The Netherworld fell into an eerie silence after Gui Xuan’s words. Even the wailing souls in the River of Forgetfulness seemed to quiet, as if sensing the gravity of what had just been revealed.
Yun Xia took a slow step forward. Her silver eyes, usually serene, now burned with quiet intensity.
"Senior Gui," she said softly, "if Lintian truly slaughters all the Primordial Gods and absorbs their powers... what would happen?"
The question hung in the air like a blade.
Gui Xuan closed his eyes for a long moment, as if weighing his words. When he opened them again, his gaze was heavy with the wisdom of countless eons.
"Technically," he began, "he would grow to the point of stepping into the Creator’s realm."
A ripple of shock passed through the group.
"But," Gui Xuan continued, his voice measured, "there is a reason why Nian Shi himself has never done this—despite having all the time in the world."
Long Qingxuan’s fists clenched. "What reason?"
Gui Xuan exhaled slowly. "This is merely my speculation, but..."
He held up a tiny finger.
"First, Nian Shi never found an effective way to absorb the power of other Primordial Gods. Not until he discovered the Beyond Heaven Profound Vein that Yun Lintian possesses."
Yun Xia’s eyes flickered. She had served Yun Tian for years, yet even she had never fully understood the origins of the Beyond Heaven Profound Vein.
Gui Xuan’s voice grew quieter, as if speaking of forbidden knowledge.
"That vein was created by Yun Lintian’s parents—Yun Wuhan, the God of Elements, and Yun Wushuang, the God of Life. Both of them were undoubtedly aware of Nian Shi’s ambition. They knew that to defeat him and Yin, only someone at the Creator’s level could do it. So, they spent their entire existence forging that profound vein... and gave it to their son."
"Second," Gui Xuan added, "even if Nian Shi obtained the Beyond Heaven Profound Vein, he likely couldn’t wield it. Yun Wuhan and Yun Wushuang designed it specifically for Yun Lintian. That is why even the Beyond Heaven King Yun Tian could never use it to its full potential."
At this, Yun Xia, Long Niu, and Long Qingxuan exchanged glances.
They had all heard Yun Lintian speak of Yun Tian’s flaw—the reason he could never break through to the God Realm. Now, it made sense.
The Beyond Heaven Profound Vein had never truly belonged to Yun Tian.
Long Xi, the Dragon Queen, frowned. "Then... if Yun Lintian succeeds in absorbing all the Primordial Gods’ powers..."
Gui Xuan’s expression darkened. "He will reach heights no being has touched since the Creator herself. But..."
The Black Turtle God’s tiny form seemed to carry the weight of the cosmos as he spoke his next words.
"This... is all going according to Nian Shi’s plan."
The moment those words fell, everyone’s expressions darkened.
Long Qingxuan’s fists clenched. "What do you mean?"
Gui Xuan sighed. "I don’t know why Nian Shi suddenly erased the original timeline at this time. I don’t know what forced him to act now, or why he chose this exact moment." He paused, his dark eyes glinting with certainty. "But one thing is clear—this action was meant to push Yun Lintian onto this very path."
His gaze swept over Long Qingxuan, Linlin, and Qingqing. "Among all of us here, the three of you are closest to him. You should know what choice Yun Lintian would make if his loved ones were killed."
Long Qingxuan’s breath hitched. Her lips parted slightly before she uttered a single word:
She knew better than anyone. In normal circumstances, Yun Lintian was meticulous, calculating every move before acting. But when it came to those he loved, all rationality vanished. He would tear through heaven and earth with brute force if it meant vengeance.
Gui Xuan nodded. "Exactly. And Nian Shi, who has observed Yun Lintian closely since discovering his existence, knows this better than anyone. He is one hundred percent certain that Yun Lintian will begin slaughtering every Primordial God across all timelines to strengthen himself."
A heavy silence followed.
"But why?" Gui Xuan asked again. "Why would Nian Shi force Yun Lintian to become stronger? What does he gain from this?"
The group exchanged uneasy glances, unable to find an answer.
At that moment, Nantian Fengyu’s eyes flashed with cold realization.
"Because," she said slowly, her voice like ice, "Nian Shi can’t use the Beyond Heaven Profound Vein himself. The only way he can possess it... is by taking over Yun Lintian’s body."
The words struck like thunder.
The temperature in the Netherworld seemed to plummet as the horrifying truth settled in.
Gui Xuan exhaled deeply. "I believe the same. This has been Nian Shi’s ultimate goal all along."
Long Qingxuan’s face paled. "He... wants to steal Lintian’s body?"
Linlin’s claws unsheathed instinctively. "That bastard!"
Qingqing, usually silent, trembled with barely suppressed fury.
Gui Xuan’s expression was grim. "Think about it. Nian Shi has waited countless eons, scheming in the shadows. He knew he couldn’t wield the Beyond Heaven Profound Vein, so he needed someone who could—someone whose body he could claim once they reached the Creator’s realm."
Yun Xia’s cloudy eyes darkened. "And now, by erasing the timeline, he has forced Yun Lintian to walk this exact path."
Long Xi’s draconic aura flared. "So Yun Lintian is just a vessel to him?"
Gui Xuan nodded. "A perfect vessel. One that can not only wield the Beyond Heaven Profound Vein but also gather the power of all Primordial Gods—power that Nian Shi will then steal for himself."
The obsidian Ghost Queen, who had been listening silently, suddenly spoke up, her voice trembling. "Then... Lord Mingyu’s death..."
"Was just the beginning," Gui Xuan confirmed. "Yun Lintian has already begun his slaughter."
Meanwhile, in a realm where time stood still, Yun Lintian stood over the corpse of the Primordial God of Space.
The heavens trembled as he absorbed the fallen god’s power, his aura growing more terrifying by the second.
His golden and dark eyes burned with cold determination.