C19 The King Grade Soul..

After the tragic loss of over thirty lives, the Su Family was enraged but no longer dared to take any situation lightly, especially after Su Yuan was killed in a single blow by someone of such formidable strength.

"Confirmed reports indicate that Liu Tong, a confidant of Marquis Fengling, was the one who struck down Su Yuan. Rumors claim he has attained the seventh level of the Martial General Realm!"

The news had spread, and Liu Tong's identity was recognized by many. He was a well-known confidant of Marquis Fengling.

"Seventh level of the Martial Marquis Stage!" someone in the hall murmured with a grave expression.

The Su Family was not without cultivators at the seventh rank, but such individuals were few and far between within the family. And behind Liu Tong stood Marquis Fengling of Fengling City—a master and a Martial Marquis Stage powerhouse.

"Bai Yuanshan from the Bai Family has been waiting outside the Du Family's residence to see Du Shaomu since last night—he's been standing vigil all night!" another person added, emphasizing the gravity of the situation for the Su Family.

"The Bai Family is involved too? Is Marquis Fengling Lee Changkong planning to ally with them against us?" The speculation sent a ripple of concern through the Su Family members, fearing a coalition between Lee Changkong and the Bai Family aimed at their downfall.

"Why am I only hearing about this now?" Su Yuetong demanded, her presence commanding from the head of the room. Draped in a flowing white gown, her gaze swept over the assembly, her eyes misty yet piercing, her lips parting to speak in a voice that was as chilling as it was captivating.

"Yuetong, we thought it was a minor issue and didn't want to trouble you. But now, the priority is dealing with Du Shaomu—the fool who's managed to gain the favor of Lee Changkong and the Bai Family's support. They've slain over thirty of our kin, including Su Heng. If we don't respond, people might believe we fear Marquis Fengling, and our standing in North Cloud City could be jeopardized," Su Jiafeng explained, her face tense.

"Is Du Shaomu truly set to marry Lee Ling'er?" Su Yuetong inquired, her voice tinged with a frosty edge, her delicate fingers resting lightly on the chair's armrest.

"With Liu Tong, the Marquis's aide, arriving in North Cloud City, the rumors are likely true," a family member responded.

"We never should have tolerated Du Shaomu. Now he's become a thorn in our side," another Su Family member commented bitterly, frustrated that the outcast they had expelled had secured the support of the Lee Family and now sought to turn against them.

"Now that he's under the Lee Family's wing, is it too late to eliminate that waste?" an elder of the Su Family asked coldly. The Du mother and son now had a powerful patron, making it impossible to dispose of them as easily as crushing an ant, as they might have in the past.

"What on earth does Lee Changkong see in that good-for-nothing?"

Members of the Su Family were baffled. Lee Changkong, the esteemed lord of Fengling City, actually saw something worth marrying his daughter off to that good-for-nothing.

"Taking down that good-for-nothing would be easy, but the Lee Family's presence complicates things," Su Jiafeng said, her eyes brimming with a chilling intent and a venomous glint. "If the Lee Family discovers that Du Shaomu is nothing but a cast-off son-in-law from our Su Family, and a total waste at that, they surely wouldn't dream of giving their daughter to him. Without the Lee Family's backing, he's just worthless trash. Then, crushing him will be as simple as squashing an ant!"

"Exactly. Once Lee Changkong realizes the guy was thrown out by us and is worthless, he wouldn't dare let his daughter marry such trash."

The hall erupted with cold laughter as the Su Family members found their strategy to undermine Du Shaomu. A good-for-nothing will always be just that, no match for the might of the Su Family!

...

Dawn was breaking, and the pale blue sky was dotted with a few lingering stars.

As the first light of morning cut through the mist, North Cloud City was set for an unsettled day.

"Hu!"

In his room, Du Shaomu finished forming his hand seals. As he sat cross-legged, his eyes snapped open, emitting a blinding light. He whispered to himself, "Pill Master."

Before one becomes an official Pill Master, there are several minor stages, ranging from first to fifth grade.

Overnight, Du Shaomu had ascended to the rank of Pill Master.

It was an unbelievable feat that would leave many in disbelief.

Such talent was unheard of, a level of terror beyond what the term 'peerless genius' could convey.

In reality, Du Shaomu was merely reclaiming his past life's Pill Master status.

A smile graced Du Shaomu's lips as he reveled in an unexpected boon. The soul force within the Heavenly Valley of his mind was incomparable to that of any ordinary Pill Master.

His soul, having traversed two lifetimes, was immensely powerful.

Though reborn and greatly diminished, his soul force remained far superior to that of an average person. More crucially, this diminished soul was once the soul of a Pill God.

Having journeyed through two lifetimes and practiced the God Controlling Technique, he had now formed an Innate Soul Source, the essence of soul power.

Du Shaomu peered into the Heavenly Valley; his soul had solidified, unscathed and radiant, exuding an overwhelming presence.

The mere release of this aura could cause souls to quiver and succumb.

"King-grade soul!"

The smile on his lips widened. Even as a former Pill Master, Du Shaomu was immensely pleased with his soul's current potency.

A King-grade soul was not an innate gift for a Pill Master.

Both Pill Masters and martial cultivators classified their talents into seven levels: Heavenly, Sovereign, Royal, Noble, General, Noble, and King.

The soul's grade spoke to its inherent quality, reflecting the depth of its strength.

Certainly, possessing a formidable soul quality is a clear indicator of a Pill Master's extraordinary talent.

In his past life, Pill Masters with such astounding aptitude were rare. It was only when Du Shaomu reached the Pill King Stage that he managed to attain a king-grade spirit, a feat that earned him the title of a once-in-a-generation prodigy.

For the average Pill Emperor at the peak of their power, achieving a king-grade spirit was simply out of reach.

Yet here were Pill Masters with the soul grade of a king, an astonishing revelation that would be met with disbelief if ever spoken aloud.

"Young Master, the head of the Bai Family has been waiting in the hall."

Du Xiaohou's voice reached from outside the door early in the morning.

The Young Master had left the Bai Family patriarch waiting outside all night long. The man hadn't slept a wink, racked with anxiety and fear that the Young Master might have forgotten him.

So at the crack of dawn, Du Xiaohou had ushered the Bai Family patriarch inside, worried he might fly into a rage.

To everyone's surprise, the patriarch not only seemed willing but even brought gifts.

He presented a considerable amount of gold. Du Xiaohou, feeling it improper to accept, reluctantly took it.

The fact that the Bai Family patriarch would bestow gifts upon a servant like him was a shock to Du Xiaohou. Such a gesture would have been unthinkable in the past.

"Understood, I'll be there shortly," Du Shaomu responded casually from within his room.

"Young Master, there's another pressing matter. The Su Family has us surrounded."

Du Xiaohou felt compelled to report. When he had opened the door for Bai Yuanshan of the Bai Family, he had seen the Du Family estate encircled by the Su Family, impenetrable as a fortress.

"I'm aware."

Du Shaomu's reply was as nonchalant as ever, unfazed by the situation.

Du Xiaohou felt a mix of helplessness and trepidation but was at a loss for what to do.

Moments later, in the rundown courtyard of the Du Family, Bai Yuanshan met with Du Shaomu.

The wedding of Su Yuetong from the Su Family had been a modest affair, not even extending invitations to the Bai or Tian families. Thus, this was Bai Yuanshan's first encounter with Du Shaomu.

He observed the young man before him: fifteen years old, with eyes that were clear and profound, exuding an air of distinction. He certainly didn't fit the rumors of being a worthless youth.

Bai Yuanshan's gaze shifted, seeking the formidable Pill Master he presumed stood behind Du Shaomu.

From all he had witnessed, there had to be a powerful Pill Master supporting Du Shaomu.

His visit to the Du Family was motivated by the desire to meet this esteemed Pill Master.

Du Shaomu was well aware of Bai Yuanshan's assumptions. He suspected that Bai Yuanshan would never believe that the pill formula was his own work, instead imagining a mysterious and mighty Pill Master in the background.

"Patriarch Bai, my teacher is absent. The letter you have was penned by me," Du Shaomu stated, sparing further explanation.

Even with the truth laid bare, it was likely Bai Yuanshan would remain skeptical.

"Is that so..."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuanshan felt a mix of astonishment, joy, and disappointment. He was thrilled to have his suspicions confirmed that Du Shaomu had indeed struck fortune with a powerful Pill Master as his mentor.

Yet, his concern lay in the fact that the formidable Pill Master he had hoped to meet was not the young man before him.