Myth Beyond Heaven

Ten years had passed within the training room, but only a month and a half had elapsed in the outside world. Yun Lintian first checked on Linlin, only to discover she was still engrossed in training. He refrained from disturbing her and left the tower with Long Qingxuan.

Above, the sky resembled a canvas splashed with streaks of pink and orange as the twin suns dipped towards the horizon, casting long shadows across the bustling streets of Nine Firmament City. The air vibrated with a vibrant energy, a symphony of shouts and laughter.

In the past month, under the guidance of Tang Suyin and Yue Hua, a steady stream of people had arrived from the Divine Realm and the Azure World. With a cursory glance, Yun Lintian estimated that around fifty thousand people now reside here. However, compared to the vastness of Nine Firmament City, this number remained insignificant.

"Oh? You've emerged already?… Hmm?" Master Bai, perched on the tree in front of the tower, looked at Yun Lintian and Long Qingxuan with surprise. Their subtle changes were evident to him.

Yun Lintian placed his arm around Long Qingxuan's waist and addressed Master Bai. "Yes. Where are the others, Senior?"

Master Bai's eyes widened in shock as they fixated on Yun Lintian's arm wrapped around Long Qingxuan's waist. The sight defied his expectations. Although he was aware of the "incident" between them beforehand, he hadn't anticipated such a development.

"You two…" Master Bai subconsciously verbalized the question already clear to him.

Yun Lintian smiled without response.

"Big Brother Yun!" At that moment, Qingqing flew over, clutching a handful of snacks.

She landed before Yun Lintian, her gaze flitting between him and Long Qingxuan. Her eyes narrowed in mock displeasure. "You've gone and acquired another wife behind my back, huh? Hmph!"

Yun Lintian was tickled by her reaction. "It seems you're having a good time here."

Qingqing's dissatisfaction vanished instantly. Munching on a pancake, she spoke. "While the food may not be as plentiful, there are plenty of activities to enjoy. I want to take a boat ride on the canal. Would you take me, Big Brother Yun?"

"Of course," Yun Lintian readily agreed. He then turned to Long Qingxuan. "Would you like to join us?"

Long Qingxuan shook her head. "Go ahead. I'll check in with the Dragon God Clan first."

"Alright. I'll meet you at the canal." Yun Lintian planted a kiss on her cheek and whisked Qingqing away.

Master Bai stood bewildered by Yun Lintian's display of affection. He had never witnessed such outward expressions of love towards other women.

Long Qingxuan smiled and entered the tower, her destination being the Land of Beyond Heaven.

"She's… actually smiling." Master Bai spoke in a daze. It was the first time he'd seen her reveal her emotions so freely.

"What's wrong, Brother Bai?" Ouyang Feng flew over, noticing Master Bai's unusual expression.

After spending some time in the Moon God Realm, he had completely reforged his physical body and came here to recover his strength.

"Nothing," Master Bai shook his head.

He couldn't help but think about his relationship with Jin Huian. Perhaps it was time for him to be more proactive? However, he quickly dismissed the idea. Jin Huian wasn't a woman who readily expressed her feelings. He wasn't sure how it would turn out.

Ouyang Feng was curious but refrained from further inquiry. "By the way, Brother Bai, I've decided to return once I recover my strength."

"Oh?" Master Bai looked at him. "I thought you had no ties left there?"

"It's my homeland, after all. I want to see how things are." Ouyang Feng responded.

"I'll accompany you later," Master Bai offered. "I'm curious to see how the Celestial Realm compares to the Divine Realm."

"That's fantastic!" Ouyang Feng was delighted. "May I borrow the training room?"

"Of course," Master Bai nodded. "Go ahead. He wouldn't mind."

"Thank you." Ouyang Feng smiled and entered the tower under Master Bai's watchful gaze.

Master Bai turned to look at the only bustling street in the distance and flapped his wings, soaring towards it. He was on his way to find Jin Huian.

***

Sitting on the small boat with Qingqing, Yun Lintian enjoyed the peaceful scenery along the canal. While the atmosphere differed from what he had experienced, it held a certain charm.

Gazing at the jade-colored water, Yun Lintian couldn't help but think of Nantian Yu. It was a shame he might never see her again.

"Junior Brother!"

Suddenly, Nantian Fengyu descended from the sky, landing gracefully on the boat. She smiled at him and asked, "Why haven't you contacted me?"

"Sorry, Fifth Sister. I assumed you were occupied," Yun Lintian replied apologetically, gesturing for her to sit down.

"Hmph!" Nantian Fengyu snorted in mock displeasure before reluctantly taking a seat.

Yun Lintian poured her a cup of tea and inquired, "How are things progressing, Fifth Sister?"

"There haven't been any developments thus far," Nantian Fengyu said after taking a sip of tea. "It's much calmer than I anticipated."

Yun Lintian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Nothing at all?"

"There's been no movement from the Great Devil Realm or the Nine Heavens Realm. Everything seems peaceful," Nantian Fengyu frowned.

"It is indeed strange," Yun Lintian agreed thoughtfully. "Though perhaps this is good news. It affords us more time to prepare."

Nantian Fengyu eyed Yun Lintian suspiciously. "How have you managed to improve your strength so significantly?"

Yun Lintian's expression faltered slightly. He struggled for a response. He couldn't very well reveal that his progress stemmed from rigorous "training" with Long Qingxuan, could he?

"The training room seems to be remarkably effective," Nantian Fengyu remarked. "I will utilize it myself sometime soon."

"You absolutely should, Fifth Sister," Yun Lintian quickly agreed. "The aura within is truly unparalleled."He hoped his answer would deter further questioning.

"Where's Senior Lin?" Yun Lintian inquired. He couldn't detect her aura here.

"She left a few days ago," Nantian Fengyu replied. "It seems she discovered something in the treasury and investigated it further."

"Oh?" Yun Lintian's curiosity was piqued.

"Speaking of discoveries," Nantian Fengyu continued, "I found this in the library last week." She retrieved a crimson book and presented it to him.

Yun Lintian opened the book and was immediately stunned. The first sentence on the first page sent chills down his spine – it detailed a dual cultivation technique of the Divine Phoenix…

"Interesting, wouldn't you say?" Nantian Fengyu asked with a gentle smile. "How about we attempt it together?"

Yun Lintian glanced at her innocent expression, realizing she had no clue about the true nature of dual cultivation.

"Fifth Sister, this technique…" he began to explain, but his words were cut short by Lin Yitong's sudden appearance in the air.

"Come with me," Lin Yitong commanded.