NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20 - Xia Tian Intervenes – Subduing the Nine Golden Crows and Strengthening the Human Clan
Chapter 20: Xia Tian Intervenes – Subduing the Nine Golden Crows and Strengthening the Human Clan
The nine suns hung high in the sky, their brilliance illuminating the vast expanse below. These were not the true celestial sun of the Primordial World but manifestations of the Nine Golden Crows, their fiery essence scorching everything within their reach. Though their light affected only a specific region, the devastation was immense. Rivers dried up, lands turned to ash, and life in the area teetered on the brink of annihilation. The Golden Crow flames, capable of injuring even a Golden Immortal, ravaged the ground with relentless ferocity.
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Xia Tian observed the chaos, his brows furrowing in thought. “Those brats—Second, Third, and Ninth—have likely been lured out of the Sun Grove by Zhunti,” he muttered. The Sun Grove, located near the Heavenly Court and guarded by the might of Emperor Jun and Taiyi, was nearly impenetrable. Only a Sage could bypass its defences and awaken the Nine Golden Crows, who had not yet ascended to the rank of Golden Immortal.
This calculated move could only belong to one of the six Sages, most likely Zhunti of the Western Sect. The timing and location of the Nine Golden Crows’ emergence—in the Wu Clan’s territory and indirectly threatening the Human Clan—left little doubt in Xia Tian’s mind.
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Knowing the danger of escalation between the Wu and Yao clans, Xia Tian sprang into action. With a single stride, he ascended to the heavens, his body radiating the overwhelming aura of the Golden Crow lineage. The Nine Golden Crows instantly recognised him as their elder brother, the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Court.
Without pausing for pleasantries, Xia Tian unleashed his full power. “You little troublemakers!” he bellowed. The devastation they had wrought was unacceptable. Though their lofty status as scions of the Heavenly Court might excuse their hubris, such recklessness could not go unchecked.
Drawing upon his Golden Immortal strength, Xia Tian activated the Hetu and Luoshu, its radiant light spreading across the sky like an infinite canopy. The nine suns, unable to resist, were swiftly absorbed into the treasure. With the Nine Golden Crows safely contained, Xia Tian descended to the Human Clan’s sacred temple.
[Hetu and Luoshu (河图洛书, Hé Tú Luò Shū): Mystical treasures symbolising cosmic order, often used in myths to contain or manipulate great forces.]
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Inside the temple, the gathered elders of the Human Clan gazed at Xia Tian with awe and gratitude. His swift intervention had saved countless lives and averted disaster. The venerable Suiren, one of the three progenitors of the Human Clan, stepped forward, his white beard trembling with emotion.
[Suiren (燧人, Suì Rén) is one of the legendary Three Sovereigns of ancient China, often considered a cultural hero and one of the Three Progenitors of the Human Clan in Chinese mythology.]
“Thank you, Holy Master, for your mercy in saving our people and all life in this region,” Suiren said, bowing deeply. The other elders followed suit, their reverence for Xia Tian palpable.
The Human Clan had seen remarkable progress under Xia Tian’s guidance. The three progenitors—Suiren, Youchao, and Ziyi—had all ascended to the Golden Immortal realm, with Suiren nearing the threshold of becoming an Innate Dao Lord. Of the clan’s ordinary population, nearly seven billion had reached the Celestial Immortal stage, and three billion had advanced to Loose Immortal status. This unprecedented growth was entirely due to the Heavenly Court’s supreme Dao inheritance that Xia Tian had imparted.
[Human Clan Progenitors (人族三祖, Rénzú Sānzǔ): The legendary founders of human civilisation in Chinese mythology, credited with innovations that shaped human culture.]
Such advancements elevated Xia Tian’s standing within the Human Clan, second only to the revered Nuwa. The gratitude they expressed was genuine, their loyalty unshakeable.
After giving further instructions for the care of the injured, Xia Tian announced, “I must return to the Heavenly Court. Handle the wounded with care.” With those parting words, he vanished from the temple.
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As Xia Tian subdued the Nine Golden Crows and returned to the Human Clan, the Western Mountain of Spirits shuddered. Zhunti and Jieyin, the Sages of the Western Sect, felt the ripple of his actions. Zhunti’s face darkened as his gaze pierced through the infinite realms, focusing on Xia Tian within the Human Clan’s temple.
“The Crown Prince of the Heavenly Court… a true anomaly,” Jieyin murmured, his brows furrowing. Sages like them could sense the vast potential emanating from Xia Tian—a force that defied their calculations and posed a threat to their plans.
“Indeed,” Zhunti replied, his tone laced with resentment. “This Crown Prince may become a significant variable in the grand scheme of things.”