Qian Ran retrieved the Rank 7 soul tool he had crafted during his certification exam and handed it to Ma Xiaotao. He had designed it specifically with her in mind.
"This is a Rank 7 soul tool?"
Ma Xiaotao was astonished as she cradled the crimson longsword in her hands. Adorned with phoenix motifs, the weapon seemed perfectly tailored for her.
"It's the real deal. In fact, it should be stronger than most Rank 7 soul tools on the market," Qian Ran said casually.
"Qian Ran, you're the best." Ma Xiaotao felt a surge of gratitude. Seeing the intricate phoenix engravings on the sword, she realized that Qian Ran had been thinking of her while crafting it.
"A Rank 7 soul tool like this would sell for tens of thousands—maybe even hundreds of thousands—of gold soul coins at auction," Wang Dong'er exclaimed, her eyes wide. "At Qian Ran's speed, he could become a multimillionaire just by crafting soul tools."
The group remembered their trip to the Star Luo City auction house, where they had seen soul tools sold. They had learned about the typical prices of different levels of soul tools there.
While Level 9 soul tools were never auctioned, Level 8 ones occasionally made an appearance, though rarely. Even Level 7 soul tools often fetched over a million gold soul coins.
In the Sun Moon Empire, where advanced soul tools were closely guarded, such items were scarce and highly sought after. The Star Luo Empire's finest auction houses mostly dealt in Level 4 to 6 soul tools, with Level 7 being a rare and luxurious commodity.
"Not a bad plan. If times get tough, I'll just make a dozen and sell them," Qian Ran joked.
"Pfft."
The girls giggled, finding his offhand comment amusing.
"Soul engineering really is a gold mine. It's so profitable!" Wang Dong'er remarked, still marveling at the value of Qian Ran's craft.
"Why don't you go test your soul tools? See how well they work for you," Qian Ran suggested, prompting the girls to excitedly rush outside to try their new equipment.
"Congratulations, congratulations! A Rank 7 soul engineer—you're officially more impressive than me, a mere Soul Sage," Ma Xiaotao teased, though her tone carried genuine admiration.
At Shrek Academy, Rank 7 soul engineers held the same prestige as Soul Douluo with eight rings, due to their rarity.
Ma Xiaotao had been in high spirits after breaking through to Soul Sage, but Qian Ran's rapid progress had once again outshone her.
Previously, Qian Ran's strength had surpassed hers, but she had comforted herself with the fact that he was still a student in many ways. Now, with the Rank 7 soul engineer badge gleaming on his chest, no one could dismiss him due to his age.
As the others left to test their tools, Ma Xiaotao leaned close to Qian Ran, her warm breath tickling his ear.
"What kind of reward would Qian Ran-daren want in exchange for crafting me a full set of Rank 7 soul tools? Hmm? I really want them," Ma Xiaotao said, her tone coquettish as she clung to his arm.
With her strength, a full set of Rank 7 soul tools would make her virtually unbeatable against anyone below Soul Douluo level.
"Well, that depends on how obedient you are," Qian Ran said with a sly grin, his gaze drifting over her curvaceous figure.
"Tell me what to do, and I'll do it," Ma Xiaotao said, blushing. Every time Qian Ran asked her to "be obedient," it always ended with her caught in one of his playful schemes.
But she didn't really mind. Though his antics often embarrassed her, she secretly enjoyed them.
"Just make it quick, okay? If Wang Dong'er and the others come back, I won't play along," Ma Xiaotao added hastily. She had no intention of appearing too uninhibited in front of the younger students—it was simply too mortifying.
"No problem. Let's go to your room."
"Fine," Ma Xiaotao agreed, relieved. As long as it was just the two of them, she could tolerate anything. In fact, she quite enjoyed Qian Ran's boldness and his endless stream of inventive ideas.
"Luochen, wait outside for a bit. I need to talk to Qian Ran about something," Ma Xiaotao said, glancing apologetically at Ling Luochen.
Initially, Ma Xiaotao had planned to bring Ling Luochen along to help her get closer to Qian Ran. Ling Luochen's quiet and reserved nature made it unlikely she would take the initiative herself, so Ma Xiaotao had intended to nudge things along.
But the moment she saw Qian Ran, her resolve crumbled.
With just a few teasing words from him, her body felt like it was on fire, and all she wanted was to be alone with him.
"Actually, I wouldn't mind both of you," Qian Ran whispered mischievously, earning a sharp pinch to his waist from Ma Xiaotao.
"Don't even think about it! Ling Luochen is still a virgin!" she scolded, glaring at him. This man was always trying to take things a step further.
"Well then, try this on. Today, you're a defeated lady knight," Qian Ran said, tossing her a blue knight costume.
"A knight would never wear something like this! Have you even seen the Star Luo Empire's knight uniforms during competitions?" Ma Xiaotao grumbled as she reluctantly began changing.
"That's none of your concern," Qian Ran replied, smirking.
The outfit was clearly a cosplay design, and as Ma Xiaotao slipped it on, Qian Ran realized it resembled the attire of a certain blue-haired knight. The costume, with its suggestive cut and intricate details, exemplified a tradition of provocative yet elegant designs.
When Ma Xiaotao finished dressing, Qian Ran's eyes widened.
The blue-and-white outfit accentuated her voluptuous figure, her chest pushing against the fabric in an enticing curve. Her narrow waist led to her round hips, hugged by a black, silk-like leotard.
The back of the outfit featured a V-shaped cutout, exposing her smooth, creamy skin. A pair of thigh-high stockings, connected by garters, clung tightly to her legs, reflecting a subtle sheen. Where the stockings ended, a tantalizing strip of bare flesh peeked out, completing the look.
Qian Ran was momentarily stunned.
The costume didn't perfectly suit Ma Xiaotao—Ling Luochen's cool demeanor and refined elegance would have aligned more closely with the character. But Ma Xiaotao's bold, fiery personality added a unique charm to the ensemble.
"What's with this outfit?" Ma Xiaotao grumbled, her face flushed. She didn't know where Qian Ran had found such peculiar attire, but it had to be from some dubious noble's wardrobe. The continent's aristocrats were infamous for their penchant for buying beautiful slaves from underground auctions to entertain themselves.
"Well, my defeated lady knight, you should understand your current predicament," Qian Ran teased, pulling out a set of iron restraints that resembled something used to shackle prisoners.
"You little rascal," Ma Xiaotao muttered, her face growing redder as she slowly put the restraints on herself.
To her surprise, the moment she locked them into place, her soul power felt sealed off.
"This is... a soul tool?" Ma Xiaotao exclaimed, shocked. The restraints weren't just props—they were powerful enough to suppress her abilities. This had to be at least a Rank 7 soul tool.
(End of Chapter)