Nian Shi looked at Yun Lintian with amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Well, well, well," Nian Shi chuckled, clapping his hands slowly. "Look at our little slaughterer."
Yun Lintian turned his head, his golden and dark eyes locking onto Nian Shi. A killing intent so dense it distorted the air around him erupted forth, pressing down on everyone present like a suffocating weight.
The remaining two Primordial Gods—the God of Plague and the God of Stars—staggered back, their faces paling. Never in their immortal lives had they felt such pure, unrestrained malice.
Yet Nian Shi only laughed.
"Oh? This feeling..." He placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "It’s been so long since someone truly wanted me dead. How nostalgic." His grin widened. "Of course, that is... if you can actually kill me."
The God of Plague and the God of Stars tensed, expecting Yun Lintian to immediately lunge at Nian Shi. Even Long Qingxuan and the others braced themselves—
But Yun Lintian didn’t move.
Instead, he turned away from Nian Shi and swung the Heaven Sunderer in a blinding arc.
The God of Plague’s body split in half before he could even scream. His essence surged toward Yun Lintian, absorbed in an instant.
The God of Stars barely had time to widen his eyes before the greatsword pierced through his chest. His celestial form crumbled like shattered glass, his power joining the others within Yun Lintian.
Nian Shi’s playful expression faltered for a fraction of a second before he laughed again.
"Oh ho? Ignoring me?" He tilted his head. "I didn’t expect you to be this timid, Seed of Fate."
Yun Lintian still didn’t respond. He simply stood there, the Heaven Sunderer dripping with divine blood, his aura growing more terrifying by the second.
Nian Shi’s gaze then slid past him, landing on Long Xi and the others. His eyes lit up with recognition.
"Ah... so you’re the fish that slipped through the net." He smirked. "When I erased that timeline, I wondered where a few of you had gone. Turns out you were hiding in another dimension."
Long Xi’s draconic aura flared. "You monster—"
Nian Shi waved a hand dismissively. "Spare me the theatrics." His attention returned to Yun Lintian. "Now then... since you’re so intent on gathering power, why not face me directly?"
He spread his arms. "I’m right here. Come at me with everything you’ve got."
The challenge hung in the air.
Yun Lintian finally moved—but not toward Nian Shi.
He turned his back on the God of Time completely and began walking away.
Nian Shi’s smirk froze.
"...Running away?" he called after Yun Lintian, his voice laced with mock disappointment. "After all that big talk of vengeance?"
Yun Lintian didn’t stop.
Nantian Fengyu frowned. "What is he doing? This is not the good junior brother I know."
Gui Xuan, still nestled in Zhang Yu’s arms, answered quietly, "He... is... hunting."
After leaving the Netherworld, Gui Xuan turned back to his usual childish appearance and spoke slowly.
The realization struck everyone at once.
Yun Lintian wasn’t ignoring Nian Shi out of fear or hesitation.
He was refusing to play Nian Shi’s game.
He would gather every last ounce of power first—until not even the God of Time could stand against him.
Nian Shi’s playful demeanor finally cracked. A flicker of irritation crossed his face before he suddenly raised his hand, gathering a swirling mass of temporal energy.
"Fine," he sneered. "If you won’t face me, then let’s see how you react when I erase these lingering pests."
The energy in his palm condensed into a deadly sphere aimed directly at Long Xi and the others.
He turned slowly, his golden and dark eyes burning with icy fury.
Two words, spoken with such finality that the very air seemed to freeze.
Nian Shi paused, then burst into laughter. "Oh? So you do still care!" He pointed at his own chest mockingly. "Then come! Strike me here! Show me that famous wrath of yours!"
Yun Lintian didn’t move. Instead, he glanced at Long Qingxuan and the others before raising his hand. The Gate of Beyond Heaven materialized behind them, its silver light illuminating the battlefield.
"Go in," he ordered coldly.
Long Qingxuan’s fists clenched. "No! We won’t leave you—"
Yun Lintian waved his hand. An invisible force shoved them all toward the gate.
"How dare you go against me, Junior brother?!" Nantian Fengyu shouted.
Linlin and Qingqing struggled against the pull, but it was useless. One by one, they were drawn into the safety of the Land of Beyond Heaven.
The last to enter was Gui Xuan. The tiny Black Turtle God paused at the threshold, turning his sleepy gaze toward Nian Shi.
"Court..." he said slowly, his childlike voice carrying an ancient weight. "...death."
Nian Shi’s smirk vanished. For a moment, genuine shock flashed across his face—how dare this insignificant creature mock him?
But before he could react, the Gate of Beyond Heaven sealed shut.
Yun Lintian and Nian Shi stood alone amidst the ruins of the Heaven Realm, the corpses of fallen gods dissolving around them.
Nian Shi’s earlier amusement had faded completely. His expression was now dark, calculating.
"You think sending them away changes anything?" he hissed.
Yun Lintian didn’t answer. He simply turned away again, tearing open a spatial rift with the Heaven Sunderer.
Nian Shi’s hand shot out, but Yun Lintian was already gone, vanishing into the void without another word.
Left alone, Nian Shi’s fingers curled into fists.
"...Fine," he muttered. "Run all you want."
His eyes gleamed with cold anticipation.
"Because soon... you won’t have anywhere left to hide."
Just as Nian Shi was about to tear open a spatial rift to leave—
A voice, smooth as silk yet colder than the void itself, whispered behind him.
Nian Shi’s entire body stiffened. He whirled around so fast that space itself cracked from the motion.
Standing mere inches away was Yin—the Chasm of Uncreation. His long black hair swayed gently despite the lack of wind, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement.
Nian Shi’s pupils contracted. "You... Why are you here?"
Yin chuckled, the sound sending shivers through reality. "Why can’t I be here?"
Nian Shi’s instincts screamed danger. He immediately tried to rewind time, to escape—
Yin’s slender hand had already clamped around Nian Shi’s throat. The God of Time’s temporal powers flickered uselessly, like a candle snuffed out by an unseen force.
"How does it feel?" Yin whispered, leaning closer. His breath was icy against Nian Shi’s face. "To be the prey for once?"