Myth Beyond Heaven

Together, Tian He and the others disembarked from the Ark. They landed on the verdant plateau, surrounded by an ethereal silence broken only by the chirping of unseen birds.

Tian He led the way, his steps imbued with a familiarity that mirrored the landscape itself. He moved through the dense foliage with practiced ease, his form blurring for a moment as he navigated a particularly thorny patch. Lan Qinghe and the others followed closely behind.

After a short walk, a small village nestled amongst the trees came into view. Smoke curled lazily from thatched roofs, painting a picture of serene tranquility. Laughter echoed down a narrow path, punctuated by the rhythmic clanging of a blacksmith's hammer.

A sense of calm washed over Yun Qianxue and the girls, a welcome respite from the anxieties that had plagued them.

This village, seemingly untouched by the turmoil of the outside world, exuded an aura of peace and simplicity.

Tian He stopped at the edge of the village, a smile playing on his lips. "It doesn't seem to change much," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of warmth.

As if sensing their arrival, a figure emerged from a nearby hut. Tall and lean, with a shock of silver hair framing a face etched with the wisdom of years, the man walked towards them with a casual stride. His clothes were simple – a worn brown tunic and loose black trousers – yet there was an air of quiet authority that emanated from him.

"Old Jiang, is that you?" the man boomed, his voice carrying a friendly rumble.

Tian He chuckled, a deep sound that resonated through the quiet village. "Old Shan, my old friend. How have you been?"

The man, Shan Que, grinned widely, revealing a set of teeth surprisingly strong for his age. "Still tending to wounds and patching up clumsy villagers," he replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "But tell me, what brings you here after all these years? And who are these young ladies?"

Tian He gestured towards the girls. "These are my little friends," he said.

Yun Qianxue, ever the leader, stepped forward. "Greetings, Senior. We come seeking your help."

Shan Que's smile faltered slightly. He studied the girls for a moment, his gaze lingering on the unconscious Yun Lintian cradled tenderly by Lin Xinyao. A flicker of understanding crossed his face.

He looked at Tian He and asked, "Is it him?"

Tian He nodded. "Yes, he is the current Seed of Fate."

The words "Seed of Fate" hung heavy in the air. Lan Qinghe and the others silently repeated the term in their hearts, unable to grasp why Tian He referred to Yun Lintian as such.

Shan Que remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on Yun Lintian's pale face. He turned to his hut, beckoning them with a wave of his hand. "Come inside, all of you. We need to talk."

Yun Qianxue and the other women were relieved to hear this. At least, Shan Que didn't outright reject them.

The interior of the hut was simple yet surprisingly spacious. Dried herbs hung from the rafters, their earthy fragrance filling the air. A worn wooden table dominated the center, surrounded by several mismatched stools.

Shan Que gestured for the girls to sit. He then turned to Tian He, a worried frown creasing his forehead. "Tell me everything," he said, his voice filled with concern.

Tian He explained the events that led them to this point, recounting Yun Lintian's encounter with Mo Lianxing and his subsequent coma.

As Tian He finished his narration, a heavy silence descended upon the hut. Yun Qianxue and the girls nervously fidgeted, their gazes flitting between Shan Que and Tian He.

Shan Que turned to look at the unconscious Yue Yun and said with a frown. "This person…"

Shan Que turned to look at the unconscious Yue Yun and frowned. "This person..."

Tian He nodded gently. "She doesn't belong to this world."

Shan Que remained silent for several moments, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Finally, he spoke with a serious expression, "This is strange. Did you expect this outcome?"

"No," Tian He shook his head. "But I believe it's one of her arrangements."

Shan Que pointed at the two bamboo beds in the side room. "Place them there and leave."

Lin Xinyao and Han Bingling quickly moved Yun Lintian and Yue Yun to the beds, but they were reluctant to leave. Linlin and Qingqing felt the same.

"He will be fine," Tian He reassured them gently.

Yun Qianxue took a deep look at Yun Lintian and decisively left the hut, followed by Lin Xinyao and the others.

After everyone left, Tian He looked at Shan Que and asked, "Did you find it?"

Shan Que smiled. "Why would I find it? That power doesn't belong to me in the first place."

"I expected this answer from you," Tian He smiled.

He looked at Yun Lintian and said, "Fortunately, Fan Shen's power hadn't fully recovered. Otherwise, he wouldn't have survived."

Shan Que arrived beside Yun Lintian and placed his hand on his chest. A gentle green light gradually emanated from his palm, spreading over Yun Lintian's entire being.

Inside Yun Lintian's body, the Tree of Life stirred. Its branches strained to sway, dispelling the frost with the help of the gentle energy from Shan Que.

"Hmm?" Shan Que raised an eyebrow in surprise. "This Tree of Life is different."

"How so?" Tian He was curious. He hadn't seen anything amiss when he checked last time.

"It's understandable you didn't notice anything. You aren't familiar with it after all," Shan Que said gently. "Do you remember the previous generation Yun Tian?"

Tian He stroked his beard and said, "Are you referring to his flaws?"

The Beyond Heaven King Yun Tian was by far the weakest inheritor of the God of Fate across generations. He possessed great potential, much like Yun Lintian, but unfortunately, flaws hindered his rise to the top. The exact nature of those flaws remained a mystery to Tian He.

"Yes," Shan Que explained. "Not only him, all previous generations of Yun Tian were the same. They couldn't integrate with the Tree of Life."

He took a deep look at Yun Lintian and continued, "However, this young man has achieved perfect integration. The Tree of Life has become one with him. This is the primary reason he could survive such a devastating attack."

"Now I understand why those people sacrificed everything to protect him. He truly is the best shot they have."