"Why are you all staring at me? Do I have something on my face?" Qian Ran asked, feigning ignorance.
Even with his thick skin, the collective gazes of everyone in the room made him feel slightly uncomfortable.
It was hard to ignore the palpable shock in the air. After a single night, the team's cultivation levels had risen significantly. How could Wang Yan and Cai Mei'er not have questions?
Cai Mei'er had taken the time to examine the changes and found that each of the soul bones absorbed by Ma Xiaotao and the others were exceptional, perfectly complementing their martial spirits.
For Qian Ran to produce such a vast variety of compatible soul bones for over a dozen people? That was mind-boggling.
"You gave all of them soul bones last night?" Cai Mei'er asked directly, unable to hold back her curiosity.
"Yes. I just happened to have ones suited for them, so I gave them out," Qian Ran replied casually.
The understatement was almost insulting. Just happened to have them? What was he implying? That he had a personal vault of soul bones at his disposal?
Did soul bones grow on trees in his world?
"You've developed a method for safely absorbing high-year soul bones, haven't you?" Cai Mei'er pressed further.
While the soul bones themselves were astounding, what truly shocked her was that even the weaker members of the team, like Xiao Xiao, had successfully absorbed soul bones exceeding 10,000 years in age.
And according to the girls, the process had been unusually smooth, with the energy in the soul bones being refined in an orderly manner without any complications.
This was the detail that truly left Cai Mei'er shaken.
If Qian Ran's sect had found a way to safely harness the power of soul bones, it could revolutionize soul master cultivation.
For most soul masters, absorbing soul bones exceeding their rank was a gamble fraught with danger. For soul elders, even a 10,000-year soul bone was a daunting risk.
If Shrek Academy could master this method, it would be able to train an unprecedented number of Soul Saints under twenty years old, each equipped with high-year soul bones.
"Yes, we've mastered the process. But it's a sect secret—non-transferable," Qian Ran said, cutting off further inquiries.
The soul bones were system rewards, tailor-made for his companions. Teaching others the method was out of the question, even if he wanted to.
Not that he did.
Even if he could create a technique for safely absorbing soul bones, why would he hand it over for free? Such knowledge could bring him vast rewards on its own.
"Cough… Understood," Cai Mei'er said, realizing she had overstepped. Wang Yan nodded as well, equally embarrassed.
Cai Mei'er felt particularly helpless. With her beauty and charm, she rarely faced resistance in getting what she wanted. Yet Qian Ran was an exception, always slipping through her grasp.
If she attempted to flirt or coerce him, Qian Ran would simply turn his attention to Tang Ya or the others. He was impossible to pin down.
"Let me introduce your opponents for the upcoming match," Wang Yan interjected, providing details about Zheng Tian Academy.
Their team included three Soul Kings, with the strongest at Level 58, and four high-level Soul Elders. While formidable, they were no match for Qian Ran.
Qian Ran half-listened before tuning out.
Five Soul Kings and a handful of Soul Elders? He couldn't care less.
Turning his attention to the system, he realized he hadn't yet claimed his reward for the previous night's… success with Ning Tian.
The system had become more considerate, waiting until the moment passed to issue notifications.
"Ding! Congratulations, host! You've received a 400,000-year Soul Ring Enhancement Card!"
"The enhancement card can upgrade the age of your existing soul rings. It can be applied entirely to one ring or split among multiple rings."
"Not bad, but a new soul ring would've been better. Even a basic one would do," Qian Ran mused. His cultivation was just one step shy of Soul Ancestor, needing only a fourth soul ring to advance.
He didn't care about the ring's original age or skill—both could be upgraded through the system.
"Enhance my Angelic Martial Spirit's first three rings by 100,000 years each. Save the remaining 100,000 for the fourth," Qian Ran decided.
Match Day
As always, the Star Luo Plaza buzzed with excitement. Shrek Academy's matches were a guaranteed draw, with every seat in the stands filled.
Today, however, the atmosphere was even more electrified.
Qian Ran's debut had drawn an influx of teachers, students, and spectators, all eager to witness his performance.
Shrek Academy was up first, and their opponents—Zheng Tian Academy—had breezed through their first two matches.
Spectators anticipated a clash between titans. While everyone acknowledged Shrek's supremacy, they hoped Zheng Tian could provide a worthy challenge to make the match thrilling.
In one corner of the arena, the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy team sat observing.
They were laser-focused on Qian Ran, whose name had kept them awake the night before.
They prided themselves as geniuses, yet the possibility of Qian Ran outshining all of them was an unsettling prospect.
Their desire to crush Shrek Academy had never been stronger.
Time ticked by, and the sun climbed higher into the sky.
From the imperial viewing platform, Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei and the Empress watched the proceedings. Princess Xu Jiujie stood beside them, her gaze fixed on the rest area.
"Are we missing something? Why would Shrek Academy send him alone? Zheng Tian Academy's strongest members are nearly Soul Emperor level, and the rest of their team is no slouch either," Xu Jiawei said, his brow furrowed.
A lone Soul Elder defeating a team of this caliber seemed absurd.
"This arrangement must have a purpose. Let's see what kind of surprises this son-in-law of ours has in store," the Empress replied with a smile, glancing at Xu Jiujie.
Xu Jiujie blushed, recalling the intimate moment she had shared with Qian Ran. Despite her confidence in him, the thought of him facing such formidable opponents made her uneasy.
"Don't worry. Shrek wouldn't make such a bold move without confidence. Perhaps Qian Ran, like the Martial Spirit Sect behind him, will deliver a performance we can't even imagine," the Empress reassured her, gently squeezing her hand.
(Chapter End)
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