Myth Beyond Heaven

As Li Shan's voice trailed off, the crowd erupted in a thunderous roar that echoed through the city walls and reached the star-studded night sky. Thousands of lanterns, each symbolizing a year in the Yellow Emperor's reign, were released, ascending like celestial fireflies into the heavens.

The air crackled with a potent mix of reverence and anticipation. The celebration had begun - a night to honor the past, a promise for a brighter future, all under the watchful gaze of the Yellow Emperor, the undying legend who had started it all.

After downing the cup, Li Shan excused himself and retired to the hall where high-ranking figures were gathered— the main venue for the evening's festivities.

Inside the hall, Huang Yiming personally welcomed the esteemed guests, most of whom were True Gods from various realms across the Primal Chaos.

"Congratulations, Brother Huang!" A middle-aged man clad in a black robe adorned with a golden crow pattern boomed with laughter as he raised his wine cup. This was Jin Huoxuan, the current Golden Crow God.

"Thank you for joining us today," Huang Yiming replied, raising his cup and taking a sip of wine.

Jin Huoxuan extended his arm in greeting. "The thanks are mine! It's a pleasure to have my son under your care during this time."

Jin Yang stepped forward tacitly and bowed respectfully. "Junior Jin Yang pays his respects to Senior Huang."

Huang Yiming smiled and said, "You performed admirably today."

"Unfortunately, I fell short of victory," Jin Yang responded modestly.

"Don't be discouraged," Huang Yiming offered gently.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior," Jin Yang replied respectfully, taking a step back.

Jin Huoxuan chuckled. "Don't be fooled by his humble facade. Back home, he's quite the arrogant one. I haven't figured out how to rectify that yet."

Huang Yiming chuckled. "It's natural for young men to carry a bit of arrogance. Weren't we all like that in our youth?"

"Indeed, you're right! Ha ha!" Jin Huoxuan boomed with laughter.

Jin Yang, observing the interaction, couldn't help but smile inwardly. This was his first encounter with Huang Yiming, and he hadn't anticipated such a warm rapport between his father and the esteemed host.

"Hmm?" Huang Yiming's gaze suddenly darted towards the crowd outside.

Jin Yang's heart lurched – could Huang Yiming have sensed the Blood Fiend's presence?

"Is something wrong, Brother Huang?" Jin Huoxuan inquired, oblivious to any anomaly.

"It's nothing," Huang Yiming replied with a shake of his head.

Meanwhile, on the street several kilometers away from the tower, Yun Lintian surveyed the densely packed crowd with a grimace. He had grossly misjudged the celebratory fervor and found himself unable to approach the main avenue.

"Looks like a lost cause," Yun Lintian muttered to himself, deciding to return to the Jade Inn. At least from there, he could enjoy a good vantage point of the festivities.

Just as he began to move, Yun Lintian felt a prickle of awareness. It was subtle but undeniable – someone had been observing him earlier. The skill of this unseen presence hinted at a master of concealment.

The possibility of an assassin dawned upon him. He had anticipated Jin Yang resorting to underhanded tactics, and assassination was a distinct possibility.

Feigning ignorance, Yun Lintian continued his walk back to the inn. Upon entering his room, he immediately activated the isolation barrier, forgoing the less potent protective barrier for the tbeing.

"Be ready," Yun Lintian sent a sound transmission to Qingqing and Linlin.

The two immediately responded with heightened seriousness, their vigilance reaching its peak.

While Yun Lintian waited for assassins to appear, Nantian Yu found herself back in front of the inn, worry etched on her face. Though she had initially planned to leave, a nagging concern wouldn't let her go. Before she realized it, she was back at the inn's entrance.

Recalling how she'd seen Yun Lintian enter the inn, Nantian Yu made a decisive move and walked inside.

At this moment, Yun Lintian immediately sensed the change in the space around him.

A sudden stench of blood suddenly filled the air within Yun Lintian's room, followed by the appearance of a bloody slit. A crimson figure emerged from the tear, lunging at Yun Lintian's heart with a sharp blade. The entire event unfolded in a split second, seemingly impossible to dodge even for a top-tier practitioner.

However, the blade screeched to a halt before piercing Yun Lintian's chest. The bloody figure trembled in terror, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Yun Lintian met the gaze of the seemingly male figure with his draconic eyes. An azure light danced wildly within them as his soul power surged outward.

The intruder, a mere Lower God Realm practitioner, had clearly underestimated Yun Lintian's strength.

Just as Yun Lintian was about to question the figure, another sharp blade materialized behind him, forcing him to dodge.

BANG!

A sickening splatter echoed as the man's head exploded in a spray of gore.

Yun Lintian whipped around to face the second assassin, sending a cold dread slithering down the assassin's spine.

"Lintian!" Nantian Yu burst into the room at that moment, unleashing a torrent of phoenix flames.

The remaining assassin, restrained by Yun Lintian, was engulfed by the inferno and reduced to ashes in an instant.

"Are you injured?" Nantian Yu rushed to Yun Lintian's side, her voice laced with concern.

Yun Lintian furrowed his brow, scanning the room meticulously. Everything appeared exactly as in the scene he had seen before.

He turned to face Nantian Yu, his voice laced with anger. "Why did you cback?"

Nantian Yu flinched at his sudden outburst.

Before Yun Lintian could elaborate, screams erupted from outside, tearing his attention away.

Through a sudden veil of darkness, a tide of ghastly figures flooded into the city. These emaciated humanoids, their translucent skin stretched taut over skeletal frames, glowed with an unnatural, sickly green luminescence. Their hollow eye sockets, filled with flickering soulfire, held a ravenous hunger that instilled a primal fear within the city's inhabitants.

Yun Lintian's pupils constricted. As a Yama King, he recognized this aura all too well. It was the unmistakable presence of the Netherworld!

"This..." Nantian Yu was shocked.

Yun Lintian frowned deeply and dragged Nantian Yu out, heading to her room next to him.

He quickly activated the protective barrier and said to her. "Listen. No matter what, do not leave the room. Understand?"

"Understood." Nantian Yu responded in a daze.