Two days passed in the blink of an eye within the secluded cultivation chamber. The air, thick with the residue of tyrannical qi, hummed with a new, denser pressure. Li Wei opened his eyes, golden light blazing within them before receding into calm pools. He flexed his fingers, feeling the torrent of power coursing through his veins, a tangible testament to the Third Level of the Body Tempering Realm.
'Two days. The Heavenly Tyrant's Dominion Scripture truly lives up to its reputation,' he murmured with cold satisfaction. The progress was terrifying, even to him.
A gentle knock at the chamber door broke his focus. Mei's voice, soft yet firm, filtered through. 'Young Master, your younger brother, Li Yao, seeks an audience. I have turned away all others, as you instructed.'
Li Wei's voice carried through the stone. 'Your judgment in turning others away was correct, Mei. Send him in.' Of all people, his little brother, born of the same mother, could interrupt his cultivation without consequence.
The door opened to reveal a boy of twelve, his features bearing a striking, arrogant resemblance to Li Wei's own. Li Yao swaggered in, his chin held high, his eyes already carrying a familiar disdain for the world.
'Big Brother!' Li Yao's voice brimmed with unrestrained admiration. Li Wei stood, his movements fluid and effortless. He leveled a calm gaze at his brother. 'Report your own progress. Iron Skin Realm?'
Li Yao's arrogant expression faltered, replaced by frustration. 'I've just stabilized the second stage, Hardened Skin. It feels so slow! That fool Chen Fan even dared to mock me for it last week.'
Li Wei's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'Chen Fan? The son of Elder Chen from the Alchemy Hall?'
'The very same!' Li Yao said, his voice filled with vicious glee. 'I saw him today near the market. He won't be mocking anyone for a month. I made sure he remembered his place.'
Mei, who had been standing silently by the door, took a half-step forward, her expression tight with concern. 'Young Master, if I may... Elder Chen is a 3-star alchemist certified by the Imperial Alchemy Hall.'
Her warning hung in the air, unspoken but clear. The Imperial Alchemy Hall was a behemoth, an organization backed by the royal family itself. Its authority stemmed from the Emperor's banner, and its true power was concentrated in the Royal Capital, overseen by a legendary 4-star Grandmaster. Offending such an entity was typically a grave mistake.
But this was not the Royal Capital. This was Azure Dragon City, the financial heart of the empire.
Here, the Li Clan's word was law. They owned nearly a third of the sprawling metropolis, controlling the spirit stone mines, the beast core trade, and the weapon forges that fueled the cultivator economy. The Alchemy Hall, while powerful, was still just a single institution among many. They sold their pills in Li Clan markets and paid rent for shops on Li Clan land. In Azure Dragon City, they were not masters, but guests in the Li Clan's domain.
Li Wei let out a cold, dismissive laugh, shattering the tension. 'A 3-star alchemist is valuable, Mei, but a tool nonetheless. His son is nothing.'
He placed a heavy hand on his brother's shoulder, his gaze intense. 'You did well, Yao. Our Li Clan's name is not to be spoken lightly in our own city. If he or anyone else disrespects you again, break their bones.'
Li Yao's eyes shone with fervent adoration. 'Yes, Big Brother!'
Li Wei finished, 'Now go. Consolidate your realm. Do not let minor insects distract you from your own path to power.'