Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation

Elder Wei leaned slightly forward.

His narrow eyes, the kind that always seemed to be evaluating, measuring, judging, observed Kyrian carefully. The soft light from the formations on the ceiling reflected in his pupils, creating small bright points that shifted as he adjusted his position.

"Let’s begin the first stage."

Silence filled the room.

Lio Han and Elder Sun also turned their full attention to the young man seated before the cauldron.

Three pairs of eyes. Three specialists. Three judges.

Elder Wei opened the Universal Compendium of a Thousand Herbs on the table.

The book was enormous, its thick pages, made from a material that seemed more like leather than paper, creaked softly as he turned them.

He flipped through a few pages. Then he asked the first question.

"First question."

He lightly tapped a page, the palm of his hand making a dry sound against the paper.

"The Night Mist Flower releases a poisonous mist when heated."

"Suppose an alchemist needs to use it in a medicinal formula without producing this poison."

"Which material described in the compendium can neutralize this reaction during refinement?"

Kyrian answered almost immediately. There was no hesitation. No pause to think. No sign of doubt whatsoever.

"Crescent Moon Petal."

The three elders remained silent.

Kyrian continued, explaining, detailing, proving that it was not merely a guess.

"When refined together with the Night Mist Flower, the Crescent Moon Petal stabilizes the volatile impurities responsible for the mist."

"Instead of transforming into toxic gas, the impurities are neutralized by the petal’s purifying energy."

"Furthermore, the petal itself possesses natural purifying properties. The compendium mentions that it was used in spiritual cleansing rituals on the Eastern Isles."

"It was cited as one of the safest methods for using the flower."

Elder Wei nodded. Correct answer.

He did not even need to consult the book. His hands, which had begun moving toward the pages, stopped in midair.

"Second question."

He turned several pages, a quick, practical movement.

"The Nine-Knot Scarlet Root is highly poisonous."

"After proper purification through Rank 4 fire or higher, it becomes a meridian-strengthening agent."

"But suppose the root is unavailable."

"What substitute can be used?"

Kyrian answered again without hesitation.

"Golden Blood Tree Bark."

Elder Wei raised an eyebrow, a subtle but eloquent gesture. Kyrian continued.

"The effects are similar. The tree produces a resin that, when purified, also strengthens meridians."

"The efficiency is approximately twenty percent lower. According to the compendium’s notes, the resin contains less active Qi than the root."

"But its compatibility with strengthening formulas is virtually the same."

"Additionally, the bark requires less control during refinement. It is more tolerant of variations in temperature and timing."

Elder Sun looked at the book. Then at Kyrian. Then at the book again. The answer was correct.

Exactly as described, with additional details that demonstrated genuine understanding rather than simple memorization.

"Third question."

Elder Wei began showing more interest.

His posture changed, no longer relaxed, but leaning forward.

"Silent Storm Fruit."

"Silent Thunder Root."

"Both possess lightning affinity."

"What happens if they are used together in excess within the same formula?"

Kyrian answered immediately.

"Instability."

"Both materials conduct electrical Qi and can serve as foundations for Lightning Path pills."

"But their properties are different."

"The fruit accumulates and stores electrical energy within its pulp, releasing it gradually during refinement."

"The root transmits and channels energy through its natural meridians, creating a continuous flow."

"When used in excess and in unbalanced proportions, they form an uncontrolled circulation cycle."

"The energy accumulated by the fruit is transmitted by the root, but the root cannot dissipate all of it, so the energy returns to the fruit, and so on."

"This increases the likelihood of an explosion during refinement."

Elder Wei nodded again. Correct. Once more. The young man had not even needed to think.

The words flowed as though he were reading from an internal scroll.

Lio Han began observing Kyrian differently. It was no longer mere curiosity. It was interest.

Beyond his terrifying memory, the young man truly understood the properties of the materials.

Not merely memorizing. Understanding.

"Fourth question."

This time, the elder partially closed the book, leaving only his fingers between the pages as a bookmark.

"A Celestial Blue Flame Fruit is required for a pill."

"However, the fruit has been stored for two months."

"The compendium states that it loses its properties after one month. The Blue Flame gradually extinguishes, the pulp crystallizes, and the pure Qi dissipates."

"What could an alchemist do?"

Kyrian answered.

"Replace it."

"Why?" the elder asked, his eyes gleaming.

"Because the main ingredient has already lost its essence."

"Increasing the quantity would not solve the problem. A spoiled fruit would not produce more Qi even if you used ten times the dosage."

"Refining it for longer would not help either. The additional heat would only accelerate decomposition."

"The best substitute would be the Eternal Flame Flower combined with Liquid Fire Crystals."

"The effects would not be identical. The flower is less potent, while the crystal is more volatile."

"But the primary function of the formula, channeling pure fire Qi, would be preserved."

For the first time...

The three elders exchanged glances. The answer was not written directly in the book. The compendium mentioned the two materials separately.

It mentioned the fruit’s shelf life. It mentioned the properties of the Flower and the Crystal. But it did not state that one could replace the other.

It was a logical conclusion based on the content. Something that required understanding.

Kyrian did not know it, or perhaps had never even thought about it. But he possessed an abnormal talent for alchemy. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Elder Wei nodded slowly.

"Good answer."

His tone already carried approval. Not the polite approval of someone merely following a protocol. But the genuine approval of a specialist recognizing talent.

Then he completely closed the book.

The sound echoed through the room. The expression on his face changed. More serious. More curious. More... personal.

"Last question."

Kyrian immediately realized it.

This was the decisive question.

Elder Wei rested his fingers on the table, one, two, three sharp taps against the wood.

"The compendium describes an herb called Lunar Phantom Flower."

"It also describes Midnight Pearl Powder."

"It states that together they increase efficiency in soul stabilization."

Kyrian nodded. He remembered perfectly.

Lunar Phantom Flower, page two hundred and thirty-four. Midnight Pearl Powder, page three hundred and eleven.

"When combined, the two materials create a synergy that strengthens the soul’s resilience against spiritual damage."

"The book also mentions the Dream Mist Root. An extremely rare herb."

"Used to nourish consciousness."

The elder then smiled. A small smile. But genuine.

"I spent many years pondering a question."

"And I never found an answer."

Lio Han and Elder Sun were surprised. Their eyes widened slightly.

They knew that question.

The old man used to mention it occasionally, during dinners, informal conversations, and moments of reflection.

It was an obsession of his.

"Suppose a cultivator’s soul has been injured, damaged by spiritual attacks, forbidden techniques, or simply too much time."

"If the Lunar Phantom Flower stabilizes it, preventing the damage from spreading and the soul from falling apart."

"If the Midnight Pearl Powder strengthens it, increasing the soul’s natural resistance and making it harder to injure."

"And if the Dream Mist Root nourishes consciousness, feeding the spirit with pure energy and accelerating recovery."

"Could the three materials be combined into a single formula?"

Silence filled the room. Not the heavy silence from before. But a different silence. A silence of anticipation.