A week passed, and the dust from Li Wei's shocking revelation had not settled so much as been buried under a new, all-consuming wave of gossip and anticipation. The tension within the Li Clan was forcibly redirected outward by a major announcement: the Three-Clans Tournament was in one month.
The training grounds buzzed with the names of rival prodigies. But in the secluded courtyard of their family quarters, a different, more fundamental kind of training was underway.
"Again," Li Kang commanded, standing with his hands behind his back.
Li Wei lunged, his fist a grey blur aimed at his father's shoulder. He was using only his physical strength, the power of his Primordial Chaos Body, but it was enough to shatter stone.
Li Kang didn't meet force with force. He shifted his weight a fraction, his own hand snaking out not to block, but to guide Li Wei's striking arm past his body. Using his son's own momentum, he applied a subtle pressure to Li Wei's back, sending him stumbling forward.
"You are still fighting beasts," his father said, his voice calm and instructive. "You are used to meeting brute force with superior brute force. Against a thinking opponent, that is a quick path to death."
Li Wei scowled, resetting his stance. "My body can withstand it."
"Can it withstand a needle tipped with Soul-Devouring Poison placed precisely between your vertebrae?" Li Kang countered, his eyes sharp. "Can it withstand a blade guided not to clash with your fist, but to slide along its side and sever the tendons in your wrist? You have the power of a mountain, but a mountain can be worn down by a persistent stream."
He gestured for Li Wei to continue. "You have the strength to end a fight in one blow. The challenge is landing it. Stop trying to destroy your enemy. Start trying to touch me."
The lesson continued. Li Wei attacked with the ferocity of a spirit beast. Li Kang, his cultivation base still scarred and inferior, deflected, redirected, and evaded with minimal, precise movements.
"Your perception is keen, but you are only reading energy and gross movement," Li Kang instructed, as he subtly feinted with his shoulder, causing Li Wei to commit to a block, only to find a light tap on his exposed ribs. "You must read intent. The flicker in the eyes before a feint, the slight tension in the shoulder that reveals the true target. You rely on your divine senses to see the flow of qi, but the human heart is a deeper mystery."
For the first time, Li Wei felt a frustration that wasn't about raw power. This was a puzzle his overwhelming strength couldn't solve.
After a final, futile lunge that left him flat-footed, he stopped, chest heaving. "I understand," he said, the arrogance tempered by newfound respect. "Power without control is noise. Control without power is a whisper. I must be both."
Li Kang nodded, a rare, proud smile touching his lips. "Good. Remember this when you face them."
---
"Them" was the all-consuming topic that now dominated the clan. The Three-Clans Tournament—a biennial contest between the Verdant Sword Li, the Bai Clan of Stormwind City, and the Yun Clan of the Misty Vales—would determine resource allocation and regional dominance for the next two years.
The whispers in the training grounds were now filled with the names of rival prodigies.
"Did you hear? Bai Zixin from the Bai Clan has reportedly reached the 9th Stage of Qi Gathering! They say she's comprehended the heart of their 'Raging Storm Art'."
"A mere storm is nothing. The Yun Clan's genius, Yun Lian, is the real threat. Her 'Misty Veil Steps' are said to be untouchable. No one knows her true cultivation level, but she defeated a 9th Stage beast a month ago without a scratch."
The expectations within the Li Clan were a heavy weight, and they fell squarely on the shoulders of Li Jin. He was seen pacing the grounds with a grim intensity, his previous arrogance now tempered by a desperate need to prove himself after his humiliation. He was the clan's public hope.
His father, Li Kang, found him later, looking over a map of the tournament grounds. "The tournament will be a den of snakes," he warned, his voice low. "The Bai and Yun Clans will throw their best at you the moment they sense you're a threat. And our own clan... they will not support you."
"I do not need their support," Li Wei replied, his tone even, his mind still replaying his father's lessons. "I need the platform."
Li Kang nodded, a grim understanding in his eyes. "Then remember, the true competition is not for a prize. It is for survival. And your performance will determine what happens to this family when it is over."
Meanwhile, in the Bai Clan mansion in Stormwind City, a furious Young Master Bai was recounting his humiliation to his older sister, Bai Zixin. She was a young woman with sharp features and an aura of crackling intensity.
"...and he just crushed the guards! He disrespected our name, Sister!" the young master whined.
Bai Zixin listened, her expression cold. "A Li clansman with such brute physical strength? Interesting. The Li Clan has been hiding their cards." A competitive smile touched her lips. "I look forward to putting this arrogant brute in his place."
In the serene, mist-shrouded halls of the Yun Clan, the prodigy Yun Lian received the news with calm detachment.
"The Li Clan has a new variable. A boy named Li Wei," her attendant reported.
Yun Lian didn't break the rhythm of her fluid steps. "A storm is brewing in the Li Clan. Storms are chaotic. Chaos creates openings." Her voice was as soft as the mist. "We will watch. And we will be ready."
Back in the Li Clan's main hall, Clan Head Li Tao looked over the roster of participants. His finger rested on Li Wei's name, his expression dark.
"The tournament will be the perfect place," he murmured to Elder Guo. "The chaos of battle. An 'unfortunate accident' from a rival clan... no one will question it. Let him have his moment in the sun. It will make his fall that much more devastating."
The stage was set. The three clans were moving their pieces onto the board. But one piece, honed by a father's wisdom and burning with a sovereign's resolve, was no longer just a piece. He was preparing to become the player.