Upon receiving the captain's orders, the guards swiftly encircled Max, their weapons at the ready. Max, perplexed by the sudden turn of events and ignorant of the reasons behind his arrest, frowned. However, a sense of disdain washed over him as he assessed the guards' mediocre cultivation levels, all confined to the middle stages of the body tempering realm.

Meanwhile, the one seething with anger, rather than confusion, was Old Man Davis. The intrusion of the guards into his store, causing a disturbance without a shred of respect, infuriated him. A formidable expert at the 2nd level of the spirit gathering realm, even the city lord had to accord him due respect. Fear was not a sentiment he harbored, not merely due to his influential background, but because he stood as the second most powerful figure in the city, just a step below the city lord, a 3rd level spirit gathering realm expert.

Old Man Davis's countenance darkened as he released his potent aura, imposing a heavy suppression on everyone present in the store. The guards, the captain, and even the city lord's son felt an overwhelming force that rendered them temporarily immobile.

"What are you doing? If you fail to provide a satisfactory explanation, don't even think of leaving unscathed," declared Old Man Davis.

His words prompted realization in both the captain and the city lord's son. Acknowledging their hasty actions, the City Lord's son took a deep breath, respectfully cupping his fists as he spoke,

"I apologize for our abrupt intrusion, Manager Davis. We are here solely to apprehend this individual and conduct a search. He has stolen something from me," he explained.

The captain quickly followed suit, adding, "Indeed, Manager Davis, we only seek to apprehend this person. If we have shown any disrespect, I sincerely apologize and humbly request your forgiveness."

Observing this exchange, Manager Davis furrowed his brow, contemplating the situation. His gaze shifted to Max, whose expression mirrored his bewilderment. Amidst the apologies and explanations, Max could only muster a single question, confirming the allegations made against him.

"Are you certain I'm the one who stole? I don't recall ever crossing paths with you," Max questioned.

Max's response triggered concern in both the captain and the city lord's son. They realized that allowing Max to continue speaking was a risk, especially in Blue Sky Treasure House where their influence held no sway. The Treasure House Manager, being as powerful as the city lord, posed a formidable obstacle.

Without giving Max the chance to say more, the city lord's son erupted in anger, shouting, "How dare you! First, you steal something from me, and now you pretend not to know me? Do you think I can easily forget your foolish face?"

Upon hearing this accusation, Max's expression darkened. Convinced he was being framed, he sought to understand the motives behind the captain and city lord's son.

"And what did I steal from you?" Max inquired.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, the city lord's son realized he couldn't reveal the nature of the stolen item, unsure of what flowers Max possessed in his bag. The only flower he knew of was the Misty Flower, but admitting that was not an option, as it wasn't rare or valuable. In a desperate attempt to regain control, the city lord's son silenced Max, commanding, "Shut up! Who allowed you to talk? Search him!"

However, the guards, immobilized by Manager Devis's aura, looked to the captain, city lord's son, and Manager for guidance, silently imploring them to lift the pressure.

Observing the guards' dilemma, the city lord's son appealed to Manager Devis, saying, "Manager Devis, please assist us in apprehending this thief. I will surely show my gratitude."

Before Manager Devis could respond, laughter echoed through the room, catching everyone off guard. Max, realizing their true intentions, burst into laughter at their blatant stupidity.

Max's laughter bewildered everyone present. In such a precarious situation, where he was surrounded by guards and under the influence of Manager Devis's aura, a normal person would be frightened. However, Max, undeterred, began walking towards the captain and city lord's son.

Witnessing Max's approach, Manager Devis displayed a brief look of surprise, quickly replaced by a grave expression. He recognized that Max possessed a cultivation level higher than his own, as only someone of superior cultivation could ignore the pressure he exerted.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Unbeknownst to Manager Devis, Max had achieved cultivation level equaling to the middle stages of the Sea Forming Realm, having broken through during his successful thunder tribulation, which bestowed upon him the attribute of thunder and elevated his cultivation.

Observing Max advancing towards him, Yan Fletcher, the city lord's son, suspected that Manager Devis had not exerted any pressure on Max. In an angry tone, he confronted Manager Devis,

"Manager Devis, are you aiding him?" He questioned the manager's loyalty, assuming that no pressure had been applied to Max.

Manager Devis, unimpressed by Yan Fletcher's tone, retorted, "Boy Yan, watch your tone. Even your father doesn't dare speak to me like this."

With a displeased tone, Manager Devis retracted all of his aura, realizing that facing Max with his cultivation level was a perilous endeavor for Yan Fletcher.

As the aura dissipated, allowing everyone to regain their mobility, Max swiftly closed the distance and stood before Yan Fletcher. Locking eyes with him, Max inquired, "So, tell me, what did I steal?"

Caught in Max's blood-red gaze, Yan Fletcher felt an unsettling chill down his spine. His initial fear succumbed to his inherent arrogance, and he haughtily retorted, "You lowly beggar! How dare you talk to me like this?"

Max's expression darkened in response. Extending his hand, he seized Yan Fletcher by the neck and effortlessly lifted him off the ground. The sudden display of strength stunned onlookers, excluding Manager Devis, who had already surmised Max's formidable power. It became apparent that Yan Fletcher had underestimated his opponent, and both he and the captain likely failed to thoroughly investigate Max before confronting him.

Witnessing their young master being held by the neck, the guards and captain were initially stunned, but anger quickly overtook their surprise. The captain, in close proximity to Yan Fletcher, launched an attack, shouting, "Get your dirty hands off the young master!"

With full force, he aimed a punch at Max's face, intending to eliminate him on the grounds that Max had assaulted the city lord's son. This way, they hoped to seize Max's possessions without much explanation, masking their true motives behind the guise of self-defense.

Max extended his hand toward the incoming fist. The captain sneered at what he perceived to be a futile attempt, considering himself a 9th-level expert in the body tempering realm. However, his expression quickly transformed into disbelief as his fist connected with Max's hand. It felt like he had struck a mountain, with no discernible effect. Before he could process what had just happened, Max grabbed his fist, giving him a disdainful look.

When Max seized the captain's fist, there was an eerie lack of resistance. Max regarded the captain as if he were an imbecile, then casually pressed his fingers together, effortlessly crushing the captain's hand.

"Aaaaaaaa!" The captain's agonized cry echoed through the entire store.

Witnessing their captain's hand being crushed so effortlessly, the guards were gripped with fear. Their captain, at the pinnacle of the late stage of body tempering, had fallen victim to someone seemingly far more powerful. The guards, still in the middle stages of body tempering, felt a deep sense of vulnerability.

Before anyone could recover from the shock, Max, holding the city lord's son with one hand, extended his other hand and seized the captain's neck. Lifting him effortlessly, Max addressed him with a sneer.

"When you seek to end someone's life, be prepared to face the consequences," Max said slowly.

"No, no…" the captain uttered, but before he could finish, Max pinched his neck, ending his life.

The shocking display left everyone in the room stunned. The city lord's son, held by Max, felt a surge of terror. Manager Devis, aware of Max's strength, understood the gravity of the situation. Max's ability to dispatch a level 9 Body Tempering Realm cultivator with such ease suggested that he must be at least in the late stages of the Spirit Gathering Realm. Even the manager, a Spirit Gathering Realm cultivator himself, couldn't fathom achieving such a feat against a body tempering expert. Consequently, he felt a newfound wariness for his own safety.

The city lord's son, realizing the peril he had brought upon himself, attempted to salvage the situation. "Senior, it's just a misunderstanding," Yan Fletcher said with a forced smile.

Unmoved, Max retorted, "Oh, a misunderstanding? That's why you didn't allow me to explain."

Hearing Max's words, the city lord's son grew even more terrified, realizing that Max was unlikely to accept such feeble excuses. In a desperate attempt to save himself, he stammered, "Senior, please understand..."

"I am Yan Fletcher, the sole heir to the esteemed City Lord Beyon Fletcher of Maple Leaf City, a Spirit Gathering Realm expert. You would be wise to release me, for my father will not take kindly to any harm that befalls me," Yan threatened, fully aware that this was his only bargaining chip.

Though Max took Yan's threats seriously, he eventually released him and carefully placed him on the ground. Yan, misinterpreting Max's actions as fear, maintained a smug demeanor while expressing gratitude, "Thank you for releasing me. Rest assured, I will speak highly of your cooperation to my father."

Manager Devis, observing the situation from the sidelines, shook his head in disbelief. He knew that Max hadn't genuinely let go of the city lord's son. This suspicion was soon confirmed as Max, seemingly impressed by Yan's flattery, suddenly lifted his leg and delivered a forceful kick, sending Yan flying out of the store. The unexpected attack left Yan heavily injured, never anticipating such a betrayal.

After expelling Yan, Max turned his attention to the terrified guards and simply walked away. Uninterested in engaging with low-level guards, he headed back to the manager to discuss business.

The guards, fearing Max's gaze, rushed to Yan's side as he lay unconscious amid the debris. Although seriously injured, Yan was fortunate enough to survive as Max had intentionally held back, sparing his life.

This event marked the day when Max took a human life for the first time.