Myth Beyond Heaven

Yun Lintian crossed the bridge with a determined stride, heading straight for Yun Qianxue.

"You've worked hard," he said softly.

Yun Qianxue sheathed her divine sword and channeled her energy, cleaning the tatters from her robe with a flick of her wrist.

She scanned her surroundings briefly before stating, "There shouldn't be anything now."

Yun Lintian offered a gentle nod. "Let's move out."

Yun Lintian's group wasted no time, following him across the shimmering light bridge.

The practitioners on the shore, eager to avoid any further delays or potential beastly encounters, quickly followed suit.

Yun Lintian and his companions arrived at the end of the bridge, their gazes drawn towards the vast land in front of them. There, a harsh reality unfolded.

The land stretched out like a canvas painted in shades of desolation. Cracked earth, as dry and lifeless as ancient bones, dominated the horizon. Jagged, skeletal mountains clawed at the sky, their peaks lost in a perpetual haze. The very air vibrated with a palpable tension, a silent scream of a world long abused.

"This place..." Yun Huanxin furrowed her brow deeply, gazing out at the desolate plain before them.

"Proceed with caution, everyone," Tang Wei warned. "This place is fraught with danger. During my previous visit, I was luckily appeared here and nearly lost my life. God-level beasts roam these plains, and the harsh environment only adds to the difficulty of traversing it."

He turned to address the crowd behind him. "Those of you below the Lower God Realm would be wise to turn back and remain in the second region. Trust me, this is not a place where you want to meet your demise."

A heavy silence descended upon the group as Tang Wei's words echoed in the desolate air. The practitioners, some still shaken from the bridge encounter, exchanged worried glances. The vibrant, lush landscapes of the first and second regions seemed worlds away from this cracked and oppressive realm.

Yun Lintian, however, remained undeterred. His gaze swept across the wasteland attentively. Through the Eyes of Heaven, the energy flow here was several more chaotic than in the second region.

"Those who wish to turn back, do so now. There's no shame in prioritizing your safety." Tang Wei said further as he looked at the crowd.

A murmur arose within the crowd. A handful of practitioners, mostly those in the Lower God Realm, hesitantly stepped forward. Others didn't think about it further. They turned around and walked back to the second region.

Aware that following Yun Lintian's group offered them a chance of survival, the remaining Lower Gods prepared to speak with them.

Rumble—

Just as they were about to speak to Yun Lintian, a tremor suddenly shook the earth. A guttural roar, filled with primal rage, ripped through the desolate air, causing the remaining practitioners to jump back in fright. A monstrous shadow emerged from the horizon, casting an immense silhouette across the cracked landscape.

"God-level beast!" someone shrieked, panic erupting within the crowd.

Yun Lintian raised his brow slightly, looking towards the newcomer in the far distance.

The monstrous shadow solidified into a terrifying sight. It was a creature resembling a colossal wyvern, with scales the color of dried blood and wings that blotted out the sun. Its eyes, twin burning infernos, scanned the gathered group, alighting on Yun Lintian with predatory interest.

ROAR!

The god-level beast let out another earth-shattering roar, the sound wave buffeting the practitioners, sending some crashing to their knees. This wasn't the same as the profound beasts they'd faced before. The raw power emanating from the creature pressed down on them like a suffocating weight.

"A High God beast." Tang Wei's face turned pale. He couldn't understand why he was so unlucky.

Panic began to grip the crowd. Even those who had chosen to stay faltered at the sight of the monstrous beast. Tang Wei, his face grim, yelled, "Scatter! It's too strong for a combined attack. Use your movement techniques and survive!"

A chaotic scramble ensued. Some Lower Gods with superior movement skills bolted towards the bridge, desperate to escape the wrath of the god-level beast. However, many Divine Emperors, who were about to go back to the second region, lacked such abilities and were left scrambling on the cracked earth, easy targets for the colossal wyvern.

Yun Lintian looked at his companions and asked. "Do you want to try? Otherwise, I will take care of it."

Tang Wei and the other practitioners looked at Yun Lintian speechlessly. They couldn't understand how Yun Lintian could be so calm in this situation.

Meanwhile, Tang Yumei was quite excited inwardly. She wanted to see Yun Lintian personally take action.

Before Lin Xinyao and the others could speak, Long Qingxuan stepped forward and said gently. "Let me try."

Yun Lintian smiled and said. "Alright. Be careful."

A surge of azure energy erupted from Long Qingxuan's body as she confidently strode towards the approaching wyvern. The air crackled with primordial power as her entire body wrapped in an azure light.

With her eyes closed, Long Qingxuan looked like a goddess descended from azure heaven.

The wyvern, momentarily stunned by this unexpected display of power, halted its advance, its fiery eyes narrowing at Long Qingxuan. The strong suppression from Long Qingxuan's body made it feel uneasy.

"Roar!" A low growl rumbled from its throat, the sound vibrating the very ground beneath their feet.

Undeterred, Long Qingxuan raised her hand, a swirling vortex of azure energy forming above her palm. The energy crackled with an aura of untamed power, resonating with the essence of the Primordial Azure Dragon God.

Rumble—

The wyvern, sensing the immense threat posed by the vortex, unleashed a torrent of searing flames from its maw. The flames, fueled by its god-level prowess, roared towards Long Qingxuan, threatening to engulf her whole.

But Long Qingxuan remained unfazed. With a flick of her wrist, the azure vortex shot forward, colliding with the oncoming inferno. The two forces met in a spectacular clash of fire and water. The air sizzled and popped as the flames writhed against the vortex's relentless power.

BANG!

For a tense moment, it seemed as if the two forces were locked in an eternal struggle. Then, with a final burst of energy, the azure vortex overpowered the flames, extinguishing them completely. The remaining energy from the vortex slammed into the wyvern's chest, sending the colossal beast staggering backward with a surprised screech.

"Roar!"