Myth Beyond Heaven

According to Lan Qinghe and Dongfang Hao, the Nine Heavens Realm was typically operated by the Shadow God, the Heavenly Tribulation God, the Crimson Demonic God, the Ghost Lantern God, the Jade Mountain God, and the Plum Blossom God.

Meanwhile, the Western Emperor, the Northern Demon Lord, and the Jade Emperor remained behind the scenes, rarely intervening in worldly affairs.

The territories of the Jade Emperor and the Western Emperor were naturally the best places to find information related to the Heavenly Court and the God Tomb. However, to avoid attracting unwanted attention, Yun Lintian opted to visit the Jade Mountain God Realm instead.

The Fleeting Cloud Profound Skyship, its defensive barrier faintly shimmering after the display of raw power, entered the jurisdiction of the Jade Mountain God Realm.

Lush greenery carpeted the vast landmasses below, while majestic mountains, their peaks scraping the heavens, dominated the landscape. Here, under the benevolent rule of the Jade Mountain God, a sense of peace and tranquility pervaded.

Yun Lintian knew a direct approach wouldn't yield the desired information. The Heavenly Court, shrouded in secrecy, wouldn't be easily revealed through basic inquiries. He needed a strategy.

Unfortunately, Lan Qinghe's long absence from the Nine Heavens Realm left him out of touch with the current situation. Otherwise, Yun Lintian wouldn't need to be here.

"We need to find a discreet way to gather information about the Heavenly Court and the God Tomb," Yun Lintian announced to his companions gathered in the ship's main hall. "The Jade Mountain God herself wouldn't necessarily be forthcoming with such knowledge."

"We should also try to find a trace of the Chaos Goddess. Her disappearance is too timely. Perhaps it was intentional."

The group formulated a plan. Utilizing his ability to alter his appearance, Yun Lintian would disguise himself as an ordinary practitioner. The others, leveraging their own skills and charm, would gather information through various means.

Their first stop was a bustling market town nestled amidst the foothills of a majestic mountain range. Disguised as a young man with average cultivation, Yun Lintian haggled for local delicacies with a jovial vendor.

As he munched on a succulent skewer of meat, he casually inquired about the Jade Mountain God and any rumors surrounding a powerful entity known as the Heavenly Court.

The vendor, a stout man with a booming laugh, scratched his beard thoughtfully. "The Jade Mountain God, eh? She's a benevolent being, alright. Protects us from demonic practitioners and maintains peace in these lands. As for the Heavenly Court… Now that's a hot topic. However, I don't know much about it."

"Some say they're a celestial organization that oversees the affairs of the Nine Heavens Realm. Others whisper they're a tyrannical force that controls everything from the shadows."

"Demonic practitioners?" Intrigued by the vendor's mention of demonic practitioners, Yun Lintian raised an eyebrow. The succulent meat suddenly lost its appeal as a sense of foreboding settled in his stomach.

The vendor's jovial demeanor vanished, replaced by a grimace. He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "They are those who dabble in the forbidden arts, young man. They draw power from chaotic energies, twisting the natural order for their own selfish desires. Ruthless creatures, devoid of empathy, who revel in destruction and suffering."

The jovial twinkle in the vendor's eyes dimmed, replaced by a flicker of something far older, a tremor of fear that resonated with the passage of time. Leaning closer, his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.

"The Nine Heavens, young man," he began, his voice heavy with the weight of generations of whispered warnings, "is a tapestry woven with two threads, as different as night and day. On one side, we have the righteous practitioners, those who cultivate their essence, harnessing the power of the heavens and the earth for good. They strive for balance, for harmony, and to protect the innocent from the encroaching darkness."

He gestured dramatically, his gaze nervously flickering towards the bustling marketplace. "Then there are the others… the demonic practitioners. They are the antithesis of everything good, a blight upon the land. They twist the natural order, drawing power from chaotic energies that lurk in the deepest corners of the cosmos. These energies are like a siren's call, promising immense power at a terrible cost."

The vendor shuddered, his face contorting in disgust. "They become twisted parodies of their former selves, their bodies warped and mutated by the malevolent forces they commune with. Their hearts turn black, consumed by an insatiable hunger for destruction and suffering. They revel in chaos, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake."

Yun Lintian nodded slowly. The Nine Heavens Realm, despite the clear division between righteous and demonic practitioners, seemed no different from other places.

"Are there many of these demonic practitioners?" Yun Lintian inquired.

The vendor shook his head vigorously, relief flickering across his features. "Thankfully, no, young man. Not since the Jade Mountain God, bless her name, purged the last one from these lands countless years ago. Her power keeps them at bay, ensuring our safety. But the stories are passed down through generations, a constant reminder of the darkness that lurks beyond the light."

"However, you may find many of them in the north," the vendor added. "Just don't go there."

Yun Lintian immediately thought of the Crimson Demonic God and the Ghost Lantern God. According to Lan Qinghe, they resided in the Northern Region, likely connected to the Northern Demon Lord.

"Thank you, Uncle," Yun Lintian smiled and gave the vendor a few high-grade Divine Stones before leaving.

As the group continued their investigation, visiting various taverns and tea houses, they encountered similar sentiments. Some spoke of the Heavenly Court with reverence, while others harbored a deep-seated fear. It became clear that the organization wielded immense power and influence, yet its true purpose remained shrouded in mystery.

Unfortunately, their investigation regarding the Chaos Goddess' disappearance yielded no results. It seemed no one was aware of her existence.

Inside their room, Yun Lintian and the others gathered around a table, enjoying a hearty meal.

"Does it strike a chord?" Yun Qianxue asked Yun Lintian.

"The way the Chaos Goddess disappeared, you mean, compared to the sect founder and the mysterious woman?" Yun Lintian responded. "There are indeed similarities in their methods."

The disappearance of the Chaos Goddess mirrored almost perfectly that of Yun Wushuang and the mysterious woman who created the mythical realms in the Azure World.

"Could the mysterious woman and the Chaos Goddess be the same person?" Lin Xinyao interjected with a surprising question.