Maria had left the garden, determined to see for herself who dared to cause trouble, since such disturbances were rare. Everyone knew the significance of the Marble family and of course their power; few would ever risk finding fault with them.
The rough‑faced man stepped forward, crossing into the manor's grounds. His eyes met Maria's, and for a fleeting moment he was struck by her beauty. It was radiant beyond many he had seen even within the sects.
How could such elegance exist in this backwater region? he thought. However, the impression vanished as he spoke, his tone though mild was edged with menace.
"You may call me whatever you wish, but be careful. Seeing you in person, you perfectly match the description of the Madam of this... compartment.
"Anyway, I came to ask for something of great importance, and if you agree, you will have no quarrel with me. But if you refuse… hehehe…" His laugh was awkward, but what followed wasn't. He released his full cultivation, and with it came a crushing wave of spiritual pressure.
The guards felt the impact instantly, some kneeling, others collapsing to the ground in agony, unable to withstand the pressure. It was extraordinary, beyond what they could bear.
Callus on the other hand broke into a sweat, his legs trembling as though bound by invisible chains. What is this power? he thought, his expression hardening. It felt as if mountains had been placed on his shoulders, such that he couldn't bear. If only the man's strange power had subdued him—how terrifying must his true strength be?
Maria, although outwardly calm, was inwardly shaken. Impossible… this kind of strength belongs only to experts, and none exist in our entire region. Nor in the nearby regions—they reside far away. How could one appear here? Maria was rather stunned.
Even so, she didn't lose her composure. She understood the implications of such an expert's arrival, but she wouldn't cower before that strength, no matter how overbearing it appeared.
Ever since she was young, Maria had fought opponents whose cultivation surpassed her own—and prevailed. Although the expert's spiritual pressure was immense, she endured it, gradually adapting to its overwhelming force.
Spiritual pressure was the manifestation of a cultivator's corporeal strength, used to suppress another's cultivation and willpower. If the pressure was too great, it could even kill. Furthermore, a cultivator that was strong enough needed no weapon, no lethal strike—only their presence. Such attacks, however, worked best against those of lower realms.
Could it be that Salza has offended someone and invoked the wrath of an expert? Maria thought as she struggled to withstand the crushing pressure.
Only few even knew of spiritual pressure, save for those who had crossed beyond the Silver Realm into the fourth realm. That was the domain of true experts.
The rough‑faced man had chosen this method, believing he could subdue them all without lifting a hand, for he had learned that the Madam was of the Silver Realm. He was far stronger than they could imagine.
However, Maria was no ordinary Silver Realm cultivator. Her will had been tempered, hardened beyond measure, and the man's spiritual pressure didn't affect her much, hence, couldn't break her.
The man was taken aback, feeling incredulous that she had resisted. Still, he knew absolute strength could trample all resistance, and compared to him, those of the Silver Realm were but mere ants.
Maria, although aware that her strength paled before his, didn't back down. Her voice was calm and resolute. "Mister, what do you want?"
The man chuckled as he went to say, "You are an incredible woman." he commended. "I've heard and confirmed the tale of your son's prowess, his readiness in battle. It would be a pity to leave such talent wasted at home, especially in the hands of cultivators as weak as his parents.
"If you allow him to come with me, I assure you that under proper guidance his gift will be honed, and one day he may return as one of the peak powers of the world. This is but a humble suggestion from an old man who has seen the grievous and atrocious nature of life. Without true strength, you and your associates will amount to little—ruling a baseless city." His words carried disdain, his eyes boring into hers.
What surprised him, however, was the density of heaven and earth energy within the Marbles property, which was even greater than its surroundings. Still, he wasn't so impressed. Compared to his place, this was insignificant.
Maria narrowed her eyes slightly. Though much of what he said was true, his approach was suspicious. She wasn't even angry when he called her weak. Moreover, he could have spoken clearly instead of appearing so overbearing and unreasonable. She masked her annoyance with an amiable smile, concealing her intent. She had already devised a plan.
"This is indeed a good opinion." she replied smoothly. "Mister should have gone straight to the point instead of taking such stressful turns. There is nothing wrong with what you propose—if only we know what region you hail from and what group my son would be joining."
Her words were deliberate, carefully chosen to avoid heightening the tension. Instead, she sought to draw out subtle clues about the man's background and intentions. Any parent, after all, would demand to know where their child would belong if entrusted to another's care.
The man's lips curled, as he replied dismissively, "Revealing some information about myself won't be a problem. But first, I want to know if you agree with my perfect plan for your son's success."
Maria's smile didn't weaken. "What's there to debate? He is already in your care as soon as they return. The war with Bland Town has just ended, and it will take some time before they arrive in the city."
The man narrowed his eyes in surprise. He knew of the war that had only ended days before. It seems her intent is genuine… she isn't playing any tricks. It's done then. he thought, an evil smirk flickering across his lips.
"Very well. As I've said, you may call me whatever you wish. I come from the Harts region, far from here. My role is that of a wanderer, seeking talents and treasures for the palace. I have helped many regions this way. As for my group—it's the Poison Flame Palace, overlord of the Harts region." he said, looking into her eyes.
Maria did recognize the names. The Harts region was a distant place, and the Poison Flame Palace was infamous for its mastery of poison. Also, the path to that place was filled with hurdles, and death only awaited those who ventured without a high cultivation base. She knew reaching that place with their meager strength was impossible.
Moreover, the palace's reputation didn't align with this man's methods. The Poison Flame Palace would never stoop so low as to recruit through intimidation. His approach revealed exactly what she had suspected from the start, this was but a man with hidden motives.
"Now that we are clear with one another, I advise you get him prepared. I will come for him very soon." the man said.
"Perfect. They should arrive four days from now. It will be done." Maria responded with same smile.
The rough‑faced man cast his gaze over the guards, and his heart softened for a fleeting moment. Many were lying on the ground, some unconscious, others groaning in pain. He had already withdrawn his spiritual pressure once the conversation began to flow smoothly, hoping to ease the lady's mind.
Though he had the urge to punish them further, he restrained himself, remembering that his deal had gone well. With a disdainful snort, he turned and left, unimpeded.
The instant he departed, Maria's eyes became frosty, a surge of frustration welling within her. If only I still had the strength… this man wouldn't have dared to breathe while passing through my manor.
The audacity of his challenge within her own home unsettled her deeply, stirring memories long forgotten. She hadn't felt this helpless in years. Perhaps she had truly forgotten the ruthless way of the world all these whiles.
Even so, despite the humiliation, everything had unfolded according to her plan. She had secured what she needed, though strength was still required to enforce it. Salza's presence was of essence, and once he returned, all would return to normal.
Maria gave a few instructions to the guards before turning toward the sickroom with deliberate steps, her mind already weaving the next move.