Ling Luochen quickly darted out of the room after receiving Cai Meier's permission. Halfway down the hall, she remembered to return and gently shut the door behind her, ensuring their privacy.
"You're quite the spectacle."
"Hey, how is this my fault? If you didn't seem to enjoy it so much, would I have kissed you for so long?"
"You still have the nerve to argue?"
Cai Meier, hands on her hips, grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa and hurled it at Qian Ran.
"Fine, fine. I admit my mistake. It's all my fault. I'm the guilty one. Let the heavens punish me alone," Qian Ran said helplessly, raising his hands in mock surrender.
Of course, he understood that in matters like these, it was always the woman who bore the greater burden—especially when it came to reputation.
"Just get Ling Luochen into your fold soon," Cai Meier said with a sidelong glance, finally regaining her composure. She knew Ling Luochen wasn't one to gossip, so there wasn't much to worry about.
It was more a matter of her own awkwardness.
Cai Meier was a revered figure in the eyes of Shrek Academy's inner court disciples like Ling Luochen and Ma Xiaotao. She was powerful, dignified, and held the esteemed position of deputy dean. Now, the halo of authority and respect she carried had been stripped away by Qian Ran, leaving her feeling exposed.
It was like finding out your beloved celebrity idol had fallen from grace—a dream shattered.
"Ling Luochen won't say anything. Why are you so flustered? If you're worried, why don't you bring her back?" Qian Ran teased, licking his lips provocatively.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Like I'd help you with something like that. Don't even think about it."
"Relax. So what if you're the deputy dean or a Hyper Douluo? You're still human. Everyone has desires."
"Twisted logic," Cai Meier huffed, feigning annoyance.
If Qian Ran's unmatched looks and talents were set aside, he bore striking resemblance to a hedonistic playboy—indulgent and insatiable.
But unlike the typical spoiled scion who ultimately succumbs to their excesses, Qian Ran showed no signs of wear. If anything, he seemed even more vibrant than most, like an inexhaustible bull tirelessly plowing the fields.
Cai Meier couldn't help but marvel at how Qian Ran managed it.
What she didn't know was that Qian Ran owed his resilience entirely to the system he had bound himself to. Without it, even the hardiest of transmigrators wouldn't survive such indulgence. Sustained excess without the system's support would've turned him into a feeble husk by now.
Meanwhile, in another room of the hotel, the Snow Empress and Ice Empress were catching up. Ice Empress was positively brimming with energy, enthusiastically recounting her experiences since leaving the Extreme North with Qian Ran.
It was clear that the arrival of Snow Empress brought out a side of Ice Empress rarely seen. With Dong'er, Ice Empress often remained reserved, but around Snow Empress, her words spilled forth with an unmistakable warmth.
Their bond, forged over countless years, was unshakable, deeper than mere sisterhood.
"Ice, you've changed so much," Snow Empress remarked, her heart swelling with genuine happiness as she listened to Ice Empress talk about her life in the human world.
Snow Empress could see how much happier Ice Empress was now compared to her days in the Extreme North, where smiles were as rare as sunshine.
Life in the human world was undeniably more vibrant and fulfilling.
In the Extreme North, life was monotonous—feeding, hibernating, and waiting. Waiting for that inevitable tribulation they could not overcome, resigning themselves to death.
But now, Ice Empress no longer had to fear tribulations. As long as she remained in human form, the heavens couldn't target her. At worst, she'd experience temporary weakness during the approach of her next tribulation.
Compared to her past existence, her current life was undeniably better.
"Qian Ran is truly incredible to have changed you like this," Snow Empress said, affectionately ruffling Ice Empress' hair. Gratitude for Qian Ran filled her heart—soul beasts valued loyalty, and she would never forget his kindness.
"Of course he is! Snow, don't underestimate him. Even if he seems less powerful now, with his talent, he's destined to become the strongest in this world," Ice Empress said confidently, full of admiration for Qian Ran.
While Ice Empress didn't know all of Qian Ran's secrets, she was certain that his path to godhood was only a matter of time.
"I believe it. He's the most remarkable human I've ever met," Snow Empress replied with a soft smile. Even Extreme Douluo rarely impressed her, but Qian Ran had repeatedly left her in awe.
"Snow, hurry and start cultivating. Once you master the Transformation Art, you won't have to worry about tribulations anymore. This is a new path for us soul beasts, and Qian Ran has promised to share it with other 100,000-year soul beasts."
"Qian Ran truly is extraordinary," Snow Empress murmured. A human advancing the evolution of soul beasts and reshaping their fate—it was enough to inspire reverence from all soul beasts.
Under Ice Empress' guidance, Snow Empress began her cultivation with ease.
The Transformation Art resembled the process of soul beasts reincarnating into human form, requiring the suppression of cultivation in the early stages. Having already undergone reincarnation once, Snow Empress found the process far simpler this time.
Once she grasped the essentials, her aura quickly stabilized. Her cultivation also began to shift, and soon, two soul rings materialized at her feet. Her soul power now followed the paths of a human's, marking her transformation's beginning.
With steady progress, Snow Empress estimated she could reach the level of an Extreme Douluo within a month.
"This is so profound. If I'd met Qian Ran earlier, I wouldn't have wasted that 100,000-year snow lotus," Snow Empress lamented after emerging from her meditative state.
The Transformation Art included ingenious techniques for compressing cultivation, revealing that achieving human form was far simpler than she had believed.
In the past, transformation meant becoming purely human.
Now, transformation allowed them to retain their soul beast nature.
The difference was vast. Many proud soul beasts couldn't accept becoming mere humans through reincarnation. But this path? It felt right—like it had been made for them.
"This is the road we soul beasts should walk," Snow Empress thought, her heart filled with gratitude and awe for Qian Ran's vision.
(Chapter ends)