Liam''s Perspective


    The morning air crackled with tension as I sat cross-legged in my secret cultivation chamber. Sweat beaded on my forehead while ck mist spiraled from my pores. Each breath felt like drinking liquid fire. The Three Pure Ancient Trees'' essence coursed through my meridians, scouring away impurities.


    I''d been here for hours, pushing myself beyond normal limits. Elder Lin had insisted I leavest night, but I refused. I wouldn''t abandon the Guild. Not when they needed every fighter they could get.


    A sharp painnced through my chest. My dantian convulsed, rejecting another wave of foreign energy. I gritted my teeth and forced it to submit. The trees'' power was reshaping me from within, breaking down barriers that should take years to ovee.


    Dangerous. Reckless. Necessary.


    Far above my hidden chamber, I sensed a disturbance. Multiple powerful auras approached the Guild''s outer walls. Not bothering with stealth this time. Bold. Confident.


    The Ascendant Saints Order had returned, just as Mariana predicted.


    ---


    Pavilion Master Mariana Valerius stood atop the Guild''s highest tower, her slender frame silhouetted against the morning sky. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the approaching delegation.


    Five figures marched openly toward the main gate. Their white and gold robes gleamed in the sunlight, emzoned with the Ascendant Saints Order''s insignia. No subterfuge today. No reconnaissance.


    This was a show of force.


    Leading the group was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a perpetual sneer. Skyler Howe. Behind him walked Elder Foster, whose thin lips curved into a contemptuous smile. Three more half-step Martial Marquises followed, their auras pulsing with barely restrained power.


    "Pavilion Master," Elder Lin appeared beside her, his expression grave. "Our formations are ready."


    "And our evacuations?" she asked without turning.


    "Complete. Only essential personnel remain."


    Mariana nodded. "Good. Let theme."


    ---


    The main courtyard fell silent as the gates swung open. Skyler Howe strode in, his gaze sweeping arrogantly over the assembled Guild members. His ribs still ached from yesterday''s encounter with me, but his pride hurt more.


    "Wee representing the authority of the Ascendant Saints Order," he announced loudly. "Where is your Pavilion Master?"


    "Right here."


    Mariana appeared at the top of the central staircase. She descended slowly, deliberately, her white robes flowing around her small frame. No weapons. No guards. Just quiet confidence.


    "Mariana Valerius," Elder Foster stepped forward, his voice dripping with false courtesy. "We expected more resistance after yesterday''s... misunderstanding."


    "Yesterday was no misunderstanding," Mariana replied coolly. "Your disciple attacked my Guild. Two of my Elders died."


    "Regrettable," Foster said without a hint of regret. "But avoidable, had you simplyplied with our demands."


    Mariana reached the bottom step, standing alone before the five powerful cultivators. "And what demands would those be? To hand over my disciple? To bow to your sect?"


    Skyler sneered. "The Celestial Apothecary Guild has grown too independent. Your control of alchemy threatens the bnce of power in Veridia City."


    "You mean it threatens your monopoly on strength," Mariana corrected. "You fear what you cannot control."


    Foster''s expression darkened. "Mind your tongue, woman. You stand before representatives of the most powerful sect in the Eastern Continent."


    "I see no representatives of power," Mariana said dismissively. "Just five mediocre cultivators hiding behind a famous name."


    Skyler''s face flushed with anger. "You dare—"


    "I dare much more than that," Mariana cut him off. "You invaded my Guild. You killed my people. And now you return expecting submission?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "The Celestial Apothecary Guild bows to no one."


    Fosterughed coldly. "Bold words from someone so outnumbered."


    "Numbers mean nothing when quality iscking," Mariana replied. She gestured at Skyler. "Your lead attack dog couldn''t even subdue a single alchemist yesterday. What makes you think five of you can take this entire Guild?"


    Skyler stepped forward, hand moving to his saber. "Let me show you exactly what I can do, Pavilion Master."


    "Skyler," Foster warned, but it was toote.


    Rage had overtaken reason. Skyler drew his de in one fluid motion, lunging at Mariana with blinding speed.


    What happened next left everyone stunned.


    Mariana didn''t dodge. She didn''t draw a weapon. She simply raised one delicate hand and caught Skyler''s de between two fingers.


    The saber stopped as if it had struck solid stone.


    Skyler''s eyes widened in disbelief. He pushed harder, channeling spiritual energy into his weapon. The de trembled but couldn''t move forward a single inch.


    "Is this all the mighty Ascendant Saints Order has to offer?" Mariana asked quietly.


    With a flick of her wrist, she snapped Skyler''s de. The broken piece ttered to the stone floor. Before he could react, her palm struck his chest—a gentle tap that somehow sent him flying backward.


    Skyler crashed into a pir twenty feet away, coughing blood as he slumped to the ground.


    The other four half-step Martial Marquises stared in shock.


    "Impossible," one whispered. "They''re both half-step Martial Marquises. How could she—"


    "Fool," Foster cut in. "Not all half-steps are equal. She''s at the peak."


    Mariana folded her hands into her sleeves. "I''ll give you one chance to leave with your dignity intact. Take your wounded and go." <code ss="phantom-imprint">Ch#a%pter& sou$r$c#e: My Vi*rt&ua*l& Libra$ry^ Em@p^ir*e! (*).</code>


    Foster''s eyes narrowed. "We came with orders, Pavilion Master. We cannot return empty-handed."


    "Then you won''t return at all," Mariana replied coldly.


    ---


    Deep in my hidden chamber, I sensed the sh of powerful energies above. Mariana''s aura red brilliantly, dominating all others. A wave of pride washed over me. She was magnificent—far more powerful than anyone had guessed.


    But I couldn''t rely on her forever. I needed to break through. Now.


    I focused deeper, drawing more energy from the Three Pure Ancient Trees. My meridians expanded painfully, stretched beyond their natural limits. The ck mist pouring from my skin thickened.


    Something was changing. The impurities weren''t just leaving my body—they were being forcefully expelled. My flesh glowed with an inner light as my Qi surged to unprecedented levels.


    Almost there. Just a little more...


    ---


    In the courtyard, chaos erupted. The four remaining Ascendant Saints Order members attacked simultaneously, converging on Mariana from different angles.


    She moved like flowing water, effortlessly evading their strikes. Her white robes billowed as she danced between them, never drawing a weapon, never showing strain.


    "Is this truly the best your sect can offer?" she taunted, deflecting a spear thrust with her bare hand.


    Foster hung back, analyzing her movements. "She''s toying with us," he realized. "Her cultivation..."


    One of the attackers overextended. Mariana''s finger tapped his forehead lightly.


    The man''s eyes rolled back as he copsed, unconscious.


    "...is far beyond what we were told," Foster finished grimly.


    Another attacker fell, then another. In less than a minute, only Foster and the still-dazed Skyler remained standing.


    "Shocking, isn''t it?" Mariana said, turning to Foster. "That someone you dismissed so easily could defeat four half-step Martial Marquises without breaking a sweat."


    Foster''s mind raced. The intelligence had been wrong. Catastrophically wrong. Mariana Valerius was no ordinary half-step Martial Marquis. She was bordering on full Martial Marquis power.


    "A strategic withdrawal seems prudent," he said carefully, backing away.


    Mariana smiled coldly. "Running back to Josiah with your tail between your legs? How will he take the news that his grand invasion force was dispatched by a single woman?"


    Foster''s face twisted with hatred. "This isn''t over, Valerius. The Sect Master wille for you personally."


    "I''m counting on it," Mariana replied. "I''ve been wanting to speak with Josiah for some time now."


    Skyler stumbled to his feet, blood trickling from his mouth. "You... you''ll regret this humiliation."


    "The only thing I regret," Mariana said, "is not killing you when you first trespassed on my Guild."


    Foster grabbed Skyler''s arm, steadying him. "We''re leaving. Now."


    "Wise decision," Mariana said. She made no move to stop them as they collected their unconsciousrades and retreated.


    At the gate, Foster turned back. "When we return, it won''t be with five cultivators. It will be with fifty."


    "Bring a hundred," Mariana replied, unconcerned. "The result will be the same."


    ---


    From the shadows, Elder Lin watched the Ascendant Saints Order members retreat. When they were gone, he approached Mariana.


    "That was... impressive," he said quietly.


    "It was necessary," Mariana replied. "They needed to understand who they''re dealing with."


    "But now they''ll return with greater force," Lin pointed out. "Perhaps even Josiah himself."


    Mariana smiled mysteriously. "That''s exactly what I want."


    "You have a n?"


    "I always have a n, Elder Lin." She looked toward the hidden entrance that led to my cultivation chamber. "How is he progressing?"


    "Rapidly," Lin replied. "His energy signature has changed significantly since yesterday."


    "Good," Mariana nodded. "We need him ready."


    "For what, exactly?"


    Mariana''s eyes hardened. "For whates next."


    ---


    Under the Guild, ck mist swirled around my body like a tornado. The pain had be unbearable, then transcendent. My consciousness expanded, touching the edges of something vast and ancient.


    The trees'' essence had nearly finished its work. My body trembled as thest impurities were forced out. My meridians, once narrow channels, had be rushing rivers of Qi.


    One final surge built within my dantian. The pressure grew until I thought I would explode. Then, with a sound like thunder, something broke through.


    My eyes snapped open. Beams of light burst from them, illuminating the dark chamber.


    I had broken through.


    ---


    "He''s done it," Mariana whispered, sensing the spiritual fluctuation from below. "Finally."


    Elder Lin looked rmed. "So much power... is it safe?"


    "Nothing worth achieving is ever safe," Mariana replied. "Prepare the main hall. It''s time he learned the truth."


    "All of it?" Lin asked hesitantly.


    Mariana nodded. "All of it. The Ascendant Saints Order will return with their full might within days. He needs to understand what we''re really fighting for."


    "And if he''s not ready for the truth?"


    Mariana''s expression became grave. "Then everything we''ve sacrificed will have been for nothing."


    As Elder Lin hurried away, Mariana looked toward the horizon where the Ascendant Saints Order members had disappeared.


    "Come back soon, Josiah," she murmured. "I''ve been waiting twenty years for our reunion."


    In the hidden chamber below, I stood on trembling legs, feeling the new power coursing through me. Something fundamental had changed. I was stronger, faster, more aware than ever before.


    Andpletely unaware of the storm that wasing.