Ren Yuan wiped golden blood from his lips, his smirk returning despite the shock in his eyes. "Yun Lintian... I was wondering when you'd show up."
Yun Lintian didn't respond. He simply raised his hand—
The God-Slaying Sword returned to his grip in a flash of silver light. The moment his fingers closed around the hilt, the entire endless abyss seemed to hold its breath.
Ren Yuan's golden eyes narrowed. "You've gotten stronger."
Yun Lintian took a step forward.
The ground beneath him cracked, not from force, but from the sheer weight of his aura.
Ren Yuan's smirk faltered slightly. He had expected Yun Lintian to be powerful, but this... this was different.
"Heavenly Decree: Oblivion."
Ren Yuan struck first, unleashing a beam of black-and-gold energy that could erase even a Primordial God's existence.
Yun Lintian didn't dodge.
The beam split apart like paper, dissipating into nothingness before it could even reach him.
Ren Yuan's pupils shrank. "Impossible!"
Yun Lintian took another step.
Ren Yuan's instincts screamed. He twisted mid-air—
The God-Slaying Sword collided with Ren Yuan's hastily summoned golden halberd, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the abyss. The force of the blow drove Ren Yuan to one knee, his arms trembling under the pressure.
Yun Lintian's mismatched eyes bore into him, devoid of mercy.
"You shouldn't have touched my people."
Ren Yuan gritted his teeth, his golden eyes flashing with fury—and something else. Fear.
For the first time in centuries, the God of Heaven felt true danger.
Chun Yue's eyes widened as she saw her master being forced to his knees. Without hesitation, she lunged toward Yue Yun, her fingers crackling with deadly energy as she pressed them against Yue Yun's neck.
"Stop!" Chun Yue shouted, her voice trembling with desperation. "Take another step and I'll kill your daughter!"
The battlefield froze.
Yun Lintian's head turned slowly, his mismatched eyes locking onto Chun Yue. That gaze—like staring into the abyss itself—made Chun Yue's blood run cold. She felt like prey caught in the sights of the most vicious predator in existence.
Before she could react, Yun Lintian uttered a single word:
A golden thunderbolt descended from the heavens, striking Chun Yue with terrifying precision. She screamed as the divine lightning blasted her away, her body crashing through several shattered voidstones before skidding to a stop, her robes smoking and her skin scorched.
Ren Yuan seized the opportunity.
In a flash, he appeared beside Chun Yue, his Heavenly Desolate Orb materializing in his palm. With a swift motion, he unleashed its power—a swirling vortex of chaotic energy that distorted space itself, creating a momentary barrier between him and Yun Lintian.
"Let's go!" Ren Yuan hissed, grabbing Chun Yue's arm.
But even as he prepared to flee, his golden eyes flickered with malice. With his free hand, he unleashed a hidden attack—three streaks of black-gold energy shooting toward Yue Yun, Yun Qianxue, and Nantian Fengyu.
"Don't mind us, dad!" Yue Yun shouted, her voice urgent. "Chase him!"
But Yun Lintian didn't move. He waved his hand to block Ren Yuan's attack.
Ren Yuan's attack dispersed instantly under Yun Lintian's power.
"What are you doing?" Yue Yun frowned with dissatisfaction. She was prepared to take a hit in order to let Yun Lintian chase after Ren Yuan but her father still took time to block the attack. This was unacceptable.
Yun Lintian didn't move. His expression remained cold as he watched Ren Yuan's retreating figure.
With those words, the space around Yun Lintian trembled. The power of the God of Space flared to life, and in an instant—
Ren Yuan, who had already begun teleporting away, suddenly found himself trapped—as if an invisible hand had clenched around the space he occupied. The Heavenly Desolate Orb in his hand pulsed violently, struggling to resist the spatial suppression.
"What—?!" Ren Yuan's golden eyes widened in shock.
The orb's power, which could normally warp reality itself, was being overwhelmed.
Yun Lintian took a step forward.
Each movement caused the space around Ren Yuan to tighten further. The Heavenly Desolate Orb's glow dimmed, its energy being crushed under Yun Lintian's absolute control over space.
"You—!" Ren Yuan snarled, his voice strained. "How?!"
Yun Lintian didn't answer.
He simply raised his hand—
And clenched his fist.
The space around Ren Yuan imploded.
"AHH!!" Chun Yue screamed as the impact sent her flying once more, blood spraying from her lips.
Ren Yuan, however, didn't make a sound.
His body twisted unnaturally as space itself crushed down on him—his golden robes tearing, his skin splitting under the pressure. Yet, at the last moment, his third eye pulsed violently.
"Heavenly Decree: Rewrite!"
A blinding golden light erupted from his body, forcibly reconstructing the space around him just enough to survive the implosion.
But the cost was clear—Ren Yuan's aura weakened significantly, his golden blood dripping from multiple wounds.
Yun Lintian's expression didn't change.
He took another step.
Ren Yuan's golden pupils shrank.
For the first time in centuries...
The God of Heaven realized—
He might actually die here…
Just as Yun Lintian was about to deliver the final blow, his footsteps suddenly halted. His mismatched eyes flickered with alertness as he sensed a familiar yet alien presence materializing in the void.
A dark chuckle echoed through the abyss.
"Tsk tsk... How ruthless."
Space rippled like disturbed water as a figure stepped into existence—a handsome young man with ink-black hair and crimson eyes that glowed with malevolent amusement. His very presence made the World Tree's leaves tremble violently.
The Chasm of Uncreation had arrived in human form.
Ren Yuan's golden eyes widened in genuine shock—not relief, but deeper dread. His expression turned even more unsightly. If Yun Lintian alone was enough to push him to the brink of death, then Yin's appearance only sealed his fate further. His mind raced desperately for an escape route.
Yin's crimson gaze swept over Yun Lintian, his lips curling into a mocking smile.
"So it's true. You've actually formed an alliance with Nian Shi." He chuckled darkly. "How disappointing. All that grand talk about protecting your people, yet here you are, colluding with the very being who orchestrated their suffering."
Yue Yun's brow furrowed as she glanced at her father, confusion flashing in her eyes.
Yao Xi's face twisted in disgust. Compared to her beloved Yun Tian—who had died upholding his principles—Yun Lintian seemed spineless, willing to compromise with their greatest enemy.
Yun Lintian remained unmoved. His voice was ice-cold when he finally spoke:
"If you're going to show yourself, come in your true form. This illusion is worthless."