Myth Beyond Heaven

The staircase stretched downward into an abyss so deep that even Yun Lintian's divine senses could not penetrate its depths. The air grew colder with each step, the ice beneath their feet thickening until it gleamed like polished crystal.

Xia Nongyue's breath misted in the frigid air as she walked beside Yun Lintian, her golden eyes reflecting the dim light. "This place... it feels alive," she murmured.

Yun Lintian nodded. "The Abyss's energy lingers here. Be careful."

The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The walls were no longer just ice—they were frozen memories. Faces of the palace guards were embedded within, their expressions locked in eternal terror.

Linlin shivered, pressing closer to Yun Lintian's shoulder. "Big Brother Yun... they're watching us."

Indeed, the eyes of the frozen figures seemed to follow their movements.

At last, the staircase ended, opening into a vast underground chamber. In its center stood a massive mirror, its surface dark and rippling like a pool of ink. Behind it, encased in a barrier of shimmering energy, was a throne—and upon it sat the preserved body of the last Xia Emperor, his hands clutching the mirror's twin.

Yun Lintian's eyes narrowed. "That barrier..."

He stepped forward, but the moment he neared, a powerful force repelled him. His brows furrowed. "It's not just a defensive formation—it's an energy tank. It's preserving his body and connecting to the mirror."

Xia Nongyue studied the barrier, then the emperor's body. "This should be the last Xia Emperor."

Yun Lintian crossed his arms. "I can't enter. The barrier rejects foreign energy."

Xia Nongyue met his gaze and nodded. "I'll go."

Yun Lintian's expression turned serious. "If anything goes wrong, I'll destroy the barrier. Don't hesitate to retreat."

Xia Nongyue smiled faintly. "I know."

She stepped forward, her robes fluttering as she approached the barrier. The moment her fingers touched the energy field, it shimmered, recognizing her bloodline. A pulse of light rippled outward, and the barrier parted just enough for her to slip through.

Silence fell as she walked toward the throne.

The emperor's body was perfectly preserved, his features regal even in death. His hands clutched the Mirror of Forgotten Eternity—its surface dull, as if dormant.

Xia Nongyue reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they neared the mirror. Just as she was about to touch it—

The emperor's eyes snapped open.

"Ah!" A gasp escaped Xia Nongyue's lips as she stumbled back a step. His gaze was clear, alive, and filled with an ancient wisdom that sent shivers down her spine. Yet, there was no hostility—only a deep, melancholic recognition.

"It seems Xia Yuanteng has successfully escaped," the emperor murmured, his voice hoarse from disuse but carrying the weight of authority.

Xia Nongyue's heart pounded. Xia Yuanteng—that was the name of her ancestor. Clearly, he managed to escape from this place back then.

"Y-Your Majesty…?" she whispered, unsure how to address him.

The emperor's lips curved into a faint, weary smile. "Xia Tianxuan, the last ruler of the Ancient Xia Dynasty." His gaze swept over her, lingering on her face. "You carry our blood. Tell me, child, how long has it been?"

Xia Nongyue swallowed. "From the Primordial Era… it has been millions of years. So long that even our clan's records have lost count."

A flicker of sorrow passed through Xia Tianxuan's eyes. "Millions…" He exhaled slowly, as if the weight of time itself pressed upon him. Then, his gaze shifted past her, toward Yun Lintian, who stood beyond the barrier, watching intently.

"That man…" Xia Tianxuan's voice grew thoughtful. "He possesses a Primordial God's power, yet he is not the one I knew. Much has changed in this long stretch of time."

Xia Nongyue replied. "He is Yun Lintian."

"Surname Yun? The God of Fate?" Xia Tianxuan murmured. He turned to Xia Nongyue and asked. "Why have you come?"

"The Mirror of Forgotten Eternity," Xia Nongyue answered honestly. "We need it to enter the Abyss of Eternal Silence."

Xia Tianxuan's expression darkened. "The Abyss…" His grip on the mirror tightened. "Do you know what lies there?"

Xia Nongyue shook her head. "Only that it holds something important."

For a long moment, the emperor was silent. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he extended the mirror toward her. "Take it."

She hesitated. "Your Majesty…?"

"This mirror was never meant to remain here," he said quietly. "I held it only to ensure the Abyss would not awaken prematurely. But now…" His gaze bore into hers. "If you seek what lies beyond, then you must be prepared to face the consequences."

Xia Nongyue reached out, her fingers closing around the mirror's edge. The moment she touched it, a surge of energy rushed through her—visions of the past, of the dynasty's final moments, of the emperor's sacrifice. She gasped, nearly dropping it.

Xia Tianxuan's voice softened. "The mirror remembers everything. When the time comes, you will understand."

Then, his form began to fade.

"Wait!" Xia Nongyue reached for him, but her hand passed through his arm like mist. "Your Majesty—!"

"My time has long passed," Xia Tianxuan said, his voice growing distant. "This remnant was only kept alive by the barrier's energy. Now that the mirror is no longer here… I can finally rest."

His figure grew translucent, but his eyes remained fixed on her, filled with something akin to pride. "Live well, descendant of Xia."

With those final words, his body dissolved into golden light, scattering like embers in the wind.

The barrier flickered—then shattered.

The moment it broke, the entire chamber trembled. The frozen faces in the walls let out silent screams as cracks spread across the ice.

Yun Lintian grabbed Xia Nongyue and disappeared from the place before reappearing outside the palace.

Bang!

The ruined palace shook violently and finally crumbled into a pile of debris.

Yun Lintian's hand remained on Xia Nongyue's shoulder as they stood outside the collapsed ruins. The frozen winds howled around them, carrying whispers of the ancient dynasty now truly lost to time.

"You alright?" Yun Lintian asked, his voice low.

Xia Nongyue exhaled slowly, watching the last remnants of dust settle. "I'm fine." She turned to him, her eyes calm but distant. "Though we share blood, we lived in different eras. I just... regret not learning more about my ancestors while I had the chance."

Yun Lintian nodded. He understood that feeling—the weight of history, of legacies cut short.

Xia Nongyue glanced down at the Mirror of Forgotten Eternity in her hands. Its surface, once dull, now pulsed with a faint light, as if awakened by her touch. Without hesitation, she held it out to Yun Lintian.

"Here. This is what we came for."