Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation

Chapter 185: Cloud Empire (6)

The sound of the latch on Kyrian’s door echoed through the silent corridor.

Mei Li let out a soft sigh and turned her diplomatic smile back toward Liang Wei.

"You’ll have to forgive our leader. The journey was long. I believe he has his reasons for being in a hurry..."

She then began asking polite questions about the city, about the stables, and about possible news from the territory ahead, holding the young man’s attention.

Yan Ling exchanged a look with Kai.

"What do you think about going to examine the city’s defensive walls and the main market? Maybe we’ll find something useful."

Kai simply nodded. Li Fen, without a word, slid into the shadows of the courtyard.

Bai Zhu grumbled something about "decent food." And followed a servant toward what appeared to be the main kitchen of the mansion.

Inside the room, Kyrian, without wasting a single second, sat down on the tatami floor.

From his spatial ring, with a thought, a mountain of spiritual stones was extracted. Hundreds of them, most of medium grade, a dazzling treasure that filled the room with a soft glow and a dense, vibrant energy.

Kyrian acted quickly without hesitation, the spiritual stones being placed into his crimson eyes one by one.

In a process as fast as the last time. His two dantians, already expanded and solidified at the 5° stage of Qi Liberation, vibrated like cups about to overflow.

The energy flooded them, compressing and expanding the dantians even further.

There was no dramatic barrier. It was an inevitable conclusion.

A sudden and deep heat, a wave of pure power, exploded from his eyes and coursed through every fiber of his being.

His bones cracked softly, his muscles adjusted, and his other senses became even sharper.

But the main change was in his eyes, the two dantians were completely full of energy.

"6° stage of the Qi Liberation realm."

The leap was consolidated in just thirty minutes. The pile of stones had diminished by a third.

Kyrian remained seated for a moment, breathing deeply, feeling the new strength circulating within his eyes. Now the fuel for his eyes was greater than ever.

He evaluated himself. Before, facing someone from the Core Formation Realm was a calculated risk. Now, he felt a cold confidence.

Against an opponent in the early stages of Core Formation. The 1st or perhaps even the 2nd stage. His eyes would definitely be a threat.

Then, like a bucket of icy water, came the familiar sensation. A new limit imposed itself on his perception. Thicker and more resistant than the previous one.

He calculated instinctively. Forty days. Forty days before he could use his eyes to devour spiritual Qi in that way again.

He was not disappointed. It was the price. And the gain at each stage was absurdly high. Forty days was time.

Time that would pass during the mission, during the auction. Perhaps after that another black mass would emerge to feed the book and accelerate the process.

At that moment, the memory of the root woman surfaced in his mind. Her whereabouts were now unknown to Kyrian.

With a gesture, he gathered the remaining spiritual stones back into the ring.

He stood up, stretching his body. Outside, the sound of the city arrived muffled.

The distant tolling of a bell, the murmur of the crowd. Tomorrow, at dawn, they would head for the Cloud Empire.

But, for this night, he had achieved his private goal.

He left the room. The common hall was empty. The others were exploring the city.

Kyrian walked to the balcony overlooking the inner gardens of the mansion, his hands resting on the polished wood, his crimson eyes watching the lanterns being lit in the city preparing for the night.

The iron bell tolled again, marking the hour. A deep and solemn sound that echoed over the rooftops.

"Should I find a good restaurant?" Kyrian suddenly murmured, asking himself.

The beast meat in the forest had satisfied his hunger, but not his palate. If he was going to spend the night in a city, he might as well have a proper meal.

Without hesitation, Kyrian left the balcony, crossed the silent common hall, and exited the guest pavilion.

The mansion’s gardens were tranquil, only a few hurried servants moving about with lanterns. He passed by them unnoticed until he reached a side gate that opened onto a secondary street.

The City of the Iron Bell was different at night. During the day, it was a hubbub of work and commerce.

At night, it became a place of flickering lights, drunken voices, and the persistent smell of oil and burning coal.

Kyrian walked with steady steps, his crimson eyes capturing every detail, ignoring the curious or fearful looks cast at him and his eyes.

The city’s commercial center, seen from above earlier, was not very far from the mansion.

He saw no sign of Yan Ling, Kai, Li Fen, or Bai Zhu. They were probably immersed in their own affairs scattered throughout the city. In Bai Zhu’s case, he was likely devouring a meal somewhere.

Mei Li, he supposed, was still entertaining the young Liang Wei.

It was when he turned the corner onto a wider avenue leading to the central square that the air changed.

First, a rush of pressure coming from above. Not hostile energy, but the mere presence of concentrated force, heavy and undisguised.

A pressure of cultivation made many of the city’s common cultivators immediately look up at the sky.

Kyrian raised his eyes.

Against the dark night sky, silhouettes of flying beasts stood out. They were not the Crimson War Crows, robust and sinister. These were elegant, agile, with long feathered wings that gleamed with a faint silvery hue under the city lights.

Silver Wing Falcons, beasts known for their speed and nobility, were also all in the initial realm of Core Formation.

There were five of them. And mounted, five youths.

Even at that distance, Kyrian’s keen eyes captured everything. The faces were young, but they carried a sharp confidence, an arrogance cultivated from birth.

Their clothes were light-colored, sky blue, with immaculate white details. Made of fine silk that seemed to resist the grime of the city air.

The pressure of each was distinct. But all were firmly at the peak of the Qi Liberation realm. They were, without a doubt, disciples of some rich and powerful force heading toward the same destination as Kyrian.

At that same instant, a beast with rust-colored feathers hastily took off from the Liang mansion. Liang Wei, his face serious and respectful, flew to meet the group.

The conversation was brief, inaudible from here, but Liang’s posture was the same as before. That of a professional host receiving important guests.

Kyrian observed for exactly three seconds. His eyes, with a perfect memory, recorded every face.

The silver-haired youth is in the lead, with a long sword on his back. The girl with elaborate braids and piercing green eyes. The robust young man with a miniature war hammer hanging from his belt. The other, thin and with hawk-like eyes, holding a jade fan. And the last, serene and with a cold face, with a bamboo flute tied at her waist.

Faces. Strengths. Possible threats or obstacles at the auction. Kyrian archived the images in a secure corner of his mind, mentally labeling them as a group of slight interest.

Then, he ignored them. They were not his immediate concern.

His focus returned to the street, to the smell that was now growing stronger. A rich smell of boiling broths, meats seasoned with rare spices, and fresh vegetables sautéed in aromatic oil. Kyrian followed the olfactory trail, leaving the scene in the sky behind.

The street opened into the central square, dominated by the enormous iron bell that gave the city its name.

On the opposite side, nestled against the wall of a stone warehouse, was the establishment that emanated the smell.

It was not a noisy tavern but a two-story pavilion with red paper lanterns and a carved wooden sign that simply read.

"Traveler’s Stop."

Kyrian entered. The interior was cozy, lit by soft lanterns, with dark wooden tables and clean benches.

Some wealthier merchants and a handful of modest-looking cultivators conversed in low voices. The smell was even more intense here, there would definitely be delicious food.

That was what Kyrian thought.

A middle-aged attendant, with intelligent eyes, approached quickly. He saw the crimson robe, identifying it as high quality, as well as Kyrian’s posture and the cold and somewhat intimidating eyes. His expression immediately became more respectful than usual.

"Young Master, welcome. Do you require a private table upstairs?"

"We have the house specialty. Crystal Bull Meat Stew with silver roots, grilled moon-fish with mountain herbs, and our medicinal rice wine that is famous in the city."

Kyrian liked that the man was direct and nodded.

"The private table. Bring the stew and a large portion of the fish. And don’t forget the wine."

"Perfect, Young Master. This way."