Chapter 17: Keen Insight
Chapter 17: Keen Insight
Cheng Lingyu asked curiously, “What place is that? It looks completely empty.”
“That’s a special space. Those without sufficient Realm can’t see it. Wait here while I investigate.”
Chi Mei’er’s lips curled upward as the firelight around her dimmed, the once dazzling scene vanishing instantly.
Cheng Lingyu blinked in surprise—before he could speak, Chi Mei’er had already disappeared mysteriously.
The scorched earth lay quiet now, revealing only barren soil and rocks after the flames retreated.
Cheng Lingyu felt a deep stir within him. The two most formidable cultivators he’d ever encountered were women: Yu Wuchen and Chi Mei’er, both shrouded in mystery.
In these borderlands, reaching the True Martial Realm marked greatness, while the Soul Martial Realm allowed one to found sects or mighty clans.
Beyond that? He’d never dared ponder such heights.
Yet Chi Mei’er’s display today had flung open new doors, revealing how vast and wondrous the world beyond truly was.
“Nine Levels of Mortal Martial Arts, Eight Levels of True Martial Arts, Seven Levels of Soul Martial Arts… When will I reach her Realm?”
At seventeen, Cheng Lingyu’s face glowed with yearning. Though revenge had ignited his cultivation journey, growing power now kindled curiosity about cultivation’s true purpose.
The hot mountain winds pressed against him as he stood in the wilderness, thoughts churning.
Revenge remained his primary target, but what path would he walk afterward? Life continued beyond vengeance.
Ruo Xue existed only in memory now—a companion for life, yet he couldn’t dwell forever in the past.
His musings shattered when he sensed sudden movement nearby.
“Back so soon? Did you retrieve it?”
Chi Mei’er’s delicate frown and troubled eyes contrasted oddly with her charming dimples.
“Found it. Retrieval’s the problem—multiple failed attempts, and I can’t pinpoint why.”
“Explain the situation. Maybe I can help,” Cheng Lingyu offered.
Chi Mei’er raised an eyebrow. “You? Impossible.”
Cheng Lingyu’s face flushed. “You dismiss me without testing? That’s unfair!”
“It’s undetectable to outsiders,” she countered. “Even if seen, none can claim it. The item’s meant for me.”
“Then describe its condition. Let’s devise a plan.”
Chi Mei’er scanned their surroundings. “This borderland starves of resources—a Withering Silence, barely fit for cultivation. Yet secrets lurk here.”
“What secrets?” he pressed.
“Your Cheng family’s extreme forbidden ground. The hidden mysteries beneath Luoyang Ridge.”
Cheng Lingyu stiffened. The Cheng family’s forbidden secret was supposed to be his alone. Had she unraveled it too?
“What mysteries lie underground?” he deflected, steering the conversation away.
Chi Mei’er gazed at Cheng Lingyu with a half-smile. “The secret hidden here appears connected to the Cheng family’s extreme forbidden ground.”
Cheng Lingyu frowned. “How?”
“It’s suppressing something powerful in a special space,” she explained. “The suppression works both ways – the item holds that being down while being restrained itself. That’s why I can’t retrieve it.”
“That still doesn’t connect to our forbidden ground.”
“The restrained entity likely relates to your forbidden ground. Therefore, the connection exists.”
Seeing her charming yet willful smile, Cheng Lingyu finally understood what forced connections and rambling truly meant.
“What will you do now, Miss Mei’er?”
“I’ll reconsider my approach. You may leave – I’ll summon you if needed.”
Her smile remained serene, carrying a natural allure.
Cheng Lingyu chuckled, recognizing her evasion. He had no desire to linger either.
“I’ll take my leave. May success find you swiftly.”
After he departed, Chi Mei’er pivoted gracefully. Flames erupted beneath her feet, forming blazing path into the void. She stepped lightly onto the fiery road and vanished.
None witnessed her departure. Cheng Lingyu returned to Cheng Manor, sequestering himself to practice the Magic Eyes technique. He aimed to unblock the remaining five-sixths of his meridian points.
He couldn’t abandon his cultivation halfway. Having opened one-sixth already, he pressed on meticulously.
Focusing intensely, he monitored each meridian’s changes while refining his true energy with Thousand Layers of Snow. By splitting energy streams into hundreds of threads, he achieved precise control.
This method proved astonishingly effective. Within twenty-four hours, all meridian points for Magic Eyes’ First Realm of Insight opened.
True energy surged through his meridians. His vision sharpened exponentially – he could spot individual hairs miles away.
“Incredible! This is merely the initial stage. What power will true mastery bring?”
Exhausted from continuous focus, he collapsed into deep sleep. His body entered a dreamless state, organs and bloodflow optimizing naturally. The two merged active metal sources continued integrating with his physique.
Dark matter energy seeped into his sleeping form, combining with metal sources to enhance every cell. When he awoke a day later, his skin bore bronze patterns and unprecedented vitality.
His vision had tripled in clarity – an unexpected benefit from the Dreamless Technique.
Emerging refreshed, he found his father waiting.
“You’ve changed.” Cheng Yun stated bluntly.
“I’ve grown stronger.”
“Not strength.” His father shook his head. “Your eyes burn with confidence. Your aura… carries temptation now.”
Cheng Lingyu blinked. His father never lied. The Magic Eyes’ influence seemed undeniable.
“Good or bad?”
“You turned reclusive after childhood bullying. Ruo Xue brought you joy, then tragedy made you withdraw again.” Cheng Yun sighed. “This new charm… I prefer it to your isolation.”
At Ruo Xue’s mention, Cheng Lingyu’s smile died. That wound never healed.
“If you approve, I’ll embrace this change. I’ll inspect the mines now – and monitor Chi Mei’er’s affairs.”
As inspector, he visited mining zones. Seven Mine Sources remained. With Chi Mei’er absent, he worked swiftly.
His enhanced Magic Eyes counted workers instantly. Using Chi Mei’er’s authority, he cleared a site within hours.
Fang Tian Bao Yin carved through rock, revealing another black-and-white tree-shaped Mine Source. By dawn, he’d absorbed the third active metal source and fused another black Stone Pearl into the artifact. Mysterious patterns flickered within the seal before fading – another transformation complete.