Once all preparations were in place, Xian Lin'er made it a point to invite every teacher in the Soul Engineering Department to witness the event.
This wasn't just about supporting Qian Ran—it was about solidifying his authority.
Qian Ran's youth made him highly desirable in the romance department but the opposite in the workplace. His age often led others to question his capability.
However, on the Douluo Continent, age was never a true obstacle, especially once one proved their strength.
Qian Duoduo held significant sway within the Soul Engineering Department, second only to Xian Lin'er herself. Having spent years cultivating relationships, his connections were formidable.
While Xian Lin'er's actions seemed to be about propping up Qian Ran, they also served to subtly undermine Qian Duoduo's position. If Qian Ran could successfully craft an eight-ring soul tool in front of everyone, no one would dare question his qualifications as vice-dean of the department.
As long as Qian Ran succeeded, even the dullest observer would recognize his superiority over Qian Duoduo.
Becoming an eight-ring soul engineer at such a young age practically guaranteed his eventual ascension to nine-ring status.
Moreover, even seasoned eight-ring soul engineers rarely dared to perform under public scrutiny. The stakes were high; one misstep could spell failure. But Xian Lin'er had absolute confidence in Qian Ran. She believed he wouldn't falter under pressure.
In the laboratory, Qian Ran worked calmly and methodically, engraving intricate soul tool formations with precision.
His hands moved so quickly that they left only afterimages in their wake.
Some of the less experienced teachers couldn't even follow his movements, growing dizzy from watching the blur.
The speed was astounding.
Not only was his engraving swift, but his transitions between components were seamless, with no hesitation.
An eight-ring soul tool typically comprised thousands, even tens of thousands, of parts.
For any soul engineer, crafting such a device was a monumental task. Even a nine-ring soul engineer had to maintain full focus when working on an eight-ring soul tool, or risk failure.
Yet Qian Ran remained elegant and composed throughout, his gaze fixed intently on the metal before him. Every movement exuded grace, captivating even those who knew little about soul tools.
"Qian Ran is becoming more and more of a man," Xian Lin'er murmured to herself, her beautiful eyes brimming with admiration and affection.
Watching Qian Ran grow ever more exceptional, Xian Lin'er felt a deep sense of satisfaction, as if she had nurtured the boy next door into a remarkable man.
Her man had to be extraordinary.
If possible, she would even give up her position as dean of the Soul Engineering Department to him.
The once-innocent boy had matured into a man whose natural charisma could captivate countless women.
"If I had met Qian Ran just two years later, I might not have been able to stay so close to him," Xian Lin'er mused. Even a slight timing difference could have made a huge impact.
In love and in life, being the first often carried an irreplaceable advantage.
In Qian Ran's heart, the most important people would always be the ones he met first. No matter how amazing others were, they would always rank second.
Women often cherished their first love; men were no different.
That first person to claim a place in their heart always held a unique allure.
"Lin'er, you're looking more beautiful lately," Qian Duoduo commented as he sidled up to Xian Lin'er. He had noticed her radiant complexion and the ever-present smile gracing her lips.
Qian Duoduo liked this version of Xian Lin'er—joyful and glowing.
He was grateful to Qian Ran. If not for Qian Ran's return, Xian Lin'er wouldn't be this happy.
"Hmm," Xian Lin'er responded coolly, acknowledging him with a simple nod.
She had always been distant with Qian Duoduo. Even before Qian Ran arrived, Xian Lin'er had never liked him. Qian Duoduo was used to it by now; indifference had become a habit.
"Qian Ran is amazing. Just his precision alone is beyond what even the soul engineers at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy can achieve. Not even a nine-ring soul engineer could match his speed—they would still need to deliberate before making each cut."
Hearing this, Xian Lin'er's smile grew brighter, and her agreement was evident.
Women loved sharing their favorite things—be it stars, idols, or other beloved items—and receiving affirmation from others brought them joy.
Of course, Xian Lin'er already knew how exceptional Qian Ran was. She knew he was unique, unparalleled in the world. But hearing someone else praise him, especially someone like Qian Duoduo, made her even happier.
After all, this entire event was orchestrated to bolster Qian Ran's authority. Now that Qian Duoduo was inadvertently helping with that, how could Xian Lin'er not be delighted?
Her expressive eyes encouraged Qian Duoduo to continue.
"Uh… Qian Ran's technique is definitely something we should learn from…"
"Even I, Qian Duoduo, can't compare to him…"
"Qian Ran is incredible—I bow to his greatness."
Though he was still bitter about being demoted from vice-dean to senior researcher, Qian Duoduo couldn't resist praising Qian Ran when he saw Xian Lin'er's delighted expression. He couldn't help but glorify Qian Ran as an unparalleled genius.
Noticing that Xian Lin'er's smile grew wider whenever he downplayed himself, Qian Duoduo doubled down on the flattery, elevating Qian Ran to a near-mythical status.
Within the Soul Engineering Department, Qian Duoduo was well-liked. As Xian Lin'er often focused on her own cultivation, Qian Duoduo handled many administrative matters.
His sudden demotion had initially upset many of the department's teachers. After all, aside from his lower cultivation level, Qian Duoduo had been an excellent vice-dean, even more reliable than Xian Lin'er at times.
Many were disgruntled about a newcomer like Qian Ran being appointed vice-dean without any prior teaching experience.
But seeing Qian Duoduo himself enthusiastically praising Qian Ran, their discontent faded. If even Qian Duoduo was unbothered, why should they be?
Perhaps Qian Duoduo had willingly stepped aside to let a more capable person take the reins.
And, honestly, his points were valid. Qian Ran's ability was so impressive that the gap between him and Qian Duoduo wasn't just noticeable—it was glaring.
If Qian Ran was this extraordinary as vice-dean, he might someday become dean—or even the Sea God Pavilion Master.
Building goodwill with him now might pay off handsomely in the future.
(End of Chapter)