Floating Island - Triple S Talent

As he approached the entrance, the old man walked slowly yet purposefully. The people passing by instinctively stepped aside. They didn't speak or cause any commotion, but the fear was evident in the way they moved their bodies, like leaves blown away by a strong wind.

Even though the old man did not display any direct threat, the heavy aura surrounding him was enough to make ordinary people avoid him. Some didn't even dare to glance at him, quickening their pace and averting their eyes.

It didn't take long for him to reach the store's entrance. Standing before a plaque that read "Seed Store," the old man read the name aloud in a soft tone.

"Seed store, huh?" he muttered lightly, almost as if speaking to himself. He knew of the store's reputation. Even the city's ruler dared not interfere with its existence, allowing the seed store to dominate the lower-tier market without intervention.

As he stepped inside, his eyes scanned the room. The store was bustling, filled with customers busy inspecting the merchandise. Yet among the crowd, he couldn't sense the aura he was searching for.

He closed his eyes briefly, extending his spiritual awareness across the entire floor. The silence in his mind brought forth an answer that made his brows furrow.

"Nothing," he hissed, almost inaudibly. He found no trace, not even in the corners hidden from sight.
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With a calm motion, the old man pulled out a small rod-like device with a withered orb attached at its end. He observed the orb, but it remained still, offering no indication of direction.

"His aura stops here," he muttered again, his mind racing. "I need to find the item that boy carried." He knew that for the device to work, he needed something the boy had touched.

The old man stepped further into the store, heading directly toward one of the attendants standing near the cashier's desk.

"Welcome to the seed store. How may I assist you, sir?" a friendly greeting from a female attendant met him. There was no fear in her voice, even though the old man before her exuded a suffocating aura.

"I have a question. Has this boy entered this store recently?" the old man asked, holding out a piece of paper with a sketched image of a teenage boy.

"He carried a pouch of mid-tier crystals," the old man added, providing additional details in a cold tone.

The female attendant frowned briefly. As a long-time employee of the seed store, she knew such questions were not part of her daily routine. Moreover, the customer before her clearly wasn't here to buy anything but rather to bring trouble.

"Apologies, sir. We cannot disclose any information about our customers," she replied politely but firmly. She might not know the boy in question, but the store's rules clearly forbade sharing customer information with anyone.

"I will pay any amount," the old man said, suppressing the anger that was beginning to flare. His eyes narrowed, but his voice remained controlled. He thought that offering crystals as a compromise would be a simpler way to resolve the matter.

"Apologies, sir. That's not possible," the attendant replied in the same firm tone.

The old man's eyes narrowed further, revealing the growing fury he struggled to contain. He couldn't believe that a mere cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage, whom he considered no more than an ant, dared to defy his command. In his life, he had never experienced such defiance.

The old man stared coldly at the female attendant. "I'll give you ten seconds to reconsider. If not, you will die."

His threatening voice echoed, sharp and loud, silencing the entire store. Everyone present heard every word, and a tense atmosphere enveloped the room.

The female attendant, named Mei, felt her heart pounding as if it wanted to leap out of her chest. Her mind was filled with worry and uncontrollable fear. Her body trembled as she tried to calm herself, but it was futile.

Several other attendants approached, standing by Mei's side as if trying to protect her, even though they knew none of them could stand against the old man. One of the older female attendants, Qian Ru, gently embraced Mei. "Mei, are you okay?" she asked with concern.

Mei nodded, though her face was wet with tears. "Thank you, Sister Ru," she whispered before burying her face in Qian Ru's shoulder, trying to gather her strength.

One of the male attendants, who had previously served the teenage boy sought by the old man, tried to divert attention. "Sir," he said, his voice firm despite a slight tremble. "Have you forgotten where you are?"

The old man sneered, his cold smile enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. "Hahaha… It doesn't matter where I stand. None of you will survive if you don't give me the information I need," he said while releasing a hint of his aura's pressure. The air in the room changed, becoming heavy and suffocating.

The attendants began to feel the overwhelming pressure, forcing them to their knees. One of them tried to issue a warning. "This is impossible… Please leave, or the store's overseer will teach you a lesson," he said, though his voice weakened, drowned by the oppressive force.

Some customers still in the store started to panic. "Run!" someone shouted. Chaos ensued as customers from the upper floors rushed downstairs toward the exit, shoving aside anyone in their way.

Meanwhile, other store attendants from the upper floors also came down but remained in their positions despite their fear. They knew fleeing their duties meant not only losing their jobs but also facing severe punishment from the store's management—perhaps even death.

The old man's cold laughter echoed again, shaking the air in the room. Before he could proceed further, a soft yet clear voice resonated from the void.

"Hahaha…"

A warm and elegant laugh followed, accompanied by the sudden appearance of a young man from thin air. His luxurious robe signaled his high status as a prominent noble. He stepped lightly, with a friendly smile that betrayed no sign of panic.

With a single wave of his hand, the oppressive aura crushing the store attendants disappeared instantly. The attendants' faces showed relief as they gradually stood up again.

The young man looked at the old man calmly. "Senior, have you forgotten to pay respect to my Grand City?" he said, his voice friendly yet firm. Though he spoke politely, there was no hint of humility in his tone.

The young man was well aware that the old man before him was a Spirit Integration-level cultivator, far stronger than his own Nascent Soul level. However, his status and responsibilities compelled him to act. Moments earlier, he had been at the Sacred Jade Pavilion purchasing artifacts, but this disturbance forced him to intervene.