Myth Beyond Heaven

Everyone watched as Yun Lintian arrived in front of the tower. The imposing entrance of the Tower of Limit pulsed with an eerie purple light as Yun Lintian approached.

As Yun Lintian stepped forward, a subtle shift in the energy around the tower occurred. The faint hum he detected earlier intensified, resonating strangely with his own aura.

Buzz—

Suddenly, the tower itself seemed to react. Black runes, previously invisible, flickered to life across the entrance, swirling and merging into a shimmering portal. Before Yun Lintian could respond, a pull of unknown origin yanked him forward, engulfing him in blinding darkness.

Yun Lintian scanned his surroundings, his senses on high alert. The silence here was absolute, broken only by the faint hum emanating from the platform.

"Welcome, challenger," a voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere. It was the same booming voice that had spoken earlier, but here, it held a strange, almost sentient quality.

"Who are you?" Yun Lintian called out, his voice echoing in the emptiness.

"I am the guardian of this trial," the voice boomed. "To proceed, you must face your greatest fear."

Yun Lintian frowned. This wasn't the test of strength or wit he was expecting. A smile played on his lips. "My greatest fear?" he repeated, challenging the voice. "Tell me, guardian, what exactly do you think that is?"

The voice remained silent, but the platform beneath his feet began to glow brighter. Suddenly, a wispy tendril of inky blackness materialized above the rune, coiling and twisting until it formed a humanoid shape.

The figure was shrouded in darkness, its features obscured. It reached out a skeletal hand towards Yun Lintian, its touch promising an all-consuming oblivion.

Yun Lintian stared at the chilling apparition, his eyes narrowed. Fear? Was this shadowy monstrosity supposed to represent his greatest fear? A chuckle escaped his lips.

"Is this all you can muster?" he scoffed. "This pathetic attempt to exploit a nebulous concept falls short, guardian. You underestimate me."

The figure remained motionless, its touch unwavering. But a flicker of something akin to surprise flickered within its inky form.

Yun Lintian raised his hand, the Azure Dragon Scale materializing on his arm with a faint hum. "Perhaps your understanding of fear is limited," he declared. "Let me show you what true fear looks like for someone who has stared death in the face countless times."

With a surge of power, Yun Lintian channeled his energy into his arm. The azure dragon etched on its surface roared to life, its emerald eyes blazing with ferocity.

A wave of pure, unadulterated pressure crashed against the shadowy figure. The tendrils of darkness writhed in agony, the figure recoiling with a shriek that echoed through the empty space.

"This," Yun Lintian boomed, his voice resonating with power, "is the fear of stagnation, of failing to reach my full potential! It is the fear of losing those I hold dear! Is this the fear you were hoping to exploit?"

The figure recoiled further, its form flickering and wavering. For the first time, a hint of something akin to fear emanated from its inky form.

The booming voice echoed once more, tinged with a hint of awe. "An interesting interpretation… You have passed the first stage, challenger. Prepare yourself for the next challenge."

The platform beneath Yun Lintian's feet glowed brighter, and the shadowy figure dissolved into nothingness. He was suspended in the vast emptiness again, the silence broken only by the faint hum of anticipation.

The blinding white light subsided, revealing a breathtaking vista. Yun Lintian found himself standing on a pristine white platform hovering amidst a seemingly endless expanse of swirling nebulae. A kaleidoscope of colors danced before his eyes, each swirling cloud a vibrant tapestry of divine gas and dust.

But what truly stole his breath away was the colossal figure standing opposite him on another platform. It was a being of pure light, its form radiating an aura of power so immense it made the air crackle with energy.

Towering over Yun Lintian, the figure resembled a humanoid yet possessed features that defied mortal comprehension. Its eyes, swirling galaxies of swirling stars, seemed to pierce through his very soul.

A True God. The word immediately popped up in Yun Lintian's mind.

"Greetings, challenger," the being boomed, its voice resonating across the celestial expanse like a thousand thundering drums. "You stand before King of Destruction, a fragment of a True God's consciousness."

Yun Lintian, though amazed by the magnificent presence, stood firm. "King of Destruction," he acknowledged with a steady voice, "what kind of challenge do you present?"

"This," King of Destruction boomed, a gesture of its luminous hand conjuring a swirling vortex of starlight above the platform, "is a glimpse into the power of a True God. You will face a mere fraction of my might. Survive this onslaught, and you will pass the second stage."

Before Yun Lintian could respond, the vortex of starlight unleashed a torrent of divine energy. It tore through the void, aimed directly at him. The sheer pressure of the attack threatened to liquefy his bones, the intense heat threatening to turn him to ash.

Yun Lintian narrowed his eyes, channeling his divine energy to its limit. The Azure Dragon Scale materialized on his arm, its emerald scales glowing defiantly. He slammed his fist forward, meeting the torrent of divine energy head-on.

BOOOM—

The impact was earth-shattering. The platform beneath Yun Lintian groaned under the strain, the white surface cracking under immense pressure. His entire body thrummed with pain as he struggled to hold his ground.

But Yun Lintian wouldn't back down. He channeled the power of the Dragon God, its essence surging through him. The emerald scales on his arm flared brighter, pushing back against the onslaught.

The divine energy, however, seemed limitless. Slowly, inch by agonizing inch, it began to overpower Yun Lintian's defenses. His muscles screamed in protest, his profound energy reserves dwindling rapidly.

Just as Yun Lintian felt himself on the verge of collapse and was about to unleash his other powers, a voice, distinct from King of Destruction's, whispered into his ear. It was a voice filled with ancient wisdom and boundless power.

"Remember," the voice resonated, "True power lies not just in brute force but in the harmony of all your being. Channel your will, spirit, and essence into your defense!"

Yun Lintian felt strange for some reason but didn't have time to consider it further. With unwavering focus, he delved inward, his mind settling on his divine core where his Profound Veins resembled a network of celestial rivers…

Rumble—