Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation Chapter 529: Third Place

Many of the medicinal lotions featured interesting ideas, each reflecting the creativity and knowledge of its creator.

A young woman with silver hair had developed a lotion designed to accelerate wound healing, using an innovative combination of medicinal herbs and Lesser Phoenix Essence.

Another participant, a robust man with scars covering his arms, created a muscle-enhancing lotion that promised to temporarily increase physical strength by up to thirty percent.

There was also a formula designed to relieve pain after prolonged periods of cultivation, created by a cultivator who personally suffered from that very problem.

Her lotion used common ingredients, but its combination was ingenious, and its effectiveness appeared promising.

Recipes designed for fire, wind, water, wood, and even ice were presented, each tailored to a specific type of spiritual energy. Some were refined and elegant, others crude and straightforward, but all bore the unmistakable mark of their creators.

Several rather peculiar formulas also appeared. One eccentric young man, dressed in colorful robes covered with talismans, had created a lotion capable of temporarily increasing the skin’s spiritual sensitivity. This creation, while useful for certain forms of meditation, seemed more like a curiosity than a practical tool.

Another participant, a man with a stern expression, developed a formula intended to reduce Qi consumption during physical training, allowing cultivators to practice for longer periods without exhausting themselves.

Although many of them presented good ideas, few reached a truly outstanding level. Most suffered from significant flaws. Some were unstable, with their ingredients reacting unpredictably under different conditions. Others required ingredients so expensive that their effects failed to justify the cost, making large-scale production impractical.

Many simply did not work as their creators had envisioned, their promises falling apart under the deacons’ scrutiny.

By the end of the entire evaluation...

Besides Kyrian’s recipe, only four others were purchased by the Alchemist Association.

Five recipes.

Out of more than five hundred participants who had successfully completed a medicinal lotion.

That number alone demonstrated just how difficult it was to create something truly valuable. The barrier to entry was incredibly high, and only those who were genuinely talented or exceptionally dedicated could overcome it. Kyrian, having only recently entered adulthood, already stood among that select few.

...

A short while later, the old elder returned to the center of the arena. His imposing presence silenced the constant murmur filling the venue. Though calm, his voice echoed throughout the entire arena with a clarity that seemed to defy the laws of acoustics.

"The second phase of the competition has come to an end."

The murmurs ceased immediately. Every eye turned toward him.

"After the complete evaluation..." He paused dramatically.

"Three hundred and fifty participants have passed."

The moment he finished speaking, numerous names began appearing on an enormous spiritual display suspended above the arena. The golden characters shone brilliantly against the azure background, forming a lengthy list that slowly unfurled.

Kyrian quickly found his own name among those who had advanced. He was ranked third, a respectable placement, especially considering that his recipe had been one of the few purchased by the Association.

Exactly as he had expected.

Half of the participants had been eliminated. Many young cultivators sighed in disappointment, their dreams of advancing to the next stage shattered. Some lowered their heads in silence, accepting defeat with dignity.

Others, however, could not hide their frustration, their fists clenched and bitter expressions etched across their faces.

The competition was naturally rigorous. Only the very best would remain, those who had demonstrated not only knowledge but also creativity and a profound understanding of alchemical principles.

The old elder made a few additional remarks regarding the next stage, explaining that it would involve a real-time refinement trial with limited ingredients and adverse conditions. His voice was clear and instructive, preparing the successful participants for the challenge ahead.

Shortly afterward, he officially declared the day’s events concluded.

The enormous crowd began leaving the arena, flowing outward like a river dividing into countless streams. The stands gradually emptied as participants chatted among themselves while making their way outside, some laughing, others enthusiastically discussing the competition.

The vendors once again began advertising their goods with renewed enthusiasm, and the entire Celestial Descent Festival resumed its usual lively rhythm.

Kyrian also calmly left the arena.

However...

His destination was not his residence.

There was still another competition taking place that day. The competition for cultivators in the Core Formation Realm, where the region’s finest young warriors would clash in epic battles.

Unlike alchemy...

He was not particularly interested in the rewards offered by this tournament. The treasures and resources were certainly valuable, but not enough to distract him from his true objective.

His true objective was something else.

To fight.

His third dantian still needed to be fully consolidated. Intense battles were an excellent way to accelerate that process. Every fight allowed his Qi to circulate more violently, further stabilizing his foundations.

The collision of energies, the chaotic flow of power during combat, all of it contributed to strengthening his spiritual core.

That was why participating in this competition was essentially a form of training. An opportunity to refine his combat abilities against opponents of similar strength, without the genuine risk of death that accompanied real battles.

...

After walking for some time through the bustling streets of the festival, Kyrian finally arrived at the enormous complex dedicated to combat. Its structure was truly impressive, a colossal amphitheater constructed from polished black stone and adorned with crimson and golden banners fluttering in the wind.

Its size easily surpassed that of the alchemists’ arena, occupying an area equivalent to several training grounds combined. Massive grandstands completely surrounded the venue, rising in successive tiers capable of accommodating tens of thousands of spectators.

At the center, ten smaller arenas were arranged side by side, each protected by spiritual formations that prevented the combatants’ attacks from reaching the audience. The platforms were made from a durable material that emitted a faint glow, absorbing the stray energy released during the battles.

Thousands of spectators had already filled nearly every seat. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, an electric energy that seemed almost tangible. Bets were being placed everywhere, with merchants shouting the latest odds while cultivators passionately debated the chances of their favored competitors.