Mystic Eye

Back in my small hut, I sat cross-legged on my worn straw mat, heart racing with anticipation. The village celebration for the children with "proper" martial spirits continued outside, the sounds of laughter and music filtering through my thin walls. None of that mattered now. I closed my eyes and focused inward, reaching for the strange system that had manifested during my awakening.

The notifications appeared in my mind's eye once more:

[Bronze rank achievement: Awaken Martial Spirit|| Claim: 5+ Innate Soul Power]

[Bronze rank achievement: Awaken Body Martial Spirit|| Claim: +500 years spirit ring absorption limit]

[Bronze rank achievement: Awaken Spiritual Martial Spirit|| Claim: Random Spiritual cultivation method]

[Gold rank achievement: Awaken Innate Soul power level 5|| Claim: Random Gold and above rank Soul power cultivation method]

[Diamond rank achievement: Awaken Same martial spirit as one of the main protagonist|| Claim: Complete Conscious Spirit ring Technique]

I mentally commanded, 'Claim all.'

A rush of energy surged through my body, making me gasp. It felt like liquid lightning flowing through my veins, settling into every cell before gradually calming. The notifications updated:

[Received 5+ innate soul power]

[Received +500 years spirit ring absorption]

[Received Crystal Contemplation Technique]

[Received Nine Breaths Convince qi]

[Received Complete Conscious Spirit ring Technique]

My eyes widened. This was beyond anything I could have hoped for. According to what I remembered from my friend's endless rants about Soul Land, innate soul power was typically fixed at birth—a genetic lottery that determined your potential as a Soul Master. Starting with level 10 instead of level 5 was like being born a noble instead of a commoner.

But that was just the beginning. The system continued to provide detailed information about each reward:

[Crystal Contemplation Technique (Silver)- Purifies the mind and strengthens the will, involves the most mysterious part of spiritual power in martial arts practice.]

[Nine Breaths Convince qi (Gold)- Nine breaths of convincing qi is a great magical power that refines the vitality of heaven and earth through breathing. One exhalation and one inhalation is called a breath. The supernatural power of nine breaths is to form a cycle through nine breathing rhythms, so as to breathe the vitality, capture the source, and refine soul power into the body. Even if it is walking, sitting, lying down, eating and sleeping.]

[Complete Conscious Spirit ring Technique (Diamond)- Its a technique to create conscious spirit ring by preserving the consciousness of soul beast whose spirit ring is absorbed.]

"It's a jackpot," I whispered, astonished. Each reward addressed a critical aspect of power development in this world. The Nine Breaths Convince qi technique was particularly valuable—a method to cultivate soul power at any time, under any conditions. This alone would give me an insurmountable advantage over other Soul Masters who could only cultivate during formal meditation sessions.

The Crystal Contemplation Technique seemed designed to complement my eye spirit, potentially enhancing any spiritual-based soul skills I might develop. While I didn't know how it compared to the famed Purple Demon Eye of the Tang Sect, having any specialized cultivation method was better than the generic techniques most commoners received.

As for the Conscious Spirit ring Technique—this was something utterly unique. In the original story, only Tian Meng developed the ability to preserve the consciousness of absorbed soul beasts within their spirit rings. The technique would allow me to get support of any soul beast I have absorbed. Though I imagined having soul beast consciousnesses constantly "buzzing" in my mind might become irritating over time.

The +500 years to my spirit ring absorption limit was perhaps the most immediately practical advantage. Most Soul Masters were strictly limited in what level of soul rings they could absorb based on their own cultivation level. For a first ring, the standard limit was around 400-500 years. With my bonus, I could potentially absorb a 900-1000 year soul ring right from the start!

Though I had to be careful—absorbing too powerful a ring could backfire. Higher-ranked rings consumed more soul power to activate, which could leave me vulnerable in prolonged battles. For my first ring, a yellow ring (hundred to thousand years) would be ideal, balancing power with efficiency.

But a bold idea formed in my mind. The system had specifically stated: "Greater the risk, greater the reward." What if I pushed beyond normal limits? What if I aimed for something truly extraordinary for my first ring?

Before making any decisions, I needed to understand exactly what my martial spirit could do. I moved to the small barrel of water I kept for washing and peered at my reflection in the dim light of my single candle.

My face looked the same as always—the face of a six-year-old girl with delicate features that hinted at future beauty. I concentrated, attempting to activate my martial spirit through instinct alone.

A strange warmth spread behind my eyes, and I watched in fascination as my dark irises transformed. They shifted to a vivid blue with an unmistakable red tint surrounding each pupil. The pattern was strikingly similar to the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception from an anime called Tsukihime that I had watched in my previous life.

Unlike those fictional eyes, however, my martial spirit didn't reveal death lines or nodes. Instead, I realized my vision had enhanced dramatically. I could see the individual fibers in the wooden walls of my hut, count the dust particles floating in the air, and even perceive the movement of insects outside that would normally be invisible to human eyes.

As I experimented further, I discovered I could switch between different visual modes: microscopic vision that revealed details invisible to the naked eye; telescopic vision that allowed me to see far into the distance; and an enhanced overall perception that seemed to slow down time itself—or rather, increased my processing speed to make everything else appear slower.

"Mystic Eye," I murmured, naming my martial spirit. Not the most creative name, perhaps, but one that adequately described its function. While it might not seem as immediately powerful as a beast spirit or weapon spirit, I recognized its tremendous potential. Information gathering, precision, and enhanced reaction time were invaluable advantages in combat and everyday life.

With my immediate exploration complete, I began preparing for departure. There was nothing for me in this village now. The awakening ceremony was complete, and with Li Xuyao believing I had no martial spirit, I had no reason to stay.

I packed my meager belongings: two sets of clothes, a small knife I'd bartered for, dried meat from my hunted animals, a water skin, and a few medicinal herbs I'd gathered from the forest. Most importantly, I retrieved my secret stash of gold coins.

Over the past two years, I'd accumulated 23 gold coins—a fortune for an orphan in a rural village. The amount might seem small to nobles or established Soul Masters, but for reference, it was enough for a common villager to live comfortably for 4-5 years.

How did I acquire such wealth? Through methods that would make the villagers gasp in horror if they knew. I had developed a rudimentary understanding of magnetism from my previous life and crafted simple tools that allowed me to "fish" for coins from visitors' purses without detection. The primary targets had been the Soul Masters who occasionally visited to collect subsidies for Spirit Hall. They were wealthy enough not to notice a few missing coins, and arrogant enough never to suspect a small orphan girl.

Additionally, I'd been lucky enough to find 1-2 gold coins in the forest during my daily training runs—likely dropped by travelers or bandits during skirmishes.

I spent the remainder of the night practicing the Nine Breaths Convince qi technique, following the instinctive understanding that had been downloaded into my mind. The method was elegant in its simplicity yet profound in its effects. By harmonizing my breathing in specific patterns, I could draw in the natural energy of the world and refine it into soul power.

One complete cycle—nine full breaths—left me feeling invigorated despite my lack of sleep. My soul power, which I could now sense as a warm pool of energy in my core, had visibly increased. At this rate, I would advance in cultivation speed far faster than my peers.

Before dawn broke, I penned a brief letter to Auntie Li, the only person in the village who had shown me consistent kindness:

Dear Auntie Li,

Thank you for your care these past years. Do not worry about me. I have decided to seek my fortune elsewhere, as there is little future for someone without a martial spirit in this village. Perhaps I will find work in a city where different skills are valued. I will remember your kindness always.

—Qingxue

It was deliberately vague but would hopefully prevent her from worrying too much or, worse, sending someone to search for me. I left the note pinned to my door where she would find it when she inevitably came to check on me in the morning.

With my small pack secured, I slipped out of the village while everyone was still sleeping off the previous night's celebration. The eastern sky was just beginning to lighten as I set off down the road, practicing the Nine Breaths technique with each step.

By midday, I had reached the nearest trading city—a bustling hub where merchant caravans from various regions converged before continuing on their respective routes. Here, a small orphan girl attracted little attention amid the crowds of traders, laborers, and travelers.

My first stop was a map vendor's stall in the central marketplace. The old man eyed me suspiciously as I approached.

"What does a little girl like you want with maps?" he asked, voice gruff with skepticism.

I produced four gold coins, setting them on his counter with deliberate slowness. His eyes widened, skepticism instantly replaced by greedy interest.

"I need a detailed map to Nuoding City," I said, making my voice firm despite its childish pitch.

The man's eyebrows rose. "Nuoding? That's quite a journey for someone your size. Running away from home, are we?"

I met his gaze evenly. "My business is my own. Do you have the map or not?"

He chuckled, apparently amused by my seriousness. "I like your spirit, kid." He reached beneath his counter and produced a rolled parchment. "This is the best map of the roads to Nuoding you'll find. Shows all the major towns, danger areas, and even some lesser-known paths that avoid bandit territories."

I examined the map carefully, using my Mystic Eye to verify its accuracy against other maps displayed in his stall. Satisfied, I handed over the four gold coins.

"Why Nuoding?" the vendor asked as he pocketed the money. "Not many head there without specific business."

I considered my answer carefully. Nuoding City was significant in the original Soul Land story—it was where Tang San had first enrolled in Nuoding Academy before eventually transferring to Shrek Academy. While I had no intention of following the exact path of the original protagonist, the city represented a logical starting point.

"I hear they have good academies," I replied simply.

The man laughed. "Ambitious little thing, aren't you? Well, the map will see you there safely if you're careful. Word of advice though—join a merchant caravan if you can. Roads aren't safe for lone travelers, especially little girls with coin."

I nodded my thanks for the advice, though I had no intention of following it. Traveling with others would mean questions, scrutiny, and limitations on my ability to practice cultivation techniques openly.

As I walked away, studying the map, I plotted my course. According to the parchment, Nuoding City was approximately two weeks of travel by foot. For a child, perhaps longer. But I was no ordinary child.

With my enhanced physical conditioning and the accelerated cultivation provided by Nine Breaths Convince qi, I estimated I could make the journey in ten days, perhaps less if I pushed myself. The route would take me through several small towns where I could resupply as needed.

More importantly, the journey would provide ample opportunity to continue my cultivation without prying eyes. By the time I reached Nuoding, I aimed to have advanced my soul power by at least another level, and to have gained complete mastery over my Mystic Eye.

I exited the city through its western gate, my small figure barely drawing a glance from the bored guards. The road ahead stretched toward the distant mountains—somewhere beyond them lay Nuoding City and the beginning of my true journey in this world.

As I walked, I continued the rhythmic breathing pattern of the Nine Breaths technique. With each cycle, I could feel my soul power growing stronger, my connection to my Mystic Eye deepening. The sensation was addictive—tangible progress with every breath. For the first time since my reincarnation, I felt genuine optimism.