Myth Beyond Heaven

Yun Lintian visualized all the relics not as individual pathways but as a single, unified entity. He channeled his divine energy, spirit essence, and indomitable will into this unified channel.

Roar!

The result was immediate. A blinding light erupted from his body, dwarfing even the divine energy bearing down upon him. The Azure Dragon roared to life, its emerald eyes blazing with newfound intensity.

With a mighty push, Yun Lintian surged his unified energy forward, driving back the torrent of starlight. The tide turned, the divine energy dissipating before the renewed power welling up from within him.

King of Destruction, the True God fragment, observed the scene with a flicker of surprise in its stellar eyes. This mortal challenger's sheer force of will was beyond anything it had anticipated.

The onslaught ceased. The swirling vortex of starlight above Yun Lintian's platform vanished, leaving a serene emptiness in its wake. King of Destruction's voice boomed once more, tinged with newfound respect.

"You have shown remarkable resilience, challenger. You have passed the second stage. Prepare yourself for the final challenge."

The white platform beneath Yun Lintian's feet began to glow, and the surrounding nebulae swirled faster. He braced himself, unsure what the final challenge within this bizarre trial might hold.

The blinding light subsided, revealing a sight that stole Yun Lintian's breath away. Ten colossal figures materialized before him, their bodies radiating an aura of power so immense it made the very fabric of space and time tremble.

Each figure mirrored the King of Destruction in some way, a being of pure light, but their forms took on distinct aspects – a warrior clad in celestial armor, a scholar with galaxies swirling around its head, a judge with an expression of absolute impartiality. These weren't mere fragments of power, these were True Gods in all their terrifying majesty.

Yun Lintian's heart hammered against his ribs. He had faced powerful opponents before, but nothing could have prepared him for this. Ten True Gods? This wasn't a challenge; it was a death sentence.

A heavy silence descended upon the celestial expanse. Then, the God of War, a figure radiating a fierce energy, spoke. His voice boomed across the void, shaking Yun Lintian to his core.

"Mortal, you have defied expectations. You have overcome a fragment of the King of Destruction's power and demonstrated a will beyond your station. But this is the end. This final trial is not one of strength or even cunning. It is a test of acceptance."

Yun Lintian frowned deeply. Acceptance? Acceptance of what?

The Scholar God, its swirling galaxy head seemingly peering into his soul, elaborated. "You stand before the Ten Grand Gods, guardians of this realm. We have witnessed your journey within the tower. Your defiance, your ambition… it is both admirable and concerning."

"Concerning?" Yun Lintian croaked out.

The Judge God, its gaze devoid of emotion, spoke next. "Your power grows at an alarming rate, mortal. Such rapid ascension can lead to imbalance. We fear you may disrupt the natural order."

Yun Lintian understood. They saw him as a threat, a potential force of chaos. He looked at them with a cold gaze, a surge of defiance rising within him. "I yearn for a peaceful life, and in order to do that, I must grow stronger to eliminate all my enemies. How is that a crime?"

The War God boomed with laughter, echoing through the void like thunder. "Ambition is a noble pursuit, mortal, but ambition unchecked can be a path to destruction. You must choose. Will you submit to the order we maintain, or will you face the consequences?"

Yun Lintian looked at the ten colossal figures towering over him. His mind raced, searching for a way out. He knew he couldn't fight them, not even with his newfound power. But submitting – that felt like surrendering a part of himself.

However, Yun Lintian always felt something was amiss here. Where did those challengers who entered the tower go? What was the point of this trial? And who placed the trial here?

Yun Lintian's mind raced. There were only two choices for him at the moment. To fight or to give up.

A moment later, Yun Lintian straightened his spine, the defiance in his eyes burning brighter than the celestial light emanating from the True Gods. "I choose neither submission nor acceptance," he declared, his voice ringing with unwavering resolve.

"This trial speaks not of strength but of perspective. You see me as a threat, a meteor hurtling towards the established order. But what if that very order itself is flawed?"

A ripple of surprise passed through the Ten Grand Gods, the first flicker of genuine emotion on their otherwise stoic faces.

"What do you mean, mortal?" the Scholar God boomed, its celestial voice laced with curiosity.

"Where are the others who entered this tower?" Yun Lintian challenged. "Have they too accepted your judgment, or are they trapped, silenced like canaries in a gilded cage?"

The Judge God remained silent, its expression unreadable. But Yun Lintian pressed on.

"And who placed this trial here? Was it you, guardians of this realm, or is it a test from a higher power you serve?"

His questions hung heavy in the celestial expanse. The Ten Grand Gods exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them.

Finally, the God of War spoke with a hint of grudging respect. "Bold words, mortal. You dare question the very foundation of our existence."

"Questioning doesn't equate to defiance," Yun Lintian countered. "I simply seek understanding. If this trial is truly a test of limit, then show me a challenge worthy of my strength. Don't force me to accept a preordained fate."

The celestial expanse crackled with unseen energy. Silence stretched on, thick with tension. Then, to Yun Lintian's surprise, the Scholar God spoke once more.

"Very well, mortal. You have shown us a different perspective. Perhaps our judgment was hasty. The final challenge… will be a duel."

A single True God stepped forward, its form radiating an aura of pure energy. "I, the God of Valor, will test your mettle. If you can withstand my attack, you will earn the right to leave this place… and the right to continue questioning."

Yun Lintian met the God of Valor's gaze, a flicker of a smile playing on his lips. He had gambled, and it seemed he had won.

This wasn't a victory over the Ten Grand Gods, but it was a step towards earning their respect, and perhaps, even finding answers to the mysteries that lay beyond the Tower of Limit…