Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation Chapter 385 - 386

For several long minutes, Kyrian remained entirely still.

An absolute silence now enveloped the vast, empty volcanic dome. All that remained was the stark stone, a lingering, distant heat, and the deep, soft gurgle of magma from the abyss below.

Kyrian’s breathing was slow and deliberate.

Each inhalation and exhalation was profound, allowing him to feel and explore every subtle alteration occurring within his own being.

It was an experience that felt profoundly strange, simultaneously familiar and utterly alien.

Imagine awakening in a home you’ve known since infancy, only to discover every single piece of furniture meticulously replaced. The fundamental structure would be unchanged, yet the lived experience would be entirely novel.

For the very first time since his birth...

He possessed the innate ability to sense Qi.

This perception required no reliance on his eyes to detect the presence of that vital energy. Nor did it necessitate the direct absorption of energy through his ocular organs, that previous crutch of his Innate Talent.

The Qi was undeniably present.

It surrounded him. It permeated the very stones. It resided within the magma. It was interwoven with the very atmosphere he breathed.

And his body could now perceive it.

The sensation was so inherently natural that it bordered on the absurd. It was as if something that should have perpetually existed had finally been restored, a fundamental, basic capability that had been cruelly denied to him throughout his entire existence.

’So, this is how ordinary cultivators perceive the world…’

Kyrian gently closed his eyes.

Instantly, a multitude of spiritual particles drifting all around his body became perceptible. Not through visual means, mind you, as his eyes were shut. It was through pure sensation.

The majority consisted of fire Qi, which was entirely logical given the intense heat of his surroundings. These appeared as vibrant, warm, orange-red particles. However, smaller quantities of other elemental attributes were also detectable. Earth Qi emanated from the surrounding rocks. Air Qi followed the currents circulating within the vast chamber. Even minute fragments of wood Qi were present, carried by some imperceptible, distant breeze.

All of these elemental energies seemed to respond readily to his newly formed meridians.

They waited patiently, ready to be absorbed. Waiting to be cultivated.

A subtle smile began to grace his lips.

It wasn't a broad or overly theatrical grin, but merely a slight upward curve of his mouth, a distinct glimmer within his eyes. Yet, it was entirely genuine.

’Now, I should finally be able to cultivate normally, just like other cultivators…’

The very thought still felt profoundly surreal.

For the entirety of his life, he had been essentially a mortal. An anomaly within the world of cultivation. An existence fundamentally incapable of progressing through the standard methods that proved effective for every other individual.

The cultivation techniques meticulously inscribed within ancient scrolls were utterly useless to him. The methods of Qi absorption that others mastered within mere months were an impossibility for him. He could not tread the traditional paths; he was forced to forge his own, ingeniously circumventing the inherent limitations of his physical form at every conceivable juncture.

But now, everything had irrevocably changed.

His body, at long last, possessed its own veritable foundation.

Kyrian commenced a careful analysis of the myriad possibilities now available to him.

Firstly, his transformed body. With properly functioning meridians and the newfound ability to naturally sense and absorb Qi, he could now accomplish what had once been an insurmountable feat.

’I will begin cultivating anew.’

’From the very beginning. Just like any ordinary cultivator.’

His physical form had already undergone a radical tempering process through the successful implantation of the Bone of the Heavens.

Meridians had indeed formed, perhaps not completely, but sufficiently to enable functionality. His bones had been significantly reinforced. His internal organs had undergone a profound transformation.

He was not required to start from the initial Body Refinement stage, the very first realm where cultivators focused on strengthening their physical bodies. His current body already far surpassed that rudimentary level.

Instead, he would commence his cultivation journey directly within the Qi Accumulation Realm, the second major stage, where cultivators learn the essential skills of absorbing and storing Qi within their newly formed meridians.

And from there, he would systematically advance to the Qi Release Realm and subsequently to the Core Formation Realm once more.

But…

His eyes suddenly gleamed with an intense light as a crucial realization dawned upon him.

The two distinct cores residing within his eyes still persisted. He could faintly feel their gentle pulsing, concealed deep within the very essence of his vision.

They had neither vanished nor diminished in strength.

They remained completely filled with potent energy.

This could only signify one extraordinary outcome.

’When I form a new core through normal cultivation…’

’I will possess a total of three cores.’

A smile touched the corners of his lips, this time noticeably wider than before.

Three cores housed within a single physical body. This was an unprecedented phenomenon, something that had likely never graced the annals of cultivation history.

Kyrian was aware of absolutely no record detailing anyone possessing three cores. Two cores were already considered exceedingly rare, typically the astonishing result of unique ancestral inheritances or the perilous practice of forbidden techniques. Three, however, was simply beyond comprehension.

Merely contemplating the sheer magnitude of Qi he would be capable of storing sent a shiver down his spine.

Each individual core functioned much like a personal reservoir of immense energy. An average cultivator equipped with a single core could sustain potent techniques for extended periods, often lasting for hours. With two cores, this energy reserve effectively doubled.

With three…

Kyrian swiftly engaged in a rapid mental calculation.

His Qi reserves would be, at a minimum, three times greater than those of a typical cultivator at the equivalent cultivation level. However, in practical application, the difference would likely be far more substantial, primarily because his cores were by no means ordinary.

His overall power would exponentially increase, potentially multiplying severalfold. Perhaps even dozens of times over.

Furthermore, there existed another significant consideration that demanded his attention.

Kyrian had, in fact, broken through to the fourth stage of the Core Formation Realm during the intense implantation process.

However, the inherent limitations imposed by his eyes had, unfortunately, reasserted themselves.

He could feel the familiar barrier, the same restriction that had previously halted his eyes from accumulating more Qi. Its presence confirmed that his ocular cultivation would be paused for the time being.

A swift decision formed in his mind.

‘First, I shall forge my path as a conventional cultivator.’

‘I will stabilize my physical form, comprehend my newly formed meridians, and learn to cultivate like everyone else.’

‘Then, I will fortify all three cores concurrently.’

The two within his eyes, and the nascent one destined to form.

The more he contemplated it, the clearer the immense opportunity he had been granted became.

The Bone of the Heavens hadn’t merely reinforced his body. It hadn't solely generated meridians and established a connection to the Heavenly Will.

It had unlocked entirely new avenues of possibility.

Paths that had once been inaccessible were now within his reach.

Techniques that had seemed impossible for him to wield could now be mastered.

It was at this moment that a voice pierced his reflections.

"Very well, child."

Kyrian lifted his gaze.

The Fire Spirit observed him serenely from the opposite side of the altar. Its translucent form emanated a soft, gentler orange luminescence than before, as if the completion of its duty had eased a burden from its flames.

"What I vowed to Ming Hai has been fulfilled."

"Consequently..."

"I shall take my leave now."

Kyrian expressed his surprise.

"Oh? You are departing?"

The Spirit nodded, its expression impassive.

"There remains no reason for me to linger in this place."

A subtle disdain colored its voice, not directed at Kyrian, but at their surroundings.

"I have already squandered excessive time in this territory."

"The spiritual Qi here is meager."

"Opportunities are scarce."

"Resources are lacking."

The flames within its form flickered, seemingly mirroring its words.

"My destiny calls from the Central Region."

Kyrian instantly grasped the implication.

The Central Region. The epicenter of the cultivation world. The domain where the most formidable sects, the most ancient clans, and the most revered sacred lands were situated.

The very location where the continent’s most prodigious talents converged to vie, to mature, and to endure.

"I advise you not to tarry here for an extended period either," the Spirit continued, its fiery eyes fixed upon Kyrian.

"Your innate talent is extraordinary. Yet, talent alone is insufficient."

"You require resources. You require competition. You need adversaries capable of truly testing you."

"You need a grander expanse to ascend."

Kyrian offered a smile.

"You need not fret."

"I too am journeying towards the Central Region."

The Spirit appeared somewhat pleased. A subtle softening flickered across its countenance.

"Good."

For a brief interval, silence descended, the ambient sounds of the magma below filling the void.

Then, a rare smile graced its flaming visage—not one of scorn or arrogance, but something akin to genuine approval.

"Then we shall meet again."

"On the next occasion..."

"I anticipate finding you significantly more powerful."

The Spirit’s eyes burned with augmented intensity.

"That is what Ming Hai would have desired for his successor."

It then raised a hand.

"Farewell, child."