Before Qian Ran had transmigrated, he'd played countless games.
In many of those, a female character's charm was intricately tied to her weapon. Change the weapon, and the charisma often diminished.
Qian Ran's aesthetics when crafting soul tools were at least a generation ahead of other soul engineers.
While most soul engineers focused purely on functionality, Qian Ran ensured his creations were as beautiful as they were powerful.
"Wu Ming-jie, want to spar with me?" Ma Xiaotao grinned at Wu Ming, her confidence soaring as she held her new soul tool. With her Ultimate Fire attribute and Qian Ran's eight-ring soul tool, Ma Xiaotao felt unstoppable—even against a Soul Douluo.
"Not a chance."
Wu Ming shook her head firmly.
If Ma Xiaotao weren't using a soul tool, Wu Ming might have considered it. But with the eight-ring soul tool in play, there was no point—Ma Xiaotao would completely dominate the fight.
Despite their similar levels of cultivation, Ma Xiaotao's combat power far exceeded hers.
"I'll do it," Xian Lin'er interjected, lightly tapping her toes to rise into the air. "Xiaotao, come at me with everything you've got. Show us the full capabilities of the soul tool."
"Alright."
Ma Xiaotao nodded and launched herself upward. As her phoenix wings unfurled, she surged forward like a fiery meteor, her sheer speed alone enough to put many Soul Douluo to shame.
Gripping the crimson blade, Ma Xiaotao channeled her soul power into it.
With a powerful swing, the blade unleashed a fiery arc of energy straight at Xian Lin'er.
Zzzt!
The energy struck Xian Lin'er's eight-ring defensive soul tool, causing its light to flicker before stabilizing into a protective barrier around her.
Xian Lin'er was visibly surprised. The power Ma Xiaotao had just displayed was on par with a Title Douluo.
This eight-ring soul tool had effectively doubled Ma Xiaotao's strength!
Had Xian Lin'er been an ordinary Soul Douluo, the attack would have shattered her defenses completely.
Ma Xiaotao followed up with several more slashes, each radiating intense crimson flames.
With her Ultimate Fire attribute amplified by the soul tool, Ma Xiaotao had become a force to be reckoned with. No Soul Douluo would dare challenge her now.
Wu Ming's Perspective
"So strong…" Wu Ming murmured, her mouth slightly agape as she watched Ma Xiaotao's display of power.
She couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. The gap between her and Ma Xiaotao was widening further than ever.
In the inner court, Ma Xiaotao had ascended to the highest ranks, rivaling even the likes of Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo.
"Even Ruoruo-jie, despite being a Soul Douluo, probably wouldn't stand a chance against Ma Xiaotao now," Wu Ming thought to herself.
"Her progress over the past two years has been astonishing. She was just a Soul Emperor nearing the Soul Sage level, and now she's practically a match for a Title Douluo."
"The Ultimate Fire attribute… it's just too overwhelming."
Wu Ming understood that Ma Xiaotao's greatest asset wasn't even the advanced soul tools she wielded, but her Ultimate Fire.
With or without soul tools, Ma Xiaotao's Ultimate Fire alone gave her the combat prowess of a Soul Douluo. Against opponents with attributes weak to fire—like ice-element soul masters—her dominance would only be greater.
The soul tools simply allowed Ma Xiaotao to unleash her Ultimate Fire to its fullest potential.
And all of this was thanks to Qian Ran.
Wu Ming glanced at Qian Ran. His face, still so impossibly young, left her awestruck.
It turned out there truly were geniuses in this world who defied all logic.
An eight-ring soul tool!
That he could craft something so advanced at his age was unfathomable.
If someone had told Wu Ming that Qian Ran was born with innate level-80 soul power, she wouldn't have been as surprised. Talent like that was simply luck—being born under the right circumstances.
But to master all the theories and techniques for crafting soul tools from level one to eight at such a young age? That was true skill.
This wasn't just talent—this was monstrous genius.
System Notification
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, on signing Wu Ming, the Inner Court Goddess."
"Ding! Host has received the divine weapon Nine Flames Skybreaker Sword."
"Fire attribute divine weapon?"
Qian Ran's eyes lit up.
This was an unexpected but welcome bonus.
Wu Ming, with her Golden Crow martial soul and title of Inner Court's Golden Crow Saintess, was undoubtedly deserving. Her voluptuous figure, stunning beauty, and mature charm made her a standout.
For the Douluo Continent, her "older" age was just over 30—perfectly prime and incredibly appealing.
"Wu Ming-jie, you're participating in the Sea God Fate Matchmaking Festival in a few days, right?" Qian Ran asked, steering the conversation.
He remembered the original storyline: both Wu Ming and Han Ruoruo had found partners during this festival. Wu Ming ended up with an inner court disciple, and Han Ruoruo paired with Wang Yan.
While Wu Ming's outcome was acceptable, Han Ruoruo's felt like a massive waste. Wang Yan might have had good character, but his abilities were mediocre at best. Han Ruoruo, a Soul Douluo second only to Zhang Lexuan, deserved far better.
There was no way Qian Ran would let anyone else take the women he had set his sights on.
"That's right," Wu Ming replied, her tone dimming slightly.
She couldn't help but feel disheartened. Ma Xiaotao had an exceptional man like Qian Ran by her side, while she would likely have to settle for an ordinary inner court disciple.
In the inner court, the remaining women were typically the best and brightest, while the remaining men were often those who fell short.
This dynamic reflected the differing standards between men and women when choosing partners.
Male inner court disciples, by virtue of their status, could easily find attractive partners, prioritizing looks and compatibility over other qualities. Women, on the other hand, sought strength and reliability—traits lacking in the leftover male disciples.
This imbalance often left the inner court women disappointed. While there were exceptions like Han Ruoruo, who married a six-ring Soul Emperor, such cases were rare.
The Sea God Fate Festival highlighted this disparity every year, with more outstanding women than men participating.
Watching Ma Xiaotao revel in her newfound power only deepened Wu Ming's frustration.
If only she could…
Wu Ming stole a glance at Qian Ran before looking down at her own body. She wasn't lacking—in fact, she was on par with Ma Xiaotao in terms of figure, looks, and even martial soul. Initially, her Golden Crow martial soul might have even been slightly superior to Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix.
"If only…" Wu Ming's gaze lingered on Qian Ran, her heart fluttering.
She wasn't naive enough to believe in love at first sight anymore. At this stage in life, finding a strong, dependable partner mattered far more.
And Qian Ran was exactly that.
"How about we have tea together tonight?" Qian Ran asked with a knowing smile.
(End of Chapter)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X