Xian Lin'er, her face covered in lipstick marks, was gleefully admiring her handiwork.
For women, just like men, leaving lipstick marks all over their lover was a way of claiming them. Xian Lin'er wasn't the only one who loved doing this.
For Qian Ran, it was nothing short of a reward.
Her lips were soft and supple, and the act of kissing every inch of his skin while leaving lipstick marks felt like a luxurious, full-body spa. It was an enjoyable and tantalizing experience.
Such treatment would have been unimaginable in Qian Ran's previous life—even if he could have found someone willing, he couldn't have afforded it or endured the awkwardness of it.
On Earth, this kind of romantic act would lose its charm due to practical reasons: saliva contains digestive enzymes and nutrients, and when it leaves the body, bacteria decompose the nutrients, producing unpleasant odors.
But on the Douluo Continent, women like Xian Lin'er were fragrant no matter what they did.
This unique environment was one of Qian Ran's most cherished indulgences here.
Though he was male, Qian Ran's body was perfectly structured—immaculate and exuding a masculine yet alluring scent. Xian Lin'er and the other women were as captivated by his body as he was by theirs. It wasn't just him who craved them—they were equally enamored of him.
"Go take a bath, and make sure you clean off all the marks," Xian Lin'er reluctantly said, her eyes lingering on her masterpiece. She even borrowed Qian Ran's camera to take a few photos of his flawless appearance before letting him go.
"These turned out great. Wow, I'm so handsome," Qian Ran remarked smugly as he glanced at the photos Xian Lin'er had taken.
In his past life, his looks alone might have caused countless teenage girls to fall for him...
Sigh.
But Earth girls? He couldn't care less.
Here, his wives were not only stunning but also doting and skilled in making him feel loved and cared for. Why would he ever think of returning to that bleak place?
After a thorough shower and multiple inspections to ensure all traces were gone, Qian Ran finally emerged.
If anyone saw the marks, his relationship with Xian Lin'er would no longer be a secret.
"Qian Ran, your trip to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy must have been fruitful, right?"
"You didn't just focus on cultivating and forget the more important stuff, did you?" Qian Duoduo asked, drawing everyone's attention.
Despite their private lives, all of them took Shrek Academy's affairs seriously.
They had placed high hopes on Qian Ran.
Qian Ran's learning ability was unparalleled. If he could thrive in a neglected environment like Shrek's Soul Engineering Department, where he became a seventh-level Soul Engineer, surely his trip to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy would yield even greater results.
Given how fast Qian Ran's cultivation had advanced, the others couldn't help but worry he had spent all his time training instead of studying.
Opportunities to learn about soul tools from the Sun Moon Empire were rare. If Qian Ran missed this chance, there might not be another exchange program in the future.
Even Xian Lin'er looked expectant.
As the dean of the Soul Engineering Department, she had always dreamed of revitalizing it. If Qian Ran could lead the department's resurgence, she would be its biggest beneficiary.
The Soul Engineering Department received far less funding than the Martial Soul Department. Its lackluster performance meant it had no grounds to demand more resources.
"Ahem. I think I can now produce eighth-level soul tools," Qian Ran said casually. "I haven't tried yet, but I should be able to."
His cultivation and skills had reached the level needed to create eighth-level soul tools, though he hadn't bothered to make one.
After all, eighth-level soul tools didn't hold much value for him, and crafting them was extremely time-consuming—even for someone as talented as Qian Ran.
In places like Mingde Hall, even top-level eighth-level Soul Engineers might spend an entire year producing a single eighth-level soul tool.
"You can already make eighth-level soul tools?" Qian Duoduo's eyes widened in shock. Did this guy ever hit a bottleneck?
As an eighth-level Soul Engineer himself, Qian Duoduo realized that if Qian Ran's skill level was the same as his, it wouldn't be long before Qian Ran overshadowed him completely.
Though Qian Duoduo was the closest in Shrek Academy to becoming a ninth-level Soul Engineer, he had no clear path to that goal. Even if given another fifty years, he might still fall short. Yet Qian Ran, with his terrifying aptitude, seemed bound to achieve it with ease.
"You might be Shrek's youngest eighth-level Soul Engineer. Keep it up. When you're ready, we'll test you and issue your eighth-level Soul Engineer badge," Xian Lin'er said with a smile.
"If you can really produce eighth-level soul tools, I can apply to the academy to appoint you to a position in our department."
If Qian Ran succeeded, Xian Lin'er could maneuver to make him the department's deputy dean.
With Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier backing him, they could handle any administrative obstacles.
"That shouldn't be too hard."
Although Qian Ran hadn't yet crafted an eighth-level soul tool, the process was straightforward for him. His precise mental calculations ensured he could anticipate and prevent issues before they occurred.
Unlike other Soul Engineers, who might fail due to minor mistakes, Qian Ran's immense mental strength and advanced planning almost guaranteed success.
"By the way, consider these soul tools my donation to the academy," Qian Ran said, pulling out several ninth-level soul tools from his storage.
These were masterpieces created by Ye Xishui in her younger days.
Despite his mischief with Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo, Qian Ran wasn't ungrateful. Giving back was his way of balancing things. Besides, the Soul Engineering Department was under Xian Lin'er's control, meaning these tools would ultimately benefit her.
"What's this?"
Yan Shaozhe and the others had their suspicions, but the truth still stunned them.
"Exactly what you think. These are ninth-level soul tools," Qian Ran confirmed, handing them to Xian Lin'er.
"Ninth-level soul tools! How did you get these? Did you... seduce Jing Hongchen's granddaughter or something?" Yan Shaozhe exclaimed, utterly dumbfounded.
Shrek Academy's most advanced soul tools had previously been at the eighth level. Now, Qian Ran had casually produced several ninth-level soul tools, making him wealthier than the entire Soul Engineering Department combined.
The most touching part? Qian Ran was willing to share them with the academy.
"Given Qian Ran's enormous contribution to our department, I propose appointing him as deputy dean of the Soul Engineering Department. All in favor?" Xian Lin'er announced passionately.
Qian Duoduo: ...
If Qian Ran becomes deputy dean, then what am I?
(End of Chapter)