Chapter 253: Eye of Divine Truth!
“Really not?”
The Ice-Fire Elder stared at the vertical eye on Ji Yuan's forehead as he asked.
…This old man had guarded this Strange Pond for decades, perhaps even over a hundred years. He had most likely discovered something. Since that was the case, should he tell him the truth?
He could also ask whether seeing that purple vertical eye had any side effects.
What if whoever saw it was doomed to misfortune?
Just as Ji Yuan was considering asking, he saw the Ice-Fire Elder take out a bronze mirror from his Storage Pouch.
The mirror was held directly in front of Ji Yuan, and through it, he discovered that a third eye had grown on his forehead.
It was precisely the same purple vertical eye he had seen inside the icy pool!
“What the fuck?!”
‘How the hell did this thing end up on me?!’
The first sentence escaped Ji Yuan's mouth instinctively.
The second sentence remained only in his mind.
After those two thoughts, he subconsciously took a step backward before hurriedly reaching toward his forehead.
Before his hand could even touch it, he suddenly felt as though something were threatening it, causing him to instinctively blink...
The vertical eye on his forehead blinked as well.
The sensation was exactly the same as if someone had suddenly thrust a finger toward his normal pair of eyes. Blinking was simply an instinctive reaction.
But damn it...
How the hell had this eye ended up growing on him?!
After the initial shock, Ji Yuan desperately tried to gain control over the vertical eye on his forehead.
He wanted to see whether he could remove the strange eye from his body.
Even if he couldn't remove it...
Perhaps he could at least refine it and gain some special ability from it!
He first swept it with his Divine Sense.
Nothing unusual appeared.
Then Ji Yuan mobilized the spiritual energy within his Dantian and attempted to refine it.
Yet the purple vertical eye remained completely unresponsive.
Out of options...
He could only look toward the smiling Ice-Fire Elder and hurriedly ask,
“Senior, what exactly is going on? You have a solution, don't you?”
“What exactly is this vertical eye? Why did it appear on me? Can it be removed?”
The Ice-Fire Elder chuckled.
“Didn't you say you never fell into the icy pool?”
“Why ask this old man?”
“This old man doesn't know either.”
The Ice-Fire Elder shook his head and turned as though to leave.
Ji Yuan immediately grabbed the elder's sleeve with his left hand while pointing at his own forehead with his right.
“Senior, I'll tell the truth.”
“I fell in.”
“After condensing my flying sword, I suddenly heard a voice calling me. Then an identical purple vertical eye appeared in the pool. Before I knew it, I walked into the water myself... and after that... it became like this.”
“This junior remembered your warning never to enter the water... but I was afraid you would blame me, so I didn't dare tell the truth.”
“How did you crawl back out?”
The Ice-Fire Elder finally responded.
“I... I don't know.”
“I have no idea how long it was, but I suddenly regained consciousness. Then I hurriedly crawled out of the icy pool.”
“I nearly froze to death inside.”
“How deep did you enter the water?”
The Ice-Fire Elder asked again.
Ji Yuan bent over to look, then gestured to around knee level.
“About this deep.”
“Both feet went in?”
“They did.”
Although Ji Yuan usually liked to keep a trump card hidden...
At this moment, he didn't dare conceal anything.
Hua Yaoyue wasn't here.
The only person he could seek help from was the Ice-Fire Elder before him.
Especially since he too had once entered the Ice-Fire Pool.
The Ice-Fire Elder raised an eyebrow.
“Release your Divine Sense and let me have a look... Release all of it.”
The moment those words were spoken, Ji Yuan vaguely understood.
The purple vertical eye within the icy pool...
Was most likely related to the Divine Soul.
Others hadn't triggered the eye because their Divine Souls weren't strong enough.
Or rather...
Their Divine Souls hadn't surpassed the limits of their cultivation realms.
Ji Yuan was different.
His Divine Soul was exceptionally powerful.
That was why the purple vertical eye had appeared.
The reason he had awakened from the illusion afterward...
Was likewise because his Divine Soul far surpassed cultivators of the same realm.
And because he cultivated a Divine Soul cultivation technique.
If that guess was correct...
Then what the purple vertical eye sought were cultivators whose Divine Souls were just slightly stronger than those of ordinary cultivators.
As for whether it intended to possess them...
Or accomplish something else...
That remained unknown.
“Yes.”
Ji Yuan replied before slowly releasing his Divine Sense.
At the same time, another thought surfaced.
Should he really release everything?
If he did...
His Divine Sense would rival that of an Early Core Formation cultivator.
Yet the cultivation he displayed was only Mid Foundation Establishment...
The Ice-Fire Elder shouldn't be able to see through Hua Yaoyue's 《Breath Concealment Art》.
A Mid Foundation Establishment cultivator possessing Core Formation-level Divine Sense...
That would simply be too outrageous.
As those thoughts flashed through Ji Yuan's mind...
He had already reached a decision.
He should still conceal something here.
Releasing Peak Foundation Establishment Divine Sense should be about right.
Late Foundation Establishment...
Probably wouldn't be enough to explain surviving the icy pool.
Early Core Formation...
Far too unbelievable.
After weighing everything...
Peak Foundation Establishment was the most suitable choice.
Ji Yuan released his Divine Sense.
The Ice-Fire Elder likewise released his own Divine Sense.
He watched with his own eyes as Ji Yuan's Divine Sense gradually reached the limit of Mid Foundation Establishment...
Then naturally entered the range of Late Foundation Establishment.
'Just as I expected.'
The Ice-Fire Elder thought to himself without saying anything.
He simply continued watching.
Yet when Ji Yuan's Divine Sense surpassed even the limit of Late Foundation Establishment without showing any signs of stopping...
The Ice-Fire Elder finally displayed genuine surprise.
Then came...
Peak Foundation Establishment!
Only then did Ji Yuan stop releasing his Divine Sense.
His face flushed red as he spoke with obvious effort.
“S-Senior...”
“This is my limit.”
“Good.”
“Very good.”
“Withdraw it.”
The Ice-Fire Elder stroked his beard while nodding repeatedly.
Ji Yuan withdrew his Divine Sense before nervously looking toward him.
Yet the Ice-Fire Elder no longer looked at Ji Yuan.
Instead, with both hands clasped behind his back, he slowly paced before him.
“You didn't give birth to another version of yourself inside your body, did you?”
Hearing that, Ji Yuan genuinely examined his Divine Soul before shaking his head.
“No.”
“Then this old man understands.”
The Ice-Fire Elder let out a long sigh.
His voice carried both relief after finally understanding...
And perhaps...
Liberation.
“May I ask what Senior has understood?”
Ji Yuan stepped forward and respectfully cupped his hands.
The Ice-Fire Elder turned toward him before pointing at his own head.
“Like you, I was born with a Divine Soul stronger than ordinary people.”
“But while your Divine Soul exceeds your cultivation by two minor realms...”
“Mine exceeded it by only one.”
“In other words...”
“My cultivation is currently at the Late Core Formation Stage.”
“But my Divine Sense is already no weaker than that of certain Peak Core Formation cultivators.”
Before Ji Yuan could respond...
The Ice-Fire Elder continued.
“The reason both of us could summon that purple vertical eye...”
“And were both drawn into the icy pool...”
“Is because our Divine Souls are both extraordinary.”
“But my Divine Soul was still slightly weaker.”
“So it was torn into two halves.”
“And thus...”
“I came into being.”
“Your Divine Soul is even stronger than mine.”
“So you were able to withstand the corruption of the purple vertical eye and emerge unharmed.”
This mystery had troubled the Ice-Fire Elder for countless years.
He had never understood why he alone had seen that eye.
Nor why he had fallen into the icy pool.
Over the years, it wasn't as though he had never asked others to try.
Quite the opposite.
Nearly every female cultivator currently living in the valley had once been brought to the Ice-Fire Pool.
Yet not a single one had ever summoned the purple vertical eye again.
Until this encounter with the “Li Changshou” before him.
Not only had Ji Yuan seen the purple vertical eye...
He had also climbed back out alive.
He had even resolved the confusion that had plagued the Ice-Fire Elder's heart for so many years.
As for Ji Yuan...
He had only one thought.
So that really was the truth.
Ji Yuan hurriedly asked,
“Senior, then what exactly is this purple vertical eye? Can it be removed?”
The Ice-Fire Elder didn't answer.
Instead, he blinked.
Immediately afterward...
An identical purple vertical eye appeared on his own forehead.
The purple pupil rotated before staring directly at Ji Yuan.
The two purple vertical eyes met each other's gaze...
Nothing happened.
Yet that action itself already answered Ji Yuan's question.
It couldn't be removed.
If it could...
The Ice-Fire Elder wouldn't still have one on his forehead.
“It can't be removed.”
“As for its origin...”
“I don't know.”
“I can only speculate that it came from another continent.”
“It definitely isn't something our Cangluo Continent could possess.”
At last...
The Ice-Fire Elder gave his answer.
The first thought that surfaced in Ji Yuan's mind was—
Go back and ask Hua Yaoyue!
Anything involving other continents...
Only she could answer.
Just like the Taiyi Azure Light Talisman.
Had he not asked her back then...
He wouldn't have known what to do.
“Then does this purple vertical eye possess any special abilities?”
Since it couldn't be removed...
Ji Yuan naturally wanted to obtain some benefits from it.
The purple vertical eye on the Ice-Fire Elder's forehead stared directly at Ji Yuan.
Then he said,
“You're quite handsome.”
“That Li Gang fellow certainly wasn't good-looking.”
“For you to look this good...”
“You probably take after your mother.”
“Tsk.”
“No wonder you could pass as the Li Family's illegitimate son.”
Ji Yuan: “???”
Naturally, he ignored the teasing.
He immediately grasped the important point—
The purple vertical eye could see through his Transformation Talisman!
Insight?
Or penetration?
...I knew this purple vertical eye couldn't possibly be useless.
“Senior.”
“How do I refine it?”
Ji Yuan asked directly.
The Ice-Fire Elder concealed nothing.
He answered straightforwardly.
“Your Divine Soul also has a purple vertical eye on its forehead.”
“Try communicating with it.”
“Then you'll be able to refine it.”
“The eye possesses a trace of the ability to perceive truth.”
“It is especially effective against illusions and various sinister, unorthodox techniques.”
“As for exactly how powerful it is...”
“You'll discover that yourself in the future.”
“Besides that...”
“It also possesses a trace of X-ray vision.”
“However, it can only see through ordinary mortal objects.”
“Anything containing spiritual energy cannot be seen through.”
X-ray vision...
Wasn't that every man's dream?!
Even if it only worked on ordinary objects...
That was still incredibly powerful.
After thinking about it carefully...
Ji Yuan still found it somewhat regrettable.
Even Qi Refining cultivators generally wore magical robes.
Since magical robes contained spiritual energy...
The eye couldn't see through them.
“This junior will give it a try.”
After speaking, Ji Yuan closed his eyes and looked inward at his Divine Soul.
His Divine Soul remained tightly protected by the Soul Suppressing Bell, which emitted a faint golden radiance.
There wasn't the slightest gap.
Only...
There wasn't any vertical eye as the Ice-Fire Elder had described.
Ji Yuan inspected it over and over again.
Within his Sea of Consciousness...
His Divine Soul remained completely spotless.
Forget a purple vertical eye.
There wasn't even the slightest trace of another color.
It was merely a pure gray-black silhouette sitting cross-legged upon endless emptiness.
No facial features whatsoever.
What's going on?
Just as Ji Yuan prepared to ask...
He suddenly noticed a flash of purple light outside the Soul Suppressing Bell.
“Hm?”
Focusing his vision...
He indeed discovered a purple vertical eye outside the Soul Suppressing Bell.
It desperately wanted to enter.
Yet the Soul Suppressing Bell blocked it completely.
Having no other choice...
It darted frantically around the outside, seemingly searching for even the tiniest gap through which it could slip inside.
...You bastard.
You don't look like anything good.
Without hesitation, Ji Yuan immediately swept over it with his Divine Sense.
At the same time...
The Soul Suppressing Bell trembled slightly.
Golden rays spread outward.
Wherever the soul-suppressing radiance passed...
The purple vertical eye immediately behaved itself.
Ji Yuan's Divine Sense seized the opportunity.
He grabbed the purple vertical eye.
The moment he seized it...
He refined it instantly.
Immediately imprinting it with his own Divine Sense.
At that instant...
Ji Yuan discovered a faint connection had formed between himself and the purple vertical eye.
Or rather...
He had finally gained complete control over it!
Immediately afterward...
Another layer of vision appeared before his eyes.
It was the perspective of the purple vertical eye on his forehead.
Ji Yuan looked around.
Everything appeared gray and hazy.
Only the Ice-Fire Elder emitted bright white light.
Indicating that he was a cultivator...
The brighter the light...
The stronger the cultivation.
This information naturally surfaced within Ji Yuan's mind.
At the same time...
He also learned the eye's true name.
“Eye of Divine Truth!”
This purple vertical eye...
Was actually called the Eye of Divine Truth!
Damn.
What an incredibly domineering name.
Ji Yuan controlled the Eye of Divine Truth to blink once before walking over to look down the mountain.
Within his vision...
Another golden light barrier appeared.
It wasn't particularly bright.
Only a faint glow could be seen.
Countless patterns continuously flowed across its surface.
Vaguely...
Ji Yuan could even perceive the weakest point of the barrier.
This light barrier was naturally the formation protecting this place.
Ji Yuan already knew that.
But what he hadn't expected...
Was that the Eye of Divine Truth could actually detect the weak point of a Third-Tier Formation?!
Wouldn't breaking formations become...
Effortlessly easy in the future?
Damn.
Was the Eye of Divine Truth really this powerful?!
For a moment...
Ji Yuan's heartbeat quickened.
The Ice-Fire Elder also walked over and stood beside him, cheerfully explaining,
“Don't rush.”
“Once your cultivation reaches the Core Formation Stage...”
“You'll also be able to use the purple eye to see the formation I've established here.”
The Core Formation Stage...
Before being able to see the formation?
Then what was he supposed to be?
He could already see the formation...
And even its weakest point.
What did that mean?
That his eyesight was simply better?
Ji Yuan's heart shook violently.
He didn't know whether it was because his Divine Soul was exceptionally powerful...
Or because he had refined the Eye of Divine Truth outside the Soul Suppressing Bell.
Regardless...
His level of control over the purple eye was unquestionably superior to that of the Ice-Fire Elder!
Not only could he already perceive this Third-Tier Formation...
He had even learned the eye's true name.
That...
Absolutely had to remain secret.
Ji Yuan took a deep breath before smiling.
“It seems I've truly turned misfortune into fortune.”
“I just wonder where this purple eye actually came from.”
“Who cares where it came from?”
“As long as it's useful.”
The purple eye on the Ice-Fire Elder's forehead blinked once.
Then instantly closed, disappearing from his forehead.
“Turning misfortune into fortune is certain.”
“And your spiritual energy has probably already acquired a trace of ice attributes.”
“That effect is extremely rare.”
“Since you're already a water cultivator...”
“After returning, you can ask Li Gang to gather some ice cultivation techniques for you.”
“But remember...”
“The secret of the purple vertical eye involves matters of tremendous importance.”
“You absolutely must not reveal it to anyone.”
Ji Yuan hurriedly nodded.
“Please rest assured, Senior.”
“My mouth is the tightest there is.”
...Well, at most he'd tell Hua Yaoyue after returning.
She was his dearest master.
How could she possibly count as someone else?
“Good.”
“If there's nothing else...”
“Let's head back.”
Perhaps because they had undergone similar experiences.
Or perhaps because Ji Yuan had resolved the confusion that had troubled him for decades.
Whatever the reason...
The Ice-Fire Elder now looked upon Ji Yuan much more kindly than before.
“Yes.”
Ji Yuan originally assumed the Ice-Fire Elder would take him back to the Imperial Palace.
Unexpectedly...
The two instead returned to the same courtyard residence as before.
Ye Zhiqiu was still waiting there.
Hearing footsteps outside, she hurriedly came out.
“Greetings, Senior.”
“Greetings, Young Master.”
The Ice-Fire Elder merely grunted before walking into his own room.
Ji Yuan watched his departing back, wanting to speak yet hesitating.
He hadn't forgotten that one of the purposes of this trip was to trade with the Ice-Fire Elder for the Three-Eyed Dark Beast's spine.
But considering the personality of this particular Ice-Fire Elder...
Bringing it up now would most likely fail.
Forget it.
He would wait until the other Ice-Fire Elder emerged.
The only question was...
How often did the two personalities alternate?
“Just wait.”
“He'll come out tomorrow.”
Seeing Ji Yuan hesitate, the Ice-Fire Elder immediately guessed what he was thinking.
He casually waved his hand before entering the room.
Ji Yuan respectfully saluted his departing back before returning to his own room.
With Ye Zhiqiu present, Ji Yuan couldn't very well study his newly acquired Eye of Divine Truth.
Thus, he continued comprehending the 《Sword Canon》.
For now...
Increasing his cultivation remained the highest priority.
“Young Master Li, I...”
Ye Zhiqiu looked toward Ji Yuan, who sat cross-legged upon his meditation cushion, seemingly interested in nothing except cultivation.
She hesitated.
“Go ahead.”
Ji Yuan opened his eyes.
“I want to leave as soon as possible...”
“What happened aboard the Whale Patrol Ship won't remain hidden for long.”
“Once the Luo Family learns about it...”
“They'll certainly investigate Ice-Fire Island.”
“If I wait until then...”
“It'll become incredibly difficult for me to leave.”
This was the conclusion Ye Zhiqiu had reached after two days of careful consideration.
Since “Li Changshou” had no intention of taking her in...
She could only rely upon herself.
Leaving this place as early as possible was the proper course of action.
“You're planning to leave aboard an Ephemeral Flower Boat?”
“Yes.”
Ye Zhiqiu nodded.
“Very well.”
“I'll speak with Senior and ask him to let you leave.”
Ji Yuan had no intention of stopping her.
After speaking, he stood up.
Ye Zhiqiu bowed deeply before solemnly saying,
“I shall never forget your life-saving grace.”
“If Young Master Li ever has need of me...”
“Simply send word.”
“My life will always belong to Young Master Li.”
“You're overstating it.”
Ji Yuan smiled.
Whether he believed those words or not...
Was another matter.
Walking to the doorway, he respectfully cupped his hands toward the Ice-Fire Elder's room.
“Senior.”
“My fellow Daoist has urgent matters and must leave ahead of schedule.”
“I ask that you grant her passage.”
Ye Zhiqiu likewise offered a respectful salute.
“Go.”
The Ice-Fire Elder's voice sounded from inside the room.
Immediately afterward...
A visible opening appeared in the sky above.
The Ice-Fire Elder had long since realized that Ye Zhiqiu wasn't Ji Yuan's maid.
Ye Zhiqiu looked upward once before cupping her hands toward Ji Yuan again.
“Young Master Li.”
“Farewell.”
After speaking...
She summoned a cyan flying sword.
Leaped onto it.
Then soared into the sky.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan also turned to leave.
Yet just then...
He heard the sound of a door opening from the Ice-Fire Elder's courtyard.
Turning around...
He saw the Ice-Fire Elder, clad in a fiery-red Dragon Robe, already stepping outside while laughing loudly.
“Congratulations, worthy nephew!”
“You've obtained a great fortuitous opportunity!”