Myth Beyond Heaven

Yun Lintian's frown deepened. "I already have many women I love. Forcing your daughter into this would only make her suffer." His voice turned firm. "I don't engage in forced marriages."

The God of Darkness burst into mocking laughter. "Don't play the righteous hero with me!" His finger pointed accusingly. "That Ice Phoenix and Azure Dragon soul in your body—they clearly carry the Vital Yin essence of their descendants. You've already taken women from their bloodlines!"

Yun Lintian's expression stiffened. The accusation struck true—he had indeed undergone dual cultivation with Lan Hanyu and Long Qingxuan. But those circumstances had been... complicated.

"That was different," Yun Lintian countered. "We knew each other beforehand. Your daughter and I just met."

He turned to Hei Yue, whose face had gone through several shades of red. "You don't want this either, do you?"

Before she could answer, the God of Darkness cut in. "Irrelevant!" His form flickered with dark energy. "I won't feel secure unless she's bound to you as your wife. Otherwise, how can I trust you won't abandon her after taking my power?"

Hei Yue finally found her voice. "Father! I don't need—"

"Quiet!" The deity's roar shook the throne room. "This isn't about what you want. It's about survival!" His gaze burned into Yun Lintian. "My power will become part of you. My daughter must be part of you too—officially, irrevocably."

Yun Lintian exhaled sharply. The god had a point—without proper ties, there was no guarantee Yun Lintian would protect Hei Yue after absorbing her father's essence. But marriage...

He studied Hei Yue carefully. Beneath her outrage, he detected something else—curiosity? Interest? Their battle had sparked something in her, that much was clear.

Yun Lintian pondered for a long time.

The God of Darkness' proposal was unexpected, but not entirely unreasonable. If he wanted to gather all the Primordial God powers, forming alliances—even through marriage—might be necessary. However, he had no intention of forcing Hei Yue into anything.

Just as he was about to respond—

BOOM!

The throne room trembled violently as spatial rifts tore open around them. From within the darkness, several figures emerged, their auras oppressive and suffocating.

True Gods.

And not just any True Gods—they were the Palace Masters of the Darkness Palace, the most powerful subordinates under the God of Darkness.

The first was a tall, skeletal man with hollow eyes—Palace Master Witherbone. His aura carried the scent of decay, as if his mere presence eroded life itself.

The second was a woman draped in shadowy veils—Palace Mistress Netherveil. Her movements were ghostly, her presence barely detectable even to divine senses.

The third was a hulking brute clad in obsidian armor—Palace Master Blackfang. His muscles pulsed with raw power, his fists capable of shattering stars.

And the last was an elderly man with a hunched back—Palace Master Hollowgrave. Despite his frail appearance, his eyes burned with ancient wisdom and ruthlessness.

Hei Yue frowned slightly when she saw them. Her gaze immediately flicked to Aunt Liu, who stood at the edge of the group, avoiding eye contact.

She was the one who informed them.

Yun Lintian instantly understood. Aunt Liu had never trusted him, and now she had called upon the strongest experts of the Darkness Palace to intervene.

Palace Master Witherbone stepped forward, his voice like rustling bones. "My Lord, we cannot accept this."

The God of Darkness, rather than reprimanding them, merely leaned back on his throne, watching with amusement. His expression seemed to say: "Let's see how you handle this."

Palace Mistress Netherveil's veils fluttered as she spoke, her voice cold. "This outsider dares to covet the power of our Lord? He should be eliminated."

Blackfang cracked his knuckles, his aura flaring. "Let me crush him."

Hollowgrave sighed, shaking his head. "Foolish child. The power of darkness is not something you can simply take."

Their combined pressure descended upon Yun Lintian, attempting to force him to his knees. The weight of four True Gods' auras was enough to make even a peak Divine Realm expert collapse.

Yet Yun Lintian stood firm.

His eyes remained calm as he swept his gaze over them. "I have no interest in fighting you. But if you insist on testing me, I won't hold back."

Blackfang laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. "Arrogant brat! Do you think just because you fought the Young Miss, you can stand against us?"

Hei Yue's frown deepened. She turned to her father. "Father! Call them off!"

The God of Darkness merely chuckled. "Why should I? If he wants my power, he should prove he can handle my subordinates first."

Hei Yue gritted her teeth but said nothing more.

Witherbone raised a skeletal hand. "Enough talk. Let us see if this outsider is worthy of breathing the same air as our Lord."

With a flick of his wrist, a wave of death energy surged toward Yun Lintian, corroding the very space around him.

Yun Lintian didn't dodge.

Instead, he clenched his fist—and slammed it forward.

"Azure Dragon's Roar!"

BOOOOM!

A colossal dragon head formed from spatial energy collided with the death wave, tearing it apart effortlessly. The shockwave sent Witherbone stumbling back, his hollow eyes widening in shock.

Netherveil's veils flared as she vanished, reappearing behind Yun Lintian with a dagger of condensed darkness aimed at his spine.

But Yun Lintian was faster.

He pivoted, his spear flashing—

CLANG!

The dagger shattered, and Netherveil gasped as the White Dragon Spear's tip stopped a hair's breadth from her throat.

"Too slow," Yun Lintian said coldly.

Before she could react, he flicked the spear—

BANG!

Netherveil was sent flying, crashing through several phantom pillars before stabilizing herself.

Blackfang roared in fury and charged, his massive fists glowing with destructive energy.

Yun Lintian didn't retreat.

Instead, he met the brute head-on—

"White Tiger's Fury!"

His right arm transformed, golden fur sprouting as his fist collided with Blackfang's.

CRACK!

The sound of bones breaking echoed as Blackfang's arm bent at an unnatural angle. The obsidian-armored giant howled in pain, stumbling back.

Hollowgrave's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. He possesses the power of Divine Beasts."

The elderly Palace Master finally moved, raising a withered hand.

"Abyssal Seal."

Dark chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around Yun Lintian's limbs. These weren't ordinary restraints—they were forged from the essence of the Eternal Darkness Realm itself, capable of suppressing even a True God.

Yun Lintian strained against them, but for the first time, his movements slowed.

Hollowgrave smirked. "Now, let's see how you escape—"

Yun Lintian's eyes flashed.

"Phoenix Dance."

WHOOSH!