Myth Beyond Heaven

Suddenly, shimmering portals materialized around Yun Lintian. One by one, the others emerged, their movements slow and weary.

Qingqing, the first to appear, scrambled towards Yun Lintian and clung to him like a koala. Her small frame trembled, and her face was sickly pale.

Yun Lintian wrapped his arms around her, offering comfort with gentle pats on her back. He understood she'd likely faced something terrifying.

"I-I thought I wouldn't see you again," Qingqing sobbed, burying her head in his chest.

"It's alright now," Yun Lintian murmured, not wanting to delve into the specifics of her experience, fearing it might resurface the trauma she desperately wanted to forget.

Linlin mirrored Qingqing's actions, hopping onto Yun Lintian's shoulder and nuzzling his cheek for solace. Just like her sister, she'd believed their reunion was a lost hope.

A gentle hand patted Linlin's head as Yun Lintian cast a concerned gaze at Lin Xinyao and the others. Despite everyone emerging safely, the exhaustion and fear that clouded their eyes spoke volumes.

Thud!

Suddenly, Tang Wei stumbled out of a portal, collapsing onto the ground with a violent shiver. Sweat drenched his entire body, and his face resembled a ghost's, devoid of color.

Incoherent murmurs of "No... I don't..." escaped his lips, his eyes vacant as if his soul had been ripped away.

Before Yun Lintian could react, another portal shimmered into existence, revealing Tang Yumei. Her face mirrored her brother's in its bloodless pallor, etched with raw terror.

However, her mental resilience shone through. A quick scan of the area and a glimpse of Yun Lintian's group were enough to calm her visibly.

"Are you alright?" Yun Lintian inquired gently.

"We'll be okay," croaked Tang Yumei, her voice hoarse.

She approached her trembling brother and enfolded him in a comforting embrace. "It's over now," she whispered, her voice soothing as she patted his back.

Yun Lintian observed the Tang siblings silently. It was evident that they had both endured a harrowing experience that left them deeply traumatized.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

At that moment, several portals materialized, disgorging a multitude of practitioners Yun Lintian had encountered earlier within the Illusion Palace. Their ranks spanned a wide spectrum, from the weakest Lower God to a formidable practitioner at the very peak - the God Ascension Realm.

The practitioners looked around the place for a moment and locked their gazes on Yun Lintian's group. However, they had no intention of doing anything.

After witnessing Yun Lintian's abnormal power, no one was stupid enough to provoke him.

The silence stretched as the practitioners held Yun Lintian's group under scrutiny. The air crackled with unspoken tension, despite the apparent lack of aggression.

A middle-aged man clad in a blue robe broke the silence, "Let's move." and strode away, his companions trailing behind him.

The remaining practitioners exchanged glances before dispersing, a barely concealed excitement glinting in their eyes. The allure of uncovering fallen gods' legacies was too strong to resist.

Yun Lintian, however, remained unhurried. He turned to Lan Qinghe and Li Shan, seeking their guidance. "Seniors, what course of action do you suggest?"

"This place has undergone a significant transformation," Lan Qinghe replied thoughtfully. "The density of Law Marks here is certainly far greater than what you encountered outside, and their potency is several times stronger. All of you must stay close together."

Yun Lintian nodded, taking Lan Qinghe's words to heart. He tightened his grip around Qingqing, who still clung to him, and cast a reassuring glance at Lin Xinyao and the others.

"Alright everyone," he announced his voice firm yet calming, "Stay close, and be alert for any dangers. We don't know what lies ahead."

A chorus of murmured agreements met him. The Tang siblings, though still shaken, stood a little taller, drawing strength from the group's unity.

Li Shan, with his keen senses, added, "There seems to be a faint trail of residual energy leading towards the colossal structure in the distance. It could be a path laid by the fallen God, or perhaps a trap. We should proceed with caution."

The construction of the God Tomb happened during his time, but Li Shan had never visited the inner area. Coupled with the loss of his memory, he had no idea what awaited everyone ahead.

Yun Lintian's eyes narrowed towards the shimmering structure, the God's Sanctum. It pulsed with an otherworldly light, an enigmatic beacon beckoning them forward.

"Let's follow the trail," he declared, determination hardening his voice. "But we'll remain vigilant. If anything feels off, we backtrack immediately."

The group, united and cautious, set off in the direction of God's Sanctum. The air grew heavier with each step, the oppressive weight of the unknown pressing down on them.

As they ventured deeper, the Marks of Laws in the air swirled around them, some forming intricate patterns that pulsed with an otherworldly glow.

At this moment, Linlin, perched on Yun Lintian's shoulder, spoke up and pointed with her tiny paw. "Look!"

Following her gaze, Yun Lintian spotted a chilling sight. Scattered across the ground, partially obscured by swirling mist, were skeletal remains. Not just any remains - these belonged to powerful beings, judging by the remnants of armor and weapons that lay beside them.

A sense of dread settled over the group. These weren't random casualties; they were all well-equipped practitioners who had ventured into this inner area before them. And they all failed.

The weight of the situation pressed down on Yun Lintian, furrowing his brow deeply. The lingering auras clinging to these remains undoubtedly belonged to True Gods in their prime... What monstrous power could have possibly slain them?

Lan Qinghe examined the skeletons thoughtfully. Her assessment placed their demise within the past hundred thousand years - a relatively recent event.

The silence was deafening, broken only by the rasping wind whipping through the skeletal landscape.

"Grrrr…"

Just then, a low growl echoed from the swirling mist ahead. It wasn't a beastly roar, but a sound that seemed to emanate from the very ground itself, a vibration that resonated with a primal fear.

"What was that?" Qingqing asked curiously.

Li Shan squinted into the swirling mist, his expression grim. "Something's out there. Powerful, and very much alive. This residual energy trail... it might not be a path, but a lure."

Boom!

Suddenly, the ground trembled violently. Before anyone could react, a monstrous claw, easily the size of a small house, erupted from the mist, accompanied by another terrifying growl that sent shivers down their spines.

The skeletal remains around them began to crumble under the sheer force of the tremor…