Back in the memory, Yun Wushuang closed her eyes. A single tear traced down her cheek—but when she opened them again, her emerald gaze burned with resolve.
Yun Tianming inclined his head. "Then it begins."
With a wave of his hand, the Creator’s essence split—one half surging into the forming Profound Vein, the other into the embryonic crown.
The artifacts pulsed with primordial power, their true nature hidden beneath layers of deception.
Yun Wuhan stepped forward, placing his hand over the crown. Elemental runes flared to life across its surface—a perfect disguise.
"Let Nian Shi chase shadows," he murmured. "While our son becomes the storm."
The plan unfolded like ink dispersing in water—subtle, irreversible.
Yun Tianming’s own successor, Yun Tian, would wear the crown of their ambitions openly. The Beyond Heaven King’s Crown, the Profound Vein of All Creation—all would shine brilliantly upon him, drawing Nian Shi’s gaze like moths to flame.
Meanwhile, the true heir would grow in obscurity.
"Yun Lintian must be nothing more than a ripple," Yun Tianming murmured. "A shadow even time overlooks."
The memory dissolved, returning the group to the white space.
No one spoke. The weight of their fate settled upon them—not as a burden, but as a grim acceptance.
The spectral Yun Wuhan broke the heavy silence first.
"Though Yun Tianming couldn’t foresee Yin’s fate," he said slowly, "he could predict our son’s. And this..." His gaze swept across the group. "...is the only path where Lintian survives."
He paused, then suddenly bowed deeply—a shocking gesture from a Primordial God to mere mortals.
"This father... thanks you all for your sacrifice." His voice carried the weight of millennia. "I know this is my selfishness. I have nothing to repay you with—only this gratitude."
For a moment, no one moved. Then—
Long Qingxuan was the first to step forward, her smile gentle as spring rain. "Senior Yun, there’s no need for this." She helped him straighten. "Even if you hadn’t chosen this path, we would have died anyway when Yin comes."
Her words held no bitterness—just simple acceptance.
Long Xi exhaled, her draconic eyes distant. "Truthfully... I’ve expected this since my husband sacrificed himself without explanation." Her fingers brushed the jade pendant at her waist—Long Shen’s last gift. "Now I understand. His death... all our deaths... serve a greater purpose."
She turned to her daughters, golden eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "My only regret is that my children won’t live to see the new dawn."
Long Niu immediately grabbed her mother’s hand. "Mother, don’t say that! Big Brother Yun is family—we’re happy to—"
"Happy?" Nantian Fengyu suddenly cut in, her voice sharp as shattered ice.
All eyes turned to her.
The Divine Phoenix’s avatar stood rigid, flames flickering erratically around her. For the first time since her awakening, raw emotion cracked her icy facade.
"You speak of sacrifice so lightly," she hissed. "But has anyone asked what he would choose?" Her fists clenched. "That fool junior brother... if given the choice between survival and losing us all...!"
The white space trembled with her outburst.
Linlin and Qingqing stepped forward together, their small hands clasped.
"Sister Fengyu," Linlin said softly, "do you think Big Brother Yun wouldn’t do the same for us?"
Qingqing nodded, her green eyes glowing. "All those years... he sheltered us when we were weak. Now it’s our turn."
Gui Xuan, still cradled in Zhang Yu’s arms, yawned sleepily. "Fate... is... fate. No... use... crying." The Black Turtle God’s childish voice carried eerie wisdom. "Better... to die... meaningfully... than live... pointlessly."
Long Qingxuan turned back to the spectral Yun Wuhan. "Senior... how did you die?"
The question hung in the air like a blade.
Yun Wuhan didn’t say anything and waved his hand.
The white space dissolved, reforming into a familiar scene—Hangzhou, 2008.
The group watched as the memory unfolded.
Yun Wuhan, disguised as a high school teacher, lived quietly with his son in a small villa—the same one Long Xi and the others now stood on.
Yun Lintian grew up as an ordinary teenager—playful, bright, full of life.
The years flashed by like pages turning. Yun Lintian excelling in medical school. He then became a top surgeon, working alongside Ye Ling.
Later, Yun Lintian resigned and drawn to mercenary’s life.
The scenes accelerated—
Yun Lintian formed the Hidden Cloud mecenary group with his beloved Xia Yao and his good brothers—Lei Hao, Tu Feng, and Xiao Kai.
The memory darkened as tragedy struck in rapid succession.
Yun Lintian and his group were trapped inside the factory where the Hell Church was operating.
Xiao Kai was shot dead by a child assassin he tried to save.
Lei Hao pushed everyone away as he blocked the explosion, ending up losing both of his legs.
Tu Feg jumped up to block the bullet from a sniper for Xia Yao and Yun Lintian.
Xia Yao was shot down by the elite sniper Sin.
The group watched in silence as Yun Lintian—drowned in grief—awakened. Golden flames erupted from his body, incinerating the entire hillside in his rage.
Above it all, hidden in the void, Yun Wuhan watched. His expression was unreadable as he turned and left Earth without intervening.
The memory continued—
Yun Lintian, broken, visiting Xia Yao’s grave daily.
He got better and lived a simple life with Lei Hao, selling fried rice in the market.
A conspiracy fell upon them again where Zhu Ding and the Hell Church colluded to kill them.
Yun Lintian decisively knocked Lei Hao down and sent him to Xu Lingfeng, entrusting him to the state while he went to the mountain where Xia Yao rested alone.
Yun Lintian fought with the Dragon Soul team and the Hell Church and eventually died hugging the tombstone of Xia Yao.
The scene changed to where Yang Ningchang buried Yun Lintian and vowed to avenge him.
As she left, two veiled figures appeared at the gravesite—Yun Wushuang and Yun Ling.
With a wave of her hand, Yun Wushuang opened the earth, revealing Yun Lintian’s lifeless body. Her emerald eyes glistened as she channeled the Power of Life.
Yun Lintian’s body shrank, reverting to an infant—alive, breathing, innocent once more.
"Take him," Yun Wushuang whispered to Yun Ling, placing the child in her arms. "To that place."
The memory ended here.
Back in the white space, Long Qingxuan trembled. "So... all his suffering... his first death... you allowed it?"
The spectral Yun Wuhan met her gaze. "Yes."
Nantian Fengyu snarled, flames erupting around her. "You let him break! You let him—"
"To remake him," Yun Wuhan interrupted calmly. "That pain forged the will he needed to face what comes next... After all, he has to prepare for the time where there’s no one left."