Myth Beyond Heaven

The grand palace of the Divine Light Empress was a majestic structure, its towering spires reaching towards the heavens, its walls adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering crystals. Within its opulent halls, power and serenity intertwined, creating an atmosphere of both awe and tranquility.

Xia Nongyue, followed Tong Jie, traversed the labyrinthine corridors, her footsteps echoing softly on the polished marble floors. The air hummed with a subtle energy, a gentle warmth that permeated every corner of the palace.

They reached the Empress’s chamber, its doors adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes of celestial beings and mythical creatures. Tong Jie paused before the doors, her expression a mix of reverence and apprehension.

“Her Majesty awaits,” she announced, her voice hushed. “Enter.”

Xia Nongyue nodded curtly and stepped through the grand doors, her eyes adjusting to the dimly lit chamber. The room was spacious and elegant, furnished with exquisite taste and adorned with priceless artifacts.

At the far end of the chamber, upon a raised dais, sat the Divine Light Empress, Xi Xurou. Her ethereal beauty was breathtaking, her features delicate and refined, her eyes shimmering with a gentle light that seemed to illuminate the entire room.

Xia Nongyue approached the dais, her footsteps measured and graceful, her expression calm and composed. She bowed deeply, her voice filled with respect.

“Your Majesty,” she greeted, her voice echoing softly through the chamber.

Xi Xurou smiled warmly, her gaze gentle and inviting. “Xia Nongyue,” she acknowledged, her voice a melodious symphony. “It is good to see you returned safely from the Abyssal Rift.”

Xia Nongyue straightened, her eyes meeting the Empress’s gaze. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” she replied, her voice carrying a hint of gratitude.

“Tong Jie has informed me of your journey,” Xi Xurou continued, her voice laced with a subtle curiosity. “Tell me, what trials did you face? What wonders did you encounter?”

Xia Nongyue recounted the fabricated tale she had shared with Tong Jie, describing the perilous challenges, the battles against the creatures of chaos, and the discovery of the Chaos Crystals. She spoke with a practiced ease, her words carefully chosen to conceal the truth of their encounter with the Gate of the Abyss and the Chasm of Uncreation.

Xi Xurou listened intently, her expression unreadable. Her eyes, however, held a knowing glint, a subtle hint that she was aware of the deception.

When Xia Nongyue finished her tale, a silence fell over the chamber. The Empress remained silent for a long moment, her gaze fixed on Xia Nongyue, her aura subtly shifting, the gentle warmth in the room replaced by a palpable pressure.

Xia Nongyue, despite her calm exterior, felt a bead of sweat trickle down her forehead. She could sense the Empress’s scrutiny, the weight of her gaze piercing through her carefully constructed facade.

“Xia Nongyue,” Xi Xurou finally spoke, her voice soft but firm, “I believe you are withholding information. There is more to your journey than you have revealed.”

Xia Nongyue’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing. She had not expected the Empress to see through her deception so easily. She had underestimated her, her ability to perceive the truth beneath the surface.

“Your Majesty,” she began, her voice faltering slightly, “I do not understand what you mean.”

Xi Xurou’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Do not underestimate my wisdom, Xia Nongyue,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of warning. “I have lived for countless millennia, witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, and seen the depths of the human heart.”

She leaned forward, her gaze intensifying. “I can sense the truth within you,” she continued, her voice now laced with a subtle pressure. “The secrets you hold, the experiences you have concealed… they weigh heavily upon your soul.”

Xia Nongyue felt a shiver run down her spine as the Empress’s words echoed through the chamber. The gentle warmth that had permeated the room moments before was now replaced by an oppressive aura, a palpable pressure that weighed heavily upon her shoulders.

Despite the mounting pressure, Xia Nongyue maintained her composure, her expression remaining stoic and unreadable. She met the Empress’s gaze with unwavering determination, her eyes reflecting a quiet defiance.

“Your Majesty,” she replied, her voice calm and measured, “I have nothing to hide.”

Xi Xurou’s lips curled into a subtle smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh, but I believe you do, Xia Nongyue,” she countered, her voice laced with a playful challenge. “The secrets you hold are as clear to me as the light that illuminates this kingdom.”

The pressure in the room intensified, the air growing heavy with anticipation. Xia Nongyue felt her heart pounding in her chest, her breath quickening. She knew that the Empress was testing her, probing her defenses, seeking to break through her carefully constructed facade. “Your Majesty,” she said, her voice firm and unwavering, “I respect your wisdom and authority. But I will not betray the trust that has been placed in me.”

Xi Xurou’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with admiration. “Such loyalty is commendable, Xia Nongyue,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of approval. “But it is misplaced. The secrets you hold are not yours to bear alone. They are burdens that should be shared, burdens that can be lifted with the help of those who care for you.”

Her aura gradually thickened as she continued. “How about start with the Gate of the Abyss first? What happened over there?”

Xia Nongyue’s pupils shrank when she heard this. Her mind raced, trying to figure out how Xi Xurou had known.

Just as she was about to respond, a figure emerged from the shadows, her presence casting a chilling aura over the chamber. It was Cai Xieren, her once vibrant form now exuding a dark,

ominous energy.

Xia Nongyue’s eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding with disbelief. Cai Xieren, her closest friend, now stood before her, transformed, corrupted, a shadow of her former self.

Cai Xieren’s lips curled into a cruel smile, her eyes devoid of any warmth or recognition. “Xia Nongyue,” she said, her voice cold and emotionless. “It seems you have failed.”

Xia Nongyue’s heart sank, her worst fears confirmed. Cai Xieren had fallen prey to the Lord of Chaos’s influence.

“What have they done to you?” Xia Nongyue cried out, her voice filled with anguish.

Cai Xieren chuckled, a chilling sound that echoed through the chamber. “They have shown me the truth,” she replied, her voice laced with a newfound arrogance. “The truth of our weakness, our pathetic attempts to defy the inevitable.”