Chapter 173: Chapter 173: That's not necessarily true
[Your descendant Olivia is gradually mastering the 'Four Seasons' power, slowly unraveling the laws of 'life' and 'seasons', merging with them, as the threat of heavenly tribulation looms closer.]
If we're talking about skill levels, the Competent phase is about mastering the laws of nature, just touching the fringes of human laws. When the thunder tribulation strikes, Developing Skill transforms into Competent. And Olivia?
She doesn't have Developing Skill...
Her power is borrowed. In this game world, all the literary types Ethan had seen seemed to operate this way, borrowing the power of nature with their words, making laws follow their commands.
And just from the video, you could see thunderclouds constantly following Olivia, gathering strength.
Beneath those thunderclouds, countless faint orbs seemed either to push the thunder in the sky upward or to wait silently for the thunder to fall and obliterate them. Maybe that's why the thunder dragons in the clouds seemed a bit restless.
As the scene flashed by like a phantom, Olivia and her three children arrived at...
The Duke's Mansion!
As soon as she arrived, the mansion was on high alert, two Competent level guards suddenly leaping out, seemingly annoyed as they stared at the woman in the wheelchair, who nonchalantly played with her black hair, further irritating them.
After a moment, an old man with Developing Skill appeared in the mansion, his face wearing a strange expression as he glanced at the ice sculpture of Edward before leading them inside.
The same grand hall of the mansion.
Michael approached quietly, more serious this time than when Dennis had brought Edward before, because this time it wasn't just anyone, but Olivia, a true elder of the Blackwood clan!
The last people in Cloudview County anyone wanted to mess with were from Blackwood.
He looked up at the sky, realizing that Olivia had probably been targeted by the heavenly tribulation for a while now. But the tribulation seemed wary, even he couldn't tell why, what made it hesitate, allowing this ruthless woman to slowly gather strength to confront it.
And if Olivia wished, the tribulation would bring down thunderous power that even Competent wouldn't dare approach. Anyone who saw Olivia had to weigh whether it was worth it to confront her, as the tribulation was indiscriminate.
"Could it be that this tribulation thing is biased?" Michael wondered to himself, still remembering how he had been nearly killed by a tribulation strike. He had no idea how Olivia managed to carry the tribulation around with her.
After sipping some tea to ease his inner apprehension, he glanced at Olivia, who was smiling and sitting in her wheelchair facing him, and said softly, "Lady of Blackwood Dawn, I've heard of your reputation. It's rare to see someone who doesn't bow in my presence."
"My legs aren't what they used to be, my lord. Please bear with me," Olivia replied with a smile.
"That's not necessarily true," Michael squinted slightly, "If your legs weren't strong, how could you control Dawn? If you don't respect me, just say it. I don't care much for these formalities. Sitting as equals could indeed be interesting."
"My lord jests. You are high above, and I respect you in my own way. If you were a relative of my Blackwood clan, then technically, I would rank two generations above you. Sitting as equals is already showing great respect to you, my lord," Olivia said, her smile radiant.
"Heh," Michael rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, outwardly calm but internally suppressing his anger, nowhere near the imposing figure he had been when pressuring Edward and Dennis. If it were them, Michael might have already beaten them half to death and thrown them out.
Olivia really hit Michael where it hurt. What really grated on him about his precious daughter marrying into the Blackwood family was the issue of seniority, and only secondarily the difference in their social standings. If the marriage went through, he'd be surrounded by a bunch of elders in the Blackwood family, some of whom were at least 600 years younger than him...
But as he looked up and saw Olivia tapping her fingers on the armrest of her wheelchair, he realized it wasn't worth getting angry with this little girl.
"Hmph!"
Michael sharply sipped his tea. "Speak then, what brings you here with this riff-raff?"
"We Blackwoods understand the pain of a child who has grown up without seeing their father," Olivia sighed deeply, finally giving a respectful bow to Michael.
"Your Highness, I ask for your grace. Let bygones be bygones, as we Blackwoods have accepted. But now, the child is already five years old, and Edward has become a man under our care."
"I hope to let Edward meet Miss Betty and the child. Considering their current age, they should be able to sense whether their love is genuine. You wouldn't want to see your beloved daughter pine away, would you?" Michael frowned upon hearing this. If it were anyone else, he would have ignored them.
But with Olivia... he could feel that if he refused, she might just find a way to hide her daughter and grandson.
As he pondered, Olivia continued: "Your Highness, I also wish for our three children to stay a few more years in your estate. With the strength of your estate, I believe you can cultivate three individuals with Emerging Abilities."
"That's interesting."
Now, Michael was truly angry. He scoffed coldly, "You expect me to turn a blind eye to your youngsters ruining my precious daughter, and to let them meet—that I can understand as human nature."
"But you want them to live in my estate, to let me watch these nobodies romance my daughter, and even have my estate train your Blackwood successors? What do you take me for?"
"My girl, do you really think I'd be scared just because you walk under thunderstorms? That's utterly delusional!"
In an instant, the energy of heaven and earth gathered in the palace.
Michael sat in the main seat, his hair moving without wind and his robe fluttering, a powerful aura pressing down on Olivia, almost as if he was about to strike her down right there!
All the decorations in the hall trembled and shattered under the force of his Competent power.
The ice sculptures of the three youngsters also shattered.
"Of course not."
Olivia's streaked hair and white robe fluttered, her face trembling from the blow, yet she remained unmoved, just quietly staring at Michael, calmly saying, "If it were as you believe, Your Highness, then I would indeed be overstepping. But as I said before, I am willing to treat you as an equal, which is a sign of respect from me and the Blackwood family."
"Put away your pride, take a good look, it's you who need us Blackwoods, not the other way around."
These words were sure to infuriate Michael.