Myth Beyond Heaven

On the other side, Lin Yitong and the others stood frowning in front of the Jade Inn. The moment they followed Yun Lintian out, he had vanished into thin air. Even Lin Yitong couldn't find a single trace.

Long Qingxuan scanned the surroundings with her draconic eyes glowing azure, but she too failed to locate Yun Lintian.

"Senior?" Yun Yi looked at Lin Yitong with a questioning gaze.

Lin Yitong glanced at the phoenix jade in Nantian Fengyu's hand and asked, "What did you see?"

Everyone turned to Nantian Fengyu, waiting for her explanation. Nantian Fengyu lowered her head slightly and spoke up, "I saw… how she died."

Lin Yitong raised an eyebrow slightly. "How?"

Nantian Fengyu raised her head and began to speak slowly...

***

"Ugh, why is that bastard here?" Nantian Yu furrowed her brow, spotting an unwelcome figure in the crowd ahead.

Yun Lintian followed her gaze and saw a tall young man clad in crimson robes. A flicker of recognition crossed his features as he sensed a familiar power emanating from the man – the Golden Crow bloodline.

The young man noticed something and looked in Nantian Yu's direction. A smile, laced with affection, appeared on his face.

"Ugh… Let's leave here." Nantian Yu felt a surge of nausea as she saw the approaching young man and clutched her stomach, feigning discomfort.

Yun Lintian nodded and followed Nantian Yu out of the crowded area.

In the distance, the young man shifted his gaze onto Yun Lintian. A frown creased his face, expressing apparent dissatisfaction.

"He is the current true heir of the Golden Crow God Clan, Jin Yang," Nantian Yu explained after finding a relatively distant place to stay. "He's been relentlessly pursuing me for years. The sight of him makes me want to vomit."

Yun Lintian smiled faintly and remained silent.

"Well, this should be a safe distance," Nantian Yu glanced at the stage ahead. Although further away, it was a small price to pay to avoid Jin Yang.

Bang!

A booming voice suddenly echoed across the plaza, drawing all eyes towards a towering platform erected at the center. Nine colossal furnaces, each etched with intricate symbols and burning with an otherworldly fire, dominated the platform.

"Esteemed guests, welcome to the Ninth Furnace Alchemy Convention!" The city lord stood up, his voice resonating with power. "This year, we have gathered the most talented alchemists from across the continent to compete for the coveted title of Alchemy Emperor!"

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The title of Alchemy Emperor was a highly sought-after honor, a mark of unparalleled skill and prestige in the world of alchemy.

Yun Lintian watched with a hint of curiosity. Surprisingly, he hadn't seen or participated in any alchemy competitions before. This was a rare chance to witness one. Perhaps he could gain some valuable knowledge.

While the event was undoubtedly fascinating, Yun Lintian didn't forget his primary objective – to understand the situation and figure out how he ended up here.

"Who do you think will win the competition?" Nantian Yu asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I don't know," Yun Lintian admitted gently. "What about you?"

Nantian Yu pointed at a group of practitioners on the right side of the stage and said confidently, "Them, without a doubt."

Yun Lintian followed her gaze and saw a group of practitioners clad in robes adorned with the fiery emblem of the Vermilion Bird.

"Did you see the gentle woman standing at the front? She is the eldest princess of the Vermilion Bird God Clan, Yan Jingru. Her alchemy talent is unprecedented. I didn't expect her to participate in this year's convention. Normally, she rarely shows up in public," Nantian Yu explained further.

"I see," Yun Lintian responded thoughtfully.

Nantian Yu glanced at him curiously and said, "It seems you rarely come out."

"Well, yes," Yun Lintian smiled. "I usually stay in seclusion with Her Highness."

"I can tell," Nantian Yu chuckled.

A palpable crackle of anticipation hung in the air as the first round of the competition began. Yun Lintian and Nantian Yu's eyes were glued to the platform, eager to witness the spectacle of alchemical mastery unfold.

The first round of the Nine Furnace Alchemy Convention blurred into a dazzling display of skill and power. Masters of fire, ice, and even the more obscure elements like lightning and wind danced across the platform, coaxing their respective furnaces into a frenzy. Exotic ingredients bubbled and hissed, sending plumes of multicolored smoke billowing into the sky.

Yun Lintian found himself enthralled. Each alchemist's technique, the subtle nuances in their hand movements and how they guided the flames, were valuable lessons.

"These techniques are impressive but a bit showy," Nantian Yu curled her lips. "I miss the good old days when alchemy was more about control than spectacle."

"Did you come here often?" Yun Lintian inquired.

"Yes," Nantian Yu responded casually. "I come here every year. It's too boring at home."

Yun Lintian smiled faintly. He found the personalities of Nantian Yu and Nantian Fengyu to be quite similar. Both of them enjoyed adventure and rarely stayed at home.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted near the Vermillion Bird God Clan's section. A young woman, barely out of her teens, stood trembling, tears welling up in her eyes. Her robes, adorned with the fiery emblem of the clan, were singed and smudged.

Before Yun Lintian could inquire, a voice cut through the din.

"Yan Qing! Have you brought shame upon the clan again?" The speaker, a tall, imposing woman with fiery red hair, glared down at the young woman with icy disdain. "Another failed concoction! You are a disgrace to your lineage!"

Yun Lintian felt sympathy for the young woman, Yan Qing. Her shoulders slumped under the harsh reprimand, and shame clouded her expression. He thought the Vermilion Bird clan members were relatively gentle. It turned out they could be harsh as well.

"Her strength clearly isn't enough," Nantian Yu said indifferently. "It seems someone wants to make trouble for her."

Yun Lintian spotted a gloating smile on a woman sitting beside the tall woman who spoke earlier. He could immediately figure it out. This Yan Qing was obviously forced to come here. With this failure, she would certainly be cut out of the competition for the throne.

The competition continued, and the winners of the first round emerged.

"Let's find something to eat," Nantian Yu declared. "The second round will start tomorrow."

"Sure," Yun Lintian agreed, standing up as well.

They exited the bustling plaza, unaware of Jin Yang's watchful gaze. Jin Yang frowned slightly, then pushed through the crowd, determined to follow them…