Myth Beyond Heaven

CRACK!

The frozen space shattered as Lin Xinyao’s sword flared with lunar fire.

“I am the Moon’s will,” Lin Xinyao said coldly. “No cage can hold me.”

Tantai Xue’s grin faltered.

She couldn’t believe that the seemingly inexperienced young woman in front of her possessed such rich battle experience. And her power was even more bizarre.

This woman… was far stronger than anticipated.

Tantai Xue’s playful demeanor vanished. Her black eyes darkened further as she raised both hands, divine energy pulsing around her.

“Chains!”

Golden chains thicker than ancient trees erupted from the void, each link inscribed with glowing divine commandments. They coiled toward Lin Xinyao like living serpents, their presence alone distorting space.

Lin Xinyao didn’t retreat.

She raised her sword—

A perfect circle of condensed moonlight formed before her, reflecting the incoming chains. The moment the golden restraints touched the mirror’s surface—

BOOM!

They rebounded, shooting back toward Tantai Xue with doubled force.

Tantai Xue’s eyes widened. She flickered, barely dodging her own attack as the chains slammed into the distant mountains, reducing them to dust.

“Impossible!” she hissed. “That’s not just lunar energy—that’s the Primordial Moon God’s technique!”

Lin Xinyao didn’t answer. She moved, her form splitting into five identical afterimages, each wielding a sword of condensed moonlight.

Tantai Xue was furious. “Get lost!”

The space rippled—

But none of the afterimages disappeared.

“What?!”

All five Lin Xinyaos struck simultaneously, their blades carving intricate lunar sigils in the air.

“Seal.”

The sigils flared, binding Tantai Xue in chains of pure moonlight. She roared, her divine energy surging to break free—

But the restraints held.

Lin Xinyao’s true form materialized above her, sword pointed downward.

“You’re right,” she said indifferently. “This is the Primordial Moon God’s power.”

Tantai Xue’s face twisted in disbelief. “But the Moon God’s power was split into five fragments! You shouldn’t be able to—”

“Of course, I can,” Lin Xinyao interrupted.

Her sword plunged—

Tantai Xue screamed, black energy erupting from her body as she forced the lunar restraints to crack. At the last second, she twisted—

SHUNK!

The blade missed her heart but impaled her shoulder, pinning her to the frozen lake below. Blood sprayed, steaming against the ice.

Lin Xinyao landed lightly beside her, withdrawing her sword in one smooth motion.

Tantai Xue coughed blood, her black robes staining crimson. “You…you’re not just an inheritor…” Her voice trembled with realization. “You have already mastered it.”

Lin Xinyao didn’t confirm or deny. She simply raised her sword again.

Tantai Xue laughed slightly, clutching her wound. “No wonder Yun Lintian treasures you so much. But do you really think this is over?”

Her fingers clenched—

“Divine Banishment!”

A pulse of golden light erupted from her body, forcing Lin Xinyao back. The frozen lake shattered, the very laws of space twisting as a rift tore open beneath Tantai Xue.

Seeing this, Lin Xinyao lunged forward. Her blade descended toward Tantai Xue’s throat—

SHING!

A streak of silver light intercepted her sword with a deafening clang. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through space, cracking the frozen lake beneath them.

Lin Xinyao’s eyes widened slightly as she was forced back three steps. Before her stood a tall man in silver robes, his long hair tied neatly behind him. His sword gleamed with an eerie light, its edge humming with restrained power.

“Senior Jian?” Lin Xinyao whispered, her grip tightening on her weapon.

Jian Yun’s expression remained blank, his eyes devoid of their usual warmth. The once-noble Sword Spirit of the God Slaying Sword now stood as an enemy.

Tantai Xue coughed blood but grinned viciously from the ground. “Jian Yun! Capture her!”

Without hesitation, Jian Yun moved.

His sword flickered—

Space itself split as his blade cleaved toward Lin Xinyao’s neck. There was no wasted motion, no unnecessary flourish—just pure, lethal precision.

Lin Xinyao barely raised her sword in time.

CLANG!

The force of the blow sent her skidding backward, her boots carving deep grooves into the ice. Her arms trembled from the impact.

Jian Yun didn’t pause.

He struck again—this time from three angles at once, his sword phasing through space to attack from past, present, and future simultaneously.

Lin Xinyao’s pupils constricted.

Her form blurred as she split into multiple afterimages, each one deflecting a different strike. The real Lin Xinyao twisted mid-air, her sword lashing out in a crescent arc aimed at Jian Yun’s ribs.

He sidestepped effortlessly—

And countered with a thrust so fast it pierced through her afterimage before the real Lin Xinyao could react.

SHUNK!

The tip of his sword grazed her side, drawing a thin line of blood.

Lin Xinyao didn’t flinch. She retaliated immediately, her blade humming with condensed moonlight.

“Sever.”

A blade of pure moonlight shot forth, cutting through space itself. Jian Yun raised his sword—

BOOM!

The collision sent him sliding back several feet, his boots leaving molten trails on the ice.

For the first time, his expression flickered—a hint of surprise.

Lin Xinyao didn’t give him time to recover. She pressed forward, her movements fluid as water, her strikes relentless.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Their swords clashed at speeds beyond mortal comprehension, each collision sending shockwaves that shattered the landscape around them. Mountains in the distance crumbled, their peaks sheared off by stray sword qi.

Tantai Xue, still bleeding from her wound, watched with growing unease. She had expected Jian Yun to overwhelm Lin Xinyao instantly—yet the battle was far more even than anticipated.

Jian Yun suddenly changed tactics.

His sword vanished from his hand—

And reappeared behind Lin Xinyao, its edge aimed at her spine.

She sensed it at the last moment—

Her body turned translucent as the sword passed harmlessly through her. At the same time, her own blade phased through space, appearing inches from Jian Yun’s throat.

He leaned back—

But not fast enough.

The tip of her sword nicked his neck, drawing a single drop of golden blood.

Silence.

Jian Yun touched the wound, staring at the blood on his fingers. His blank eyes finally showed emotion—confusion.

Lin Xinyao didn’t press the attack. She stood ready, her voice quiet but firm.

“Senior Jian… wake up.”

For a brief moment, his sword wavered.

Then—

A dark energy surged through his veins, his pupils flooding with black. The corruption reasserted its hold.

His sword lifted again.

Lin Xinyao exhaled.

So be it.

She raised her blade—

And the battle resumed, fiercer than before…