Douluo : Capture the goddess starting from peerless tang sect

Qian Ran had long since realized that Ma Xiaotao was particularly easy to tease.

Her martial soul—Evil Fire Phoenix—had an immense impact on her body and emotions. It wasn't hard to guess the amount of self-control she had to exercise daily just to keep herself together.

"She's strong-willed," Qian Ran mused, genuinely impressed. If not for that iron will, she would've long found a boyfriend—or worse, lost herself to the wild instincts of her martial soul.

But Qian Ran had plans.

He wouldn't push too hard or too fast. He wanted her to willingly fall into his arms.

Ma Xiaotao, the fiery storm of the inner court... when fully tamed, what sort of obedient flame would she become?

Qian Ran's grin widened.

"You know," he said casually, "I happen to know about a certain plant-type ten-thousand-year soul beast."

"It's called Blazing Delicate Apricot, and it produces a rare substance called Blazing Gel. This gel is essentially the concentrated essence of an extreme fire-type celestial herb and takes at least ten thousand years to form."

"Using it, you could evolve into Ultimate Fire."

Ma Xiaotao froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Blazing Delicate Apricot? A ten-thousand-year plant-type soul beast?"

Qian Ran nodded. "Yep. The plant thrives in a very special place—a location of unparalleled resources called Icefire Yin Yang Well. This unique environment allows treasures like the Blazing Delicate Apricot to grow over tens of thousands of years."

Hearing the words Icefire Yin Yang Well, Ma Xiaotao was both intrigued and awestruck.

"That sounds too good to be true... but it's also risky, isn't it? A ten-thousand-year soul beast is no joke. Even the academy's top-level masters might struggle to subdue one!"

Qian Ran chuckled at her concern, waving it off. "For most people? Sure, it's nearly impossible. But for me?" He smiled confidently. "Let's just say... I've got connections."

Ma Xiaotao stared at him, conflicted.

Her mind raced. She knew Qian Ran wasn't bluffing—his seemingly boundless resources, top-tier spirit rings, and mysterious support network proved as much. But even so, why would he go to such lengths for her?

Qian Ran took her silence as permission to continue.

"Once this soul master tournament is over, I'll take you there. I'll make sure you get your hands on the Blazing Gel. With it, you'll evolve your flames to the extreme—and as for purging the evil from your soul... I'll help with that, too."

Ma Xiaotao's lips parted, but no words came. Her chest felt tight, a strange warmth spreading from her heart.

"Why are you doing so much for me?" she whispered after a long moment.

Qian Ran smiled faintly. "Because I can."

His response was so simple, yet it carried an undertone of unshakable confidence.

What Ma Xiaotao didn't know was that Qian Ran also had his own reasons for targeting the Icefire Yin Yang Well.

It was one of the most precious locations in the world, filled with legendary celestial herbs and plant-type soul beasts. Qian Ran wasn't just going to take the Blazing Gel—he was planning to uproot the entire area and make it his own.

With the Sumeru Ring, a treasure capable of storing living beings and ecosystems, Qian Ran could move the Icefire Yin Yang Well into his personal domain.

The plants and creatures there had no choice. If they stayed, they would eventually face extinction. But if they followed him...

They could thrive under his care.

And speaking of care, the Six Great Immortal Herbs—renowned in the original timeline—were also on his radar.

These sentient herbs were more than just resources—they were unique entities, some with distinctly feminine forms. In Qian Ran's hands, their fates wouldn't be tragic. Instead, they'd find a new home in his collection... and perhaps even a place in his heart.

Ma Xiaotao, oblivious to his inner scheming, looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and guilt.

"If it's too dangerous, don't do it," she said softly, biting her lip. "I don't want to cause you harm just for my own problems."

Qian Ran shrugged off her concern with an easy smile. "Relax, Xiao Tao. My backers can handle this. You don't need to worry about me."

Ma Xiaotao huffed, feeling both relieved and annoyed at his cocky attitude.

"You better not die out there," she muttered under her breath.

"Oh, I'm not worried," Qian Ran said lightly. "You should be more worried about how you're going to repay me, Ma Xiaotao."

He leaned closer, his gaze drifting over her figure, lingering just long enough to make her blush.

"What?" Ma Xiaotao stammered, her face heating up.

"Repay you? You're not seriously asking for—"

Before she could finish, Qian Ran's hand had slid down her waist to rest firmly on her hip.

Her body tensed as his fingers pressed against her, sending a jolt of warmth through her core.

"W-what are you doing?!" she demanded, her voice shaky.

"Admiring," Qian Ran said simply, his tone teasing but his eyes serious.

If Ma Xiaotao had been wearing her usual training attire, Qian Ran might have been able to hold back. But in her current outfit—tight red shorts that accentuated her curves and left little to the imagination—she was downright irresistible.

For Qian Ran, Ma Xiaotao's "ripeness" was perfect.

She wasn't as youthful as the likes of Wang Dong'er or Xiao Xiao, who were still "half-ripe" buds. Nor was she as fully matured as Zhou Yi or Mu Jin, whose allure came from their experience and confidence.

Ma Xiaotao was a rare balance of fiery passion and blooming womanhood—seven to eight parts ripe, a perfect blend of youth and maturity.

Her every movement exuded sensuality, from the sway of her hips to the fiery glint in her eyes.

Qian Ran's hand tightened slightly, eliciting a small gasp from her.

"Y-you're going too far!" she protested, but her trembling voice betrayed her inner turmoil.

Her Evil Fire surged within her, making her skin hot to the touch. The curse of her martial soul—it amplified everything, even desire.

Qian Ran stepped back, releasing her before things could escalate further.

"Just a preview," he said with a cheeky grin, ignoring the fiery glare she shot his way.

As he walked ahead, Ma Xiaotao clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

She hated how much control he had over her emotions, how easily he could stir up the flames she had spent years suppressing.

But what she hated even more...

Was how much she didn't want him to stop.

(End of Chapter)