"What a terrifying devouring force. Just getting close to the Abyss pulls you downward—it truly lives up to its reputation. Ordinary cultivators, even those flying above it, would be dragged down if they're not fast enough. No wonder it's considered a forbidden zone of life."
Yi Tianxing stood atop the Nine-Dragon War Chariot, clearly sensing the devouring force radiating from the Abyss. That power, even for someone at the Life Diagram Realm, made it hard to maintain stability. Even Dharma Phase Realm cultivators could be dragged in.
Fortunately, the Nine-Dragon War Chariot was no ordinary treasure—it was a Mystic-grade exotic treasure, supported by the Heaven and Earth power from the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower. With the help of the Primordial Dragon Scions pulling the chariot, though it continued descending, it managed to maintain balance and even its speed, avoiding a complete loss of control. To some extent, it could still maintain the ability to fly.
"Brother up ahead, wait for me!"
As Yi Tianxing remained alert, scanning the surroundings, a voice suddenly called from above. Looking up, he saw the beast-hide-clad woodcutter descend from the sky, stepping right into the Abyss.
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing willed the chariot forward and caught the falling man.
The woodcutter landed safely on the chariot.
"Fellow Daoist, why did you enter the Abyss? You yourself said it was a forbidden zone of life—stepping into it means facing near-certain death. Now that you've entered, you may never leave," Yi Tianxing said with a slight frown.
This woodcutter clearly had cultivation—a fact Yi Tianxing had already deduced. His cultivation wasn't weak either, having reached the Dharma Phase Realm, with a powerful body cultivation to match. Such strength was rare among the human race today. Without it, he wouldn't have been able to survive so long cutting wood near the Abyss.
Yi Tianxing didn't know the man's origin, but since he was human and seemed kind-hearted, that was enough. However, he hadn't expected the woodcutter to jump in after him. That took true courage—facing near-certain death, yet choosing to leap forward.
"I didn't manage to save that girl earlier, and now you're jumping into the Abyss too. I thought about it, and I just couldn't let it go. I've been guarding this Abyss for years—if I don't see what's inside with my own eyes, I won't feel right chopping trees anymore. Might as well follow and have a look. Worst case, I stay here forever," the woodcutter said with a hearty laugh.
"Fellow Daoist, your courage is admirable. May I ask your name?"
Yi Tianxing nodded and asked, his curiosity growing.
Seeing that they still had a ways to go before reaching the bottom of the Abyss, he naturally struck up conversation.
"Name's Liu Feng. Just a mountain woodcutter. Figured I'd take this chance to see what mysteries lie in this Abyss." Liu Feng shouldered his axe, eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.
The area was shrouded in black demonic mist, filled with chaotic and destructive will. Fortunately, a golden shield emanated from the Nine-Dragon War Chariot, naturally warding off the mist. With the backing of a small thousand-world power, even the demonic aura couldn't invade. Without such protection, the mist could have infected their bloodline or even polluted the soul.
"Liu Feng? I'm Yi Tianxing. This Abyss is likely far from simple. There's something inside the mist," Yi Tianxing replied, the name Liu Feng sounding vaguely familiar, though he didn't dwell on it.
At that moment, something hidden in the mist made its move.
Suddenly, a pitch-black tentacle shot out from the mist without warning, whipping toward the war chariot. The tentacle, hundreds of feet long, was massive and covered in mysterious black demonic runes, interwoven in a sinister, eerie pattern. As it whipped through the air, the surrounding mist surged violently.
Boom!
The tentacle's appearance caused no ripple in divine sense or perception—it was stealthy to the extreme, even surpassing elite assassins. Yi Tianxing had no time to dodge before it struck the war chariot.
The chariot flashed with golden light and trembled violently but wasn't blown away. Its defenses held, though the golden glow rapidly dimmed.
"That's the same kind of tentacle that dragged the girl down before. If it hadn't appeared so suddenly, she wouldn't have fallen," Liu Feng said solemnly.
"What is this thing? Why are there so many souls?"
Liu Feng now saw more clearly—what appeared to be runes on the tentacle were actually twisted ghostly faces—fierce spirits of humans, beasts, and other races. These terrifying souls formed the massive tentacle. If this was only part of it, the unseen portion must be even longer. The number of souls needed to form this was staggering.
"These souls are tainted with demonic energy. They aren't ordinary ghosts, but something even more fearsome—demonic souls," Yi Tianxing said, frowning.
He had never seen souls radiating such intense demonic energy—chaotic, frenzied, and destructive.
"No matter what kind of soul it is, to me, they're all nourishment."
Yi Tianxing sneered.
Of all dangers, he feared undead spirits the least. His very eyes were the bane of all such beings.
At that moment, his eyes flashed black and white, revealing the mystical Innate Yin-Yang Divine Diagram spinning within them.
🧿 Innate Yin-Yang Eyes – Yin-Yang Shears (新技)
Roooar!!
Two beams of black and white divine light shot out, transforming into twin yin-yang flood dragons that spiraled toward the tentacle like giant scissors. Where they passed, even the demonic mist was sliced apart.
So fast were they that in the blink of an eye, they reached the tentacle.
Snip!!
A crisp sound rang through the void.
The massive tentacle was cleanly severed.
Aaaaaaaah!!
Screeeech!!
Wooooooo!!
Shrill, piercing wails burst from the tentacle. It shattered into countless ferocious demonic souls, surging toward the war chariot like a wave from hell.
"Come then. Let's see how different demonic souls really are."
Yi Tianxing showed no fear. As the demonic souls approached, a metallic clinking echoed in the void. Within the black-and-white divine light, nine Yin-Yang Chains appeared, linked together and exuding pure Yin and Yang Dao intent.
🔗 Yin-Yang Chains – Soul Binding (新技)
"Bind the souls!!"
With a shout, the chains shot out, instantly wrapping around the incoming demonic souls. Despite their frenzy and destructive aura, they were helpless before the chains. As they struggled, black smoke rose from them. The demonic energy burned away like snow under sunlight.
Screaming, the souls were forcibly drawn into Yi Tianxing's Yin-Yang Eyes, where they were imprisoned in the Yin-Yang Space.
Crack!!
Inside, the Yin-Yang Divine Diagram spun like a great mill, grinding the souls. With each turn, soul essence was extracted—some absorbed into the diagram, some converted into pure Yin-Yang energy.
Even the corrupted demonic intent was completely refined, leaving behind only the most fundamental soul essence.
"This is a treasure trove. Even demonic souls are still souls. Their essence is incredibly nourishing to my primordial spirit."
Yi Tianxing silently rejoiced. These demonic souls carried a highly concentrated soul origin, immensely beneficial.
🔄 Yin-Yang Chains → Yin-Yang Rings – Mass Binding (进阶技)
With a thought, the nine chains broke into Yin-Yang Rings, each radiating divine light. They expanded and contracted, ensnaring the countless remaining demonic souls and dragging them into the Yin-Yang Space.
One after another, the souls were refined. The Divine Diagram churned, producing more and more Yin-Yang energy and refining soul essence into the core of his techniques—Yin-Yang Shears, Yin-Yang Vase, and Yin-Yang Mirror—which all rapidly grew in power, accumulating deeper Dao Rhythms of Yin and Yang.
"Amazing. He can actually subdue these demonic souls. What kind of divine ability is this?" Liu Feng watched, stunned.