The emerald barrier around Nian Shi and Yin pulsed, its glow intensifying as the twin World Treesâ power intertwined. Nian Shi could feel it nowâthe inexorable pull of the roots, slowly but surely draining his authority.
He turned to Yin, his voice sharp. "You find this amusing? Weâre being erased!"
"Hehe."
Yin chuckled, his abyssal eyes gleaming with amusement as he observed the tightening emerald prison. His relaxed demeanor contrasted sharply with Nian Shiâs growing agitation.
"Relax, old friend," Yin said, waving a hand dismissively. "Nothing will happen to me here."
Nian Shiâs silver eyes narrowed. "What nonsense are you spouting now?"
Yin turned his gaze toward Ning Yue, his smile never fading.
"Although there are two World Trees here," he mused, "they canât maintain this level of power indefinitely. After all..."
His form shimmered slightly, tendrils of darkness curling around him like living shadows.
"I am the Chasm of Uncreation. My very existence defies the principles of creation itself. The longer I remain here, the more power the World Trees must expend to contain me."
A flicker of understanding crossed Nian Shiâs face. His tense posture eased slightly as a cold smirk returned to his lips.
"So thatâs how it is..."
Ning Yue, however, remained unmoved. Her jade-green eyes regarded Yin with the same calm composure as before.
Without a word, she raised her handâ
And the emerald barrier intensified.
A wave of crushing force descended upon the two primordial beings.
Nian Shiâs smirk vanished as he felt his temporal authority being compressed further, his connection to time itself growing fainter. His silver eyes darted to Yin, his voice sharp.
"Are you certain about this?"
Yin didnât answer immediately.
For the first time since his imprisonment, his expression grew pensive. The darkness around him writhed as if testing the boundaries of the barrier, probing for weaknessesâ
Only to find none.
His abyssal eyes darkened.
"...Interesting."
Ning Yue watched them silently, her presence unwavering. The World Treeâs roots pulsed with endless vitality, their emerald glow showing no signs of dimming.
Yinâs fingers twitched slightly.
This shouldnât be possible.
As the embodiment of Uncreation, his power naturally eroded all forms of creation. The World Trees should have been exhausting themselves to contain himâyet their energy remained boundless.
Unless...
A realization dawned in his eyes.
Ning Yue met Yinâs gaze, her voice soft but firm.
"Youâre wondering where this power comes from."
A pause.
Thenâ
The space around them rippled.
Countless threads of golden light materialized in the air, each one connecting to Ning Yue like veins of a celestial network. They stretched beyond the confines of the Endless Abyss, vanishing into the voidâ
To where Yun Lintian stood.
Nian Shiâs breath caught.
"The Seed of Fate..."
Yinâs lips curled into a reluctant smile. "Ah. So thatâs the case... Make sense."
Ning Yue nodded.
"The World Trees draw power not just from creation itself," she explained, "but from the futureâfrom the destiny Big Brother Yun is meant to fulfill. As long as that destiny remains unbroken, our power is limitless."
The implications settled over the prison like a heavy fog.
Nian Shiâs hands clenched.
Yin, however, simply laughedâa rich, genuine sound that echoed through the emerald-lit space.
"Well played, Yun Tianming," he murmured, shaking his head. "Well played indeed."
Nian Shiâs mind raced.
If the World Trees were connected to Yun Lintianâs destiny, thenâ
There was no escaping this prison.
Not unless Yun Lintian failed.
Not unless his destiny was broken.
And with Yun Lintian now wielding the Seed of Time, that possibility grew slimmer by the second.
For the first time in his endless existence, Nian Shi felt something unfamiliarâ
Crisis.
Yin, however, seemed almost... amused.
He leaned back against the emerald barrier, his form relaxed despite the suppression.
"Tell me, little sapling," he said, his voice dripping with mock curiosity, "what happens when Yun Lintian does fulfill his destiny?"
Ning Yueâs gaze never wavered.
"Then the balance will be restored."
A beat of silence.
"And you," she added softly, "will be erased."
Yinâs smile widened.
"Well... That should be called a happy ending, right?"
Yin paused for a moment, his abyssal eyes glimmering with dark amusement.
"Indeed," he mused, "if Yun Lintian successfully inherits the Creatorâs power fully, it would be a happy ending for all of you." His lips curled into a smirk. "But too bad... he is destined to fail."
Ning Yue remained silent, her jade-green eyes watching Yin calmly as she waited for his explanation.
Yin pretended to sigh regretfully, shaking his head.
"I donât know why, out of all the Seeds of Fate, the Creator and Yun Tianming chose him." His voice dripped with mock pity. "Yun Lintian has a fatal flawâone that will prevent him from ever fulfilling his destiny."
Nian Shiâs silver eyes narrowed slightly. He could sense that Yin had a plan, a way to turn the situation around.
Yin continued, his tone almost conversational.
"Heâs too sentimental. Too burdened by attachments. He cares too much about the people around him." A chuckle. "And that... will be his undoing."
Ning Yueâs fingers twitched imperceptibly, but her expression remained composed.
Yinâs smile widened.
"Tell me, little sapling," he said, tilting his head, "what do you think Yun Lintian will do if all of his loved ones suddenly... disappeared?"
The question hung in the air like a blade poised to fall.
Ning Yue did not answer immediately.
But in her mind, she could already see itâ
Yun Lintian, broken.
Yun Lintian, drowning in grief.
Yun Lintian, no longer the hopeful successor of the Creator, but a wrathful force of vengeance, his heart hollowed out by loss.
She had seen his kindness, his unwavering loyalty to those he cherished. She knew that if they were taken from him...
He would shatter.
And in that broken state, he would never be able to inherit the Creatorâs power.
Yinâs grin turned predatory as he watched the flicker of unease in Ning Yueâs eyes.
"Ah... you understand now, donât you?"
He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Your plan is flawlessâif Yun Lintian remains whole. But his people are still out there, vulnerable. And I..."
His fingers curled, shadows writhing around them.
"...have ways to reach them."