What stood out most was the lifelike image of a phoenix engraved on the jade zither—it didn't appear inanimate at all. Rather, it looked alive, as if it could take flight from the instrument's surface at any moment. The sight was so vivid it felt real.
Even the most ordinary person would instantly realize that this ancient zither was no ordinary item.
Shua!!In the next instant, the jade zither transformed into a streak of light and shot directly into Cai Yan's body, disappearing without a trace.
"Is that... a Life Aperture divine ability?"
At first, Yi Tianxing had assumed it was a rare treasure, but the aura it emitted was clearly different. It felt more like the abilities born from one's own Life Aperture, just like his Innate Yin-Yang Eyes, or the Yin-Yang Lock and Yin-Yang Shears he had personally cultivated—this was the same kind of power.
"Mhm, Brother Yi really has sharp eyes. When I began cultivating and opened my Divine Sea, a Life Aperture awakened inside me without any warning," Cai Yan said, blinking as she spoke.
"Yan'er, matters concerning one's Life Aperture are the greatest of secrets. In critical moments, they are your trump cards. You must never reveal them lightly. If ill-intentioned people were to learn of it, they might find ways to counter or suppress your divine ability, putting you in grave danger. Even those closest to you—sometimes especially them—shouldn't be told lightly."
Yi Tianxing raised his hand with a smile, gesturing for her to stop.
For every cultivator, Life Apertures were vital. They were divine abilities—last resorts in battle. No divine ability is invincible; there are always counters. If an enemy knows what you rely on, they can prepare for it. Once that happens, you're at a serious disadvantage.
So, Life Apertures were the most closely guarded secrets. Only the most trusted of companions would ever be told. And even if others found out, you had to make sure the information never spread too far. Public exposure could be fatal.
"I trust Brother Yi," Cai Yan said with a gentle smile.
That response struck Yi Tianxing's heart. His eyes lit up. He had just warned her of the significance of keeping a Life Aperture secret, and yet she still chose to confide in him. This meant something—it meant she considered him one of her dearest and most trusted people.
That shift in their relationship filled him with joy.
"To be trusted by you, Yan'er... that feels truly wonderful," Yi Tianxing said softly, his gaze warming. His affection was plain to see.
Under the intensity of his gaze, Cai Yan's cheeks flushed, but she didn't look away. Inside, she too felt something for him.
On the battlefield, he had moved like a master strategist, his plans annihilating tens of thousands of Huns with ease. That had resolved a great burden in her heart—and left a permanent impression of him deep within.
After all, what woman didn't admire a hero?
As cliché as the whole "hero saves beauty" trope might be, it still worked—even in the 21st century. There was no denying it: to win a woman's heart, showing strength and heroic spirit was a sure-fire path to victory.
"I awakened a Life Aperture called Heavenly Sound. I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but from it emerged a jade zither named Phoenix Zither (Xianhuang Qin). It even came with a musical score called 'Melody of a Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix'. It seems this score is a divine ability bound to the Phoenix Zither. But it can't be played by just any instrument—only I can play it."
This Life Aperture was incredibly unique—it birthed a musical instrument, whose power depended entirely on music. Without the melody, it was nothing but decoration. With the melody and a top-tier performer, however, its power could become unfathomable.
"You even got a music score with it? 'Melody of a Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix'... that definitely doesn't sound ordinary. But I assume there are some restrictions?"
Yi Tianxing was surprised. It wasn't rare for a Life Aperture to produce a divine weapon—he had some himself. But one that came with a melody? That was extremely unusual.
"There is a restriction—the 'Melody of a Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' can only be played with the Phoenix Zither. No other guqin or treasure zither can reproduce the sound. If forced, the strings will snap, no sound will be made, and the backlash could even harm the player. This melody was created exclusively for the Phoenix Zither and can only reach its full potential through it."
"Also, I've only obtained the first movement: 'Chirping of a Hundred Birds'. The later movements will only emerge as the Life Aperture evolves to higher stages."
As she spoke of the melody, her eyes sparkled with joy—like a scholar discovering a rare book. As someone who truly understood the art of the zither, acquiring a top-tier musical score was a dream come true—one worth obsessing over.
"Yes, this must be a divine ability born from the Phoenix Zither—or rather, from the Heavenly Sound Life Aperture itself. While other Life Apertures create combat abilities, the Heavenly Sound births a divine melody. 'Melody of a Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' is your unique divine ability. Sound-based techniques are among the hardest to defend against and are devastating in group combat. Their true power lies in their unpredictability and range."
"They're difficult to defend against—especially since they usually strike multiple enemies at once."
"But this melody is difficult to master," Cai Yan said with a nod. "It requires both zither mastery and cultivation strength. With my current cultivation, I can only play part of the first movement before my true qi is completely drained."
She clearly loved the melody, but it was a divine one—something that required a solid cultivation base. Despite her impressive skill with the zither, her cultivation was still in its infancy.
"Don't rush your training. The 'Sitting Oblivion Sutra' you're cultivating is a top-tier foundational technique. Just focus on building your foundation first. Once it's solid, you'll have immense potential for the future."
Yi Tianxing smiled in reassurance. Cultivation was never something to be rushed. Even for him, though he had the strength to forcibly break open all eight extraordinary meridians in one go, he chose to open them one by one, spending time to nurture and stabilize his foundation.
"I know. Uncle Huang told me the same thing," Cai Yan replied warmly.
Even if she didn't fully understand cultivation, she could recognize good advice.
"Still, proper resources are essential too. Here—this bottle contains Skysteel Pills (Tiangang Dan). Their medicinal properties are mild and pose no risk to your health. Take one a day to accelerate true qi accumulation. The stronger your true qi, the faster your cultivation will progress."
Yi Tianxing handed her a jade bottle. Inside were several Skysteel Pills created from the Skysteel Cauldron—high-quality pills with no impurities and completely safe for consumption. Perfect for boosting true qi.
"These pills should be for you, Brother Yi. You're the leader of the village—your safety matters the most. I may not know much about great Dao principles, but I know that a leader needs not only wisdom but also strength. Without power, you can't command respect. Right now, your reputation may keep everyone in line, but what if we face enemies from the outside? You must show strength—otherwise, your influence will weaken."
"Especially because you, Brother Yi, have already become the spiritual pillar for everyone in Xuanyuan Village. We've all been thrown into this terrifying new world, and people need something to believe in. That's why you must become stronger—as fast as possible. These pills will benefit you most."
Although a flicker of desire passed through Cai Yan's eyes when she saw the pills, she still refused them, speaking sincerely.
Her insight was sharp. She had clearly observed the dynamics of the entire village. The fact that everyone had united under one banner was entirely due to Yi Tianxing. His significance to the people was irreplaceable.
Especially after his performance—erasing tens of thousands of Huns with a flick of the wrist—his prestige had sunk deep into every villager and soldier's heart. The respect and hope they held for him were immense.
If anything were to happen to him, the village might fall apart entirely. People's hearts would scatter.
Hearing her words, Yi Tianxing felt a surge of admiration. For someone to willingly give up a chance to increase their own strength, and instead say such thoughtful words—that could only come from someone who truly cared about him.
This kind of concern... was far from ordinary.
"Don't worry, I still have plenty of Skysteel Pills, and I'll have more in the future. Besides, during my duel with Liu Bao, I encountered a rare opportunity—I don't need the pills for now. Go ahead and use them," Yi Tianxing said with a smile.