Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation Chapter 367: Five Days (2)

He had perished... The thought hammered relentlessly in Pan Zheng’s mind, a ceaseless rhythm against his sanity. Kyrian. That young man, with eyes that held an unsettling aura and an energy as cold as ice, a youth who never offered a smile. Dead. And the cause was him. Pan Zheng released a soft, yet heavy, exhalation. A persistent weight of guilt settled in his chest, a constant burden. He had contracted Kyrian’s services; he had been the one who guided him to that perilous locale. Yet, in the deepest recesses of his heart, Pan Zheng acknowledged, as did everyone else, that venturing into the Great Volcano was an undertaking fraught with insurmountable danger. ’If only I had refused to go…’ Pan Zheng mused, but the notion was swiftly dismissed. Even had he remained behind, his end would have been instantaneous. That monstrous lizard would have extinguished his life with a single, decisive strike. He would have served no purpose. His presence, or absence, would have made no difference. Nevertheless, this logical reasoning offered no solace to his troubled spirit. Guilt operated beyond the realm of rationality; it defied logic. It merely existed, an icy burden within his breast that refused to abate. Pan Zheng’s gaze drifted downward, observing his own hands. ’I am a craven,’ Pan Zheng reflected. ’A coward who sacrifices others to preserve his own miserable existence.’ Still, he continued his march. No alternative path presented itself. ... Not long thereafter, all disparate factions converged at the designated rendezvous point. It was a vast, level expanse, encircled by formidable, obsidian volcanic peaks—a natural plateau sculpted by ancient torrents of lava, now blanketed by a deep layer of volcanic ash. The ambient heat was intense, yet remained within tolerable limits. Hundreds of cultivators were congregated in this desolate arena. Disciples adorned in vibrantly colored robes, venerable elders with visages etched by stern resolve, and positioned at the forefront… The four paramount leaders stood unmoving. Their formidable presences exerted a pressure akin to intangible mountains, weighing down upon the surrounding atmosphere. Even without any conscious projection of their spiritual energy, their mere stance, observing in silent contemplation, rendered many disciples breathless. These were cultivators of the Spiritual Awakening Realm. A profound, instinctual reverence welled up within Pan Zheng toward these figures. Then, one of the leaders deliberately elevated his hand. An immediate and absolute silence descended upon the assembly. In the subsequent moment, an immense, circular cartographic representation materialized above the ground, projected through the manipulation of spiritual Qi. It depicted a comprehensive atlas of the Great Volcano, charting every summit, every ravine, and every cavern with painstaking accuracy. Executed with meticulous detail. Rendered with absolute precision. All present immediately perceived the culmination of centuries of arduous exploration. The four leaders commenced indicating distinct sectors of the map, simultaneously releasing subtle filaments of spiritual Qi. Swiftly, several zones began to illuminate, first in fiery red, subsequently transitioning to a warm orange hue. "These are the domains that we, the four of us, personally surveyed," one of the leaders articulated with measured calm. His voice, though not amplified, resonated throughout the entire expanse as if he were addressing each individual directly into their very minds. His attention then shifted, focusing upon the assembled elders. "Inscribe all territories investigated by your respective contingents." Instantly, numerous elders projected their Qi in unison. Ethereal lines of varying colors spread across the map's surface, each signifying the expanse covered by a particular expeditionary team. Hues of yellow, green, blue, and purple. Incrementally, almost the entirety of the Outer Area, along with a significant portion of the Intermediate Area, became thoroughly delineated. The map now presented the appearance of an intricate and striking mosaic of colors. The leaders observed this cumulative data in silence, their eyes meticulously scrutinizing every minute detail of the map. Then, one among them posed a question. "Did any among you discover any indications pertaining to the tomb? Any arcane formations? Any anomalous locations? Anything warranting a more thorough examination?" A profound silence ensued. The gathered groups exchanged hesitant glances. Disciples deferred to their elders, who in turn looked towards their peers. Utter silence prevailed. Ultimately, the collective response remained unchanged. Nothing. Absolutely nothing of significance. The expressions upon the leaders’ faces gradually grew somber. An palpable air of impatience began to permeate the atmosphere. They had committed considerable time, vast resources, and immense effort to infiltrate this hazardous locale, to marshal such a substantial contingent of cultivators, and to orchestrate the complex logistics of this comprehensive exploration. The expenditure, measured in spiritual stones and invaluable lives, was by no means trivial. Yet, to this juncture, they had not unearthed even a solitary, verifiable trace of Ming Hai’s coveted inheritance. Could the entire endeavor be nought but a grand deception? A flicker of doubt manifested in the eyes of several individuals. Suddenly, one of the leaders, the most senior among them, identifiable by his hoary beard and penetrating gaze, narrowed his eyes. He perceived an unusual anomaly upon the map. A particular sector within the Intermediate Area remained conspicuously incomplete. Devoid of any markings. Lacking confirmation of exploration. And this was not an insignificant tract of land. It represented a substantial portion of the mountain range, situated within a rugged and treacherous region where venting steam fissures and flowing lava rivers rendered traversal exceedingly arduous. However, this presented no valid justification; other teams had confronted equally hostile terrains and nevertheless successfully concluded their assigned missions. The leader’s frown intensified immediately. "Which contingent was assigned stewardship over this particular mountainous quadrant?" His voice, though lacking volume, carried an unmistakable authority that caused several disciples to flinch involuntarily. In an instant, two individuals hesitantly raised their hands. The elder who guided Pan Zheng's contingent.

Another young man, garbed in a crimson robe adorned with gleaming golden patterns, emerged. This individual was part of a different contingent that had made a hasty retreat from the reptilian foe.

Every gaze instantly swiveled towards the newcomers.

The paramount leader’s eyes sharpened with a dangerous glint. The potent aura surrounding him intensified, subtly increasing the density of the very air they stood in.

"Well?"

"Why was this sector left unmapped?"

"What were you occupied with, instead of scouting?"

The sheer weight carried within his voice caused several disciples to turn ashen.

A chilling dread crept down the spine of the elder associated with Pan Zheng’s faction. His lips parted, but no sound emerged.

For a critical moment, he found himself utterly unable to formulate a reply.

However, before he could muster a response, the young man from the other group swiftly stepped forward. Though his voice still betrayed hints of residual fear, an undeniable resolve blazed in his eyes.

"Esteemed leaders… we were unfortunately incapable of thoroughly investigating that particular territory."

A pregnant pause ensued.

"We had the misfortune of encountering a Five-Horned Lava Lizard."

Absolute silence descended upon the gathering. Not a single soul dared to inhale.

"A magnificent beast, residing at the zenith of the Core Formation Realm, possessing bloodline ties to ancient dragons."

The young man gulped, his throat parched, as the sheer terror he had experienced flooded his memory once more.

"We… we were forced into a desperate flight. The creature's might was utterly overwhelming. We stood no conceivable chance."

More silence.

The countenances of the four leading figures underwent a dramatic transformation. Astonishment. Utter disbelief. And then… a flicker of something else ignited. Exhilaration.

"What?" the four queried in near unison, their voices merging in an unintentional, yet impactful, chorus.

"What did you just declare, young one?"

The young man involuntarily swallowed again, unnerved by the sudden, intense focus directed at him.

"We… we were forced into a desperate flight…"

"Before that," one of the leaders interjected, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Specify, before that."

"Regarding the beast," he clarified.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, the young man attempted to regain his composure.

"We encountered a Five-Horned Lava Lizard. In the very region we failed to accurately chart. It erupted from beneath the earth whilst we were conducting our survey and…"

He found no need to utter another word.

The eyes of the four leaders were now burning with an intense, almost palpable, luminescence.