Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation Chapter 315: Final Phase (5)

Golden sunlight ascended over the floating metropolis nestled amid the colossal trees.

In the third day of the tournament's concluding phase, the Central Plateau woke to throngs even denser than before. Hovering wooden platforms brimmed with cultivators who journeyed from remote territories purely to behold the climactic duels. The clamor roared deafeningly, swirling with anticipation and wild conjectures.

Just twenty-five contenders lingered.

Among those stood Kyrian and Mo Tianhai, the sole survivors representing Verdant Sword in the fray. Mo Xia, Long Xue, Wu Jian, and Shen Yu had all been ousted. Shen Yu especially tumbled to Huo Ling the previous day in what many hailed as the finest bout yet. The youth wielding pure Qi battled fiercely, yet fell short.

Now seated in the spectator areas, they observed with grave faces. Bandages swathed Shen Yu's arms, scorch marks lingering on his neck, yet his gaze locked unyieldingly on the battleground.

The Ancient Forest Sect Leader materialized at the arena's heart, his proclamation booming over the vast plateau.

"Today, twenty-five competitors will compete for thirteen spots in the next stage. Twelve fights will take place. One competitor will advance automatically by draw."

Whispers rippled through the contestants. A draw?

The elder lifted his palm. Twenty-five leaves glowing gold drifted from the mighty ancestral tree, whirling mid-air like tiny blazing stars before darting to each participant.

Kyrian snatched his.

Number 6. A battle awaited him.

Mo Tianhai glanced at his leaf and scowled. Number 0 marked it, signifying the draw.

"I advanced directly," he uttered, stunned.

Kyrian arched a brow.

"You were lucky."

"Lucky?" Mo Tianhai chuckled lightly.

"This is boring. I wanted to fight."

Nearby, fellow competitors eyed Mo Tianhai with envy blended with relief. Some whispered of his fortune. Others lamented the missed chance to witness more of his devastating sword intent unleashed.

Golden script materialized in the heavens, listing the matchups.

Kyrian scanned it swiftly.

Fifth fight. Kyrian (Verdant Sword) vs. Luo Hei (Shadow Valley)

Shadow Valley sect. Renowned for shadowy, venomous arts. Among the mightiest powers, its pupils terrified with their erratic strikes.

The opening bouts commenced. Astonishingly even-matched.

The initial clash pitted two Qi Liberation 10th stage disciples—one from Silver Moon Sect, the other from Ancient Forest Sect. Blows traded for almost ten minutes. Spectators roared at each collision.

Ultimately, the Silver Moon fighter prevailed narrowly, arm pierced deeply, face smeared in blood.

The next duel raged fiercer. Two powerhouses clashed, one swinging a massive hammer, the other dual-wielding axes. The timber platform quaked per strike. Wood shards scattered wildly. The hammer wielder triumphed, though scarcely upright.

One bout after another, the throng gasped, bellowed, and cheered. No feeble foes remained as in prior days. These twenty-five were the elite of elites.

A Wind Sect youth unleashed gales to bewilder his rival, claiming victory untouched.

A Thorn Flower Sect maiden teetered on defeat but rallied in the final instant via a startling healing art.

A Mortal Fist Sect practitioner demolished his foe's blade with one punch from his spirit-metal-clad fist.

The masses reveled in frenzy.

"These fights are incredible!"

"Finally opponents worthy of each other!"

"I want to see Kyrian’s fight!"

As the sixth matchup echoed, hush descended once more upon the plateau.

"Kyrian of Verdant Sword against Luo Hei of Shadow Valley!"

Kyrian strode to the arena's core. His foe lingered there, poised.

Luo Hei cut a slender figure, skin ghostly pale, eyes black as pitch. His dark gray robes devoured surrounding light. A sinister curved blade rested in his grip, while a suffocating presence radiated from him.

A chill grin crept across his face, devoid of any mirth.

"I heard you defeat everyone with a glance," Luo Hei rasped in a husky murmur.

"But I won’t let that happen this time."

Kyrian offered no reply. He merely stood ready. The referee hoisted his hand.

"You may begin!"

Luo Hei struck first—not charging, but vanishing. His form melted into shadow mist, unfurling over the arena like toxic fog. Phantom silhouettes emerged everywhere, each brandishing illusory blades.

"Multiple Shadow Technique, the main technique of the Shadow Valley sect," a voice muttered from the stands.

"It’s practically impossible to know which one is the real one."

Kyrian eyed the shades. Then his sword eyes flickered.

The initial slash wasn't aimed at any particular shadow. Rather, it formed a circular slash, an unseen blade fanning out in every direction all at once.

The dark phantoms shredded like paper set ablaze. A choked scream echoed as the smoke cloud scattered away.

Luo Hei appeared, scrambling back in retreat, his already pale face drained of all color. His robe sleeve hung in tatters, blood trickling from a slender gash on his forearm.

"Impossible..." he murmured.

"You struck them all..."

Kyrian glanced once more. The next slash came straight, unyielding, and fierce.

Luo Hei attempted to lift his hooked blade in defense, yet the invisible edge sliced right through as though it were nothing. The force slammed into his chest, hurling him from the arena to crash hard onto the plateau floor.

Blood spewed from his mouth, yet he clung to life. Merely knocked out.

"Kyrian triumphs!"

The plateau exploded in cheers yet again.

"Just two looks! Once more!"

"Versus Shadow Valley's shadowy arts?!"

"That eye skill... isn't it ridiculously overpowered?"

Once more, Kyrian's bout stood as the day's sole total domination. While the other eleven clashes dragged to their brutal ends, leaving victors drained and drenched in blood, Kyrian needed only two stares, and it was done.

In the VIP seats, envoys from the fourth-tier powers traded looks.

"He's still restraining himself," one remarked.

"Indeed, heavily so," another confirmed.

"I reckon if he chose to, he could've ended every match up to now with one single gaze."

"Why hold back then?"

"Likely to avoid slaying his foes. He clearly avoids making grudges, with every strike merely dispatching opponents sans grave harm."

The remaining battles pressed on.

A disciple from Ancient Forest Sect deployed wood arts to entangle his rival, securing victory through restraint.

A youth of Blazing Blade Sect clashed in a blade frenzy spanning fifteen minutes, both spilling blood freely, until one decisive blow claimed the win.

The twelfth matchup pitted two brutes: a fighter from Purple Rock Sect versus a Golden Mountain disciple. The fury wrecked the arena thrice, forcing protective runes to mend it repeatedly.

As the final bout concluded, the sun dipped low. Orange and violet hues streaked the sky, while the floating city's spirit lamps flickered to life.

The Ancient Forest Sect Leader stood tall.

"The thirteen positions are set! Fights resume tomorrow. Recover now."

Kyrian rose and headed for the exit. Mo Tianhai fell in beside him, still sulking over missing his turn to battle.

Mo Tianhai chuckled.

"Next round, we swap leaves. Sound good?"

The pair made their way back to Green Sword Tree. Shen Yu waited there in the main hall alongside Mei Ran and the rest.

Kyrian settled on the balcony, gazing at the starlit floating city aglow below. The tournament would rage on tomorrow. And it might well be the final day.