Chapter 103: The Heavenly Eye

"Master, give me another 100,000 Low-Grade Origin Stones! Quickly!"

Inside Ryan’s Origin Energy Sea, Mira’s urgent cry echoed through the space. Her expression was filled with anxiety, and the hazy halo surrounding her had already dimmed considerably, its light flickering as though it might collapse at any moment.

"What... another 100,000 Low-Grade Origin Stones?!"

Ryan was utterly bewildered.

However, the oppressive force emanating from the strange blood-red pillar continued to intensify. He was already struggling to remain upright, and the terrifying pressure threatened to force him to his knees.

Daring not to waste another second, Ryan once again activated his Overlord Body Bloodline. With considerable difficulty, he twisted his wrist and hurriedly extracted another 100,000 Low-Grade Origin Stones from his spatial ring.

WHOOSH!

The moment the Boundless Creation Furnace swallowed the new batch of Origin Stones, the dimming halo surrounding Mira abruptly brightened. Its unstable light instantly returned to its previous brilliance, and the space around her steadied.

Mira had been behaving strangely from the beginning, and she still offered no explanation for what was happening.

Ryan wanted to ask questions, but the circumstances left him with little choice but to remain silent.

His attention returned to the enormous blood-red eye suspended in the sky.

He desperately circulated his Overlord Body Bloodline, struggling against the crushing pressure bearing down on his shoulders and head. Every passing second felt like an ordeal, and he had to exert himself to prevent his legs from buckling beneath him.

Cold sweat streamed down his face, soaking his entire black night suit.

Then, something changed.

A faint trace of confusion appeared within the enormous blood-red pupil.

It had clearly sensed something unusual in the area below moments ago. Yet, no matter how carefully it searched, it could no longer detect anything suspicious.

What had happened?

The blood-red giant eye seemed to grow irritated.

Its enormous eyeball darted across the sky, while the strange blood-colored pillar of light swept frantically across the ground, searching every corner of the surrounding area for the mysterious presence that had caught its attention.

Meanwhile, Ryan continued supplying Mira with Origin Stones.

Another 100,000.

Then another.

Each time the Boundless Creation Furnace consumed a fresh batch, the halo surrounding Mira stabilized, allowing her to maintain whatever mysterious concealment ability she was using.

Ryan had no idea what was happening inside his Origin Energy Sea. All he knew was that Mira needed the Origin Stones, and the terrifying eye above him could not be allowed to discover them.

He continued handing over his hard-earned wealth until the total amount consumed reached an astonishing 500,000 Low-Grade Origin Stones.

Finally, a change occurred.

After an extended period of fruitless searching, a barely perceptible trace of impatience appeared in the blood-red giant eye.

The enormous eyelid slowly descended.

In the next instant, the giant eye transformed into a long, blood-red crack stretching across the sky.

Then, the crack vanished.

The vast blood-colored sky rapidly returned to its original state, leaving behind nothing but the familiar darkness of the night.

The bright moon hung overhead, and countless stars glittered in the distance.

Everything appeared exactly as it had before.

It was as though the terrifying scene had never happened.

At the same time, a soft CLICK! sounded beside Ryan.

The young girl who had been holding a sugar figurine near her mouth finally bit into it. She then shyly offered a piece to the young man beside her, who accepted it with a smile.

The two continued their affectionate interaction as though nothing had interrupted their romantic moment.

Around them, the Bloodline Fighters and ordinary pedestrians resumed their activities.

People continued walking along the streets, chatting with one another, and going about their business. Nobody appeared frightened or confused. Nobody even seemed to realize that the entire world around them had been frozen moments earlier.

Ryan watched the scene with growing astonishment.

Had everyone lost their memories?

Or had they simply failed to notice what had happened?

Whatever the explanation, it was clear that the terrifying phenomenon had left no apparent impression on the people around him.

"Hooo... It’s finally gone. That was close."

Inside Ryan’s Origin Energy Sea, Mira released a long breath. Her expression remained tense, and the lingering fear in her eyes showed just how dangerous the situation had been.

"Master, we were almost discovered just now. I could clearly feel that someone was searching for us!"

Only after hearing this did Ryan finally relax.

The crushing pressure vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, allowing him to straighten his back and breathe normally again.

However, the relief lasted only a moment.

"What exactly was that blood-red giant eye?!"

Ryan immediately turned his attention toward Mira.

He had barely left Winters Tower before encountering something so terrifying that it had forced him to spend 500,000 Low-Grade Origin Stones just to survive.

His newly acquired wealth had barely had time to settle into his possession before a substantial portion of it disappeared.

These Origin Stones really didn’t last long!

"Master, I instinctively sensed an incredibly powerful force descending upon this realm just now. What’s more, that feeling was strangely familiar to me..."

Mira frowned, trying to piece together the fragments of information she had sensed.

"If my understanding is correct, that blood-red giant eye should be a Bloodline Law Divine Ability known as the Heavenly Eye!"

She paused briefly before continuing.

"And the person who cast it is at least a powerful warrior of the Empty Realm!"

"What?! The Heavenly Eye? The Empty Realm?"

Ryan stared at her in disbelief.

He had never heard of either term before.

"What exactly is the Empty Realm?"

"Master, the Empty Realm exists above the Ten Realms. As for your current strength, you haven’t even reached the peak of the First Realm yet."

Ryan fell silent.

Above the Ten Realms?

Just how terrifyingly powerful were beings who had surpassed all ten realms?

And why had one of them suddenly appeared in the Verdant Realm?

"Mira, why would someone of that level come here? What exactly are they looking for?"

"I’m not entirely certain, Master. However, the feeling I experienced was far too familiar for me to dismiss."

Mira’s expression grew increasingly solemn.

"I suspect that the Heavenly Eye was searching for me and the Boundless Creation Furnace. More precisely, it may have been searching for all three of us, including you."

Ryan’s heart sank.

"All three of us? Why?"

"Because we may share the same origin as their mortal enemies."

Mira took a deep breath before explaining further.

"I suspect that someone at the very top of their faction sensed my awakening and the fact that I had acknowledged you as my master. They may have realized that the Boundless Creation Furnace has resurfaced and begun searching the Three Thousand Worlds for us."

Her expression darkened.

"If that is the case, they intend to find us before we have a chance to grow and eliminate us while we are still weak."

"What?!"

Ryan’s face turned pale.

"Mortal enemies who have surpassed the Ten Realms?!"

He could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"I’m only at the First Realm! How am I supposed to contend with enemies of that caliber?!"

The difference between them was no longer something that could be described as a simple gap in cultivation.

It was an entire chasm.

He was still struggling to establish himself in the world, yet he had somehow attracted the attention of beings who stood far beyond the limits of his current understanding.

"You’re right, Master. Our strength is far too insignificant compared to theirs."

Mira’s voice carried a rare sense of helplessness.

"That is precisely why I asked you for so many Origin Stones earlier. I needed them as activation energy to unleash the Boundless Creation Furnace’s full concealment capabilities and hide our presence using Boundless Energy."

She glanced at the now-stable halo surrounding her.

"Even with the furnace’s mysterious power, concealing us from that Heavenly Eye consumed an enormous amount of energy. We only managed to escape its detection because Boundless Energy possesses extraordinary properties."

Mira paused before adding gravely, "If it had discovered us, I’m afraid we might not have survived."

Ryan’s expression stiffened.

"Does that mean it could return?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out. We don’t know whether the enemy will conduct another search or how soon that might happen."

Mira looked directly at him.

"Therefore, Master, you must always keep a substantial reserve of Origin Stones with you. At least 500,000 Low-Grade Origin Stones, if possible."

Ryan’s face immediately turned green.

Five hundred thousand!

He had just spent that amount in a single encounter, and Mira was telling him to keep another fortune ready in case it happened again.

His heart ached so badly that the corners of his mouth twitched.

He had originally thought that obtaining a massive amount of wealth and valuable treasures would give him some breathing room. Instead, he had discovered that an unknown enemy could force him to burn through his fortune simply to remain hidden.

"I understand..."

Ryan forced himself to accept the situation.

"From now on, I’ll make sure to keep enough Origin Stones on hand. But tell me something. If we encounter another crisis like this, can you draw the necessary Origin Stones directly from my spatial ring?"

He couldn’t help feeling troubled by the thought.

If every encounter required 500,000 Low-Grade Origin Stones, his current wealth wouldn’t last long.

He would have to find ways to earn Origin Stones at an astonishing rate. Otherwise, the day might come when he ran out of resources at precisely the moment he needed them most.

And if that happened, the consequences would be unimaginable.

It was like having a sharp sword suspended above his head, constantly threatening to fall and split his skull open.

"Yes, Master. You have already completed the blood recognition ritual with the Boundless Creation Furnace, so we are essentially one entity. As long as you permit it, I can draw Origin Stones directly from your spatial ring whenever necessary."

Ryan’s eyes brightened slightly.

"Good. In that case, if something similar happens again, you don’t need to waste time asking for my permission. Just take whatever you need to protect us. Our safety comes first."

"Understood, Master."

Mira nodded, but her expression remained grave.

"However, you must raise your strength as quickly as possible. You need to advance desperately, without allowing yourself to become complacent for even a moment!"

She paused before continuing.

"Otherwise, if our enemies discover us, I’m afraid we will truly be finished."

Ryan’s brows knitted together.

"What exactly can those people do? And how powerful are they, really?"

The more he learned, the heavier the pressure on his shoulders became.

He wasn’t even certain that the Heavenly Eye belonged to the most powerful enemy pursuing them. There could be numerous beings of comparable strength, or even an entire faction standing behind it.

Just thinking about that possibility made his scalp tingle.

"Their descent into this realm will be subject to numerous restrictions. Under normal circumstances, they won’t easily intervene directly."

Mira’s voice turned unusually serious.

"However, if they truly decide to act, even a single one of them could unleash a full-power palm strike capable of reducing the entire Verdant Realm to ashes!"

Ryan’s eyes widened.

"What?!"

Mira continued without softening her words.

"Mountains would collapse, rivers would dry up, and countless living beings would perish in an instant. The entire territory could be reduced to dust. To beings of that level, annihilating a nation might be no more difficult than raising a hand!"

Ryan felt as though his mind had gone blank.

"The entire Verdant Realm?!"

He could barely comprehend what she was saying.

The Verdant Realm contained dozens of cities comparable in size to Ashfall City, along with countless smaller settlements and vast stretches of inhabited territory.

Yet Mira was telling him that a single palm strike from one of those terrifying beings could destroy everything.

How was that even possible?

"That’s precisely why I’ve been warning you, Master. We are far too weak!"

Mira’s voice became increasingly urgent.

"Starting today, you must devote yourself to increasing your strength. You must continuously improve your cultivation and make the most of the Boundless Creation Furnace!"

Her expression grew even more solemn.

"Otherwise, it won’t just be our lives at stake. Your parents, your siblings, everyone in Ashfall City, and perhaps the entire Verdant Realm could be dragged into this catastrophe because of us!"

"What?!"

Ryan’s expression turned utterly grim.

His family!

The thought of his parents and siblings being caught up in a conflict involving such terrifying enemies made his blood run cold.

He had only recently begun improving his circumstances. He had acquired wealth, discovered extraordinary treasures, and gained access to the mysterious powers of the Boundless Creation Furnace.

For the first time in a long while, he had begun to see a path toward a better future.

Now, he had learned that an unimaginable threat might already be closing in on him.

And he had absolutely no means of resisting it.

"Damn it!"

Ryan clenched his fists.

"I understand! From now on, I’ll do everything in my power to increase my strength!"

His eyes hardened with determination.

"I’ll use the Boundless Creation Furnace to produce more resources, acquire better treasures, and raise my cultivation as quickly as possible. I’ll keep advancing until I possess enough strength to face these enemies!"

He took a deep breath.

"Even if I have to work myself to the bone, I’ll reach beyond the Empty Realm eventually!"

Although the goal seemed impossibly distant, Ryan had no intention of giving up.

He had no idea when those enemies would return, nor how much time he had before they discovered his whereabouts.

But one thing was certain.

He could no longer afford to waste time.

He needed strength.

He needed enough strength to protect himself.

He needed enough strength to protect his family.

And, eventually, he needed enough strength to confront whatever awaited him in the Three Thousand Worlds.

From this moment onward, increasing his cultivation was no longer merely a means of improving his status or acquiring greater wealth.

It had become a matter of survival.

With that realization weighing heavily on his mind, Ryan’s expression turned increasingly somber.

He abruptly raised his hand and hailed a passing Wind Wolf Express.

After giving the driver his destination, he climbed aboard and urged him to hurry toward his manor.

He had too much to think about, and far too much work to do.

The sooner he returned, the sooner he could begin making preparations for the terrifying future that awaited him.