I stood at the head of the long mahogany table in the Thornton family''s grand meeting hall. My gaze swept over the faces of Eldoria''s most powerful family patriarchs—men who had controlled this province for generations.


    Now they would answer to me.


    "Gentleman," I began, my voice firm and measured. "Thank you for epting my invitation."


    Conrad Thornton sat at my right hand, his expression neutral but his eyes watchful. The message was clear—this was my show now.


    Jaelen Wyatt of the Pierce family shifted ufortably in his seat. "Knight, what''s the meaning of this gathering? We all have businesses to attend to."


    I smiled thinly. "Your businesses can wait. My time, however, is precious."


    The room fell silent as I walked slowly around the table, studying each man''s face. Donnie Alcott from the Alcott family avoided my gaze. Curtis Pierce kept his eyes fixed on the table. Joel Denholm fidgeted with his gold ring.


    But Archie Denholm, the patriarch of the Denholm family, met my stare with defiance.


    "I''ve summoned you here to establish some new arrangements," I continued. "Eldoria is entering a new era—my era."


    "What does that mean exactly?" Donnie Alcott asked, his voice carefully neutral.


    I stopped pacing. "It means from today forward, each of your families will provide a monthly tribute to me. Fifty-year-old herbs, at minimum. The rarer, the better."


    The silence broke instantly.


    "Tribute?" Jaelen Wyatt''s face flushed red. "You can''t be serious! This is nothing but plunder!"


    I turned to face him directly. "Plunder? Interesting choice of words from a man who''s been bleeding this province dry for decades." My voice hardened. "Tell me, how many businesses have you crushed when they couldn''t pay your ''protection fees''? How many families have you ruined?"


    Jaelen''s mouth opened, then closed without a sound.


    Curtis Pierce cleared his throat. "Sir Liam, while we respect your strength, this demand seems... excessive."


    "Does it?" I leaned forward, cing my palms t on the table. "I''m offering you protection. Security. A ce in the new order I''m establishing."


    "And if we refuse?" Archie Denholm finally spoke, his weathered face twisted in disdain.


    I straightened up and smiled. "That would be unwise." <samp ss="in-imprint-a">The genuine article resides on M|V|L&EMPYR.</samp>


    Archie snorted. "You may have defeated a few cultivators, boy, but you''re not as untouchable as you think. What have you actually aplished? You humiliated a few Ashworthckeys and now you think you can demand tribute like some ancient emperor?"


    The room temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Conrad''s expression darkened beside me.


    "Mind your tongue when speaking to Sir Liam," Conrad warned softly.


    Archieughed. "Or what? The Denholm family has stood in Eldoria for eight generations. We won''t be threatened by a nobody with delusions of grandeur."


    A palpable tension filled the room as the other family heads stiffened, eyes darting between me and Archie.


    I simply nodded to Conrad.


    What happened next happened so quickly that several men gasped. Conrad moved like lightning, his hand shing out to grip Archie''s throat. Before anyone could react, a sharp crack echoed through the chamber.


    Conrad released his hold, and Archie Denholm''s body slumped forward, his neck bent at an impossible angle, eyes still wide with shock.


    "Anyone else have objections?" I asked into the horrified silence.


    Joel Denholm stared at his father''s body, his face ashen. "You... you killed him..."


    "No," I corrected calmly. "Conrad killed him. At my instruction. Because your father failed to understand the new reality of Eldoria." I looked around the table. "I don''t have time for lengthy negotiations or political maneuvering. I need resources, and I need them now."


    Jaelen Wyatt''s hands trembled as he raised them in surrender. "The Pierce family willply with your demands, Sir Liam."


    "The Alcott family as well," Donnie quickly added.


    Joel Denholm, still staring at his father''s corpse, simply nodded.


    "Excellent." I reached into my pocket and withdrew three jade bottles. "Consider these a gesture of goodwill."


    I slid one bottle toward each family. "Foundation Establishment Pills. They''ll help your chosen cultivators break through to higheryers. Think of it as an investment in our future rtionship."


    Jaelen Wyatt eyed the bottle cautiously before taking it. "Thank you, Sir Liam."


    "I expect the first delivery of herbs tomorrow," I continued. "Conrad will provide you with the details of where and when."


    I turned to leave, considering the meeting concluded.


    "One more thing," I added, pausing at the door. "Speak of what transpired here today outside this room, and what happened to Archie will seem mercifulpared to what I''ll do to your entire families. Am I understood?"


    A chorus of affirmatives followed me as I walked out.


    Conrad quickly caught up with me in the hallway. "That was... decisive, Sir Liam."


    "It was necessary," I replied, feeling no satisfaction from the violence. "I don''t have the luxury of time for political games."


    "The families will hate you for this."


    I shrugged. "Let them hate me, as long as they fear me enough to obey. Their herbs will help me refine the Divine Rank Pill I need."


    Conrad nodded slowly. "I''ll arrange for the removal of Archie''s body and ensure the others deliver as promised."


    "Thank you, Conrad."


    I walked toward the mansion''s entrance, my mind already racing ahead to my next steps. The Eighth Layer of Foundation Establishment was good progress, but I needed more. Much more.


    Caspian''s demonstration had shown me just how vast the gap truly was between my current strength and what awaited in Veridia City. If I wanted to save Isabelle from her family, from Dashiell ckthorne, from whatever schemes were brewing—I needed to be exponentially stronger.


    As I reached the main entrance, I sensed something—or rather, someone—waiting outside.


    The heavy doors swung open to reveal an elderly man standing in the courtyard. He wore simple gray robes, his white beard neatly trimmed, his hands sped behind his back. But despite his ordinary appearance, my instincts screamed danger.


    He had concealed his aurapletely—a sign of extraordinary cultivation.


    The old man studied me with piercing eyes, then spoke in a clear, strong voice that carried across the courtyard.


    "The King of Eldoria is indeed overbearing."


    Conrad immediately stiffened beside me, his hand moving toward his weapon. I raised a hand to stop him, my eyes never leaving the stranger.


    Who was this man? And more importantly, what did he want?