In the room, the pitch-black vortex martial soul slowly rotated, wisps of faint spiritual energy from heaven and earth swirling around Mark Sutton, as Mark Sutton's cultivation slowly increased.

While Mark Sutton was cultivating, news of him awakening a first-grade human-level martial soul also spread throughout Linyang City.

The young master of the Su family, Mark Sutton, the number one genius of the Su family, has awakened a trash martial soul of first-grade human level!

All of Linyang City was instantly thrown into an uproar, and Mark Sutton became the laughingstock of many during their idle chats.

……

In the room, after five days of arduous cultivation, Mark Sutton finally stopped training.

"The level of my martial soul is just too low, the cultivation speed is far too slow!"

Mark Sutton sighed inwardly. After five days of hard work, his cultivation had increased, but only by a minuscule amount.

At this rate, to raise his cultivation to the second level of the Qi Refining Realm, it would take at least more than half a year.

Fortunately, in these five days, he had cultivated the Cloud Qi Art to the second level, and his true qi had become much more refined and condensed.

"I'd better practice martial techniques instead!"

Mark Sutton took out the secret manual of "Ninefold Sea Wave Fist" and began to study it carefully.

After thoroughly comprehending all its contents, Mark Sutton put away the manual and went out into the courtyard.

"Ninefold Sea Wave Fist—body like the vast sea, fists like surging waves, billowing and turbulent, each wave stronger than the last..."

In his mind, Mark Sutton recalled the key points of the fist technique and began to practice each move.

Hah! Hah! Hah!

At first, his punches were slow, but gradually they became faster and faster, until finally, his fists were like cannonballs, the sound of the whistling wind unceasing.

Time passed slowly, and another five days went by.

In the small courtyard, the wind from his fists howled without end, the air constantly trembling.

"Ha!" Mark Sutton suddenly shouted, throwing a punch at the stone bench in front of him.

Boom!

With a loud bang, the stone bench instantly shattered, fragments scattering all over the ground.

Whoosh!

Mark Sutton took a deep breath and stood still, withdrawing his fists.

"Not bad! I've reached minor accomplishment!" A faint smile appeared on Mark Sutton's face.

When the Ninefold Sea Wave Fist is trained to perfection, a single punch can unleash nine layers of fist force. Now, he could already unleash five layers.

Having lived two lifetimes, Mark Sutton's comprehension was extremely high. In just five days, he had trained a first-grade mid-level martial technique to minor accomplishment—a feat few in all of Linyang City could achieve.

"Now that my fist technique has reached minor accomplishment and my strength has greatly increased, I can go try my luck in the Youfeng Mountains."

Mark Sutton murmured to himself, tidied up a bit, and headed out.

The Youfeng Mountains are a vast mountain range thirty li outside Linyang City, stretching five hundred li in circumference, with towering peaks and dense forests.

Within the mountains grow a great many spiritual herbs and medicines, and many martial artists from Linyang City like to search for them there.

Of course, there are both opportunities and dangers. The mountains are home to many demonic beasts, and every year, many martial artists die at their hands, leaving no remains behind.

Mark Sutton also knew the Youfeng Mountains were dangerous, but his martial soul was too low-level and his cultivation speed too slow. If he didn't go seek some fortune, who knew when he would break through!

As Mark Sutton walked along the shaded path in the mansion, a burst of silvery laughter suddenly drifted over.

Mark Sutton turned his head and was suddenly stunned.

By the pond not far away, a young man and woman stood in the pavilion, talking closely and looking very happy.

The girl was stunningly beautiful, tall and slender, her skin as fair as snow. She wore a purple velvet dress, and her long, jet-black hair draped casually over her shoulders.

This girl was none other than Mark Sutton's childhood sweetheart and cousin, Julia Lawrence.

Julia Lawrence was the eldest daughter of the Liu family in Linyang City. The Liu family was a small clan in Linyang City, subordinate to the Su family.

Mark Sutton and Julia Lawrence had grown up together since childhood, childhood sweethearts with a very close relationship.

Their parents had already discussed it and planned to officially arrange their engagement at the beginning of next year.

And the young man with Julia Lawrence was none other than the current number one genius of the Su family, Eric Sutton.

At this moment—

As Mark Sutton saw the two of them, the pair in the pavilion also noticed Mark Sutton.

"Yushan, why are you two together?" Mark Sutton asked with a sullen face, stepping forward with a frown.

Julia Lawrence's eyes flickered, and she turned her head away without speaking.

Eric Sutton glanced at Mark Sutton and sneered, "From today on, Yushan is my Eric Sutton's woman. Don't pester her anymore, or don't blame me for being rude."

"Yushan!" Mark Sutton ignored Eric Sutton, his eyes fixed intently on Julia Lawrence.

"Mark Sutton, didn't you hear what I said?" Eric Sutton's eyes flashed coldly. "You're a good-for-nothing, not worthy of Yushan at all. Only I am the right match for her."

Julia Lawrence nodded and said, "Eric Sutton is right."

"Why? Just because of my martial soul?"

Mark Sutton's expression was calm. Although he felt uncomfortable inside, he did not get angry. In his previous life as the king of mercenaries, he had been surrounded by women—what kind hadn't he seen? How could he lose his temper over a woman who didn't like him?

"That's right, cousin, we're no longer the same kind of people!" Julia Lawrence nodded and said.