After another round of playful antics, it was only around noon that they reluctantly crawled out of bed.
To be honest, with Ma Xiaotao's fiery allure and Ling Luochen's cool elegance, Qian Ran could never tire of the two of them.
This is the life.
"Qian Ran, how about a sparring match in the Battle Zone?" Ma Xiaotao approached him after her shower, her crimson hair cascading over her shoulders. Now wielding Ultimate Fire and having advanced to the Soul Saint level, she felt confident she had surpassed Qian Ran.
At this point, even some Soul Douluo-level opponents didn't seem like much of a threat to her.
Just a day earlier, she was merely stronger than an average Soul Saint. But now? She could confidently declare she could go toe-to-toe with a Soul Douluo. That was the power of an Ultimate Martial Soul.
Before absorbing the fiery gel, Ma Xiaotao could be matched by Ling Luochen, thanks to Ultimate Ice's inherent advantage over her element. Now, the gap had widened.
"You sure?" Qian Ran raised an eyebrow.
"You're Ultimate Ice; I'm Ultimate Fire. I want to see which is stronger," Ma Xiaotao said, clasping his arm and flashing him a charming smile to sweeten the deal.
"Why don't you challenge Senior Ling Luochen instead?" Qian Ran gestured toward the nearby Ling Luochen.
"She's only at the Soul Emperor level. The gap between a Soul Emperor and a Soul Saint is too wide. Before, her Ultimate Ice could counter my fire, but now she doesn't stand a chance." Ma Xiaotao spoke with unwavering confidence.
Ling Luochen didn't protest, her calm demeanor contrasting with Ma Xiaotao's competitive spirit.
"I'm just a Soul King," Qian Ran quipped with mock innocence.
"Oh, please. You're stronger than most Soul Emperors, and you're a Level 7 Soul Engineer. That's equivalent to a Soul Saint in terms of combat ability, so we're evenly matched."
"Well, when you put it like that..."
Qian Ran paused, realizing her point. Level 7 Soul Engineers were indeed on par with Soul Saints in terms of rank.
"But you can't use soul tools," Ma Xiaotao added quickly. "You're already strong without them. If you use those, I might not even stand a chance."
"Fair point," Qian Ran admitted. "But are you sure you can beat me? Or are you setting up a real-life version of that 'defeated knight' trope?"
"Hmph, my current strength is more than enough. If you beat me, I'll do whatever you say," Ma Xiaotao declared confidently, certain that few in the inner courtyard could now rival her.
"Deal. But don't back out later when I want to add some... extra challenges."
The last time they role-played the defeated knight scenario in their room, Qian Ran hadn't taken things too far. After all, pushing too hard could strain their relationship.
But now that Ma Xiaotao was offering herself up for a rematch, Qian Ran wouldn't hold back. Under the guise of this trope, there were endless possibilities!
"Anything you want, no complaints." Ma Xiaotao raised her chin proudly, a hint of mischief in her eyes. Only someone with firsthand experience would grasp the deeper meaning behind Qian Ran's words. Bound in restraints, unable to use soul power—what could she do but submit to his whims?
That forbidden allure was intoxicating, tempting her to indulge in darker fantasies.
"Great. Senior Ling Luochen, you heard her," Qian Ran said with a sly smile.
He had just received the Angel's Shield skill, and Ma Xiaotao was practically walking into his hands. Did she really think her rate of improvement could outpace his cheat-level progression?
Even if he stood still and let her attack, she wouldn't be able to harm him.
Ma Xiaotao was startled by Qian Ran's confidence.
With his soul tools restricted, Qian Ran remained calm—too calm.
"You're not allowed to use your spiritual power either," Ma Xiaotao added as an afterthought. She recalled how Qian Ran's spiritual techniques had flustered even Zhang Lexuan, the inner courtyard's eldest senior. Facing such mysterious powers was not something she wanted to experience.
"Fine. Anything for my beloved Sister Xiaotao," Qian Ran replied with a laugh.
Even without spiritual power or soul tools, his raw strength still far exceeded hers.
"Hmph, we'll see. Let's head to the Battle Zone now."
As Qian Ran, Ma Xiaotao, and Ling Luochen entered the Battle Zone, their presence caused an immediate stir. All three were widely recognized within the academy, and their arrival drew plenty of attention. Ma Xiaotao wasted no time securing a private battle platform.
In Shrek Academy's Battle Zone, some arenas were open to the public, while others were private, designed for those who wished to keep their skills hidden.
Word spread quickly, and several curious instructors, intrigued by Ma Xiaotao and Qian Ran's abilities, gathered to watch.
The first to arrive was Yan Shaozhe. Having observed Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er's martial soul evolutions, he was eager to see if Ma Xiaotao had similarly advanced.
"She must have evolved to Ultimate Fire by now," Yan Shaozhe muttered enviously. "When will it be my turn? I'm no slouch, either."
Ultimate Martial Souls... what a rare gift.
Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but marvel at Qian Ran's seemingly endless supply of treasures. At times, he was tempted to raid Qian Ran's storage soul tool just to see how much he was hiding.
"With her Ultimate Martial Soul, Ma Xiaotao's already reached the Soul Saint level. She could likely overpower most Soul Douluo with ease," Yan Shaozhe mused, pride in his star pupil evident despite his own longing for similar power. Ever since Cai Mei'er had surpassed him, he'd been desperate to close the gap.
"I'm starting now," Ma Xiaotao announced, her gaze fixed on Qian Ran as she released her martial soul.
She wasn't underestimating him—far from it. His calm confidence only heightened her wariness.
"Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul Avatar."
Ma Xiaotao's seventh soul ring flared to life, and a radiant burst of flames enveloped her. In an instant, she merged with her martial soul, transforming into a terrifying Fire Phoenix.
The phoenix blazed with an intense heat, its fiery aura causing the surrounding air to ripple with searing energy.
Even without activating other soul skills, Ma Xiaotao's presence in her Martial Soul Avatar form demanded the respect of any Soul Douluo. This was the power of an Ultimate Fire Phoenix.
Qian Ran hadn't expected her to immediately go all-out, but her caution was understandable.
Still, against absolute power, all strategies are futile.
Even without the two new divine skills he had just acquired, Qian Ran's combat prowess already rivaled hers. With them, there was no contest.
He released his first martial soul, the Angel Martial Soul, and activated the Angel's Shield skill embedded in his fifth soul ring.
A golden imprint of an angel appeared on his forehead, emitting a soft, radiant glow. A thin, translucent layer of energy surrounded Qian Ran, forming a protective shield that gleamed like porcelain.
This skill, when wielded by the fully ascended Angel God Qian Renxue, could withstand the attacks of even other first-tier gods unless a divine weapon was used.
At Qian Ran's current level, no Soul Master below the rank of Titled Douluo could hope to break through it.
(End of Chapter)