C18 The Divine Imperial Technique..

His tone carried an unmistakable air of disdain.

"The head of our house, the Du Family is audacious indeed!"

The butler was incensed.

"Silence!"

Bai Yuanshan shot the butler a stern glance before turning his attention to Liu Tong and the others who were also waiting at the gate. Liu Tong, a general of substantial cultivation, was likely only marginally less powerful than Bai Yuanshan himself. A trusted confidant of Marquis Fengling, here he was, standing outside the Du residence, patiently waiting.

This was far from normal.

Bai Yuanshan pondered why Marquis Fengling would agree to marry his treasured daughter to Du Shaomu. It was unlike the Marquis to make such a blind decision.

The letter contained a pill formula, one that could enhance the soul.

It seemed probable that Du Shaomu had struck fortune, with a formidable Pill Master in his corner.

Such a Pill Master must be influential enough that even Marquis Fengling would offer his daughter's hand in marriage for support, suggesting the Pill Master was at least of Pill King status, if not a Pill Emperor.

The ranks of a Pill Master paralleled those of a martial cultivator, starting with the medicine boy and ascending to Pill Spirit, Pill General, Pill Marquis, Pill King, and the fabled Pill Emperor.

A Pill King was a force to be reckoned with, attracting countless Martial Kings and even Martial Emperors.

Pill Masters were a rare breed in this world, eagerly courted by all major powers.

A formidable Pill Master would be esteemed as an honored guest by these powers.

The Bai Family had produced only two Pill Masters, both of the lowest echelon, after investing considerable resources.

And the Pill Spirit-level Master they had engaged was treated like royalty, for fear of causing offense.

"We shall wait here."

Bai Yuanshan resolved to wait. If Liu Tong could stand outside without entry, so could he.

Marquis Fengling had put forth his beloved daughter; standing outside for a night was a small price to pay.

This was the Bai Family's sole opportunity, and for their sake, he would wait.

"Patriarch, perhaps we should wait in the carriage for comfort?"

The butler was taken aback, not expecting the Patriarch to actually contemplate waiting at the Du Family's doorstep until morning.

"No, we wait here," Bai Yuanshan declared, deeming it disrespectful to wait inside the carriage. To the doorkeeper, he said, "Young man, please inform your Young Master that I, Bai Yuanshan, will be waiting right here at the gate."

At the courtyard entrance, Liu Tong sat cross-legged. Bai Yuanshan's words made him twitch; he wondered if the man had lost his senses. The head of the Bai Family, stooping to such a level for that insolent Du Shaomu?

Inside the dilapidated Du courtyard, Du Xiaohou was agape.

He had expected the Bai Family Patriarch to erupt in anger, not to willingly wait until daybreak.

Such humility was unexpected.

In that moment, Du Xiaohou's entire worldview was shattered.

Was arrogance now the key to commanding respect? The Young Master's words had brought the venerable Bai Family Patriarch to heel.

"Is the wind really that mighty?"

Du Xiaohou murmured, feeling that ever since the wind, the Young Master had become insufferably arrogant.

...

In the spartan room, Du Shaomu sat cross-legged, his thoughts far from the affairs of the Su and Bai Families. His hands formed seals, and a green-white glow flickered around him.

Imperceptibly, the energy of heaven and earth began to converge in the room, swirling around Du Shaomu.

Now a Martial Master, Du Shaomu was intent on ascending to the realm of a Pill Master.

As a renowned Pill Master in his past life, he was acutely aware of the profound benefits of this path.

The Divine Imperial Tactics, a cultivation method from his past life as a Pill Master, was unparalleled and shrouded in mystery.

Now, Du Shaomu practiced the Divine Imperial Tactics with a master's familiarity.

Energy from heaven and earth enveloped him, growing increasingly brilliant as a subtle aura of authority emanated from him.

This energy poured into Du Shaomu, coalescing in his mind, creating a celestial valley.

Executing the Divine Imperial Tactics, he meticulously guided this energy within the celestial valley of his mind, nurturing his soul and evolving its essence, akin to sowing seeds in fertile soil.

For a Pill Master, beyond the mastery of pill concoction, soul power was paramount.

Du Shaomu was in the midst of tempering his soul power, striving to reach the Pill Master level.

As time slipped by, a glow emerged from his brow, his eyes shut tight, the hint of a smile playing on his lips.

He was deeply immersed in a profound Dao state, the celestial valley in his mind transforming, casting a hazy light on the void around him.

Soon, Du Shaomu's form grew indistinct, bathed in the energy of heaven and earth, radiating a divine brilliance. The spiritual essence of the cosmos purified his body and soul.

Within him, waves of soul power surged, stirring a sense of awe and a desire to prostrate in reverence.

Any Pill Master witnessing this would be astounded.

This was the true mark of a Pill Master—his soul power was staggeringly potent, beyond belief!

In Du Shaomu's mind, his once imperceptible soul now shone visibly, albeit still ethereal like a mist, its brilliance undeniable.

The soul's vibrations extended throughout his body, revitalizing him completely, as if unlocking a trove of spiritual light that nourished him wholly, benefiting even his physical form.

Du Shaomu, seated with his hand seals intact, resembled a divine being. The energy of heaven and earth intertwined with his corporeal essence, merging into one. Surrounded by the spiritual glow, he appeared hallowed and transcendent, free from any impurity or speck of dust.

...

The dead of night found North Cloud City anything but peaceful. The demise of many from the Su Family had sealed the city's fate to a night of unrest.

On the Du Family's small street, the flickering flames made it seem like daylight.

In front of the heap of over thirty Su Family corpses, hundreds of Su Family juniors and guards amassed, poised and bristling with murderous intent.

Despite the Su Family's palpable aura of vengeance, they didn't immediately storm the Du Family compound. Instead, they watched from a distance, making no move to cross the barrier of fallen bodies.

Outside the Du Family's gates, Liu Tong and nine others sat in meditation, poised for battle. "Looks like North Cloud City is on the brink of upheaval," Bai Yuanshan observed from outside the Du Family, his heart heavy with the shifting tides.

"What in the world happened? The Su Family has suffered so many casualties!" "Rumor has it that Du Shaomu is set to wed the daughter of Fengling City's Lord, and he's brought a slew of powerhouses who've slain members of the Su Family!" "Is that the same Du Shaomu who was ousted by the Su Family?" "North Cloud City is in for a major shake-up. The Du Family has truly incensed the Su Family this time!"

The commotion roused many in North Cloud City, with throngs of people clogging the streets and alleys, including representatives from various factions and prominent families, all scrambling for information. News spread like wildfire.

The Su Family was untouchable, the unchallenged rulers of North Cloud City. Yet, in a single day, the Du Family had eliminated two groups of their kin. It was clear to all that the Su Family wouldn't let this slide—North Cloud City was on the cusp of momentous events.

"Isn't that Bai Yuanshan, the head of the Bai Family? What's he doing outside the Du Family's place?" "Word is he's been waiting to see Du Shaomu for quite some time now!" Bai Yuanshan's presence, patiently waiting outside the rundown Du Family estate, left onlookers agape with shock, second-guessing their own eyes.

...

The night was deep, with only a sparse scattering of stars. In the hush of pre-dawn darkness, a profound silence reigned. Yet, the Su Family remained awake, their estate ablaze with light.

Inside the Su Family's main hall, behind closed doors, over a hundred rosewood chairs were occupied by figures. These were the elders and pillars of the Su Family, their attire and demeanor exuding wealth and status. Their faces were etched with dark fury, barely contained.

Among them, several venerable Su Family elders and Su Jiafeng sat prominently. Su Jiafeng's face was a portrait of displeasure; it had been ages since anyone had dared cross the Su Family, much less harm them.

Today, however, two groups had been slain, over thirty in total, including Su Yuan. It was a blow to the Su Family's pride and a devastating loss.

"Could that good-for-nothing really be aligning with Marquis Fengling, Lee Changkong? And he's set to marry Lee Ling'er in ten days? Is this fact or fiction?" The Su Family wasted no time in seeking out the truth behind these whispers.

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