Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation Chapter 313: Final Phase (3)

Battles raged on ceaselessly. Blood had already splattered across various spots on the living wood arena, yet the protective runes stopped the destruction from expanding or weakening the structure.

Next from the Verdant Sword group to enter the fray was Mo Tianhai.

His foe was a youth at the 9th stage of Qi Liberation from one of the lesser Domains. The young fighter brandished twin axes, each as large as his own torso, his Qi dense and brimming with raw power.

The moment the judge signaled the start, the opponent barreled forward like a furious beast. His axes sliced the air with a low roar, sending tremors rippling through the wooden stage.

Mo Tianhai stood motionless. He merely lifted a single finger.

His devastating sword intent surged ahead like an unseen tsunami. The space before him warped, slamming into the charging foe before the attack could land. The axes spun away from his grasp. His frame hurtled back like a withered leaf caught in a gale, crashing outside the arena with a heavy thump. Crimson trickled from his mouth, eyes bulging in disbelief.

He hadn't even glimpsed the strike.

"Mo Tianhai wins!" the judge declared.

Whispers rippled anew through the spectators.

"Yet another freak from Verdant Sword!"

"That sword intent packs a destructive force you seldom witness!"

"What do they feed these disciples?!"

Mo Tianhai descended from the arena, face impassive, as though the bout was trivial. He took a seat next to Kyrian and gave a faint nod.

"Too easy."

Kyrian just nodded back.

"Don’t complain. Better this way."

The pair shared a brief look. They understood the tougher battles lay ahead, but these opening rounds served merely to weed out the frailest contenders.

Mo Xia followed.

She entered the arena gripping her slim sword, gaze keen like sharpened edges. Her rival was a youth at the 9th stage of Qi Liberation from a domain famed for its agility arts. He moved swiftly, incredibly so.

The duel ignited, and Mo Xia struck first, her blade tracing gleaming silver trails in the air. Yet her foe evaded each thrust with remarkable nimbleness, slipping like liquid around obstacles.

She advanced relentlessly, driving him rearward, but he retaliated with a sudden palm thrust. It smacked her shoulder; though she cushioned it partly with Qi, the force staggered her.

Seizing the gap, the opponent unleashed a flurry of swift blows. Mo Xia parried the initial pair, but the third clipped her sword arm. Her weapon clattered free.

Undeterred, she fought on with bare hands, employing palm strikes, yet his prowess in close quarters overwhelmed her. A solid hit to her chest launched her beyond the arena bounds.

Mo Xia dropped to her knees beyond the stage, lips clenched tight. Her fist hammered the earth in fury, but no tears fell. Just seething rage—at her own shortcomings.

Long Xue took the stage next.

Her clash proved evenly matched. She dueled a girl at the 9th stage of Qi Liberation, an expert in frost arts. They traded strikes for almost five minutes, a stunning spectacle. Ice blades versus wind blades. The platform grew encased in frost and scarred with gashes.

Ultimately, though, Long Xue's adversary ensnared her in an icy array, freezing her feet in place. A sharp jab to the belly dropped her, ending her fight.

Disciples from the Ancient Forest aided Long Xue as she exited the arena. Pale-faced, she held her chin up proudly. At least her performance had shone.

Wu Jian entered next.

Surpassing the two girls in might, he stood at the 9th stage of Qi Liberation with a sturdy base. His opponent matched his level but lacked skill. Wu Jian controlled the early exchanges, his massive sword cleaving the air with overwhelming might.

Then came his error.

He misjudged a riposte, exposing his side. The foe capitalized, delivering a whirling kick to his ribs. Wu Jian heard the bone snap. Agony stalled him briefly, allowing two more hits to crash into his torso and visage.

He toppled like a chopped oak.

Wu Jian coughed blood onto the stage, struggling to rise, but his limbs failed him. Fellow disciples hauled him away.

Only Shen Yu was left.

The composed youth advanced into the arena, straight sword at the ready. His challenger was a brawny fighter at the 9th stage of Qi Liberation, wielding a iron staff thick as an arm.

The signal rang out.

The opponent lunged ferociously, staff hissing through the breeze. But Shen Yu merely shifted. His footwork felt feather-light, nearly ethereal. He sidestepped every assault with uncanny accuracy, as though anticipating the staff's path before the foe committed.

His Qi boasted exceptional purity. Whenever he infused his sword with energy, the blade radiated a crystalline white glow, pristine like cascading water.

Following three minutes of deft dodges and sharp strikes, Shen Yu seized a vulnerability. His sword cleaved the foe’s staff in two like brittle timber, while a fierce palm to the warrior’s chest launched him soaring beyond the arena bounds.

"Shen Yu wins!"

He descended the arena with serene composure, showing no signs of triumph. A mere nod went to Kyrian and Mo Tianhai, observing from nearby.

"Good work," said Mo Tianhai.

Shen Yu only replied,

"I did only the basics."

As daylight faded, the sun sank behind remote peaks. Spiritual lanterns bathed the floating city in light, shimmering akin to colossal fireflies. Crowds still packed the stands, yet the bulk of matches had wrapped up.

The Leader of the Ancient Forest Sect ascended the stage’s core, his proclamation thundering over the vast plateau.

"Today’s battles are concluded! Those who have qualified will return tomorrow for the continuation of the final phase. Everyone, rest. The Domain Gathering is not over yet!"

Participants rose to their feet—some drained, others irked, a handful brimming with assurance. Kyrian eyed his allies. Mo Xia and Long Xue kept their gazes downcast. Wu Jian hobbled along, propped by an Ancient Forest Sect disciple.

"Let’s go back," Kyrian said simply.

The party trudged quietly toward the Verdant Sword Tree. A chill night breeze stirred, with stars hovering unusually near above the floating city.

Feng Yuan and Mei Ran stood ready at the gateway.

"You fought well," said Feng Yuan.

"Tomorrow will be another day."

Mo Xia offered no words. She marched directly to her chamber and sealed the door. Long Xue mirrored her actions.

Feng Yuan handed Wu Jian a restorative pill for his wounds before attendants carried him off to his room.

Just Kyrian, Mo Tianhai, and Shen Yu lingered briefly in the grand hall, seated wordlessly, each adrift in private musings.

Kyrian peered through the pane. Beyond, the floating city throbbed with vibrant night pursuits. Cultivators reveled in triumphs. Defeated ones imbibed to erase their losses.

His thoughts drifted to the envoys from fourth-level forces.

"Let’s rest," Kyrian said, rising.

"Tomorrow things will get serious for you."

Mo Tianhai chuckled softly.

"Serious? I didn’t even break a sweat today."

"Good for you," Shen Yu replied dryly.

The trio climbed to their quarters.

The Verdant Sword Tree hushed into repose, as the floating city gleamed on under the starry veil outside.