Myth Beyond Heaven

Ren Yuan’s golden eyes lit up with sudden hope. An illusion? If this wasn’t the real Yin, then perhaps there was still a chance to escape!

Yin’s smile didn’t waver. “Oh? You can tell?” He spread his hands mockingly. “But does it matter? The fact remains—you’ve shaken hands with Nian Shi. How does it feel to betray everything you once stood for?”

Yun Lintian’s grip on the God-Slaying Sword tightened. “Enough nonsense.”

He raised his blade—

But Yin’s illusion moved faster.

With a snap of his fingers, the space around Ren Yuan distorted, forming a temporary rift.

Ren Yuan didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the wounded Chun Yue and lunged toward the opening—

“You think I’ll let you leave?”

Yun Lintian’s voice boomed like divine thunder. The power of the God of Space erupted violently, shattering Yin’s makeshift portal before Ren Yuan could cross through.

Yet in that split second of chaos—

Yin’s illusion lunged at Yun Lintian, forcing him to divert his attention.

BOOM!

The two collided, their auras clashing in a storm of opposing energies—Creation against Uncreation.

Ren Yuan, seizing the opportunity, unleashed his power. His body, along with Chun Yue, dissolved into a mist of golden light, vanishing from the battlefield.

Yue Yun shouted in frustration, “He’s getting away!”

“No, he won’t.” Yun Lintian uttered coldly.

Yun Lintian’s mismatched eyes flashed with divine light as he raised both hands.

“Space Reversal.”

The power of the God of Space erupted, twisting the very fabric of reality. The golden mist that was Ren Yuan and Chun Yue suddenly stalled, their escape forcibly halted mid-transit.

Simultaneously, the silver glow of the God of Balance emanated from Yun Lintian’s body, forming intricate runes in the air that locked down all dimensional pathways.

“Return.”

With that single word, space itself rewound.

The golden mist that had been fleeing suddenly reversed its trajectory, being violently dragged back to the endless abyss. It condensed back into physical forms—Ren Yuan crashing to his knees, blood spraying from his lips, while Chun Yue collapsed beside him, her body convulsing from the spatial backlash.

Ren Yuan’s golden eyes trembled with disbelief.

“This… this is impossible!” His voice was hoarse, his breathing ragged. “You shouldn’t be able to interfere with Heavenly Decree’s spatial traversal!”

Yun Lintian didn’t answer. His expression remained indifferent as he lowered his hands.

Yin’s illusion, still standing nearby, let out an amused chuckle. His crimson eyes gleamed with interest as he observed Yun Lintian.

“How impressive. You’re becoming more and more proficient with the Primordial Gods’ powers.” He tilted his head mockingly. “At this rate, you might even surpass Nian Shi one day.”

Yun Lintian finally turned his gaze toward Yin. “Your interference is unnecessary.”

Yin grinned. “Oh? But I couldn’t just stand by and watch you kill my precious pawn.” His gaze slid to Ren Yuan, his smile turning predatory. “I’ve been nurturing him so carefully, waiting for him to grow juicier before devouring him properly.”

Ren Yuan shuddered violently at those words, his golden pupils contracting in primal fear. Even in his weakened state, the sheer horror of being nothing more than livestock in Yin’s eyes sent chills down his spine.

Yue Yun, who had been watching the exchange, frowned deeply. Her father’s calm demeanor in the face of Yin’s provocation was unsettling. Is he really working with Nian Shi?

Yao Xi’s disgust was palpable. Her crystal-clear eyes burned with contempt as she stared at Yun Lintian.

“Pathetic,” she muttered under her breath.

Yun Lintian ignored them all. His focus remained on Yin.

“Leave,” he said coldly. “This doesn’t concern you.”

Yin’s grin widened. “But it does. Ren Yuan is mine to consume—not yours to kill.” He waved a hand lazily. “Besides, do you really think Nian Shi will be happy if you eliminate one of his useful pieces?”

The mention of Nian Shi made Yun Lintian’s fingers twitch imperceptibly.

Yin noticed. His laughter echoed through the abyss. “Oh ho? So it’s true! You really have allied with him!” He shook his head in mock disappointment. “And here I thought you were different from the other hypocrites.”

Yun Lintian’s patience wore thin.

“Enough.”

His voice carried the weight of divine decree. The space around Yin’s illusion shattered, the figure dispersing like smoke in the wind.

But Yin’s laughter lingered.

“We’ll meet again soon, Yun Lintian… and next time, it won’t be an illusion.”

With those final words, his presence vanished completely.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

Ren Yuan, still kneeling on the ground, coughed up more golden blood. His aura was feeble, his divine power nearly depleted from the failed escape and Yun Lintian’s spatial reversal.

Chun Yue, barely conscious, reached weakly for her master. “M-Master…”

Yun Lintian turned his gaze back to them, his expression unreadable.

“HAHAHAHA!!”

Ren Yuan suddenly laughed.

It was a bitter, broken sound—the laughter of a man who had lost everything.

He raised his head and screamed at the endless void above, his voice raw with anguish. “UNFAIR! This is UNFAIR!”

His golden eyes burned with madness as he turned to Yun Lintian. “Why?! Why must it be you who gets everything handed to you?!”

His fingers dug into the ground, drawing golden blood. “I’ve worked harder than anyone! I’ve sacrificed more than anyone! And yet… I still can’t defeat someone like you, who never even had to struggle!”

Chun Yue’s eyes welled with tears.

In all her years following Ren Yuan—from the moment he had saved her as a weak young master to his rise as the God of Heaven—she had never seen him break like this.

She crawled forward and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face against his back. “Master…” Her voice was soft, trembling. “You’ve done everything you could. Don’t… don’t let him see you like this.”

Ren Yuan’s ragged breaths slowed.

For a moment, the battlefield was silent.

Then—

He turned and pulled Chun Yue into a tight embrace, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “You know… I’ve always loved you.”

Chun Yue’s eyes widened.

A tear slipped down her cheek—but she smiled. “Then… my life was worth it.”

Ren Yuan kissed her.

And in that same breath—

Snap.

A soft, almost imperceptible sound.

Chun Yue’s body went limp in his arms, her soul extinguished before she could even feel pain.

Ren Yuan held her for a long moment, his expression eerily calm. “…I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I wasn’t strong enough to give you the life you deserved.”