Myth Beyond Heaven

A bead of sweat, an anomaly on his reptilian body, trickled down Shi Xuan's temple. Fear wasn't the emotion gripping him, but a potent cocktail of annoyance and a grudging respect for Yun Lintian's audacity.

No mortal cultivator, in his millennia of experience, had ever dared to face him with such a power.

He couldn't deny the effectiveness of the tactic. The death energy, while minimal, slowed his reflexes and dulled his senses.

A direct hit wouldn't be fatal, but it would undoubtedly leave him weakened, a state unbecoming of a True God, especially in front of this young upstart.

With a powerful flick of his tail, Shi Xuan sent a wave of water crashing towards Yun Lintian, hoping to disrupt his focus and regain control of the fight.

Yun Lintian, however, anticipated this move. He teleported a split second before the wave hit, using the Law of Space to reappear behind Shi Xuan.

Boom!

The maneuver surprised Shi Xuan. He spun around swiftly, but the numbness caused by the death energy delayed his reaction.

Yun Lintian seized this opportunity. With a swift movement, he slashed one of the death-infused blades across Shi Xuan's tail.

"Hiss…" A sickening hiss escaped Shi Xuan's maw as a black gash appeared on his tough scales. It wasn't a deep wound, but the sight of it, the first injury inflicted upon him by a mere mortal, sent a jolt of shock through the ancient being.

The numbness in his tail intensified, momentarily crippling his movement. Shi Xuan knew he couldn't allow this to continue. He roared once more, the sound echoing across the lake like a challenge.

"Enough of this game, little sprout!" he boomed, his voice laced with newfound seriousness. "I underestimated you, but this charade ends now!"

With renewed fervor, Shi Xuan unleashed his full power. The air crackled with divine energy as the surrounding water rippled and churned, responding to his command.

Rumble—

A colossal wave, dwarfing the previous ones, rose from the lake, its crest a monstrous serpent head formed from condensed water.

The power radiating from the attack was undeniable. Yun Lintian knew he couldn't simply deflect this with his swords. He needed to think fast, to devise a countermeasure before the wave engulfed him.

His eyes darted between the monstrous wave and the two spheres of life and death energy still orbiting him. An idea, a gamble even bolder than wielding the Great Law, sparked in his mind.

With a resolute glint in his eyes, Yun Lintian channeled all his remaining profound essence into the two spheres. They responded with a brilliant burst of light, the life energy sphere pulsating with an even more vibrant white and black glow, while the death energy sphere intensified its chilling aura.

He then merged the two spheres, forcing the life and death energies to co-exist in a precarious balance. The resulting sphere, a swirling vortex of black and white, hummed with an unstable energy that sent shivers down Yun Lintian's spine.

He knew this was pushing the limits of his control, but he had no other choice.

As the monstrous water serpent wave surged towards him, Yun Lintian hurled the merged sphere forward. It collided head-on with the crest of the wave, creating an explosion of light and energy that momentarily blinded everyone present.

A deafening silence descended upon the lake as the light faded. When Yun Lintian could finally see again, he found himself amidst a swirling vortex of energy, the remnants of the clash between his desperate attack and Shi Xuan's full-powered assault.

In the center of the vortex, Shi Xuan stood suspended, his serpentine form crackling with residual energy.

There were visible signs of struggle on his face. His scales were sung in some places, and a faint tremor ran through his body. However, his aura remained imposing, a testament to his immense power and resilience.

Yun Lintian, on the other hand, was on his knees, panting heavily. The reckless use of the Great Law had drained him completely.

The battle had reached a stalemate. Shi Xuan, though not defeated, was clearly weakened. He glared at Yun Lintian, a mixture of amusement and grudging respect flickering in his ancient eyes.

"Well played, little sprout," he finally rumbled, his voice surprisingly calm. "You've proven yourself worthy of a greater challenge. Consider this spar a draw."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior." Yun Lintian cupped his fists and said respectfully.

Shi Xuan turned to Tian He, who remained impassive throughout the entire ordeal. "Seems like we have to see each other for a long time, Old Jiang."

Tian He chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You cunning snake. You can fool him but not me."

Shi Xuan snorted. "What do you mean? Clearly, I wasn't his match."

Hearing this, Yun Lintian seemed to understand everything. It turned out that Shi Xuan deliberately held back and let him win.

Tian He ignored Shi Xuan and turned to look at Yun Lintian. "Your control over the Great Laws wasn't bad but it was far from being competent. With your current strength, you have no chance against the other inheritors."

Yun Lintian nodded admittedly and asked. "Please give me a guidance, Senior."

"Give up," Shi Xuan interjected. "Find a place to hide and practice for another million years. Perhaps you would have a chance."

"Let's be serious, Old Shi," Tian He spoke. "His control wasn't perfect, but the potential is undeniable. Weaving the Great Laws of Life and Death, even if momentarily, is a feat most people wouldn't dare attempt."

Shi Xuan grumbled, a low hiss escaping his throat. "He had a lucky break, that's all. Don't get me wrong, the potential is there, but he needs much more honing before he can even think of challenging the others."

Tian He chuckled. "Ah, but that's the beauty of climbing the power ladder, isn't it? To push yourself to your limits and see what you're truly made of. Besides," he added, a glint in his eyes, "wouldn't it be entertaining to see the other inheritors' reactions when they face his unorthodox methods?"

Shi Xuan rolled his eyes and said. "I suddenly felt bad for those people back then to be your opponent."

"What about you?" Tian He looked at him with a smile.

"Hmph!" Shi Xuan snorted angrily. "I was careless."

"Alright, here's what we'll do," Tian He continued, his voice turning serious. "Old Shi, I want you to fight him one more time, with no restrictions. Show him the true power of a True God, without holding back."