As Max departed, the young man observed him closely, having previously examined Max's cultivation and identified him as a mere mortal. However, an unshakable intuition lingered within him, hinting at something more profound.
In the midst of this contemplation, another man emerged from a carriage and positioned himself beside the young man. The entire cavalry, upon recognizing him, saluted in unison.
"Commander," chorused the men, excluding the young man who remained silent.
The young man turned his gaze towards the commander and inquired, "What is your assessment?"
The commander, serious and measured, responded, "If his claims hold true, we've been deceived. We must verify the authenticity of his statements."
"Certainly, but what concerns me more is your impression of that man," questioned the young man.
The commander's demeanor shifted, his tone grave. "He wields immense power. I'm uncertain of my ability to prevail against him. Moreover, there was an intimidating aura, though he refrained from fully releasing it. It's a blessing we avoided conflict; otherwise, our losses would have been substantial."
Stunned silence enveloped the group. Even the commander, an Earth king realm expert, admitted uncertainty in facing the mysterious man.
The young man, initially berating Max, now considered the severity of the situation. He asked, "If he possesses such strength, why did he emanate no spiritual aura? He felt like a mere mortal to me."
The commander offered a knowing smile, explaining, "You were searching for the wrong sign. What I sensed wasn't spiritual aura; it was vital aura."
The revelation left the young man bewildered. Was Max more than a mortal? To confirm, he inquired, "Does this mean he is a...?"
The commander interrupted, "No, he was human. However, the cultivation of vital qi baffles even me."
With that, the commander addressed the cavalry, instructing, "Stay here with the young master. I will survey the forest."
He vanished from sight, leaving the group in suspense. After a two-hour wait, the commander returned, approached the young man, and spoke,
"Master, after investigating the forest, I can confirm that man spoke the truth. A battle occurred, and I discovered remnants of a level 3 beast. It's evident we've been deceived," reported the commander.
Upon hearing this, the young man's expression darkened, and he retorted, "HUMMP... Let's return," with a dismissive snort.
Subsequently, the young man and the commander occupied the carriage, while the others mounted their horses. They departed in the opposite direction from Max's route.
Meanwhile, Max had traversed the wilderness for two days and now beheld a city in the distance. It appeared the young man had provided accurate directions.
Approaching the city gates, Max, resembling a beggar with disheveled hair, muddy spots on his face, and tattered animal skin clothing, wished to enter. However, two guards brandishing spears obstructed his path.
"Where do you think you're going, beggar? Entrance requires payment," declared one guard, ridiculing Max's appearance.
Although taken aback, Max scratched his head, pondering his response. Realizing he faced two choices—either forcefully entering, confident in his ability to confront a city lord at the spirit gathering realm, or paying the fee—Max opted to inquire about the cost.
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"How much is the fee?" he asked.
The guard, thinking Max incapable of affording any sum, sarcastically replied, "100 bronze coins."
Max, lacking a single coin, reached into his animal-skin bag and produced a misty flower, commonly used in teas. While aware of its refreshing taste, he also knew its market value at 250 bronze coins. Despite the loss, Max considered it a small price to pay for entry.
The guards, witnessing Max pull out a flower worth more than the specified fee, were stupefied. Their disbelief transformed into greed as they contemplated the possibility of more valuable items in Max's possession. Sharing a glance, they silently communicated their intentions.
"This single flower isn't sufficient. Allow us to inspect your bag and determine its contents," declared one guard.
Max, frowning at the suggestion, countered, "The flower I presented is valued at 250 bronze coins, surpassing the 100 bronze coins for entry. How can it be deemed insufficient?"
Stunned by Max's retort, the guards responded indignantly, "If we say it's not enough, then it's not enough."
Understanding the guards' greed, Max chose not to argue further. Instead, he unleashed his aura, causing the guards to feel immobilized and pressured. Though frightened, the guards clung to their pride, convinced that breaking the law was unthinkable.
Undeterred, Max advanced towards the guard holding the flower. Terrified, the guard stammered, "What are you doing? We are Maple Leaf City guards. If you harm us, the captain won't let you go."
Max chuckled in response, saying, "Be my guest," as he reclaimed the flower and entered the city without paying any fees.
Enraged by Max's disregard, the guards seethed with anger. One of them instructed, "You stay here; I'll report this to the captain."
Nodding in agreement, the second guard desired Max's suffering, believing the captain, a formidable 9th level body tempering stage cultivator, would handle the situation effectively.
The first guard vanished into the crowd, heading towards the captain's headquarters. Upon arrival, he informed the guard stationed outside the captain's room about the urgency. After gaining permission, he entered the room to find the captain and the city lord's son engaged in an important discussion.
In a displeased tone, the captain questioned, "Why are you here instead of guarding outside?"
Fearful, the guard hastily recounted the encounter, revealing Max's possession of a bag filled with exotic flowers. Both the captain and the city lord's son became intrigued and greedy upon learning about Max's collection.
"You may leave; I will handle it," commanded the captain.
Grateful for the opportunity to curry favor with the captain and the city lord's son, the guard expressed his thanks and left, anticipating Max's imminent troubles.
Once the guard left, the captain turned to the city lord's son, a 16-year-old with fair skin and an arrogant demeanor. Clad in white embroidered clothing, the young man spoke confidently, "If he possesses a bag full of exotic plants, he's likely headed to the Blue Sky Treasure House. We must intercept him before he enters; dealing with him there would be a headache, given the powerful backing of the place."
The captain, understanding the urgency, nodded in agreement. Together, they hastened to intercept Max before he reached the Blue Sky Treasure House, a branch with considerable influence.
Meanwhile, Max, having inquired about reputable establishments, stood before the Blue Sky Treasure House. Though smaller than those in the capital city of Water Barge Kingdom, it dwarfed neighboring stores. A wooden nameplate adorned the door, bearing the inscription "Blue Sky Treasure House."
Entering, Max approached a counter where a young girl at the first level of body tempering stood. Upon seeing Max's disheveled appearance, she exclaimed, "Hey, who are you, and how did you get in? Leave this instant."
Max, incensed by the judgment based on his appearance, retorted, "Is this how a treasure house operates? Instead of evaluating the goods, you judge the person."
Before the girl could respond, Max demanded, "Call the manager. I want to speak with him."
A voice resonated from the adjacent room, and an old man with white hair and beard emerged. At the second level of the spirit gathering realm, the manager, Hrothgar Davis, addressed the situation. The girl, recognizing him, saluted nervously.
Max informed the manager, "This girl passed judgment without even inspecting the goods I brought to sell."
Frowning at the girl's behavior, Manager Davis was about to address the issue when two individuals, accompanied by guards, entered the establishment. Recognizing the old man, the captain and the city lord's son exchanged glances, confirming Max's identity with a description provided by the gate guards. Observing the bag in Max's possession, indicating unsold goods, they nodded to each other with a subtle understanding. The captain issued a decisive order, "Arrest him."