Yao Xi's hands trembled as she slammed them on the wooden table, making the teacups rattle. "No! Not again! I won't let you sacrifice yourself this time!"
Madame Leisure flinched at her master's outburst but remained silent, her willow-like hair swaying as she watched the exchange anxiously.
Yun Tian's smile didn't waver. He reached out and gently patted Yao Xi's hand. "Do you know why Nian Shi is so strong?"
Yao Xi frowned, her crystal-clear eyes flashing with confusion. "No. Even though I inherited the God of Light's power, I didn't inherit her memories. All I know is that Nian Shi controls time—but that doesn't explain why he's stronger than other Primordial Gods."
Yun Tian leaned back, his eyes gleaming with deep knowledge. "The moment you came here, a new time node was born. This is now a separate timeline, branching from the original."
Yao Xi's breath hitched. "What does that mean?"
"It means Nian Shi's power grows with every new timeline," Yun Tian explained calmly. "Unlike other Primordial Gods, who exist as singular beings in their own timelines, Nian Shi exists in all of them simultaneously. Every branching path strengthens him."
Madame Leisure gasped. "Then... the more timelines there are, the stronger he becomes?"
Yun Tian nodded. "Exactly. While other Primordial Gods differ across timelines—some weaker, some stronger—Nian Shi is always the same. He accumulates power from every version of himself."
Yao Xi frowned. "That's cheating!"
Yun Tian chuckled. "It is. But that's how the God of Time operates. He abuses this advantage, ensuring his dominance across all existence."
Yao Xi's mind raced. "Then... if we stop creating new timelines—"
"—it would weaken him, yes," Yun Tian finished. "But the problem is, time naturally branches. Every major decision, every divergence, creates a new path. And Nian Shi thrives on them."
Silence fell over the hut, the weight of Yun Tian's words pressing down like a mountain.
Finally, Yao Xi whispered, "Is there no way to stop him?"
Yun Tian's gaze turned distant. "There is one."
"A timeline where Nian Shi never existed."
Yao Xi's eyes widened. "But... that's impossible. He's always been there!"
Yun Tian's fingers traced the rim of his teacup. "Not if we erase him from the very beginning."
Madame Leisure shuddered. "Master Yun... you're talking about rewriting the foundation of time itself."
"Yes," Yun Tian admitted. "And that's why Yun Lintian's choice matters. To do this... he must become the new anchor of time."
Yao Xi seemed to think of something as she spoke up. "That would erase him…"
Yun Tian didn't deny it. His silence was answer enough.
Yao Xi's trembling hands slowly stilled. The fire in her crystal-clear eyes dimmed, replaced by something heavier—understanding.
"Before coming here... I hated Yun Lintian to the bone," she admitted quietly. "But now... I almost pity him." Her fingers curled around the teacup. "He's trapped, isn't he? Just like you were."
Yun Tian took a slow sip of tea, his expression unreadable.
Yao Xi continued, her voice bitter. "Right now, he's making peace with Nian Shi. I don't know what he's planning—Nian Shi kidnapped one of his women. Maybe he's being forced..."
A faint smile touched Yun Tian's lips. "Don't underestimate Yun Lintian." He set down his cup with a soft clink. "He might be young compared to ancient monsters like Nian Shi, but he doesn't compromise with enemies blindly. If he's doing this, he's already thinking ahead."
His gaze drifted to the waterfall outside, the crashing waters mirroring the turbulence of fate. "Perhaps... he's realized the truth."
"The truth…?" Madame Leisure murmured.
"That the Creator's gambit is the only way out," Yun Tian said softly. "For him. For all of us."
Yao Xi and Madame Leisure exchanged shocked glances.
"You mean..." Yao Xi's voice shook. "Yun Lintian already knows how this ends?"
Yun Tian smiled—but it didn't reach his eyes.
Yao Xi's chest tightened. For years, she'd blamed Yun Lintian—hated him for inheriting Yun Tian's legacy, for surviving when her beloved hadn't. But now...
"He really is just like you," she whispered. "Destined to sacrifice himself."
Yun Tian put the teacup down and said. "Let's not talk about him. Come. I will show you something."
Yao Xi was puzzled and followed Yun Tian out with Madame Leisure.
Inside Nine Firmament City's war room, Yun Lintian sat at the head of an ancient stone table, his fingers tracing the hourglass given by the God of Death from another timeline. The golden sands within shimmered with the weight of countless timelines.
Qingqing nuzzled against his left arm. On his right, Linlin purred softly. They missed their Big Brother Yun so much.
Yue Yun, Nantian Fengyu, Yun Qianxue, Yun Ruanyu, Yun Qingrou, and Yun Lingwei stood around him, their expressions grave.
With a wave of his hand, Yun Lintian activated the hourglass.
Countless displays materialized in the air—each a window into a different timeline. Some showed worlds in ruin, others in prosperity, but all shared one thing—they were engaging in battles.
Nantian Fengyu's crimson eyes narrowed. "What are you looking for?"
"Fan Shen," Yun Lintian answered without hesitation. His fingers flicked through the displays like pages of a book. "My current strength isn't enough. To fight Yin, I need the power of the God of Mortals... and others."
Yun Qianxue's frost-blue eyes flashed. "You plan to devour more Primordial Gods?"
"Yes." His tone left no room for debate.
Yue Yun stepped forward, her golden eyes burning. "Let me go with you."
Nantian Fengyu slammed her palms on the table. "Me too!"
Yun Ruanyu and the others quickly echoed the sentiment.
Yun Lintian sighed. "This isn't a battlefield you can step onto." He gestured to the displays. "This is simply a new Primordial War. None of you can survive it yet."
Nantian Fengyu's fists clenched. "You think we'll just sit here while you—"
"Yes." Yun Lintian's voice cut through like a blade. "Because if you die, everything ends."
Qingqing whimpered, her tiny hands clutching his sleeve. Linlin growled low in her throat, her tail lashing.
Yun Lintian softened slightly. "Protect Nine Firmament City. Guard the World Tree. That's how you help me."
His fingers suddenly paused on one display—a timeline where Fan Shen stood atop a mountain of corpses, his crimson eyes blazing with madness.