Chapter 136: The Pressure of a Captain-Level Presence

Facing the sudden appearance of Tian Dao, Chen Kong and Liu Ma instantly went on high alert.

Yet in stark contrast, Vivian—wanted by the Church—remained utterly calm.

She showed not the slightest hint of resistance.

Just as Tian Dao caught Dannika mid-fall from the ceiling, Chen Kong studied the man before him: smiling, courteous, the very picture of a gentleman.

After a moment of hesitation, he spoke.

"Captain," Chen Kong said, "you know the truth about Vivian.

Someone like her—how could she possibly be the one who stole sacred relics and fled?

There must be some misunderstanding. Perhaps—"

Tian Dao exhaled softly, cutting him off.

In the silence that followed, his voice remained gentle, almost kind.

"Friend from the Lower District," he said, "sometimes, the truth of right or wrong doesn’t matter at all."

"Because what matters to those above is only the result.

They don’t care how it’s achieved."

"And even if I let you go today… do you really believe no one else will come?"

With that, Tian Dao rested a hand on the hilt of the Shattering Star at his waist.

"Take her back to the Association with me.

At least under my watch, no one dares touch her."

"After all, a Captain’s word still carries weight here."

Chen Kong fell silent.

He couldn’t find a strong argument to refute it.

But silence didn’t mean Liu Ma was without words.

"Nice speech," came the reply, accompanied by the sharp crack of splintering wood.

Liu Ma’s towering 2.2-meter frame surged upward in an instant—thud—as he rose from his seat.

The spectral shadow of the Shadow War Horse roared behind him.

Golden runes flared across his horned brow.

His intent was clear: he was ready to fight.

"If the Association were truly as noble as you claim," Liu Ma growled, "then why would they issue a Wanted Poster like this?"

Tian Dao looked up at the man, who stood thirty centimeters taller than him—his suit-clad brute, a walking storm of menace.

And yet, instead of anger, Tian Dao simply nodded.

"Yes," he said. "The Association has its flaws.

But before you question a system, ask yourself:

Can you offer something better?"

"Breaking things is easy.

But building and maintaining? That’s far harder."

"Liu Ma, the rules here are many.

The hearts of those within the Association are complex.

But you must admit—these rules are what keep the once-rebellious Stellar Envoys from tearing each other apart."

"They’re what keep the New Federation from collapsing under the weight of their internal wars."

"So I will follow the rules—until I find something better."

As he spoke, Tian Dao took a step forward.

His captain’s coat stirred without wind.

Dannika, sensing the shift, instantly dashed to the side and pulled a bag of bear-shaped crispy snacks from her backpack.

She popped one into her mouth and chewed, utterly at ease—like she wasn’t here to help capture a fugitive, but on a kindergarten field trip.

But the others—Chen Kong and his allies—felt an oppressive weight pressing down on them.

Tian Dao’s Stellar Energy fluctuation was only at the mid-second-tier Awakening level.

Yet somehow, the pressure emanating from him was overwhelming—enough to challenge even Chen Kong, a second-tier Perfect Awakening.

And Liu Ma bore the brunt.

The strain was so intense he had to activate his Stellar Mark just to hold his ground.

Tian Dao advanced toward Liu Ma, his voice now clear and calm.

"Generally, the Association evaluates a Stellar Envoy based on two things."

"First: their base Stellar Energy Value.

Second: their Stellar Source Development Level—the number of times they’ve undergone Stellar Source Awakening."

"The first time someone accesses their Stellar Source, regardless of their base value, they’re classified as a First-Rank Stellar Envoy."

"Reach a second Awakening, with a base value above 1,000, and you become a Second-Rank Stellar Envoy."

"But—"

He stopped before Liu Ma, watching the man strain under the weight of his Captain-Level Pressure, sweat beading on his forehead.

"—second-tier is merely the beginning."

"It only means you’ve just begun to master your own Stellar Source, and understand its function."

"Like a child taking their first steps—finally walking on their own."

He paused.

Then looked at the trembling Liu Ma.

"Are you wondering why, despite having completed your Stellar Core Awakening and wielding a powerful transformation-type Stellar Source—Shadow War Horse—you can’t even withstand the pressure of a mere mid-second-tier Awakening?"

Liu Ma said nothing.

But the clenched jaw, the rigid silence—his answer was clear.

Tian Dao didn’t delay.

"Because Stellar Source Awakening isn’t the sole measure of a Stellar Envoy’s strength."

"Admittedly, Dual Stars are powerful—especially for most Envoys."

"It means you have both the beast-like body and bloodline abilities of a Stellar Beast, and the human intellect and unique Stellar Source of a Stellar Envoy."

"But sometimes… having too much isn’t a blessing."

With that, Tian Dao placed a hand on Liu Ma’s shoulder—light, but firm.

Crack.

Liu Ma dropped to one knee.

The concrete floor shattered beneath him, spiderwebbing with cracks.

"Because the dual nature divides your focus—diluting your ability to unlock your true potential."

"It makes you believe your body is already at its limit."

"But that’s not true."

Tian Dao looked down at the man on his knees, voice gentle.

"Your potential is far from tapped."

"Throughout Stellar Envoy history, rare individuals have emerged—geniuses with unique gifts."

"Each time, they’ve reshaped the Association’s understanding of what it means to be strong."

"And they’ve built a new standard—one that goes beyond mere Energy Value or Awakening count."

"A complete assessment: strength, agility, mental fortitude, precision, vitality, and Stellar Energy Value."

"You’re clearly a strength and vitality type—your potential likely sits between B+ and A+."

"But you haven’t even begun to develop these traits to their full extent."

"Yet whoever trained you was wise.

She knew this.

So she held you back—refusing to push you into a Perfect Awakening—instead, she kept strengthening your raw potential."

"Thank her.

Because of her, you haven’t taken the wrong path."

Having effortlessly subdued Liu Ma, Tian Dao turned to Chen Kong, standing a few meters away.

Thanks to his Perfect Awakening, Chen Kong was in better shape—his milky-white Stellar Energy aura shielding him from the worst of the pressure.

But Tian Dao’s tone toward him was sharper, colder.

"You must be proud," Tian Dao said, his expression unreadable. "You completed a Perfect Awakening."

Chen Kong’s face tightened.

Because in Tian Dao’s eyes, he saw not triumph—but pity.

And the next words confirmed it.

"If I’m not mistaken, your Perfect Awakening happened before your body fully matured.

At that time, your potential was only partially awakened."

"Which means… back then, it was easier to push your Stellar Source to its peak."

"But—"

Chen Kong’s pupils narrowed.

He understood.

"—over-achieving too early doesn’t mean true perfection.

It’s just a shortcut. A premature burn of your future."

"You’ve noticed, haven’t you?

Compared to what you imagined a second-tier Perfect Awakening Envoy would be—

you’re not nearly as strong as you thought."

"But you can’t figure out why.

Because deep down… you don’t want to admit you made a mistake."

"A choice made not out of courage, but laziness.

A moment of cowardice."

Tian Dao now stood before him.

"Captain-level status requires more than the minimum second-tier Awakening."

"You must also have at least one of the Six-Dimensional Attributes developed to A-level—second-rank standards."

"But that only means one attribute is at A-level."

"It doesn’t mean only one is."

"Understand?"

He ignored Chen Kong and stepped toward Vivian.

"Come now, Knight Lady.

I’d rather not have to force you."

He looked at Liu Ma, pinned to the ground.

Then at Chen Kong, sweating, trembling.

Vivian hesitated for a moment—then nodded.

"Fine. But promise me you won’t harm them. They had nothing to do with this."

Tian Dao smiled.

"Of course. The Wanted Poster only names you.

These two are law-abiding citizens."

With that, he turned and walked toward the door—Vivian beside him.

But as the scene unfolded, Chen Kong’s eyes slowly hardened.

A quiet resolve began to take root.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end