Myth Beyond Heaven

The crackling energy sparked on the barrier momentarily, leaving a spiderweb of scorch marks, before fizzling out.

Yun Lintian furrowed his brow. His current strength was not enough to break it directly. He must try another way.

Closing his eyes, Yun Lintian delved deeper into the intricacies of the Great Law of Life. The Tree of Life within his body shone brightly.

This visualization, a technique he'd honed through countless hours of meditation, was crucial in manipulating the law at such a precise level.

Focusing on a specific point on the barrier, he channeled a wisp of pure life energy, infused with the essence of his visualization. It wasn't a forceful blast, but a delicate probe, searching for a weakness in the dark energy's hold.

The process was tedious. Seconds bled into what felt like hours as Yun Lintian meticulously prodded the barrier, his forehead creased in concentration.

Sweat beaded on his brow, dripping down his face unnoticed. Just as doubt began to creep in, a faint flicker of light appeared within the barrier, responding to his touch.

Excitement jolted through him. He pressed his advantage, carefully weaving more life energy infused with the visualization into the point of light. Slowly, painstakingly, the light grew, pushing back against the dark energy. It was a battle of wills, a silent contest between life and darkness.

Across the chamber, Li Shan watched with bated breath. He recognized the profound technique Yun Lintian was employing. It was a delicate manipulation of the Great Law of Life, requiring immense focus and control. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration for the young man's unwavering resolve.

Meanwhile, Gu Buxiu's face flickered with a hint of doubt. A certain figure emerged in his mind and he seemed to see a shadow of this person in Yun Lintian.

However, Gu Buxiu didn't quite believe that Yun Lintian had a connection with that person because his age wasn't right.

Buzz—

Finally, with a burst of radiant light, the point of weakness in the barrier expanded, creating an opening large enough for a person to pass through.

"Phew…" Yun Lintian released a sigh of relief, the tension draining from his shoulders. He turned to Lan Qinghe, a reassuring smile gracing his lips.

"Stay here first, Senior," he instructed, before turning his attention to the cage holding Li Shan.

Replicating the process, he painstakingly weaved life energy and visualization to create an opening in the second cage. It was a slower process this time, perhaps due to Li Shan's higher cultivation base presenting a greater resistance.

Bang!

Suddenly, the cages around Lan Qinghe and Li Shan exploded, freeing them from the confinement.

As Yun Lintian finished freeing Li Shan and Lan Qinghe, a weighty silence descended upon the chamber. The air, still thick with the acrid stench of burnt flesh and demonic essence, felt heavier than before.

Gu Buxiu, who had observed Yun Lintian's meticulous manipulation of the Great Law of Life with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, finally spoke.

"Interesting," he drawled, his voice devoid of its earlier arrogance. "You wield the Great Law of Life with such finesse, it is impossible for you to be an ordinary person. Tell me, have you crossed paths with a woman with the surname Ning?"

Yun Lintian frowned slightly. Ning Yue's face suddenly came to his mind. She was the only one with the surname Ning he had encountered so far.

Suddenly, Yun Lintian thought of the World Tree inside Ning Yue… Could it be she had something to do with the God of Life? Or was she the inheritor of the God of Life?

However, Yun Lintian didn't show anything on his face. He remained calm to the sudden shift in Gu Buxiu's demeanor.

"A woman with the surname Ning?" he repeated, brow furrowing in a feign of confusion. "No, I haven't. Why do you ask?"

Gu Buxiu's eyes narrowed for a fleeting moment as if he tried to see through Yun Lintian's thoughts.

"Even if you hadn't met one, you would soon," Gu Buxiu said with a cold smile. "Your display of power has forced me to reconsider my approach. It would be a pity to kill you here. Perhaps retreating for now is the wiser choice."

Yun Lintian, however, wasn't convinced. He knew Gu Buxiu wouldn't simply walk away after all this effort. "Are you just going to leave after all that trouble?" he challenged, his gaze unwavering.

Gu Buxiu chuckled darkly. "Trouble? I wouldn't call it trouble, young man. More like a fascinating interruption. But fret not, our paths will surely cross again. Until then, consider yourselves fortunate."

With those words, a shift flickered in the air. Gu Buxiu's figure shimmered and dissolved into a cloud of black mist, disappearing from the metallic chamber in a blink.

"Oh, I have a piece of good news for you," Gu Buxiu's voice rang out from an unknown distance. "It seems many are eagerly anticipating your arrival. Hehehe. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Don't let me down."

Swoosh!

Suddenly, a surge of rotten flesh erupted from the ground, propelled towards the inky vortex where Gu Buxiu had stood moments before. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving only a faint, putrid odor in its wake.

Yun Lintian watched the vortex vanish, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. Gu Buxiu's last words echoed in his mind... It was clear there were other groups besides Si Junyi present.

He turned to Lan Qinghe and Li Shan. "How strong is he, Seniors?"

Li Shan spoke first, his voice grim. "Unfathomable. Without the Great Law of Life, our chances against him are slim."

Lan Qinghe added, "That wasn't his true form, merely a vessel he left behind. In the past, the Flesh Weaver Sect Master had been killed many times, yet he always returned. The secret lies in his heretical technique."

Yun Lintian nodded slowly. He turned to Lan Qinghe and asked, "Senior, what did you see in Yueyue back then?"

A memory flickered in his mind — Lan Qinghe's change in expression upon first seeing Ning Yue. Undoubtedly, she knew something.

"Are you suspecting a connection between her and the woman with the Ning surname Gu Buxiu mentioned?" Lan Qinghe inquired.

"Yes," Yun Lintian confirmed. "The World Tree within her body might be linked to the God of Life. Gu Buxiu's reaction to the power I displayed using the Great Law certainly suggests a connection."

Lan Qinghe offered a gentle smile. "You could have figured this out sooner. Ning Yue undoubtedly has a tie to the God of Life."