They entered a small noodle shop.

These noodles really are amazing… Ray thought as he devoured his tenth bowl.

The noodles were cooked perfectly, the soup rich and flavorful. On the surface, the dish was simple—just noodles, meatballs, and vegetables—but the taste was extraordinary.

Alfred ate only one bowl, savoring it slowly, methodically.

That gentle warmth from earlier flickered again in his eyes. Though he didn't smile, the calm in his gaze, combined with his handsome features, had an inexplicable effect.

Women entering the shop couldn't help but glance his way.

Some were even bold enough to strike up conversations.

Each time, Alfred would glance calmly at Ray and respond flatly, "This is my son."

S-son?!

They looked nothing alike. Ray's large, bright eyes contrasted sharply with Alfred's sharp, icy features.

And yet… no one doubted it.

Ray didn't deny it either. He simply watched Alfred closely, sensing that today's version of his teacher was subtly different.

After half a year together, Ray finally understood.

Alfred wasn't cold.

He was just someone who loved deeply—and had lost deeply.

Soon, the shop drew even more attention.

A mountain of empty bowls sat before a child, while the strikingly handsome man across from him ate with elegant restraint. It was impossible not to stare.

After paying, Alfred stood. "Let's go."

Back at the inn, he said simply, "Meditate. We're leaving early tomorrow."

After washing up, Alfred sat cross-legged on his bed and entered meditation.

Ray carefully avoided disturbing him and moved to the window instead. Outside, Arcana City remained alive with warm lights and laughter.

He liked this city.

Unlike West Ocean City's towering structures, this place felt… human.

History, culture, warmth—it all lingered in the air.

He didn't yet understand why that mattered. He only knew how it made him feel.

At dawn, Alfred woke him.

Ray immediately noticed the difference. The Mysterious Heaven Method was far superior to the academy's techniques. His first cultivation session had refined his body, and this second one had noticeably increased his soul power.

More importantly, the unease from his bloodline was gone.

His soul power and body now flowed in perfect harmony.

"Let's go," Alfred said.

As soon as Ray reached him, Alfred grabbed his arm.

A sudden gust of wind struck—and in the next instant, they stood atop the inn's rooftop.

Alfred reached around him, fingers pressing into acupuncture points along Ray's face.

"Feel how my soul power moves," he said quietly. "We'll begin cultivating Purple Demon Eyes now."

"Face east. At dawn, white mana rises first. Then comes a trace of purple energy. Purple Demon Eyes absorbs that purple mana to strengthen the eyes and spiritual power. Understand?"

"I understand," Ray replied earnestly.

Alfred's soul power flowed into Ray's facial meridians. His face felt refreshed, as though washed by clear spring water. His vision sharpened instantly.

"Follow my guidance," Alfred instructed.

Ray obeyed.

As the horizon brightened, a thin line of white appeared—followed by a faint purple glow.

For the first time, Ray saw it.

The purple light flooded his eyes, bringing warmth and comfort. Tears welled up—not from pain, but from an indescribable sense of peace.

The purple mana merged into his eyes, seeping into the tiniest acupuncture points.

How mystical!

Although Ray couldn't clearly sense an increase in his spiritual power, the change in his eyesight was undeniable. The world before him had grown sharper, brighter, and astonishingly clear.

This really is extraordinary, he thought. No wonder the Purple Demon Eyes is one of the Immortal Guild's secret techniques.

The purple mana vanished almost as soon as it appeared, fleeting like morning dew beneath the rising sun.

Throughout the entire process, Alfred stood behind Ray, calmly guiding the circulation of his soul power according to the Purple Demon Eyes method, not allowing the slightest deviation.

As the sun climbed higher, light flooded the horizon and chased away the last remnants of dawn. With the moment of twilight gone, Alfred withdrew his hands.

"That's enough," he said. "From now on, draw the purple mana into your eyes every morning and cultivate immediately afterward for half an hour. Purple Demon Eyes requires patience and consistency. Progress will be rapid at the start, but later it will become increasingly difficult, and eventually you will stagnate. How do you feel?"

Ray nodded eagerly. "Warm. Very comfortable. My vision is much clearer now. Colors look brighter, and I can see details I couldn't before."

Alfred paused. His gaze sharpened. "You really feel that way? You're not exaggerating?"

Ray shook his head firmly. "Not at all! Thank you, Teacher."

Alfred fell silent.

When he himself had first cultivated Purple Demon Eyes, it had taken him half a month just to reach this level. Yet Ray had done so on his very first attempt.

Is this child unusually compatible with Purple Demon Eyes?

He looked into Ray's clear, luminous eyes and slowly nodded. "Continue cultivating diligently. Ask me if you encounter any problems. Let's go down."

They washed up and went downstairs for breakfast.

Fortunately for Ray, the inn served a buffet-style breakfast.

Unfortunately for the inn, they quickly realized what kind of appetite Ray possessed.

Even someone as adorable as him became a source of silent terror once plate after plate vanished into his stomach. This was already a familiar scene.

"Teacher, what are we doing today?" Ray asked, eyes bright with curiosity.

"You'll stay in the room and cultivate Purple Demon Eyes," Alfred replied calmly. "Even without purple mana, it will still strengthen your spiritual power."

"Oh…" Ray's shoulders drooped.

He had hoped to explore the city, but instead he was confined indoors.

What he didn't expect was that this routine lasted half a month.

Every morning, Alfred watched him cultivate Purple Demon Eyes, corrected any mistakes, then left alone to attend to unknown matters. Ray remained behind, day after day.

So much for relaxing, Ray thought gloomily.

Though he was patient by nature, he was still a child. Being trapped indoors while staying in such a magnificent city inevitably dampened his spirits.

To make matters worse, Alfred forbade him from meditating altogether. His sole focus was Purple Demon Eyes.

The days were monotonous.

Fortunately, the results were more than enough to keep him going.

Ray quickly realized that his compatibility with the Immortal Guild's techniques was extraordinary. Both Purple Demon Eyes and the Mysterious Heaven Method progressed smoothly.

Although his cultivation speed with the Mysterious Heaven Method wasn't explosive, it was far more stable and efficient than before. More importantly, he discovered he could condense his soul power.

After Alfred explained that purer, denser soul power determined how far one could go in the future, Ray devoted himself wholeheartedly to this refinement.

Half a month later, he reached the first realm of Purple Demon Eyes.

When circulating soul power through his eyes, the world seemed to slow down. Every movement, every minute detail became crystal clear.

Dust motes drifted visibly through sunbeams. Distant leaves revealed delicate veins he'd never noticed before.

Without such remarkable progress, he might not have endured the boredom.

This was their fifteenth day in Arcana City. Aside from the first day, Ray hadn't stepped outside at all.

After finishing his morning cultivation and breakfast, Alfred finally said the words Ray had been longing to hear.

"Let's go. You're coming with me today."

"Really?" Ray nearly jumped. "Teacher, where are we going?"

Alfred turned to him. "Did cultivation feel dull these past fourteen days?"

Ray hesitated, then answered honestly. "At first, yes. But later it became better. I like being able to see things I couldn't before."

Alfred nodded. "Remember this. Cultivation isn't for harming others. It exists so you can protect those you care about. Strength is the foundation of everything. The effort you put in now is to prevent future tragedies."

Ray didn't fully understand, but he recognized the same emotions in Alfred's eyes as he'd seen in the cemetery.

He etched those words deep into his heart.

"Let's go."

They walked on foot once again, but this time toward the city's core.

Ray didn't mind at all. He loved walking, especially when it allowed him to take in Arcana City's charm.

This city was beautiful in a way West Ocean City wasn't.

History, scenery, culture—it possessed everything. The lack of towering skyscrapers and fewer soul cars lent it a gentler, more human atmosphere.

Two hours later, they arrived at an ancient garden.

Tall, mottled walls surrounded it, with a vermillion gate standing quietly at the entrance. There was no plaque, no sign, nothing to identify it.

Alfred walked up without hesitation and placed his hand against the door.

A familiar motion.

Isn't this exactly what Teacher did at the Dazzling Era Immortal Guild?

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