Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation

Chapter 314: Final Phase (4)

The sun had not yet risen when Kyrian opened his eyes.

Outside, the floating city was already awake. Spiritual lights flickered among the giant trees, and the distant sound of crowds echoed across the suspended bridges. He stood up, put on his black robe, and left the room.

Mo Tianhai was already waiting for him in the corridor, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

”Did you sleep well?”

”Enough.” Kyrian replied.

One by one, the others left their rooms. Mo Xia and Long Xue were still downcast, but they had regained their composure. Wu Jian limped slightly, but his gaze was firm. Shen Yu, as always, seemed calm and serene.

Feng Yuan gathered them in the central hall.

”Today things will be different. The fights will be more balanced. Do not underestimate anyone.”

Mei Ran added,

”And remember, winning is important, but showing your talent is more so. Fight with all your strength.”

The group nodded and set off toward the Central Plateau.

When they arrived, the place was already packed. The floating stands overflowed with cultivators. Some had clearly slept there, sitting in the lotus position or leaning against the living wood railings. It was no surprise. Cultivators did not need to sleep full nights like ordinary mortals. Many had simply meditated and waited for the arrival of the new day.

The buzz was deafening.

”Were there any memorable fights yesterday?”

”The guy from Verdant Sword won with a glance!”

”Today he’ll fight again. Who will be the unlucky one?”

Kyrian and the others were led to the participants’ area. The center of the arena was still empty, but the great ancestral tree was already glowing with a soft golden light.

After about half an hour, the Leader of the Ancient Forest Sect appeared in the sky, leaping from branch to branch until landing at the center of the arena.

”Today,” he announced in a powerful voice.

”The fights will be decided by complete draw.”

He raised his hand, and fifty leaves flew from the great ancestral tree, each spinning in the air before floating toward a participant.

Kyrian caught his.

The number ”13” was engraved in gold.

He lifted his eyes to the sky. At that same moment, a giant list appeared above the plateau, formed of golden light. The names and fight numbers appeared one by one, in the order they would take place.

Kyrian read quickly.

Seventh fight. Kyrian (Verdant Sword) vs. Jin Lei (Golden Mountain)

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

Jin Lei. He recognized the name. The young man had placed fourth in the first phase of the Domain Gathering, with a high score.

His defensive technique of the Golden Mountain was well known in the region. They said no attack of the same level could pierce his golden barriers.

Murmurs spread through the stands as soon as the list appeared.

”Fourth place against first place of the previous phase?”

”This is going to be good!”

”Will Jin Lei be able to withstand more than one strike?”

”I bet he will. The Golden Mountain’s defense is no joke.”

The first fights happened quickly.

Disciples from various domains went up and down the arena. Some fights were balanced, lasting several minutes. Others ended in seconds, with devastating blows. Blood stained the wood once again. But the audience barely paid attention.

All eyes were on the seventh fight.

When the judge announced, ”Kyrian of Verdant Sword versus Jin Lei of Golden Mountain,” a tense silence fell over the plateau.

Kyrian walked calmly to the center of the arena. His steps were light, his face impassive. The black robe of Verdant Sword swayed gently with the wind blowing through the giant trees.

On the other side, Jin Lei stepped up with firm strides.

He was a tall young man with short dark hair and defined muscles that looked carved from bronze. His robe was golden, embroidered with symbols of mountains and lightning. He carried a short staff on his back but did not draw it.

The two faced each other.

Jin Lei spoke first.

”I know I don’t stand a chance against you.” His voice was calm, without fear.

”But I won’t let it be an easy victory.”

Kyrian nodded slightly. He said nothing. He did not need to.

The judge raised his hand.

”You may begin!”

Jin Lei acted first. Not to attack, but to defend.

A golden barrier appeared around his body, shining like a miniature sun. It was the supreme defensive technique of the Golden Mountain. They said it could withstand the attack of a cultivator at the 1° stage of Core Formation.

But Kyrian was not an ordinary cultivator.

His sword eyes blinked.

An invisible cut, made of pure Qi and sword intent, tore through the air. There was no sound. There was no warning. Only space distorting for an instant.

The golden barrier trembled.

Cracks spread across its surface like spiderwebs. Jin Lei felt the impact in his meridians and stepped back, teeth grinding.

He managed to hold. But barely.

Before he could celebrate, Kyrian looked again.

This time, Kyrian used more strength. Much more.

The second cut was like a divine blade descending from the heavens. The golden barrier shattered like glass. The cracks turned into shining fragments that dissipated into the air.

And the strike continued. It hit Jin Lei squarely in the chest.

The young man of Golden Mountain was thrown backward like a dry leaf in a hurricane. His body crossed the boundary of the arena and hit the hard ground of the plateau, rolling several times before stopping. His golden robe was torn. Blood flowed from a deep cut on his torso.

He coughed, spitting blood, but he was alive.

Kyrian had held back enough not to kill.

”Kyrian wins!” the judge announced, after a brief moment of silence.

The entire plateau exploded.

”Two glances! Just two glances!”

”The fourth place of the competition was defeated like a little child!”

”What a monster... what an absolute monster!”

”It’s like an adult fighting children!”

In the stands, the envoys of the fourth-level forces exchanged meaningful glances. Some shook their heads. Others smiled with interest.

Kyrian stepped down from the arena without looking back. He returned to his place and sat down, crossing his arms.

The fights continued.

Most were interesting but overshadowed by what had just happened. Everyone was still murmuring about Kyrian.

Then it was Shen Yu’s turn.

His opponent was Huo Ling, from the Blazing Sword Sect, the second-place winner of the first phase. The young man with flaming hair stepped onto the arena with his red sword in hand, his eyes glowing with spiritual fire.

Shen Yu faced him calmly, his straight sword pointed at the ground. The fight began.

To the surprise of many, Shen Yu was not eliminated quickly. His Qi was extremely pure, so pure that the envoys of the fourth-level forces straightened in their seats.

Each strike of Shen Yu had a crystalline quality, as if the very essence of heaven was channeled into his blade. He exchanged blows with Huo Ling for several minutes, and at some moments, it seemed like he could win.

But Huo Ling was a genius.

When he unleashed the supreme technique of the Blazing Sword, a phoenix of fire that engulfed the entire arena, Shen Yu could not resist. His defense fell, and he was thrown off the stage with burns on his arms and chest.

”Huo Ling wins!”

Shen Yu stood up on his own, without help. He looked at his burned hands and then at Kyrian, shaking his head.

”That was close,” Kyrian murmured.

Shen Yu simply nodded.

Mo Tianhai was the last of the group to fight that day. His opponent was a young disciple of the Ancient Forest Sect itself, someone who had placed among the top thirty in the first phase.

The fight was short.

Mo Tianhai unleashed his destructive sword intent with full force. The arena trembled. The opponent was thrown out before he could even raise his defense.

”Mo Tianhai wins!”

The sun was already low on the horizon when the Leader of the Ancient Forest Sect rose again.

”Today’s fights are concluded! Those who have qualified will return tomorrow. Rest.”