The Dou Ling Pill Taken Early

As Su Luo absorbed the Soul Ring, a Brocade Robe Elder suddenly appeared. Judging by the patterns embroidered on his clothing, it was not difficult to tell that he was a noble of the Dou Ling Empire.

"I am Su Muyue of the Su Family in Luo City, Star Luo Empire. May I know your esteemed name, Senior?"

Looking at the elder who had suddenly appeared and who knew how long he had been following them, Su Muyue could not help but be startled. The faint pressure emanating from him was something Su Muyue, who had once had a Soul Douluo father, knew all too well.

This elder was definitely a Soul Douluo, and not one who had only recently broken through. At his peak, Su Muyue's father had reached Rank 85 Soul Power, yet this elder's aura surpassed her father's at his peak. Even considering that the Su Family's martial soul did not provide much enhancement to its user, Su Muyue could be certain that this elder's cultivation could not possibly be below Rank 85.

The thought of a Soul Douluo with cultivation no lower than Rank 85 secretly following her made cold sweat soak Su Muyue's back.

Especially now, when Su Luo was at the critical stage of fusing with his Soul Ring. If the fusion were interrupted at this time, a four-thousand-year Soul Ring would be enough to leave Su Luo either dead or crippled.

Therefore, even though the elder before her clearly had ill intentions, Su Muyue did not want to clash with him at such a time.

The elder stroked his beard, his eyes full of arrogance as he said, "This old man is Chang Wei of the Chang Family in He City, Dou Ling Empire."

"Chang Wei!" Upon hearing the name Chang Wei of the Chang Family, Su Muyue's pupils constricted sharply.

In this era of Douluo II, Title Douluo still carried considerable weight. One rank below them, Soul Douluo were often the heads of rather powerful sects or nobles with a not-insignificant title. The former Su Family had belonged to the latter category.

Thus, when Chang Wei announced his name, Su Muyue immediately realized who he was.

The former Family Head of the Chang Family in He City, Douluo Empire, an Rank 88 Soul Douluo!

A figure who might one day reach the realm of a Title Douluo.

Although she had been to the Dou Qi Continent and knew that even the realm of Title Douluo was not all that impressive in terms of actual strength, for people who had yet to grow, even a Soul Douluo was deadly to Su Muyue and Su Luo at this moment—especially while Su Luo was still fusing with his Soul Ring.

"May I ask how my Su Family has offended you, Senior? Please enlighten me. This junior will certainly give you a satisfactory explanation."

Quietly shielding Su Luo behind her, Su Muyue spoke very politely.

Chang Wei gave a disdainful snort at Su Muyue's politeness. "Hmph, you Jealous Woman! Even now, you still don't know what you did wrong."

"Let me ask you: why did you refuse to let Qin Hao take a concubine all these years? He merely wanted to take a concubine. That woman could never have threatened your position, yet you, a Jealous Woman, obstructed him at every turn. Do you know how miserably you harmed my disciple?"

"During the freezing twelfth lunar month, his mother still had to wash clothes for others to make a living. And what did that earn them? A few cold corn buns. My disciple lived like that for five years—five years! Do you know how they survived those five years?"

"If you had not interfered, he should have been the Young Master of the Viscount Manor!"

Chang Wei berated her. Not long after Qin Teng returned to the Viscount Manor, Qin Hao had arranged for him to take Chang Wei as his master. Almost no Soul Douluo would refuse a disciple with Innate Full Soul Power, and Chang Wei was naturally no exception. As someone with Innate Soul Power Rank 9, being able to accept someone with Innate Full Soul Power as a disciple naturally made him cherish Qin Teng greatly.

Especially after spending the past three years together, Chang Wei had come to like him even more. Whether it was Qin Teng's talent or his perseverance, Chang Wei was extremely satisfied.

It was precisely because of this satisfaction that Chang Wei had practically treated Qin Teng as his own child or grandchild.

And because Chang Wei cared for Qin Teng as if he were family, Qin Teng gradually began telling him about his past over the years.

After learning of Qin Teng's past, Chang Wei understood where Qin Teng's steadfast personality came from, while also feeling heartache over what Qin Teng had experienced.

At the same time, he became filled with rage toward Su Muyue, the woman who had forbidden Qin Hao from taking a concubine—the culprit Qin Teng claimed had caused all his tragedies.

In Chang Wei's view, if Su Muyue had not been so jealous and had allowed Qin Hao to take a concubine sooner, how could Qin Teng have suffered so much and endured so much misery?

It was this rage toward Su Muyue that drove him to keep inquiring about her whereabouts. When Su Muyue and Su Luo returned to the Douluo Continent, he received the news almost immediately.

Even as a Soul Douluo, he could not simply go to the Star Luo Empire to trouble Su Muyue. But Su Muyue could not remain in the Star Luo Empire forever; eventually, she would need Soul Rings.

Therefore, Chang Wei chose to lie in wait along the route near Luo City and the Star Dou Great Forest.

His efforts paid off. He had not waited long before he saw Su Muyue leave the Star Dou Great Forest with Su Luo and a four-thousand-year Green Wood Vine.

Relying on his cultivation as an eight-ring Soul Douluo, as well as the innate ability of his martial soul to conceal his aura, neither Su Luo nor Su Muyue could detect him hiding in the shadows.

After learning that Su Luo possessed a Soul Skill capable of teleporting the two of them to an unknown location, Chang Wei chose to strike while Su Luo was fusing with his Soul Ring.

Fusing a Soul Ring required complete concentration and allowed no carelessness. At such a time, a soul master's five senses were even shut off, as there was no spare focus left. This was one of the reasons soul masters had to form teams when hunting Soul Rings.

For Su Luo at this moment, even an ordinary person slapping him could potentially inflict fatal damage.

"Senior, there are some things between Qin Hao and me that you do not understand."

Su Muyue wanted to explain. Back then, she truly had not known that Qin Hao had another child outside. If she had learned sooner that Qin Hao was keeping a mistress outside, she would have long since cut off his resources and returned to her family, leaving Qin Hao to live with that woman. Why would she have continued spending money, effort, and connections to help Qin Hao become a viscount?

"Enough. I do not care about the reason. The suffering Teng'er endured is real. I have no interest in debating right and wrong. Teng'er and his mother suffered for five years, so you will return to the Viscount Manor and serve as their slave for five years, waiting on them and handling their filth. Then have Qin Hao divorce you, and this matter will be settled. Otherwise, do not blame this old man for being merciless."

Su Muyue clenched her teeth so hard they nearly shattered. As the daughter of a Count Manor, when had she ever served anyone? But then she thought of the Soul Douluo standing before her, and of Su Luo behind her, who could not be disturbed.

"I can be their slave, but please spare my son." A tear slid down her cheek, and Su Muyue seemed to lose all her strength.

"Do you think this old man does not know what your son can do? His cultivation must be crippled. Otherwise, this old man cannot be sure he will not take you and flee again." Chang Wei spoke disdainfully, displaying the casual confidence of an elder with superior cultivation.

As Chang Wei's words fell, Su Muyue took out the Dou Ling Pill she had originally planned to consume only after reaching high-rank Dou Ling, then swallowed it in one gulp.