At this moment, the two remaining Golden Crows stared at Evan Chu in utter shock, frozen in place as if they'd forgotten how to run.
A piercing bird cry echoed from afar. The pair of Golden Crows that had come from the Golden Crow Holy Hall arrived, stunned by the devastation across the scorched ground.
"What happened here? Who is this person? What on earth just went down—why is everything in chaos?" one of the newly arrived Golden Crows demanded.
"Protector, this brat is the culprit who destroyed our holy land! He came for our Sunstones, so of course I tried to stop him—but his power is terrifying. Even Jin San was slain by him! Please, you have to avenge us!" the wounded Golden Crow pleaded.
The two Golden Crows who’d just arrived were Protectors of the Golden Crow clan. They shifted into human form and scrutinized Evan Chu, but to them he looked like an ordinary human—nothing like the overwhelming powerhouse they’d expected.
Still, the rumors of his strength had to be true—the ruined ground and vanished fire trees were proof enough.
"Who exactly are you, boy? The Golden Crow clan has no grudge with you—why such ruthless destruction? Don’t you know those fire trees are our source of fire-attribute energy? Destroying them is like cutting off our lifeline. This hatred is greater than the heavens!" one Protector roared.
"Whether you came for our Sunstones or just to wreck our clan, you must die today!" another Protector declared, his tone cold and murderous.
"Protector, this guy’s power is off the charts—even you might not be his match. You need to be cautious!" the wounded Golden Crow warned urgently.
"I know what I’m doing," the Golden Crow Protector replied coolly. Then he turned to his companion: "Go report this to the Great King. Let him know what’s happened here. Once I subdue this brat, I’ll hand him over for royal judgment."
The Golden Crow immediately reverted to its true form and sped away, and Evan Chu didn’t bother to stop him. These two were just minor lackeys—strong, sure, but not decision-makers. Only now did Evan realize the Sunstones were the Golden Crow clan’s supreme treasure; he’d thought they were just ordinary stones.
Evan Chu glanced at the Golden Crow Protector and chuckled, "I’d advise you not to waste your energy struggling. You’re nowhere near my level. If I get careless, I might just flatten your entire Golden Crow territory—then your clan won’t have anywhere left to hide."
"Such arrogance! You dare talk big in front of a Golden Crow Protector? If I don’t show you the true power of our flames today, I’m not worthy of my name!" the Protector snapped, fury blazing in his eyes.
"Go ahead, then. Show me what your flames can do. I hope you won’t disappoint," Evan Chu replied, his tone mocking.
A surge of crimson light flashed across the Golden Crow Protector, and he transformed back into his true Golden Crow form. His gigantic body blotted out the sky, leaving nothing visible but his massive wingspan.
Evan Chu’s figure flickered as he shot into the air. If the Golden Crow wanted to attack with flames, then Evan was more than ready to see just how deadly that black-tinged fire could be.
With a thought, he activated Fireshift, preparing to absorb any flames the Golden Crow hurled his way. Maybe he could even use them to strengthen his own Fireshift.
The Golden Crow Protector shrieked, unleashing two massive waves of black-tinged flame from his wings, both roaring straight at Evan Chu.
Evan didn’t dodge. He focused on the heat of the black fire—up close, he realized it wasn’t pure black, but ordinary flame laced with black essence. As it enveloped him, the searing heat pressed in from all sides.
Even with Fireshift active, the heat was uncomfortable. With a thought, Evan began to absorb the black flames into his body; within a few breaths, they vanished completely.
The Golden Crow Protector had thought his domineering flames would kill Evan Chu on the spot, but instead he watched in disbelief as Evan absorbed the attack without so much as a scratch. He’d never seen anything like it.
Even fire-attribute Netherbeasts wouldn’t dare try to absorb his flames—doing so would mean instant death. Yet this brat ate them up and didn’t even flinch. It was simply unbelievable.
Still, he trusted in his own fire. With another sweep of his wings, more black-tinged flames surged toward Evan Chu. This time, Evan only absorbed half, leaving the rest swirling around him.
The black flames crackled in the air, but couldn’t harm Evan at all. Now, the flames seemed almost like a part of his aura, leaving the two wounded Golden Crows utterly stunned.
“This stuff is too good to waste—I should let my Fire Golden Body have a taste too,” Evan muttered to himself, treating the Golden Crow Protector’s flames like energy to boost his own cultivation. If the Protector knew what he was thinking, he’d probably drop out of the sky in rage.
With a thought, Evan summoned his Fire Golden Body. Its sudden appearance left all three Golden Crows gaping—two identical Evans in the sky was a sight they’d never seen before.
The Fire Golden Body immediately began devouring the remaining black flames, sucking them up in a few breaths and still looking unsatisfied.
“So this is the Golden Crow clan’s so-called proud flame? Too weak. Don’t you have anything stronger? It’s so pathetic, I don’t even want to bother,” Evan taunted.
Evan’s words made the Golden Crow Protector screech in fury. “Brat, today I’ll show you the true might of the Golden Crow clan!”
As soon as he finished, the Protector let out another piercing cry. Evan saw the Golden Crow’s third leg flash blood-red, and a cluster of purple flame burst from it.
When Evan saw the purple flame, a sense of unprecedented danger surged in his heart. It was his first time witnessing such fire. "What is this flame? How can it be so powerful? Is this... divine fire?" he wondered aloud.
Evan was right—this was the Golden Crow clan’s lifebound Sunfire, the legendary solar divine flame. Each Golden Crow could only unleash Sunfire three times in their entire life, which showed just how precious it was. Sunstones were so rare precisely because they contained traces of Sunfire.
Evan quickly recalled his Fire Golden Body and layered a powerful energy barrier around himself. He might be immune to ordinary flames, but the Golden Crow’s purple Sunfire was terrifying—he had to stay cautious...
(Author’s Note: Sorry for the delay—busy with farm work these past two days, exhausted but still writing...)