It took several weeks before Ryu even got up again, his mind feeling refreshed but his stomach growling like a wild beast. He realized that he had definitely neglected his nutrition. He was too used to going without food for long periods of time, but the pressure the True Martial World put on him and his body made it so that it was more necessary for him to eat more often, or else the strength of his body would regress.
Ryu rose, realizing that he didn't have any clothes. Or, rather, what was left was quite beaten and ragged. This had happened while he completed his cultivation, after all, he needed to coat himself in fire to hide the effects of his Ice Crystal Jade Body.
Little Silks fabrics held up quite well originally, but as more of his strength returned to him, it became more and more difficult.
Ryu tore away what remained with a hand, went to take a bath in the included hot spring, then had Little Silk make a new pair for him.
Ryu stood before a mirror, staring at himself deeply. This wasn't for his vanity, but rather because he felt a subtle change. In fact, he had felt it yesterday, but it hadn't quite clicked when his mind was so focused.
A hint of light. That was what it was. Ever since he completed his Rites, his eyes seemed to have taken a step forward. In fact, he took another step forward with every breakthrough.
He could only faintly tell when a room was bright and when it was dark now, and he couldn't even make out individual shadows of people and objects, but this change was enormous. It meant that Ryu really did have a path of unblinding himself.
In truth, Ryu had been very worried about this. If even the Rebirth of the Phoenix couldn't breathe life into his eyes, finding a treasure or trigger that could might be even more difficult than ascending to the Peak he sought after.
But he knew he had to. His wives were in there, his companions were in there, he couldn't allow them to remain stuck in a cage for all of eternity. Just the fact they had already been in there for over a thousand years made his heart ache.
He had originally placed them inside for their protection, now he almost regretted doing so.
Luckily, there was a light now. It was a faint light, but it was there.
In all likelihood, his Rebirth had already done most of the work in resurrecting his eyes. Now, he just needed a last and final push to finally reawaken them. Once that happened, Ryu Tatsuya would truly be back.
Still, now that the worries were gone and there was a path ahead, Ryu saw this as an opportunity rather than a curse. He had been trying to break away from his eyes for a long while now and there was no better chance than this.
Heavenly Pupils definitely had a glass ceiling.
Interesting enough, there was no talk of Heavenly Pupils in the library of the Sect. It was either because Heavenly Pupils weren't worth much in this place at all, or it was because it was well above the paygrade of the First Heaven to have information about.
Whether it was the first or second, only time would tell.
However, regardless of what it was, because Ryu had consumed so many Black Veined Spirit Seeking Lilies, and because his Heavenly Pupils were now completing the final step of their evolution in the True Martial World itself, when they did finally awaken, the strength they would hold would be like night and day between their past selves.
Ryu nodded to himself and turned to head to the door. With his alchemy skill, he should be able to trade a large amount of high level Earth Grade pills for true Earth Grade meat, rather than that fake Common Grade garbage the Twin Phase Merchant Group had tried to pass off as Heaven Grade meat.
Earth Grade meat was likely very rare in the First Heaven and there might not even be a lot available. And, whatever was, was likely sourced from the Second Heaven by those with connections. But there should be a path available so long as he was willing to pay.
Now that Ryu's Bloodlines had returned to the Earth Grade, Common Grade meat wouldn't even be able to fill his stomach, he needed something more substantial.
If all else failed, he would go and hunt high level Black Grade beasts himself. His strength had taken a massive leap forward and after completing the Spiritual Severing Realm once again, he felt that he could battle even Dao Pedestal Realm Black Grade talent. He could once again just an entire cultivation Realm and a stage to battle and this was just the beginning.
When Ryu opened his abode's door, though, what he found froze his steps.
Selheira stood outside waiting patiently, a white gown gracing her curves as the wind blew by. She must have been waiting for a while, but she still had that same unhurried and graceful smile on her face.
When she heard Ryu come out, she turned back with a smile.
She was about to open her mouth to speak before she suddenly paused.
"Are you hungry?"
Her analysis was spot on and she seemed to have the hawk-eye of a mother. Nothing escaped her senses and she pinpointed Ryu's greatest trouble with ease. Everything else didn't seem to matter anymore after she realized this.
Though Ryu was a bit surprised, he still nodded.
"I was planning to go and trade some of my pills for any Earth Grade meat I could find."
Selheira blinked before a sense of understanding overcame her. She felt that Ryu was very special, or else Old Wan wouldn't care about him. While others didn't know who he was, Selheira was well aware that he wouldn't take interest in anyone of the First Heaven without good reason.
"Okay, then I'll take you to someplace. Come along."
A familiar snow owl descended from the skies. It gave Selheira an affectionate nuzzle and even moved to Ryu to repeat the same action.
Ryu didn't reject, smiling lightly and stroking the owl's head as Selheira watched on in surprise.
Ryu was quite fond of beasts. Their motives were straightforward and their thoughts weren't overly complex. It was nice to enjoy their presence.
Soon, the duo shot off, Selheira seemingly having forgotten all about her important task.
Even though she had "forgotten", the commotion at the Sect gates most definitely hadn't.
A Sect experiencing four consecutive tribulations, not to mention a fifth from several months earlier, was bound to raise several eyebrows. Soon, news of Ryu's four Runed Pills spread like wildfire and it brought countless figureheads from all over. It was even said that an expert that had been visiting from the Second Heaven had come as well after learning that Ryu had used a twin refinement technique.
All of them only had one purpose: to see Ryu.
Though, exactly what "seeing" Ryu meant could entail a whole hose of things.
Despite this, Selheira disregarded it all because Ryu was hungry.