Chapter 249: Chapter 248: Cai Meier Arrives
In the race to recruit Shrek Academy's geniuses, the major empires spared no effort.
For the Heavenly Soul Empire, the Body Sect served as its guardian, with Du Bushi holding a status akin to that of a national adviser. In the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Tianran's relationship with the Holy Spirit Church spoke volumes, even if their alliance eventually fractured in the face of Xu Tianran's sweeping conquests.
A formidable force or an unparalleled genius could elevate a nation's standing immeasurably.
"Hehehe..."
A sweet, flirtatious voice suddenly rang out in Shrek Academy's resting area.
"Well, well, it seems I arrived just in time. If I'd been late, I might've missed such an exciting match."
"Who would've thought? Soul tools aren't as useless as I imagined. In fact, they're quite impressive."
Cai Meier had finally arrived, just in time to witness the Shrek reserve team's performance with their customized soul tools. The match left her astonished.
She realized something vital: soul tools themselves weren't inherently subpar—it was Shrek's earlier, poorly crafted models that were holding them back.
Take the soul tool propulsion systems, for example.
The models crafted by Shrek's faculty were crude and inefficient, but the ones made by Qianran? A world apart.
Cai Meier's sharp eyes noticed the unique designs of the soul tools employed by Jiang Nannan, Zhu Lu, and the others. Each piece was meticulously tailored to the user's martial soul and fighting style, enhancing their combat effectiveness to extraordinary levels.
Zhu Lu's Shadow Claw doubled her destructive power during her Nether Hundred Claws attack without hindering her agility.
Jiang Nannan's leg-mounted tools were perfectly optimized for her explosive speed and high agility.
And these weren't just rare exceptions—every member of the reserve team wielded unique, customized soul tools.
"Incredible..."
The implications hit Cai Meier like a tidal wave.
For someone to create such seamless, purpose-built devices, they would have to be a master of both soul tool engineering and martial soul combat.
In contrast, most Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy students had abandoned martial souls entirely, relying solely on soul tools powered by raw spirit energy. It was a fundamental difference in approach.
Shrek's advancements represented a potential paradigm shift: soul tools as auxiliary enhancers for powerful martial souls, rather than standalone weapons.
"This kid… he's a monster."
"How does his brain even work?" Cai Meier wondered.
Geniuses who could independently design soul tools were rare gems, even among the Sun Moon Academy's best. Most engineers built upon existing designs, refining and iterating incrementally.
Yet Qianran had displayed mastery across multiple types of soul tools, crafting each from scratch. His breadth of expertise was nothing short of terrifying.
A boy blessed with unparalleled martial soul talent and a mind like his was nothing less than a gift from the heavens.
The more Cai Meier learned about Qianran, the more awestruck she became.
"Master!"
Hearing her voice, Ma Xiaotao and Tang Ya rushed over to greet her warmly.
"Dean," Wang Yan said respectfully as he stood to bow. Although Cai Meier was only the vice-dean of the Martial Soul Department, no one dared to use the "vice" prefix in her presence.
"Everyone, please sit down. I'm just here to watch the matches. Carry on as you were," Cai Meier said with a soft smile, gesturing for the students to relax.
While her words were addressed to the group, her focus was unmistakably on Qianran.
She had initially been drawn to his martial soul potential. But now, her curiosity about his intellect burned even brighter.
Had he really mastered so much about soul tool design in just a month of study?
"Something doesn't add up," she mused.
Even the most talented students couldn't possibly achieve what Qianran had, especially with his allegedly minimal time spent in Shrek's engineering labs.
"Wow…"
Qianran's gaze lingered on Cai Meier, his thoughts a mix of admiration and mischief.
He finally understood why Yan Shaozhe had chosen her all those years ago.
Cai Meier's beauty was… direct.
Her light brown, wavy hair cascaded loosely down her back, the ends playfully brushing against her exposed shoulders. The slight curl at the tips added a touch of mature elegance. Her large, expressive eyes sparkled, framed by faint red eyeliner that accentuated her natural allure.
Her slender neck and perfectly proportioned features would make anyone want to lean in closer, captivated by her magnetic presence.
But Qianran's eyes inevitably traveled downward.
Her narrow shoulders gave way to an astonishingly full, rounded chest that rose and fell gently with her breaths.
Her slender waist and long legs lent her a statuesque elegance, but it was her wide hips and full, curvaceous figure that truly stole the show. Clad in a fitted black skirt, her shapely legs were accentuated by sheer black stockings that shimmered faintly under the lights.
"Damn…"
Even Zhu Lu couldn't quite compare.
While Zhu Lu's hips were similarly wide, hinting at her family's signature hourglass figure, her proportions lacked the mature refinement of Cai Meier's.
Cai Meier was, quite simply, Zhu Lu scaled up to perfection.
Her aura was equally captivating. Where Zhu Lu radiated youthful charm, Cai Meier exuded a seductive confidence, a blend of experience and allure that was utterly irresistible.
"Cai Meier at night… what an image," Qianran thought, swallowing hard.
"Hehehe… these soul tools, you made them, didn't you? Very impressive," Cai Meier said, her tone warm but teasing as she approached Qianran.
She gently ruffled his hair, her smile playful yet provocative.
"Do you know, I almost made you my disciple? I had everything arranged with Yan Shaozhe, but then Lin'er swooped in and stole you away. Typical of her, really. I can't believe she actually got one over on me," she said, feigning indignation.
The more Qianran impressed her, the more frustrated she felt.
Students like him—self-sufficient, shockingly innovative, and consistently exceeding expectations—were every teacher's dream. His success would inevitably reflect on his mentor, immortalizing their name alongside his.
Cai Meier couldn't help but lament the missed opportunity.
"What an enchantress…"
Qianran couldn't tear his eyes away, his thoughts betraying his growing interest.
Cai Meier's presence was a masterclass in seduction, her every movement and expression calculated to captivate.
If she had been part of his generation, Qianran wouldn't have hesitated to pursue her.
Her charm, her elegance, her allure… it was intoxicating.
"Well," he thought with a sly grin, "who says I can't still try?"
(End of Chapter)
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