Qian Ran used the same method on Bei Bei that he had employed on Mu En, imprisoning Bei Bei's soul with his sinister soul skill.
Bei Bei stared at Qian Ran in terror, unable to utter a sound.
"Don't worry, Bei Bei," Qian Ran sneered. "I'll gather plenty of other souls for you to keep you company. And with your great-grandfather there to protect you, you might even fare decently in the afterlife. Ha!"
A single thought was all it would take for Qian Ran to inflict unending torment on Bei Bei's soul.
"Qian Ran, this soul skill of yours is more sinister than anything I've seen from evil soul masters," Xian Lin'er observed, her voice tinged with astonishment. She hadn't expected Qian Ran to possess such a terrifying ability—one that could enslave the souls of the dead.
Even evil soul masters, who often used soul-manipulating artifacts like the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, couldn't achieve this level of mastery.
Most such techniques were limited by the quality and quantity of souls they could bind. Yet Qian Ran had managed to subjugate the soul of an Ultimate Douluo like Mu En. It was truly monstrous.
"Where did this soul skill even come from? It's ridiculously overpowered," Xian Lin'er remarked, her tone both admiring and wary.
If anyone other than Qian Ran had wielded this ability, Xian Lin'er admitted she would have felt compelled to eliminate them for the greater good.
After all, such power could easily sow terror across the continent if left unchecked.
But since it was Qian Ran, she wasn't worried.
As long as Qian Ran was happy, that was all that mattered.
Even if Qian Ran were to become an evil soul master one day, Xian Lin'er was certain she wouldn't raise a hand against him.
Tang Ya and Zhang Lexuan, too, were intrigued by Qian Ran's power. When Mu En's spirit had first appeared, they had been startled, briefly wondering if he was still alive.
Once they realized he was merely a soul bound to Qian Ran's will, their initial fear gave way to curiosity.
Every one of Qian Ran's soul skills seemed extraordinarily powerful, but this one—capable of enslaving even an Ultimate Douluo's soul—was on a completely different level.
"What kind of soul beast could have produced a skill like this?" Zhang Lexuan mused aloud.
"This is my new soul skill. I call it the Legion of the Dead," Qian Ran said with a grin. He, too, was immensely pleased with it.
"With this skill, you're practically a certified evil soul master," Xian Lin'er quipped.
She recalled that Qian Ran's Angelic Martial Soul had always carried a hint of dark, necrotic energy. The upper echelons of Shrek Academy were aware of this but had dismissed it because Qian Ran's soul skills primarily exhibited pure, radiant light.
Over time, even Xian Lin'er had almost forgotten that Qian Ran possessed such a sinister power.
Now, seeing it in action, she couldn't help but notice how this soul skill carried an aura more malevolent than anything she had encountered from true evil soul masters.
"What if I really do become an evil soul master? Would you abandon me, Lin'er?" Qian Ran asked with a mock-hurt expression.
"Never," Xian Lin'er replied, her voice filled with emotion. "Even if you became an evil soul master, even if you wanted to kill me, I'd gladly die in your arms."
Her words were heartfelt and unwavering. Xian Lin'er knew she could never leave Qian Ran, no matter what. Even if tragedy struck, she would remain by his side until her dying breath.
"Lin'er, you're amazing. I understand how you feel, and I promise I'll always be with you," Qian Ran said warmly, his heart touched.
He turned to the others. "Don't worry, this ability doesn't affect my mind. I'll always stay true to myself and protect you all."
"Now that Bei Bei is dead, I need to go," Xian Lin'er said suddenly, her cheeks flushing. She had just realized that Tang Ya and Zhang Lexuan were present and had overheard her emotional confession.
As the head of Shrek Academy, Xian Lin'er felt a wave of embarrassment at showing such vulnerability in front of her students.
Without waiting for a response, she hurriedly left, her face still red.
"When did this happen?" Tang Ya asked, pinching Qian Ran's waist playfully. "When did you and Xian Lin'er become a thing? And why didn't I know about it?"
Tang Ya had long known about Qian Ran's relationship with Zhang Lexuan, but learning he was also involved with Xian Lin'er—one of the most powerful and prestigious figures in Shrek Academy—was shocking.
Xian Lin'er wasn't just any woman. As the head of the academy, her status was unmatched. Across the entire continent, there were few whose positions rivaled hers.
And yet, she was now one of Qian Ran's women.
Instead of feeling jealous, Tang Ya was elated. If someone as remarkable as Xian Lin'er was in the same category as her, it meant she, too, was extraordinary.
Tang Ya wasn't insecure about her future potential—her evolving martial soul filled her with confidence. But to be seen as an equal to someone as iconic as Xian Lin'er was a different kind of thrill.
Her heart raced with excitement at the thought of sharing this news with Jiang Nannan and the others. She even imagined inviting Xian Lin'er to join their group outings.
"Don't spread this around. It could tarnish her reputation," Qian Ran warned, trying to keep the situation discreet.
"Oh, so now you care about reputations?" Zhang Lexuan teased, stifling a laugh. "The way you behave, especially with married women, makes me wonder if you have any self-control at all."
Qian Ran chuckled awkwardly. If not for his immense power and influence, his antics would have made him a pariah at Shrek Academy.
Instead, his exceptional talent and achievements made people overlook his indulgent lifestyle.
"All right, enough joking around. Let's clean this place up," Qian Ran said, eager to change the subject. "As for Bei Bei's corpse... I'll let the dogs have it."
After ensuring the scene was spotless, Qian Ran carried Bei Bei's body to a secluded area, where a pack of wild dogs devoured it, leaving no trace behind.
(Chapter End)
Notes-Read all chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X