Myth Beyond Heaven

The air crackled with ozone as Yun Lintian charged forward. His eyes, ablaze with determination, fixated on Shi Xuan's colossal head.

The seven elemental swords, now imbued with a terrifying crimson glow courtesy of the Life energy sphere, zipped around him, forming a deadly dance.

Shi Xuan, amused by Yun Lintian's audacity, flicked his serpentine tail with a casual elegance. The movement generated a massive air current that sent the churning lake into a frenzy, waves crashing against the island like enraged beasts.

Just as the air current threatened to engulf Yun Lintian, he vanished.

Shi Xuan's reptilian eyes widened in surprise. A moment later, a searing pain erupted from his flank as Yun Lintian materialized behind him, the crimson-glowing Heaven Piercing Sword embedded deep within his scales.

"Hmph! The Shadow God Art, huh?" A roar of fury echoed across the landscape as Shi Xuan twisted his massive form, sending shockwaves through the air.

Yun Lintian clung desperately to the embedded sword, his knuckles turning white with exertion as he braced himself against the violent tremors.

"Naive!" Shi Xuan boomed, his voice shaking the very foundation of the island.

He unleashed a torrent of wind imbued with the power of the True God realm, the sheer force of it tearing Yun Lintian from the embedded sword and flinging him like a ragdoll across the sky.

Yun Lintian tumbled through the air, his body wracked with pain. But amidst the agony, a fierce defiance burned in his eyes.

He activated the Death energy sphere, the black energy swirling around him like a protective shroud before coalescing into a menacing black spear in his hand.

"Hah!!" With a battle cry that echoed through the devastated landscape, Yun Lintian shot back towards Shi Xuan. The black spear, imbued with the raw power of death, tore through the air, leaving a trail of darkness in its wake.

"Not bad. It's much better than the last time… But it's not enough." Shi Xuan watched with a hint of curiosity as the spear approached.

Boom!

A lazy flick of his tail sent a massive wave crashing towards the incoming projectile. But unlike the previous clash with the life energy, the wave seemed to falter before the black spear, the water parting on either side of it as if in fear.

The spear pierced through the wave undeterred, its dark aura emanating a chilling power that even Shi Xuan felt a strange unease over.

With a deafening clang, the spear struck Shi Xuan's scales, not embedding itself but leaving a deep, jagged mark that seemed to drain the color from the surrounding area.

A low growl rumbled from Shi Xuan's throat as he stared at the wound, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. He had underestimated the power of the Death energy, its ability to negate life force momentarily leaving a deep gash on his seemingly impenetrable hide.

Yun Lintian, however, wasn't given the opportunity to celebrate. Shi Xuan retaliated with a fury that shook the very heavens. His colossal maw opened wide, unleashing a beam of pure divine energy that scorched the air and illuminated the sky with an unnatural light.

The beam moved at blinding speed, leaving no room for escape.

Yun Lintian, realizing the futility of dodging, activated the vortex of Life and Death energy once more. The black and white energies swirled around him, desperately trying to shield him from the oncoming onslaught.

The divine energy beam crashed against the vortex, causing a blinding flash of light and an explosion that sent tremors rippling through the land. The vortex buckled and wavered under the immense pressure, but somehow, it held.

When the light subsided, Yun Lintian stood panting, his body battered but still standing, the vortex tattered and weakened but still circling around him.

Shi Xuan, stunned momentarily by Yun Lintian's unwavering resilience, lowered his head to meet the defiant young man's gaze. A grudging respect flickered in his serpentine eyes.

"You are indeed a surprise," he rumbled. "But a show of strength is not enough. Show me your true potential, little sprout. Let me see the power that lies dormant within you!"

Yun Lintian, his body screaming in protest, took a deep breath. He knew he was pushing his limits, but he had to. This was the baptism by fire he needed to unlock his true potential.

With a renewed determination burning in his eyes, he channeled every ounce of his remaining energy.

The seven elemental swords, now glowing with blinding intensity, formed a dazzling constellation above him. The black and white vortex, revitalized by his unwavering spirit, pulsed with a terrifying power that seemed to distort the very fabric of reality.

Yun Lintian raised the Heaven Piercing Sword, its crimson glow painting a terrifying smile upon his face. "Take this, Senior," he boomed, his voice hoarse but filled with unwavering resolve.

As Yun Lintian charged forward once more, a wave of raw power emanated from him, shaking the very foundation of the island.

The seven elemental swords, now burning with a white-hot intensity that rivaled Shi Xuan's earlier display, formed a swirling vortex around him.

Inside this vortex, the black and white energies of Life and Death swirled in a mesmerizing dance, their power amplified by Yun Lintian's desperate will.

Shi Xuan, no longer amused, watched with a hint of apprehension. The raw power radiating from the young man was unlike anything he had witnessed before. It felt… different, an untamed power held together by sheer determination.

Yun Lintian, ignoring the searing pain that wracked his body, focused every ounce of his remaining energy into this final attack. He remembered Tian He's words about using his resources with purpose.

This wasn't just a display of strength, it was a desperate attempt to push his understanding of the Great Laws to their limit, to bridge the gap between him and a True God.

With a deafening roar that echoed across the devastated landscape, Yun Lintian unleashed his attack. The swirling vortex of swords and Life and Death energy erupted forward, coalescing into a single, blinding beam of multicolored light.

This wasn't just a fusion of his powers, it was a testament to his newfound comprehension – a chaotic symphony of creation and destruction.

The beam of light slammed into Shi Xuan's colossal head. Shi Xuan, caught off guard by the sudden shift in power and the unfamiliar nature of the attack, attempted to raise a massive claw in defense. But it was too late.

The beam struck true, engulfing Shi Xuan's head in a blinding flash.

BOOOOM—