Myth Beyond Heaven

“You are a prisoner.” Yun Lintian spoke up.

The guardian’s empty sockets seemed to darken. “Prisoner? No. I am the Warden he could not break.” It raised a skeletal hand, and the death energy in the air condensed into a massive scythe. “And you… you will join the others who failed to wake me.”

Yun Lintian didn’t hesitate. He swung the Heaven Sunderer in a horizontal arc, unleashing a wave of golden energy that split the earth. The guardian met it head-on, its scythe clashing against the greatsword with a thunderous boom.

BOOM!!

Yue Yun cursed. “This thing’s strong!”

Lin Yitong’s hands glowed with emerald energy as she summoned vines to anchor herself. “It’s using the God of Death’s head as a power source! We need to separate them!”

The skeletal guardian’s scythe collided with Yun Lintian’s Heaven Sunderer, sending shockwaves rippling through the ruined landscape. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered, unable to withstand the force of their clash.

Yun Lintian remained calm, his golden eyes analyzing every movement of his opponent. The guardian was strong—far stronger than he had anticipated—but he had faced worse.

With a swift motion, he activated the God of Life’s authority, emerald light surging through his veins. His wounds healed instantly, and the air around him filled with the scent of blooming flowers.

At the same time, he channeled the War God’s power, crimson battle formations swirling around him. His aura skyrocketed, pressing down on the guardian like a mountain.

The skeleton’s empty eye sockets flickered with surprise. “You wield the powers of multiple Primordial Gods… How?”

Yun Lintian didn’t answer. Instead, he lunged forward, his greatsword carving a golden arc through the air. The guardian barely managed to block, but the sheer force of the strike sent it skidding backward, its skeletal feet digging trenches into the earth.

“Impressive,” the guardian rasped. “It seems my master was right to wait for you.”

Yun Lintian’s eyes narrowed. “Your master?”

The guardian straightened, its death energy flaring. “Defeat me, and I will tell you everything.”

Yun Lintian’s eyes narrowed. “Then I won’t hold back.”

He raised the Heaven Sunderer high, the blade glowing with golden light. At the same time, the God Slaying Sword materialized in his other hand, its obsidian edge humming with dark energy.

Dual-wielding the two legendary weapons, Yun Lintian shot forward like a bolt of lightning.

The guardian reacted instantly, its scythe spinning in a deadly arc. The two clashed again, their weapons meeting in a shower of sparks.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Each collision sent shockwaves rippling outward, shattering the ruins around them. Yue Yun and Lin Yitong had no choice but to retreat, shielding themselves from the devastating aftermath.

Yun Lintian’s movements were fluid and precise, his dual blades weaving a deadly dance. The guardian, however, was no slouch either. It countered every strike with eerie precision, its skeletal form moving with unnatural grace.

“You fight well,” the guardian admitted. “But it won’t be enough.”

It suddenly vanished, reappearing behind Yun Lintian in a blur of death energy. Its scythe arced toward his back—

CLANG!

Yun Lintian twisted midair, blocking the strike with the God Slaying Sword. At the same time, he swung the Heaven Sunderer downward, aiming for the guardian’s skull.

The skeleton barely dodged, but the tip of the blade still grazed its rusted armor, leaving a deep gash.

“You’re fast,” Yun Lintian remarked.

The guardian chuckled. “And you’re stubborn.”

It retaliated with a flurry of scythe strikes, each one faster than the last. Yun Lintian parried them all, his golden eyes never leaving his opponent.

Then—

He saw an opening.

With a burst of speed, he feinted left before suddenly pivoting right. The Heaven Sunderer came down in a devastating slash, aimed straight at the guardian’s exposed ribcage.

CRACK!

The blade cleaved through bone, shattering several ribs. The guardian staggered, its death energy flickering.

Yun Lintian didn’t let up. He followed up with a spinning kick, sending the skeleton crashing into a nearby ruin.

Dust and debris exploded into the air.

Silence fell.

Yun Lintian landed gracefully, his weapons still at the ready. He knew the fight wasn’t over yet.

Sure enough, a low, grating laugh echoed from the dust cloud.

“Good… Very good.”

The guardian emerged, its broken ribs already knitting back together. The God of Death’s skull pulsed with dark energy, mending its host’s injuries.

“You truly are the one my master foresaw,” the skeleton said.

Yun Lintian frowned. “Enough riddles. Who is your master?”

The guardian tilted its head. “The one who showed the world unconditional love. The one who sought to save all the living beings of this world.”

A cold realization dawned on Yun Lintian. “…Tai Ying.”

The guardian’s jaw creaked into something resembling a smile. “Correct.”

“The God of Life?” Lin Yitong was surprised.

The skeletal guardian’s armor clattered as it straightened, its hollow eye sockets fixed on Yun Lintian. “You have passed the test,” it rasped. “Now, I shall answer your questions.”

Yun Lintian lowered his weapons slightly. “First, who are you?”

The skeleton placed a bony hand over its chest. “In life, I was known as Ren, the Great Desolate Ancient Demon.”

Yue Yun’s eyebrows shot up. “A demon? Serving the God of Life?”

Ren’s skull tilted slightly, the God of Death’s head pulsing with faint light. “You find that strange? My master saw worth in me when the entire world saw only a monster.”

Lin Yitong stepped forward, her emerald eyes curious. “How did a demon become the God of Life’s subordinate?”

Ren’s voice softened with reverence. “Centuries ago, I was a bloodthirsty beast, slaughtering countless in my rampages. The other Primordial Gods sought to exterminate me.” His skeletal fingers clenched. “But Master… she stood before me when I was at my weakest. Instead of delivering judgment, she offered me a choice.”

Yun Lintian listened intently.

“Change or perish,” Ren continued. “She showed me the beauty of life—the interconnectedness of all living things. Under her guidance, I walked the true path of cultivation.” A dry chuckle escaped him. “Of course, publicly, no one knew of our connection. A demon associating with the Goddess of Life would have tarnished her reputation.”

Yun Lintian nodded slowly. “So you became her hidden blade.”

“Her warden,” Ren corrected. “When the Primordial War erupted, my master ordered me to guard this place rather than join the battle. She knew… something was coming.” His voice grew bitter. “I failed. The God of Darkness himself came, and even at my peak, I was no match for a Primordial God.”