Myth Beyond Heaven

Stunned silence descended upon the city as the Divine Phoenix Soul manifested. Oppressive power radiated from it, yet a sense of benevolence tempered its might.

"Incredible," Yun Lintian breathed. He felt a surge of potent Divine Phoenix power course through him.

The sword in his hand thrummed with an energy far surpassing anything he'd ever wielded. It made his Heaven Piercing Sword feel like a child's toy in comparison.

As if reading his thoughts, the Heaven Piercing Sword erupted from its sheath around Yun Lintian's neck, expanding and radiating a sharp, defiant aura. It was a clear attempt to assert dominance against its newfound rival.

The Phoenix Feather Sword, however, remained unfazed. Released from Yun Lintian's grasp, it rose into the air, seemingly looking down haughtily upon the Heaven Piercing Sword. The latter, clearly offended, attempted to unleash a more explosive aura, but it was utterly smothered by the blazing phoenix flames.

The contest between the two powerful blades was undeniably one-sided. The Phoenix Feather Sword emerged as the undisputed victor.

"Calm down," Yun Lintian said, reaching out to grasp the Heaven Piercing Sword, his voice soothing. "Don't worry. You're still the best for me."

With a clang, the Heaven Piercing Sword bucked in his hand, clearly protesting.

Yun Lintian couldn't help but be amused. The sword was acting like a petulant child. He stroked its blade a few times, eventually calming it down.

Nantian Fengyu reached for the Phoenix Feather Sword, and the Phoenix flames immediately subsided. "How does it feel?"

"Excellent," Yun Lintian confirmed. "However, Fifth Sister, you should consider acquiring some protective gear. Our journey to the God Tomb won't be a walk in the park."

Nantian Fengyu readily agreed. "Alright," she said and walked off.

Yun Lintian spent the entire day exploring the treasury. In the end, what he found most useful were a mountain of divine stones, some primordial rank pills, and the enigmatic azure jade. The rest, for now, held no immediate value for him.

"I'm heading out first, Senior," Yun Lintian announced, finding Lin Yitong engrossed in ancient scrolls.

Lin Yitong waved a hand dismissively. "Go ahead. I'll be here a while longer."

Without further ado, Yun Lintian requested Li Shan's guidance in the training room on the top floor.

Stepping through the ornately carved doorway, Yun Lintian found himself in a chamber unlike any he had ever seen.

A faint electrical hum vibrated through the air, a subtle thrumming against his skin. Polished jade tiles, etched with intricate symbols that pulsed with soft blue light, covered the floor. These weren't mere decorations; they were the heart of the chamber's time acceleration function.

The centerpiece of the room was a vast, circular platform of what appeared to be obsidian. Its surface shimmered with a faint, swirling mist, and within its depths, Yun Lintian could just make out faint runes glowing with an otherworldly light. He knew this was the focal point of the time dilation field.

Gazing upwards, he marveled at the magnificent dome that formed the chamber's ceiling. Crafted from translucent crystal, it offered a view of the ever-shifting constellations above. But these weren't the real stars – they were a meticulously crafted illusion, representing the celestial passage of time within the accelerated field.

As he watched, the constellations seemed to spin and churn faster, a visual representation of the compressed time he was about to experience.

The air felt denser within the chamber, imbued with a potent concentration of spiritual energy. Here, profound strength progressed at an accelerated rate, allowing Yun Lintian to compress weeks, months, or even years of training into a single day in the real world.

"If needed, you can gather the spiritual energy surrounding the city from here," Li Shan explained. "There are several identical rooms available."

"Thank you, Senior. I understand," Yun Lintian nodded in appreciation.

Li Shan smiled. "Then I'll take my leave. Don't worry, everything will be alright here."

"I will have to trouble you taking care of them, Senior," Yun Lintian said politely.

Li Shan waved his hand and left.

"It's boring here. I'll wait outside, Big Brother Yun." Qingqing jumped down from Yun Lintian's embrace.

"Go ahead," Yun Lintian gently patted her head and watched Qingqing hurry out of the room.

He turned to Linlin. "What about you?"

"I'll practice too," Linlin responded softly, hopping off his shoulder.

Yun Lintian was surprised. He opened a nearby room and filled it with many resources. "You can retrieve them from the treasury later," he said.

Linlin simply nodded and walked into the room.

She turned to look at Yun Lintian and said. "Fighting, Big Brother Yun."

Yun Lintian chuckled. "You too."

Linlin closed the door. Turning to the center of the room, she took a deep breath and transformed into her human form. "I will protect you, Big Brother Yun," she whispered with resolve. Then, she sat down and began to absorb the surrounding aura.

With Qingqing and Linlin settled, Yun Lintian finally chose a room for himself. Sitting down on the floor, he spoke with quiet determination, "Let's begin."

***

Inside the treasury, Long Qingxuan approached Lin Yitong and spoke in a hushed tone, "Senior."

Lin Yitong glanced up from her scrolls and inquired, "What troubles you?"

Long Qingxuan hesitated momentarily before asking, "Is there an efficient method to improve the strength of two individuals simultaneously?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Lin Yitong's face. She studied Long Qingxuan intently, and then a smile played on her lips. "Have you finally made a decision?"

Long Qingxuan attempted to appear composed. "Yes," she replied.

Lin Yitong chuckled. "I confess, I didn't expect you to be the one to take the initiative."

Pausing for a moment, she continued, "In the Primordial Era, dragon gods often formed lifelong partnerships. This wasn't driven by mere lust, but rather, it was considered the most effective way to cultivate their strength. After all, dragon gods were the most powerful and prestigious divine beasts in the Primal Chaos, unmatched by any other. Your choice today is undoubtedly the wisest you've ever made."

Long Qingxuan dipped her head.

Lin Yitong chuckled. "Speaking of which, I discovered this dual cultivation technique in the Land of Beyond Heaven's library. It seems Yun Tian may have anticipated this."

A wave of complex emotions washed over Long Qingxuan upon hearing this.

Lin Yitong offered a gentle smile. "I won't pry further, but allow me to say this. In my eyes, you and Yun Lintian are destined for each other."

Long Qingxuan fell silent for a while. The struggles in her heart gradually disappeared, replaced with resolve.