A few days ago, Qian Ran had taken Nana into the Xumi Ring, where she had met both the Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor.
Seeing Ye Xishui now didn't faze her much.
Even those legendary soul beasts were willing to stay by Qian Ran's side, so what was Ye Xishui in comparison?
To Nana, Ye Xishui was an untouchable powerhouse, but to Qian Ran, she was nothing out of the ordinary.
After spending so many days with Qian Ran, Nana was no longer the wide-eyed girl who gasped in awe at every unusual event. She had seen and experienced much by now.
"Let me see if she'll train you. If she's willing to take you as a disciple, your cultivation journey will become much easier," Qian Ran said thoughtfully.
He knew his limitations well. While he could provide Nana and the others with plenty of resources, there were things he couldn't give them.
Qian Ran's own cultivation relied heavily on the system. His experience? Well, it hardly qualified as experience since he gained progress simply by eating, drinking, and breathing.
Under such circumstances, Qian Ran couldn't provide the precise guidance Nana needed for her training.
But someone like Ye Xishui, a powerful and experienced expert, was an ideal mentor.
If Nana could learn from Ye Xishui, she would undoubtedly grow much faster. Qian Ran could supply the resources, but the effort to reach the next level would have to come from Nana herself. His ability to assist her further was limited.
Moreover, Qian Ran was busy. His time with Nana was already scarce, let alone helping her cultivate.
"Really?" Nana's eyes lit up. Ye Xishui was not just any Titled Douluo but an Ultimate Douluo and the Supreme Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult. If she became her disciple, wouldn't that mean...
Even Nana, usually indifferent to ambition, felt her heart race at the thought.
This would be akin to a leap straight to the top!
Becoming Ye Xishui's disciple would automatically place her within the Holy Spirit Cult's inner circle.
How powerful was the Holy Spirit Cult? Despite her decent talent, Nana had only qualified to serve as a mere saint's attendant at one of their outposts. The bar to even become a disciple was astronomically high. With an Ultimate Douluo in their ranks, the Holy Spirit Cult was among the most formidable factions on the continent.
"Don't worry. She'll give me this favor," Qian Ran said with a confident smile, inwardly relieved as well.
Though he was often seen as flirtatious, Qian Ran was quite tenderhearted. He knew he couldn't always be there for Nana, so he tried to make up for it in other ways.
Training with Ye Xishui would undoubtedly benefit Nana immensely.
"Hehe, Master, you're the best!" Nana chirped, planting a kiss on Qian Ran's cheek.
"Not enough. Give me another one." Qian Ran grinned mischievously.
Blushing, Nana leaned in for another kiss, but this time Qian Ran cupped her head and deepened the kiss.
By now, Ye Xishui had finished reading the book. Reflecting on its storyline, she felt a surge of emotions.
She had never imagined that someone could craft such a vivid narrative.
To Ye Xishui, the book read like a biography. While the Douluo Continent also had records of notable individuals' lives, those accounts were often dry and overly formal, nowhere near as engaging as this story.
After quickly flipping through the entire book, Ye Xishui found herself gaining a deeper understanding of cultivation. Compared to the experiences of the characters in the book, she realized just how fortunate her own life had been.
"Where did Qian Ran even find such a detailed biography? It's so useful for understanding that plane's reality," Ye Xishui murmured, closing the book, though her mind was still immersed in its content.
The vastly different world depicted in the story had deeply impacted her and provided her with valuable insights.
While it wasn't as profound as Enlightenment Tea, the book still benefited her greatly.
The story described the protagonist's cultivation methods, epiphanies, and breakthroughs in detail, offering strategies she could adapt for her own practice.
Just as she finished her musings, Ye Xishui glanced toward Qian Ran, only to see him passionately kissing Nana. Her mood soured instantly.
What was Qian Ran thinking?
Here she was—a peerless beauty sitting mere steps away—and yet he had the audacity to kiss another girl?
A wave of inexplicable jealousy surged through Ye Xishui's heart.
What was wrong with this man? Did her charm no longer affect him? Was she truly no match for these younger women? If so, why did Qian Ran still...
Back in her prime, countless prodigies had been infatuated with her. Among them, Mu En and Long Xiaoyao stood out as the most outstanding. Back then, every move she made was the center of attention.
Now, though...
This damned Qian Ran!
She had merely been reading for a short while, and he'd already turned his attention elsewhere.
Ye Xishui realized that Qian Ran was unlike anyone she had encountered before. Despite his obvious appreciation for beauty, he was never controlled by it. Even the most stunning women couldn't manipulate him into giving anything away for free.
Ironically, this only stirred Ye Xishui's competitive streak.
Accustomed to being the center of attention wherever she went, Ye Xishui couldn't tolerate Qian Ran's indifference toward her.
"Apologies—oh, you've finished the book?" Qian Ran said, ending his kiss with Nana and noticing Ye Xishui's furious expression. He offered her an awkward smile.
Ye Xishui read that fast? Over a million words!
But with her powerful spiritual sense, it made sense. She could skim through and absorb the contents with ease.
"Hmph. Here," Ye Xishui huffed, tossing the book back to Qian Ran, her glare icy. Though upset, there wasn't much she could do about it.
"Senior Ye Xishui, this is Nana. She used to serve as a saint's attendant at one of your Holy Spirit Cult outposts," Qian Ran introduced.
"A saint's attendant? Oh, so you're the one who destroyed that outpost?" Ye Xishui asked, her tone frosty.
"Well, we weren't in touch back then. To rescue Nana, I had no choice. Besides, your Holy Spirit Cult has plenty of unsavory folks. That outpost, for example—the strongest among them was only a Soul Emperor, yet each had taken hundreds of lives."
Qian Ran spoke bluntly. Though he wasn't a saint himself, he leaned toward goodness. He never killed indiscriminately or harmed the innocent.
"I can't control everyone under me," Ye Xishui admitted, her voice softening. She was well aware of the conduct of those in her organization. The mainstream soul master community's hatred for evil soul masters was something she understood.
However, as an evil soul master and the Supreme Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, Ye Xishui often had to prioritize the organization's stance.
"I'm not here to argue about the past. I just wanted to ask if you'd consider taking Nana as your disciple. I think she's quite suitable. She's a Soul Emperor now, and I've enhanced her talent. Right now, her potential is among the best on the continent."
(End of Chapter)