Ye Xishui carefully scrutinized Nana.
She hadn't expected Qian Ran to have this side to him. To Qian Ran, Nana probably wasn't much—after all, he had so many confidantes, some of whom were even more exceptional than Nana. How much affection could there really be in less than a year?
And yet, Qian Ran still went out of his way to secure benefits for Nana.
Sure, he might be a bit of a philanderer, but he was also quite responsible.
If she accepted Nana as her disciple, Qian Ran would effectively owe her a favor. That would make future collaborations much smoother. She could even enlist Nana to speak on her behalf when necessary.
A young girl like Nana, once under her wing, would undoubtedly side with her in the future.
"Fine. I'll take you as my disciple," Ye Xishui said, smiling as she looked at Nana.
"Master!"
Nana was overjoyed and immediately bowed in respect.
Ye Xishui lifted Nana to her feet, finding herself increasingly pleased with her new disciple.
Nana's talent was already impressive—she had been the top disciple in the Soul Engineering Department at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Qian Ran had further enhanced her abilities with heavenly treasures and rare herbs.
Now, Nana's potential was among the best on the continent.
Among contemporary talents, only those similarly augmented by Qian Ran could rival her.
If Ye Xishui were to accept a disciple, Nana was undoubtedly an excellent choice.
"This is a Tier 9 soul tool I made. Now that you're my disciple, keep it with you," Ye Xishui said, handing Nana an object resembling a heart-protecting mirror.
Having accepted Nana as her student, Ye Xishui saw no reason to hold back.
"A Tier 9 soul tool?" Nana gasped.
"Senior Ye Xishui isn't just a powerful soul master; she's also a top-tier soul engineer. In fact, she's not far from becoming a Tier 10 soul engineer," Qian Ran explained for Nana's benefit.
Ye Xishui had mastered advanced soul tool techniques due to the long-standing alliance between the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire.
The cutting-edge technology of soul tools wasn't difficult to learn per se. As long as one had the strength, spiritual power, and willingness to study, it was hard not to succeed. The Sun Moon Empire's Mingde Hall thrived not because of extraordinary learning methods but because of its centuries of accumulated knowledge and techniques.
Still, for someone like Ye Xishui to excel in both paths simultaneously was extraordinary.
Ye Xishui could only achieve this due to her unique circumstances. After Zhongli Laogui, the previous leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, rescued her from Shrek Academy, he sacrificed his life to pass all his cultivation to her.
This inheritance saved Ye Xishui countless years of training, allowing her to devote time to mastering soul engineering.
Every Ultimate Douluo had their share of fortuitous encounters, and Ye Xishui's ability to command even Zhongli Laogui was a testament to her capabilities.
"A Tier 10 soul engineer..." Nana murmured, realizing she had underestimated Ye Xishui. Excelling in both soul mastery and soul engineering was almost unimaginable.
In human history, Ye Xishui was the first to achieve such heights.
The Sun Moon Empire had produced countless powerful soul engineers but never an Ultimate Douluo. Similarly, Shrek Academy had birthed many Ultimate Douluo, but none of them were remarkable soul engineers.
Her master's unparalleled expertise left Nana in awe.
Was Ye Xishui even stronger than Snow Empress? Snow Empress, after all, wasn't the most powerful beast. Yet Ye Xishui stood at the pinnacle of human soul masters.
Ye Xishui gave Qian Ran a curious glance. How did he see through her achievements so clearly? Despite being a Soul Emperor and so young, he exuded an air of deep insight and mystery.
"You're already a Tier 9 soul engineer and recently drank Enlightenment Tea. I'd wager you'll soon advance to Tier 10," Qian Ran remarked casually.
"I'd reach Tier 10 even without your tea," Ye Xishui scoffed. While the tea had indeed helped her greatly, she believed her eventual breakthrough was inevitable, destined to make her the greatest soul master and soul engineer in Douluo history.
Despite her confidence, Ye Xishui couldn't help but wonder: if she did become a Tier 10 soul engineer, would it be her accomplishment, or Qian Ran's?
Qian Ran shrugged, not disputing her point—he knew she was capable.
"Also..."
"I'd like to stay here for a while. On the one hand, I can supervise Nana's training. On the other, this place is perfect for my cultivation. I can progress much faster here."
The undead semi-plane was indeed a tempting cultivation ground, especially for an evil soul master like Ye Xishui.
"Well, you can stay, but don't stir up any trouble. These undead creatures have it tough as it is," Qian Ran said, wary of Ye Xishui conducting dark experiments in his domain. As the plane's master, he had a responsibility to its inhabitants.
For the first time, Ye Xishui realized why Qian Ran's attitude toward her was so peculiar.
Afraid of her losing control?
What did that even mean?
From his tone, it sounded like he thought she was...
Was she really the troublesome type?
Ye Xishui swallowed her annoyance, deciding against lashing out. Was this really how Qian Ran saw her? How could he think she was that kind of person?
"Well... you two chat. I'll be off now. Nana, study hard under Senior Ye Xishui," Qian Ran said, unnerved by the subtle anger in Ye Xishui's gaze. Without waiting for a reply, he quickly made his exit.
Ye Xishui, despite her irritation, couldn't help but chuckle at his hasty retreat. Did Qian Ran think she was that easy to bully?
She began to reflect: why did Qian Ran think of her as a "volatile" woman?
Hadn't she always conducted herself with decorum? Granted, Zhongli Laogui's death was due to her impulsiveness in her youth. Afterward, she had stayed within the Holy Spirit Cult...
Of course, Long Xiaoyao's death hadn't yet occurred, so Ye Xishui had no idea just how terrifying she could be when she truly lost control.
Including herself, three Ultimate Douluo lives were tied to her actions. Familiar with the story, Qian Ran knew this all too well. Ye Xishui had only appeared composed because of her high status. When provoked, she could unleash chaos without hesitation.
To Qian Ran, survival mattered more than beauty. While Ye Xishui's rampages wouldn't affect him directly, they could threaten those around him. Naturally, he needed to stay cautious.
(End of Chapter)