Chapter 8: Celestial Eye

"Tian Dao, I'm shaking in my legs—help me up," Jing Ruli whispered, her voice trembling as she clung to the edge of the Central Arena, eyes wide with terror fixed on the colossal creature lounging in the center of the arena. Its yawning maw revealed rows of jagged teeth, and even from this distance, the sheer size of it made her knees buckle.

Seeing her obvious fear before the battle even began, Tian Dao rolled his eyes and snapped, "You’re such a coward. It’s not a real beast—it won’t kill you."

"Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that," Yun Meng’s voice came from behind them, smooth and teasing. She leaned in close to Tian Dao’s ear, her red lips brushing his cheek. "Little Tian Dao… today’s evaluation is different from before."

"If you’re still treating this like a game, you might just walk away unscathed. But Kalolin and Ruli? They won’t be so lucky."

"After all, the Doctor himself told me—those bigwigs out there are counting on you. He made it very clear: my Earth Dragon Lizard mustn’t hold back."

"Need I remind you how that old man’s personality is? No need. You know it as well as I do—stubborn as a toilet stone, hard and stinking. Once he sets his mind on something, nothing sways him."

"But, Yun… I don’t know what you’ve fed that Earth Dragon Lizard, but I do remember that ordinary ones have yellow-gray stone scales along their dorsal fins."

"Look at it now—those metallic gleams on its back? I can see them from over a hundred meters away."

"This isn’t just an ordinary Earth Dragon Lizard… I think it’s almost breaking through!"

"Who knows?" Yun Meng shrugged, feigning innocence. "Maybe it’s just a lucky mutation."

Tian Dao’s jaw clenched so hard he could’ve cracked a rock. You trained this beast, and now you’re telling me you don’t know what’s going on? Are you trying to fool a child?

Jing Ruli, hearing Tian Dao’s words, finally noticed the anomaly too. The realization sent a fresh wave of panic through her. The urge to flee surged—stronger than ever.

"T-Tian Dao! I suddenly remembered—I’ve got something important to do! I’m leaving!"

Too late.

Tian Dao had already anticipated her escape. With lightning speed, he grabbed her collar and hauled her up like a ragdoll.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Jing Ruli clutched her Treasured Pillow tightly, hands clasped in a desperate plea. "Please, Tian Dao… let me just get off this stage!"

Tian Dao shot her a flat, unimpressed glance. "Dream on. You’re here now—get in."

"No—no, please!!!"

Her scream echoed as Tian Dao tossed her onto the arena floor.

Thud.

Jing Ruli collapsed instantly, curling into a ball, her body trembling—plainly, utterly terrified.

In stark contrast, the calm, collected Kalolin walked onto the stage with steady, deliberate steps.

She knew they had no chance of winning.

But as Tian Dao had said—this wasn’t about victory.

It was about shocking the old fools watching from the stands.

And if that was the goal… their odds were surprisingly high.

Yun Meng, watching from the sidelines, smiled. "Everyone ready?"

Tian Dao nodded, one hand still gripping the trembling Jing Ruli’s shoulder as she tried to shake her head in protest.

Yun Meng ignored the pleading eyes. Cold and decisive, she declared, "Alright. Final Evaluation—begin!"

The moment her words faded, the Earth Dragon Lizard’s lazy gaze snapped into fury. It rose to its full, mountainous height, jaws stretching wide, and unleashed a roar so deep and thunderous it sent shockwaves rippling across the arena.

ROOOOAAARRR!

The sound hit like a hurricane, knocking the breath from Tian Dao’s lungs and forcing the others to brace against the force. The sheer pressure of the beast’s presence was overwhelming—just the opening act.

Then came the real assault.

With a single, earth-shattering step, the Dragon Lizard charged—its massive paw striking the arena floor like a falling asteroid. The impact sent tremors through the entire Central Arena, the ground itself buckling under the weight.

"Split up!" Kalolin shouted from the back, her voice sharp and clear.

But Tian Dao had already moved—dashing to the left front. Even Jing Ruli, despite her earlier panic, reacted with surprising speed. Her Treasured Pillow, the massive, plush cushion she clung to, suddenly flared with energy.

Like a magic carpet, it lifted her off the ground, carrying her in a swift, low glide toward the right edge of the stage.

The spectators in the VIP boxes gasped.

"Interesting," Lady Gold Finch mused, her eyes alight with sudden interest. "I was wondering—how did this girl, with such obvious flaws in temperament, manage to rank third in the Stellar Prodigy competition among these monster-infested ruins?"

"Now I see. Her Stellar Energy Control… it must be top-tier S-class."

She watched, impressed, as Jing Ruli rode the pillow through the air—smooth, precise, effortlessly maneuvering.

Yes, the artifact was clearly powerful. But Lady Gold Finch knew the truth: even the most exquisite Stellar Artifact is useless in the hands of someone who can’t wield it.

And yet, here was Jing Ruli—driving a high-tier artifact with a star energy level barely above beginner. Not only was she managing it, she was commanding it like a natural extension of herself.

That could only mean one thing: exceptional, unnatural control over Stellar Energy—using minimal power to achieve maximum effect.

"Jing Ruli is impressive," Lady Gold Finch admitted. "But the one behind her—that cat—she’s no less extraordinary."

"Oh? Is she?" Lady Gold Finch turned sharply toward the Gryphon Man, intrigued.

He had been watching Kalolin from the start—not out of curiosity, but recognition. Like her, he was an Intelligent Mechanism Class. And more than that, he saw something rare in her: potential.

Kalolin’s ears stood tall, her hair—once deep emerald—now shimmered silver, matching Tian Dao’s. Her entire presence was cold, mechanical, like a high-frequency signal router.

"Stellar Energy Data Chain," Lady Gold Finch murmured, realization dawning. "She’s already achieved this at such a young age? Another prodigy… a true anomaly."

Stellar Energy Data Chain—only a select few of the most gifted Intelligent Mechanism Class could master it. It allowed them to act as living signal hubs, linking teammates through shared star energy, instantly relaying battlefield data in real time.

But it came at a cost. The sheer volume of information flooding the mind could easily overwhelm even the strongest. Without the right mental processing power, the brain would overload—a fate known as Brain Overload.

Kalolin and Jing Ruli were undeniably talented.

But compared to the figure standing at the center of the arena—Tian Dao—there was a stark difference.

For now, Tian Dao had stopped.

He stood frozen, facing the charging Earth Dragon Lizard.

Slowly, he removed the sunglasses from his nose.

His eyes—those piercing, celestial blue orbs—were revealed.

And then, on the whites of his eyes, fine, intricate star patterns began to glow, weaving across the surface like constellations in motion.

The entire cosmos seemed to swirl within his gaze.

Celestial Eye — Future Sight!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end