Douluo : Capture the goddess starting from peerless tang sect

After giving Cai Meier a mere whiff of the pill's fragrance, Qianran promptly stashed the medicine back into his storage ring.

Gold is for display, not spending.

The same principle applied to the Youth-Retaining Pill—if he handed it over too easily, he'd be the fool.

Cai Meier, as captivating as she was, would have no value to Qianran unless he could truly benefit from her favor.

"I haven't even seen the pill yet!"

Cai Meier crossed her arms, glaring at Qianran in mild annoyance. The audacity of this boy! He was giving her nothing but scraps when she'd already sacrificed so much of her pride and dignity.

In her experience, beauty had always been her trump card. No man had ever remained unmoved by her allure—not until now.

"If I keep it out too long, the medicinal essence will dissipate. You saw how much of it evaporated already in just a few moments," Qianran replied casually, brushing off her complaints.

Once, Cai Meier's status as vice dean of the Martial Soul Department might have intimidated him. But having already conquered the likes of Xian Lin'er, Cai Meier's authority seemed much less daunting.

She was, after all, just another strong soul master—one who happened to have weaknesses he could exploit.

"Fine, then."

Cai Meier grumbled under her breath but ultimately fell silent. As much as she hated to admit it, Qianran had a point. The pill's power was undeniable, and she couldn't afford to risk wasting it.

"Say a price then," Cai Meier said suddenly.

"How much do you want? I'll pay for one."

Her voice was calm, but her determination was evident. She refused to let this rare opportunity slip through her fingers. No matter the cost, the pill would be hers.

Being a titled Douluo of her caliber, her wealth was considerable. On top of that, her husband Yan Shaozhe's assets were hers to manage. If it came down to it, she could even dig into the Martial Soul Department's resources.

"I'm not selling right now," Qianran replied bluntly, without even pausing to consider.

The truth was, money didn't hold much sway over him. He had access to almost anything he wanted. What could Cai Meier offer that he couldn't already acquire?

Moreover, selling the pill outright would weaken his hold over her. Without leverage, what would stop Cai Meier from causing trouble for him later on?

"Are you playing games with me?"

Cai Meier's sharp gaze pierced Qianran, her tone laced with annoyance. Her patience was wearing thin.

"Dean Cai, I'm only holding off because of Xian Lin'er. If I gave you the pill now, how do you think she'd react?" Qianran answered, feigning innocence.

"Besides, I don't really need money right now. Even your wealth doesn't mean much to me."

For a moment, Cai Meier was stunned.

Then, as much as she hated to admit it, his logic made sense. Her rivalry with Xian Lin'er was well-known. If she obtained the pill and Xian Lin'er found out, it could easily lead to unnecessary tension.

Still, she couldn't ignore the fact that Qianran had shamelessly teased her earlier.

"Fine, I'll let it slide this time," Cai Meier huffed, her frustration simmering beneath the surface.

But internally, she started to regain some confidence. "If Xian Lin'er has the pill, it's only fair I should have one too," she reasoned.

Seeing her calm down, Qianran chuckled.

"Relax, Dean. The pill isn't going anywhere. Why are you so impatient?"

"Impatient? You're the one who—"

Cai Meier stopped mid-sentence, catching herself. She wasn't about to let him rile her up again.

"So what now? Do you expect me to beg Xian Lin'er for permission to get the pill?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Not at all," Qianran replied with a disarming smile.

"It's just that my cultivation isn't strong enough yet. Once I'm stronger and have more freedom, I'll be able to give you the pill without any complications."

The explanation seemed to placate Cai Meier, at least for now.

She gave a thoughtful nod, her expression softening. "I suppose that makes sense. Xian Lin'er wouldn't make it easy for him, anyway," she thought to herself.

In her mind, Xian Lin'er's pride and high-handed nature were unshakable. There was no way Qianran could overpower her influence so easily.

"Looks like my charm hasn't faded after all," Cai Meier mused, her lips curling into a sly smile.

If Qianran was still drawn to her despite Xian Lin'er's looming presence, didn't that mean she had the upper hand?

"If I play my cards right, I could easily win him over completely," she thought.

What Cai Meier failed to realize was that while she thought she was in control, Qianran had already moved beyond her level.

She thought she was playing at the highest tier, but Qianran was already in the stratosphere.

(End of Chapter)