Myth Beyond Heaven

The God of Death's colossal eye softened slightly as it regarded Yun Lintian.

"You carry the fate of all existence on your shoulders alone," the ancient voice rumbled, not with pity, but with quiet understanding. "Even among us Primordial Gods, none bore such weight."

Yun Lintian remained silent. The admission should have crushed him, but strangely—he felt only resolve.

The eye continued, its tone unexpectedly gentle:

"But remember this, Yun Lintian—failure is not something to fear. If you fall after giving your all, there will be no regret. That in itself is a form of victory."

A warmth bloomed in Yun Lintian's chest. How ironic—that the God of Death, of all beings, would be the first to tell him the outcome didn't matter.

"I'll try my best," Yun Lintian said simply. No grand vows, no flowery words—just the unshakable truth of his heart.

The eye pulsed approvingly.

Yun Lintian hesitated, then changed the subject. "Senior, regarding the God of Fate's legacy... I've noticed something strange."

"Oh?"

"Senior Yun inherited the God of Fate's authority, yet I've never seen him wield it. Not truly." Yun Lintian frowned. "Even the temporal anchor came from another timeline's God of Death, not from him. Why?"

A long silence followed. When the God of Death spoke again, his voice carried a rare note of... uncertainty.

"Because no one has ever fully mastered the power of Fate—not even Yun Tianming himself."

Linlin tilted her head. "Not even the original God of Fate?"

"Yes." The eye dimmed slightly. "Fate is the second most mysterious force in existence, surpassed only by Time. Where Time governs the flow of reality, Fate dictates its... possibilities."

"Like seeing the future?" Qingqing asked cutely.

"Not merely seeing." The eye's gaze grew distant. "Yun Tianming didn't predict events—he perceived all possible outcomes simultaneously. The weight of that knowledge was why he often seemed... detached."

Yun Lintian's breath caught. To constantly see every possible future—every success, every failure, every divergence—how could any mind endure that?

"Yun Tian inherited but a fragment," the God of Death admitted. "Enough to glimpse threads of destiny, but not to manipulate them."

Yun Lintian frowned slightly. "Wouldn't this mean there was none?"

"Not really," the God of Death said. "It's just that no one knows where it is. However, counting on how meticulous Yun Tianming was, he must have arranged it a long time ago. It will definitely appear on its own when the time comes."

Yun Lintian nodded slowly.

The God of Death's colossal eye pulsed with dark energy as the conversation shifted.

"Since you no longer wish to discuss the God of Fate's power, let us focus on what you came for—my scattered fragments."

Yun Lintian straightened his posture, his expression turning serious. "Yes, Senior."

"The remaining three fragments you seek are scattered across existence," the God of Death continued. "Each was hidden where only the worthy could find them."

"First, my left leg," the voice rumbled. "It lies within the Abyss of Eternal Silence—a realm where even time dares not tread. There, it maintains the balance between life and oblivion."

Yun Lintian frowned. "The Abyss of Eternal Silence... I've never heard of such a place."

"It exists beyond the known realms," the God of Death explained. "To reach it, you must first find the Mirror of Forgotten Eternity in the Ruins of the First Dynasty. Only its reflection can reveal the path."

"The First Dynasty?" Yun Lintian was even more puzzled.

"The Ancient Xia Dynasty." The God of Death spoke up.

Yun Lintian's eyes flashed. "Ancient Xia Dynasty? Could it be…"

He immediately thought of the Ancient Xia Kingdom where Xia Nongyue came from. Perhaps she knew one or two things about it.

"Second, my torso." The God of Death continued. "It's hidding among mortal realms, disguised as an ordinary relic. It's located among the Southern Expanse."

Yun Lintian nodded slowly. This one would take time to find.

"The last one, my head," the God of Death continued. "It was entrusted to Tai Ying. Where she hid it... even my eyes cannot see."

"I see," Yun Lintian responded. His mind raced, planning out his next move. He would definitely look for the leg part first.

"Go ahead. Come back to me when you collect all of them," the God of Death said gently.

"Thank you, Senior. I'll take my leave now." Yun Lintian cupped his fists and summoned the Gate of Beyond Heaven before leaving with Qingqing and Linlin.

As Yun Lintian left, the God of Death looked at his disciple and asked, "Do you think it's unfair to you?"

Si Junyi raised his head to look at his master and said calmly, "No, Master. The moment you told me the truth back then, I always knew this time would come. I have no regrets. After all, I am the God of Death's inheritor. Death is eternal."

The God of Death looked at Si Junyi for a long time and said, "Good."

***

In a hidden dimension shrouded in swirling gray mist, a towering temporal gate hummed with unstable energy. Its silver-blue surface rippled like disturbed water, reflecting the figures standing before it.

Fan Shen, clad in white robes embroidered with golden threads, stared at the gate with barely contained excitement. His fingers twitched at his sides, his golden eyes burning with ambition.

"At last," he murmured, his voice trembling with anticipation. "The key to infinite power."

Behind him, Tantai Xue leaned against a crumbling pillar, her long hair cascading down her back. Her magnificent eyes watched Fan Shen with cold amusement.

"You should be cautious," she said, her voice smooth as a blade's edge. "Other timelines have their own Nian Shi. Some may already be aware of your plans."

Fan Shen waved a dismissive hand. "What do I care for other Nian Shi? Once I gather enough authorities, even Lord of Chaos himself won't be able to stop me."

Tantai Xue's lips curled into a faint smile—one that didn't reach her eyes. "Of course. The mighty inheritor of the God of Mortals fears nothing."

Fan Shen didn't catch the sarcasm dripping from her words. He adjusted his sleeves, his gaze never leaving the temporal gate. "With this, I can finally hunt down the Primordial Gods' legacies across dimensions. No more waiting, no more hiding."

A flicker of impatience crossed Tantai Xue's face. "Remember our agreement. You help me eliminate Yun Lintian, and I ensure your safe passage between timelines."