Martial Universe: The Eyes That Determine the Fate

Chapter 30 Girl in Purple Dress

The mountains and fields were desolate, with only the sound of the wind whistling through the forest. Wild grass covered the path, and rocks were scattered everywhere.

He followed the directions given by the two men, walking steadily over mountain ridges and through dense forests, a journey that took him more than two days.

I thought that if I followed the main road straight, I would be able to reach Yan City safely. However, this place is surrounded by mountains, and the mountain ranges are almost identical. The peaks are stacked one after another, and the forests are lush. Looking around, there are only similar hills and ravines, and it is impossible to distinguish east from west or north from south.

On the afternoon of the third day, the sun was high in the sky and the afterglow was fading. Li Yi stood on a high slope, looked around, and a trace of helplessness crossed his brow.

Surrounded by mountains and ancient trees, the area is crisscrossed by numerous side paths that meander into the depths of the forest, making it impossible to distinguish which path leads to Yan City.

Lost again.

He stood there, looking down at the rolling mountains and forests below. The road ahead was full of forks, all deserted paths, without any smoke from cooking fires or human traces.

Scarface had only given a rough direction, saying to cross the mountain ridge and follow the main road, but he hadn't expected that the terrain of this desolate mountain was so complicated and full of forks in the road. Once they got deep into the mountains, they had completely lost their way.

"If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have acted so hastily and killed that fat man—"

Li Yi sighed softly, but there was no regret in his tone, only a sense of resignation.

If that fat man had been spared, he could at least have guided us, instead of being trapped in this mountainous area with no way forward or backward.

He stood with his hands behind his back in the mountain wind, his black hair fluttering slightly in the forest breeze, his clothes billowing lightly. Ziran's figure stood out against the vast mountains, making him appear even more lonely and aloof.

The wind rustled through the leaves, carrying the cool scent of the mountains and fields.

He stopped wandering aimlessly, slowly walked down the slope, and found a clean blue stone to sit on. The Supreme Bone in his chest remained warm and gentle, slowly nourishing his body without any restlessness or change.

Li Yi closed his eyes slightly, calmed his mind, and silently recalled the scarred man's previous words, trying to piece together the accurate route from the fragmented words.

But now, being deep in the mountains, there is no reference point at all.

After a while, he slowly opened his eyes, a calm expression flashing across them.

He looked up at the sky, but the blazing sun remained hidden behind the clouds, its true form concealed. The light was dim, making it impossible to discern the sundial's position. On the ground, the trees cast dappled shadows, their branches crisscrossing, the light and shadow intertwining in a chaotic and disorderly fashion.

Li Yi stared intently at the tree shadows, carefully discerning the shift in sunlight and the orientation of the branches, trying to once again use the method of observing celestial phenomena and identifying tree shadows to determine direction and clarify the north-south direction.

Unfortunately, the clouds were too thick, the sunlight was uniform and even, and the shadows of the trees were intertwined and chaotic. After looking for a long time, I still couldn't see any clues and couldn't discern the way ahead.

Instead of sitting here wasting your energy, you might as well choose any path and move forward.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the winding paths below the slope, each one disappearing into the dense forest, overgrown with weeds, their depths indistinguishable. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to stop worrying and strode towards the middle fork in the path. Since there was no way to tell which was right or wrong, he would simply choose the path that led him wherever he pleased.

As you embark on this central path and venture deeper into the area, the surroundings become increasingly desolate.

Originally, traces of the ancient road could still be vaguely seen, but the further you went, the narrower and more rugged the mountain path became, constantly being invaded by wild grass and vines. The path was gradually half-hidden by weeds and was almost completely submerged among the vegetation.

The surrounding woods grew increasingly secluded, with ancient trees reaching for the sky and their shade blocking out the sun. The dampness in the forest intensified, creating a sense of profound, tranquil desolation.

They walked silently for half an hour, the surrounding area deserted, even the cries of birds and beasts became increasingly rare, the entire mountain road was desolate and bleak, as if it had long been forgotten by the world.

Li Yi paused, stopped, and looked around at the surrounding mountains and forests.

Ancient trees stand tall, their branches intertwined, still completely obscuring the sky. The surroundings are eerily quiet, with only the soft rustling of the wind through the leaves.

He was about to take another step forward, letting his steps follow his heart, without being bound by any particular direction.

Just then, a clear, cold female voice came from behind, its tone indifferent, as chilling as a thousand-year-old mountain glacier.

You've gone to the wrong place.

The sound rang out abruptly, breaking the deathly silence of the mountains and forests, without warning or ripples.

Li Yi froze and slowly turned around.

Beside the bluestone by the roadside, a girl in a purple dress stood quietly.

The girl was tall and slender, her purple dress fluttering slightly in the wind. The fabric was luxurious yet understated, making her figure appear even more graceful and charming.

Her face was exquisitely beautiful, with picturesque eyebrows and eyes, and a contour that seemed to have been sculpted by nature. Yet, her entire pretty face was devoid of any superfluous expression, exuding a cold and aloof demeanor that kept people at a distance.

She stood quietly among the grass and trees, the sunlight falling on Li Yi. Her eyes were indifferent and cold, devoid of curiosity, kindness, or any interest in exploring. There was only a condescending and emotionless indifference in her gaze, as if she were examining an ordinary rock or a common plant in the mountains.

The wind in the mountains and forests ceased, the branches and leaves stood still, and the surrounding atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

Li Yi looked at her silently, without saying a word. He stood calmly, waiting for her to continue, neither flustered nor impatient.

The girl in the purple dress was indeed carefully examining the black-haired boy in front of her.

She has been away from Yan City for several days.

Leaving the territory of Yan City, they traveled along the direction of Qingyang Town, searching for one person—the legendary person with double pupils, the mysterious youth who forcefully destroyed the Black Dragon Village and rose to fame among his peers.

In the Yan City region, she possessed extraordinary talent from a young age, never suffering a defeat among her peers. She was proud and aloof, with extremely high standards.

Suddenly hearing that a young man had appeared out of nowhere, possessing double pupils, heaven-defying combat power, and acting mysteriously, and being described as a god by others, a sense of resentment arose in his heart.

It wasn't jealousy of the other person's talent and opportunities, but rather her inherent pride that fueled her obsession to see for herself what this person with double pupils, so highly praised by the world, actually looked like, and whether he was truly as astonishing as the rumors suggested.

Over the past few days, she has traveled through mountains and ancient roads, subtly inquiring of everyone she met along the way, asking if they had seen a young man with double pupils and an extraordinary temperament.

Travelers and hunters all shook their heads, saying they had never seen such a strange person before. They searched for days but found no trace of him.

After several fruitless trips and fruitless searches, she had grown weary and decided to return to Yan City, no longer wasting time on aimless searches.

On the way back, they happened to pass through this mountain forest fork in the road and saw the black-haired boy standing in front of the slope, looking blankly at the forks in the road. Then he randomly chose the middle one, the most remote and wrong path, and walked on with an air of self-righteousness and determination.

With a sweep of her spiritual power, she easily discerned the other party's cultivation level.

He was in the late stage of the Earthly Realm, and looked to be about ten years old. His black hair was casually draped over his shoulders, and he was dressed simply. He had an ordinary figure and looked unremarkable. He had no extraordinary temperament and blended into the mountains and fields like an ordinary boy, inconspicuous at all.