Chapter 263: The Alluring Xu Jiujie

"What's making you so happy?" Xu Jiujie couldn't help but ask curiously when she saw the smile on Qian Ran's face.

"Nothing much, just thought of something pleasant. Oh, right, here's a gift for you." Since Xu Jiujie was now his woman, Qian Ran didn't mind being generous with her.

Among the soul bones from the system's gift pack, there was one that suited Xu Jiujie. However, Qian Ran didn't plan to give her a soul bone just yet.

"What gift?"

"A necklace."

The necklace was a circular purple crystal pendant, adorned with a small square sterling silver charm. It emitted a pure radiance, its transparent purple crystal shimmering under the sunlight.

The moment Xu Jiujie laid eyes on the beautiful necklace, she immediately fell in love with it.

As a noblewoman, Xu Jiujie had a penchant for collecting exquisite jewelry, and the necklace crafted by Qian Ran perfectly matched her taste.

"I made this myself," Qian Ran said with a smile.

"You made this?" Xu Jiujie was pleasantly surprised. She hadn't expected Qian Ran to be such an artistic man, capable of creating such intricate accessories.

Most geniuses focused on cultivation tended to lack finesse in such areas.

"This is more than just a necklace—it's also a storage-type soul tool."

"What?"

Xu Jiujie channeled her soul power into the necklace and immediately sensed the vast space within. The storage capacity was several times greater than that of the soul tool she currently used.

Her current storage soul tool, a bracelet, wasn't particularly attractive. Though she had long been dissatisfied with it, its rarity made her reluctant to part with it.

Now, with Qian Ran's necklace in hand, she naturally no longer wanted the bracelet.

"This soul tool is so beautiful," Xu Jiujie said as she examined the necklace. From every angle, it was flawless, and she was utterly captivated.

She had never imagined a soul tool could be crafted so artistically. Even soul engineers with a desire to create attractive designs often fell short, as their aesthetic sense left much to be desired.

Qian Ran's design was a revelation to Xu Jiujie.

Not only her—Jiang Nannan and the others had similar reactions to Qian Ran's soul tools. Once accustomed to his exquisite creations, they found the crude designs of other soul tools utterly unappealing.

Even for combat weapons, they preferred designs that weren't overly utilitarian.

"Compared to ordinary storage soul tools, this one has an additional feature—it can store living beings. I inscribed several arrays on the necklace, allowing the space inside to connect to the outside air," Qian Ran explained.

The Sumeru Ring the system had previously rewarded Qian Ran with was a similar item capable of storing living beings. When he received the ring, he also gained the knowledge of how it was made, including the mechanism for maintaining airflow between the internal space and the outside. Without that knowledge, Qian Ran wouldn't have bothered crafting storage soul tools himself.

This necklace was the first spatial soul tool he successfully designed and created. Initially, he had planned to gift it to Dong'er and the others, but now that Xu Jiujie was with him, it made sense to present it to her as a token of their bond.

As a princess, Xu Jiujie would never leave his side, even without a deep emotional connection. She wouldn't even refuse if he wanted her body now; she might even eagerly comply.

However, Qian Ran didn't just want her body—he wanted her heart as well. Only when he had both would he feel truly satisfied.

A woman whose heart didn't belong to him, no matter how alluring, could never provide the same thrill.

"Store living beings?" Xu Jiujie was astonished. She was well aware of the spacious interior of the necklace. To think that such a large space could store living creatures...

Did that mean—

"Yes. If you ever find yourself bored, you can grow flowers, plants, or even keep pets inside for entertainment," Qian Ran said casually.

Now that he had mastered the art of crafting such soul tools, he could theoretically make several in a day, provided he had enough materials. Of course, he would need help processing the various metals involved; the preparatory work alone was painstaking.

"Qian Ran, you're amazing!" Xu Jiujie exclaimed as she threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

Her mind had already started imagining practical uses for such a soul tool, like transporting people. While moving large armies might not be feasible—creating high-capacity spatial soul tools required rare metals and gemstones, many of which were virtually unobtainable—moving small groups would still be incredibly advantageous.

Elite warriors on special missions could benefit greatly from this technology, adding another layer of safety to their operations.

Xu Jiujie had heard the empress mention that Qian Ran was a genius soul engineer, but she hadn't paid much attention. After all, the most renowned soul engineers were at the Sun-Moon Empire's Royal Soul Engineering Academy, and she had shared the same bias.

Now, however, Qian Ran's creation had completely shattered her assumptions.

For the first time, she realized just how extraordinary Qian Ran was.

He was a true polymath: a genius with twin martial spirits, ultimate martial spirits, and unparalleled talent as a soul engineer.

What more could she ask for?

Qian Ran was even better than the ideal partner she had fantasized about in her dreams. He was so exceptional it felt unreal.

Compared to him, even Long Aotian, Vina's fiancé, paled in comparison.

Qian Ran was stronger than Long Aotian, and the Martial Spirit Sect surpassed the Body Sect in power.

This filled her with boundless pride, though it also brought a twinge of shame. Her talent was far inferior to Vina's. Determined not to fall behind, Xu Jiujie resolved to cultivate diligently. With such an exceptional man by her side, she couldn't afford to be mediocre.

Moreover, the women around Qian Ran, all outstanding talents from Shrek Academy, were just as stunning as she was. If she relied solely on her status as a princess, she might disappoint him.

Still clutching Qian Ran, Xu Jiujie's face turned slightly red, a mix of joy and shyness.

In her excitement, she had momentarily forgotten the decorum expected of a princess. When she tried to extricate herself from his embrace, Qian Ran naturally wouldn't let her go.

Wrapping his arms tightly around her slender, soft waist, he marveled at her elegance, which carried an intoxicating allure.

Seeing that Xu Jiujie didn't resist, Qian Ran grew bolder, letting his hands trace her curves. Her graceful figure felt impossibly smooth under his touch, and he found himself unable to let go.

Clad in her red ceremonial gown, Xu Jiujie's covered figure concealed her exquisite proportions. Yet, holding her now, Qian Ran could vividly picture her form in his mind.

Xu Jiujie's body was like Jiang Nannan's, but with slightly fuller curves. She struck the perfect balance—neither too seductive nor too reserved.

Not only was she a princess, but she was also the Starlight Auction House's top auctioneer, adored by countless admirers. And now, she lay softly in Qian Ran's embrace, making his breathing quicken.

(Chapter End)