Martial Universe: The Eyes That Determine the Fate

Chapter 15 East, the direction the sun rises

"Nobody knows his name, where he came from, or where he was going. All they know is that he headed east."

"East...what's that over there?"

"Who knows? But I'll give you a piece of advice: when you're out and about, if you see a young person who looks different from others, just walk around them."

"...I've got it."

……

This kind of cross-level combat power is beyond the description of a genius; it's simply an unparalleled prodigy.

What truly shook everyone to their core were the eerie, terrifying eyes that the henchmen repeatedly mentioned: double pupils.

No one knew the boy's background, his school, his hometown, or even his name.

From then on, everyone in Qingyang Town privately referred to him as the Double Pupil.

All the major families and martial arts clubs in the town secretly gathered together to discuss matters, their faces extremely solemn.

"A mid-stage Earth Origin cultivator defeating a mid-stage Heaven Origin cultivator—such talent is one in a thousand years!"

"And what about double pupils? Have you all heard of them? I've never heard of them before!"

"Black Dragon Stronghold has been entrenched for many years and has a strong foundation, yet it was flattened by a young man alone. It is truly unbelievable."

Many factions immediately issued orders that their disciples must be more discreet in their actions and never provoke young people of unknown origin, especially those who are young in appearance and have heterochromia.

Some people are curious and speculate that this person with double pupils suddenly appeared here and headed east. Was he passing by to gain experience, or was he heading for some opportunity east of Qingyang Town?

In an instant, undercurrents surged throughout Qingyang Town. Various forces secretly sent people along the way to investigate, trying to find out the whereabouts of the person with double pupils, and to find out his origins, cultivation level, and purpose of this trip.

Lin.

In the courtyard, Lin Dong was sitting cross-legged on a large rock, his hands forming a mudra.

This is neither the Tongbei Fist passed down by the Lin family nor the Eight Desolations Palm, but rather the incomplete manual he brought out from the martial arts school, the Qimen Seal.

This is a third-grade martial art, one of the highest-grade manuals in the Lin family's martial arts academy. It's extremely difficult to master; only Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao from the Lin family have ever successfully completed it. Lin Xia had warned him when he chose this manual, saying that it was too difficult to learn and no one in the younger generation of the Lin family had ever succeeded. Lin Dong didn't listen, not because he was arrogant, but because he possessed the stone talisman.

He closed his eyes, his hands moving rapidly, his ten fingers weaving intricate hand seals like butterflies flitting among flowers. His internal energy flowed with the seals, and a faint glow seeped from his palms.

"The Qimen Seal, First Level"

He muttered to himself, then suddenly clasped his hands together.

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the energy in his palm exploded, making his arms go numb. He released his grip, flexed his fingers, and a slight smile curved his lips.

Although it's not complete yet, the stone talisman has already begun to help him fill in the gaps. Before long, he will be able to create a complete seal.

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Lin Changqiang's round body squeezed in, panting heavily.

"Lin Dong! Lin Dong! Guess what I just heard outside?"

Lin Dong withdrew his hand seals without even raising his head: "A person with double pupils."

Lin Changqiang was stunned: "How did you know?"

"Everyone's talking about it." Lin Dong dusted himself off and stood up. "I'm not deaf."

Lin Changqiang leaned closer, lowering his voice, his face trembling: "They said that person was fifteen or sixteen years old, at the mid-Earth Origin Realm, and killed two Heaven Origin Realm cultivators! They also said his eyes were terrifying, capable of shooting out..."

"I understand," Lin Dong interrupted him.

"Don't you find it strange? I've never heard of such an amazing person before..."

"Not surprising." Lin Dong walked to the center of the courtyard, assumed the stance of Tongbei Fist, and unleashed a powerful punch with a resounding gust of wind.

Lin Changqiang stared at Lin Dong, his eyes lighting up, and asked, "You know him?"

"You actually know this person too."

"I...I know him too?" Lin Changqiang pointed to his own nose. "How come I don't know him?"

"He was there too, at the foot of the mountain that day." Lin Dong put down his fist and looked into the distance. "He was right there when I was fighting Lin Hong."

Lin Changqiang paused for a moment, recalling that day at the foot of the mountain when Lin Hong led his men to ambush Qingtan...

He suddenly remembered.

"It's...it's him?" Lin Changqiang's mouth gaped open. "Brother Yi?!"

"Um."

"He's the one with double pupils?!"

"Um."

Lin Changqiang stood frozen in place, swallowing hard after a long while, his face filled with disbelief and shock.

"My God... Yi-ge is usually so quiet and doesn't talk much. He's also very easygoing. Who would have thought he'd be this strong?" He slapped his thigh, his voice full of amazement. "He single-handedly flattened Black Dragon Stronghold, defeated a Heavenly Origin cultivator at the mid-Earth Origin stage, and there's that legendary double pupil... This is just too outrageous!"

Lin Dong slowly stretched his limbs, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes, and said, "He was originally extraordinary, but he deliberately concealed his aura on weekdays. As for the matter of double pupils, only I know about it. Others naturally cannot see it."

Looking back, Li Yi had been living in the Lin family's house for many years. He was low-key and never ostentatious. He would either meditate and regulate his breathing or stay alone in the courtyard every day. He was neither competitive nor arrogant. No one could have imagined that this seemingly ordinary young man was actually a person with double pupils who could make all the major families in Qingyang Town wary.

"No wonder Brother Yi ignored Lin Hong's attempts to cause trouble before; he simply didn't care," Lin Changqiang suddenly realized, then curiously leaned forward, "So tell me, what is he going to do heading east? Could it be some incredible opportunity?"

Lin Dong looked up at the eastern horizon, where clouds and mist obscured the view; that was the direction from which the sun rose.

"I don't know," he said calmly. "Given his strength and temperament, he would never wander aimlessly. Heading east must mean he has his own plans."

All the major powers sent people along the way to investigate and find out Li Yi's origins and purpose, but in Lin Dong's view, those people were wasting their time. With Li Yi's abilities, ordinary spies couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes, let alone spy on his movements.

"Now all the families and martial arts clubs in town have strictly forbidden their disciples from provoking strange heterochromatic-eyed youths, for fear of running into Brother Yi's gun." Lin Changqiang clicked his tongue in amazement. "Who would have thought that our Lin family actually lived with such a peerless genius for several months? No one would believe it if you told them."

Lin Dong didn't reply. He sat back down cross-legged on the large rock, his gaze fixed on his palm.

With the stone talisman by his side, his cultivation was already progressing by leaps and bounds. Now, having witnessed Li Yi's overwhelming strength across realms, his fighting spirit was ignited even stronger. As fellow youths, what others could do, Lin Dong could do as well.

The fragments of the Qimen Seal were gradually perfected under the nurturing of the stone talisman, and the vital energy within his body became increasingly refined. He took a deep breath, formed hand seals once more, and intricate finger techniques flowed forth, causing the energy around his body to surge slowly.

"By the way, Lin Dong," Lin Changqiang suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice, "many aristocratic families are secretly speculating that double pupils are an ancient rare gift. People with such eyes are born with unparalleled potential and might even be inheritors of ancient traditions. Do you think Brother Yi might really be the successor of one of those reclusive great masters?"