"Wait… are you serious? Qian Ran is an eight-ring soul engineer now?" Wu Ming couldn't help but ask.
As a member of the Martial Soul Department, Wu Ming had little interaction with the Soul Engineering Department. Soul engineers occupied a somewhat awkward position at Shrek Academy—most students with even halfway decent martial souls preferred to stick to the Martial Soul Department.
Yet, even someone without knowledge of soul engineering understood what an eight-ring soul engineer represented. In terms of combat capability, they were on par with a Soul Douluo.
When it came to status, however, Shrek Academy's eight-ring soul engineers outranked many of its Title Douluo.
While the academy had no shortage of Title Douluo, eight-ring soul engineers were a rarity.
But Qian Ran? He was still so young! And now he was an eight-ring soul engineer?
"Not quite yet. He still has to validate the performance of the eight-ring soul tool he crafted. Once he's awarded the eight-ring soul engineer badge, then he'll officially hold the title," Ma Xiaotao replied modestly, though her pride was evident.
In truth, the gap between Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming had been substantial for most of their time at Shrek. Wu Ming had entered the inner court much earlier than Ma Xiaotao, and while Ma Xiaotao's innate talent was superior, it wasn't enough to outright overshadow Wu Ming. After all, Wu Ming's Golden Crow martial soul was nothing to scoff at.
But once Ma Xiaotao's martial soul evolved into an Ultimate Fire Phoenix, her power completely eclipsed Wu Ming's.
And that was what Wu Ming found most frustrating.
The "Volcanoes of the Inner Court" weren't just nicknames based on their fiery personalities; their martial souls—Ma Xiaotao's Fire Phoenix and Wu Ming's Golden Crow—were both formidable fire-element martial souls.
Though the two were on good terms, they constantly compared themselves to one another.
If Ma Xiaotao had bested her fairly, Wu Ming might have accepted it. But the real kicker was that Ma Xiaotao's edge came thanks to a man. Without Qian Ran's help, Ma Xiaotao would have needed at least another decade of regular cultivation to surpass Wu Ming.
But now, Ma Xiaotao's Ultimate Fire attribute alone was leagues ahead.
At the same rank, an Ultimate Fire Soul Sage could easily overwhelm most Soul Douluo, if not Title Douluo. Add to that a full set of soul tools crafted by Qian Ran, and Ma Xiaotao's power was unmatched.
Previously, Qian Ran had crafted Ma Xiaotao a set of seven-ring soul tools, but now she was about to receive an eight-ring soul tool!
Wu Ming could only grit her teeth.
"Wu Ming-jie, once I start using the eight-ring soul tool, I'll let you have my current set of seven-ring soul tools. They'll suit you perfectly," Ma Xiaotao said with a playful smirk, clearly reveling in Wu Ming's frustration.
"Fine. But you better not go back on your word. I don't mind using something you think is beneath you. Those seven-ring soul tools are still plenty good for me," Wu Ming retorted, rolling her eyes.
Though she wouldn't admit it outright, Wu Ming had coveted Ma Xiaotao's seven-ring soul tools for a while now. As much as she wanted to brush off Ma Xiaotao's antics, there wasn't much she could do.
In this area, Ma Xiaotao had her completely outclassed.
At Shrek Academy, only a select few like Qian Duoduo or Xian Lin'er possessed eight-ring soul tools, and even seven-ring soul tools were considered top-tier.
What's more, Ma Xiaotao's seven-ring soul tools were specifically crafted for her by Qian Ran, tailored to perfectly complement her fire-element martial soul.
Wu Ming's Golden Crow martial soul, much like Ma Xiaotao's Fire Phoenix, was a fire-element flying-type martial soul. Their fighting styles were similar, meaning weapons suited to Ma Xiaotao were likely a good fit for Wu Ming as well.
"Don't worry, Wu Ming-jie. I'm not joking. Of everyone in the inner court, my soul tools would fit you best," Ma Xiaotao said with a smile. Now that she had her sights set on an eight-ring soul tool, the seven-ring set didn't hold much appeal anymore.
Knowing Qian Ran's craftsmanship, Ma Xiaotao was certain the eight-ring soul tool he had made for her would be among the best of its class.
"Alright, enough talk. Let's head to the Soul Engineering Department together," Wu Ming said, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
She had heard plenty about Qian Ran over the years, especially from Ma Xiaotao, who never stopped singing his praises. Wu Ming had grown increasingly curious about the boy everyone seemed so enamored with.
Back when she first heard about him, Qian Ran had already left for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy as an exchange student.
Now, the opportunity to finally meet him had presented itself, and she wasn't about to miss it.
What kind of person could capture the hearts of so many of Shrek's women? A boy capable of crafting eight-ring soul tools at his age—calling him a genius might actually be an understatement.
Soul Engineering Department
"Qian Ran, I'm here! This is Wu Ming, my senior," Ma Xiaotao announced, bursting in with her fiery energy and bringing Wu Ming along.
"Wu Ming-jie? Nice to meet you," Qian Ran greeted.
He hadn't expected Wu Ming to show up—just yesterday, she had only been a passing thought.
Wu Ming was about the same height as Ma Xiaotao, with shoulder-length hair and a voluptuous figure. Even the loose inner court uniform seemed form-fitting on her, accentuating her curves. As she walked in, the snugness of her uniform around her peach-shaped hips made it nearly impossible not to notice.
Could fire-element energy enhance physical development?
It certainly seemed that every fire-element soul master Qian Ran met had an incredible figure.
Perhaps the heat and light stimulated growth, just as they did in plants.
Wu Ming's body was slightly more developed than Ma Xiaotao's, with a more mature charm.
Nice.
Not to lie, Qian Ran had a soft spot for experienced women.
"Hello, Qian Ran. I've heard your name a lot from Xiaotao… and others," Wu Ming said. The "others" referred to Ling Luocheng, Jiang Nannan, and others who often brought up Qian Ran in her presence.
"Qian Ran, where's my soul tool?" Ma Xiaotao asked impatiently, noticing that Qian Ran's gaze lingered on Wu Ming's assets for a little too long. She gave him a discreet pinch, knowing all too well his taste.
With a figure like Wu Ming's, it was no wonder Qian Ran was interested.
"Here you go…" Qian Ran handed the crimson katana to Ma Xiaotao. The moment she gripped the hilt, her aura transformed, evoking a presence reminiscent of Yae Sakura from an anime. Wu Ming, Xian Lin'er, and the others couldn't help but feel awestruck.
"Qian Ran, you're amazing. This weapon feels like it was made just for me," Ma Xiaotao said, unable to hide her delight. Even before testing its power, she had fallen in love with the soul tool the moment she held it.
(End of Chapter)