The imperial capital "Scarlet Flame" of the O'Brien Empire, when measured against the entire Yulan Continent, was probably rivalled only by the imperial capital of the Yulan Empire in terms of sheer city size.
As for the name "Scarlet Flame," it was personally given by the Martial God "O'Brien."
The imperial capital of Scarlet Flame had a permanent population of several million.
As a capital city with over five thousand years of history, Scarlet Flame was home to many ancient families with long and storied lineages. In a place like the imperial capital, even ninth-level experts were numerous, and no one dared act with impunity here—the powerful families were simply too many.
Naturally, the foremost power in the imperial capital was the Martial God Sect.
The sect's direct disciples were almost never seen in public, but even the weakest of the registered disciples were at least eighth-level warriors, and most were ninth-level warriors. The Martial God Sect's formidable strength could be seen from this alone. And the sect's master was the "Martial God" himself.
It should be known that in the O'Brien Empire, other religions were actively suppressed. The common people worshipped the "Martial God." They regarded the Martial God as their faith!
One could imagine, then, the position the Martial God held in the hearts of the people.
The eastern district of the imperial capital Scarlet Flame was where high officials and nobles resided, and the imperial palace was also within the eastern district. On Fushi Road in the eastern district, there stood row upon row of uniform estates—standard constructions built by the imperial family's orders. They were awarded to meritorious subjects and nobles of the empire.
One of the estates on Fushi Road belonged to the imperial capital's rising star, Baron Wotton. At the main gate, two burly guards stood ramrod straight. And at this moment, inside the sitting room of this estate, there were only four people.
All four were standing, and one of them was pacing back and forth, a hint of worry between his brows.
He appeared to be around twenty-one or twenty-two years old, dressed in a simple warrior's combat outfit. The sleeveless undershirt fully showcased his bulging muscles. His straight nose, thick black eyebrows, and square jaw gave him a stern and valiant look.
What was most striking was his stature.
He stood an astonishing two meters and twenty tall, with broad shoulders, a comparatively narrow waist, and two long, powerful legs.
"Wotton's appearance is more imposing than Lin Lei's," Hillman thought to himself from the side.
Compared to Wotton, Lin Lei was more the reserved type.
"Lord Wotton, are you still worrying about the matter with the Seventh Princess?" The butler Xili, with his ruddy nose, asked with a genial smile. Wotton turned and said helplessly, "Grandpa Xili, you know perfectly well the kind of people who are pursuing Nina."
Another young man in the sitting room laughed and said, "Lord Wotton, you're such a decisive person—how come you get so wishy-washy when it comes to romance? Just go straight to His Majesty and propose for her hand. Wouldn't that settle it?"
"Go directly?" Wotton raised an eyebrow.
Hillman added from the side, "Nader's right. You've already reached the eighth level, and you're a son of the Dragon Blood Warrior family. His Majesty surely knows that if a member of the Dragon Blood Warrior family reaches the eighth level, they must have cultivated Dragon Blood Battle Qi and possess the ability to transform."
In Hillman's view, reaching the eighth level through physical body alone without cultivating Battle Qi was simply impossible.
But Hillman didn't know that the five brothers currently around Lin Lei had all reached the eighth level through body cultivation alone.
"Wotton, as a Dragon Blood Warrior, marrying the Seventh Princess is a perfectly matched union. I'm sure His Majesty will agree," Butler Xili said with a smile. "However, regarding the proposal, I think you could have the Seventh Princess sound out His Majesty's feelings first. That way you'd have a better chance."
Butler Xili and Hillman exchanged a glance and both smiled.
Over the past year or two, the matter between Wotton and the imperial Seventh Princess had long since spread throughout the entire capital. But the other noble youths in the capital hadn't given up either, and among them were two who were particularly competitive.
"Forget it," Wotton shook his head.
He trusted the Seventh Princess. She had long told him she would marry no one but him. But Wotton also knew that the marriages of imperial princes and princesses weren't something they could decide for themselves. He didn't want the Seventh Princess to be too troubled by it all. Marrying her openly and honorably would naturally be best.
"Oh right, Grandpa Xili, is there any news from Big Brother?" Wotton asked.
Butler Xili nodded. "A message from the Dawson Trading Company says that your eldest brother is still hidden away somewhere in secluded cultivation. Nothing special has come up."
"Big Brother is still working so hard." Wotton felt great admiration for Lin Lei in his heart.
Many matters of the Dragon Blood Warrior family—whether the family heirloom or the great vendetta—were all shouldered by Lin Lei alone. And here was Wotton, able to cultivate quietly in the capital.
Lin Lei was always shielding him from the wind and rain.
"Big Brother..." Wotton still remembered that time when two Saint Realm powerhouses had fought outside Wushan Town. When shattered boulders rained down densely from the sky, his big brother had shielded him without a second thought.
Wotton clearly remembered, at that most dangerous moment—
"Get down!" Lin Lei's roar from back then, and how he had thrown himself over Wotton without hesitation, covering Wotton's small body with his own fragile frame.
Since leaving home at the age of six, Wotton was now twenty-two, and in one month he would turn twenty-three.
Nearly seventeen years.
These two blood brothers hadn't seen each other in nearly seventeen years.
"Don't worry too much, Lord Wotton. When Young Master Lin Lei feels his training has borne fruit, he'll come to see you. After all, he knows your current address," Butler Xili consoled him.
Wotton nodded, then smiled self-deprecatingly. "When Big Brother sees me, I wonder if he'll even recognize me."
"Back then you were a scrawny six-year-old brat, and now look at you. Ha ha… your big brother might not recognize you at all," Hillman laughed.
Nader nodded from the side. "When I came over from the Holy Alliance with my father back then, I didn't recognize Lord Wotton either at first. It wasn't until I saw Butler Xili that I realized this giant who was even taller than me was actually that little brat from before."
"Nader, you guy…" Wotton glared at him.