The white space shimmered as Yun Wuhan’s projection solidified. The group found themselves standing in an endless void, stars twinkling in the infinite darkness.
"This," Yun Wuhan said, his voice echoing through the cosmic expanse, "is what Yun Tianming foresaw. Three possible endings to this war."
He waved his hand, and the void twisted—
Space shattered like glass as two figures materialized.
Yun Lintian stood clad in black robes, his once dual-colored hair now completely ink-black, his mismatched eyes burning with golden and obsidian light. The God Slaying Sword hummed in his grip, its edge distorting reality itself.
Opposite him floated Nian Shi—no longer the playful trickster, but a being of terrifying grace. His silver-gray robes flowed like liquid time, his long black hair perfectly arranged. His silvery eyes gleamed with amusement as he regarded Yun Lintian.
"Congratulations," Nian Shi said, his voice smooth as a river’s flow. "You’ve finally stepped into the Creator’s realm."
Yun Lintian said nothing. His aura alone pressed down on the void, making the very fabric of existence groan.
Qian Jinglei whispered, "He’s... beyond Primordial Gods."
Yun Wuhan shook his head. "Not the Creator. Something else. A realm of his own making."
Nian Shi smiled. "Now then... thank you for your efforts. It’s time I reaped the rewards."
As his words fell, the River of Time materialized behind him—an endless torrent of silver water stretching across eternity. The moment it appeared, Yun Lintian’s movements slowed, his very existence being dragged backward through time.
But Yun Lintian simply raised his sword.
The God Slaying Sword pulsed, and the river splintered. Time itself fractured under its edge, shattering like fragile ice.
Nian Shi’s smile didn’t waver. "Impressive."
He snapped his fingers.
Yun Lintian’s body suddenly unmade itself—his flesh peeling backward into nothingness, his bones dissolving into dust. But before the effect could complete, the Black Turtle’s shell manifested around him, negating the temporal assault.
Not with sword strokes or martial techniques, but by rewriting the laws of existence itself.
Where Nian Shi erased concepts, Yun Lintian reforged them.
Where Yun Lintian severed time, Nian Shi stitched it back together.
Space folded, matter unraveled, causality twisted—
A battle beyond mortal comprehension.
The cosmic battlefield trembled as golden and silver energies collided. Yun Lintian’s mismatched eyes blazed as he activated all eight divine beast bloodlines simultaneously.
Then came the chaos energy—that unique fusion of Creation and Destruction only he could wield. Space itself screamed as black and gold tendrils erupted from his body, rewriting reality around him.
Nian Shi merely chuckled. With a casual wave, he dispersed the chaotic energies like smoke. "Adorable," he murmured. "You’re trying to use the universe’s building blocks against its architect?"
Long Xi’s draconic pupils contracted. "How...?"
Yun Wuhan’s projection dimmed. "This is Nian Shi’s true form—all his temporal incarnations merged into one. He’s no longer just the God of Time...but Time itself."
The battle intensified.
Yun Lintian slashed horizontally—not through space, but through the concept of "distance." The strike should have bisected Nian Shi across all timelines simultaneously.
Nian Shi caught the blade between two fingers. "Cute trick." He flicked the sword, and Yun Lintian’s arm unraveled like loose thread.
The eight divine beast souls roared as Yun Lintian regenerated instantly. He counterattacked by rewriting causality—making the effect precede the cause.
Nian Shi yawned. "Let’s not waste our time."
He plucked the deadly effect from the air like removing an annoying insect.
Then came the Blade of Eternity—Nian Shi’s true weapon materializing in his grasp. The moment it appeared, the River of Time surged violently, its silver waters merging with the blade.
"I’ll show you what the absolute strength is." Nian Shi’s voice carried finality as he swung the sword down.
The first strike erased three seconds from Yun Lintian’s personal timeline—precisely when he’d activated his defenses. The second strike pierced his chest before he could react.
"Ghk—!" Blood, black and shimmering with cosmic power, spilled from Yun Lintian’s lips.
Long Qingxuan screamed, "NO!"
Nian Shi twisted the blade. "This magnificent vessel is mine now." His form dissolved into silver light, pouring into Yun Lintian’s wounds.
The usurpation was horrifying to witness.
Yun Lintian’s body convulsed as silver veins spread across his skin.
His golden eye darkened to dull bronze.
The black eye lightened to pale gray.
His hair lost its luster, becoming corpse-white.
After what felt like eternity, "Yun Lintian" opened his eyes—now both silver. He flexed his fingers experimentally, then threw back his head and laughed.
"HAHAHA!! The Beyond Heaven Profound Vein...the Eight Divine Beast Souls...the Chaos Energy...all MINE!" His voice echoed across the void.
The watchers stood frozen in horror as the new god stretched his limbs.
The entire space shattered and the world returned to the white space.
Long Qingxuan’s hands trembled, her nails digging into her palms hard enough to draw blood. Linlin let out a low whimper, while Qingqing’s usually vibrant green eyes dimmed with despair.
Nantian Fengyu was the first to break the silence. "No... That can’t be the only outcome." Her voice was hoarse, as if she had been screaming for hours.
Yun Wuhan’s projection sighed. "In this first possibility, Yun Lintian loses. Nian Shi succeeds in taking his body and ascends as the new Creator."
Long Xi took a deep breath, her draconic aura flaring slightly as she fought to keep her composure. "What caused this outcome?" Her draconic eyes burned with intensity. "Yun Lintian was already several times stronger than we last saw him. How could he still lose?"
Yun Wuhan shook his head. "I don’t know the exact reason. But I can see that in this future, he was impatient—consumed by vengeance. He rushed into battle before fully mastering his power." He paused. "He hadn’t yet reached the highest level he was meant to attain."
Long Xi’s eyes sharpened. "So if Yun Lintian doesn’t act recklessly, if he doesn’t let his emotions control him... he has a chance to win?"
Yun Wuhan smiled faintly. "Technically, yes. But as I said before, the future isn’t set in stone. There are countless variables at play—Nian Shi’s schemes, the interference of other gods, even the will of the universe itself."
Long Qingxuan clenched her fists. "Then let’s see the second possibility."
Yun Wuhan nodded. "Very well."
With a wave of his hand, the white space dissolved once more, reforming into a new battlefield—this one even more chaotic than the last...