Myth Beyond Heaven

As they walked along the street, Yu Xinlan couldn't help but ask, "Why did you keep looking at that young man, Sister Yue?"

Lin Feng and Hou Jinyang also turned their attention to Yue Shen, awaiting her explanation.

"Didn't you notice?" Yue Shen spoke softly. "The senior kept consulting him for his opinion. There is also his extraordinary talent. Obviously, his status isn't as simple as he appears to be."

"Indeed," Lin Feng agreed with a nod. "He remains an enigma to me."

Hou Jinyang and Yu Xinlan recalled the previous scene and realized Yue Shen was right. Blinded by excitement, they had completely overlooked Yun Lintian.

"This feeling has been bothering me since the divine image appeared," Yue Shen continued. "It's as if I've met him before."

Lin Feng and the others were surprised by this revelation.

"Are you sure it's not love at first sight, Sister Yue?" Yu Xinlan teased with a playful smile.

Yue Shen shook her head with a faint smile. The longer she spent around Yun Lintian, the stronger this feeling became. However, she was certain they had never met before.

Yu Xinlan changed the subject, glancing at the scattered skeletons on the street. "Where should we head now?"

"Let's check out that tower," Hou Jinyang suggested, raising his head towards the tallest structure in the distance. "Undoubtedly, it must be the tomb of the Kunlun God."

Lin Feng pondered for a moment before responding, "Agreed. But let's refrain from touching anything."

Everyone concurred, and they set off towards the tower.

***

Dust motes danced in the slanted shafts of light filtering through cracks in the ceiling. The silence in the abandoned avenue was broken only by the crunch of Yun Lintian's shoes on the jade pavement.

Towering structures, once gleaming with otherworldly brilliance, now stood marred by the ravages of time. Vines snaked through decaying facades, their tendrils adorned with bioluminescent flowers that cast an eerie glow on the deserted streets. The air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and forgotten memories.

At the center of the avenue, countless skeletons lay stacked on top of each other, forming a small mountain of bones.

Zhang Yu frowned deeply as he stared at the pile. "What exactly transpired here?"

Yun Yi looked at Lin Yitong. "Have you discovered anything, Senior?"

"Nothing," Lin Yitong replied, her brow furrowed. "Clearly, these were practitioners, yet there's no trace of profound energy left behind. However, their skeletons are remarkably well-preserved."

"Furthermore," she added, "their clothing and weapons suggest this happened recently, yet the surrounding structures are clearly aged."

Despite her vast knowledge, Lin Yitong couldn't fathom a proper explanation for this strange scene.

"Look at their bones," Long Qingxuan said calmly. "They're too well-preserved."

Everyone observed the complete lack of damage on the skeletons. It was as if they had simply died without a chance to fight. Whoever had killed them hadn't even disturbed their bodies.

Yun Lintian scanned the area with the Eyes of Heaven but couldn't detect anything unusual.

A sudden memory surfaced - the Skymist Ancient City where he met Tang Suyin back in the Azure World. However, this place emanated a completely different aura. There was no sense that these skeletons could return to life.

Yun Lintian scanned his surroundings and made a decision. "Let's investigate the inn over there."

Everyone turned their attention to a beautiful building adorned with a signboard reading "Jade Inn" and proceeded towards it.

A wave of stale air, thick with the scent of dust and forgotten memories, assaulted them as they entered. Despite the passage of time, the interior was surprisingly well-preserved. Polished jade tables and chairs sat neatly arranged around a central hearth, where the remnants of a long-extinguished fire lay scattered. Scrolls depicting scenes of boisterous feasts adorned the walls, the colors muted but still vibrant.

The reception hall of the inn was vast, capable of accommodating thousands of guests at once. An unsettling silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the soft drip of water somewhere in the back. A shiver ran down Yun Lintian's spine.

This place, once filled with laughter and life, now held an undeniable aura of melancholy.

Yun Lintian scanned the room meticulously but found nothing out of the ordinary. However, he decided to explore further.

As they ventured deeper, the inn creaked and groaned around them like a living entity. In the kitchen, they discovered utensils hanging neatly on racks, pots, and pans seemingly frozen in time.

They stumbled upon a storeroom farther back, filled with petrified foodstuffs – fruits, vegetables, and even slabs of meat. A testament to a time abruptly stopped.

Finally, they reached a flight of stairs leading upwards. Curiosity piqued, Yun Lintian ascended, his companions close behind. The stairs led them to a balcony overlooking the common room. And there, propped against the railing, sat a skeletal figure clad in faded red robes.

The empty sockets of the figure seemed to stare directly at Yun Lintian, a faint, melancholic smile etched on its skeletal face.

A single jade pendant hung from its bony neck, the inscription on its back glowing with an ethereal red light.

Yun Lintian carefully examined the characters carved on the jade and discerned the word "Phoenix."

Nantian Fengyu noticed the pendant as well. She knelt in front of the skeleton and reached out to get a closer look at the jade pendant.

Buzz—

The moment her finger touched the jade, a burst of fiery phoenix flame erupted and vanished in a split second. The skeleton disintegrated into a pile of ash.

"Fifth Sister?" Yun Lintian called out with concern, rushing to Nantian Fengyu's side. He was immediately struck by the sight of tears streaming down her cheeks.

Nantian Fengyu wiped away her tears, clutching the jade tightly. She looked at Yun Lintian and said, "I'll keep this jade."

"Of course," Yun Lintian agreed, worry lacing his voice. "Are you alright, Fifth Sister? What happened?"

"I'm fine," Nantian Fengyu replied with a forced smile. "I'm just... happy to find a fellow clansman here."

Yun Lintian sensed there was more to her story but decided not to pry. He smiled gently. "That's good. Let's keep searching. Perhaps there are others here."

"Mhm!" Nantian Fengyu nodded vigorously.

On the side, Lin Yitong observed the jade pendant in Nantian Fengyu's hand with a thoughtful expression, her mind seemingly grappling with an unspoken revelation.