone mountain that absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, gathered the splendor of the divine moon, and captured the radiance of the ancient sun. Sacred energy permeated the air.

In front of the villa stood several handsome young men, their long golden hair flowing over their shoulders. They resembled golden figures, their golden pupils emitting dazzling true solar fire that was incredibly imposing.

The Golden Crow lineage possessed innate fire physiques, making each of them incredibly powerful; few dared to provoke them.

They resided on the Fusang Divine Tree, inhaling and exhaling the essence of the sun. Each of them contained formidable fire essence, making them unbeatably strong. A single blast of their divine fire could reduce everything to ash.

However, this was Tianlang Villa, and they dared not be disrespectful. They simply stood outside the estate, knowing that entry required adherence to the rules.

"Has the Sixth Crown Prince arrived?" a sect leader inquired. Though he was an elder, he was well aware of Lu Ya's formidable power.

"My master has not yet arrived; he has important matters that prevent him from leaving," replied a golden-haired young man. "However, our clan's Ninth Crown Prince will personally attend to celebrate the Old Wolf God's birthday."

"The Golden Crow lineage boasts ten crown princes, each a prodigy," praised a sect leader. "Among them, Crown Prince Lu Ya is undoubtedly the most exceptional!"

In the current era, the Golden Crow lineage was incredibly powerful, flourishing to an extreme. The ten crown princes were each more terrifying than the last, with several capable of slaying Sacred Lords.

The Golden Crow Grand Crown Prince's power was understandable, given he had cultivated for over forty years. However, even his younger brothers were equally formidable.

Although it was an era of declining Dharma, where the rules of heaven and earth had drastically changed and powerful cultivators were far fewer and less formidable than in the ancient past, the Golden Crow lineage was a notable exception.

They had entered an incredibly prosperous era, an unbelievable golden age. A single lineage boasted ten crown princes, each commanding respect across the land, and everyone retreated whenever they passed.

The Old King of the Golden Crow lineage had many descendants, but only those who reached the Sacred Lord level were qualified to be called Crown Princes. This fact alone spoke volumes.

In the past, having two or three powerful crown princes was remarkable; now, ten had emerged simultaneously! The extent of their prosperity was clearly evident.

Ye Fan listened from a distance, and after learning all this, he was equally astonished. He found it unbelievable, almost dreamlike.

Ten crown princes from a single lineage—no wonder even Lu Ya's subordinates drew everyone's attention. Who would dare provoke such an ancient clan?!

"Is the Sixth Crown Prince truly going to act on behalf of Yin Tiande?" a young man cautiously asked.

"The master of Eight Sceneries Palace is so exceptionally talented that he could almost sit and discuss the Dao with our clan's Old King," a young man from the Golden Crow clan replied. "He is Crown Prince Lu Ya's closest friend, so naturally, he will take action."

Yin Tiande was profoundly unfathomable, inspiring awe in everyone. All sects were unwilling to provoke him; otherwise, with the Golden Crow lineage's strength, they would never have befriended him.

Tianlang Villa, carved from the mountain rock, possessed a unique charm. It was incredibly magnificent, occupying a vast area, and saw many people coming and going.

"When will the Ninth Crown Prince arrive?" a sect leader asked. Many desired to maintain good relations with the powerful Golden Crow lineage.

"Our clan's Ninth Crown Prince will likely arrive a bit later," a Golden Crow member replied. "He went to prepare a special gift."

"That's truly too kind," said a disciple of the Old Wolf God, emerging with a smile. "It's enough that the Ninth Crown Prince can attend; there's no need for such extravagance." Being very courteous, he instructed servants to welcome them inside.

The villa's interior was simple yet not plain. The stone palaces were magnificent, and the rock halls immense, creating a grand and powerful atmosphere.

Many eminent powerhouses from various regions had already arrived. It was not uncommon to encounter sect leaders and incredibly talented prodigies here.

"Huh?!" Suddenly, a young man from the Golden Crow clan spotted Ye Fan not far away. He frowned and, with a swish, unrolled a scroll he held.

"Very similar," a golden-haired young man exclaimed in surprise. "The corners of his eyes and brows are almost identical, though he doesn't appear as downtrodden."

"Doesn't he know the Sixth Crown Prince is passing through Luzhou and might appear on Mount Tianlang? How dare he still come here?!" Another's golden pupils shot out two beams of golden light.

These individuals quickly approached Ye Fan, who had been quietly sitting in a corner of the courtyard, admiring the scenery and sipping tea. They fixed their gaze on him.

"Who are you, and what is your name?" a young man with golden pupils asked in a deep voice.

Ye Fan glanced at them and said, "I am a guest here. Are you the masters of this place, or are you interrogating a prisoner?"

"Hmph."

A Golden Crow snorted coldly, a layer of golden energy appearing on his face. He pressed forward aggressively, his expression very unfriendly, staring intently at Ye Fan.

Another, slightly older Golden Crow stopped him from acting rashly and politely asked, "Friend, please don't be offended, but may I ask who you are...?"

"Ye Fan."

Ye Fan placed his teacup on the stone table, then lifted his head, allowing his black hair to fall away and reveal his true face. This startled the young men from the Golden Crow clan, causing them all to stumble back.

"It's you! How dare you come here!"

"What immense nerve! The Sixth Crown Prince is passing through this area, and he didn't even hide. He actually dares to show his true self here!"

Several Golden Crows immediately cried out, drawing the attention of many, who looked over with surprise.

Ye Fan smacked out with a palm, sending one Golden Crow who was pointing at him flying. Bones shattered, and golden blood splattered, a truly terrifying sight.

"I am here drinking tea, and you come to disturb me—how tiresome," Ye Fan asked calmly. "Your Sixth Crown Prince passes through this place and expects me to yield? Who exactly is arrogant here?"

These Golden Crows, long transformed into human form and possessing formidable strength, now had grim expressions. Without a word, they turned and left.

They realized this individual was terrifying and certainly not someone they could contend with. Even with forbidden artifacts specifically prepared to deal with him, they lacked confidence.

"How can you just come and go as you please? Explain yourselves clearly," Ye Fan said. He stood up, and with one step, the entire courtyard trembled as a barrier of light appeared, blocking their retreat.

"Don't go too far!" a Golden Crow shouted, but the others quickly pulled him back, urging him to remain silent.

Ye Fan immediately smiled. "I'm going too far? Is it that your clan is accustomed to being overbearing? You questioned me without cause, and now you feel wronged?"

At this moment, many were alarmed and rushed to the courtyard, observing from a distance. Among them were numerous young talents and sect leaders.

"What, he's... the one who slew Yin Tiande's own brother?!"

"It's him, no doubt, exactly like the portrait! To dare kill even the younger brother of the Eight Sceneries Palace master is truly astonishing. What is his background?!"

Everyone displayed a strange expression, watching intently. For the past ten years, although the master of Eight Sceneries Palace had not appeared publicly, he had nevertheless intimidated all quarters.

The Golden Crow clan was incomparably powerful, yet the individual before them dared to casually restrain their members. It was clear he was not someone to be trifled with, and he must be extraordinary.

People anticipated that a fierce struggle might unfold in the future, potentially plunging Luzhou into great turmoil and upheaval.

"Although Crown Prince Lu Ya hasn't arrived, wasn't it mentioned that the Golden Crow clan's Ninth Crown Prince will come later to celebrate the birthday? A major battle will soon ensue."

"This person dares to come here; he doesn't seem like someone who would tolerate being wronged or swallow his anger. A battle might truly break out."

Ye Fan stood there alone, rendering several Golden Crows of the Dragon Transformation realm unable to move. These individuals had transformed into human form decades ago and possessed considerable cultivation, yet they were powerless to resist.

"Friend, though our words might have been offensive, we did not strike you," a Golden Crow said, trying to remain calm. "You shouldn't do this at the Old Wolf God's birthday banquet."

"Is that so?" Ye Fan asked, a faint, indifferent smile on his face. "You came here with a scroll, specifically seeking me out. Wasn't your intention to have your master eliminate me? What's the difference then?"

"You dare to act so recklessly... The Ninth Crown Prince will arrive any moment, and Crown Prince Lu Ya will also pass through! You won't escape!" another Golden Crow shouted.

Ye Fan bothered to say nothing more. He simply stepped forward and pressed a large foot onto the Golden Crow's face, forcing it to the ground with cracking sounds as multiple bones broke.

"Do you truly intend to become a great enemy of our Golden Crow lineage?!" another Golden Crow roared.

"Bang!"

This time, Ye Fan was even more decisive, slapping the Golden Crow's head halfway into its chest cavity. Its mouth was blocked, but its eyes remained exposed.

"Whether we become enemies or not is your choice, and it has nothing to do with me," Ye Fan sneered indifferently. "Don't try to intimidate me with your Golden Crow clan; it means nothing. Even if descendants of ancient emperors came to bully me, they would meet the same fate, trampled underfoot."

Everyone was startled, displaying strange expressions as they stared at the scene, having never expected Ye Fan to dare act or speak in such a manner.

Now, everyone knew that the Golden Crow lineage, with its ten crown princes, was flourishing beyond anything seen in ancient or modern times. Coupled with their elder experts, their power was simply terrifying.

Just then, a disciple of the Old Wolf God, a man nearing thirty in green robes, walked over. With a calm expression, he said, "Friend, please show mercy. Today is my master's great birthday; let's not cause any trouble."

"This is the Old Wolf God's direct disciple! It's rumored his cultivation is astonishing, and his Heavenly Wolf Martial Art has reached perfection!"

"Currently, the young generation of Mount Tianlang relies entirely on him to carry the mantle. He may well become the successor of the Tianlang lineage in the future!"

Many were startled, not having expected Lang Tianye to arrive and personally intervene.

"Alright, I'm not one to cause trouble either," Ye Fan said. "Then I'll spare their lives." He then acted swiftly, tapping a beam of golden light into each of them, which was followed by a series of cracking sounds.

"You... crippled us?!"

"You are making an enemy of the entire Golden Crow clan! In the future, there will be no place for you in this world!"

Several Golden Crows were nearly driven mad. Having their cultivation crippled was more unbearable than death itself.

"I merely severed ten years of your cultivation, not crippled you," Ye Fan said, his face darkening. "But it seems I was too lenient. You're so accustomed to being overbearing that you still dare to act like this now!"

It all happened too quickly; everyone present hadn't even reacted. Even Lang Tianye couldn't intervene, allowing everyone to witness the terrifying extent of Ye Fan's cultivation.

"Enough, friend, you've gone too far. Let's stop here," Lang Tianye said, his expression not pleased.

"If you dare to utter another word, I will instantly kill you," Ye Fan said calmly. "Now, get out immediately."

The young men from the Golden Crow clan turned ashen. Daring not to utter another word, they all rushed out without looking back, like startled birds.

On this very day, cultivators throughout the Ziwei Ancient Starfield remembered the name Ye Fan for the first time, not just from a mere portrait, but from his formidable methods.

"So his name is Ye Fan! He killed Yin Tiande's younger brother and showed no retreat against the powerful Golden Crow clan, even crippling Lu Ya's subordinates on the spot. Truly extraordinary!"

"This person's cultivation is terrifying. Where did he come from? Why have we never heard of him before?"

At Tianlang Villa, everyone was discussing, unsure of his origins.

Half an hour later, outside the Tianlang Ancient Mountain Range, over a dozen golden lights streaked across the sky, rapidly approaching. It was a group of powerful Golden Crows.

"Reporting! The Golden Crow clan's Ninth Crown Prince has arrived to celebrate the birthday!" a Tianlang clan disciple reported loudly, seemingly under great pressure, his voice trembling slightly.

Outside Tianlang Villa, over a dozen individuals stood, their long golden hair flowing over their shoulders, their golden pupils awe-inspiring. They resembled a dozen golden divine powerhouses.

Many came out to greet them. The Golden Crow lineage was too powerful; even many sect leaders sought to curry favor. With ten crown princes from a single lineage, who could possibly stand in their way in the future?

"Who crippled my clansmen?!" The Ninth Crown Prince of the Golden Crow clan strode forward, his voice cold yet calm.

Some young female cultivators, several stunning female disciples from various sects, and a few Holy Maidens were all watching and quietly discussing, their beautiful eyes gleaming with admiration.

"Crown Prince Lu Ya is here too!" someone exclaimed at that moment.