Eternal Country

"There's not much difference between basic spear techniques and the war spear itself. The techniques of spearplay can be entirely applied to the war spear. In fact, the spear evolved from the original pike. Practicing spear techniques is practically the same as training in polearm techniques—they're completely interchangeable. This Basic Spear Manual is worth cultivating. With it, I should be able to hunt monsters much more efficiently."

Yi Tianxing carefully scanned through the Basic Spear Manual. The illustrations inside were vivid and lifelike, as though a master of the spear were performing and personally instructing the techniques within. Even a single viewing left a deep impression in his mind. If not for the unsuitability of practicing in the lobby, he would've already taken up the war spear to begin training.

"But what's this Blood Spring?"

Setting aside the spear manual, Yi Tianxing picked up the jade booklet he had obtained earlier—the one titled Blood Spring. This book didn't seem to indicate whether it was a cultivation method or a combat art. It appeared unique. He hadn't had time to inspect it while clearing out the building, but now, curiosity got the better of him.

Fate Aperture: Blood Spring!!

Grants control over blood. Once the Blood Spring Fate Aperture is opened and refined, it allows the absorption of blood, the tempering of one's own blood, and the strengthening of flesh and bone. It can become the source of ten thousand blood arts, giving rise to powers of the blood element. It contains powerful vitality, capable of healing internal injuries, accelerating recovery, and enhancing one's life force—allowing wounds to quickly close and regenerate.

To open the Fate Aperture, the following are required:

Blood Essence Stone

Blood Lotus

Vampire Bat Fang

Bloodsucking Vine

The booklet detailed the method to construct and open the Blood Spring Fate Aperture. This wasn't something that could be opened casually. Unless one was born with it, acquiring the Blood Spring required artificial opening—and that wasn't as simple as unlocking a meridian. It demanded a combination of rare and extraordinary treasures to construct the Blood Spring True Sigil and finally open the Fate Aperture. And even then, there was a chance of failure.

The jade book didn't just describe the Blood Spring Fate Aperture, but also included a list of required natural treasures, illustrations of those rare items, and the visualization method needed to construct the Blood Spring True Sigil.

Lacking any part of this process would make opening the aperture impossible—it was a daunting endeavor.

"It's actually a manual for opening a Fate Aperture. This is far more valuable than any of the previous techniques I've acquired."

Yi Tianxing couldn't help but take a sharp breath. His eyes lit up. This was a method for constructing a Fate Aperture—once completed, it would grant divine abilities, spell arts, Taoist techniques. Every Fate Aperture gave rise to mysterious and wondrous powers. Each and every method for opening one was an invaluable treasure.

Each aperture could give birth to its own divine abilities and techniques—truly astonishing.

Just like Yi Tianxing's own innate Yin-Yang Eyes, which didn't require rare treasures to awaken. They had been opened at birth. The Yin-Yang Eyes could peer into the world of yin and yang and unleash powerful attacks through the Yin-Yang Locks. The eyes were the source, and the locks the divine technique born from them.

If the Yin-Yang Eyes evolved further, they could give rise to even more divine techniques—part of a continuous process of transformation and elevation.

Likewise, if the Blood Spring were opened, it would allow for the birth of countless blood-based divine abilities. It would act as a foundational core from which the power of blood could be channeled.

In cultivation, the Sea of Divinity realm was the first foundational stage. The second realm was the Fate Aperture realm—where one opened and activated apertures. Without a method for doing so, one couldn't progress. This made the Blood Spring manual an unimaginably rare and priceless secret in the current world.

Even if it wasn't useful now, it absolutely would be in the future.

"I didn't expect opening a Fate Aperture would require such rare materials. To unlock the Blood Spring, I need four distinct treasures. Among them, the Vampire Bat Fang is the easiest to obtain—I already have one. It looks like no aperture can be opened out of thin air. Gathering the necessary items will be time-consuming and exhausting. Each of these treasures is incredibly rare, and their value will only increase over time."

Yi Tianxing could already sense how difficult the aperture-opening process would be. There was no such thing as an easy path. One needed the right resources, and collecting them would require both effort and luck. Such treasures would only grow more valuable as time went on.

"Forget it. The task of opening Fate Apertures is still too far off. Right now, it's not something I need to think about too much. For now, I'll just collect what I can. The time to use them will come."

After a bit of thought, Yi Tianxing didn't dwell on it further. Opening Fate Apertures belonged to a stage beyond the Sea of Divinity. At his current level, it wouldn't be helpful—just thinking about it was pointless. Without sufficient cultivation, it simply wasn't possible to open an aperture.

Unless he somehow awakened one innately, like before—only then could he wield the power of a Fate Aperture before officially reaching that realm. Otherwise, even collecting the needed items would be a pipe dream.

"I should focus on cultivating for now."

The building had been thoroughly cleared. Even if a few monsters remained, they wouldn't pose any immediate threat. It was the dead of night—not the time to go monster hunting. And with the wailing and howls outside, it was nearly impossible to sleep. Cultivation was the best substitute for rest in this kind of world.

He pulled out another Wish Power Pearl, placed it into his mouth, and once again began to operate the Heavenly Dragon Imperial Sutra. With his eyes closed, he visualized the Ancestral Dragon Diagram of the Four Seas, drawing in the essence of heaven and earth, and refining the power within the pearl.

Once immersed in cultivation, time seemed to vanish.

Unknowingly, time passed.

...

Opening his eyes slowly, he let out a long breath of turbid air. Black and white light swirled in his pupils.

"It's already 7 a.m. Why is it still pitch black outside?"

He glanced at his mechanical watch. It wasn't electronic and thus hadn't been destroyed in the cataclysm, allowing it to still keep time accurately.

Last night, Yi Tianxing had refined two whole Wish Power Pearls, transforming them into true dragon energy that surged into his Qi Sea. The Sea of Divinity within him had swelled, and each strand of true dragon energy enhanced his physical body and nurtured his blood and qi. By now, he had amassed hundreds of strands of dragon energy—a considerable amount. With a bit more, he'd be ready to begin opening the twelve main meridians and the eight extraordinary vessels.

This steady sense of progress felt incredibly satisfying.

"Brother, it's already seven and the outside's still completely dark. Has the night somehow grown longer?"

Zhao Ziyan and the other two girls had also woken up. After a second round of visualization last night, they were each just a step away from sensing their internal qi. Eventually, exhausted, they'd gone to sleep in the bedroom. Now awake, they lit candles and frowned at the continuing darkness beyond the windows.

"Something's wrong. The weather's gotten much colder, and it started right around last night. The temperature's been dropping nonstop. By now it's seven a.m., and under normal circumstances, the sun would've risen already. Even if it hadn't, there'd be some light in the sky. But this is complete darkness—just like night. Something must have gone terribly wrong."

Tang Zitong furrowed her brow and spoke gravely.

It was September—still the tail end of the hot season. Usually, the sun would rise by six a.m. at the latest. For it to be this dark at seven, without even a hint of light, was deeply unsettling.

"This isn't normal. Since the Cataclysm, the world has already begun to change. The future is uncertain. We can't control what comes next—we can only adapt." Yi Tianxing stepped out onto the balcony. Though it was pitch black outside, he could still clearly make out most things with his Yin-Yang Eyes.

"Right, Brother Yi—if the world is changing, maybe the Wordless Heavenly Tome has some answers. We should check it. It might tell us what's really happening," Chen Xuerou suggested suddenly.

"Good idea. Let's take a look."

Yi Tianxing nodded in agreement.

Without hesitation, he returned to the main hall, sat down, and opened the Wordless Heavenly Tome. As he flipped it open, glowing text began to appear.

A brand-new passage emerged on the page.

"Day Two of the Cataclysm: The sun has vanished. It shall not rise again. Darkness shrouds the earth. All living things lose their light. Bitter cold enshrouds the land. Monsters roam freely through the world."

The words were few, but their meaning was bone-chilling.

Even Yi Tianxing and the others fell into a stunned silence. The hall was deathly quiet.

The sun had disappeared—and it wouldn't be rising again. At least, not for now.

The implications of the sun vanishing were horrifying. First of all, without the sun, the world would be plunged into total darkness. More importantly, the disappearance of the sun would bring a rapid and devastating drop in temperature. Soon, snow would fall. Earth would enter a new Ice Age.

With no electricity and no sunlight, untold numbers of people would freeze to death.

Combined with the ever-present threat of monsters, this was nothing less than a life-or-death ordeal for all of human civilization.

"If the sun's really gone, the temperature will plummet. The snow will come, blanketing the cities. Without winter clothing or warm bedding, most people will freeze to death. And with monsters roaming everywhere, even those trapped indoors won't dare venture out into the darkness. If their homes don't have supplies to keep warm, the death rate could reach ninety percent," Tang Zitong said seriously.

"If yesterday marked the first day—the beginning of the Cataclysm, and the arrival of monsters—then the second day is the sun's disappearance. This might be a transitional phase in the world's transformation. The sun might not be gone forever. If we can endure, there will be hope," Yi Tianxing said slowly, analyzing the new passage from the Heavenly Tome, a thoughtful look in his eyes.