Chapter 493: The Eye of Ten Thousand Forms

Outside the wooden door of the white jade hall.

A woman in coarse linen skirt, Chai Hefeng, sat cross-legged on a mat, eyes closed, cultivating stillness.

Suddenly, footsteps approached from afar; another figure entered the hall and walked straight toward the wooden door.

“Ah, it’s Master Yan, you’re not cultivating on Pure Fire Peak—what brings you to my Yuheng Hall?” Chai Hefeng opened her eyes, looked at the man before her, and frowned.

The figure was a man in brocade robes, with refined features and a crimson crystal embedded between his brows, resembling a third eye.

“Sister Chai, I heard another magic prodigy has been invited to contemplate the ‘Ten Thousand Forms Eye’—and reportedly, he cultivates a fire-affinity scripture?” The brocade-robed man smiled faintly at the woman and asked.

“You’re well-informed, brother. Was it Yan Lingxiang who tipped you off?” The woman’s expression remained unchanged.

“Indeed, Lingxiang told me—the one invited this time has astonishing magic talent; he’s already mastered the maximum limit of a second-rank 98-magic-inscription technique.”

“If true, his magic talent ranks among the top three of all past invitees—and even more so since he cultivates fire-affinity scripture.” The brocade-robed man glanced at the closed wooden door, his smile unwavering as he replied.

“So, Master Yan, you want to recruit this ‘Wang Yu’ youngster to your Pure Fire Peak?” Chai Hefeng asked with a faint, knowing smile.

“I do indeed have that intention.”

“Sister, you know our Bi Shui Palace primarily cultivates water-affinity scriptures, yet Pure Fire Peak is the only peak in the entire palace that cultivates fire-affinity scripture—our disciples naturally lack advantage compared to other peaks.”

“In recent years, our peak has always ranked last in the sect’s grand competition, so we naturally wish to recruit a talented disciple to bolster our standing.” The brocade-robed man replied calmly, unsurprised.

“But I feel someone with such extraordinary magic talent should join my Lingfa Peak. Though we don’t specialize in fire-affinity scripture, we possess the greatest collection of magic scriptures and talent-enhancing artifacts in Bi Shui Palace—this youth would truly thrive there.” Chai Hefeng replied coolly.

“No, no.”

“Though magic is important, we cultivators ultimately prioritize scripture. No matter how many magic techniques you learn, they offer only fleeting advantage—how can they compare to breakthroughs in realm?” The brocade-robed man shook his head.

“Hmph. In the Eastern Wastes, without powerful techniques to protect oneself, how could our human race have seized the Eight Domains? Aren’t you trying to recruit this disciple precisely so he can fight for you in the sect competition?” Chai Hefeng snorted.

“That’s true, but our Pure Fire Peak isn’t lacking in second-rank magic scriptures or talent-enhancing artifacts—enough for Foundation Establishment disciples to study.” The brocade-robed man blinked.

“It’s different—this youth’s magic talent is so extraordinary, he can’t be treated as an ordinary Foundation Establishment disciple learning magic… Never mind. What’s the use arguing here? Let him decide for himself when he emerges.” Chai Hefeng raised her brows, then recalled something, her expression calming once more.

“Fine. If he chooses Lingfa Peak, I won’t contest it with you, Sister.” The brocade-robed man smiled, flicked his sleeve, and a yellow mat silently flew out, landing on the ground opposite the woman.

He shifted his posture, sat cross-legged on the mat, and slowly closed his eyes.

The woman was speechless, but had no choice but to close her eyes and wait again.

Time passed slowly.

Three days later.

The brocade-robed man, who had sat motionless, suddenly opened his eyes, a faint expression of surprise on his face as he asked the woman:

“Sister, how long did Master Zhang’s disciple stay inside? I recall once contemplation is interrupted, one cannot remain inside.”

“That Zhang girl was called our Bi Shui Palace’s rarest magic prodigy in six hundred years—she stayed only three and a half days, deciphered fourteen Ten Thousand Forms Eye inscriptions, then couldn’t hold on any longer.” The woman opened her eyes in reply.

“I remember the guy from Taiyuan Sect—he was invited during his Foundation Establishment stage and reportedly stayed inside five days, illuminating nineteen Ten Thousand Forms Eye inscriptions before his spiritual sense was exhausted and he had to withdraw.” The brocade-robed man paused, then asked again.

“Correct. I just heard recently that the Taiyuan Sect man has advanced to Golden Core mid-stage—his cultivation is now equal to mine. But when our sect specially invited him to contemplate the Ten Thousand Forms Eye decades ago, he was only at Foundation Establishment late-stage.” The woman replied slowly.

“That guy isn’t human—he’s a genuine monster. No normal human achieves Golden Core before a hundred years old, and his magic talent even surpasses Zhang’s.” The brocade-robed man’s expression shifted several times as he spoke.

“That’s why Taiyuan Sect regards him as a Nascent Soul seed and lists him among the Four Prodigies of the Eastern Wastes.” The woman chuckled lightly.

“Heh, ‘Four Prodigies of the Eastern Wastes’—what a grand title.” The brocade-robed man chuckled.

“But this youngster staying inside this long already proves his extraordinary magic talent. Regardless of his cultivation potential, once he emerges, invite him to join Bi Shui Palace outright.” The brocade-robed man proposed.

“You’re right, I’m thinking the same. By now, this youngster should be about to emerge—let’s hope he deciphers eleven or twelve Ten Thousand Forms Eye inscriptions.” The woman nodded, a hint of anticipation in her voice.

“Sister, you know better than anyone how profound the Ten Thousand Forms Eye inscriptions are—this youth managing ten in one go would already be impressive.” The brocade-robed man countered.

“Perhaps. This Ten Thousand Forms Eye was found by our Ancestor in the heavens, its origins mysterious, its name casually chosen—yet it bears nearly a thousand inscriptions. Who knows what astonishing transformation might occur if all are fully deciphered?” Chai Hefeng murmured.

“According to our Ancestor, the Ten Thousand Forms Eye is likely tied to fourth-rank or higher beings. If one can decipher its inscriptions and gain even partial control, great fortune awaits.”

“But sadly, only Foundation Establishment and below cultivators can see its inscriptions—those at Golden Core and above perceive it as lifeless matter, utterly incomprehensible. Otherwise, why would Bi Shui Palace invite outsiders to contemplate this treasure?”

“I heard the Taiyuan Sect man gained some great benefit while contemplating the Ten Thousand Forms Eye—he returned and immediately surged in power.” The brocade-robed man muttered.

“Your mindset is unbalanced. With that Taiyuan Sect monster’s prodigious talent, even without our invitation, his power would have grown regardless.” The woman shook her head.

“Perhaps. But according to the Ancestor’s calculations, there are only two ways to fully decipher all inscriptions on the Ten Thousand Forms Eye.”

“One: continue inviting Foundation Establishment disciples with exceptional magic insight to contemplate this artifact, slowly deciphering each inscription one by one. Though different people decipher them, once deciphered, each leaves a trace within the Ten Thousand Forms Eye, subtly altering it—over time, accumulated traces may allow our Ancestor to use secret techniques to gain partial control.”

“The second method: find a single Foundation Establishment disciple who can decipher every single inscription alone, mastering the complete pattern. Then, the full benefits of the Ten Thousand Forms Eye will likely belong entirely to that one disciple.”

“If Bi Shui Palace could produce such a Foundation Establishment prodigy, he might even have Nascent Soul potential.” The brocade-robed man spoke seriously.

“You’re overreaching. The first method—we’re already doing it. According to the Ancestor’s estimates, we’ve only deciphered one or two tenths of the inscriptions so far—still far from completion.”

“The second method? Even Zhang and that Taiyuan Sect monster—with their magic insight and spiritual sense—could only decipher a dozen or so at once. Where in the entire cultivation world could we find a Foundation Establishment disciple whose insight or spiritual sense surpasses theirs by dozens of times, capable of deciphering a thousand inscriptions in one go?” Chai Hefeng, hearing this, was speechless, shaking her head repeatedly.