Myth Beyond Heaven

Tantai Lanling watched the changes unfold, her expression shifting from concern to cautious optimism. “The mergers are working. The hunting hounds are being pushed back.”

Nian Shi’s prime form nodded grimly. “For now. But Yin will adapt. He always does.”

He watched as a particularly large merger—eight versions combining—overwhelmed a Number Nine manifestation. The merged Nian Shi didn’t just defeat the hunting hound; he unraveled it, studying its essence as it dissipated.

“We need to understand how Yin created these things,” the prime Nian Shi said. “And we need to accelerate Yun Lintian’s development.”

Tantai Lanling looked surprised. “I thought we were abandoning that plan?”

Nian Shi’s smile was cold. “No. We’re changing it. Instead of waiting for him to reach perfection naturally… we’re going to force it.”

He gestured toward the timelines where Yun Lintian was observing the conflicts. “He has seen true power now. He understands the scale of what we face. That fear… that desperation… will make him more receptive to what comes next.”

The game had changed. The stakes had risen. And Nian Shi was done playing defense.

***

**

*

Yun Lintian stepped through the Gate of Beyond Heaven, the familiar energy of the Land washing over him like a gentle tide. The eternal twilight sky, the shimmering Tree of Life in the distance—it should have felt like coming home. But the weight on his shoulders remained, a constant reminder of all he had lost and all he still stood to lose.

Almost immediately, figures approached. Long Qingxuan was first, her draconic eyes scanning him with concern and relief. Behind her came Long Xi, Long Niu, Nantian Fengyu, Linlin, Qingqing, and the others. Their auras, once vibrant and full of life, now carried the solemn weight of those who knew their time was limited.

“Welcome back,” Long Qingxuan said softly, her voice like a balm to his weary soul.

She studied his face, noting the subtle changes. The burning rage that had consumed him seemed to have banked into a cold, steady flame. The man before her was quieter, more focused—and somehow more distant.

Yun Lintian met her gaze, his golden-black eyes holding a depth of sorrow that made her heart ache.

“I’m sorry for making you worry,” he said gently, his voice softer than she had heard it in a long time.

Nantian Fengyu snorted, her petite form radiating disapproval despite her serious expression.

“You better be sorry, Junior Brother! Disappearing for so long without a word—don’t do it again!”

Though her words were sharp, the concern beneath was unmistakable.

A faint smile touched Yun Lintian’s lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. It was a reflex, an echo of the man he used to be rather than genuine warmth. The others exchanged glances—the Yun Lintian they knew was indeed changed, perhaps forever.

Long Xi stepped forward, her regal presence commanding attention. “What happened out there? We felt… disturbances. Ripples across timelines.”

Yun Lintian didn’t hesitate. They deserved to know the truth. He spoke of Number Four—the Uncreation being that far superior to a Primordial God.

He described its ability to consume time itself, its immunity to temporal manipulation, its cold, relentless efficiency.

Then he spoke of Yin’s apparent mobilization, of hunting hounds that were essentially fragments of the Uncreation itself.

Long Xi’s brow furrowed deeply as she listened. “So the triangle battle has truly begun. All this time, it was primarily you against Nian Shi, with Yin watching from the shadows. Now that he has moved…”

She didn’t need to finish the thought. A full-scale war between three primordial forces would shake the foundations of existence itself.

Yun Lintian nodded grimly. “Nian Shi has countless versions of himself across timelines. Yin has who knows how many of these ’hounds.’ And I…” He spread his hands slightly. “I am alone.”

A heavy silence fell over the group. Guilt twisted in their hearts—they wanted to help, to share his burden, but against enemies of this magnitude, they were painfully aware of their limitations. They were powerful cultivators, yes, but they were not Primordial Gods. They could not manipulate time or unmake creation.

Seeing their expressions, Yun Lintian’s gaze softened. “This is not your burden to carry. Your role is different—and no less important.”

He didn’t elaborate, but the unspoken words hung between them—You are why I fight. You are what I must protect.

After a moment, he turned toward the villa. “I need to search through my father’s library. There might be techniques I overlooked—something that could give me an edge.”

“Go,” Long Qingxuan said softly.

Linlin and Qingqing wanted to jump onto Yun Lintian’s shoulders like they used to but Yun Lintian didn’t seem to look at them and went straight into the villa.

“Hmph! I don’t like Big Brother Yun anymore.” Qingqing pouted but her emerald eyes were teary.

Linlin pursed her lips and said nothing.

“Don’t be sad. It wasn’t his intention.” Long Qingxuan comforted them gently.

Long Xi sighed and said. “He has changed completely. I don’t know this is good or bad.”

The current Yun Lintian was never been more motivated to get stronger than before. It was indeed good for him, but he also lost the touch of warmth he used to have.

Long Xi only knew that the former Yun Lintian might not return forever… At least, it wouldn’t be until he finally avenged his wives and people.

Long Qingxuan and the others remained silent.

***

The library was exactly as he remembered—vast, ancient, and filled with scrolls and texts that contained knowledge spanning eons. His father and Yun Tian had been meticulous in his collection.

Shelves stretched toward the ceiling, organized in a system only another God of Elements might fully understand.

Yun Lintian moved with purpose, his fingers brushing over scrolls that detailed everything from elemental manipulation to cosmic laws.

He bypassed the sections on time manipulation—he had mastered those—and instead focused on the more obscure areas: concepts of existence and non-existence, the nature of reality, and especially anything related to Uncreation.

Hours passed as he immersed himself in study. He found texts written in languages dead for millennia, diagrams that mapped the flow of primordial energy, and even personal notes from some True Gods that hinted at secrets not fully revealed.

“Lynn, is there any record related to the Creator?” Yun Lintian asked.

In his opinion, only the Creator could understand Yin’s power.

“Yes, Master. Please take a look at the bottom of the shelf on your right.” Lynn’s mechanical voice resounded.

Yun Lintian turned to look at the shelf.

One particular scroll caught his attention—”On the Duality of Creation and Uncreation.”