The white divine light was like a natural nemesis of the phantoms.Wherever it shone, the phantoms instantly disintegrated — utterly domineering.
"Scoundrel, come out! Hiding like a coward — are you even a man? Don't make me look down on you," Yao Yue shouted coquettishly, waving her hand to gather all the scattered spirit essences around her.
"Taunts like that won't work on me. But if you really want to know whether I'm a man, I'd be happy to prove it," Yi Tianxing replied with a calm smile. He had no intention of meeting her right now — if they crossed paths, it would surely lead to a fierce battle.
The divine light derived from the Yin-Yang Mirror — the Life and Death Divine Light — was incredibly effective against phantoms and evil spirits. Once exposed to the light, they would rapidly dissolve into nothingness. However, while it destroyed the phantoms, it couldn't absorb their soul energy — it could only leave behind a spirit essence. These spirit essences could enhance the soul foundation of a cultivator. Both sides could benefit, each in their own way.
This test of the Yin-Yang Mirror's power left Yi Tianxing quite satisfied.The Yang side targeted evil beings; the Yin side targeted living beings — constantly cycling between life and death. Profound and marvelous.The mirror could not yet determine life and death instantly, but its potential was limitless. One day, it could.
"Spirit essences are great, but strengthening the innate foundation of the Yin-Yang Eyes is even more important."
Rather than using the Yin-Yang Mirror again, he unleashed the Yin-Yang Locks — countless Yin-Yang Rings manifested, suppressing the surrounding phantoms and imprisoning them into the Yin-Yang space, where they were quickly refined into innate origin power, further strengthening his life apertures.
At the same time, he was refining the three innate divine abilities he had been nurturing.
The Yin-Yang Mirror would remain a trump card, capable of turning the tide at a critical moment.
Already on the edge of the Misty Swamp, Yi Tianxing had no intention of leaving yet.These phantoms represented a tremendous opportunity for him. External treasures could be taken away, but divine abilities and life apertures were truly his own.Strengthening them was the most important thing.
Even if others surpassed him for now, he could easily catch up later.But missing this opportunity to harvest a massive number of phantoms would be foolish.
Yin-Yang Rings whirled through the mist, rapidly capturing and imprisoning phantoms.With the transformation of his innate Yin-Yang Eyes, the power of the rings had become even stronger, making it easier to suppress the phantoms.
One by one, they were absorbed into the Yin-Yang Eyes, quickly restoring its once-empty source.
"Scoundrel, where are you!"Yao Yue, once again baited by Yi Tianxing, charged out of the Misty Swamp, completely leaving the area.She glanced around but couldn't even catch a glimpse of him, and couldn't help but let out a frustrated cry.A complex expression flashed across her face. With her intelligence, she instantly realized Yi Tianxing's true purpose once she escaped the swamp.
She snorted coldly, then rode her Moonlight Butterfly forward without hesitation.
"Finally left, that woman… Really not someone you want to provoke casually, or she'd become a major headache."
Yi Tianxing secretly let out a breath of relief and returned his focus to hunting phantoms.
After quite some time, a golden light flashed within the Misty Swamp —Yi Tianxing, riding the Golden Roc, burst out of the mist.
This hunt had seen him slaughter and absorb all the nearby phantoms, refining them into his own power.His strength had undergone another transformation — he was noticeably stronger than before.
"This Martial Arts Tournament... if I can seize the opportunity, I'll experience yet another breakthrough.The tournament is happening so soon — and in this format — it's clearly designed to give prodigies a chance to soar.Of course, it depends on who can truly grasp it."
Yi Tianxing pondered silently.He was already guessing the tournament's real purpose.
After all, this was the first tournament, hastily organized.Most participants were at the Divine Sea Realm.Although the track was filled with dangers and disasters, each crisis was also an opportunity.
He wasn't the only one benefiting from it.
"Kill!!"
"Lü Bu! I've always wanted to fight you. I heard you were the greatest general at the end of the Han dynasty, worshiped like a god of war. I refuse to believe you're that invincible!You died before I was even born — we never got the chance to duel.Today, I'll settle that! Take my hammer!!"
"You sickly-looking madman! Charging at me with a hammer?!If I don't teach you a lesson today, how will I face anyone as Lü Bu!" (怒喝)
After exiting the Misty Swamp and pressing forward, Yi Tianxing's view suddenly opened up — a vast ocean stretched before him.
Clearly, the next section of the course was across the sea.
Navigating across water would be a serious problem for those whose mounts couldn't swim or fly.
"Terrifying strength... These two are monstrous. Lü Bu... and who's the other one?"
Yi Tianxing drew a deep breath as he neared the ocean.He could see two figures locked in a ferocious battle on the water's surface, clashing fiercely, sending waves surging skyward, unleashing violent storms with every blow.
Each collision of weapons produced thunderous explosions.Both warriors were radiating blood and energy like smoke rising into the heavens.
Every attack contained unimaginable force.
"A skinny man with twin hammers, looking sickly…That must be Li Yuanba, the greatest hero of the Sui-Tang era!"
Yi Tianxing recognized them immediately. One was Lü Bu; the other could only be the legendary Li Yuanba — a peerless warrior, invincible in his lifetime.
Li Yuanba wielded two iron hammers, each weighing 400 jin (about 240 kilograms), totaling 800 jin.He was born with the power of the Four Elephants — each Elephant's strength equivalent to 12,500 jin — meaning over 50,000 jin of raw power.A terrifying, unparalleled might, comparable to the highest level of body refiners.
His talent was extraordinary, his hammer techniques unrivaled, his victories on the battlefield legendary.
Lü Bu, too, was no ordinary man — renowned as the "Ghost God of War" during the Three Kingdoms.Despite countless powerful generals during that era, none could refute Lü Bu's supremacy.
Wielding his iconic Fangtian Huaji (Sky-Cutting Halberd), he carved his name in blood and battle.
Both were born with divine strength — each an unmatched warrior of their time.Now, pitted against each other, they unleashed unimaginable ferocity.
Their weapons clashed: the Fangtian Halberd and the golden hammers colliding like bolts of lightning, with mountain-crushing force.
Their combat was brutally direct — all offense, no defense.True qi roared, blood essence churned — wild and unstoppable.
"Both are dual cultivators of martial arts and physical refinement."
The overwhelming blood energy made it obvious — both practiced formidable body-refining techniques, capitalizing on their innate monstrous strength.
As for which techniques they cultivated, Yi Tianxing couldn't tell — but he could sense they were extraordinary.
"Good! Lü Bu, you're worthy!Take my 'Seven Styles of Hatred' — Hatred for the Restless Rivers!!"
Li Yuanba's eyes flashed fiercely.Mounted on a massive water buffalo, he swung his golden hammer, releasing a dazzling golden light.A surge of martial intent burst from his body — this was Hammer Intent, specifically Heaven-Hating Hammer Intent.
This hatred wasn't random — it was defiance, a furious questioning of the heavens, a primal roar from the heart, the wrath of all living beings.
The stronger the hatred, the stronger the hammer's power.
As the hammer fell, Yi Tianxing could feel the martial intent reverberating across the sea.
Within that blow, he saw a raging river, floods breaching dikes, villages submerged, houses swept away, crops destroyed, countless innocents drowning —an overwhelming hatred toward the merciless floodwaters that annihilated all hope.
Li Yuanba had personally witnessed such devastation — his hatred for floodwaters was boundless.
"You have your Seven Styles of Hatred, and I have my Ghost God Seven Styles! Take my halberd — Bloodbath Across the Land!!"
Lü Bu responded solemnly, but without fear.
He was the undefeated God of War — a warrior forged through countless battles from childhood.
His halberd technique, the Ghost God Seven Styles, was a supreme martial art he created through endless bloodshed.
With its completion, he became invincible on the battlefield.
His body erupted with towering martial intent — Halberd Intent — accompanied by a soaring aura of bloodlust.
Anyone could see it: within the Fangtian Halberd raged a scene of mountains of corpses, seas of blood, endless armies clashing across bloody plains.