After the era of Saints arrived, Kunlun Mountain, Mount Sumeru, and Firesource Grotto became holy grounds that all cultivators yearned for, and the Great Desolation entered a state of peace.
An eon later, Heavenly Court celebrated the birth of Di Jun's and Xihe's children. Despite being born on the Supreme Yin Star, Xihe was a golden crow. She bore ten children, each one a golden crow at the Profound Immortal Realm.
Di Jun invited all major powers to attend the celebration for his sons' birth, but aside from Nuwa, none of the Saints of Heaven came. The Heavenly Emperor's expression darkened for a moment, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
He could understand why Redcloud Ancestor didn't come, considering Heavenly Court had tried to snatch his Grandmist Violet Qi. What puzzled Di Jun was that Redcloud Ancestor hadn't sought revenge at all, as if he had forgotten this enmity.
Still, Di Jun couldn't help but grow angry that Tongtian didn't appear. Out of the people who had received the Grandmist Violet Qi, she was only only one not consecrated. He had briefly considered taking her Grandmist Violet Qi but quickly abandoned the idea.
Ignoring Tongtian's own strength, she had two Saints of Heaven for brothers. If Di Jun dared to touch her, not even Nuwa would be able to protect him or Heavenly Court.
After the grand celebration, peace and quiet did not return to Thirty-Three Heavens.
As golden crows, Di Jun's ten sons were born with Solar Truefire within them. Even as Profound Immortals, even Golden Immortals of the Great Firmament could be killed by them if they weren't careful.
But due to their low cultivation base, the ten golden crows could not control the Solar Truefire within and killed many demons in Heavenly Court by accident. As the Heavenly Emperor's sons, no one dared to be harsh with them. They ran amok even more, even purposely killing the demons that tried to reign them in.
"Before our war with the Titan Tribe, all the demons will be killed by you rascals first!" Di Jun shouted in rage as he slammed his palm on the Nine Dragon Throne.
His sons, the ten golden crows, cowered as they saw their father's fury. They quickly hid behind their mother, Xihe.
"Husband, don't be too harsh with them," Xihe said. "They're just children."
"Before they are children, they are the heavenly princes," Di Jun said, but his tone noticeably softened. "As the heavenly princes, they are killing their own subjects. How can the Demon Clan accept that they were killed by their own rulers and not the Titan Tribe?"
"It's not our fault," Di Jun's eldest son, Di Hong, griped. "Who told them to get in our way? They know we can't control the Solar Truefire in our bodies."
Di Jun leveled a glare at Di Hong, who shrank behind Xihe. "Get in your way? They wouldn't have gotten in your way if you had stayed in your Ten Sun Palace and cultivated diligently!"
"But it's so boring!" Luya, the youngest of Di Jun's sons, protested. He also hid behind Xihe when Di Jun directed his glare at him.
"That's it," Di Jun said. "Before you reach the Golden Immortal Realm and learn to control the Solar Truefire, you will be trapped on Penglai Immortal Island!"
Since the fall of Violet Mansion, Penglai Immortal Island had fallen into Heavenly Court's control. They had also tried to search for Yingzhou Immortal Island but had no results. As for Fangzhang Immortal Island, it was still under Tongtian's ownership, and they didn't dare offend the Three Purities at this point of time.
Di Jun's decision immediately elicited his sons’ displeasure and vehement refutations. However, he was firm in his decision and sent the Demon Preceptor to escort them to Penglai Immortal Island.
"Husband," Xihe said as she watched Kunpeng escort her sons away.
"If you are worried about whether Kunpeng will take any malicious actions against them, you shouldn't," Di Jun said. "As long as a strand of his truesoul resides in the Demon Summoning Banner, he won't dare to rebel."
"It's not that, but is it perhaps too harsh to send them to Penglai Immortal Island?" Xihe asked.
Di Jun sighed as he stepped off his throne and hugged Xihe from behind, resting his chin on the nape of her neck. "It's also for their own good. Discontent has been brewing within the Demon Clan because of their actions. I can protect them now, but can I protect them for the rest of their lives?"
"In addition, they don't know how high the heavens are. Even if I am the Heavenly Emperor, I'm not powerful enough to go against the Saints," Di Jun said. "Their time on Penglai Immortal Island will temper their brashness. The Fusang Tree there can also increase their cultivation speed."
Xihe nodded, accepting Di Jun's decision despite the reluctance in her heart.
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"Kunpeng, Kunpeng, tell us about the Titan Tribe," the golden crows asked as the Demon Preceptor escorted them out of Thirty-Three Heavens.
After Di Jun conquered Kunpeng and the Darknorth Demon Clan, he named Kunpeng as the Demon Preceptor, the teacher of all demons, for his contribution in creating Demon Script. It sounded nice on paper, but it gave Kunpeng no power at all.
Kunpeng had expected Di Jun to give him the title of Northern Demon Emperor. Di Jun's act only amplified Kunpeng's desire to break free of the Heavenly Emperor's control. However, as a strand of his truesoul was still in the Demon Summoning Banner, he could only bide his time.
"The Titan Tribe is truly terrifying," Kunpeng said with a sigh. "Many brave demons fell to them during the first two battles. They even almost made it into Heavenly Court!"
"Hmpf, so what?" Di Hong asked. "I know Father can easily take care of them if he gets serious."
"Yeah, yeah!" Luya added. "We don't even need Father, we can take care of them ourselves!"
"Your Highnesses, you mustn't!" Kunpeng said as he showed a fearful expression. "The Titan Tribe likes to eat demons the most. If you get captured by them, you'll get eaten. Even your bones will be eaten, and His Majesty will become sad."
The ten golden crows became fearful for a split second before their pride surged. They sneered. "Eaten? We'll burn them to a crisp!"
"Tell us more about the Titan Tribe," they demanded. When Kunpeng hesitated, the princes urged him. "Just tell us already, that's an order! You got it?!"
Kunpeng finally relented with a helpless expression, teaching them basic information on the Titan Tribe, but mostly how terrible the giants were to demons, igniting their racial pride.
Not long after, Kunpeng arrived on Penglai Immortal Island. After settling them in, he activated the barrier array. Not only did it prevent invasions against Quasi-Saints, but it also trapped the ten golden crows.
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When Kunpeng left, he had a sneer on his face. "Stupid brats that don't know how high the heavens are."
After flying for a while, a figure split from Kunpeng's body and flew in the direction of Kunlun Mountain. Kunpeng himself returned to Thirty-Three Heavens.
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The ten golden crows spent the subsequent three eons trapped on Penglai Immortal Island. Even when they didn't consciously cultivate, the Fusang Tree and the constant rays from the sun made them stronger year by year.
One day, while the ten brothers were loitering around the island, they suddenly turned around and saw a mousy woman sneaking around. On Penglai Immortal Island, Di Jun had recalled all demons to prevent the ten brother's Solar Truefire from killing any more unnecessary demons. After exchanging glances, the ten brothers flapped their wings and surrounded the newcomer. As they had not entered the Golden Immortal Realm, they still hadn’t gained the ability to transform so they stayed in their true forms.
"Who are you? How'd you get in?" Di Hong questioned.
Trapped in the encirclement, the mousy woman shrunk back and cowered. "Please, don't hurt me, I only entered because I wanted to find shelter. I'll leave immediately!"
"Hmpf, do you think we are so easy to deceive? Only strong people like Kunpeng or Father can enter Penglai Immortal Island's barrier," Luya said.
The mousy woman opened her eyes wide in shock as she heard Luya's words. "If this is Penglai Immortal Island, then you are the ten demon princes?"
"Of course," one of the golden crows said, puffing his chest in pride.
"This little one greets Your Highnesses!" the mousy woman said as she quickly kneeled.
Di Hong frowned. "Hurry up and tell us how you entered."
"How?" the woman repeated. "I was just running away and wanted to hide somewhere. I didn't feel any barriers at all when entering."
When the ten demon princes heard this, their eyes lit up in excitement. They had long grown tired of staying on Penglai Immortal Island. "Show us!"
Withering under their stifling presence, the mousy woman quickly complied and led them to where she had entered. Di Hong and his brothers shouted in joy upon discovering that there was indeed a hole leading out of the formation.
As the ten golden crows flew out, Luya suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked. "You're a demon too, right? Why were you running?"
The mousy woman showed a bitter smile. "The giants wanted to kill me and eat me. I'm just a weak demon. What can I do against the Titan Tribe? Not just me, but my fellow demons are constantly eaten each day by the giants. They even keep some of us like livestock!"
"Those damn barbarians!" Di Hong shouted. "Come, Brothers, let's teach those damn giants a lesson."
Following Di Hong's lead, the rest of the golden crows flew towards the land from the East Sea.
The mousy woman left at Penglai Immortal Island snorted and shapeshifted into a beautiful but cold woman. Her eyes reflected endless hatred. "Di Jun, did you really think that just because you controlled Penglai Immortal Island, you know everything? Hmpf, since you killed Dong Wanggong, I will make you lose everything you care for. Let's start with these ten mongrels."
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As Di Hong and his brothers flew in the direction of the Titan Tribes, they unleashed the power of Solar Truefire from their bodies, becoming ten suns in the sky. It didn't only look like ten additional suns had appeared in the sky, it felt like it too.
Wherever the ten brothers passed, the land dried up, the water evaporated, vegetation withered, mountains turned into erupting volcanoes, and forests burst into flames. Along their way, countless living beings died, both demons and humans. As they searched for the Titan Tribe, the golden crows brought devastation and damage to the Great Desolation.
The ten brothers finally reached the Tianwu Tribe and used their Solar Truefire to burn whatever target they could find. The majority of the giants were still at the Profound Immortal level, and the few giants at the Golden Immortal level couldn't stand the Solar Truefire, getting burnt to a crisp.
Just as the ten brothers were excitedly massacring whatever giant they could find, a flying ax struck one of the brothers.
"Sixth Brother!" Di Hong cried.
"I'm okay!" The sixth golden crow said. Although he tried to appear strong, he couldn't hide the weakness in his voice.
"Who is it? Who dares attack us?!" Di Hong shouted as flames burst from his body.
"I!" Kuafu shouted as he ran towards the golden crows. He held an ax in hand, and his body grew to over a thousand zhang in size, dwarfing the ten golden crows. "Since you dare incinerate the Tianwu Tribe, pay for your actions with your life!"
"Ha, the Titan Tribe is destined to fall to my Demon Clan, so what if we kill a few ahead of time?" Di Hong returned as he and his brothers charged at Kuafu, intending to burn him alive.
Kuafu sneered and swung his ax, nearly striking the golden crows. But even if he didn't directly hit them, all ten brothers suffered damage from the razor-sharp wind brought about by the swing.
"Ah, not good. He's too strong, flee!" Di Hong and his brothers finally felt the terror of death. Without a word, they quickly turned tail and ran.
"Want to leave? Not with your life!" Kuafu shouted and gave chase.
He chased them for over ten days but could never catch them. Despite reaching the Peak Great Firmament Realm in power, Kuafu didn't have any long-range attacks, so he could only continue chasing and swinging his ax. During this time, the golden crows discovered this and used guerilla tactics to keep Kuafu busy.
Although he was far more powerful than the golden crows, Kuafu was alone, and the power of the Solar Truefire gradually wore him down. He wanted to rest, but the golden crows would attack him if he did. He wanted to sip the water of the river, but the golden crows would evaporate all the water.
Like this, Kuafu slowly weakened, but he never gave up chasing the golden crows. Even as he tired, his ax swings never wavered, never weakened. His eyes grew blurry, but he never gave up and continued chasing and attacking.
Finally, he stopped moving and stood still. All life had perished from his body. Even the powerful lifeforce of a giant could not stand the continuous assault of Solar Truefire. Kuafu was roasted to death.
"Haha," Di Hong and his brother laughed happily. They covered their body in flaming spheres, becoming more like suns as they rammed into Kuafu's body, incinerating him into dust.
"That'll teach you the power of the ten demon princes!" Luya shouted happily as he celebrated with his brothers.
Just as the golden crows were immersed in their celebration, a heartbroken roar echoed throughout the area. "Kuafu!"
Di Hong, Luya, and the rest of the golden crows turned around to see another giant. This one wore fur and carried a bow in hand. The ten brothers shared a look and sped towards him, intent on repeating their previous actions.
Tears trailed down Houyi's face as he saw the demon princes flying toward him. Houyi released an earth-shattering roar as his aura exploded outwards. The tears evaporated from his face as he pulled out an arrow and notched it on the bow.
His first arrow blurred towards the incoming golden crows. The arrow was like a black dot, but it was so fast it turned into a seemingly impossibly long streak. Before Di Hong and the others knew what happened, one sun vanished from the sky.
"Second Brother!" Di Hong shouted. He roared at Houyi. "You bastard, how could you! Pay with your life!"
Wrath clouding their judgments, they continued to charge. Houyi pulled two more arrows and let them loose. Only then did the golden crows awaken from their mad state. They grieved for the death of their fourth and seventh brother, but they knew they had to escape.
"Want to escape now? Too late!" Houyi said as he continued to fire arrow after arrows at the golden crows.
The major powers who noticed the commotion couldn't help but sigh in amazement. "I heard that the Titan Tribe had an amazing archer, but I never believed it until now."
"What powerful arrows! Only those in the Early Quasi-Saint Realm and above could take them, and he still hasn't entered the Quasi-Saint Realm. How powerful will his arrows be when he enters the Quasi-Saint Realm?"
Houyi didn't know that all the major powers of the Great Desolation were paying attention to him now. Even if he knew, he wouldn't care. All he cared about was taking revenge for Kuafu.
As he notched his ninth arrow, he aimed for the smallest sun, the one formed by Luya. He let loose and the arrow streaked towards its target. But before the arrow could reach its target, Di Hong slammed into Luya, forcing him out of the way but took the arrow in his place.
"Eldest Brother!" Luya shouted in grief.
Di Hong tried to tell Luya to escape but couldn't. The moment the arrow struck, he lost all strength and died not a second later. Tears streamed down Luya's face, but he still continued to flee. He swore that he would get revenge in the future.
Houyi notched the tenth arrow, but before he could fire, he was forced to dodge the gigantic bronze bell that struck where he had been standing.
"Houyi, how dare you kill my nephews!?" Taiyi roared in anger.