Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation

Chapter 215: Cloud Empire (35)

The knock on the door came early, as always. There was still no full light piercing the eternal clouds, only a soft bluish-gray that barely illuminated the room.

Kyrian opened his eyes at the same instant. He had already been awake for minutes. He sat up in bed and replied in a low voice.

"Come in."

Mei Li opened the door carefully. She wore a lighter crimson robe than usual, her hair tied in a functional bun.

In her right hand, she held an envelope sealed with sky-blue wax and the symbol of a mountain wrapped in a whirlwind. The seal of House Rong.

"Good morning, Leader." She made a small bow and extended the envelope.

"It arrived a short while ago. A messenger from the Rong Manor delivered it personally. He said it was an exclusive message for you."

Kyrian took the letter without hurry. The seal was heavy and authentic. He broke the wax with his fingernail and opened the parchment.

The handwriting was firm, elegant, and without unnecessary flourishes.

"Disciple of the Blood Court Kyrian. I hope you are well in the capital.

I would like to invite you to visit my residence this afternoon. There are matters I wish to discuss personally.

Bring whomever you wish.

Duke Rong of the Cloud Empire."

There was nothing more. No explanation, no exact time, no stated reason. Only the signature and the seal.

Kyrian folded the parchment and looked at Mei Li.

"He wants to see me. This afternoon."

Mei Li raised an eyebrow.

"It must be something important to summon you personally, especially without detailing why."

Kyrian stored the letter in his spatial ring.

"I’ll go."

He did not hesitate. A direct invitation from a Duke of the Cloud Empire was not something to be refused lightly. Especially when that same Duke had already given him a "Favor" pendant.

Mei Li nodded.

"I’ll take you. I imagine Xue Yin will like seeing me again."

Kyrian did not respond, but neither did he disagree. It was a good idea to take Mei Li.

The day then passed quickly.

Kyrian watched the light training of the others in the inner courtyard of the residence. While he himself only meditated. Later, he had a simple lunch with the group. In which Bai Zhu and Kyrian ate enough for three people.

When the sun began to descend, tinting the clouds orange and gold, Kyrian and Mei Li boarded the rented carriage.

The trip to the Rong Manor was silent. Kyrian looked out the window, thinking. Mei Li respected his silence.

They arrived at the main gate of the estate in the late afternoon. The guards recognized the pendant Kyrian showed and opened the way immediately.

As soon as they stepped down into the main inner courtyard, a small figure came running along the path of white pebbles.

"Sister Mei Li!"

Xue Yin appeared like a blur of light-blue dress and flowing black hair. She stopped abruptly upon seeing Kyrian beside Mei Li. Her little face turned red instantly. Her big eyes widened, then shifted to the ground, then returned to him, then shifted away again.

Kyrian merely looked at her for a second, expressionless.

The Duchess Rong appeared right behind, smiling with tenderness and a touch of amusement. She took her daughter’s hand.

"Yin’er, behave yourself. They are your father’s guests."

Xue Yin murmured a barely audible "yes, mother...," but did not take her eyes off Kyrian.

The Duchess cast a knowing glance at Mei Li and whispered.

"Come with me, dear. Let’s leave the men to talk."

She led Xue Yin away. The girl cast one last shy look over her shoulder before disappearing into the inner corridor. Mei Li followed the two with a polite smile, leaving Kyrian alone with a household servant.

The servant made a deep bow.

"Please, young Master Kyrian. The Duke awaits you in the private training field."

Kyrian followed the man through wide corridors, passing suspended gardens and meditation pavilions.

Until they reached an isolated area of the property. An enormous circular field, with polished stone ground reinforced by containment formations. The barriers were so strong that Kyrian felt their Qi like an invisible wall. The place was made for high-level battles without the risk of destroying half the manor.

At the center of the field stood Duke Rong.

Without formal robes. Only light dark-gray training clothes, sleeves rolled up, hair tied in a high bun.

Even so, his presence was overwhelming. The air around him seemed denser, as if space itself bent around him. Cultivation above the Spiritual Awakening realm, just like Dong Zhen, Kyrian simply could not say who would be stronger.

The Duke turned when he saw him. A calm but sharp smile appeared on his face.

"Kyrian. You came quickly."

Kyrian stopped a few meters away and inclined his head in a respectful greeting.

"Duke Rong. Thank you for the invitation."

Duke Rong walked slowly toward the center of the field, hands behind his back.

"I heard about your fight at young Tao’s party. A draw with Yun Hao. Rumors spread quickly among the nobles." He stopped and looked directly into Kyrian’s crimson eyes.

"The Crimson Court has another monster. That made me curious."

Kyrian did not respond. He simply waited.

The Duke continued, his voice lower but serious.

"I can already see that you are a mortal. And a rare possessor of Innate Talent. That was exactly why I handed you my house’s pendant that day. I wanted to create a bond. A bet on the future."

Kyrian had already imagined that. The pendant had never been charity. It was an investment.

Rong smiled faintly.

"So I decided to test it myself. Before the Coliseum reopens in a few days, I want to see with my own eyes the potential and strength of Dong Zhen’s most promising disciple. I want to know if it is worth betting on you when the fights begin."

He opened his arms slightly.

"Let us train. Just to measure limits. I will reduce my cultivation to the Core Formation realm, the same realm that most of the coliseum’s ranked fighters are in, to make it fairer. You may use whatever you wish."

Kyrian looked at the Duke for a long second.

There was no fear in his eyes. Only cold calculation and a spark of interest.

He inclined his head once.

"I accept."