After Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor bestowed Juzi with numerous treasures, the two excused themselves and entered Qianran's room.
Their sudden warmth toward Juzi was entirely for Qianran's sake. Ice Emperor's jealousy alone would have prevented her from showing Juzi any kindness, and even the gentle Snow Emperor harbored her own private reservations.
Maintaining surface-level harmony required Qianran to placate them behind the scenes.
Thus, Qianran spent the better part of the day coaxing Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor until they were thoroughly satisfied before they finally left him in peace.
When Juzi saw Qianran's faintly ashen face, her expression turned curious. This was the first time she had ever seen Qianran looking so drained. Even after embracing both Keke and Nana at the same time, he had always seemed full of energy.
"Take care of your health," Juzi said with a teasing glare.
Still, she couldn't shake her astonishment at the realization that two of the continent's top ten fierce beasts genuinely had such a close relationship with Qianran.
Juzi found it hard to believe that the Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor, beings of such power and majesty, could feel so deeply for Qianran. Yet their affection for him was unmistakable—perhaps even stronger than her own.
"My health is fine," Qianran declared, patting his chest confidently.
"I don't believe you. Your face looks awful," Juzi said, her wide eyes filled with concern. She hesitated, then refrained from saying more, not wanting to provoke Qianran. If he tried to prove her wrong by overexerting himself, it would only make things worse.
"Well…" Qianran laughed awkwardly.
"Alright, alright. I know you're amazing, but even if you want to keep up your antics, you need to rest more," Juzi said, wrapping her arms around his.
Her concern was genuine.
Qianran's boundless energy had always seemed superhuman, and she had worried about his health before. Now, seeing him visibly fatigued, she resolved to keep him from overindulging. If Qianran's health took a turn for the worse, she would suffer the consequences too.
Since sharing his bed, Juzi understood Keke and Nana's devotion. Her own fascination with Qianran's body was undeniable, though she was too shy to admit it.
If she didn't care for him, Qianran wouldn't have had such an easy time winning her over.
"What kind of person do you think I am? I know how to pace myself," Qianran grumbled.
"Let's hope so," Juzi retorted, pinching his waist playfully.
She knew all too well that many noble playboys lived fast and died young, their lives cut short by excess and debauchery.
"Enough about that. You're my woman now, and I want to help you improve your strength. You're too weak as you are, especially with your martial soul…"
"I know," Juzi said, cutting him off with a nod. She had done her research and was fully aware of the monstrous talent among Qianran's friends from Shrek Academy.
Compared to them, her abilities were mediocre at best.
"So, how do you plan to help me?" Juzi asked, her curiosity piqued and excitement bubbling in her voice. She didn't feel embarrassed—she was Qianran's woman now and had no reason to reject his aid.
Besides, she didn't want to feel inferior when standing alongside Qianran's other companions.
Her soul power was barely at the Soul King level, and even that was thanks to the resources provided by Crown Prince Xu Tianran. Although Qianran had already helped her improve by a few levels, the potential of her Orange martial soul was simply too limited. No amount of training could overcome its inherent shortcomings.
Juzi knew this well. Her Orange martial soul was barely useful beyond providing occasional refreshment. To truly grow stronger, she would need to change her martial soul itself.
"I have a treasure that can evolve your martial soul—perfect for plant-based souls like yours," Qianran said, producing a small green vial.
It was a reward from his system, and he had only used a few drops to nurture some special plants in the Icefire Yin Yang Well. The rest was more than enough for Juzi to transform her martial soul into one of the best food-based souls on the continent.
The treasures from Qianran's system always delivered remarkable results.
With her martial soul enhanced, Juzi could make significant strides in cultivation. As for knowledge about soul tools, Qianran could easily transfer it directly into her mind, giving her the edge she needed.
"Something so miraculous exists?" Juzi gasped, staring at the vial in awe. She couldn't believe the kind of treasures Qianran always seemed to have at his disposal.
"Drink it now," Qianran said simply.
"Alright," Juzi agreed without hesitation. Though initially surprised, she quickly calmed down. After spending so much time with Qianran, she had grown accustomed to extraordinary events.
If anyone else had presented her with such a treasure, she might have been skeptical. But from Qianran? It was just another day.
After all, what could possibly top the self-contained world inside his spatial ring?
Juzi drank the potion in one gulp, feeling the potent energy spread through her body. Without wasting a moment, she sat down to absorb the power.
An hour passed.
Two hours.
Three hours.
Qianran grew bored of waiting and went to sleep, confident that Juzi wouldn't be disturbed in this space.
It wasn't until the dead of night that Juzi finally finished absorbing the potion's effects.
She felt an unprecedented comfort coursing through her body, her soul power now circulating ten times faster than before.
Eager to see the changes, she summoned her martial soul.
Her Orange martial soul looked different—its color had shifted, now displaying a dazzling array of hues. She peeled one of the segments and popped it into her mouth, immediately sensing a boost to her spiritual and soul power.
Though she hadn't yet tested all its new capabilities, Juzi was certain her martial soul had undergone a complete transformation. She was now on par with the continent's strongest food-type soul masters.
Experimenting further, Juzi discovered that different-colored segments of her Orange martial soul offered distinct effects. Some could temporarily increase soul power by 50%, others enhanced defense, and some acted as supplements, providing small yet permanent boosts to strength.
Each color represented a unique benefit.
Juzi quickly pieced together the changes in her martial soul. A single vial of potion had turned her useless martial soul into a top-tier one.
Her first thought was to share the good news with Qianran, but seeing him sleeping peacefully, she held back her excitement. Instead, she carefully washed up and slipped into bed beside him, a contented smile on her face.
(Chapter End)