Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation

Chapter 534: Lightning Vs Metal (3)

Bao Ren remained completely motionless in the center of the arena.

The air around him seemed to have solidified, transforming into an invisible wall of spiritual pressure. His feet were firmly planted on the cracked stone, his bare toes gripping the very fissures he had created moments earlier. His massive double-bladed axe was raised high above his head, his arms fully extended in a stance reminiscent of an ancient statue of a war god.

An enormous amount of Metal Qi began converging toward his weapon.

The process was slow at first, like dew droplets gathering upon a leaf. Golden particles of energy emerged from the surrounding air, drawn toward the blade like rust to a magnet. Each particle merged into the surface of the axe, increasing its spiritual density.

A golden light grew increasingly intense.

At first, it enveloped only the blade, creating a radiance that dazzled the eyes. The metallic energy pulsed in rhythmic waves, like a heart of steel beating at the center of the arena. Then, the light spread to the haft, wrapping Bao Ren’s hands in a protective aura.

Then… it expanded into the air above him.

The Qi rapidly condensed, forming an enormous metallic projection above the real axe. It was as though the very essence of the weapon had been extracted and amplified, its spiritual form manifesting within the physical world.

The translucent image continued to grow, becoming increasingly solid, as though a colossal axe were being forged directly in the sky above the arena.

Five meters.

The spiritual blade was already larger than the arena itself.

Six.

The pressure could now be felt even from the most distant spectator stands.

Seven.

The golden form now looked as solid as the real weapon.

The golden blade appeared capable of splitting a mountain in half. Its edge shone with the brilliance of the midday sun, and its surface was covered with ancient runes that seemed to dance within the light. Every detail was flawless, every curve and angle refined to maximize its destructive power.

An incredibly sharp pressure immediately spread throughout the area.

It was not the heavy, oppressive pressure of other types of Qi. It was sharp and piercing, as though thousands of invisible needles were pricking the skin of everyone present. The nearest spectators felt a faint sting in their flesh, as if they were being bitten by spiritual insects.

“What pressure…” a young man murmured, instinctively rubbing his arms.

“This technique…” his companion began but failed to finish, his attention completely captivated by the scene.

“Bao Ren is actually going to use his strongest attack!” another exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement and fear.

Even some cultivators in the neighboring arenas, who had been immersed in their own battles, turned to look in that direction. The energy emanating from Bao Ren’s technique was so overwhelming that it simply couldn’t be ignored. Several judges in the adjacent arenas briefly paused their evaluations, their eyes shifting toward Arena Six.

The arena’s judge, a middle-aged man whose eyes had witnessed countless battles, remained vigilant. His right hand subtly moved toward the belt where a small jade flute was fastened, an artifact used to intervene in emergencies. If the situation spiraled out of control, he would be ready to act.

But for now…

He simply watched. Like everyone else.

Kyrian calmly observed everything.

His special eyes recorded every detail of the technique taking shape above Bao Ren. The convergence of the Metal Qi, the structure of the spiritual projection, the way the energy flowed through the runes covering the blade’s surface. It was fascinating to watch something so complex being constructed in real time.

He could clearly sense the power accumulating within that technique.

If that attack struck him head-on… Even with his physique strengthened by lightning and his superhuman resilience, he would undoubtedly suffer severe injuries.

Perhaps even broken bones. Metal Qi was notorious for its ability to pierce defenses and directly damage meridians.

But…

He had no intention of dodging.

His goal in this battle had never been to win in the easiest way possible. If victory had been his only objective, he could have simply maintained his cultivation at the Fourth Stage of Core Formation, using his superior speed to evade Bao Ren’s attacks and counterattack at the right moments.

But that would not have given him what he truly wanted.

He wanted to face pressure.

He wanted his third dantian to evolve under extreme conditions.

He wanted his new spiritual core to be forged in the fire of battle, not in the comfort of solitary training.

He slowly inhaled.

The air filled his lungs, fresh and saturated with energy. He felt Lightning Qi flowing through his meridians, responding to the approaching threat. His body was ready, every muscle tense and prepared.

Then he closed his eyes for a single moment.

The world darkened around him. Yet inside his mind, the image of Bao Ren’s technique remained vivid, every detail engraved into his memory with surgical precision. He analyzed the structure of the spiritual projection, identifying its points of convergence and the junctions where the energy gathered.

When he opened his eyes again…

A violet glow flashed through his pupils.

Around seventy percent of the Lightning Qi he could still wield erupted through his meridians.

The release was like opening the floodgates of a dam. The energy that had been contained, compressed within his core, was suddenly unleashed, flooding every spiritual channel throughout his body. His meridians expanded to accommodate the tremendous flow.

‘Crack…’

The first bolt of lightning appeared on his right shoulder.

‘Crack… Crack…’

More arcs of lightning emerged across his arms, legs, and torso.

Violet lightning instantly enveloped his entire body, forming an armor of electricity that shone brilliantly beneath the light of the setting sun. The energy was so concentrated that the air around him began to ionize, creating the distinctive scent of ozone that spread throughout the arena.

His black hair began floating under the influence of static electricity, rising around his head as though submerged underwater. Tiny sparks leaped from the tips, forming a halo of violet light.

The saber in his hand vibrated intensely.