Another way to strengthen himself was by hunting malevolent spirits and vengeful ghosts. Once killed, these entities would be devoured on the spot by the Yin-Yang Eyes. Their soul energy would then fuse with the Yin-Yang Qi and give birth to two Yin-Yang Locks. Initially, these locks were extremely ethereal, but after absorbing soul energy from wandering spirits in the environment, they gradually solidified and gained tremendous power. This allowed Yi Tianxing to progress from merely seeing ghosts to actively hunting and destroying them.
More than that, the Yin-Yang Locks could be used not just against spirits, but also against living beings.
The Yin-Yang Locks didn't just suppress malevolent spirits—they could also judge and strike down the living. If an ordinary person was hit by one, their physical body would be wounded, but more terrifyingly, their soul could be forcibly dragged out and attacked directly.
Yi Tianxing had once used a Yin-Yang Lock on a thug who was trying to assault a female student. The thug was severely wounded on the spot, both physically and spiritually, falling into a coma from which he never woke. Even after being taken to the hospital, he was declared to be in a vegetative state, with no hope of recovery. Even if he did wake up, he might be reduced to a fool—or worse.
That had been back when the Yin-Yang Locks had only just started forming. Now, if he used them on a living person, he could instantly rip their soul from their body and obliterate it.
Yi Tianxing looked at the two black-and-white interwoven chains within his eyes. Each chain was made of tiny, oval-shaped links, each inscribed with innate black-and-white patterns. Though separate, they blended together seamlessly, radiating an otherworldly aura.
He knew that each ring in those chains represented a vengeful ghost or malevolent spirit that had been slain. When the number of spirits killed reached a certain threshold, another ring would be added to the chain.
He remembered that after the first Yin-Yang Lock had formed, he had to slay hundreds of spirits and malevolent ghosts before it developed a full 81 rings—making it nearly three to four meters long. Only then did the second Yin-Yang Lock emerge. Now, even the second lock had accumulated a full 81 rings.
Yi Tianxing speculated that 81 rings was the maximum limit for a Yin-Yang Lock.
Forming two complete Yin-Yang Locks was no easy feat. Though ghosts and spirits existed in the real world, only a few were able to linger in the mortal realm. Most were ordinary, unconscious souls—harmless and pitiful—just wandering ghosts with no malicious intent.
Over the past couple of decades, Yi Tianxing had become accustomed to seeing these spirits. Though his innate Yin-Yang Eyes required vast amounts of soul energy to cultivate and strengthen the Yin-Yang Locks, he had never harmed the innocent. He only hunted the truly dangerous ones—the malevolent spirits and deadly ghosts.
Even then, it had taken years to refine two complete Yin-Yang Locks.
But now, they were his greatest weapons—his ace in the hole. His foundation for survival. His last resort to ensure peace and protection.
"I hope these two Yin-Yang Locks can prove useful," Yi Tianxing murmured, gazing at them with deep emotion. "Help me find a foothold, protect my family. At this point, all I can rely on… are these eyes."
A sense of security settled over his heart.
Power was the only true guarantee for survival. In a world descending into chaos, it was the only capital that mattered.
Everything else was an illusion.
He could already foresee it—when the great cataclysm arrived, all of today's societal order would collapse. The mighty and the powerful would fall from grace. Glamorous celebrities would become no different from ordinary people. Billionaires wouldn't have even one more life than anyone else. Everything would be reset to the same starting line.
And power… would be the only thing that determined one's fate.
Everything else was a lie.
"Let's see if I can use the True Dragon Qi in my body to activate the Yin-Yang Eyes."
Yi Tianxing decided to test something new.
As he did, he was instantly shocked. Though there was only one strand of True Dragon Qi within him, once he used it to activate the Yin-Yang Eyes, the divine Yin-Yang Diagram within his pupils began to rotate. For the first time ever, he was able to actively manipulate the diagram.
At the moment of activation, he felt the sun and moon essences from the outside world surge into his eyes—ten times stronger than before. In an instant, the Yin-Yang Qi within his eyes grew significantly.
It was unbelievable.
"So that's how it is… Only by stepping onto the path of cultivation and becoming a true cultivator can one fully activate the Yin-Yang Eyes and harness their power. Before this, I was like a man guarding a mountain of treasure without knowing it. What a waste."
A spark of understanding flickered in Yi Tianxing's heart.
Infusing the Dragon Qi into his Yin-Yang Eyes could multiply the speed of his cultivation by several times, even dozens of times. The growth rate of the Yin-Yang Eyes was now astonishing. He could vaguely see through the veil of yin and yang—peer into the void beyond. The experience was nothing short of miraculous.
What's more, his control over the Yin-Yang Locks had also become tighter and more agile, as if they were extensions of his own limbs. He could wield them effortlessly, with uncanny precision.
"The stages of cultivation are: Divine Sea Realm, Life Aperture Realm, Life Diagram Realm, and Dharma Aspect Realm."
"The Divine Sea Realm itself is divided into three stages and nine levels—Qi Gathering, Divine Spring, and Sea Transformation. Qi Gathering makes up the first three levels, Divine Spring the next three, and Sea Transformation the final three. Altogether, nine levels across three stages. The legendary Innate Realm? That's just the Divine Spring stage of the Divine Sea Realm."
"The Life Aperture Realm marks the beginning of divine abilities. One opens and condenses life apertures within the body. When the aperture is formed, a divine power is born. Each life aperture corresponds to a different power. All living beings potentially harbor innate apertures, and those who awaken them early are destined for greatness. My Yin-Yang Eyes… might just be one of these innate apertures."
"Unfortunately, I only have the cultivation method for the Divine Sea Realm. The method for the Life Aperture Realm is sealed within my mind—I can't access it at all. If only I had a complete Life Diagram Manual…"
Yi Tianxing fell into quiet contemplation.
He strongly suspected his Yin-Yang Eyes were an innate life aperture, one that had awakened from birth. That would explain why, even as an ordinary human, he had such overwhelming spiritual power—able to exorcise demons and slay ghosts with ease.
He glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall.
September 21, 2019.
"One day's already passed… Time really waits for no one. I can't believe a full day slipped by just from cultivating. No wonder the old texts say, 'One day in the mountains, a thousand years in the world.'"
"The Cataclysm is coming on the 23rd. Just two days left. I wonder if my little sister's back yet…"
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and looked out the window, a hint of worry flickering in his eyes.
Clack!
Just as he was about to dial his sister's number again, he heard the sound of a key turning in the lock outside.
He turned to look—his front door opened.
A young woman in a purple dress stepped in, carrying a backpack. She looked around twenty-two years old, radiating youthful energy. Her appearance was flawless—an undeniable natural beauty. Wherever she went, she would draw countless stares. What truly made her stand out, though, was the gentle and serene aura she carried—like the girl next door, pure and elegant.
She was Zhao Ziyan.
Behind her, another girl followed. About the same age, she had long, slender legs accentuated by tight jeans, and a purple plaid shirt that hugged her curvy figure. Her long black hair and delicate features were captivating—her skin was pale and flawless, her presence striking. She had an air of cold elegance, with a hint of determination. No matter where she went, she would be considered a campus goddess.
Her looks and temperament rivaled Zhao Ziyan's, each possessing their own unique charm.
"Brother!!"Zhao Ziyan's eyes lit up when she saw Yi Tianxing, and she cheerfully called out.
"Mm, come on in."
Yi Tianxing took the backpack off her shoulders and looked at the girl behind her. "Ziyan, who's this?"
"Brother, this is my college roommate and best friend—Tang Zitong," Zhao Ziyan said with a smile. "Zitong, this is my brother, Yi Tianxing—the one I told you about."